Patent US4563040A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4563040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Furniture assembly
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1982-10-15
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Granted: 1986-01-07
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Expires: 2002-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Articles of furniture are constructed of a unique rigid assembly of rods, rod caps, posts and rigid panels in an inter-locking relationship. A pair of rods nest in parallel coplanar grooves in top or top and bottom surfaces of the rigid panel, with the ends of the rods inserted into holes in supporting posts. Rod caps are threaded onto matching threaded ends of the rods to secure the rods to the posts. The rods are secured against disalignment from the matching grooves in the rigid panel and prevent rotation of the panel. The posts can be slotted to receive the panel to create the appearance of a smooth end. Various articles of furniture can be assembled from the component parts, including tables, chairs, chests, cabinets, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Alster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:00
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B3/00; A47B3/06; A47B47/00; A47B47/04; A47C; A47C4/00; A47C4/02; A47C4/03; F; F16; F16B; F16B12/00; F16B12/10; F16B12/12; F16B12/14; F16B12/18; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/40; F16B2200/403
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A furniture assembly comprising: an elongated rigid panel; securing means at opposite ends of the panel, the securing means including at least one coplanar channel extending along two opposite ends of the panel and a pair of notches at respective opposite ends of the channels; elongated rods adapted to be received and rigidly supported in respective channels at the opposite ends of the panel; a plurality of support members spaced about the edges of and abutting the panel, in alignment with the ends of said elongated rods, each support member including a hole at the upper ends of the member and adapted to receive the end of the respective rod, and a matching notch in an inner surface at the ends adjacent the holes engageable with respective notches at the channel ends; and means for releasably fastening the opposing ends of the rods to the respective support member to rigidly secure the panel between the rods and to the support members, the rods, channels and matching notches coacting with the panel and support members to prevent rolling and rotation of the panel member with respect to the support members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A furniture assembly comprising: an elongated rigid panel; securing means at opposite ends of the panel, the securing means including at least one coplanar channel extending along two opposite ends of the panel and a pair of notches at respective opposite ends of the channels; elongated rods adapted to be received and rigidly supported in respective channels at the opposite ends of the panel; a plurality of support members spaced about the edges of and abutting the panel, in alignment with the ends of said elongated rods, each support member including a hole at the upper ends of the member and adapted to receive the end of the respective rod, and a matching notch in an inner surface at the ends adjacent the holes engageable with respective notches at the channel ends; and means for releasably fastening the opposing ends of the rods to the respective support member to rigidly secure the panel between the rods and to the support members, the rods, channels and matching notches coacting with the panel and support members to prevent rolling and rotation of the panel member with respect to the support members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
186 words
A furniture assembly comprising: an elongated rigid panel; securing means at opposite ends of the panel, the securing means including a pair of parallel coplanar channels extending along two opposite ends of the panel, the channels in each pair being positioned one above the other on respective upper and lower surfaces along opposite ends of the panel; pairs of elongated rods adapted to be received and rigidly supported in the respective channels at the opposite ends of the panel; a plurality of support members spaced about the edges of and abutting the panel, in alignment with the ends of said elongated rods, the support members including pairs of parallel holes positioned one above the other at the upper ends of the members and adapted to receive the ends of respective rods; and means for releasably fastening the opposing ends of the rods to the respective support members to rigidly secure the panel between the rods and to the support members, the rods and channels coacting with the panel and support members to prevent rolling and rotation of the panel member with respect to the support members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
A furniture assembly comprising: an elongated rigid panel; securing means at opposite ends of the panel, the securing means including a pair of parallel coplanar channels extending along two opposite ends of the panel, the channels in each pair being positioned one above the other on respective upper and lower surfaces along opposite ends of the panel; pairs of elongated rods adapted to be received and rigidly supported in the respective channels at the opposite ends of the panel; a plurality of support members spaced about the edges of and abutting the panel, in alignment with the ends of said elongated rods, the support members including pairs of parallel holes positioned one above the other at the upper ends of the members and adapted to receive the ends of respective rods; and means for releasably fastening the opposing ends of the rods to the respective support members to rigidly secure the panel between the rods and to the support members, the rods and channels coacting with the panel and support members to prevent rolling and rotation of the panel member with respect to the support members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The furniture assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the rod ends have a diameter narrower than the diameter of the rod in the channel extending through the holes in the vertical support members and include threads; the fastening means including a plurality of internally threaded rod caps engageable with the rod ends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The furniture assembly of claim 3 wherein the notches at the ends of the channels and the notches in the vertical support members are of a depth to cause the edges of the panel to be flush with the outer surface of the support members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The furniture assembly of claim 3 wherein the rigid panel forms a seat member and including a vertical slot in each pair of vertical support members; a chair back member including a pair of vertical posts engageable in the vertical slots, the vertical posts including holes for receiving the rod ends, the rod caps engaging the rod ends and securing the vertical posts in the vertical slots to the vertical support members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein the panel extends generally horizontally and the support members are vertical; the securing means including a pair of notches at respective ends of the channels; each of the vertical support members including a matching notch in an inner surface at the upper ends adjacent the holes engageable with respective notches at the channel ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The furniture assembly of claim 6 whrein the rod ends have a narrow diameter extending through the holes in the vertical support members and include threads; the fastening means including a plurality of internally threaded caps engageable with the rod ends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The furniture assembly of claim 7 wherein the pairs of parallel coplanar channels are in the upper and lower surfaces adjacent the ends of the panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
131 words
The furniture assembly of claim 7 wherein the rigid panel forms a table top member and including: a second rigid panel forming a lower shelf member having a pair of parallel coplanar channels extending along two opposite ends of the lower shelf member and pairs of notches at the ends of the coplanar channels; further pairs of elongated rods including narrow ends, said further pairs of elongated rods received in the pairs of channels in the second rigid panel, the support members incluidng: further pairs of parallel holes at the lower ends of the support members to receive the respective ends of the further rods and further pairs of matching notches at the lower ends of the support members and further rod caps engageable with the ends of the further rods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The furniture assembly of claim 9 wherein the table top assembly and the lower shelf assembly are stackable and positively alignable by rows of pins positioned into holes in the bottom surfaces of the support members of the table assembly and the upper surfaces of the support members of the lower shelf assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The furniture assembly of claim 10 including a pair of rigid side panels, each side panel including; a pair of upper and lower grooved inner lateral extensions engageable with respective pairs of the rods to secure the side panels between respective opposite ends of the table top and lower shelf members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The furniture assembly of claim 10 including a pair of rigid side panels, each side panel including: a pair of upper and lower grooves engageable with respective pairs of the rods to secure the side panel between respective opposite ends of the table top and lower shelf members; and sides engageable with the inner surfaces of the respective pairs of support members to secure the side panel between the support members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
137 words
The furniture assembly of claim 7 wherein the rigid panel forms a table top member and including: a second rigid panel forming a lower shelf member having a pair of parallel coplanar channels extending along two opposite ends of the lower shelf member and pairs of notches at the ends of the coplanar channels; further pairs of elongated rods, including narrow ends, said further pairs of elongated rods received in the pairs of channels in the second rigid panel, the support members including: further vertical support members, in axial alignment with said vertical support members; further pairs of parallel holes in the further support members to receive the respective ends of the further rods and further pairs of matching notches in the further support members and further rod caps engagable with the ends of the further rods.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The furniture assembly of claim 13 including a pair of front door panel members pivotably mounted at opposite, ends between the upper table top and lower shelf member form a cabinet enclosure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The furniture assembly of claim 7 wherein the notches at the ends of the channels and the notches in the vertical support members are of a depth to cause the edges of the panel to be flush with the outer surfaces of the support members.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-06 | 1989-07-08 | 1990-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-07-08 | 1994-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-06 | 1997-07-08 | 1998-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |