Patent Publication Number: US-2005127738-A1

Title: Article of furniture formed from slotted planar members

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/440,992, filed on Jan. 17, 2003. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an article of furniture. In particular, the article of furniture is formed from a plurality of slotted, planar members operably secured together at their respective slots.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Furniture, such as chairs, benches, beds and tables, are widely known and used.  
      It is desirable under some circumstances for the furniture to be easily assembled and dissembled, strong, durable, and aesthetically pleasing during use, but also compact and portable when not in use. For example, children and collectors often prefer to display their dolls resting on doll furniture. Frequently, these children and collectors must transport a large quantity of dolls and their respective doll furniture. Accordingly, it is desirable for the doll furniture to fit within a small area when not in use, such as in a doll case with the doll, but still be easily assembled when needed.  
      Conventional doll furniture has several drawbacks. It is expensive, and can be bulky, non-aesthetically pleasing, or difficult to assemble and disassemble.  
      In addition, many dolls do not have pivoting knee joints. Rather, these dolls&#39; legs&#39; pivot only at the hip area or they do not pivot at all. These types of dolls do not “sit” in natural appearing positions when seated on traditional doll chairs and benches. For example, with the rear of such dolls fully seated on the seat of a traditional doll chair, the legs of the doll protrude from the chair substantially parallel to the floor such that the dolls&#39; feet are positioned unnaturally above the floor at about the chair seat&#39;s height. Alternatively, the doll is kept in a substantially standing position and leaned against the chair so that its feet rest on the ground, but the rear of the doll does not occupy the seat of the chair. Neither of these uses of the doll chair provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance that the doll is actually seated correctly in the chair.  
      These principles of having a strong, durable, and economical, aesthetically pleasing article of furniture that is also easy to transport, assemble, and disassemble are not limited to doll furniture. They apply equally well to furniture sized and aimed for human use.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, despite the benefits of the known furniture, there remains a need for a simple, cost effective, strong, durable, and easy to assemble and disassemble, article of furniture. In addition to other benefits that will become apparent in the following disclosure, the present invention fulfills these needs.  
      The present invention is an article of furniture formed from a plurality of slotted substantially planar members joined together at their respective slots. The planar members can be formed into a chair, a bench, a bed, or a table. In a preferred embodiment, the furniture is doll furniture, and the chair can also include a slotted substantially planar desk member or tray member, thereby allowing the chair to serve as a desk or highchair. The seat of the chair and the seats of the bench preferably include a substantially arcuate protrusion sized so that a dolls&#39; legs straddle it. Accordingly, all dolls, including those having no pivoting leg joints or only a pivoting hip joint with no pivoting knee joints can appear to be “sitting” in the chair simply by straddling the arcuate protrusion.  
      The planar members can include surfaces adapted to allow the user to apply desirable surface ornamentation thereon. Accordingly, the article of furniture can be sold as a craft kit wherein the customer may personalize their article of furniture.  
      Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric front view of a fully assembled chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the chair of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the components used to form the chair of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the chair of  FIG. 1  showing a possible position of a doll&#39;s legs relative to a seat of the chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the chair of  FIG. 1  showing a possible orientation of a doll relative to the chair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is an exploded, isometric view of a desk in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the fully assembled desk of  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 8  is an exploded, isometric view of a highchair in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the fully assembled highchair of  FIG. 8   
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a bench in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is an exploded, isometric view of the bench of  FIG. 10 .  
       FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a bed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 13  is an exploded, isometric view of the bed of  FIG. 12 .  
       FIG. 14  is an enlarged, view of a possible connection between components of the bed of  FIG. 12 .  
       FIG. 15  is an isometric view of a table in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with a portion of the table top cut-away to show detail therein.  
       FIG. 16  is a partially exploded, isometric view of the table of  FIG. 15  showing a possible connection between planar components forming the table. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      A simple, cost effective, easy to assemble and disassemble article of furniture  20  formed from a plurality of slotted, planar members  22  that are secured together at their respective slots is disclosed in  FIGS. 1-16 . The article of furniture  20  formed from these slotted planar members can include a chair  30  ( FIGS. 1-5 ), a desk  32  ( FIGS. 6-7 ), a highchair  34  ( FIGS. 8-9 ), a bench  36  ( FIGS. 10-11 ), a bed  38  ( FIGS. 12-13 ), and a table  40  ( FIGS. 15-16 ). Each of these embodiments is discussed in greater detail below.  
      A. Chair  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a chair  30  formed from the plurality of slotted planar members  22  is disclosed. Preferably, the chair  30  is formed from a substantially planar back member  42 , a substantially planar leg member  44 , and a substantially planar seat member  46 . The planar members  42 ,  44 ,  46  are preferably constructed of substantially rigid, durable and aesthetically pleasing materials such as wood, plastic, or the like. The back member  42  preferably includes a first slot  48  extending to a lower edge  50  and aligned substantially vertically and a second slot  52  extending to a side edge  54  and aligned substantially horizontally. The area above the second slot  52  defines a seat back  56  and the area below the second slot  52  defines a leg portion  58  of the chair  30 . The outer edge  60  of the back member  42  can include ornamental contours and shapes as shown to make the chair  30  more aesthetically pleasing.  
      The leg member  44  includes a substantially vertical slot  62  extending to an upper edge  64  of the leg member  44  and positioned and aligned to engage the first slot  48  on the back member  42  as shown in  FIG. 2 . If desired, the leg member  44  can include a contoured portion thereby defining a forward leg  66 . The forward outer edge  68  of the forward leg  66  can be contoured to make the leg member  44  more aesthetically pleasing.  
      The seat member  46  includes a slot  70  extending to an outer edge  72  of the seat member  46  that is sized and aligned so as to engage the second slot  52  on the back member  42  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Preferably, the seat member  46  includes a protrusion  74  extending therefrom that is sized to allow a doll&#39;s legs  76  to straddle the protrusion  74 . More preferably, the protrusion  74  has a smoothly arcuate contour that straddles left and right smoothly arcuate projections  78   a ,  78   b  as best shown in  FIG. 3 , thereby defining recesses  80   a ,  80   b . Recesses  80   a ,  80   b  are sized to operably engage the upper leg portion of a doll  82  as best shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      A user assembles the chair  30  using these three planar slotted members  42 ,  44 ,  46  by aligning the leg member  44  with the back member  42  so that vertical slot  62  operably engages first slot  48 , and then sliding the leg member  44  in the direction of arrow  84  ( FIG. 2 ) so that the leg member is positioned relative to the back member  42  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Then, the user aligns the seat member  46  with the back member  42  such that slot  70  aligns with second slot  52 , and then slides the seat member  46  in the direction of arrow  85  ( FIG. 2 ) so that the seat member  46  is positioned relative to the back member  42  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The chair  30  may be easily disassembled by reversing these steps.  
      With the chair  30  assembled as shown in  FIG. 1 , a doll  82  may be positioned on the chair as shown in  FIG. 5 . The doll may have no pivoting leg joints, leg joints that pivot only at the hip, or leg joints that pivot both at the hip and knee. Accordingly, as used throughout this disclosure, the term “doll” collectively refers to objects having these features including a traditional toy that resembles a baby or human and also stuffed animals and the like such as teddy bears that have at least one pair of legs. The doll is positioned on the chair is a quasi-standing position as shown in  FIG. 5 . However, the doll&#39;s legs straddle the protrusion in on the seat as shown in  FIG. 6 . Accordingly, the doll appears to be sitting on the seat with its feet resting on the ground, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing position for the doll relative to the chair. The chair also works well with dolls that have articulated knee joints. In such case, the doll sits on the horizontally-planar portion of the seat member  46  with its knees bending so that it&#39;s feet are directed toward the ground.  
      B. Desk  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6 &amp; 7 , the chair  30  of the earlier embodiment can be readily adapted to form a desk  32 . For example, the back, leg, and seat members  42 ,  44 ,  46  can form a chair of the desk  32  as shown using the structures and orientation of the previously disclosed chair embodiment. In addition, the back member  42  can include a third slot  86  extending to a side edge  54  of the back member  42  and positioned above the second slot  52  as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
      A substantially planar desk member  88  includes a slot  90  extending to an outer edge  92  and sized to operably engage the third slot  86  on the back member  42  as shown. The desk member  88  includes a side portion  94  with a desk portion  96  extending therefrom defining an opening  98  that allows the desk member  88  to be positioned in front of a doll seating in the chair. The edges  100  of the desk portion can be contoured so as to provide an ascetically pleasing surface.  
