Abstract:
Present embodiments relate to furniture joinery. More particularly, present embodiments relate to a slide rail, slide block construction for joining furniture structural components.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Present embodiments relate to furniture joinery. More particularly, present embodiments relate to a slide rail, slide block construction for joining furniture structural components. 
         [0003]    Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Furniture joinery is a term which generally refers to one or more elements or structures used to join two or more components of a piece of furniture. As furniture manufacturing has evolved, the desire for knock-down furniture which may be manufactured in one location and shipped for assembly to another location has increased. Prior art joinery, sometimes utilizes dovetail construction which has various deficiencies. First, the dovetails are difficult to manufacture which results in higher costs being passed to the consumer. The dovetail design also has a weakened area where the dovetail extends from the workpiece. Such area is typically referred to as a neck and receives the majority of the stress created at the joint. Other prior art joinery may utilize a metal brace to join parts. However, these metal to wood connections must have multiple screws to create a lasting rigid joint. Further, chair rails and table aprons often require multiple screws or bolts at each corner of a furniture piece and/or clamps to insure furniture components are tight while glue dries. For example one screw may pass through a joinery element into a leg while other screws may extend into adjacent apron structures in order to tie all of the pieces together rigidly. The use of multiple fasteners or clamping mechanisms results in higher manufacturing costs and increased parts and labor to accomplish a desired task. 
         [0005]    Another problem with some knock-down furniture designs is related to shipping. It is desirable to utilizing the least amount of volume in shipping. Where some designs for furniture joinery have required larger portions of a furniture piece to be assembled prior to shipping, the larger partial assemblies result in higher shipping costs where larger assemblies cannot be nested within other structures being shipped. It is desirable that a furniture joinery be developed which decreases the number of fasteners required for ease of assembly and which also may be easily shipped from a collapsed configuration minimizing volume from a manufacturing facility to an assembly facility or a consumer. 
         [0006]    Given the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a joinery assembly is desired which may be used with various types of furniture pieces and which allows for easy assembly of such pieces. 
         [0007]    The information included in this Background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded subject matter by which the scope of the invention is to be bound. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Various embodiments of furniture joinery are provided for use in building various pieces of furniture. The furniture joinery provides slide rails and slide blocks that define components of the furniture and which connect to furniture supports such as chair or table legs for non-limiting example. The furniture joinery includes at least one aperture or one tenon and the furniture support may alternatively include the other of the aperture or tenon. The aperture or tenon may include one of a notch or a rib and the other of the aperture or tenon may include the other of a notch or a rib, such that the notch and rib engage one another when the slide block is connected to the furniture support. 
         [0009]    According to some embodiments, a furniture joinery comprises a slide rail having a plurality of longitudinal grooves, extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, a tenon extending from the slide rail at an end, the tenon including an outwardly facing notch, a substantially trapezoidal shaped slide block having a long surface, a short surface parallel to the short surface and angled surfaces connecting ends of the long and short surfaces, the slide block having a plurality of slides disposed within the plurality of longitudinal grooves, a furniture support including an aperture for receiving the tenon of the slide rail, the aperture including a rib therein, a fastener extending through the slide block and engaging the furniture support wherein tightening of the fastener forces engagement of the notch and the rib. 
         [0010]    Optionally, the plurality of slides each may have a neck and a head. The plurality of grooves each may have a first cross-sectional shape. The furniture joinery may further comprise a second cross-sectional shape differing from said first cross-sectional shape. The grooves may extend from a first end to a second end of said slide rail. Alternatively, the grooves may extend from near one end of the slide rail to near a second end of the slide rail. The furniture joinery further comprising a second tenon at the end of the slide rail. 
         [0011]    According to some embodiments, a furniture joinery comprises a slide rail having one of a plurality of grooves or a plurality of slides, at least one tenon extending from one of the slide rail or a furniture support, a substantially trapezoidal shaped slide block having the other of the plurality of grooves or the plurality of slides, wherein the plurality of slides may be slidably positioned in the plurality of grooves, an aperture which receives the at least one tenon, the aperture located in the other of said slide rail or said furniture support. The at least one tenon may have at least one of a notch and a rib and the aperture may have the other of the notch and rib. The at least one notch and the rib engaging one another as the slide block is connected to the furniture support. 
