Abstract:
A method of fabrication of furniture by affixing a plurality of rods of similar length forming a frame comprising a plurality of tetrahedra and pentahedra with the frame having at least one planar surface for attachment thereto of a covering.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to furniture, and, more specifically, to articles of furniture comprising a plurality of rods of similar length forming a frame with at least one planar surface (bed, table, shelf, foot stools etc.) for coverings. 
     The present invention comprises of interconnection of rods forming both tetrahedron and pentahedron structures in unison. When a plurality of tetrahedron and/or pentahedron structures are interconnected, structures of furniture are formed. These forms are utilized as the frame structure for various furniture including, chairs, couches, tables, beds, shelving, lounge chairs and other different shapes of said forms of furniture, formed by addition or subtraction of individual rods, thus unlimited furniture forms. 
     When working with polyhedra structures, the tetrahedron/pentahedron components may be oriented with a triangle primary surface or a square primary surface. Where as when oriented with a triangle, the triangle is used as the working planar surface(s) such as a chair. Likewise, when oriented with a square, the square is used as the working planar surface such as an ottoman. These orientations are depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
     The connection of the distal end of each rod may be affixed permanently or semi-permanently. Welding or brazing is a preferred method of permanent rod interconnection. For semi-permanent or knockdown structures, fasteners or a node connector formed of fastenable mating members are used to secure the distal ends. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     There are other gaming and entertainment systems. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,578 issued to Cureton on Feb. 10, 1970. 
     Another patent was issued to Gilman on May 8, 1984 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,666. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,191 was issued to Shima on Nov. 29, 1988 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 24, 1990 to Hoberman as U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,700. 
     Another patent was issued to Weisse on Nov. 6, 1990 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,533. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,776 was issued to Fromson on Dec. 7, 1993. Another was issued to Frazier on Oct. 17, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,129 and still yet another was issued on May 15, 2001 to Zheng as U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,119. 
     Internationally, a United Kingdom patent was issued to Holt on Sep. 3, 1970 as Patent Number GB 1204245. Yet another United Kingdom Patent Number GB1543419 was issued to Holland on Apr. 4, 1979. A European Patent Application was issued to Weisse on Mar. 6, 1991 as Patent Application No. EPO415597. 
     A centroidally supported modular tetrahedron structure, particularly adapted for use in a kite including a plurality of tetrahedron shaped units. Each unit has four supporting struts which are attached at their one end at the centroid of the unit and extend to the apices of the tetrahedron. A sheet member or sail is disposed on two of the faces of the tetrahedron and is attached at the ends of the struts. Tension strings and/or sail tension edges connect the ends of the struts together and tend to force the struts toward the centroid. Some of the sail ends may be attached to their strut ends by elastic bands to provide for a variable effective sail area. The strut ends have connectors whereby a plurality of units may be joined together as desired to form a variety of overall kite shapes. 
     A three-dimensional, tetrahedral truss and its method of construction are provided. The truss comprises a three-dimensionally periodic skeletal array of an interconnected plurality of skeletal-tetrahedric units, the array being in the pattern of the crystallographic structure known as “cubic-diamond”. Each of the skeletal-tetrahedric units is a skeletal arrangement of elongate members joined in the pattern of an equilateral skeletal tetrahedron, and is preferably assembled from four hexagonic triplanar-rings being of the form created by joining six bilateral-elements in a closed ring, triplanar pattern, the bilateral-elements each having equal sides and having an included angle of about 109.degree.28′. 
     This invention discloses elements for constructing a three-dimensional structure, comprising beams that make edges, polygonal plates that make faces and joints with arms that connect said beams and/or polygonal plates with each other so that a desired structure is formed, wherein the end of said joint arms is formed into a spherical shape and bearings which have a grasping means for said spherical and of said joint arms are provided to said beams and polygonal plates so that any of said bearings can be engaged or disengaged with it freely; said joints are formed into at least two shapes from an elastic material so that they can be used singly or in conjunction with the other in connecting said beams and/or polygonal plates; and hooks are provided to each side of said polygonal plates so that said hooks can hold said beams by their sides. 