      To use the desk, a user assembles the chair portion and seats a doll on the chair as previously described. The user then slides the desk member  88  in the direction of arrow  102  ( FIG. 6 ) so as to engage slot  86  on the back member  42 . The torso of the doll is positioned at opening  98  as the desk member  88  is slid into position in front of the doll. The desk  32  may be easily disassembled by reversing these steps.  
      C. Highchair  
      Referring to  FIGS. 8 &amp; 9 , the chair  30  of the earlier embodiment can be readily adapted to form a highchair  34 . For example, the back, leg, and seat members  42 ,  44 ,  46  can form the chair portion of a highchair  34  as shown using the structure and orientation of the previously disclosed chair embodiment. In addition, the back member  42  can include parallelly aligned lips  110   a ,  110   b  along the left and right sides  112   a ,  112   b  as best shown in  FIG. 8 .  
      A substantially planar tray member  114  includes a slot  116  fully contained within a back portion  118  of the tray member  114 . The slot  116  is sized to operably engage the back member  42  so as to rest on the lips  110   a ,  110   b  of the back member  42  as shown in  FIG. 8 . An opening  120  is positioned in the tray member and sized to operably receive the head and torso of a doll sitting the chair therethrough. The edges  122  of the tray member can be contoured so as to provide an ascetically pleasing surface.  
      To use the highchair  34 , a user assembles the chair portion and seats a doll on the chair as previously described. The user then slides the tray member  114  in the direction of arrow  124  ( FIG. 8 ) so as to engage slot  116  on the  42 . The head and torso of the doll is positioned through the opening  120  as the tray member  114  is lowered into position. The highchair  34  may be easily disassembled by reversing this process.  
      D. Bench  
      Referring to  FIGS. 10 &amp; 11 , a bench  36  formed from the plurality of slotted planar members  22  is disclosed. Preferably, the bench  36  is formed from a substantially planar back member  42 , two substantially planar leg members  44   a ,  44   b , and a substantially planar seat member  46 . The back member  42  preferably includes a pair of spaced-apart and parallelly aligned first slots  48   a ,  48   b  extending to a lower edge  50  and aligned substantially vertically and a second slot  52  extending to a side edge  54  and aligned substantially horizontally. The area above the second slot defines a seat back  56  and the area below the second slot defines a leg portion  58  of the bench  36 . The outer edge  60  of the back member  42  can include ornamental contours and shapes as shown to make the bench  36  more aesthetically pleasing.  
      The leg members  44   a ,  44   b  each include a substantially vertical slot  62   a ,  62   b , respectively, extending to an upper edge  64  of the leg member  44   a ,  44   b  and positioned and aligned to engage a respective slot  48   a ,  48   b  of the first slots  48   a ,  48   b  on the back member as shown in  FIG. 11 . If desired, each leg member  44   a ,  44   b  can include a contoured portion thereby defining a forward leg  66   a ,  66   b . The forward outer edge  72   a ,  72   b  of each forward leg can be contoured to make each leg member  44   a ,  444   b  more aesthetically pleasing.  
      The seat member  46  includes a slot extending to an outer edge  72  of the seat portion that is sized and aligned so as to engage the second slot  52  on the back member  42  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Preferably, the seat member  46  includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions  74   a ,  74   b  extending therefrom. Each protrusion  74   a ,  74   b  is sized to allow a doll&#39;s legs to straddle the protrusion  74   a ,  74   b . More preferably, each protrusion has a smoothly arcuate contour that straddles left and right smoothly arcuate projections  78   a ,  78   b  as best shown in  FIG. 10 , thereby defining recesses. The recesses are sized to operably engage the upper leg portion of a doll.  
      A user assembles the bench  36  from the four planar slotted members  42 ,  44 ,  44   a ,  44   b .  46 , by aligning the leg members  44   a ,  44   b  with the back member  42  so that slots  62   a ,  62   b  operably engage first slots  48   a ,  48   b  as shown, and then sliding the leg members  44   a ,  44   b  in the direction of arrows  84  ( FIG. 11 ) so that each leg member  44   a ,  44   b  is positioned relative to the back member  42  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Then, the user aligns the seat member  46  with the back member  42  such that slot  70  aligns with second slot  52 , and then slides the seat member  46  in the direction of arrow  85  ( FIG. 11 ) so that the seat member  46  is positioned relative to the back member  42  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The bench  36  may be easily disassembled by reversing these steps.  
