Abstract:
Methods of applying multiple parallel frames or moldings to planar surfaces on articles of furniture are disclosed to produce multi-banded, textured exterior surfaces on articles which conceal functionalities such as, doors, shelves, or receptacles, as well as one or more slide-ably extendable/retractable drawers, to include articles of furniture made by the disclosed methods.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on, and claims priority to, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/799,662, filed May 12, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to methods for making articles of furniture including the articles themselves and, more specifically, to the use of multiple parallel frames to produce multi-banded, textured exterior surfaces on articles of furniture such as credenzas, armoires, cabinets, tables, and desks, where such textured surfaces conceal functionalities comprising the articles. 
     2. Discussion of the Background 
     Solid wood provides aesthetic qualities that are desirable to many consumers and therefore preferred for various objects of furniture. Generally, articles of furniture, such as desks armoires, credenzas, etc., comprise simple rectangular shapes, with smooth planar exteriors, or may comprise contoured surfaces simulating, for example, stiles, rails, panels, and other features found in traditional wooden furniture articles. Further, the exterior surfaces of articles of furniture typically lack three-dimensionality, and are devoid of the ornate and delicately intricate patterns associated with structural woodwork usually found in wood moldings and picture frames. 
     Distinctive wood furniture objects hold a significant and expanding share of design options that complement the changing variety of architectural styles. However, present furniture designs lack surfaces that exploit the visual nuances that accompany the art of shaping and assembling structural woodwork associated with more intricate carpentry found only in ornate wood moldings. Further, even where such designs might be attempted, there is a consequential loss of everyday functionality or loss in aesthetic quality if functionality is preserved. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide a method of producing articles of furniture which comprise textured exterior surfaces associated with ornate wood moldings and yet retain the functionality of everyday furniture. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to methods of applying multiple parallel frames to planar surfaces on articles of furniture to produce multi-banded, textured exterior surfaces on articles which conceal functionalities such as, for example, doors, shelves, or receptacles, as well as one or more slide-ably extendable/retractable drawers, to include articles of furniture made by the disclosed methods. 
     The articles of furniture described herein are particularly useful in providing ornate, wood molded surfaces to the exterior surfaces of credenzas, armoires, cabinets, tables, chest of drawers, desks, and the like. The articles of furniture are comprised of multiple parallel frames, where the frames include, but are not limited to, picture frames, door frames or the like, which frames are applied to exterior planar surfaces on the front, back, and sides of the articles. 
     Each frame is composed of sculpted or molded woodwork, including combinations thereof, as a visually continuous band which surrounds the article of furniture, which when combined with other frames, results in a multi-banded pattern that covers the exterior planar surfaces of the article. Intermittent bands may also be applied to the surfaces, where such intermittent bands may be between the wooden frames, inlaid on the wooden frames, or may delimit the corners of the articles, which intermittent bands may comprise other ornamental materials such as marble, glass, and the like. Further, such multi-banded patterns may comprise frames having separate and distinct patterns, colors, ornate materials, or designs such that each frame is different. Alternatively, each frame comprising a band may be the same. 
     Each frame may be vertically parallel or horizontally parallel relative to the planar axis of the surface on which the article rests (e.g., the floor or the ground). In one aspect, each band making up the exterior surface is a visually contiguous frame, for example, resembling a picture frame. In a related aspect, the frames are molded frames, beveled, or ornately sculpted. 
     The functionalities making up the article may extend horizontally away from the body of the article, between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the article and/or swing on a hinge in an arc away from the front wall of the article. In one aspect, the functionalities are covered by multiple frames that comprise side edges which form beveled ends or edges forming angles that fit the parallel bands of the multiple frames together, resulting in a visually integral surface when the functionality is closed, thus concealing the functionality. In one aspect, the functionality is a door, where the door is configured to be in front of the other functionalities, such as a set of drawers or shelves. In a related aspect, the exterior surfaces comprising the drawers behind the door are smooth or may comprise other ornamental features. In another aspect, the front walls of the drawers make up the exterior surface of the article to which the frames are applied. In a related aspect, the drawers are configured as tiers, where the edges for the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and front wall of the drawers are mitered, thus concealing the draws as visually integral frames within the multi-banded exterior surfaces when the drawers are closed. In another aspect, the functionalities are substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall, or are between sets of other functionalities, where the edges of the functionalities are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the article. Essentially, the angle of the edge of the functionality is determined by whether it is concealed by a second functionality, its position relative to the delimiting edge of the article, or whether the functionality itself delimits the edge of the article. 
     The frames may be applied by any means known in the art including application by adhesion, fasters, or combinations thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee. 
