Abstract:
The life size furniture kit comprises an assortment of plastic tubular forms and fittings simulating household furniture and fixtures stored in a case for displaying a room furniture layout for a homeowner. An instruction manual illustrating common furniture dimension and a videotape showing the step-by-step instructions for placing the furniture and fixtures are supplied.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to furniture. More specifically, the invention relates to a plastic tube forming furniture kit carried in a case to a prospective customer&#39;s house to display how various furniture and related pieces in full size would be positioned in a specific room.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     The related art of interest describes various plastic forms for forming furniture and the like, but none discloses the present invention. There is a need for a homeowner to visualize how various furniture pieces would be located in a room. The related art will be discussed in the order of perceived relevance to the present invention.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,661 issued on Oct. 12, 1982, to Hubert Ruther describes an exhibition/house furniture as well as a play and sport equipment comprising building elements which can be combined in any desired manner as its parts, namely plug connectors, connecting pipes, toggles, and plates. The positive plug connection between a connector socket of a plug connector and a pipe end of a connecting pipe of circular-cylindrical form so as to form a plug unit is secured in form logged (positive) fashion by a toggle. For inserting plates between parallel connecting pipes, clamp connections are provided. The apparatus is distinguishable for requiring specially configured rigid elements for combining parts to form a rigid structure.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,553 issued on Jul. 25, 1972, to Marc S. Hermelin describes a method of preparing an article of furniture from plastic foam comprises a layer of flexible urethane foam material folded to form furniture and held in shape by a positioning bar and/or adhesives. The furniture is distinguishable for requiring plastic foam material.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,778 issued on Jul. 7, 1998, to Paula Riley et al. describes a shape-adaptable and renewable furniture system by adding and removing modules and accessories to and from a base structure of wood, metal and plastic elements adapted to accept the modules and accessories. The system is distinguishable for requiring wood, metal and/or plastic elements covered with a muslin fabric.  
         [0008]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2002/0093235 A1 published on Jul. 18, 2002, for Alfred G. Niederman et al. describes a modular upholstered furniture construction that is distinguishable for requiring upholstery.  
         [0009]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2002/0105211 A1 published on Aug. 8, 2002, for Glenn M. Laughlin et al. describes a folding ready-to-assemble upholstered furniture which is distinguishable for requiring upholstery.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,219 issued on Mar. 25, 1975, to Giancarlo Pofferi describes a demountable metal scaffolding and the like structures formed by connecting a pair of co-axial spaced connection members. The structures are distinguishable for requiring the joining of scaffolding and the like.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,234 issued on Jun. 3, 1975, to William R. Curtis et al. describes a structural foam furniture subframe which is distinguishable for requiring a foam plastic subframe.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,087 issued on Oct. 14, 1975, to Walter Zeischegg describes a modular frame assembly for making furniture such as tables, shelves, and the like comprising a plurality of uniform cylindrical hollow post and beam bars made of extruded synthetic resin, and junction pieces with three projections for forming the corners. The assembly is distinguishable for requiring a synthetic resin frame.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,854 issued on Aug. 10, 1976, to Charles F. Gilbo et al. describes connectors for tubular framing members having a square cross-section which is distinguishable for being limited to joining framing members with the same cross-section.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,263 issued on Aug. 3, 1977, to Otto Bassler describes a spherical connector joint for connecting a plurality of cylindrical rods which is distinguishable for being limited to joining metal rods.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,975 issued on Dec. 19, 1978, to Richard J. Gabriel describes a construction set comprising a plurality of hollow  26  faceted metal joint elements with openings in each facet configured to receiving elongated struts for interconnecting a plurality of joint elements to form a three-dimensional framework. The construction set is distinguishable for requiring specific faceted joint elements.  
         [0016]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,998 issued on Jan. 18, 1983, to James A. Pestoor describes a tube assembling device comprising a metal device for coupling or plugging hollow square tubing which is distinguishable for requiring metal connectors for metal parts.  
         [0017]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,550 issued on May 12, 1987, to Rolf D. Jachmann et al. describes a junction piece for releasably connecting rod-shaped elements with one another having a junction ball and a pin element which is distinguishable for requiring metal ball and pin elements.  
         [0018]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,804 issued on Jul. 7, 1987, to Richard E. Holt describes demountable frames for furniture comprising steel structural members extending between two fixed spaced steel members being fitted in place by the extension of projections at the ends of the structural member into the spaced members without moving the latter apart, and can be removed by reversing the process. The demountable frames are distinguishable for requiring metal elements.  
         [0019]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,191 issued on Nov. 29, 1988, to Hiroshi Shima describes elements for constructing a three-dimensional structure comprising beams that make edges, polygonal plates that make faces, and joints with arms that connect the beams and/or polygonal plates with each other so that a structure is formed, wherein the ends of the joint arms is formed into a spherical shape and bearings which have a grasping menas and polygonal plates so that of said berings can be engaged or disengaged with it freely. The joints are formed into at least two shapes from an elastic material so that they can be used singly or in conjunction with the others in connecting said beams and/or polygonal plates, and hooks are provided to hold the beams by their sides. The joining devices are distinguishable by their unique polygonal shapes.  
         [0020]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,369 issued on May 1, 1990, to Bonnie G. Chew, II et al. describes a connector for portable furniture including a bed and a child enclosure comprising rods with keys that engage slots in the tubes of the furniture frame. The connectors are distinguishable for requiring a four- or three-sided keyed connector.  
         [0021]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,220 issued on Apr. 16, 1991, to Haresh Lalvani describes a non-periodic and periodic layered space frames having prismatic nodes that are distinguishable for requiring prismatic nodes.  
         [0022]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,882 issued on Mar. 19, 1996, to Robert W. Waterhouse describes a redundant joint with three-way plumbing elbows that is distinguishable for requiring three-way joint structures.  
         [0023]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,063 issued on Jul. 16, 1996, in two parts for C. Cecelia C. Cable describes a collapsible recreational chair made of aluminum, steel or plastic with a flexible back support made of canvas, plastic, leather, or nylon. The chair is distinguishable for requiring metal parts.  
         [0024]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,097 issued on Jul. 16, 1996, to Jacques Hazan describes an assembly system for the construction of modular furniture using a plurality of metal pipes having an orthogonal array of coplanar openings and a threaded bore at the opposite end. The modular furniture is distinguishable for requiring metal pipes.  
         [0025]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,408 issued on Aug. 27, 1996, to Wei W. Lo describes a metal connector for built-up toy furniture having a circular block shape with a circular top recess for mounting a male vertical frame rod, a circular bottom recess for mounting a female vertical frame, a center through hole communicated between the circular top and bottom recesses for allowing the screw rod section of the male vertical frame rod to pass and to be threaded in the screw hole of the female vertical frame rod, a plurality of radial holes for mounting a horizontal frame rod, and a plurality of countersunk holes around the circular top recess for mounting a screw bolt to hold down each horizontal frame rod in each radial hole. The connector device is distinguishable for requiring its specific metal structure.  
         [0026]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,790 issued on Feb. 4, 1997, to Preben B. Fich describes a furniture table with a tubular underframe of tubular legs. The table is distinguishable for requiring a plurality of legs.  
         [0027]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,491, issued on Jun. 10, 1997, to Paul Scharer et al. describes a circular or trapezoidal furniture frame construction with several rod elements that are connected at a node point by a node element having several holes that are arranged in principal axes orthogonal in pairs. The furniture is distinguishable for requiring specific node joint elements.  
         [0028]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,706 issued on Oct. 21, 1997, to Vaclav Husak et al. describes modular furniture made by laminated paper or paperboard tubes. The furniture is distinguishable for requiring paper tubes.  
         [0029]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,998 issued on Jul. 6, 1999, to Tuoraj Pourmand describes a joint for three-dimensional framed structures for interior use comprising three identical shaped surfaces or wings resembling the corner of a cube having two different segments that is distinguishable for requiring a three-dimensional joint device.  
