Abstract:
Method and apparatus discloses a modular furniture construction having interlocking connections which are formed by upright standing legs having vertical grooves therein for receiving interlocking connecting members therein disposed on the ends of cross members. The cross members can be arranged in many different arrays so that a table top support or legs and/or other configurations, e.g., forts and houses, can be constructed. The cross members are designed so that a table top or tray can be placed thereon for receiving various items therein and/or a cup can be placed thereon for receiving containers holding liquid therein.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/338,448 filed on Feb. 19, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to furniture and, more particularly, is concerned with a modular construction of furniture such as tables. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Modular furniture has been described in the prior art, however, none of the prior art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,302 dated Jun. 2, 1981, Dandia disclosed a construction toy. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,337 dated Jun. 29, 1976, Crawford disclosed a modular post and beam joint. In U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0198141 dated Oct. 7, 2004, Buhrman, et al., disclosed a children&#39;s panel and connector building set. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,109 dated May 7, 2002, Novikoff disclosed a self-leveling modular table and method of forming a level modular table. In U.S. Patent No. D 370,045 dated May 21, 1996, Derbecker disclosed a combined modular children&#39;s activity and learning center. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,864 dated Jul. 13, 1993, Showers disclosed a playground maze apparatus. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,034 dated Apr. 10, 1990, Grabe, et al., disclosed a table system. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,945 dated Sep. 23, 1980, Nikitits disclosed a collapsible table and seat assembly. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,130 dated Jul. 15, 1980, Walker disclosed a playhouse with elements based on two modular units. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,033 dated Jun. 13, 1972, Murcia disclosed modular shelving and furniture. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,007 dated Dec. 10, 1968, Howe disclosed a building set with basic construction elements. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,870,978 dated Aug. 9, 1932, Wolfe disclosed a toy building unit. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,520,518 dated Dec. 23, 1924, Thomason disclosed a coupling for tabletops. 
     While these modular furniture units 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 
     The present invention discloses a modular furniture construction having interlocking connections which are formed by upright standing legs having vertical grooves therein for receiving interlocking connecting members therein disposed on the ends of cross members. The cross members can be arranged in many different arrays so that a table top support or legs and/or other configurations, e.g., forts and houses having additional floors, can be constructed. The cross members are designed so that a table top or tray can be placed thereon for receiving various items therein and/or a cup can be placed thereon for receiving containers holding liquid therein. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a table constructed of modular components which can be arrayed in many different configurations. A further object of the present invention is to provide a table that can be easily assembled and disassembled for storage without the need of any fasteners or tools. A further object of the present invention is to provide a table having accessories thereon wherein items can be stored such as pencils, crayons, and/or cups containing liquid therein. 
     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 form 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 scope of the invention. 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 DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cross member of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of a cross member of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a cross member of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of a cross member of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a leg of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an elevation view of a leg of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an end view of a leg of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a top of the table of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a top of the table of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of a top of the table of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a tray of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is an elevation view of a tray of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of a tray of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is an end view of a tray of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a cup of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is an elevation view of a cup of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view of a cup of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is an elevation view of a cup of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a table constructed according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a fort constructed according to the teachings of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10  
                 present invention 
               
