A FURNITURE ITEM CONFIGURED FOR EASE OF ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY

Abstract

A furniture item includes a base portion; a pair of arms, and a back portion. The arms and back portion are configured to detachably connect to the base portion to form a seat shape capable of receiving one or more people in a seated position. The base portion, arms, and back portion further includes a connection configured so that the arms and back portion can quickly and easily connect and disconnect from the base portion. The base portion further includes an internal pocket configured to receive the un-mounted legs for storage and transport.

Claims

1. A furniture item, comprising: a base portion having an internal pocket; a pair of arms; a back portion; the arms and back portion configured to detachably connect to the base portion to form a seat shape capable of receiving one or more people in a seated position; the base portion, arms, and back portion further comprising connections configured so that the arms and back portion can quickly and easily connect and disconnect from the base portion, and wherein the internal pocket is configured to receive un-mounted legs for storage and transport.

2. The furniture item as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection for connecting the arms comprises at least one set of fasteners comprising a female half and male half, one half of the at least one set mounted on the base portion, the other half of the at least one set mounted on the arm, for mutual connection of the arm to the base portion.

3. The furniture item as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one set of fasteners comprises two or more sets of fasteners at each side of the base portion.

4. The furniture item as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection configured to connect the back comprises at least one set of fasteners comprising a female half and male half, one half of the at least one set mounted on the back portion, the other half of the at least one set mounted on the arms.

5. The furniture item as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one set of fasteners comprises two or more sets of fasteners at each side of the back portion.

6. The furniture item as claimed in claim 4 wherein the fasteners are located on the base portion, the arm or arms, and the back portion, so that when the furniture item is fully assembled the fasteners are concealed by the arms and base portion.

7. The furniture item as claimed in claim 4 wherein the fasteners comprise V-shaped male and female portions each having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow end of the male portion slotting into the wider end or mouth of the female portion in use to make progressive engagement between the portions.

8. The furniture item as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of legs, the legs and base portion configured for mutual connection of the legs to an underside of the base portion.

9. The furniture item as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of the legs comprises an externally threaded upper portion and the underside of the base portion comprises complimentary internally threaded apertures, the legs screwing one into each of the apertures in use.

10. (canceled)

11. The furniture item as claimed in claim 2 wherein the connection configured to connect the back comprises at least one set of fasteners comprising a female half and male half, one half of the at least one set mounted on the back portion, the other half of the at least one set mounted on the arms.

12. The furniture item as claimed in claim 11 wherein the at least one set of fasteners comprises two or more sets of fasteners at each side of the back portion.

13. The furniture item as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fasteners are located on the base portion, the arm or arms, and the back portion, so that when the furniture item is fully assembled the fasteners are concealed by the arms and base portion.

14. The furniture item as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fasteners comprise V-shaped male and female portions each having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow end of the male portion slotting into the wider end or mouth of the female portion in use to make progressive engagement between the portions.

15. The furniture item as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fasteners are located on the base portion, the arm or arms, and the back portion, so that when the furniture item is fully assembled the fasteners are concealed by the arms and base portion.

16. The furniture item as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fasteners are located on the base portion, the arm or arms, and the back portion, so that when the furniture item is fully assembled the fasteners are concealed by the arms and base portion.

17. The furniture item as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fasteners are located on the base portion, the arm or arms, and the back portion, so that when the furniture item is fully assembled the fasteners are concealed by the arms and base portion.

18. The furniture item as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fasteners comprise V-shaped male and female portions each having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow end of the male portion slotting into the wider end or mouth of the female portion in use to make progressive engagement between the portions.

19. The furniture item as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fasteners comprise V-shaped male and female portions each having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow end of the male portion slotting into the wider end or mouth of the female portion in use to make progressive engagement between the portions.

20. The furniture item as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fasteners comprise V-shaped male and female portions each having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow end of the male portion slotting into the wider end or mouth of the female portion in use to make progressive engagement between the portions.

21. The furniture item as claimed in claim 6 wherein the fasteners comprise V-shaped male and female portions each having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow end of the male portion slotting into the wider end or mouth of the female portion in use to make progressive engagement between the portions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the device by way of example, and in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of a fully assembled sofa according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sofa having a base, a back and arms, and legs extending between the lower surface of the base and the floor in use.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a perspective front semi-exploded view of the sofa of FIG. 1 from the same angle, with the sofa cushions shown exploded or above the base and arms, in order to show detail of the base and arms.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a perspective front semi-exploded view of the base, arms and legs of the sofa of FIGS. 1 and 2, from the same angle, with the back removed and showing detail of the connection mechanism between the back, the arms, and the base.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a perspective front semi-exploded view of the base, arms and legs of the sofa of the preceding figures from the same angle, with the back and cushions not shown, and the arms shown removed, the figure showing detail of the connection mechanism between the arms and the base.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the underside of the sofa base and the sofa legs, showing detail of the position and the connection between the base and the legs.