         [0012]    Optionally, the slide rail may have an upper tenon and a lower tenon. The furniture support may have an upper aperture and a lower aperture corresponding to the upper tenon and the lower tenon. The slide block may have two angled surfaces. The two angled surface each having the plurality of slides. The two angled surfaces each engaging one of the slide rail or a second slide rail. The notch may be facing outward and the slide block may be forcing the slide rails outward. The at least one rib may extend generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the slide rail. The at least one notch may be formed generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the slide rail. All of the above outlined features are to be understood as exemplary only and many more features and objectives of a furniture joinery may be gleaned from the disclosure herein. Therefore, no limiting interpretation of this summary is to be understood without further reading of the entire specification, claims and drawings, included herewith. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    In order that the embodiments may be better understood, embodiments of the furniture joinery will now be described by way of examples. These embodiments are not to limit the scope of the claims as other embodiments of the furniture joinery will become apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the instant description. Non-limiting examples of the present embodiments are shown in pictures wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  depicts a partially exploded perspective view of a chair utilizing the furniture joinery; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  depicts a partially exploded perspective view of alternate furniture in the form of a table utilizing the furniture joinery; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  depicts a partially exploded perspective view of an alternate chair utilizing the furniture joinery; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is one embodiment of a slide block; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of slide block; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a first embodiment of a slide rail; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an alternate embodiment of a slide rail; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a detailed perspective view of the furniture joinery partially assembled; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  depicts an upper cross-section view of the furniture joinery where the slide rail and furniture support engage one another; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment wherein the tenon and aperture of the furniture joinery are located on opposite parts; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment wherein a slide rail may utilize a single tab; and, 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is an upper cross-section view of a further alternative embodiment of the slide rail and furniture support. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    It is to be understood that the furniture joinery is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
         [0027]    Referring now in detail to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout several views, there are shown in  FIGS. 1-12  various embodiments of furniture joinery are provided for use in building various pieces of furniture. The furniture joinery provides slide rails and slide blocks that define components of the furniture and which connect to furniture supports such as chair or table legs for non-limiting example. The furniture joinery includes at least one aperture or one tenon and the furniture support may alternatively include the other of the aperture or tenon. The aperture or tenon may include one of a notch or a rib and the other of the aperture or tenon may include the other of a notch or a rib. The notch and rib engage one another when the slide block is connected to the furniture support. This causes engagement between the notch and the tenon and inhibits removal of the joinery from the furniture support. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a piece of furniture  10  is shown. In the first embodiment, the furniture is depicted in non-limiting fashion as a chair  12 . The chair  12  may include a seat  14  which is connected to furniture supports  16 . The furniture supports  16  are located at four corners and include two front supports  16  and two rear supports  16 . The rear supports  16  extend upwardly to define chair back supports  18  which may be integrally formed with the lower furniture supports  16  or may be connected by way of fastener or other means. The chair back supports  18  provide for positioning of a chair back  20  extending therebetween or connected to both of the supports  18 . The chair back  20  may be formed of a material with structural supports inside, wicker, plastic, wood or other structures which may support a person&#39;s weight when seated in the chair  12  and may be connected between, to or around the chair back supports  18 . 
         [0029]    Extending between the supports or legs  16  are various pieces or components of furniture joinery  30 . The furniture joinery  30  is utilized to construct the furniture  10  and maintain connection of parts while also easing assembly. The present furniture joinery  30 , and the furniture  10  in general, may be formed of various materials including but not limited to wood or other molded parts. The furniture joinery  30  is partially hidden by the seat  14  once the seat is positioned on the chair  12 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an alternative furniture  10  is shown in the form of a table  11 . The table  11  includes a table top  13  and a plurality of furniture supports  16 . The table  11  also comprises furniture joinery  30  which is generally of the same or similar structure to the embodiment of the chair  12  ( FIG. 1 ) but may be of longer dimension or slightly different geometry. Further, while four supports are utilized in these embodiments, other alternate number of legs or supports may be used. As with the chair  12 , the furniture joinery  30  is utilized to connect the furniture supports  16  with the other components of the furniture  10  so as to provide ease of construction, as well as a locking assembly which renders disconnection or disassembly difficult, if not impossible. 
         [0031]    As with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the table  11  may be formed of various materials including wood, molded plastics, metal or other materials which may be used to form a furniture  10  and render the table  11  desirable for use, and sturdy. 
         [0032]    While a chair and table are shown in these figures, it should be understood that other pieces of furniture may be utilized with the features of the furniture joinery  30 . Any type of furniture may be formed with the furniture joinery  30  where multiple components or structural elements may be combined. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exploded perspective view of the exemplary chair  12  is depicted. In this view, the construction of the chair  12  utilizing the furniture joinery  30 , is more easily depicted. The seat  14  is exploded from the top of the remainder of the chair  12  to reveal the furniture joinery  30  underneath. 
