Patent Publication Number: US-11659934-B2

Title: Modular furniture system with shared support and method therefor

Description:
RELATED APPLCIATIONS 
     This patent application is related to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/126,607 filed Dec. 17, 2020, entitled “MODULAR FURITURE SYSTEM WITH SHARED SUPPORT AND METHOD THEREFOR” in the name of the same inventors, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C § 119(e). 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application generally relates to furniture and, more particularly, to a modular furniture system which uses a shared support between modules to provide increased stability. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Modular furniture may be defined as pre-made or ready-made furniture which can be used according to the need and spacing requirements. Modular furniture can be independently created and then used in different arrangements/configurations. A modular system can be characterized by functional partitioning into discrete scalable, reusable modules which may use industry standards for interfaces. 
     In the outdoor furniture industry, the terminology, “modular furniture,” may be used when marketing individual furniture components (i.e., modules) that may require the user to combine for the purposes of laying out a larger furniture configuration. The larger furniture configurations may require the user to “pushed together” different modules which expose seams between the adjacent modules. Further, depending on how they are constructed, pushing together different modules may cause potential stability issues. For example, moving from one module to another may cause the modules to separate and move away from one another. 
     Audiences who desire a more unified functionality, that avoids the above issues, while maintaining a clean design sensibility akin to indoor furniture do not have many options to remedy the above problem. Common solutions to the above problem may be to combine and secure the individual modules together using clamps or other fasteners. While these fasteners may work, they are unaesthetically pleasing to the end user. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcome the above problems. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a modular furniture system is disclosed. The modular furniture system has a first modular furniture unit. The first modular furniture unit has a first frame. A pair of front legs is attached to the first frame, wherein a first of the pair of front legs supports and holds one of a first adjacent modular furniture unit or a first arm rest and a second of the pair of front legs supports and holds one of a second adjacent modular furniture unit or a second arm rest. A pair of rear legs is coupled to the first frame, wherein a first of the pair of rear legs supports and holds one of the first adjacent modular furniture unit or the first arm rest and a second of the pair of rear legs supports and holds one of the second adjacent modular furniture unit or the second arm rest. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a modular furniture system is disclosed. The modular furniture system has a first modular furniture unit. The first modular furniture unit has a first frame. A first front leg is attached to the first frame. A second front leg attached to the first frame. A first rear leg is attached to the first frame. A second rear leg is attached to the first frame. A second modular furniture unit is provided. The second modular furniture unit has a second frame. A third front leg is attached to the second frame. A third rear leg is attached to the second frame. The second front leg and the second rear leg are both attached to the second frame and support and hold both the first frame and the second frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present application is further detailed with respect to the following drawings. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present application but rather illustrate certain attributes thereof. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a module furniture system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the module furniture system of  FIG.  1    in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a magnified exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of shared common front leg of the module furniture system of  FIG.  1    in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is a magnified perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the shared common front leg of the module furniture system of  FIG.  1    in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    is a magnified exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a shared common rear leg of the module furniture system of  FIG.  1    in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    is a magnified perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a non-shared common front leg of the module furniture system of  FIG.  1    in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  7    is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a module furniture system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  8    is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the module furniture system of  FIG.  7    in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  9    is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a module furniture system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  10    is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the module furniture system of  FIG.  9    in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION 
     The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present disclosure can be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences can be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 
     Embodiments of the exemplary modular furniture provides a modular furniture system which may be formed into a plurality of different configurations wherein adjacent modules share at least one common leg. 
     Referring now to the  FIGS.  1 - 6   , a modular furniture system being formed into an “L” shaped couch  10  may be disclosed. The “L” shaped couch  10  may be formed of a plurality of modules  12 . Each module  12  may be formed of a frame  14 . The frame  14  may be formed of a front support member  14 A, a rear support member  14 B, and a pair of side support members  14 C and  14 D positioned on opposing sides of the frame  14 . The front support member  14 A may have one or more holes  16  formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the front support member  14 A as may be seen in  FIG.  3   . In accordance with one embodiment, a pair of holes  16  may be formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the front support member  14 A. The pair of holes  16  maybe aligned vertically on each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the front support member  14 A. 
     One of the pair of side support members  14 C and  14 D may be coupled to each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the front support member  14 A. In accordance with one embodiment, each of the pair of side support members  14 C and  14 D may attached to the front support member  14 A inside of where the holes  16  may be formed. 
     The rear support member  14 B may have one or more holes  18  formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the rear support member  14 B as may be seen in  FIG.  5   . In accordance with one embodiment, a pair of holes  18  may be formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the rear support member  14 B. The pair of holes  18  maybe aligned vertically on each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the front support member  14 A. 
     One of the pair of side support members  14 C and  14 D may be coupled to each side end of the rear support member  14 B. In accordance with one embodiment, each of the pair of side support members  14 C and  14 D may attached to the rear support member  14 A inside of where the holes  18  may be formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the rear support member  14 B. 
     Additional support members may be attached to the front support member  14 A and the rear support member  14 B. These additional support members may be positioned in-between the pair of side support members  14 C and  14 D coupled to each side end of the front support member  14 A and rear support member  14 B. Alternatively, or in addition to, netting or other mesh type materials may be positioned on top of the frame  14 . 
     Adjacent modules  12  may share a common front leg  20 . As may be seen in  FIG.  4   , a common front leg  20  may be shared by the front support member  14 A of the frames  14  of two adjoining modules  12 . The common front leg  20  may be positioned at an intersection of two contiguous frames  14 . Holes  22  may be formed in a top area of the common front leg  20 . The holes  22  may be used to secure the front support member  14 A of the two adjacent frames  14  to the common front leg  20 . In accordance with on be embodiment, a pair of holes  22  may be formed on each side edge (left side and right side) of the top area of the common front leg  20 . The pair of holes  22  on each side edge (left side and right side) of the top area of the common front leg  20  may be vertically aligned. 
     A notch platform  24  may be formed in the top area of the common front leg  20 . The holes  22  may be formed in a vertical surface  24 A of the notch platform  24 . In accordance with one embodiment, the holes  22  may be formed on each side edge (left side and right side) of the vertical surface  24 A of the notch platform  24 . The pair of holes  22  formed in the vertical surface  24 A of the notch platform  24  may be vertically aligned. 
     When securing adjacent modules  12  to the common front leg  20 , the front support member  14 A of the frame  14  of each adjacent module  12  may be positioned in and rests on the notched platform  24  formed on the common front leg  20 . Connectors  26  may be used to secure the front support member  14 A of each adjacent module  12  to the common front leg  20 . The connectors  26  may be inserted through each hole  16  formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the front support member  14 A and into the corresponding pair of holes  22  formed in the vertical surface  24 A of the notch platform  24 . In accordance with one embodiment, the connectors  26  may be hex bolts  26 A and the holes  22  may be threaded inserts countersunk  22 A. Thus, in this embodiment, the hex bolts  26 A may be guided through the holes  16  and then fastened into two dedicated and corresponding threaded inserts countersunk  26 A in the common front leg  20  for both front support members  14 A as may be seen in  FIG.  4   . 
     As may be seen in  FIGS.  2  and  5   , adjacent modules  12  may share a common rear leg  28 . As may be seen in  FIG.  5   , a common rear leg  28  may be shared by the rear support member  14 B of the frames  14  of two adjoining modules  12 . The common rear leg  28  may also be shared by a back-support member  30  of adjoining modules  12 . 
     The common rear leg  28  may be positioned at an intersection of two contiguous frames  14 . Holes  32  may be formed in a lower area of the common rear leg  28 . The holes  32  may be used to secure the rear support member  14 B of the two adjacent frames  14  to the common rear leg  28 . In accordance with on be embodiment, a pair of holes  32  may be formed on each side edge (left side and right side) of the lower area of the common rear leg  28 . The pair of holes  32  on each side edge (left side and right side) of the lower area of the common rear leg  28  may be vertically aligned. 
     A notch platform  34  may be formed in the lower area of the common rear leg  28 . The holes  32  may be formed in a vertical surface  34 A of the notch platform  34 . In accordance with one embodiment, the holes  32  may be fowled on each side edge (left side and right side) of the vertical surface  34 A of the notch platform  34 . The pair of holes  32  formed in the vertical surface  34 A of the notch platform  34  may be vertically aligned. 