      With the bench  36  assembled as shown in  FIG. 10 , a doll may be positioned on each protrusion  74   a ,  74   b  on the seat member  46  in a quasi-standing position. Accordingly, each doll appears to be sitting on the bench with its feet resting on the ground, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing position for the doll relative to the bench.  
      E. Bed  
      Referring to  FIGS. 12-14 , a bed  38  formed from a plurality of slotted planar members  22  is disclosed. Preferably, the bed includes a substantially planar headboard  130 , a substantially planar footboard  132 , and a pair of substantially planar running boards  134   a ,  134   b . The headboard  130  and footboard  132  each include a pair of parallelly-aligned spaced apart slots  136   a ,  136   b  extending to a lower edge  137  of the respective headboard  130  and footboard  132 . Each running board  134   a ,  134   b  includes a pair of parallel aligned, spaced apart slots  138   a ,  138   b  extending to an upper edge  140 . The slots  136   a ,  136   b  in the headboard  130  and footboard  132  and the slots  138   a ,  138   b  in the running boards are sized and positioned so as to allow the headboard  130  and footboard  132  to be spaced-apart and parallelly aligned with each other, and the running boards  134   a ,  134   b  to be spaced-apart and parallelly aligned with each other, thereby forming a substantially rectangular structure as shown in  FIG. 12 .  
      Preferably the running boards  134   a ,  134   b  include rail members  142  extending therefrom so that a bedboard  144  may rest on them as best shown in  FIG. 14 , thereby defining the steeping portion of the bed  38 .  
      A user assembles the bed  38  by parallelly aligning the running boards  134   a ,  134   b  as shown in  FIG. 13  and aligning the respective slots  136   a ,  136   b  on the headboard  130  and footboard  132  with mating slots  138   a ,  138   b  on the running boards  134   a ,  134   b  as shown. The user then slides the headboard  130  and footboard  132  in the direction of arrows  146  ( FIG. 13 ), and positioning the bedboard  144  on the rail members  142  to form the bed  38 . The bed  38  may be easily disassembled by reversing these steps.  
      F. Table  
      Referring to  FIGS. 15 &amp; 16 , a table  40  formed from a plurality of slotted planar members  22  is disclosed. Preferably, the table  40  includes a substantially planar table top member  150  operably secured to four substantially planar leg members  152 .  
      More preferably and as best shown in  FIG. 16 , the table top member  150  includes a top surface member  154  and a substantially planar leg attachment member  156  parallelly aligned and spaced apart from the top surface member with spacer members  158 . The spacer members  158  are positioned to as to cantilever the outer edges  160  of the leg attachment member  156 . Each corner of the leg attachment member  156  includes a slot  162  extending to the outer edge corner. Preferably, the leg attachment member  156  is substantially rectangular, and each slot  162  is aligned substantially at a 45 degree angle relative to the outer edges  160  of the leg attachment member  156  as shown in  FIG. 16 .  
      Each leg member  152  includes an attachment end  164  and an opposite distal end  166 . The attachment end  164  includes a slot  168  extending to an outer edge  170  of the leg and sized to operably engage one slot  162  on the leg attachment member  156 . Preferably the edges  172  of the distal ends of the leg members  152  are shaped and contoured so as to make them aesthetically pleasing.  
      A user assembles the table by aligning the attachment end  166  of each leg member  152  with the corners of the attachment member  156  on the table top member  150  such that each slot  162  on the attachment member aligns with the slot  168  on a leg member  152 . The leg member  152  is then urged in the direction of arrow  174  ( FIG. 16 ) so that the slots  162 ,  168  operably engage each other, thereby securing the leg member  152  to the table top member  150 . The table  40  may be easily disassembled by reversing these steps.  
      In view of the wide variety of embodiments to which the principles of the invention can be applied, it should be apparent that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. For example the seat backs in the chair and bench embodiments need not extend substantially above the second slot. In such case, the fully assembled chair or bench would appear “backless,” but would still function as described.  
      Also, surface ornamentation on the planar members may be applied by the manufacturer, or by the user. In the latter case, the articles of furniture may be sold as a craft kit, wherein the user can customize their furniture by decorating it themselves.  
      Accordingly, the claimed invention includes all such modifications as may come within the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereto.