Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
MODULAR SEAT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY THEREOF
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a modular seat assembly, as well as a
method of
assembling said modular seat assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Modular seat assemblies are known in the art. For example, US Patent
Nos.
10,433,648 and 10,182,659 by KUHL disclose a modular sofa that is assembled by
aligning
integrated connectors of seating modules and armrest modules, with each
respective
connector slidingly engaged along an axis. However, these modules are
relatively difficult to
assemble for a customer as a long pin has to perfectly align into a
corresponding slot.
Furthermore, these modules are relatively expensive to manufacture as the male
and female
hardware are integrated inside each of the modules with specialized tooling to
do so.
Moreover, in the case of a defect or a broken piece on the hardware, it is
difficult for a
customer to replace it on their own, especially when the hardware is located
in places that
are unreachable.
[003] Also known are US Patent Nos. 9,380,877 (BRANDNER), 9,125,494 (HELTON),
7,300,111 (HUANG), 6,715,837 (NIEDERMAN), 5,931,529 (LAPOINTE), and 5,352,017
(BERNING), which disclose modular assemblies which suffer from similar
drawbacks of
having integrated male and female hardware assemblies that may be relatively
difficult to
assemble and/or are relatively expensive to manufacture.
[004] There is therefore a need in the market for a modular seat assembly that
is easier to
assemble than prior known modular systems, that is relatively less expensive
to manufacture
and to repair and that is relatively easy to pack in a small volume for
shipping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a modular
seat assembly,
comprising, a left arm module and a right arm module, each of a right exterior
surface of the
left arm module and a left exterior surface of the right arm module comprising
at least one
male stud connector or at least one female connector, at least one seat module
comprising
a sitting portion and a backrest portion, each of a right exterior surface and
a left exterior
surface of each seat module comprising one or more male stud connectors or one
or more
female connectors, wherein each female connector is positioned and configured
to releasably
connect to a corresponding male stud connector on an adjacent seat module, on
the right
arm module, or on the left arm module; wherein each female connector comprises
a plate
comprising a raised portion defining an upper opening leading to a downwardly
angled
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channel extending at about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees from a vertical axis
into a
horizontal portion, such that each male stud connector is slidably and
releasably connectable
to each corresponding female connector, and such that the channel and the
horizontal portion
have a width that is narrower than a head of the male stud connector, but
wider than a neck
of the male stud connector; and wherein said male stud connector is configured
to be guided
downward by said channel and then loosely contained within said horizontal
portion.
[006] In embodiments, the left arm module comprises two female connectors or
two male
stud connectors on the right exterior surface thereof, and the right arm
module comprises two
male stud connectors or two female connectors on the left exterior surface
thereof.
[007] In embodiments, the plate of the female connector is secured to a back
plate that is
attachable to the exterior surface of its corresponding module.
[008] In embodiments, the upper opening is of a gradually decreasing width,
such that is it
about the same width as the channel once it reaches the channel.
[009] In embodiments, the downward angle of the channel is about 30 degrees.
[010] In embodiments, each seat module comprises both one or more male stud
connectors
on one side thereof and one or more female connectors on the other side
thereof.
[011] In embodiments, the modular seat assembly further comprises a plurality
of leg
modules, each of an edge of a right side of a bottom exterior surface of the
left arm module
and an edge of a left side of a bottom exterior surface of the right arm
module comprise at
least one latch or at least one latch receiving means and further comprise at
least one leg
module receiving means, and each of an edge of a right side and an edge of a
left side of a
bottom exterior surface of each seat module comprises one or more latches or
one or more
latch receiving means and further comprises one or more leg module receiving
means,
wherein each latch receiving means is positioned and configured to releasably
connect to a
corresponding latch, respectively, on an adjacent seat module, on the right
arm module, or
on the left arm module, and each leg module receiving means is positioned so
as to be
adjacent to another leg module receiving means on an adjacent seat module, on
the right
arm module, or on the left arm module, such that each leg module is releasably
connectable
to two adjacent leg module receiving means.
[012] In embodiments, the latches are toggle latches, and the latch receiving
means are
latch plates configured to receive the toggle latches.