     A loop-assembly is disclosed which is comprised of at least three scissors-pairs, at least two of the pairs comprising: two essentially identical rigid angulated strut elements each having a central and two terminal pivot points with centers which do not lie in a straight line, each strut being pivotally joined to the other of its pair by their central pivot points, each pair being pivotally joined by two terminal pivot points to two terminal pivot points of another pair in that, (a) the terminal pivot points of each of the scissors-pairs are pivotally joined to the terminal pivot points of the adjacent pair such that both scissors-pairs lie essentially in the same plane, or (b) the terminal pivot points of a scissors-pair are each pivotally joined to a hub element which is small in diameter relative to the length of a strut element, and these hub elements are in turn joined to the terminal pivot points of another scissors-pair, such that the plane that one scissors-pair lies in forms an angle with the plane that the other scissors-pair lies in, the axes passing through the pivot points of one of the scissors-pair not being parallel to the axes of the other scissors-pair, where a closed loop-assembly is thus formed of scissors-pairs, and this loop-assembly can freely fold and unfold without bending or distortion of any of its elements, and a line that intersects and is perpendicular to the axes of any two terminal pivot points is non-parallel with at least two other similarly formed lines in the assembly, the angles formed between said lines remaining constant as the loop-assembly is folded and unfolded. 
     A lightweight, high strength moldable structure is comprised of a core having a plurality of interconnected cavities. Each solid-walled cavity has a hexagonal base so that the core of the structure has upper and lower surfaces. Each solid-walled cavity has a unique tetrahexagonal shape in which a regular tetrahedron is located on top of and integrated with a hexagonal base. The walls of the cavities may be solid or they may be defined by a series of support struts for an even lighter weight structure. The upper and lower surfaces may be covered by skins, making it suitable for boat hulls, vacuum chambers, and aircraft. The hexagonal bases of the solid walled cavities may be replaced by perpendicular support walls extending between the adjacent tetrahedral apices and/or hexagonal base vertices. 
     Two tetrahedrons are fixed together at a common joint and provided with a seat fixed between faces of respective tetrahedrons and parallel to a support plane formed by two joints meeting the common joint at the common joint. For equilateral tetrahedrons which meet at an angle of 109.degree.30′ between faces, plural seating can be provided by fixing three or more tetrahedrons together in a variety of configurations having a common support plane and seats parallel thereto. 
     A joint system having one or more tetrahedral joints formed by three edge lapped flat pieces having complimentary open-ended slots which interlock in a construction composing one vertex of a tetrahedron. A plurality of tetrahedral joints can be interconnected by one or more interlocking flat pieces having open-ended slots at both ends to form a part of two or more tetrahedral joints in various configurations with other tetrahedral joints. 
     A foldable dual-chair includes a pair of seat frames and a pair of back frame constructed to support a pair of fabric seats thereon respectively wherein a connecting frame is foldably supported between the two seat frames. The connecting frame includes a pair connecting leg posts each having an outer tube frame and an inner tube frame upwardly extended therefrom in a vertical movable manner. So, the connecting leg posts are capably of slidably adjusting their height in such a manner the foldable dual-chair is capable of folding up into a compact unit for easy storage and carriage. 
     A somewhat pyramidal underframe, for a table or chair, is folded up from a bilaterally symmetrical flat blank of sheet material. The underframes have re-entrant folds to support a like seat having a backrest and a triangular bottom, or a table top. The seat may be secured in its erected condition by applying adhesive tape to its rear spine or closing the spine with a sliding clasp fastener. On releasing the two parts of the spine, the construction may be collapsed. Blanks of kraft-lined chipboard covered with polythene can be die cut and creased in one operation. Alternatively, plywood laminated between sheets of poly-urethane foam may be used. The chairs may be clipped side-by-side to form a seating arrangement interspersed with tables 
     According to the invention there is provided a furniture assembly comprising a central unit comprised of a formable material, a plurality of frameless seating units each comprised of a deformable material and adapted to be arranged circumferentially of the central unit, and a rigid sheet adapted to fit the upper surface of the central unit to provide a rigid upper surface for the central unit to form a table and to be used as a seating unit. 
