Abstract:
A chair and desk assembly that is a “knock-down” or “ready-to-assemble” (RTA) structure having members formed from a single sheet of, for example, plywood, that are assembled into interlocking relationship requiring no fasteners for the assembly. The assembly can be readily disassembled and knocked down into a compact form for storage, transportation, or packaging. Optionally, the chair and desk assembly, includes a reading stand, book storage compartment and may be a rocking chair.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/611,560 filed Sep. 20, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to the field of furniture, and in particular, to a chair and desk assembly having members formed from a single sheet of, for example, conventional plywood, that are assembled into interlocking relationship requiring no fasteners for the assembly. More particularly, this invention relates to a chair and desk assembly, that optionally includes a reading stand, book storage compartment and may be a rocking chair or stationary chair.  
         [0004]     Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a combination desk and chair that is a “knock-down” or “ready-to-assemble” (RTA) chair capable of being simply and readily assembled without the need for any conventional fastening means, and being designed to function as either a steady chair embodiment or a rocking chair embodiment. The assembly can be readily disassembled and knocked down into a compact form for storage, transportation, or packaging.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     Conventional chairs include back, seat, and leg portions that are generally connected together permanently. As a result, such conventional chairs cannot readily be collapsed so as to occupy less space in storage and so as to be more easily transported from one location to another. Furniture of the knock down type that may be readily disassembled for storage and/or transportation or packaging has long been known. Usually the knock down furniture in the prior art employs fasteners of various types including threaded fasteners, dowels, or wedges to align and join the various parts into a completed assembly. Such knock-down furniture is known to the prior art and is advantageous from the viewpoint of both shipment and storage, as well as size. There are also chair designs known to the prior art which, in one orientation function as a steady chair and, in an alternative orientation, function as another type of chair, such as for example, a rocking chair.  
         [0007]     It is, nevertheless, advantageous to provide a chair and desk assembly of knock-down design or ready-to-assemble (RTA) design capable of being simply and readily assembled and disassembled, without the need for conventional fasteners.  
         [0008]     The following U.S. patents and Published Applications are representative of some of the known knock-down and ready-to-assemble (RTA) designs;  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,419,028 and 4,867,327 to Roland discloses a knock down chair made from an assembly of interlocking planar members requiring no fasteners. The various members can be made from a single sheet of commercially available plywood and include first and second side members, a seat member, a pair of transverse seat support members, and a back member. The transverse seat support members are rotatingly interlocked to the side members, and the seat member is interlocked to the side members to hold the side members, the seat support members, and the seat in interlocking relationship. The back member is interlocked to the side members to complete the assembly.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,950 to Infanti discloses a child&#39;s knock-down chair capable of being assembled without the need for any conventional fasteners and comprised of two side parts and two cross pieces which act respectively as seat and back for a steady chair, and as a back and seat for a rocking chair.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,611 to Greenwood discloses a chair structure which can be used by young children either as a bouncer or as a rocker. The structure includes a frame member having a pair of transversely spaced, generally U-configured side portions and at least one seat member raised above a support surface. The frame member is oscillatable or rockable depending upon which one of the opposite end portions thereof is engaged with the support surface.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,467 to Kawecki discloses a knockdown chair kit which may be assembled without glue, nails, rivets or other fasteners. The kit is fabricated by means of laser cutting. The chair is made out of plywood, solid wood, wood composite, plastic, metal or other similar thin, flat stock. It uses a series of hooks, which hooks fit into slots having matched positions, in order to rigidly interlock the component members of the chair together and prevent them from pulling apart as well as flush mounted pegs.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,548 to Battle discloses a collapsible chair that includes a pair of planar side panels, a planar back panel, a planar seat panel and spacer elements, slots and lock-tabs.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,619,749, 6,807,912, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0107254 and 2003/0107255 to Willy disclose a ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture system that includes a collection of identically configured side panels, with sets of the side panels having different aesthetic and/or functional features, a collection of base panels and back panels spanning between pairs of side panels, the collection of base and back panels being provided in different sets of lengths and configurations to permit construction of different types of furniture. The panels are interconnected through a series of slots and notches. Locking members are provided that can lock the entire RTA furniture item together.  
