Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3S
The present invention relates to a method of
constructing components for use in furniture or building
structures. It also relates to items of furniture compris-
ing components constructed in accordance with said method
of constructing and also to the assemblage of said compon-
ents as a package or packages for shipment to a destination
prior to assembly. The invention further relates to the
utilization of said so constructed items of furniture as
structural members of a building.
Major drawbacks in respect of the known construct-
ions including "kit-like" construction components, are their
limited versatility or uses. Also, the high cost of fabrica-
ting components for use in constructing both buildings and
furniture and also the high cost of transporting, particularly
when destined for use as furniture.
It is therefore a feature of the present invention
to overcome said major drawbacks.
According to the present invention, modular furni-
ture and building units are provided, also modular combination
furniture and building units. The modular units according to
the present invention comprise assemblies such as roof, floor
or wall structure, as well as providing different articles of
furniture, which include wall units comprising cabinets and
shelving, desks, tables, benches, chairs and stools, etc.
Some units serve a single function, i.e. as articles of furni-
ture, for example a chair, a desk, a work shelf, etc., while
others serve a multiple function, for example as a wall cabinet
comprising furniture and at the same time as a structural wall
member supporting the roof or a floor thereabove, thus forming
part of the building housing the furniture.
An important aspect of the present invention
and a factor in the relatively low cost of construction
71~35
stemming therefrom, is that many components according to
the invention, whether for use in furniture or building
construction, are produced from sheet or plate like
material. The latter may comprise plywood, particle board,
sandwich or laminated board, plastic board, stone panels,
etc. According to the invention the sheet or plate like
material is cut into predetermined size strips or planks
for use in creating separate components or assemblies. The
strips or planks are used for shelving or structural up-
rights. Where structural rigidity is required, the uprights
are joined in sets to form elements having an L or a U shape
in cross section, or to form box members. The uprights are
also used as load supporting studs or beams in building
panel assemblies, or as legs in tables, stools, chairs
and cabinets.
The pre-cut panels, referred to hereinafter as
non-striplike portions, are used alone or in combination
with the said strips or planks, as tops of tables, chairs,
benches, or as doors and extended sides of cabinets.
The individual components comprising boxes,
uprights and strips, are interconnected into assemblies,
for example by means of screws and bolts which are inserted
into pre-drilled holes. Thus the present invention affords
storage and delivery of the component assemblies in dis-
mantled or partially erected sub-assemblies, which can be
erected into the final assemblies on a self-help basis,
even by an untrained user, following the instructions
provided.
The whole set of furniture or room or house
structure and furniture combination according to the inven-
tion, can ~e delivered in a single or in a few (depending on
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the size or number of assemblies) boxes or crates
comprising minimum volume and cost of transportation.
The assemblies can also be easily dismantled and re-
assembled, i.e. reused, at a new location if required.
As briefly mentioned above in connection with
the prior art, traditionally different building components
or furniture assemblies such as wall panel, floor panel,
chair, table, or cabinet, are designed individually using
different materials and structure for each assembly. Such
is labour intensive and expensive. The present invention
is directed to universal, modular building and furniture
assemblies where the same material, simple structural
scheme, and simple method and element of connection are
used to produce a variety of different articles.
Traditionally, different building and furniture
assemblies are designed to serve a specific single function,
i.e. as a chair, a table, a storage shelf or cabinet, an
internal wall panel, an external wall panel, a floor panel,
etc.
The present invention is directed to assemblies
which can serve multiple combined functions, i.e. of parti-
cular furniture and of building structure, simultaneously.
The present invention demonstrates the use of
furniture articles such as book shelves or storage cabinets
or combinations of storage cabinets and desks, simultaneously,
serving as modular structural panel, able to support floor or
roof structure above and constituting a finished modular
segment of partition wall or external building envelope.
Such a panel can also be equipped with integrated window or
door and, where required, can be supplemented with thermal
insulation.
1;~71~35
The present invention also affords floor and
roof panels to be constructed using similar material and
structural design.
The type of material selected to produce the
assemblies in accordance with the present invention will
of course influence their cost, performance and durability,
which may thus be controlled as desired. As aforementioned,
the present invention makes it possible to use a variety of
board or factory produced sheet materials, such as plywood,
particle and laminated panels, plastic and sandwich boards,
cut stone, etc.
The present invention allows to design and
have delivered in one shipment a complete set of modular
assemblies to build a complete room, or a house structure
complete with a set of integrated and detached furniture
matching each other in style, structure and material. All
assemblies can be easily erected and if necessary dis-
assembled and moved to a new location.
Thus, from the foregoing, it will be seen that
the present invention provides a variety of universal
modular building and furniture assemblies made using
similar material, similar structural system, and similar
simple method and element of connection. Moreover, accord-
ing to the present invention, factory produced sheet board
material is used to produce all assemblies, a variety of
materials being used as indicated. Further, that standard
sheets are cut into strips, planks and panels of defined
dimensions. Pre-cut strips are then interconnected into
component elements of L- or U-shaped section, referred to
as the uprights, and together with panels, into elements
in the form of boxes. The uprights have inherent rigidity
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and strength to support loads and are used as vertical
structural elements for cabinets ancl wall panels, for
legs of tables, benches, stools, or as horizontal beams
and stiffening elements where required. The planks are
used as shelves. The panels or box components are used
as tops for cabinet assemblies, tables, desks or doors
and sides of cabinets, sides and backs of sofas and chair
assemblies. Further, that the component elements required
to form a particular assembly are interconnected by means
of bolts which are inserted into holes which are pre-drilled.
A number of assemblies, such as modular panels, cabinets,
or combinations of bookshelves with back panels, can be
interconnected in a similar manner by means of bolts into
a continuous wall to form a whole room or a house. As will
be realized, other methods of connecting can also be used
including screws, nails, glues, etc. The use of bolts,
however, in addition to being simple and accessible to the
untrained person, allows easy assembling and dismantling,
thus easy transport and reuse of assemblies.
Finally, the present invention offers a system
where a number of various buildings and furniture assemblies
can be delivered in components or sub-sets, at minimum
volume, and thus transportation cost, in one or a few boxes
or crates. One delivery may contain the whole set of furni-
ture assemblies or the combination wall, whole room or whole
house and furniture articles desired.
In accordance with one aspect of the present
invention there is provided a method of constructing com-
ponents for use in furniture or building structure, compris-
ing the steps of (a) providing one or more sheets of material,
(b) severing the sheet or sheets of material to provide
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striplike portions; and (c~ assembling the striplike
portions one to another to provide one or more L-shaped
and/or one or more U-shaped components.
The invention is illustrated by way of example
in the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a sheet of material
marked to define striplike and rectangular non-striplike
portions in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 2 illustrates various components
(a) - (g) constructed from the parts defined in Figure 1,
FIGURE 3 illustrates basically a variety of
furniture pieces constructed from the various components
shown in Figure 2, such including a stool, a bench, a chair
or a table;
FIGURE 4A illustrates a further item of
furniture, namely a bench, constructed from selected ones
of the components shown in Figure 2, namely U-shaped com-
ponents and a non-striplike component,
FIGURE 4B illustrates an assemblage of the
components for shipment; and
FIGURE 4C illustrates a variation of the item
of furniture, i.e. where the top thereof is swingably
hinged;
FIGURE 5A illustrates a perspective view of a
further item of furniture, namely a chair constructed from
selected ones of the components shown in Figure 2;
FIGURE 5B illustrates a collapsed assembly
of the components for shipment; and
FIGURE 5C illustrates a side elevational view
showing the possible swinging hinging of the seat:
FIGURE 6 illustrates a further item of furni-
1.;~71~35
ture, namely a table, constructed from selected ones ofthe components shown in Figure 2,
FIGURES 7A and 7B illustrate a still further
item of furniture, namely a pair of drafting boards,
(A) being a perspective view of the same and (B) an
assemblage of the components comprising the item for
purposes of shipment
FIGURES 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate a yet further
item of furniture, namely three types of modular wall
assemblies which may be used as furniture per se or as a
combination-wall structure, the three types being depicted
(A), (B) and (C) each comprising a front elevational view,
side sectional view, and plan view;
FIGURES 9A, 9B and 9C illustrate the modular
wall assemblies shown in Figure 8 arranged in spaced rela-
tion one to another wherebYto comprise an example of econo-
mical wall structure assembly, (A), (B) and (C) identifying
the units shown in Figure 8, also the use of other components,
i.e. striplike portions according to the present invention
placed therebetween,
FIGURE 10 illustrates an architectural plan
view of a building constructed using selected ones of the
components shown in Figure 2, some of which have been
apertured for windows: and
FIGURE 11 is a typical sectioned elevational
view of the building using selected ones of the components
shown in Figure 2, including box ones containing thermal
insulation.
Referring now in detail to the drawings,
in Figure 1 there is seen a sheet of plywood having a
plurality of marked lines 2 thereon defining striplike
S
portions 3 and 4 and non-striplike portions 5 and 6. As
will be evident, and understood, Figure 1 discloses
simply one example of how a sheet of plywood 1 may be
divided up for subsequent severing thereof to provide
material for components according to the present invent-
ion~ It will be realized that the dividing up of sheet
1 of plywood is determined by the size and shape of com-
ponents to be produced for a given piece of furniture
and/or building component.
Figure 2 discloses components constructed
using the portions severed from sheet 1, the securing
of the portions being effected by screws or bolts (not
shown). Component (a) comprises striplike portion 3.
Component (b) comprises a pair of striplike portions 3
assembled to provide an L-shaped component. Component
(c) it will be seen is constructed in similar manner to
that of component (b) except that part of one striplike
portion 3 has been coped at 31. Component (d) comprises
two striplike portions 4 secured to a non-striplike por-
tion 5. Component (e) comprises two striplike portions 3
and 4 secured to one another and to non-striplike portion
5' not shown in Figure 1, being severed from an alternative
marking of sheet 1. Components (f) and (g) as clearly seen
comprise respectively striplike portion 4 and non-striplike
portion 5.
Primed letters and numbers have been used
throughout the-present disclosure to denote similar items
but of differing dimension.
Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a typical
example of a number of pieces of furniture resulting from
particular assembly of the components shown in Figure 2.
~;~71~5
In one instance, a stool or table is provided
by assembling together, as shown, two each of items (d)
and (f) and one item (g), all seen in Figure 2. A chair
is provided by adding and securing by bolting to the
stool or table, a chair back comprising non-striplike
portion (g').
As seen in Figure 3, items (d) may be assembled
in one or two ways, the alternative being depicted by dotted
lines. A bench is provided by assemb~ing together using
bolting (not shown) the following items seen in Figure 2,
namely four items (b) secured by two items (a) and two
items (a') the latter being similar to (a) but produced
from alternative markings to those shown in Figure 1, and
one item (g"~ again being similar to item (g) but produced
from alternative markings to those shown in Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 4, (A) illustrates a
further design of a bench, or table, or desk, which may
be produced utilizing components of the type shown in
Figure 2. In this instance, two items (d) comprise the
bench or table legs which are secured in spaced position
one to another by a further item (d'), the latter being
produced from alternative markings to those shown in Figure
1, and a top (g"') secured to item (d') and/or items (d)
by screws or bolts, not shown. Top (g"') again is produced
from alternative markings to those shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4B illustrates the components of the
bench or table prior to assembly and arranged as a shipment
package. Such arrangement, it will be seen, comprises legs
(d) straddling item (d'), all of which rest upon item (g"').
Figure 4B illustrates the simple inexpensive
furniture design afforded by the present invention and the
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further benefit stemming therefrom, i.e. the ability to
create small compact packages thereof to aid transporta-
tion of the same.
Figure 4C illustrates the optional feature
of hingedly mounting the top (g"') via a hinge or hinges
(not shown). Further the aspect of item (dl) forming a
storage compartment accessed via the hinged top (g"').
Referring to Figure 5, views (A) and (C)
illustrate a chair design similar to that shown in Figure
3, view (C), illustrating the alternative hinge mounting
of the chair seat. Figure 5, view (B) illustrates the
chair in dismantled condition ready for shipment.
The chair design shown in Figure 5 further
differs slightly from that shown in Figure 3. The design
being specific to a chair allows the chair back to be
integrated into the chair leg. This is clearly seen from
Figure 5, view (B). Thus, the leg and chair back combina-
tion comprises an item (g"") and a pair of items (f') being
in contrast to the remaining front chair legs, item (d),
the latter being similar to those shown in the chair of
Figure 3. ~gain, the hinge mounting of the chair seat is
provided by a conventional hinge unit.
Referring to Figure 6, it illustrates a table
design similar to the one shown in Figure 3 except for an
alternative arrangement of mounting the table legs. In this
instance, legs (b') have been rotated through 90 and, as a
result, item (al) has been repositioned inwardly of the
table.
Referring to Figure 7, it illustrates in view
(A) the dual drawing board table having legs mounted in the
manner aforedescribed with respect to Figure 6. In this
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~L~71~
instance, the table tops comprise two items (g) which are
hingedly mounted (not shown). Tops (g) are respectively
hinged from opposite sides of the table and include
stay-securing members (not shown) for use in securing
tops (g) at a selected incline relative the horizontal.
Figure 7, view (B) illustrates the dismantled
components comprising the drawing board table, arranged
ready for shipment.
Figure 8, views (A), (B), (C) illustrate
further items of furniture respectively three types of
modular wall unit assemblies which, as indicated previously,
may be used as furniture per se, or as a combination
furniture-wall structure. Referring to view (A), it will
be seen that thè unit, which like the others seen in
Figure 8 is self-supporting, comprises components similar
to ones shown in Figure 2. As in the case of all the com-
ponents according to the invention, the unit contains pre-
drilled holes for receiving bolting (not shown) and like
conventional wall units contain many pre-drilled holes -
affording a variety of shelf and cabinet arrangements, etc.,to be assembled.
Referring to view (B), it will be seen the unit,
being somewhat similar to that seen in view (A), again com-
prises components similar to the ones shown in Figure 2. In
the case of the present unit, it comprises a deepened
cupboard portion instead of the shallow shelving and in-
cludes a pair of doors (g).
View (C) discloses a full cupboard or wardrobe
unit utilizing U-shaped components (d"') being of similar
size to those shown in the unit in view (B) cupboard
portion and having doors extending the full length of the
unit.
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Referring to Figure 9, as aforementioned,
it discloses the modular furniture units shown in Figure
8, arranged in spaced relation one to another to provide
a structural wall for a building and with the space
between the modular units comprising shelving. The latter
shelving may of course be an optional feature and, thus,
has been shown in dotted lines for this reason. In such
arrangement, the top of the units (A), (B) and (C) denoted
R in Figure 9, would support a floor or roof structure and
thus serve the dual purpose of furniture and building
structure.
From the foregoing, it will be seen it is
possible to create numerous furniture and building com-
ponents and combinations thereof, utilizing the basic parts
comprising L- and U-shaped components, striplike and non-
striplike portions shown in Figure 2, all of which are
created using sheet material.
As further evidence of the flexibility of the
components according to the invention, attention is directed
to Figure 11 showing a plurality of components noted (e) as
in Figure 2, assembled to form a wall comprising studding
and ceiling panels. Similar assemblies are seen in the
plan view of a building shown in Figure 10, where such in
some cases have been apertured to receive window units (not
shown). As shown in Figure 11, as a typical installation,
components (e) may include thermal insulation, designated I.
As may be realized, components (e~ may include further
striplike portions and a further non-striplike portion
secured thereto whereby to completely close off and provide
a closed box-like member with the insulation therein. The
latter may thus be used as a modular floor panel.
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