Abstract:
Interlocking, stackable articles of furniture are disclosed. The individual components may be used separately, interlocked end to end, stacked in various orientations to create shelving structures, or stacked vertically as a single upstanding unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/787,919, filed Mar. 31, 2006. This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/714,403, filed Mar. 6, 2007, which also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/787,919, filed Mar. 31, 2006. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to stackable, interlocking furniture. More particularly, this invention concerns the appropriate positioning and spacing of the furniture&#39;s structural elements to achieve effective interlocking of multiple modules and efficient use of space when multiple modules are stacked for storage or shipment. Among other uses, individual modules of this invention may be used as a general purpose stool, step ladder, ottoman, bench, bedside table, coffee table, or shelving. Multiple modules can be interlocked end to end to form longer single level structures. Multiple modules can be stacked in a variety of configurations to create shelving units or pillars for efficient use of storage space. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,331 discloses stackable, nestable articles of furniture including two identical tables and two identical chairs which may be used separately or mated together to form a single cube-like unit. The table units include three legs, one leg extending down from a table surface and having a predetermined width, and the other two legs extending down from the table surface having a space between the legs sized to accommodate the first leg. When assembled into a cube-like unit, the table units are oriented at 180 degrees with respect to each other on the vertical axis and at 180 degrees with respect to each other on the horizontal axis, such that one table surface rests on the ground and the other table surface faces away from the ground. In this orientation, the first leg of one table interlocks with the two legs of the second table and vice versa, created a stacked unit of tables. The associated chairs are similarly designed to nest within the stacked table unit to form the cube-like unit. 
     While this prior art illustrates an effective way to stack furniture, it suffers from several problems. First, it does not teach any way to stack more than two table units. In situations where more than two tables are in use, this design would force a user to create multiple cube-like units which are not interconnected. Because additional units are not interconnected, vertical storage would result in a safety risk and side by side storage would limit storage room. Second, the table units of the prior art stack inefficiently, again making it difficult to store a large number of units in a small space. Because the patent discloses stacking the legs of one table upon the legs of the other, the composite cube-like unit is nearly as tall as the height of two tables. Therefore, very little vertical space is saved in this storage configuration. Finally, the system does not provide any means for interlocking the table units while the individual components are arranged for use. Thus, long rows of tables are created only by placing the tables next to each other; there is no means of preventing them from coming out of alignment. 
     The present invention solves all of these problems. It is an object of this invention to allow for the stacking of an indefinite number of furniture modules in an efficient manner. 
     It is a further object of this invention to create modules capable of interlocking end to end with other modules to create a table or bench-like structure. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to create a stackable, interlocking shelving units. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the associated drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment for an individual furniture module which is made according to this invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of an alternative preferred embodiment for an individual furniture module having a leg arrangement including multiple legs. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of several of the furniture modules of  FIG. 1  as they appear when they are placed end to end in interlocked relationship to prevent lateral movement. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of several of the furniture modules of  FIG. 1  as they appear when they are stacked atop one another and oriented with respect to each other for efficient storage. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment arranged to provide a shelving unit according to this invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a first configuration for the shelving units of  FIG. 4  stacked atop and interlocked with each other. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a second configuration for the shelving units of  FIG. 4  stacked atop and interlocked with each other. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to this embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is directed to furniture modules capable of being used individually or being interlocked to form shelving, a bench, or other articles. The modules can also be effectively stacked atop each other. 
     The furniture modules of this invention may be made of any material, although plastics, metal and woods are preferred because in appropriate types they are light in weight, strong and low in cost. Furthermore, the furniture modules of this invention may be scaled to any size, so long as relevant dimensions described hereafter remain in proportion. Although various modules may, in their final form, appear in different colors and with different design patterns, in the preferred embodiment, all of modules have the same height and shape. 
     In accordance with the invention, each furniture module  9  is comprised of a preferably square top surface  10 , a first set of one or more legs  11 , and a second set of at least two legs  12 . Both the first set of legs and the second set of legs extend downward from opposing sides of the surface and are preferably offset from the surface edges as illustrated. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the surface  10  has a single leg  11  extending downward from one side of the surface  10  and two legs  12  extending downward from the opposite side of the surface  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first leg  11  has a predetermined width A between its outermost surfaces  13 . In another embodiment of the invention also illustrated in  FIG. 1 , multiple legs  11 A designated by dashed lines B could replace the unitary first leg  11 . However, in such an embodiment, the predetermined width between the outermost surfaces of the outermost legs must remain A. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the two legs  12  are spaced apart from each other, creating a void of width B between the innermost leg surfaces  14 . The width B must be greater than or equal to the predetermined width A in order to accommodate insertion of the first leg  11  at an adjacent but (here) identical module  9  into the void created by the separation of the two legs  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Although the preferred embodiment discloses the use of two legs to create the void, any number of legs may be used so long as the width between the innermost surfaces of the innermost legs remains width B. 