         [0015]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0000808 to Maloney discloses outdoor slat furniture having a pair of laterally spaced apart supports and slats disposed there between and connected thereto and in which the slats individually or in groups are snap fittingly connected to the supports in a rigid manner such that the furniture is rigid without the need for further reinforcement. The slats are connected to the supports by fingers projecting therefrom into recesses in the supports.  
         [0016]     There is thus a need for a combination desk and chair that is a “knock-down” or “ready-to-assemble” (RTA) chair capable of being simply and readily assembled without the need for any conventional fastening means, having members formed from a single sheet of, for example, conventional plywood, that are assembled into interlocking relationship requiring no fasteners for the assembly.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0017]     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved knock down chair.  
         [0018]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a knock down chair and desk assembly which requires no fasteners for its assembly.  
         [0019]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved knock down chair and desk assembly having components of a planar configuration that can be formed from a standard sized sheet of plywood.  
         [0020]     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved knock down chair and desk assembly having interlocking joints arranged to prevent an accidental disassembly of the chair.  
         [0021]     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a chair and desk assembly that simple and straightforward to assemble, each of the pieces of the chair assembly are planar pieces, thereby minimizing occupied volume and hence facilitating storage thereof.  
         [0022]     It is another object of this invention to provide a chair and desk assembly wherein all parts needed to complete the main structure and accessories can be cut from a planar panel by electric hand tools or by standard cutting and milling machines.  
         [0023]     All of the foregoing objects as well as others are achieved by the chair and desk assembly of this invention that is a “knock-down” or “ready-to-assemble” (RTA) structure having members formed from a single sheet of, for example, plywood, that are assembled into interlocking relationship requiring no fasteners for the assembly. The assembly can be readily disassembled and knocked down into a compact form for storage, transportation, or packaging. Optionally, the chair and desk assembly, includes a reading stand, book storage compartment and may be a rocking chair.  
         [0024]     More particularly, the chair and desk assembly of this invention comprises: 
        a) a first side planar panel which includes: 
            a lower side panel portion having a front, rear, upper and lower region,     a middle side panel portion extending above the upper region from the front and rear regions of the lower side panel portion, and     an upper side panel portion extending from the upper and rear region;    
            b) a second side planar panel which includes: 
            a lower side panel portion having a front, rear, upper and lower region, and     an upper side panel portion extending from the upper and rear region,    
            the lower and upper side panel portions of the first side panel being substantially identical in shape to the lower and upper side panel portions of the second side panel;     a first plurality of notches in each of the lower regions of each of the side panels;     a second plurality of notches in each of the upper regions of each of the side panels;     c) a plurality of lower planar cross-pieces that slidably mate and interlock with the first plurality of notches in the lower regions of each of the side panels;     d) a plurality of upper planar cross-pieces that slidably mate and interlock with the second plurality of notches in the upper regions of each of the side panels;     whereby the first and second side panels are interlocked with the upper and lower cross pieces and are substantially parallel to each other;     e) a planar seat panel having front and rear edges and side edges, the rear edge having a slot near each of the sides, each slot slidably mating with a slot in the upper side panel portion of each side panel when positioned on the upper cross-pieces, and having a slot near the front and side edges that slidably mates with the middle side panel portion extending above the upper region from the front region of the lower side panel portion, whereby the seat panel interlocks with the upper side panel portions;     f) a planar back panel having front and rear surfaces, top and bottom edges and side edges, the bottom edge having a projecting tongue which slidably mates with a slot near the rear edge of the seat panel, slots on each of the sides near the top edge which slidably mate with slots on each of the upper side panel portions, the upper side panels projecting from the rear of the back panel, whereby the back panel interlocks with the upper side panel portions and the seat panel;     g) an elongated planar desk support member having a first end and a second end and a top and bottom edge, the bottom edge having a slot near the first end of the support member which slidably mates with a slot in the middle side panel portion of the first side panel, the support member extending, toward the second panel, whereby the support member interlocks with the middle side panel portion;     h) a planar desk panel having a front, side and rear panel portions, the rear panel portion having a first slot and a second slot, the first slot slidably mating with a slot on the upper panel portion of the first side panel that extends from the rear of the back panel, the second slot slidably mating with a slot on the upper panel portion of the second side panel that extends from the rear of the back panel, the side panel portion of the desk panel resting on the middle side portion of the first side panel and the front panel portion of the desk panel resting on the top edge of the desk support member, whereby the desk panel interlocks with upper panel portions of the first and second side panels,     wherein the side panels, upper and lower cross-pieces, seat panel, back panel desk support member, and desk panel interlock to provide a self supporting chair with desk.        