         [0034]    The chair  12  includes four furniture supports  16 . The supports  16  may be one or more legs for the chair  12  and in the instant embodiment, includes four supports. There are two front supports  16  and two rear supports  16  which are formed with the chair back supports  18 . As previously described, they may be formed integrally with the furniture supports  16  or may be connected. In some embodiments, the chair back supports may not be utilized for example, in the case of a table or a stool without a back. 
         [0035]    The furniture supports  16  are connected by a plurality of slide rails  32 . Each of the slide rails  32  connects to two of the supports  16  in order to define the generally square shape of the seating area of the chair  12  upon which the seat  14  is positioned. At each corner of the chair  12 , is a furniture support  16  and two slide rails  32 . Each corner also comprises a slide block  34  which connects or engages the two side rails. 
         [0036]    During the assembly process, the slide blocks  34  engage the slide rails  32  at each corner and the slide blocks  34  are connected to, for example by fastener or other structures, the furniture supports  16 . The engagement of the slide blocks  34  with the furniture supports  16  forces the slide rails  32  in an outward direction away from the center of the chair  12  and causes engagement between the slide rail  32  and the furniture supports  16  to lock the structures together for a more sturdy assembly. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of an exemplary slide block  34  is depicted. The slide block  34  has a long surface  38 , a short surface  40  which is parallel to the long surface  38 , and two angled surfaces  42 ,  44  extending between and at ends of the long and short surfaces  38 ,  40 . 
         [0038]    Along the angled surfaces  42 ,  44  are a plurality of slides  46 . Each of the slides  46  includes a neck  47  and a head  48 . The slides  46  include the neck  47  and the head  48  for engagement with the slide rails  32 . The neck  47  is sized to have a width which is less than that of the heads  48  as shown in a vertical dimension in the depicted embodiment. Once the slides  46  are positioned in the slide rail  32 , the heads  48  may retain the slides  46  within grooves of slide rail  32 , and thus retain the slide block  34  to the slide rail  32 . 
         [0039]    In the instant embodiment, a plurality of slides  46  are shown. However, the slide block  34  may include a single slide or alternatively, two or more in order provide stable engagement with the slide rails  32 . This may be dependent on the dimensions of the slide rail  32  and the slide block  34 . Additionally, an aperture  49  is shown extending through the short surface  40 . The aperture  49  extends through the short surface  40  and the long surface  38  so that a fastener  51  ( FIG. 8 ) may extend through the slide block  34  and engage the furniture supports  16 . 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an alternate embodiment of the slide blocks  134  is depicted. The slide block  134  includes a short surface  40 , a long surface (not shown), and two angled surfaces  42 ,  44  as in the previous embodiment. However, in this embodiment the one or more slides  146  are generally formed of necks  147  and do not comprise the heads as in the previous embodiment. Accordingly, the structure may be pushed into the slide rails  32  ( FIG. 3 ) at any location along the slide rail  32 . Further, the slide rail  32  need not utilize a groove with varying cross-sectional shape. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the slide rail  32  is shown. The slide rail includes a first end  50  and a second end  52 . Each of the ends  50 ,  52  includes at least one tenon  54 . In the instant embodiment, the first and second tenons  54  are located at each of the first and second ends  50 ,  52 . However, the number of tenons  54  may be more or may be less depending on the height of the slide rail  32 . 
         [0042]    The slide rail  32  further comprises an inner surface  55  wherein a plurality of grooves  56 ,  57 ,  58  are located. The term “inner” is used since the exemplary surface faces inwardly relative to the furniture  10 . This is not limiting however. The grooves  56 ,  57 ,  58  receive the slides  46 ,  146  of the embodiments of the slide blocks  34 ,  134 . The number of grooves may vary and may or may not correspond to the number of slides. Additionally, the cross-sectional shape of the grooves  56 ,  57 ,  58  may vary depending on the cross-section shape of the slides  46 ,  146 . In the depicted embodiment, the grooves  56 ,  57 ,  58  may be utilized with the plurality of slides  46 . Alternatively, the slides  146  may be used with the depicted grooves  56 ,  57 ,  58  or alternatively, may be used with grooves which do not have varying cross-sectional shape. Thus, one skilled in the art will recognize the grooves may be of varying cross-section or may be of constant cross-section. 
         [0043]    Also, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the grooves  56 ,  57 ,  58  extend through the ends of the slide rail  32 . This allows the slide block  34  to be inserted in the slide rail  32  at ends  50 ,  52 . In other embodiments, the grooves  56 ,  57 ,  58  may stop short of the ends so that the slide blocks  34  may not be inserted at or removed from the ends  50 ,  52  but instead, may be positioned centrally along the longitudinal axis L of the slide rail  32  and moved toward the ends  50 ,  52  but not through the ends. 
