Patent ID: 8684552
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: A47B,F16B,F21W

Abstract:
1. A lighted furniture apparatus comprising: a base, a side panel assembly, a top, and a lighting element; the side panel assembly comprising a first and second side panel, at least a portion of each of said side panels being at least partially light-transmitting, the first side panel having a first vertical edge and the second side panel having a second vertical edge, each of the first and second vertical edges defining a partially-enclosed rod-receiving passage running longitudinally along and within the vertical edge and a longitudinal opening that runs along the vertical edge and opens into the rod-receiving passage; the side panel assembly further comprising at least one elongated connecting rod having a substantially consistent cross-sectional shape and comprising a first enlarged cross-sectional portion with a first thickness, a second enlarged cross-sectional portion with a second thickness, and a cross-sectional bridge portion disposed between and connecting said first and second enlarged portions, the bridge portion having a third thickness that is less than the first and second thicknesses; wherein said at least one connecting rod is configured to connect the first and second side panels when the panels are positioned with the first panel adjacent to the second panel so that the first and second vertical edges are adjacent with the longitudinal openings of the rod-receiving passages facing, said first enlarged portion of said connecting rod being sized and shaped to be slidably received within, and at least partially retained by, the rod-receiving passage of the first vertical edge and the second enlarged portion of said connecting rod being sized and shaped to be slidably received within, and at least partially retained by, the rod-receiving passage of the second vertical edge, the longitudinal openings of the first vertical edge and the second vertical edge being sized and shaped to permit the bridge portion to pass therethrough longitudinally, thereby defining an interior space with sides at least partially enclosed by the side panel assembly; wherein an upper portion of the side panel assembly is operably configured to receive the top, and said base is operably configured to receive a bottom portion of the side panel assembly; and wherein the lighting element is disposed within said interior space.