UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE COMPONENT CONNECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

An upholstered component, such as panels, assembled onto a furniture frame or a chair mechanism by way of a connection system provides a robust connection and economical manufacturing process. The connection includes a T-nut and a spacer attached on opposite sides of a wood form to be upholstered. The threaded barrel of the T-nut inserted in a hole through the wood form and with T-nut prongs embedding into a surface of the side of the wood form that will be facing outwardly on the furniture. The spacer is inserted into the hole at the opposite side of the wood form and is retained therein by an interference fit. The wood form is upholstered and is then attached to the furniture frame or mechanism with a bolt connecting to the furniture frame or mechanism and then extending through the spacer, into the hole and into the threaded barrel of the T-nut.

Claims

1. An upholstered chair or sofa comprising: a furniture frame, the furniture frame being one of a wooden frame or a recliner mechanism and at least one upholstered component attached to the wooden frame or recliner mechanism by way of a connection system, the upholstered component comprising an underlying wood form having an exterior facing side, an interior facing side, and a plurality of holes extending therethrough, and a plurality of upholster layers including an outer exposed layer wrapped over the exterior facing side and attached to the frame facing side at edge portions of the outer exposed layer, the connection system comprising a plurality of polymer spacers, plurality of metal T-nuts, and a plurality of bolts, wherein each spacer comprises a spacer bore extending through the spacer with are inner diameter defining the spacer bore, an anchor portion and a unitary separator portion, the anchor portion having an outer diameter, the separator portion having an outer diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the anchor portion, and the spacer having a shoulder or flange at or proximate to a juncture between the separator portion and the anchor portion, wherein the shoulder has a shoulder surface that is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the separator portion, wherein each T-nut comprises a flange with a plurality of prongs, a barrel extending from the flange, the barrel with internal threads and having a barrel outer diameter, wherein each of the plurality of holes has one of the plurality of T-nuts and one of the plurality of spacers associated therewith, the barrel of the one T-nut positioned in the respective hole with the flange of said T-nut in contact with the exterior facing surface surrounding the respective hole and the plurality of prongs of said flange extending into the wood form at the respective hole, said one of the plurality of spacers having its respective anchor portion engaged with the wood form in said respective hole and said anchor portion also engaged with the barrel of the respective T-nut in said hole, whereby the spacer is secured in said hole; wherein one of the plurality of bolts extends from one of the wooden frame or recliner mechanism and extends through the spacer bore, and is threadably engaged in the barrel of the T-nut, whereby the spacer is compressed between the furniture frame and upholstered component.

2. The assembled upholstered piece of furniture of claim 1, wherein the assembled upholstered piece of furniture is a recliner.

3. The assembled upholstered piece of furniture of claim 1, wherein an end of the anchor portion of the spacer opposite the shoulder has a taper extending towards an outer surface of the spacer.

4. (canceled)

5. The assembled upholstered piece of furniture of claim 1, wherein an end of the anchor portion of the spacer is compressed between the hole and the barrel of the T-nut.

6. The assembled upholstered piece of furniture of claim 1, wherein the barrel of the T-nut does not contact the respective hole when the spacer is inserted into the hole.

7. The assembled upholstered piece of furniture of claim 1, wherein the barrel of the T-nut has an enlarged diameter portion and a reduced diameter portion, wherein the reduced diameter portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion.

8. The assembled upholstered piece of furniture of claim 7, wherein the enlarged diameter portion of the barrel abuts the flange.

9. The assembled upholstered piece of furniture of claim 8, wherein the anchor portion of the spacer overlaps the enlarged diameter portion of the T-nut when the spacer and the T-nut are each fully inserted into the respective hole.

10-11. (canceled)

12. A method for using a connection system in an upholstered chair or sofa comprising a spacer having an anchor portion, a separator portion, and a spacer bore, a T-nut having a body and a flange, a bolt, and an ottoman wood piece, the method comprising: drilling a hole in the ottoman wood piece, inserting the body of the T-nut into the hole, percussively inserting the anchor portion of the spacer into the hole creating an interference fit between the anchor portion of the spacer and the T-nut and/or between the anchor portion of the spacer and the hole, threading the bolt through a hole in an ottoman bracket, the spacer bore, and the body of the T-nut, wherein the separator portion is positioned between the ottoman bracket and the ottoman wood piece.

13-15. (canceled)

16. An upholstered component comprising a wood form, the wood form having an outwardly facing side with an outwardly facing surface, an inwardly facing side with an inwardly facing surface, and a plurality of holes extending through the wood form from the outwardly facing surface to the inwardly facing surface, each of the plurality of holes having a T-nut therein on the outwardly facing side, and each of the plurality of holes having a spacer having an anchor portion engaged with a T-nut barrel and a separator portion projecting from the inwardly facing surface a predetermined distance; and upholstery covering a plurality of sides of the wood form including he outwardly facing surface.

