Patent Abstract:
An article of furniture includes: a frame structure; and at least one planar woven web mounted to the frame structure, and including a plurality of artificial rattan strips that are interlaced with each other and that are heat sealable, and a plurality of guide tracks provided in the planar woven web. The planar woven web is fastened to the frame structure along the guide tracks.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to an article of furniture, more particularly to an article of furniture having a plurality of artificial rattan strips. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Rattan furniture can be classified into natural rattan furniture and imitation rattan furniture. The natural rattan furniture has disadvantages, such as poor resistance to high temperatures, and susceptibility to cracking, deforming and color fading. The appearance and texture of the imitation rattan furniture are similar to those of natural rattan furniture. Besides, compared to the natural rattan furniture, the imitation rattan furniture is inexpensive, durable, smoother, higher in resistance to humidity and temperature, not easy to deform and fade, and easy for cleaning and maintenance. 
         [0005]    Conventional imitation rattan furniture includes a frame structure, and a plurality of woven webs enclosing the frame structure. Generally, the woven webs are nailed to the frame structure, and nails are exposed at random positions, thereby adversely affecting the appearance of the furniture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an article of furniture that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art. 
         [0007]    According to the present invention, an article of furniture comprises: a frame structure; and at least one planar woven web mounted to the frame structure, and including a plurality of artificial rattan strips that are interlaced with each other and that are heat sealable, and a plurality of guide tracks provided in the planar woven web. The planar woven web is fastened to the frame structure along the guide tracks. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the furniture according to this invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a preferred embodiment of this invention is embodied in an imitation rattan chair  2 . Of course, the invention may also be embodied in an imitation rattan table or an imitation rattan bed. The imitation rattan chair  2  includes a frame structure  21  made of metal, a plurality of planar woven webs  22  mounted to the frame structure  21 , and a plurality of decorative strips  23 . The planar woven webs  22  are spread over and nailed to the frame structure  21  so that the frame structure  21  is entirely enclosed by the planar woven webs  22 . 
         [0013]    The size and shape of the planar woven webs  22  vary in accordance with areas of portions, such as, backrest, seat and armrest portions, of the frame structure  21  where the planar woven webs  22  are to be mounted on. Furthermore, each of the planar woven webs  22  includes a plurality of artificial rattan strips  221  that are interlaced with each other and that are heat sealable, and a plurality of guide tracks  222  that are formed as heat sealed lines and that are provided in the planar woven web  22 . The guide tracks  222  are provided for locating nails  24  used to nail the planar woven webs  22  to the frame structure  21 , and are arranged at positions according to the configurations of the portions of the frame structure  21  to which the planar woven webs  22  are attached. For example, for a rectangular portion of the frame structure  21 , a rectangular one of the planar woven web  22  is attached thereto and has four marginal ends. In this case, some of the guide tracks  222  extend respectively along the marginal ends, and some of the guide tracks  222  extend in an area surrounded by the marginal ends. 
         [0014]    Each of the artificial rattan strips  221  includes a cotton core  223  and a heat-sealable plastic shell  224  enclosing the core  223 . The guide tracks  222  are formed by partially fusing the plastic shell  224  under pressure. When each planar woven web  22  having the artificial rattan strips  221  is subjected to heat and pressure at the marginal ends thereof, portions of the plastic shells  224  of the artificial rattan strips  221  at the marginal ends are melted, thereby resulting in bonding together adjacent ones of the artificial rattan strips  221  and forming the guide tracks  222 . As a result, the artificial rattan strips  221  are tightly connected to each other through the guide tracks  222  and will not be loose. On the other hand, since the guide tracks  222  can be used as an indicator, the planar woven webs  22  can be easily mounted to an accurate position of the frame structure  21  by applying a plurality of nails  24  thereto along the guide tracks  222 . 
         [0015]    Referring back to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one of the planar woven webs  22  is mounted to an outer side of an armrest of the frame structure  21 , and another one of the planar woven webs  22  is mounted to an inner side of the armrest. The planar woven web  22  has the guide tracks  222  at the marginal ends  225  and in an area surrounded by the marginal ends  225 . In assembly, the guide tracks  222  of the planar woven web  22  are aligned with the nailing positions of the armrest, and are nailed thereto using a nail gun (not shown). Likewise, the rest of the planar woven webs  22  are mounted to other portions of the frame structure  21 . 
         [0016]    Referring back to  FIG. 3 , after assembly, two adjacent ones of the planar woven webs  22  overlap with each other at the marginal ends  225  thereof, and are nailed to the frame structure  21  at the same position. Since the nails  24  are exposed at the guide tracks  222 , the decorative strip  23  is disposed over and nailed to the guide tracks  222 , thereby covering the nails  24  and decorating the imitation rattan chair  2 . 
         [0017]    In the imitation rattan chair  2  according to the invention, the guide tracks  222  are formed in the planar woven web  22  by heating directly the artificial rattan strips  221 , thereby securing the artificial rattan strips  221  together more firmly and providing a guidance to assist in nailing the planar woven webs  22  to the frame structure  21 . In addition, the decorative strips  23  are disposed over the guide tracks  222  so as to cover the nails  24  and so as to improve the appearance of the chair  2 . 
         [0018]    With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as recited in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0