     When securing adjacent modules  12  to the common rear leg  28 , the rear support member  14 B of the frame  14  of each adjacent module  12  may be positioned in and rests on the notched platform  34  formed on the shared common rear leg  28 . Connectors  36  may be used to secure the rear support member  14 B of each adjacent module  12  to the shared common shared rear leg  28 . The connectors  36  may be inserted through each hole  18  formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the rear support member  14 B and into the corresponding pair of holes  32  formed in the vertical surface  34 A of the notch platform  34 . In accordance with one embodiment, the connectors  36  may be hex bolts  36 A and the holes  32  may be threaded inserts countersunk  32 A. Thus, in this embodiment, the hex bolts  36 A may be guided through the holes  32  and then fastened into two dedicated and corresponding threaded inserts countersunk  36 A in the common rear leg  28  for both rear support members  14 B as may be seen in  FIG.  5   . 
     The common rear leg  28  may also be shared by a back-support member  30  of adjoining modules  12 . The back-support member  30  may have one or more holes  38  formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the back-support member  30  as may be seen in  FIG.  5   . In accordance with one embodiment, a pair of holes  38  may be formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the back-support member  30 . The pair of holes  38  maybe aligned vertically side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the back-support member  30 . 
     The common rear leg  28  may have holes  40  formed in a top area of the common rear leg  28 . The holes  40  may be used to secure the back-support member  30  of the two adjacent frames  14  to the common rear leg  28 . In accordance with on be embodiment, a pair of holes  40  may be formed on each side edge (left side and right side) of the top area of the common rear leg  28 . The pair of holes  40  on each side edge (left side and right side) of the top area of the common rear leg  28  may be vertically aligned. 
     A notch platform  42  may be formed in the top area of the common rear leg  28 . The holes  40  may be formed in a vertical surface  42 A of the notch platform  42 . In accordance with one embodiment, the holes  42  may be formed on each side edge (left side and right side) of the vertical surface  42 A of the notch platform  42 . The pair of holes  40  formed in the vertical surface  42 A of the notch platform  42  may be vertically aligned. 
     The back-support member  30  of each adjacent module  12  may be positioned in and rests on the notched platform  42  formed on the shared common rear leg  28 . Connectors  44  may be used to secure the back-support member  30  of each adjacent module  12  to the shared common shared rear leg  28 . The connectors  44  may be inserted through each hole  38  formed through each side end (i.e., left-side end and the right-side end) of the back-support member  30  and into the corresponding pair of holes  40  formed in the vertical surface  42 A of the notch platform  42 . In accordance with one embodiment, the connectors  44  may be hex bolts  44 A and the holes  40  may be threaded inserts countersunk  40 A. Thus, in this embodiment, the hex bolts  44 A may be guided through the holes  38  and then fastened into two dedicated and corresponding threaded inserts countersunk  40 A in the common rear leg  28  as may be seen in  FIG.  5   . 
     As may be seen in  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  6   , the modules  12  located at each end of the configuration formed may have a non-shared front leg  46  and a non-shared rear leg  48 . The non-shared front leg  46  may both have holes  50  formed in a top area of the non-shared front leg  46 . The holes  50  may be used to secure the front support member  14 A of the module  12  to the non-shared front leg  46 . In accordance with on be embodiment, a pair of holes  50  may be formed on the top area of the non-shared front leg  46 . The pair of holes  50  may be vertically aligned. 
     A notch platform  52  may be formed in the top area of the non-shared front leg  46 . The holes  50  may be formed in a vertical surface  52 A of the notch platform  52 . In accordance with one embodiment, the pair of holes  50  formed in the vertical surface  52 A of the notch platform  52  may be vertically aligned. 
     When securing the front support member  14 A to the non-shared front leg  46 , the front support member  14 A of the end module  12  may be positioned in and rests on the notched platform  52  formed on the non-shared front leg  46 . Connectors  54  may be used to secure the front support member  14 A to the non-shared front leg  46 . The connectors  54  may be inserted through each hole  16  formed through the desired side end (i.e., left-side end or the right-side end) of the front support member  14 A and into the corresponding pair of holes  50  formed in the vertical surface  52 A of the notch platform  52 . In accordance with one embodiment, the connectors  54  may be hex bolts  54 A and the holes  50  may be threaded inserts countersunk  50 A. Thus, in this embodiment, the hex bolts  54 A may be guided through the holes  50  and then fastened into two dedicated and corresponding threaded inserts countersunk  50 A as may be seen in  FIG.  6   . 