17. The component of claim 16 wherein there is an annulus surrounding the T-nut barrel and the anchor portion is interferringly received in the annulus.

18. The component of claim 16, wherein the T-nut barrel has a nub engaging the anchor portion.

19. The component of claim 16, wherein the anchor portion extends greater than 80% of the distance from the inwardly facing surface to the outwardly facing surface.

20. The component of claim 16, wherein the flange comprises a plurality of prongs extending into the wood form.

21. The component of claim 20, wherein the anchor portion has an outer perimeter in contact with the hole and an inner perimeter contact with the barrel of the T-nut.

22. The component of claim 16, wherein an end of the anchor portion opposite the separator portion comprises one or more tapers.

23. (canceled)

24. The upholstered component of claim 16, wherein an end of the spacer within the hole is chamfered.

25. (canceled)

26. The upholstered component of claim 16, wherein a reduced portion of the barrel and the anchor portion of the spacer define an annulus.

27. (canceled)

8. The upholstered component of claim 16, wherein a bolt received by the barrel further swages the anchor portion of the spacer as the bolt is tightened.

29. (canceled)

30. The upholstered component of claim 16, wherein the separator portion having a cylindrical exterior surface.

31. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a recliner in accord with embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upholstered ottoman component suitable for the recliner of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the upholstered ottoman component of FIG. 2.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the ottoman component of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a spacer from one end.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the spacer of FIG. 5 from an opposite end.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the spacer of FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a T-nut in accord with embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a wood form before drilling holes in accord with embodiments.

[0019] FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the wood form of FIG. 9 with holes therein.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a T-nut and spacer engaged with a wood form in accord with embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 11 is a view of a wood form with spacers secured therein.

[0022] FIG. 12 is a view of a zippered upholstery case for securing to a wood form in accord with embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 13 is a view of upholstery layers comprising an outer upholstery layer and a foam layer.

[0024] FIG. 14 is the wood form of FIG. 11 which is suitably ready for application of one of the upholstery case of FIG. 12 or the upholstery layers of FIG. 13.

[0025] FIG. 15A is an exploded cross sectional view of a connection in accord with embodiments.

[0026] FIG. 15B is the components of FIG. 15A in an assembled state.

[0027] FIG. 16 is a schematic view of an automated assembly system in accord with embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 17 is a prior art view of a spacer.

[0029] FIG. 18 is a prior art view of a wood form with a spacer and T-nuts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, an upholstered chair 20, specifically a recliner, with a recliner mechanism 22, is shown in an extended reclined position. The recliner mechanism has an ottoman bracket 26 with an upholstered ottoman component 28 secured thereto by a connection system 30. The upholstered component 28 is further illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 separated from the recliner mechanism and has an upholstery case 34. The case has an outer upholstery layer 35, a backing fabric 36 stitched to the upholstery layer 35, and a zipper 38. Spacers 40, part of the connection system 30, are illustrated extending through the case at apertures or slits 42.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 5-7, further details of the spacer 40 in accord with embodiments, are illustrated. The spacer has a body 43 including two cylindrical portions, an anchor portion 44, and a separator portion 46, the separator portion 46 having an outside diameter D1 that is greater than the outside diameter D2 of the anchor portion 44. A shoulder 47 with a stop surface 48 extends between the anchor portion outer surface 50 and the separator portion outer surface 52. In embodiments, a flange 53 may be placed at the juncture 54 of the anchor portion 44 and separator portion 46. See FIG. 7. A bore 56 defined by an interior surface 57 extends axially through the spacer body 43. The end 58 of the spacer may have tapered surfaces 59, 60 for facilitating installation as described below. See FIG. 6. The spacer 40 may be formed of a polymer material, for example, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, nylons, or the like, and may be injection molded.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 8, a T-nut 62, part of the connection system 30, has a flange portion 64 with a plurality of prongs 66 unitary with and extending therefrom and a unitary barrel portion 68 having an enlarged portion 70 with a diameter D3 and a reduced diameter portion 72 with a diameter D4. The enlarged portion 70 and reduced diameter portion 72 maybe generally cylindrical or may have a taper. In such a case, the average diameter D3 of the enlarged portion is greater than the average diameter D4 of the reduced diameter portion. Opposing prongs having an inside dimension of D5. The barrel 68 has a threaded inside wall 74. Such T-nuts are commonly used in furniture construction and are stamped from metal. In embodiments, the T-nut barrel may have nubs 75 or teeth projecting from the enlarged portion 70 to grab into the anchor portion. In embodiments, the prongs 66 may have teeth or ridges to facilitate engagement with a surface.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, a wood form 78 is cut to size for the particular upholstery application. Holes 80 are drilled at the specific locations for attachment to the furniture frame including ottoman brackets on recliner mechanisms. The holes may be constant diameter and, in embodiments, are sized for providing an interference fit with the anchor portions 44 of the spacers 40 and are oversized with respect to the barrel of the T-nuts and are undersized with respect to the inside dimension D5 between opposing prongs. The wood form has an inwardly facing surface 82 and an outwardly facing surface 84. Hole 80 has a length extending from inwardly facing surface 82 to outwardly facing surface 84. In that the wood form portrayed is symmetrical about a plane through the form, there is no difference at this point which side is inwardly facing and which side is outwardly facing.

[0034] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the connection system 30 components of the spacer 40, T-nut 62, and wood form 78. The anchor portion 44 having an interference fit with wood form 78 in the hole and also the enlarged portion 70 of the barrel 68 of the T-nut 62. In embodiments, the anchor portion 44 may have the interference fit with one of the wood form 78 and T-nut 62 but not the other. In embodiments, the anchor portion 44 has a length less than the length of the hole. In embodiments, the anchor portion 44 has a length more than one half of the length of the hole. In embodiments, the anchor portion 44 has a length between 85 and 98 percent of the length of the hole. The end 58 of the anchor portion 44 may have a taper or tapers 59, 60 to act as guide-in surfaces for engagement with the T-nut 62, as best shown in FIG. 6. In embodiments, the spacer 40 may be inserted into the hole 80 at the side of the wood form 78 that will face inwardly with respect to the furniture frame or mechanism to which it is attached before the T-nut 62 is installed to act as a guide for placement of the T-nut 62. The spacer 40 is inserted until the stop surface 48 of the shoulder 47 abuts up against the inside facing surface 82 of the wood form 78. The T-nut 62 is hammered to drive the prongs 66 into the wood form 78 guided by the spacer 40. The spacer 40 should be held in place allowing the barrel 68 to be driven into the anchor portion 44. The spacers 40 then extend from the holes as shown in FIG. 11 at the side 88 of the wood form 78 that will face inwardly when assembled with the furniture frame or mechanism. The inwardly facing side 88 having the inwardly facing surface 82. The side 90 and surface 84 that will face outwardly is illustrated in FIG. 14 with the T-nut flanges 64 exposed on the outwardly facing surface 84. In embodiments, the upholstery may be pinched between the spacer shoulder 47 and the surface 82.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 12, upholstery systems suitable for the wood form of FIGS. 9B and 14 are illustrated. The upholstery case 34 of FIG. 12 is assembled to the dimensions of the wood form and has an outer exposed upholstery material 35, a backing fabric 36 stitched to the upholstery outer material, and a zipper 38 defining an opening 96 into which the wood form may be inserted. The case may have additional upholstery layer or layers inside such as a foam layer.

[0036] FIG. 13 illustrates a piece of outwardly exposed upholstery material 100 that may be wrapped around the wood form with a layer of cushioning foam 102 between the wood form 78 and the upholstery material 100. The edge portions 104 may be attached to the inwardly facing surface 82 of the wood form 78 by staples.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, an exploded view and an assembled view of the connection system 30 such as also shown in FIG. 1 for attaching an upholstered component 28, assembled as described above. The connection system includes a bolt 110 that extends through a hole 112 in a bracket, then is inserted into the spacer 40 that has previously been installed in the wood form 78 and is then threadably engaged with the threaded barrel 68 of the T-nut 62. A lock nut 113 may facilitate the integrity of the connection 114. The separator portion 46 may have a cylindrical outer surface 52 or may have a plurality of flats with a polygonal cross section.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 16, a schematic of an exemplary automated manufacturing system 150 is illustrated. The generally cylindrical spacers 40 may be loaded into a hopper 156 and arranged through equipment 158 to be put into a line of the spacers to be conveyed by a conveyor 160. At the same time a supply 166 or stack of wood forms 78 are serially fed to a first work station 168 where the holes are drilled in the proper location. The wood forms 78 with holes 80 are then serially conveyed to a second work station 172 where the spacers are installed at the to-be inwardly facing surface 82 and the T-nuts 62 are installed on the to-be outwardly facing surface 84 by pneumatics or the like. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 16, the anchor portion 44 of the spacer 40 is inserted in the holes 80 and may be used as a guide for the precise alignment of the T-nut barrels 68, or the equipment may be precise enough to center the T-nut barrel 68 in the hole 80 providing the proper annulus between the T-nut barrel 68 and wood form 78, without the spacer 40 therein, to interferingly receive the anchor portion 44 of the spacer 40. The T-nuts 62 and spacers 40 may be forced in with a hammer action by the equipment. Tapered surfaces 59, 60 may assist in the smooth entry of spacer 40 into hole 80 and further act as installation guides, such that barrel 68 slides within anchor portion as barrel 68 is forced within spacer 40.

[0039] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any incorporated by reference references, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. The above references in all sections of this application are herein incorporated by references in their entirety for all purposes.

[0040] Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose could be substituted for the specific examples shown. This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be defined by the attached claims and their legal equivalents, as well as the following illustrative aspects. The above described aspects embodiments of the invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.