               
                 12  
                 leg 
               
               
                 14  
                 groove 
               
               
                 16  
                 cross member 
               
               
                 18  
                 connecting member 
               
               
                 20  
                 rib 
               
               
                 21 
                 flange 
               
               
                 22  
                 top 
               
               
                 23 
                 edge of top 
               
               
                 24 
                 cutout 
               
               
                 25 
                 underside portion 
               
               
                 26 
                 cup 
               
               
                 28 
                 tray 
               
               
                 30 
                 enlargement 
               
               
                 32 
                 side 
               
               
                 33 
                 edge 
               
               
                 34 
                 shaved corner 
               
               
                 36 
                 enlargement 
               
               
                 38 
                 walls 
               
               
                 40 
                 receptacle 
               
               
                 42 
                 bottom 
               
               
                 44 
                 walls 
               
               
                 46 
                 cup connecting member 
               
               
                 48 
                 enlargement 
               
               
                 50 
                 tray connecting member 
               
               
                 52 
                 table 
               
               
                 54 
                 fort 
               
               
                 56 
                 elongated leg 
               
               
                 58 
                 elongated groove 
               
               
                 60 
                 side panel 
               
               
                 62 
                 user 
               
               
                 64 
                 item 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.  FIGS. 1 through 21  illustrate the present invention wherein a modular furniture construction is disclosed. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown the present invention  10  in an exemplary configuration of a generally rectangular shaped table having a plurality of legs  12  wherein each leg has a plurality of grooves  14  on its upper end for receiving the ends of cross member  16  wherein each cross member has a tongue-like mating or connecting member  18  on each end thereof wherein the mating member can be placed in one of the grooves  14  of the leg which grooves are disposed vertically and spaced circumferentially about 90 degrees apart around the sides of the upper end of each leg parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg. Each cross member  16  has an upwardly extending rib  20  on its upper edge which is used to connect the top  22  to the cross member  16 . The cross members  16  have a tongue-like mating or connecting member  18  on each end. The top  22  has a cutout  24  located on each corner for receiving a mating edge or corner of the upper end of leg  12 . Also shown is the cup  26  which can be disposed about the edges of the top  22  along with tray  28  which can be disposed around the edges of the top by having tongue-like mating or connecting members  46 ,  50  disposed in an unused groove  14  of leg  12 . The tray  28  can be used for receiving accessories such as pencils, crayons, erasers and cup  26  can be used for receiving a container having liquid therein. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , therein are shown various views of cross member  16 . Each cross member  16  has a tongue-like mating or connecting member  18  on each end wherein that the tongue-like mating member is effectively enlarged on its end or tip at  30  for secure placement in the mating groove  14  of leg  12  (not shown, see  FIG. 8 ). Also note that the top side of each cross member  16  has an upwardly extending rib member  20  thereon which forms a flange  21  on each side thereof for receiving and securing the mating edge  23  of top  22  (not shown, see  FIG. 10 ). A top  22  can be placed on a flange  21  on each side of the rib  20  so as to form a table having multiple tops as best seen in  FIG. 20 . Rib  20  is substantially the same height as the edge  23  a top  22  so that the surface of a table having multiple tops would be substantially flat or smooth being ideal for such activities as playing with trains, building toys or the like. It is expected that each cross member  16  will be about forty-eight inches long with the ends beings about four to eight inches in height. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 6 through 8 , therein is shown leg  12  wherein each leg has a plurality; e.g., four, of sides  32  along with shaved or rounded corners  34  thereon for mating with the top  22  as previously disclosed. Each leg  12  has on its upper end a groove  14  which is centrally disposed on each side  32  wherein each groove has an enlarged receptacle portion  36  disposed toward the central axis of the leg on its upper end for receiving a mating enlargement  30  of a tongue-like or connecting member  18  of each cross member  20  (not shown, see  FIGS. 2-5 ). Note that the enlargement  36  of the leg  12  is complementarily sized and shaped as the enlargement  30  on each cross member  16  and that groove  14  is effectively long, e.g., four-twelve inches, to receive member  18  on the end of cross member  16 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 9 through 11 , therein is shown a planar rigid top  22  wherein each top has a cutout  24  on each corner for mating with the shaved corner  34  of each leg  12  (not shown, see  FIGS. 6-8 ). Also shown is edge  23  and a reinforced underside portion  25  of the top  22  which is expected to be about two feet square. Edge  23  rests on flange  21  so as to securely fit the top onto the crossmembers so as to form a table or related structure such as a fort. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 12 through 15 , therein is shown the tray  28  being generally rectangular shaped having a plurality of raised walls  38  thereon forming an internal receptacle  40  for placement therein of children&#39;s accessories such as pencils, crayons, erasers and the like. Note that the tray  28  has a bottom  42  therein and tongue-like mating or tray connecting member  50  on each end for insertion and connection to the unused grooves  14  of legs  12  (not shown, see  FIGS. 6-8 ). 
     Turning to  FIGS. 16 through 19 , therein is shown the cup  26  being generally cylindrically shaped having circular raised walls  44  having a mating tongue-like or cup connecting member  46  thereon having an enlargement on the end thereof  48  for mating with each of the grooves  14  disposed on the upper end of each leg  12  (not shown, see  FIGS. 6-8 ). Cup  26  is for containing liquid, holding items such as crayons, paintbrushes, or the like or receiving a container having liquid therein. 
     Turning to  FIG. 20 , therein is shown a large table  52  constructed according to the teachings of the present invention  10 . The table  52  is comprised of a plurality of the previously disclosed modular components, e.g., tops  22 , legs  12  and crossmembers  16  with ribs  20 , having cups  26  and trays  28  attached thereto constructed according to the teachings of the present invention so that a plurality of users  62  can play with items  64 , e.g., blocks, disposed on the table tops. 
     Turning to  FIG. 21 , therein is shown a fort constructed according to the teachings of the present invention  10 . The fort  54  is comprised of a plurality of the previously disclosed modular components constructed according to the teachings of the present invention. Also shown, in addition to legs  12  of regular length as previously disclosed, is an extra long or elongated leg  56  having a first groove  14  at its upper end along with an intermediately disposed elongated second groove  58  which allows for cross members  16  to be connected to the grooves at its middle and its upper end for forming a first and second floor. A plurality of side panels  60  are also attached to the sides of the framework to form sides or walls of the fort  54 . Also shown, are a cup  26  and tray  28  attached to the fort constructed so that a plurality of users  62  can play in and about the fort on the first and second floor of the fort. 
     In operation, the present invention  10  can be arrayed in many configurations wherein the multiple tabletops  22  can be placed on crossmembers  16  which are connected to the legs  12  so as to create numerous configurations of the present invention wherein each of the configurations can have a plurality of trays  28  and a plurality of cups  26  thereon.