     A lightweight, high strength moldable structure is comprised of a core having a plurality of interconnected cavities ( 12 ). Each solid-walled cavity ( 12 ) has a hexagonal base ( 24 ) so that the core of the structure has upper and lower surfaces. Each solid-walled cavity ( 12 ) has a unique tetrahexagonal shape in which a regular tetrahedron is located on top of and integrated with a hexagonal base ( 24 ). The walls of the cavities may be solid or they may be defined by a series of support struts ( 63 ,  64 ) for an even lighter weight structure. The upper and lower surfaces may be covered by skins ( 14 ,  16 ), making it suitable for boat hulls, vacuum chambers, and aircraft. The hexagonal bases of the solid walled cavities ( 12 ) may be replaced by perpendicular support walls ( 236 ,  242 ,  252 ) extending between the adjacent tetrahedral apices ( 232 ,  234 ) and/or hexagonal base vertices ( 254 ). 
     While these structure assemblies may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide means to construct an article of furniture comprising a plurality of rods of similar length. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide means to construct an article of furniture comprising a plurality of rods of similar length forming a frame with at least one planar surface (usually two or more surfaces) for attachment thereto of covering. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide means to construct an article of furniture comprising a plurality of rods of similar length with said rods permanently affixed by means of welding or brazing. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means to construct an article of furniture comprising a plurality of rods of similar length with said rods semi-permanently affixed by means of connectors which may include other connectors already in existence. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means to construct an article of furniture that is easy to assemble for manufacture and cost effective for the manufacturer and the consumer. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will be apparent as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a method for nearly an unlimited variety of furniture types with flexibility in design via a simple combination of polyhedra and/or parts thereof. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the description herein. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments; practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tetrahedron with triangle primary surface; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pentahedron with triangle primary surface; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pentahedron with square primary surface; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a chair assembly structure with cushion(s) in tetrahedra orientation with two triangle primary surfaces; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a chair assembly structure without cushion(s) in tetrahedra orientation with two triangle primary surfaces; 
         FIG. 4C  is a side elevation view of a chair assembly structure with cushion(s) on seat and back plane therein and in tetrahedra orientation resting on the floor plane; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of an ottoman assembly structure with out cushion(s) in pentahedra orientation with a square primary surface; 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of an ottoman assembly structure without cushion(s) in pentahedra orientation with a square primary surface; 
         FIG. 5C  is a side elevation view of an ottoman assembly structure with cushion(s) on top plane therein and in pentahedra orientation resting on floor plane; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a table assembly structure with top cover in inverted pentahedron orientation with a segmented square primary surface; 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a table assembly structure without top cover in inverted pentahedron orientation with a segmented square primary surface; 
         FIG. 6C  is a side elevation view of a table assembly structure with top cover on inverted pentahedron resting on floor plane; 
         FIG. 6D  is a plan view of a table assembly structure with top cover on inverted pentahedron resting on floor plane; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a lounge chair assembly structure with cushion(s) in combination of tetrahedra/pentahedra orientation with both triangle and square primary surfaces; 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of a lounge chair assembly structure without cushion(s) in combination of tetrahedra/pentahedra orientation with both triangle and square primary surfaces; and 
         FIG. 7C  is a side elevation view of a lounge chair assembly structure with cushion(s) on seat, back and leg portion of frame, resting on floor plane. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Tetraframe Component of Furniture of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Tetraframe Component of Furniture of the present invention     12  integrated polyhedral (namely tetrahedra and pentahedra)     14  polyhedron (4 or more sides)     16  tetrahedron (4 sided)     18  pentahedron (5 sided)     20  rods of similar length     22  distal end of rods     24  chair assembly structure     26  seat portion of  24       28  back portion of  24       30  primary planar surface     32  cushion/covering     34  triangular coplanar surface of  16  and  18       38  floor plane     40  ottoman assembly structure     42  square coplanar surface of  16  and  18       44  table assembly structure     46  square floor base of  44       48  lounge chair assembly structure     50  seat portion of  48       52  back portion of  48       54  leg support portion of  48         

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tetrahedron  16  with a triangular primary planer surface  30 . The present invention  10  is a component of furniture creating a frame of a polyhedron  14  and more specifically a tetrahedron  16  wherein each tetrahedron  16  is formed by a plurality of six rods  20  of similar length that are interconnected at the distal ends  22  thereof. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pentahedron  18  with triangular primary planer surface  30 . The present invention  10  is a component of furniture creating a frame of a polyhedron  14  and more specifically a pentahedron  18  wherein each pentahedron  18  is formed by a plurality of eight rods  20  of similar length that are interconnected at the distal ends  22  thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pentahedron  18  with a square primary planer surface  30 . The present invention  10  is a component of furniture creating a frame of a polyhedron  14  and more specifically pentahedron  18  wherein each pentahedron  18  is formed by a plurality of eight rods  20  of similar length that are interconnected at the distal ends  22  thereof. 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a chair assembly structure  24  with cushion(s)  32  in tetrahedra  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  orientation. The frame  12  makes up the back portion  28  and the seat portion  26  that are established by a plurality of polyhedra  12  with adjacent triangular coplanar surfaces  34  forming a primary planar surface for receiving a covering  32 . The cushions  32  may be a single unit or a plurality of cushion segments  32  disposed on each primary planar surface  26  and  28  of the frame  12 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a chair assembly structure  24  without cushion(s) in tetrahedra  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  orientation. The frame  12  makes up the back portion  28  and the seat portion  26  that are established by a plurality of polyhedra  12  with adjacent triangular coplanar surfaces  34  forming a primary planar surface  30  as demonstrated in the illustration with the back portion  28  and the seat portion  26  darken perimeter line. 
       FIG. 4C  is a side elevation view of a chair assembly structure  24  with cushion(s)  32  in tetrahedra  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  orientation. The frame  12  rest on the floor plane  38  with the seat planar portion  26  and the back planar portion  28  having their respective cushion(s)  32  employed therewith on the primary planer surface  30 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of an ottoman assembly structure  40  with cushion(s)  32  in pentahedra  FIG. 3  orientation. The frame  12  creates the seat portion of the square coplanar surfaces  42 . 
       FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of an ottoman assembly structure  40  without cushion(s) in pentahedra  FIG. 3  orientation. The frame  12  creates the seat portion of the square coplanar surfaces  42 , and establish the primary planar surface  30  as demonstrated in the illustration with the seat portion darken perimeter line. 
       FIG. 5C  is a side elevation view of an ottoman assembly structure  40  with cushion(s)  32  in pentahedra  FIG. 3  orientation. The frame  12  is shown resting on the floor plane  38  with seat primary planer surface  30  as demonstrated in the illustration with the darken perimeter line. 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a table assembly structure  44  with top cover  32  in pentahedra  FIG. 3  orientation. The inverted pentahedron  FIG. 3  is configured to form a frame  12  for supporting a covering  32  used as a tabletop. 
       FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a table assembly structure  44  without top cover in pentahedra  FIG. 3  orientation. The inverted pentahedron  FIG. 3  is configured to form a frame  12  having a square floor base  46  as illustrated with diagonal lines, for supporting a covering used as a tabletop as illustrated with dashed lines  30 . 
       FIG. 6C  is a side elevation view of a table assembly structure  44  with top cover  32  in pentahedra  FIG. 3  orientation. The inverted pentahedron  FIG. 3  is configured to form a frame  12  having a square floor base  46  as illustrated with diagonal lines to rest on the floor plane  38  with the top cover  32  to rest on the resulting tetrahedra  FIG. 1  as illustrated with dashed lines  30 . 
       FIG. 6D  is a plan view of a table assembly structure  44  with top cover  32  in pentahedra  FIG. 3  orientation. The inverted pentahedron  FIG. 3  is configured to form a frame  12  having a square floor base  46  as illustrated with diagonal lines, for supporting a covering used as a table top as illustrated with dashed lines  30 . 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a lounge chair assembly structure  48  with cushion(s)  32  in combination of tetrahedra  FIG. 1  and pentahedra  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  orientation. The structure has a frame  12  that supports the seat portion  50 , the back portion  52  and leg support portion  54 . 
       FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of a lounge chair assembly structure  48  without cushion(s) in combination of tetrahedra  FIG. 1  and pentahedra  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  orientation. The structure has a frame  12  that support the seat portion  42 ,  50 , the back portion  34 ,  52  and leg support portion  34 ,  54 . Additionally, the seat portion, back portion and leg portion  30  are illustrated with darken perimeter lines. 
       FIG. 7C  is a side elevation view of a lounge chair assembly structure  48  with cushion(s)  32  in combination of tetrahedra  FIG. 1  and pentahedra  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  orientation. The structure  12  supports the seat  30 ,  50 ; the back  30 ,  52 ; the leg support  30 ,  54  and rest on floor plane  38 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of configurations differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the structures illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present product development. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the sum and substance of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.