         [0044]    For example, referring now to  FIG. 7 , the grooves  156 ,  157 ,  158  are shown with an enlarged central area wherein the slide blocks  34  may be inserted and slidably moved towards the first and second ends  150 ,  152 . In this embodiment, the slide blocks  34  may be inserted into the enlarged area at the central portion of the slide rail  132  and moved in a longitudinal direction toward the ends  150 ,  152 . This embodiment again utilizes a groove with a varying cross-sectional shape. This embodiment with a cross-section is generally T-shaped to receive the head and neck of the slide blocks and allow for positioning toward the ends of the slide rail  132 . 
         [0045]    The embodiment of  FIG. 7  also includes the at least one tenon  54  at longitudinal ends  150 ,  152 . The tenons  54  include one of a notch  70  or a rib  82  ( FIG. 12 ). The other of the rib or notch may be located in the furniture support  16  ( FIG. 3 ) so as to aid the slide rail  32 ,  132  engaging the furniture supports  16 . With additional reference to  FIG. 3 , one skilled in the art will recognize that the notch  70  or the rib  82  is oriented in an outward direction on the slide rail. The term “outward” is relative to the furniture orientation that is outward from the furniture interior. The notch  70  is generally cut in a direction which is at an angle to, and may be perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis L of the slide rail  32 ,  132 . The engagement at an angle, or perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis improves engagement between the slide rail  32 ,  132  and the furniture support  16 . This also inhibits removal of the slide rail  32 ,  132  in a longitudinal direction from the furniture support  16 . 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a detailed perspective view of a corner of the chair  12  is depicted. An exemplary slide block  34  is shown engaging two slide rails  32 . The slide rails  32  are shown engaging the furniture supports  16 . As the fastener  51  is positioned through the fastening aperture  39 , the slide block  34  is connected to the furniture support  16  and tightens toward the furniture support  16 . This creates a force F acting in a direction perpendicular to the angled surfaces  42 ,  44  and through the slide rails  32 . Each force F is shown acting from the slide block  34  through the slide rails  32 . The forces F act in an outward direction and thus, force the slide rails  32  also in an outward direction away from the center or interior area of the furniture. This causes engagement of the ribs and notches to aid in retaining the structures. 
         [0047]    With reference now to  FIG. 9 , a top section view of furniture  10  and more specifically, the furniture support  16  is shown. The furniture support  16  includes an aperture  80  on at least one surface. The instant embodiment utilizes apertures  80  on two perpendicular surfaces. However, other configurations may be utilized. Each aperture  80  includes a rib  82 . The tenons  54  may be slidably positioned into the aperture  80  and the notches  70  are positioned adjacent to the ribs  82 . The rib  82  and the notch  70  are shown generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the slide rail  32  as previously described. As depicted, the force F acting on the slide rail  32  forces the notch  70  and rib  82  into tighter engagement. Thus, as the fastener  51  ( FIG. 8 ) is tightened, the notch  70  and rib  82  increase engagement. Once engaged in such manner, the slide rail  32  cannot be removed from the furniture supports  16  in a longitudinal L direction. 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , an alternate embodiment is provided. In this embodiment, the furniture  10  is shown in a top section view. Opposite the previous embodiment, the furniture support  216  includes a tenon  254  and the slide rail  232  includes an aperture  280 . Further, the notch  270  and rib  282  may be reversed so that the rib  282  is located on the slide rail  232  and the notch  270  is located on the furniture support  216 . Thus, it may be understood by one skilled in the art that the tenon  254  and aperture  280  may be reversed from the slide sail  232  and furniture support  216  and likewise the rib  282  and notch  270  may also be reversed from the previous embodiments. 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a further alternative embodiment is provided wherein the slide rail  332  may include a single tenon  370  and the furniture support  316  may include a single aperture  380  corresponding to the single tenon  370 . This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment wherein two tenons and two apertures were shown for engagement with each other. Various numbers of apertures and tenons therefore may be utilized depending on the size of the furniture support and the corresponding slide rail. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , a further sectional view is provided. This embodiment depicts the rib  82  located on the tenon  54  and the notch  70  located in the furniture support  16 . 
         [0051]    While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the invent of embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teaching(s) is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0052]    All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. 
         [0053]    Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. 
         [0054]    As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law. 
         [0055]    As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc. 
         [0056]    It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited. 
         [0057]    In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03. 
         [0058]    The foregoing description of several methods and an embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention and all equivalents be defined by the claims appended hereto.