       For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stand having horizontally parallel multi-banded frames, where the top drawer is closed and the bottom is in an open position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a chest of drawers having vertically parallel multi-banded frames, where the drawers are horizontally extended (evenly) away from the article (i.e., in the open position); 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the chest of drawers of  FIG. 2 , where the drawers are extended (i.e., staggered) away from the article (i.e., in the open position); 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a chest of drawers having horizontally parallel multi-banded frames, where the functionalities are concealed (i.e., in the closed position). Also shown is a platform/stand (comprising wood) on which the chest rests; 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of a chest of drawers having vertically parallel multi-banded frames, showing a door on a hinge swung in an arc away from the front wall of the article (i.e., in the open position), the exterior surface of which comprises frame segments, and behind which, additional drawers are concealed; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a chest of drawers having horizontally parallel multi-banded frames, where the draws are extended (i.e., staggered) away from the article (i.e., in the open position); 
         FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the chest of drawers of  FIG. 6 , showing concealed draws in the open position (i.e., staggered), where the drawers are substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the article, and where the edges of the drawers are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the chest of drawers. Also shown is a platform/stand (comprising glass and metal) on which the chest of drawers rests; 
         FIG. 8  is another perspective view of the chest of drawers of  FIG. 6 , showing concealed draws in the open position (i.e., staggered), where the drawers are substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the article, and where the edges of the drawers are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the chest of drawers. Also shown is a platform/stand (comprising glass and metal) on which the chest of drawers rests; 
         FIG. 9  is another perspective view of the chest of drawers of  FIG. 6 , showing concealed draws in the open position (i.e., staggered), where the drawers are substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the article, and where the edges of the drawers are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the chest of drawers. Also shown is a platform/stand (comprising glass and metal) on which the chest of drawers rests; 
         FIG. 10  is another perspective view of the chest of drawers of  FIG. 6 , showing concealed draws in the open position (i.e., staggered), where the drawers are substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the article, and where the edges of the drawers are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the chest of drawers. Also shown is a platform/stand (comprising glass and metal) on which the chest of drawers rests; 
         FIG. 11  is another perspective view of the table of  FIG. 6 , showing concealed draws in the open position (i.e., staggered), where the drawers are substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the chest of drawers, and where the edges of the drawers are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the table. Also shown are drawers that delimit the chest of draws, where the edges for the first sidewall and front wall of the drawers are mitered, thus concealing the draws as visually integral frames within the multi-banded exterior surfaces when the drawers are closed, as well as a platform/stand (comprising glass and metal) on which the chest of drawers rests; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a table, showing draws in the open position (i.e., staggered), where the drawers are substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the article, and where the edges of the drawers are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the table; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a night stand, showing draws in a slightly open position (i.e., ajar), where the drawers are substantially between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the article, and where the edges of the drawers are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the night stand; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a night stand, showing draws in a slightly open position (i.e., staggered), where the drawers themselves delimit the edge of the front wall of the article, and where the edges form beveled ends that fit the parallel bands of the multiple frames together, resulting in a visually integral surface when the drawers are closed, thus concealing the drawers; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a chest of drawers having vertically parallel, multi-colored, multi-banded frames, where the drawers are horizontally extended (i.e., tiered) away from the article (i.e., in the open position), where the drawers themselves delimit the edge of the front wall of the article; 
         FIG. 16  is another perspective view of the chest of draws of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is another perspective view of the chest of draws of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a chest of drawers having vertically parallel, multi-colored, multi-banded frames, where the drawers are horizontally extended (i.e., evenly) away from the article (i.e., in the open position), where the drawers themselves delimit the edge of the front of the article. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the present articles and methods are described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular articles and methods described, as such articles and methods may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purposes of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. 
     As used in this specification, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, references to “the method” includes one or more methods, and/or steps of the type described herein which will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and so forth. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     As used herein the term “functionality,” or grammatical variations thereof, means a component designed or developed chiefly from the point of view of use. For example, drawers, cubby holes, shelves, bins, doors, cabinets, platforms, and the like, would be considered functionalities. 