 
         [0043]     As indicated, optionally, the chair and desk assembly may include a reading stand, book storage compartment and may be a rocking chair.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0044]     In the drawing, like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0045]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the following description of the exemplary preferred embodiments of the present invention considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0046]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the chair and desk assembly of this invention.  
         [0047]      FIGS. 2-4  are side views of the chair and desk assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0048]      FIGS. 5-6  are rear views of the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0049]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the chair and desk assembly of this invention with the desk panel removed;  
         [0050]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the first side panel used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0051]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the second side panel used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0052]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the desk panel used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0053]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of the back panel used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0054]      FIG. 12  is a plan view of the seat panel used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0055]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of the book rest panel used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0056]      FIG. 14  is a plan view of the storage panel element used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0057]      FIG. 15  is a plan view of the cross-pieces used in used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0058]      FIG. 16  is a plan view the book support member used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0059]      FIG. 17  is a plan view of the pedestal elements of the book stand used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention;  
         [0060]      FIG. 18  is a plan view of the desk support member used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention; and  
         [0061]      FIG. 19  is a plan view of the rocker top means used in the chair and desk assembly of this invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0062]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-19 , an embodiment of a chair and desk assembly  100  is depicted. Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , the assembly  100  comprises a first side planar panel  30 .  
         [0063]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , this panel  30  includes a lower side panel portion  32  having a front  34 , rear  36 , upper  38  and lower  40  region. A middle side panel portion  42  of first side panel  30  extends above the upper region  38  from the front  34  and rear regions  36  of the lower side panel portion  32 . Preferably, both the lower and middle side panel portions have an opening  44   a  and  44   b  therein both for aesthetic reasons as well as saving materials and a light structure, although the openings may not be present. An upper side panel portion  46  extends from the upper  38  and rear region  36 .  
         [0064]     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 9 , a second side planar panel  48  is provided. This panel includes lower side panel portion  50  having a front  52 , rear  54 , upper  56  and lower region  58 . Preferably, the lower side panel portion has an opening  60  therein both for aesthetic reasons as well as saving materials and a light structure, although the opening may not be present. An upper side panel portion  63  extends from the upper  56  and rear region  54 .  
         [0065]     Preferably, for aesthetic as well as structural reasons the lower and upper side panel portions  32 , 46  of the first side panel  30  are substantially identical in shape to the lower and upper side panel portions  50 ,  62  of the second side panel  48 .  
         [0066]     Preferably, the lower regions  40 ,  58  of the first and second side panels  30 ,  48  are curved upward to provide a chair that rocks, see  FIGS. 1 , and  7 - 9 .  
         [0067]     Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , a first plurality of notches  62  are provided in each of the lower regions  40 ,  58  of each of the side panels  30 ,  48 . A second plurality of notches  64  are provided in each of the upper regions  38 ,  56  of each of the side panels  30 , 48 .  
         [0068]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7  a plurality of lower planar cross-pieces  66  are provided that slidably mate and interlock with the first plurality of notches  62  in the lower regions  40 ,  58  of each of the side panels  30 ,  48 . Likewise, a plurality of upper planar cross-pieces  68  are provided that slidably mate and interlock with the second plurality of notches  64  in the upper regions  38 ,  56  of each of the side panels  30 ,  48 .  
         [0069]     Thus, the first and second side panels  30 ,  48  are interlocked with the upper and lower cross pieces  66 ,  68  and are substantially parallel to each other. The first and second side panels  30 ,  48  can be interchanged with each other to provide identical assemblies  100  that have the desk panel  86  on the right side, see for example  FIG. 1  or on the left side.  
         [0070]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6  and  12 , for example, a planar seat panel  70  is provided that has front  72  and rear edges  74  and side edges  76 ,  78 . The rear edge  74  of the seat panel  70  has a slot  70   a ,  70   b  near each of the sides  76 ,  78 . Each slot  70   a ,  70   b  slidably mates with a slot  30   a ,  48   a  in the upper side panel portion of each side panel  30 ,  48  when positioned on the upper cross-pieces  68 . Referring to  FIG. 17 , a slot  70   c  is provided near the front and side edges  72 ,  70  of the seat panel  70 . Referring to  FIG. 13 , slot  70   c  slidably mates with the middle side panel portion  42  extending above the upper region  38  from the front region  34  of the lower side panel portion  32 . Preferably, slot  70   c  slidably mates with slot  42   a  locking the seat panel  70  with the upper side panel portions  46 ,  63  and the middle side panel portion  42 .  
         [0071]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6  and  11 , a planar back panel  80  is provided. The back panel  80  has front and rear surfaces  80   a ,  80   b , top and bottom edges  80   c ,  80   d  and side edges  80   e ,  80   f . The back panel  80  further has projecting from the bottom edge  80   d , a tongue  82  which slidably mates with a slot  70   d  near the rear edge  74  of the seat panel  70 . Slots  80   h ,  80   g  are provided on each of the sides  80   e ,  80   f  near the top edge  80   c  of the back panel  80 . Slots  80   h ,  80   g  slidably mate with slots  30   c  and  48   c  on each of the upper side panel portions  46 ,  63  of the first and second side panels  30  and  48 , whereby the back panel  80  interlocks with the upper side panel portions  46 ,  63  and the seat panel  70 .  
         [0072]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 ,  6  and  18 , an elongated planar desk support member  84  is provided having a first end  84   a  and a second end  84   b  and a top and bottom edge  84   c ,  84   d , respectively. The bottom edge  84   d  of the support member  84  is provided with a slot  84   e  near the first end  84   b  of the support member  84  which slidably mates with a slot  30   d  in the middle side panel portion  42  of the first side panel  30  (see  FIG. 7 ). The support member  84  extends toward the second panel  48  and interlocks with the middle side panel portion  42 .  
         [0073]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6  and  10 , a planar desk panel  86  is provided. The desk panel has front  88 , side  90  and rear panel  92  portions. The rear panel portion  92  has a first slot and a second slot  92   a ,  92   b . Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the first slot  92   a  slidably mates with a slot  30   c  on the upper panel portion  46  of the first side panel  30  that extends from the rear  80   b  of the back panel  80 . The second slot  92   b  slidably mates with a slot  48   d  on the upper panel portion  63  of the second side panel  48  that extends from the rear  80   b  of the back panel  80 . The side panel portion  90  of the desk panel  86  rests on the middle side portion  42  of the first side panel  30  and the front panel portion  88  of the desk panel  86  rests on the top edge  84   c  of the desk support member  84  (see  FIGS. 2-4  and  6 ). The desk panel  86  slidably interlocks with upper panel portions  46 ,  63  of the first and second side panels  30 ,  48 . The desk panel  86  thus has the capability of sliding forward or back to accommodate different sized persons.  
         [0074]     After all the planer members are assembled, i.e., the side panels  30 ,  48 , upper and lower cross-pieces  66 ,  68 , seat panel  70 , back panel  80 , desk support member  84 , and desk panel  86 , they interlock to provide a self supporting chair with desk  100 .  
