Multi-configuration furniture and display system

Abstract

A furniture and display system (1) having right side structure (2) and left side structure (1) that may be configured to be used as a chair or display in a retail setting. A rear panel (4, 10) of at least one of the two side structures has two panels which form a space to allow the rear panel of a corresponding side structure to be inserted therein to form an elongated shelf or seat. The design of the two pieces allows the side structures to be nested and/or placed together in multiple configurations.

Claims

1. A furniture and display system comprising: a right side structure and a left side structure that are configurable to each other; said right side structure having a substantially rectangular-shaped right rear panel having a right rear panel top edge, a right rear panel bottom edge, a right rear panel left side edge and a right rear panel right side edge; said right side structure further having a right side panel extending perpendicularly from the right rear panel right side edge; said right side panel having a right side panel top edge, a right side panel bottom edge, a right side panel rear edge and a right side panel front edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped right front panel extending perpendicularly from the right side panel front edge; said right front panel having a right front panel top edge, a right front panel bottom edge, a right front panel right side edge and a right front panel left side edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped right horizontal support panel located between the right rear panel, the right side panel and the right front panel and being perpendicularly oriented in relation to the right rear panel, the right side panel and the right front panel; said right horizontal support panel having a right horizontal support panel front edge, a right horizontal support panel rear edge, a right horizontal support panel right side edge and a right horizontal support panel left side edge; said right horizontal support panel front edge being adjacent to the right front panel top edge; said left side structure having a substantially rectangular-shaped left rear panel having a left rear panel top edge, a left rear panel bottom edge, a left rear panel left side edge and a left rear panel right side edge; said left side structure further having a left side panel extending perpendicularly from the left rear panel left side edge; said left side panel having a left side panel top edge, a left side panel bottom edge, a left side panel rear edge and a left side panel front edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped left front panel extending perpendicularly from the left side panel front edge; said left front panel having a left front panel top edge, a left front panel bottom edge, a left front panel right side edge and a left front panel left side edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped left horizontal support panel located between the left rear panel, the left side panel and the left front panel and being perpendicularly oriented in relation to the left rear panel, the left side panel and the left front panel; said left horizontal support panel having a left horizontal support panel front edge, a left horizontal support panel rear edge, a left horizontal support panel right side edge and a left horizontal support panel left side edge; said left horizontal support panel front edge being adjacent to the left front panel top edge; said right rear panel comprises two panels, one of which is a full rear panel and the second of which is a partial rear panel; said full rear panel and partial rear panel being spaced apart a predetermined distance; said left rear panel made up of a single rear panel that slides between the full rear panel and the partial rear panel of the right side rear panel; said right side panel top edge angles downward from the right rear panel top edge to the right front panel top edge; and said left side panel top edge angles downward from the left rear panel top edge to the left front panel top edge.

2. The furniture and display system of claim 1 wherein: said right side structure is constructed out of at least one foldable sheet of material; and said left side structure is constructed out of at least one foldable sheet of material.

3. The furniture and display system of claim 2 wherein: said right side structure comprises a right corner support and a right seat support nested together to form the right side structure; and said left side structure comprises a left corner support and a left seat support nested together to form the left side structure.

4. The furniture and display system of claim 1 further comprising: at least one leveling insert configurable to the furniture and display system.

5. The furniture and display system of claim 1 further comprising: at least one shelving insert configurable to the furniture and display system.

6. The furniture and display system of claim 1 further comprising: at least one divider insert configurable to the furniture and display system.

7. A furniture and display system comprising: a right side structure and a left side structure that are configurable to each other; said right side structure having a substantially rectangular-shaped right rear panel having a right rear panel top edge, a right rear panel bottom edge, a right rear panel left side edge and a right rear panel right side edge; said right side structure further having a right side panel extending perpendicularly from the right rear panel right side edge; said right side panel having a right side panel top edge, a right side panel bottom edge, a right side panel rear edge and a right side panel front edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped right front panel extending perpendicularly from the right side panel front edge; said right front panel having a right front panel top edge, a right front panel bottom edge, a right front panel right side edge and a right front panel left side edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped right horizontal support panel located between the right rear panel, the right side panel and the right front panel and being perpendicularly oriented in relation to the right rear panel, the right side panel and the right front panel; said right horizontal support panel having a right horizontal support panel front edge, a right horizontal support panel rear edge, a right horizontal support panel right side edge and a right horizontal support panel left side edge; said right horizontal support panel front edge being adjacent to the right front panel top edge; said left side structure having a substantially rectangular-shaped left rear panel having a left rear panel top edge, a left rear panel bottom edge, a left rear panel left side edge and a left rear panel right side edge; said left side structure further having a left side panel extending perpendicularly from the left rear panel left side edge; said left side panel having a left side panel top edge, a left side panel bottom edge, a left side panel rear edge and a left side panel front edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped left front panel extending perpendicularly from the left side panel front edge; said left front panel having a left front panel top edge, a left front panel bottom edge, a left front panel right side edge and a left front panel left side edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped left horizontal support panel located between the left rear panel, the left side panel and the left front panel and being perpendicularly oriented in relation to the left rear panel, the left side panel and the left front panel; said left horizontal support panel having a left horizontal support panel front edge, a left horizontal support panel rear edge, a left horizontal support panel right side edge and a left horizontal support panel left side edge; said left horizontal support panel front edge being adjacent to the left front panel top edge; said left rear panel comprises two panels, one of which is a full rear panel and the second of which is a partial rear panel; said full rear panel and partial rear panel being spaced apart a predetermined distance; said right rear panel made up of a single rear panel that slides between the full rear panel and the partial rear panel of the left side rear panel; said right side panel top edge angles downward from the right rear panel top edge to the right front panel top edge; and said left side panel top edge angles downward from the left rear panel top edge to the left front panel top edge.

8. The furniture and display system of claim 7 wherein: said right side structure is constructed out of at least one foldable sheet of material; and said left side structure is constructed out of at least one foldable sheet of material.

9. The furniture and display system of claim 8 wherein: said right side structure comprises a right corner support and a right seat support nested together to form the right side structure; and said left side structure comprises a left corner support and a left seat support nested together to form the left side structure.

10. The furniture and display system of claim 7 further comprising: at least one leveling insert configurable to the furniture and display system.

11. The furniture and display system of claim 7 further comprising: at least one shelving insert configurable to the furniture and display system.

12. The furniture and display system of claim 7 further comprising: at least one divider insert configurable to the furniture and display system.

13. A furniture and display system comprising: a right side structure and a left side structure that are configurable to each other; said right side structure having a substantially rectangular-shaped right rear panel having a right rear panel top edge, a right rear panel bottom edge, a right rear panel left side edge and a right rear panel right side edge; said right side structure further having a right side panel extending perpendicularly from the right rear panel right side edge; said right side panel having a right side panel top edge, a right side panel bottom edge, a right side panel rear edge and a right side panel front edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped right front panel extending perpendicularly from the right side panel front edge; said right front panel having a right front panel top edge, a right front panel bottom edge, a right front panel right side edge and a right front panel left side edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped right horizontal support panel located between the right rear panel, the right side panel and the right front panel and being perpendicularly oriented in relation to the right rear panel, the right side panel and the right front panel; said right horizontal support panel having a right horizontal support panel front edge, a right horizontal support panel rear edge, a right horizontal support panel right side edge and a right horizontal support panel left side edge; said right horizontal support panel front edge being adjacent to the right front panel top edge; said left side structure having a substantially rectangular-shaped left rear panel having a left rear panel top edge, a left rear panel bottom edge, a left rear panel left side edge and a left rear panel right side edge; said left side structure further having a left side panel extending perpendicularly from the left rear panel left side edge; said left side panel having a left side panel top edge, a left side panel bottom edge, a left side panel rear edge and a left side panel front edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped left front panel extending perpendicularly from the left side panel front edge; said left front panel having a left front panel top edge, a left front panel bottom edge, a left front panel right side edge and a left front panel left side edge; a substantially rectangular-shaped left horizontal support panel located between the left rear panel, the left side panel and the left front panel and being perpendicularly oriented in relation to the left rear panel, the left side panel and the left front panel; said left horizontal support panel having a left horizontal support panel front edge, a left horizontal support panel rear edge, a left horizontal support panel right side edge and a left horizontal support panel left side edge; said left horizontal support panel front edge being adjacent to the left front panel top edge; said right side panel top edge angles downward from the right rear panel top edge to the right front panel top edge; and said left side panel top edge angles downward from the left rear panel top edge to the left front panel top edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective left side view of a furniture and display system of the present invention having a right side structure and a left side structure nested together in a primary configuration in which the left rear panel has a full rear panel and a partial rear panel;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective left side view of the right side structure of the present invention in which the right rear panel is a single panel;

(4) FIG. 3 is a right side perspective view of the left side structure of the present invention in which the left rear panel has a full rear panel and a partial rear panel;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective right side view of a furniture and display system of the present invention having a right side structure and a left side structure nested together in a primary configuration in which the right rear panel has a full rear panel and a partial rear panel;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective left side view of the right side structure of the present invention in which the right rear panel has a full rear panel and a partial rear panel;

(7) FIG. 6 is a right side perspective view of the left side structure of the present invention in which the left rear panel is a single panel;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective left side view of a leveling insert of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective left side view of a shelving insert of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective left side view of a divider insert of the present invention;

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective left side view of a furniture and display system of the present invention having a right side structure and a left side structure nested together in a primary configuration and constructed out of foldable sheets of material;

(12) FIG. 11 is a top view of a foldable sheet of material;

(13) FIG. 12 is a top view of an unfolded right folded seat support;

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective left side view of a folded right folded seat support;

(15) FIG. 14 is a top view of an unfolded right folded corner support;

(16) FIG. 15 is a perspective left side view of a folded right folded corner support;

(17) FIG. 16 is a perspective left side view of a folded right side structure;

(18) FIG. 17 is a top view of an unfolded left folded seat support;

(19) FIG. 18 is a perspective right side view of a folded left folded seat support;

(20) FIG. 19 is a top view of an unfolded left folded corner support;

(21) FIG. 20 is a perspective right side view of a folded left folded corner support;

(22) FIG. 21 is a perspective right side view of a folded left side structure;

(23) FIG. 22 is a perspective front view of a furniture and display system of the present invention configured as a table;

(24) FIG. 23 is a perspective rear view of a furniture and display system of the present invention configured as a table;

(25) FIG. 24 is a perspective front view of a furniture and display system of the present invention configured as a dump bin; and

(26) FIG. 25 is a perspective left side view of a furniture and display system of the present invention configured as a point of purchase display.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(27) For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows: 1. furniture and display system, generally 2. right side structure 3. left side structure 4. right rear panel 4a. top edge 4b. bottom edge 4c. left side edge 4d. right side edge 4e. full rear panel 4f. partial rear panel 4g. top rear panel 5. right side panel 5a. top edge 5b. bottom edge 5c. rear edge 5d. front edge 6. right rear corner 7. right front panel 7a. top edge 7b. bottom edge 7c. right side edge 7d. left side edge 8. right front corner 8a. top of right front corner 9. right horizontal support panel 9a. front edge 9b. rear edge 9c. right side edge 9d. left side edge 10. left rear panel 10a. top edge 10b. bottom edge 10c. left side edge 10d. right side edge 10e. full rear panel 10f. partial rear panel 10g. top rear panel 11. left side panel 11a. top edge 11b. bottom edge 11c. rear edge 11d. front edge 12. left rear corner 13. left front panel 13a. top edge 13b. bottom edge 13c. right side edge 13d. left side edge 14. left front corner 14a. top of left front corner 15. left horizontal support panel 15a. front edge 15b. rear edge 15c. right side edge 15d. left side edge 16. leveling insert 17. shelving insert 18. divider insert 19. foldable sheet 19a. front surface 19b. a rear surface 19c. top edge 19d. bottom edge 19e. left side edge 19f. right side edge 19g. inner vertical edge 19h. inner horizontal edge 19i. first foldable sheet 19j. second foldable sheet 19k. third foldable sheet 19l. fourth foldable sheet 20. right folded seat support 21. left folded seat support 22. right folded corner support 23. left folded corner support 24. central axis of foldable sheet

(28) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the furniture and display system 1 of the present invention comprises a right side structure 2 and a left side structure 3 that are capable of being nested together in a primary configuration or placed together in a variety of other configurations. As described below, the right side structure 2 and the left side structure 3 are substantial mirror images of each other.

(29) With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, a perspective left side view of the right side structure 2 of the present invention is illustrated. Said right side structure 2 comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped right rear panel 4 having a top edge 4a, bottom edge 4b, left side edge 4c and right side edge 4d. A right side panel 5 extends perpendicularly from the right side edge 4d of the right rear panel 4. Said right side panel 5 comprises a top edge 5a, a bottom edge 5b, a rear edge 5c (which shares a right rear corner 6 with the right side edge 4d of the right rear panel 4) and a front edge 5d. The top edge 5a of the right side panel 5 is preferably angled in relation to the bottom edge 5b or the top edge 5a may be parallel to the bottom edge 5b to create a rectangular-shaped right side panel 5. A substantially rectangular-shaped right front panel 7 extends perpendicularly from the front edge 5d of the right side panel 5. Said right front panel 7 comprises top edge 7a, a bottom edge 7b, a right side edge 7c (which shares a right front corner 8 with the front edge 5d of the right side panel 5) and a left side edge 7d. The top edge 7a of the right front panel 7 preferably terminates at a top 8a of the right front corner 8 where the top edge 5a of the right side panel 5 is angled upward in relation to the bottom edge 5b of the right side panel 5. A substantially rectangular-shaped right horizontal support panel 9 is located between the right rear panel 4, the right side panel 5 and the right front panel 7 and is perpendicularly oriented in relation to the right rear panel 4, the right side panel 5 and the right front panel 7. The right horizontal support panel 9 comprises a front edge 9a, a rear edge 9b, a right side edge 9c and a left side edge 9d. The front edge 9a of the right horizontal support panel 9 is preferably directly adjacent to the top edge 7a of the right front panel 7. The three-sided configuration of the right side structure 2 provides open accessible spaces above and below the right horizontal support panel 9 that allows the right side structure 2 and the left side structure 3 to be nested together in various configurations.

(30) With reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, a right side perspective view of the left side structure 3 of the present invention is illustrated. Said left side structure 3 comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped left rear panel 10 having a top edge 10a, bottom edge 10b, left side edge 10c and right side edge 10d. A left side panel 11 extends perpendicularly from the left side edge 10c of the left rear panel 10. Said left side panel 11 comprises a top edge 11a, a bottom edge 11b, a rear edge 11c (which shares a left rear corner 12 with the left side edge 10c of the left rear panel 10) and a front edge 11d. The top edge 11a of the left side panel 11 is preferably angled in relation to the bottom edge 11b or the top edge 11a may be parallel to the bottom edge 11b to create a rectangular-shaped left side panel 11. A substantially rectangular-shaped left front panel 13 extends perpendicularly from the front edge 11d of the left side panel 11. Said left front panel 13 comprises top edge 13a, a bottom edge 13b, a right side edge 13c (which shares a left front corner 14 with the front edge 11d of the left side panel 11) and a left side edge 13d. The top edge 13a of the left front panel 13 preferably terminates at a top 14a of the left front corner 14 where the top edge 11a of the left side panel 11 is angled upward in relation to the bottom edge 11b of the left side panel 11. A substantially rectangular-shaped left horizontal support panel 15 is located between the left rear panel 10, the left side panel 11 and the left front panel 13 and is perpendicularly oriented in relation to the left rear panel 10, the left side panel 11 and the left front panel 13. The left horizontal support panel 15 comprises a front edge 15a, a rear edge 15b, a right side edge 15c and a left side edge 15d. The front edge 15a of the left horizontal support panel 15 is preferably directly adjacent to the top edge 13a of the left front panel 13. The three-sided configuration of the left side structure 3 provides open accessible spaces above and below the right horizontal support panel 15 that allows the right side structure 2 and the left side structure 3 to be nested together in various configurations.

(31) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the left rear panel 10 comprises two panels one of which is a full rear panel 10e and the second of which is a partial rear panel 10f each of which are spaced apart a predetermined distance by a top rear panel 10g. The partial panel 10f extends upward from the rear edge 15b of the left horizontal support panel 15 and terminates at the top edge 10a of the left rear panel 10. The full rear panel 10e and partial rear panel 10f create a nesting space into which the right rear panel 4 may be inserted into in order to connect the right side structure 2 to the left side structure 3, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the right rear panel 4 may comprise two panels one of which is a full rear panel 4e and the second of which is a partial rear panel 4f each of which are spaced apart a predetermined distance by a top rear panel 4g. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the left rear panel 10 may comprise a single panel as illustrated in FIG. 6 and the left side structure 3 may be inserted into the right left side structure 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

(32) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the nesting of the right side structure 2 and the left side structure 3 creates an offset on the side having a single paneled rear panel. These offsets may be corrected using a leveling insert 16, as illustrated in FIG. 7, which comprises one or more rectangular shaped panels that create a flush even surface when placed over the offset area of the furniture and display system 1 of the present invention. Additional inserts may include shelving inserts 17, as illustrated in FIG. 8, divider inserts 18, as illustrated in FIG. 9, and so forth.

(33) The furniture and display system 1 of the present invention may be a rigid structure or constructed out of a paper cardboard or similar foldable material as illustrated in FIGS. 10-21 and FIG. 24, that allows the furniture and display system 1 to be easily shipped and the assembled for quick use. The foldable furniture and display system 1 of the present invention comprises four sheets 19 each having substantially the same shape and dimensions. Each sheet 19 comprises a front surface 19a, a rear surface 19b, top edge 19c, a bottom edge 19d, a left side edge 19e and a right side edge 19f. Said right side edge 19f has a length that is two thirds the length of the left side edge 19e. Said top edge 19c has a length that is half the length of the bottom edge 19d, thereby creating a cutout having an inner vertical edge 19g and inner horizontal edge 19h. Said inner vertical edge 19g has a length that is equal to the length of the top edge 19c and said inner horizontal edge 19h has a length that is equal to the length of the top edge 19c. Each of the four sheets 19 may be split into five substantially equal sized rectangular-shaped quadrants labeled A through E, as illustrated in FIG. 11

(34) The four sheets 19 may be folded to create a right side structure 2 and a left side structure 3, as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 21 respectively. The right side structure 2 and left side structure 3 each comprise a folded seat support 20 and 21 and folded corner support 22 and 23.

(35) As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the right side structure 2 comprises a right folded seat support 20 folded out of a first sheet 19i wherein quadrant A is folded downward over quadrant B and quadrant D is folded in half to create a forty five degree angle. Then, quadrants A, B and C are folded inward to meet quadrants D and E to create a ninety degree angle along a central axis 24.

(36) As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the right side structure 2 further comprises a right folded corner support 22 folded out of a second sheet 19j wherein quadrant A is folded at a ninety degree angle in relation to quadrant B. Quadrants B and C are folded at a ninety degree angle in relation to quadrants D and E. Then, quadrant D is folded in half to create a forty five degree angle as quadrant E is folded inward along the central axis 24 to create a ninety degree angle between quadrants C and E.

(37) The right folded seat support 20 may then be inserted or nested into the right folded corner support 22 to create the right side structure 2 as illustrated in FIG. 16.

(38) As illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, the left side structure 3 comprises a left folded seat support 21 folded out of a third sheet 19k wherein quadrant A is folded downward over quadrant B and quadrant D is folded in half to create a forty five degree angle. Then, quadrants A, B and C are folded inward to meet quadrants D and E to create a ninety degree angle along the central axis 24.

(39) As illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the left side structure 3 further comprises a left folded corner support 23 folded out of a fourth sheet 19l wherein quadrant A is folded at a ninety degree angle in relation to quadrant B. Quadrants B and C are folded at a ninety degree angle in relation to quadrants D and E. Then, quadrant D is folded in half to create a forty five degree angle as quadrant E is folded inward along the central axis 24 to create a ninety degree angle between quadrants C and E.

(40) The left folded seat support 21 may then be inserted or nested into the left folded corner support 23 to create the left side structure 3 as illustrated in FIG. 21.

(41) Finally, the left side structure 3 may be inserted or nested into the right side structure 2, or vice versa, as illustrated in FIG. 10 to create an assembled furniture and display system 1 of the present invention.

(42) With reference to FIGS. 22 and 23, a furniture and display system 1 of the present invention configured as a table is illustrated. The table may be adjusted length wise to accommodate a desired wall space or corner. When placed against an inside corner of a wall, a space is left for an additional display behind the table, such as a mannequin. Multiple tables may be placed next to each other at ninety degree angles to form L-shaped to go around an outside corner of a wall or to create a square-shape having an opening for an additional display, such as a mannequin, in the center.

(43) With reference to FIG. 24, a perspective front view of a foldable furniture and display system 1 of the present invention configured as a dump bin is illustrated. The dump bin may be used as a display in a retail setting for holding bulk merchandise, such as sports balls, pillows, stuffed animals and so forth.

(44) With reference to FIG. 25, a perspective left side view of a furniture and display system 1 of the present invention configured as a point of purchase display is illustrated. The furniture and display system 1 is configured in the same configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 with the addition of the insert displayed in FIG. 8 to create a multi-shelf display. The multi-shelf display may available in various sizes. For example, a full size display may be placed on the floor or a small display that is placed on a countertop near a cash register.

(45) It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.