     The structures of credenzas, armoires, cabinets, tables, desks, and the like, to which the frames are applied are well known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,550,880; 5,632,540; 5,456,555). 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a stand  10  comprises applied multiple horizontal, monochrome, molded picture frames (or moldings)  11  applied on the exterior surface, which stand contains a plurality of drawers  12 ,  13 . The frames  11  on the front of the drawers extend across an entire width of the stand  10  and are aligned with matching frames on sides of the stand  10 . The vertical group  119  between the frames  11  attached to the drawers  12 ,  13  and the frames  11  attached to the side of the stand  10  are not visible when the stand  10  is viewed from the front. Moreover, the horizontal gap  116  between the frames  11  that are the nearest neighbors on adjoining drawers are also narrow, preferably substantially a same distance as a gap between neighboring frames  11  on a same drawer front. The foregoing features cooperate to conceal the drawers  12 ,  13  when the stand  10  is viewed from the front. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the frames  11  vary vertically or in a direction perpendicular to a principal axis, but are uniform horizontally or along a principal axis of the frames  11 . Also shown, is that the frames  11  can serve as a support for platforms comprising the top wall  14  of the article. For purposes of brevity, further references to “drawers” may only describe a single drawer, although those skilled in the art know that any number of draws can be used in a table, chest, or stand. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a chest of drawers  20  is shown comprising applied multiple vertical, multicolored, molded picture frames  21  on the exterior surface, which chest contains a plurality of extended drawers  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 . Here, the drawers  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  delimit an edge  26  of the front wall  27  and a sidewall  28  of the chest of drawers  20 . The drawers  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  are slide-ably extendable/retractable away from the front wall  27  of the article  20 . The drawers  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  may be operatively connected to the first  28  and second  29  sidewalls of the chest  20  to achieve slide-ability by any means known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,551). In this figure, the drawers  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  are evenly extended. The frames on the fronts of the drawers  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  are of the same shape, color and orientation as the frames on the corresponding moving and stationary portion of the chest  20 , and the gaps between them are small. This feature also helps to obscure or conceal the existence of the drawers  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the chest of drawers  20  is shown with the drawers  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  in a staggered configuration, thereby demonstrating the slide-ably extendable/retractable function of the drawers  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  of the article  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a chest of drawers  30  is shown comprising applied multiple horizontal, multicolored, molded picture frames  31  on the exterior surface, which chest  30  contains a plurality of concealed drawers. Here the drawers are covered by multiple frames  31  that comprise side edges  32  which form beveled ends or edges, thus forming angles that fit the parallel bands  33  of the multiple frames  31  together, resulting in a visually integral surface when the drawers are closed, thus concealing the drawers. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , is another view of the chest of draws  20  of  FIG. 2  showing a door  35  which is operatively connected to the front wall  27 . The door  35  conceals another set of draws  36 ,  37 ,  38 , where the exterior surfaces comprising the drawers  36 ,  37 ,  38  behind the door  35  are of a different texture than the exterior surface  40  of the door  35 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the chest of drawers  50  is shown with the drawers  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  in a staggered configuration, again demonstrating the slide-ably extendable/retractable function of the article  50 . The drawers  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  are substantially between a first sidewall  45  and a second sidewall  46  and operatively connected to the first sidewall  45  and an intermediate spacer, where the edges  47  of the functionalities are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the article  48 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a chest of drawers  60  is shown with the drawers  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  open in various configurations. The drawers  51 ,  52  are substantially between a first sidewall  57  and other drawers  53 ,  54 , operatively connected to the first sidewall  57  and an intermediate spacer between drawers  51 ,  52  and  53 ,  54 , where the edges  58  of the drawers  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge  59  of the article  60 . The chest  60  rests on a platform  71 . In addition to wood frames  72 , the multi-banded parallel frames also contain intermittent ornamental materials  74 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the same chest of drawers  60 , with different background light.  FIGS. 9-11  show close-up views of the chest  60 .  FIG. 12 , shows a similar chest  80  to the chest  60  of  FIGS. 8-11 , where each frame  75  is a different color. 
       FIG. 13  shows a night stand  90  comprising applied multiple horizontal, multicolored, molded picture frames  76  where the drawers  77 ,  78  are substantially between and operatively connected to a first sidewall  79  and a second sidewall  81  of the article  90 , and the edges  82  of the drawers  77 ,  78  are substantially flat and perpendicular to the bottom edge  83  of the night stand  90 . 
       FIG. 14  shows a night stand  100  comprising applied multiple horizontal, multicolored, molded picture frames  84  where the drawers  85 ,  86  are substantially between and operatively connected to a first sidewall  87  and a second sidewall  88  of the article  100 , and the drawers  85 ,  86  delimit the edge  91  of the front wall  92  of the article  100 , and where the edges of the delimiting edges  93  form a bevel that fits the parallel bands of the multiple frames  84  together, resulting in a visually integral surface when the drawers  85 ,  86  are closed, thus concealing the drawers  85 ,  86 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , a chest of drawers  110  is shown comprising applied multiple vertical, multicolored, molded picture frames  95  on the exterior surface, which chest contains a plurality of extended drawers  96 ,  97 ,  98 ,  99 . Here the drawers  96 ,  97 ,  98 ,  99  delimit an edge  101  of the front wall  102  and a sidewall  103  of the chest of drawers  110 . The drawers  96 ,  97 ,  98 ,  99  are slide-ably extendable/retractable away from the front wall  102  of the article  110 . The drawers  96 ,  97 ,  98 ,  99  may be operatively connected to the first  103  and second  104  sidewalls of the chest  110 . In this figure, the drawers  96 ,  97 ,  98 ,  99  are extended in a tier configuration. 
       FIGS. 16-18  show the chest  110  of  FIG. 15  with drawers  96 ,  97 ,  98 ,  99  in various configurations. 
     It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous variations in addition to those discussed above are also possible. Therefore, while the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Furthermore, the purpose of the Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way.