         [0075]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  and  14 , the chair and desk assembly  100  may further include a planar storage panel  94  having top  94   a , bottom  94   b  and side edges  94   c ,  94   d . The bottom edge  94   b  has a projecting tongue  96  which slidably mates and interlocks with a slot  92   c  in the rear panel portion  92  of the desk panel  86  (see  FIGS. 2-3 , and  7 ). The positioning of the storage panel  94  in such a manner forms a storage compartment  98  between the storage panel  94 , the rear panel portion  92  of the desk panel  86 , and the rear  80   b  of the back panel  80 .  
         [0076]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the chair and desk assembly  100  may further include a book rest compartment  102  removably interlocked to the desk panel  86  on the front panel portion  88  thereof. The book rest compartment  102  includes a plurality of planar pedestals  104 , each pedestal has a slot  104   a  that mates with an edge of the front panel portion  88  of the desk panel  86 . The compartment  102  further includes a planar book rest panel  106  that has a top, bottom and side edges,  106   a ,  106   b ,  106   c ,  106   d  respectively. The bottom edge  106   b  slidably mates with the slots  104   a  the pedestals  104 . Optionally, the bottom edge  106   b  may have slots  106   e  and  106   f  that mate with both pedestal slots  104   a  to interlock therewith. Referring to  FIG. 16 , the book rest compartment  102  further includes a planar book support member  108  that has a tongue  110  thereon that projects from and slidably mates with a slot  106   g , the support member  108  projecting substantially perpendicular from the book rest panel  106 . In use, a book rests on the book rest panel  106  for reading and is supported by the book support member  108  on the bottom thereof. Optionally, the book rest panel  106  may have a spring mechanism  112  attached to the top of the panel  106  to maintain the book in position (see  FIGS. 1-3 ).  
         [0077]     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 7  and  19 , if the chair and desk assembly  100  is a rocking chair, the assembly may further include stop means  112  associated with at least one of the lower regions  40  or  58  for preventing the chair from rocking. Preferably, as depicted in  FIG. 25  there are four such stop means mounted (e.g., pinned) onto the lower regions  40 ,  58 .  
         [0078]     As indicated previously, one of the of this invention is that all of the elements (except for spring mechanism) of the chair assembly  100  may each be planar and made from a substantially flat sheet of a suitable rigid material. Thus, the components of the assembly  100  of this invention can be made from inexpensive, durable, and light weight wood and plastic materials. A variety of stains or paints can be used. For example, all the modular parts needed to complete the structure herein may be made from a single standard sheet of three quarter inch thick plywood having dimensions of 48 inches by 96 inches. However, more than one planar sheet may be used to form the elements.  
         [0079]     The stock from which all of the planar members are formed preferably is thin plywood. However, cardboard, plastic, metal or the like might be useful in some applications. Thin plywood is especially amenable to precision laser cutting. This method of forming the pieces is quick and inexpensive. More significantly, laser cutting is particularly accurate, and the achievement of precise tolerances is important in making a chair that is steady and durable. However, stamping, casting, molding or other alternate methods, such as nested base, computer guided router milling machines can be used to make the planar elements used in this invention.  
         [0080]     From the foregoing description, assembly is straightforward. For example, the side panels  30 ,  48  are connected to each other with the upper and lower cross pieces  66 ,  68 . The seat panel  70  is then positioned thereon followed by the back panel  80 . The desk support member  84  is then interlocked with side panel  30  and the desk panel  86  positioned on the structure and locked in place. Storage panel  106  is then positioned in the rear of the assembly followed by assembly of the book rest compartment  102 , i.e., positioning of the pedestal  104 , book rest panel  106 , support member  108  and spring mechanism  112 .  
         [0081]     The chair and desk assembly can be shipped and sold un-assembled, preferably in a carton in which the elements are compactly stacked one on top of the other. Thus, it can be shipped and displayed in a very small area, which is of significant concern to merchants. After assembly, it can be disassembled and reassembled over and over. It can be stored in its disassembled state in a minimum amount of space, which is of significant concern to many consumers, such as apartment dwellers.  
         [0082]     Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use.  
         [0083]     These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood in terms of the variants of the invention which have been described. They are not to be restricted to such variants, but are to be read as covering the full scope of the invention as is implicit within the invention and the disclosure.