         [0030]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,420 issued on Nov. 16, 1999, to Max L. Tilley describes a sleeping unit for furnishing a standardized room having two dresser units. Each dresseer unit comprising a rectangular box-like frame constructed of 1×1 aluminum tubing and welded joints. The dressers are distinguishable for being made of aluminum tubing and welded joints.  
         [0031]     German Patent Application No. DE 40 06 836 A1 published on Feb. 13, 1992, for Sigrid Reelitz describes a quick-assembly furniture kit consisting of polygonal connecting pieces and lengthwise supporting struts which can be assembled without tools by utilizing a pusher-mechanism requiring internal springs in the ends of the supporting struts. The kit is distinguishable for requiring connecting pieces with internal springs.  
         [0032]     German Patent Application No. DE 43 02 696 A1 published on Sep. 23, 1993, for Eberhard Rensch describes a furniture kit for tables, chairs, box frames or wood, glass or plastics panels having rods with holes in through which fit connecting elements with a screw end, a cylindrical end and a cylindrical intermediate piece. The furniture kit is distinguishable for requiring rods with connecting holes.  
         [0033]     A website publication, http://www.crawleydesign.com, noted Oct. 2, 2003, 2 pages, shows two foam models having a tag on top, a digitized table, and two printed stubs on its rear surface. The foam models are distinguishable for failing to reveal the ultimate shape of the articles.  
         [0034]     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a life size furniture kit solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0035]     The life size furniture kit comprises a case containing plastic deformable tubes of varying diameters and lengths, connectors, an instruction manual containing common furniture dimensions, and a videotaped instruction. The object is to help a customer how best to arrange his/her furniture according to the space provided in the empty room.  
         [0036]     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a life size furniture kit from plastic tubes according to the present invention.  
         [0037]     It is another object of the invention to provide a variety of life size furniture from plastic tubes for planning the furniture layout of a room for a customer according to the present invention.  
         [0038]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a life size furniture layout for a customer by providing an instruction manual and a step-by-step instruction manual video according to the present invention.  
         [0039]     Still another object of the invention is to provide a case containing all the plastic tubes, connectors, and instruction guides according to the present invention.  
         [0040]     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
         [0041]     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0042]      FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of a life size seven-foot long couch frame in box form according to the present invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 1B  is a front perspective view of a life size chair frame having floor stands for each leg according to the present invention.  
         [0044]      FIG. 1C  is a front perspective view of a life size love seat frame in box form according to the present invention.  
         [0045]      FIG. 1D  is a front perspective view of a life size coffee table frame having floor stands for each leg according to the present invention.  
         [0046]      FIG. 1E  is a front perspective view of a life size end table frame having floor stands for each leg according to the present invention.  
         [0047]      FIG. 1F  is a front perspective view of a life size chest frame in box form according to the present invention.  
         [0048]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a short transparent plastic tube connector according to the present invention.  
         [0049]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a transparent plastic right angle curved elbow connector according to the present invention  FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a transparent plastic tee-connector according to the present invention.  
         [0050]      FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of a transparent plastic four-hole perpendicular and in-line connector according to the present invention.  
         [0051]      FIG. 2E  is a perspective view of a transparent plastic four-hole connector, wherein two horizontal connector segments are at right angles to each other and to the vertical connector segment.  
         [0052]      FIG. 2F  is a perspective view of a transparent plastic three-hole connector, wherein a right-angled connector segment has a horizontal connector segment attached to the angle portion.  
         [0053]      FIG. 2G  is a perspective view of a cylindrical plastic connector having three longitudinal internal ridges.  
         [0054]      FIG. 2H  is a perspective view of a threaded plastic plug connector having a centered ring.  
         [0055]      FIG. 2I  is a perspective view of a plastic tubular connector having four diametrically opposed apertures for pins.  
         [0056]      FIG. 2J  is a perspective view of a plastic floor stand to support the legs of the life size furniture.  
         [0057]      FIG. 2K  is a perspective view of a plastic or wood clothes pin connector.  
         [0058]      FIG. 2L  is perspective view of a metal connector pin having a proximate head and a cotter pin at its distal end. 