     The non-shared rear leg  48  may be similar to the common rear leg  28 . The non-shared rear leg  48  may have holes formed in a lower area of the non-shared rear leg  48 . The holes may be used to secure the rear support member  14 B of the end module  12  to the non-shared rear leg  48 . In accordance with on be embodiment, a pair of holes may be formed on the lower area of the non-shared rear leg  48 . The pair of holes may be vertically aligned. 
     A notch platform  62  may be formed in the bottom area of the non-shared rear leg  48 . The holes may be formed in a vertical surface of the notch platform  62 . In accordance with one embodiment, the pair of holes formed in the vertical surface of the notch platform  62  may be vertically aligned. 
     When securing the rear support member  14 B to the non-shared rear leg  48 , the rear support member  14 B of the end module  12  may be positioned in and rests on the notched platform  62  formed on the non-shared rear leg  48 . Connectors  64  may be used to secure the rear support member  14 B to the non-shared rear leg  48 . The connectors  64  may be inserted through each hole  18  formed through the desired side end (i.e., left-side end or the right-side end) of the rear support member  14 B and into the corresponding pair of holes formed in the vertical surface of the notch platform  62 . In accordance with one embodiment, the connectors  64  may be hex bolts and the holes may be threaded inserts countersunk. Thus, in this embodiment, the hex bolts may be guided through the holes  18  and then fastened into two dedicated and corresponding threaded inserts countersunk as may be seen in  FIG.  1   . 
     The non-shared rear leg  48  may both have holes formed in an upper area of the non-shared rear leg  48 . The holes may be used to secure the back-support member  30  of the end module  12  to the non-shared rear leg  48 . In accordance with on be embodiment, a pair of holes may be formed on the upper area of the non-shared rear leg  48 . The pair of holes may be vertically aligned. 
     A notch platform  72  may be formed in the bottom area of the non-shared rear leg  48 . The holes may be formed in a vertical surface of the notch platform  72 . In accordance with one embodiment, the pair of holes formed in the vertical surface of the notch platform  72  may be vertically aligned. 
     When securing the back-support member  30  to the non-shared rear leg  48 , the back-support member  30  of the end module  12  may be positioned in and rests on the notched platform  72  formed on the non-shared rear leg  48 . Connectors  74  may be used to secure the back-support member  30  to the non-shared rear leg  48 . 
     The connectors  74  may be inserted through each hole  38  formed through the desired side end (i.e., left-side end or the right-side end) of the back-support member  30  and into the corresponding pair of holes formed in the vertical surface of the notch platform  72 . In accordance with one embodiment, the connectors  74  may be hex bolts and the holes may be threaded inserts countersunk. Thus, in this embodiment, the hex bolts may be guided through the holes  38  and then fastened into two dedicated and corresponding threaded inserts countersunk as may be seen in  FIG.  1   . 
     The “L” shaped couch  10  may be constructed so that the end modules  12  may be “armed module,” constructed with a dedicated armrest  80  build for either a left end module  12 A or a right end module  12 B. If desired, the customer can opt instead to terminate one or both ends with an “armless module” as shown as modules  12 C. The non-shared front leg  46  and a non-shared rear leg  48  may be used in a similar manner as described above to secure the armrest  80  thereto. 
     Seat cushions  45  may be placed on the frame  14  of each module  12 . Back cushions  47  may be placed on the frame  14  and against the back-support member  30  of each module  12 . 
     The shared-leg module furniture system created opportunities to build countless configurations. As may be shown in  FIGS.  7 - 8   , the shared-leg module furniture system may be sued to form a “Loveseat”  90 . The “Loveseat”  90  may utilize a single common front leg  20 , a single common rear leg  28 , and two modules  12 . 
     As may be shown in  FIGS.  9 - 10   , the shared-leg module furniture system may be used to create a couch  92 . The couch  92  may be formed of three modules  12 , a pair of common front legs  20 , and a pair of common rear legs  28 . 
     The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the application, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the application.