     In the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the modules interlock. This is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by protruding, the first leg  11  from the surface edge  15  and by protruding, the two legs  12  from the surface edge  16 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The protruding first leg  11  of a first module is inserted into the void created by the protruding two legs  12  of a second module, thus preventing lateral movement. Longitudinal movement can be prevented by providing interlocking dovetail formations (not shown) in the leg surfaces  13  and  14 . 
     Alternatively, the invention includes placement of the legs directly underneath the surface, rather than in an offset position. In this embodiment, the legs of a first module (not shown) would be positioned outside or beyond the perimeter of the surface of a second, nested module. This second module would nest within the void between the innermost surfaces of the legs of the first module. This would also result in interlocking modules that prevent lateral movement. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of this invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates that the space between the first leg  11  and the two legs  12  has a predetermined length X. The maximum width Y of the surface  10  is less than or equal to the predetermined length X. As shown in  FIG. 3 , this spacing permits the stacking of a first module  31  upon a second module  32 , with the first module  31  oriented at 180 degrees with respect to the second module  32 . This arrangement increases the height of the combined structure by only the height H of the surface  10  and thus maximizes storage space. As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , by orienting a third module  33  at ninety degrees in either direction with respect to the second module  32 , the third module  33  may be stacked upon the second module  32 . In addition, by stacking a fourth module oriented at 180 degrees in either direction with respect to the third module  33 , a stacking unit  30  is created. The entire configuration can be locked in place by placing a fifth module atop the stack, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Repetition of this process permits the stacking of an indefinite number of furniture modules. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of yet another aspect of this invention.  FIG. 4  depicts an embodiment of a shelving unit  40  created through the combination of two identical shelf modules  41 . These modules  41  are identical in configuration with the modules in  FIGS. 1-3 . Each shelf module  41  includes a side surface  42 , a top leg  43 , and two bottom legs  44 . The top leg  43  and the bottom legs  44  extend perpendicularly to the side surface  42  in the same direction. The top leg  43  is designed with a predetermined width W. The bottom legs  44  are spaced apart so that the width between the innermost surfaces of the two legs is V, a distance greater than or equal to the predetermined width W. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , the spacing is such that the top leg  53  of one shelf module  51  will nest within the space between the bottom legs  54  of a second shelf module  52 , effectively interlocking shelf module  51  and shelf module  52 . 
     The shelf modules of  FIG. 4  are configured and oriented so that the top legs  43  and the bottom legs  44  of two shelf modules  41  confront each other. The combination of the two shelf modules in this orientation constitutes a shelving unit. Although the shelving unit depicted in  FIG. 4  is the preferred embodiment, multiple variations can be created. As an example, any number of legs may be used as a substitute for the top leg or the bottom legs, so long as the space between the innermost surfaces of the innermost bottom legs remains greater than or equal to the width of the outermost opposing surfaces of the outermost top legs. Aside from this spacing limitation, the shelving units  41  may come in any size or shape. However, each shelf module  41  must be substantially identical in size and shape when compared to the other modules. 
     The shelving units of  FIG. 4  can be combined into a variety of structures, some of which are illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . To accomplish this, all shelving units and shelf modules used to create the shelving structure are oriented in the same direction. The shelving units should be oriented so that at least one flat surface of the shelving unit is parallel to the ground. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , each shelving unit  41  is oriented such that the top legs  43  face down and the bottom legs  44  face up. A number of shelving units are placed side by side so that the side surface  42  of one shelving unit  43  abuts the side surface  42  of another shelving unit  41 . Another second-level shelving unit  41  may be placed atop the ground level shelving units  41  just described. The second-level shelving unit  41  is centered above the point where the side surfaces  42  of the ground level shelving units  41  meet. The top legs  43  of the second-level shelving unit  42  nest within the space created by the bottom legs  44  of the ground level shelving units  41 , interlock all of the shelving units and preventing lateral movement. Due to this spacing, it is necessary to fill out the second level with a single shelf module  41  at each end. As before, the side surface  42  of the shelf module  41  abuts the side surface  42  of the adjacent shelving unit  41  and the top leg  43  of the shelf module  41  interlocks with the bottom legs  44  of the ground level shelving unit. By repeating this process, a shelving structure of indefinite length and height can be achieved. 
     The same approach may be used by rotating the shelving units and shelf modules in any direction, so long as one surface remains parallel to the ground. In the further embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the same approach is used, however the shelving units  11  are oriented such that the top legs  44  face up and the bottom legs  43  face down. 
     Although the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings show square surfaces, invention comprehends any shaped surface that permits attachment of the required leg structures. Furthermore, except where otherwise required, the legs need not be perpendicular to the surface, but may extend from the surface at any angle so long as the required proportional dimensions are not violated. 
     While the invention has been described in a preferred form, it will be understood that changes, additions, and modifications may be made to the respective articles forming the invention. Accordingly, no limitation should be imposed on the scope of this invention, except as set forth in the accompanying claims.