     
    
       [0059]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0060]     The present invention is directed to a life size furniture kit consisting of an assortment of flexible transparent plastic tubes of varying diameters and lengths, an assortment of stiff plastic connectors of varying tube connecting capacities at various angles, an instruction pamphlet, and an instruction video cartridge. A prospective customer having at least one empty room to furnish with furniture can with the use of the life size furniture pieces visualize how the furniture pieces selected would be situated to one&#39;s desire.  
         [0061]     The life size furniture made by combining the plastic tubes with an assortment of connector pieces are placed in the vacant room and moved about to the satisfaction and desire of the customer. After the customer has made his/her selections, the life size can be readily dismantled and carried away in a case.  
         [0062]      FIG. 1  illustrates a life size seven-foot long couch frame  10  comprising five horizontal four feet long and 3/8 inch diameter plastic tubes  12  connected by connectors  14  ( FIG. 2A ) to three feet long plastic tubes  16 . Combined tubes  14  and  16  serving as a backrest are connected by curved right-angled connectors  18  ( FIG. 2B ) to 1.5 feet long vertical tubes  20  at each end and to four-hole connectors  22  ( FIG. 2E ). This portion constitutes the seatback or backrest of the couch frame  10 . The seat box portion comprises four horizontal tubes  24  two and a half feet in length joined by the previously noted two connectors  22  ( FIG. 2E ) in the rear and two front connectors  28  ( FIG. 2F ). The floor support is a similar rectangular shape 7 feet long and 2 and a half feet deep having four connectors  30  ( FIG. 2F ) analogous to the front connectors  28 . Thus, the couch frame  10  provides the home occupant with a visual conception of how much space a future couch will take in the room.  
         [0063]     In  FIG. 1B , a life size chair frame  32  3.5 feet in height, 3 feet in length and 2 feet in depth is depicted. Since the chair&#39;s seatback and seat have the same components as the couch  10 , but lack the length, enumeration of the various elements will not be recited. However, the chair  32  has four floor stands  36  on its four legs  38 . The floor stands  36  can be made of rigid plastic or metal.  
         [0064]     In  FIG. 1C , a life size love seat  40  is shown similar to the  FIG. 1A  except that the length has been shortened to 5 feet requiring a four foot and one foot tubes connected for all the horizontal elements except the seat width tubes. Therefore, the parts will have identical reference characters except for the shorter foot long components  42 .  
         [0065]     In  FIG. 1D , a life size coffee table  44  is shown having a table framework consisting of two four foot long horizontal tubes  46  and two horizontal tubes  48  having a length of two feet being joined by four connectors  28  ( FIG. 2F ). Each of four legs  50  are 1.5 feet long and end in the floor stands  36 .  
         [0066]     In  FIG. 1E , an illustration of one of two square life size end table frames  52  placed alongside the ends of the couch frame  10  is shown. The end table frame  52  has four two feet long horizontal frame elements  54  and four legs  56  three feet long supported by floor stands  36 .  
         [0067]     In  FIG. 1F , a life size material storing chest  58  is four feet long, three feet wide and two feet tall. The four length tubes  60  and four width tubes  62  are joined by eight  FIG. 2F  connectors  64 .  
         [0068]     Other connectors not illustrated in the above examples are the  FIG. 2C  Tee connector  66  having a perpendicular tube and the  FIG. 2D  connector  68  having four perpendicular tubes.  FIG. 2G  depicts a cylindrical plastic connector  72  having three longitudinal internal ridges  74  equidistantly spaced.  FIG. 2H  shows a threaded tubular connector  76  having an external ring or washer  78 .  FIG. 2I  illustrates a cylindrical connector  80  having two apertures  82 .  FIG. 2J  depicts the floor stands  36  comprising an upright tube  84  to receive a leg and based on a flat square base  86 .  FIG. 2K  shows a conventional wood or plastic clothespin  88 .  FIG. 2L  illustrates a metal stud pin  90  having a cotter pin  92 .  
         [0069]     Thus, six examples of life size furniture have been shown fabricated by the seller to demonstrate to a buyer how the room will appear with the life size furniture installed. Other examples such as bookcases, desks and the like mock up room furniture can be similarly constructed and demonstrated.  
         [0070]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.