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the legs of the embodiment of sofa of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0033] FIG. 7 shows a detail front view of the connection mechanism used to connect between the arms and the base, and between the back and the arms, of the sofa of the present embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Embodiments of the invention, and variations thereof, will now be described in detail with reference to the figures.

[0035] In an embodiment, the furniture item of the present invention comprises a sofa 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The sofa 1 in this embodiment is a three-seat sofa.

[0036] The sofa 1 comprises five main parts: a base 2, arms 3, a back 4, seat cushions 5, and legs 6. The base 2, arms 3, back 4, and legs 6 are interconnected during assembly of the sofa 1 to form the sofa 1.

[0037] Fasteners 7 are used to connect the arms 3 to the base 2, and the back 4 to the arms 3. The fasteners 7 comprise a female half 7a and a male half 7b, formed as a semi-conical V-shape, the male ‘V’ slotting into the female ‘V’ from above to make the connection. The use of these ‘V’ elements allows quick and easy assembly and disassembly. The thinner end of the male element can be easily and quickly positioned over the wider ‘mouth’ of the female element and then moved into engagement, the ‘V’s of the bodies progressively engaging as the male and female halves are slotted together.

[0038] The base 2 comprises a substantially flat, rectangular board, configured to hold the weight of the arms 3, back 4, and cushions 5, plus the weight of at least two people seated on the assembled sofa. Female fasters 7a are connected to each of the side edges of the base 2, at or towards the front and rear ends, these allowing attachment of the arms 3 to the base 2. The base 2 further comprises a rear ridge 8, which is configured to connect with the lower edge of the back 4. Back 4 conceals the fittings 7b on the recessed outer edge, providing structural integrity whilst hiding the fixing mechanisms. Holes or apertures 9 are located on the underside or bottom surface of the base 2, at or towards each corner, to allow attachment of the legs 6. The holes are threaded to allow the legs 6 to be screwed into the holes 6, the legs 6 having complimentary external threading on their upper part to allow the connection.

[0039] The arms 3 comprise cushions that are robust enough to hold their own weight and form. In the preferred embodiment, the arms 3 have an internal rigid frame covered with expanded foam, with a fabric covering. Two male base fasteners 7b are connected to the inside-facing surface of the arm 3 at or towards the front and rear ends of the arm 3, to slot into the female fasteners 7a on the side edges of the base 2. The fasteners are positioned so that the body of the base and arms will conceal these once connected.

[0040] The back 4 comprises a single elongate cushion element formed in the same or a similar manner to the arms 3. The lower edge of the back 4 rests on and engages with the rear ridge 8 when assembled.

[0041] The arms 3 further comprise female back fasteners 17b, located in the preferred embodiment above the rear base fasteners 7b. Two male back fasteners (not shown) are located on each side of the back 4, and slot into and engage with these female back fasteners when the sofa 1 is assembled. The fasteners are positioned so that the body of the back and arms will conceal these once connected.

[0042] The sofa cushions 5 comprise seat cushions and, in the preferred embodiment, rear cushions. These sit on the top of the base 2 and against the back 4 in use.

[0043] When brand-new or newly purchased, the sofa 1 will typically be delivered unassembled, ready for first assembly. It will also typically be unassembled or disassembled when the owners or users move from one home to another, and then re-assembled once they are at the new location.

[0044] Described below are the typical assembly steps.

[0045] Firstly, the legs 6 are screwed into the threaded apertures 9 on the underside of the base 2. The base 2 is then placed upright so that it rests on it's legs 6 on the floor.

[0046] The arms 3 are then connected to the base via the male and female connectors 7a, 7b on the arms 3 and side of the base 2.

[0047] The back 4 is then slotted into position, connecting to the arms 3 via the female back fasteners 17b.

[0048] The cushions 5 are then positioned on the base 2.

[0049] The sofa 1 is at this point ready for use.

[0050] To dis-assemble the sofa, the cushions 5 are removed, the back 4 is lifted up and out of engagement with the female back fasteners 17b, the arms 3 are lifted up and out of engagement with the fasteners 7b on the base 2, and the base 2 is lifted up so that the legs 6 can be unscrewed and removed.

[0051] As outlined in the embodiment described above, the legs 6 are the only non-bulky or non-large element that is separable from the other items. In the preferred embodiment, a closeable pocket is formed in the underside of the base 2, into which the legs 6 can be placed for storage during transport or similar.

[0052] It can be seen that assembly and dis-assembly of the sofa 1 as an embodiment of the present invention does not require tools. The use of male/female connection elements as described above allows quick and easy connection, and these are hidden when the connection is made, to conceal the connection.