[013] In embodiments, each leg module is releasably connectable to two
adjacent leg
module receiving means using hand screws.
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[014] In embodiments, the sitting portion and the backrest portion are
releasably
connectable to each other.
[015] In embodiments, the bottom exterior surface of the backrest portion
comprises a
plurality of pins configured to be received by a plurality of openings in the
top exterior surface
of the sitting portion, such that the sitting portion and the backrest portion
are releasably
connectable to each other.
[016] In embodiments, the modular seat assembly comprises three seat modules,
such that
the modular seat assembly forms a sofa once assembled.
[017] In embodiments, the modular seat assembly comprises a single seat
module, such that
the modular seat assembly forms a chair once assembled.
[018] According to the present invention, there is also provided a connector
assembly for a
modular seat assembly, the connector assembly comprising : a female connector
including a
plate comprising a raised portion defining an upper opening leading to a
downwardly angled
channel extending at about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees from a vertical axis
into a
horizontal portion; and a male stud connector configured to be guided downward
by said
channel and then loosely contained within said horizontal portion.
[019] According to the present invention, there is also provided a method of
assembling the
modular seat assembly, comprising: releasably connecting the left arm module,
the at least
one seat module, and the right arm module together by slidably connecting each
male stud
connector to a corresponding female connector, such that the at least one seat
module is
bookended by the left arm module and the right arm module; wherein the step of
slidably
connecting each male stud connector to a corresponding female connector
comprises sliding
each male stud connector through the opening of the corresponding female
connector, and
through the downwardly angled channel extending into the horizontal portion.
[020] In embodiments of the method, the step of releasably connecting the left
arm module,
the at least one seat module, and the right arm module together is performed
from left to right
or right to left.
[021] In embodiments of the method, if not properly aligned, the seat modules,
the left arm
module, and the right arm module are aligned together by sliding the
appropriate male stud
connectors along the horizontal portions.
[022] In embodiments, the method further comprises the steps of releasably
connecting
each leg module to two adjacent leg module receiving means, followed by
releasably
engaging each latch with its corresponding latch receiving means.
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[023] In embodiments, the method comprises flipping the modular seat assembly
on its back
after slidably connecting each male stud connector to a corresponding female
connector.
[024] In embodiments, the method comprises, prior to releasably connecting the
left arm
module, the at least one seat module, and the right arm module together, the
step of
releasably connecting each backrest portion with each sitting portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[025] Figure 1 is a front isometric view of a modular seat assembly in a
disassembled form
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[026] Figure 2 is an isometric view of (a) a female connector and (b) a male
stud connector
used in the modular seat assembly of Figure 1.
[027] Figure 3 is an isometric view of a female connector and a male stud
connector used
in a modular seat assembly of the present invention.
[028] Figure 4 is a front isometric view of the modular seat assembly of
Figure 1 in a partially
assembled form.
[029] Figure 5 is a bottom isometric view of the modular seat assembly of
Figure 1 in a
partially assembled form.
[030] Figure 6 is a close up of a portion of a bottom isometric view of the
modular seat
assembly of Figure 1 in an assembled form.
[031] Figure 7 is a front isometric view of the modular seat assembly of
Figure 1 in an
assembled form.
[032] Figure 8 is a front isometric view of the modular seat assembly of
Figure 1 in an
assembled form, further comprising cushions placed thereon.
[033] Figure 9 is an isometric view of a sitting portion and a backrest
portion of a seat module
of the modular seat assembly of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[034] Referring first to Figure 1, a modular seat assembly, generally referred
to using the
reference numeral 10, will be described. For clarity, the modular seat
assembly in Figure 1
has not yet been assembled, and is therefore in a disassembled form. The
modular seat
assembly 10 comprises a left arm module 15 and a right arm module 20. As shown
in Figure
1, each of a right exterior surface of the left arm module 15 and a left
exterior surface of the
right arm module 20 comprise at least one male stud connector 25 or at least
one female
connector 30. In preferred embodiments (and as shown for example in Figure 1),
each of the
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right exterior surface of the left arm module 15 and the left exterior surface
of the right arm
module 20 comprise two male stud connectors 25 or two female connectors 30.
[035] As also shown in Figure 1, the modular seat assembly further comprises
at least one
seat module 50A 50B 50C comprising a sitting portion 55A 55B 55C and a
backrest portion
60A 60B 60C. Each of a right exterior surface and a left exterior surface of
each seat module
50A 50B 50C comprises one or more male stud connectors 25 or one or more
female
connectors 30. It should be noted that said connectors can be located on the
backrest portion
and/or the sitting portion (in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, they are
located on both).
[036] Each female connector 30 is positioned and configured to releasably
connect to a
corresponding male stud connector 25 on an adjacent seat module 50A 50B 50C,
on the right
arm module 20, or on the left arm module IS. As an example, and as shown in
Figure 1, male
stud connectors 25 on the right arm module 20 are positioned such that they
are releasably
connectable to two corresponding female connectors (not shown) on the right
exterior surface
of the right-most seat module 50C.
[037] The skilled person would understand that different amounts of male and
female
connectors can be used, so long as each male stud connector 25 has a
corresponding female
connector 30 to which to connect when the modular seat assembly 10 is
assembled. The
skilled person would also understand that the purpose of the male stud
connectors 25 and
female connectors 30 is to allow a user to easily secure the left arm module,
the right arm
module, and the seat modules to each other. While using more male and female
connectors
will generally render the resulting assembly more secure, it will also
increase manufacturing
costs and render the assembly more difficult and/or cumbersome to assemble.
[038] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the left arm module 15 comprises
two female
connectors 30 on the right exterior surface thereof, while the right arm
module comprises two
male stud connectors 30 on the left exterior surface thereof. However, in
alternative
embodiments, the left arm module 15 can comprise male stud connectors 30 on
the right
exterior surface thereof, while the right arm module can comprise female
connectors 30 on
the left exterior surface thereof.
[039] The present inventors discovered that by using the specific female
connector and male
stud connector defined above and below, the modular seat assembly is rendered
more easily
assemblable, more secure once assembled, and more easily adjustable once
assembled
when compared to conventional modular seat assemblies.
[040] In the modular seat assembly of the present invention, as shown in
Figure 2, each
female connector 30 comprises a plate 110 comprising a raised portion 115
defining an upper
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opening 70 leading to a downwardly angled channel 75 extending at about 20
degrees to
about 70 degrees from a vertical axis into a generally horizontal portion 80,
such that each
male stud connector 25 is slidably and releasably connectable to each
corresponding female
connector 30. This type of connector assembly makes it simple to connect the
various
modules of the modular seat assembly together, as the male stud connector 25
is simply
inserted into the opening 70, after which the male stud connector 25 can be
easily slid down
the downwardly angled channel 75 until it reaches the horizontal portion 80,
where it will
remain due to gravity.
[041] The skilled person understands that the channel 75 and the horizontal
portion 80 hold the
male stud connector 25 in place by having a width that is narrower than the
head 100 of the male
stud connector 25, but wider than the neck of the male stud connector 25. Once
in the horizontal
potion, each male stud connector 25 can be slid forward until the seat
modules, the left arm
module, and the right arm module are aligned. By being able to slide the male
stud connector
along the horizontal channel, the seat modules, the left arm module, and the
right arm module
are more easily alignable and adjustable when compared to conventional modular
seat
assemblies.
[042] In embodiments, the plate 110 of the female connector 30 is secured
directly to the
exterior surface of its corresponding module. In preferred embodiments, such
as those shown
in Figures 2 and 3, the plate 110 of the female connector 30 is secured to a
back plate 120
that is itself directly attached to the exterior surface of its corresponding
module.
[043] The raised portion 115 of the plate 110 creates a gap between the raised
portion 115
and either the back plate 120 (if present) or the exterior surface of the
module (if no back
plate is used), said gap being of sufficient width to receive the head 100 of
the male stud
connector and to allow the male stud connector to slide down the downwardly
angled channel
75 until and to then slide along the horizontal portion 80.
[044] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the female connector 30 defines an opening
70 into
which the male stud connector 25 can be inserted. Accordingly, the opening
should be
shaped so as to easily receive the male stud connector 25. As shown in Figures
2 and 3, one
example of such a shape is to have the opening be of a gradually decreasing
width, such that
it is about the same width as channel 75 once it reaches the channel 75. Such
a configuration
shown in Figure 2 and 3 allows a user to easily guide the male stud connector
25 through the
opening 70 and into channel 75.
[045] The downward angle of the channel 75 should be sufficient to allow the
male stud
connector 25 to easily slide down said channel 75 once it is inserted into the
upper opening
70, while also being sufficient to prevent the male stud connector 25, once in
the generally
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horizontal portion 80, from being able to slide back up said channel 75 on its
own. In
embodiments, the downward angle of the channel is between about 20 degrees and
about
70 degrees from a vertical axis, preferably between about 25 degrees and about
60 degrees,
more preferably between about 30 degrees and about 50 degrees, most preferably
about 30
degrees. In embodiments, the downward angle can be at least about 20 degrees,
at least
about 25 degrees, at least about 30 degrees, at least about 35 degrees, or at
least about 40
degrees, and/or at most about 70 degrees, at most about 65 degrees, at most
about 60
degrees, or at most about 55 degrees from the vertical axis.
[046] The generally horizontal portion 80, as mentioned, is designed to secure
the male stud
connector 25 and female connector 30 together in such a manner that
adjustments and
alignments can be made to the modules of the modular seat assembly.
Accordingly, the
generally horizontal portion 80 should be sufficiently horizontal and straight
to allow a user to
easily adjust the horizontal alignment (from the perspective of the modular
seat assembly
being "upright", as opposed to being on its back) of the left arm module 15,
the right arm
module 20, and the seat modules 50A 50B 50C with respect to each other,
without noticeably
altering their vertical alignment. It should be noted that the horizontal
alignment of the
modules can still be adjusted when the modular seat assembly is tipped over on
its back (in
fact, as will be mentioned below, it may be preferable to align the modules by
flipping the
modular seat assembly on its back). However, from such a perspective, the
horizontal portion
80 and the horizontal alignment would appear vertical.
[047] In preferred embodiments, each seat module 50 such as 50A 50B 50C
comprises one
or more male stud connectors 25 on one side (left or right) exterior surface
thereof, while the
other side exterior surface thereof comprises one or more female connectors.
For clarity, this
means that in preferred embodiments, each seat module 50 will comprise both
one or more
male stud connectors 25 and one or more female connectors 30 (the male
connectors being
on one side and the female connectors being on another). Such a configuration
may render
the modular seat assembly 10 easier to assemble, as it can be assembled
entirely from left
to right or right to left (depending on which of the left arm module 15 or
right arm module 20
comprises male stud connectors). For example, as shown in Figure 4, male stud
connectors
(not shown) on the left exterior surface of the left seat module 50A have been
connected to
female connectors (not shown) on the left arm module IS. The male stud
connectors (not
shown) on the left exterior surface of the middle seat module 50B can then be
connected to
female connectors 30 on the left seat module 50A. Next, the male stud
connectors 25 on the
left exterior surface of the right seat module 50C can be connected to female
connectors (not
shown) on the right exterior surface of the middle seat module 50B. Finally,
the male stud
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connectors 25 of the right arm module can be connected to female connectors
(not shown)
on the right exterior surface of the right seat module 50C. This would be an
example of
connecting the modules from left to right using the male stud connectors and
female
connectors (as the left arm module comprises female connectors while the right
arm module
comprises male connectors). If the left arm module comprised male stud
connectors while
the right arm module comprised female connectors, it would be easier to
assemble the
modular seat assembly from right to left.
[048] Furthermore, referring to Figure 5, each of an edge of a right side of a
bottom exterior
surface of the left arm module 15 and an edge of a left side of a bottom
exterior surface of
the right arm module 20 comprise at least one latch 35 or at least one latch
receiving means
40 and further comprise at least one leg module receiving means 45. In
preferred
embodiments (and as shown for example in Figure 5), each of the edge of the
right side of
the bottom exterior surface of the left arm module 15 and the edge of the left
side of the
bottom exterior surface of the right arm module 20 comprise two latches 35 or
two latch
receiving means 40 and further comprise two leg module receiving means 45
(shown in Figure
6).
[049] As also shown in Figure 5, each of an edge of a right side and an edge
of a left side
of a bottom exterior surface of each seat module comprises one or more latches
35 or one
or more latch receiving means 40 and further comprises one or more leg module
receiving
means 45.
[050] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the edge of the right side of the
bottom exterior
surface of the left arm module 15 comprises two latches 35 and further
comprises two leg
module receiving means 45, while the edge of the left side of the bottom
exterior surface of
the right arm module 20 comprises two latch receiving means 40 and further
comprises two
leg module receiving means 45. However, the skilled person would understand
that each of
the edge of the right side of the bottom exterior surface of the left arm
module 15, the edge
of the left side of the bottom exterior surface of the right arm module 20,
and the edge of the
right side and the edge of the left side of the bottom exterior surface of
each seat module can
comprise either latches 35 or latch receiving means 40, so long as each latch
35 has a
corresponding latch receiving means 40 when the modular seat is assembled.
[051] The skilled person would also understand that the purpose of the latches
35 and the
latch receiving means 40 is to allow a user to easily secure the left arm
module, the right arm
module, and the seat modules to each other. While using more pairs of latches
35 and latch
receiving means 40 will generally render the resulting assembly more secure,
it will also
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increase manufacturing costs and render the assembly more difficult and/or
cumbersome to
assemble.
[052] In preferred embodiments, and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, for example,
the latches
35 are toggle latches, and the latch receiving means 40 are latch plates
configured to receive
the toggle latches 35, the reach of the toggle latches preferably being
adjustable with a screw,
as shown in Figure 6, for example.
[053] As shown in Figure 5, each latch receiving means 40 is positioned and
configured to
releasably connect to a corresponding latch 35, respectively, on an adjacent
seat module 50,
on the right arm module 20, or on the left arm module 15. As an example,
latches 35 are
positioned on the left arm module 15 so that they can be received by the latch
receiving
means 40 on adjacent seat module 50A. Similarly, latches 35 are positioned on
seat module
50A so that they can be received by the latch receiving means 40 on adjacent
seat module
50B.
[054] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the modular seat assembly further comprises
a plurality
of leg modules 65. Figure 7 shows the modular seat assembly of Figure 1 in an
assembled
state.
[055] As shown in Figure 6, each leg module receiving means 45 is positioned
so as to be
adjacent to another leg module receiving means 45 on an adjacent seat module
50, on the
right arm module 20, or on the left arm module IS, such that each leg module
65 is releasably
connectable to two adjacent leg module receiving means 45. As shown in Figure
6, each leg
module 65 is releasably connectable to two adjacent leg module receiving means
45. The
skilled person would understand that the purpose of having each leg module 65
be releasably
connectable to two adjacent leg module receiving means 45 is to allow a user
to easily secure
the left arm module, the right arm module, and the seat modules to each other
(as they will
be held together by the leg modules). While using a greater number of leg
modules 65 and
adjacent leg module receiving means 45 will generally render the resulting
assembly more
secure, it will also increase manufacturing costs and render the assembly more
difficult and/or
cumbersome to assemble.
[056] In Figure 6, the leg module is releasably connectable to two adjacent
leg module
receiving means 45 using hand screws 95A 95B. In preferred embodiments, the
leg module
receiving means are plates.
[057] In preferred embodiments, the leg module receiving means, when connected
to two
adjacent leg module receiving means, are primarily responsible for the
sturdiness of the
modular seat assembly (when compared to the latches and latch receiving means
and the
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male stud connectors and the female connectors). In such embodiments, the male
stud
connectors and female connectors are used to loosely secure the modules
together (such
that alignment adjustments can still be made), and the latches and latch
receiving means can
be used to provide additional sturdiness and to bring the modules closer
together. In such
embodiments, most of the connection and sturdiness are being created by the
leg modules,
which hold the modules together and each takes the weight of two different
modules at the
same time.
[058] In embodiments, by combining male stud connectors 25 and female
connectors 30;
latches 35 and latch receiving means 40; and leg modules 65 and adjacent leg
module
receiving means 45, the modular seat assembly of the present invention can
more easily
assembled and can be more secure, once assembled (specifically, the left arm
module, the
right arm module, and the seat modules are more secured to each other). In
preferred
embodiments, each seat module 50A 50B 50C comprises the same number of male
stud
connectors 25, female connectors 30, latches 35, latch receiving means 40, and
leg module
receiving means 45, each of which are in the same position on their
corresponding seat
module 50A 50B 50C. This would render the seat modules virtually identical,
such that they
can be arranged in any order in the modular seat assembly, or some seat
modules can even
be easily removed/added in order to change the size of the modular seat
assembly,
depending on the needs of the user.
[059] In embodiments, the modular seat assembly can further comprise cushions
105 for a
user to sit on. In embodiments, the cushions 105 are integral to the seat
modules (for
example, by being stitched thereon). In alternative and preferred embodiments,
such as that
shown in Figure 8, the cushions are removably placeable on the seat modules.
In preferred
embodiments, such as that shown in Figure 8, each seat module has a seat
cushion for the
sitting portion 55 and a back cushion for the backrest portion.
[060] In embodiments (not shown) of the modular seat assembly of the present
invention,
the sitting portion 55 and the backrest portion 60 are integral to each other,
meaning they
cannot be separated.
[061] In alternative and preferred embodiments of the modular seat assembly of
the present
invention, such as that shown in Figure 1, the sitting portion 55 and the
backrest portion 60
are releasably connectable to each other. This can be accomplished using any
method known
by the skilled person in the art, so long as the sitting portion 55 and the
backrest portion 60
can be connected easily and in a manner secure enough for use. In embodiments,
and as
shown in Figure 9, for example, the bottom exterior surface of the backrest
portion may
comprise a plurality of pins 85 configured to be received by a plurality of
openings 90 in the
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top exterior surface of the sitting portion, such that the sitting portion and
the backrest portion
are releasably connectable to each other.
[062] The skilled person would understand that a different number of seat
modules can be
used in the modular seat assembly of the present invention. For example, the
embodiment
shown in Figures 1-9 comprises three seat modules 50A 50B 50C, such that the
modular
seat assembly forms a sofa once assembled. In such an embodiment, the left
most seat
module 50A is releasably connected to the left arm module 15, the right most
seat module
50C is releasably connected to the right arm module 20, and the middle seat
module 50B is
releasably connectable to the left most seat module 50A and the right most
seat module 50C.
[063] If a single seat module is used, then the modular seat assembly would
form a chair
once assembled. In such an embodiment, the single seat module would be
releasably
connectable to both the left arm module (on the left side of the single seat
module) and the
right arm module (on the right side of the single seat module).
[064] In embodiments, the modular seat assembly of the present invention
comprises 1, 2,
3, or 4 seat modules, more preferably 1, 2, or 3 seat modules, most preferably
3 seat
modules. As mentioned, in preferred embodiments, the seat modules are
virtually identical to
each other so as to allow the user to arrange them in any order, or to use
fewer/more seat
modules depending on how large they wish the assembled seat assembly to be.
[065] The skilled person would understand that the modular seat assembly can
be made of
any material known in the art of making seat assemblies (e.g. wood, metal,
fabric,
combinations thereof). In preferred embodiments, the male stud connectors, the
female
connectors, the latches, the latch receiving means, the plurality of leg
modules, the leg
module receiving means are made of wood, metal, or a combination thereof.
[066] In embodiments, in addition to the advantages previously discussed, the
modular seat
assembly of the present invention can present one or more of the following
advantages:
= Flexibility in assembly: Since the female connector of the present
invention more
loosely connects seat modules, the left arm module, and the right arm module
together
as the male stud connectors can be slid along the horizontal portion of their
corresponding female connectors), there is more room to assemble the male
hardware
into the female part, making the assembly easier for users compared to
conventional
connectors used for modular seat assemblies (wideness in opening). The
increased
width of the opening and the downward angle of the channel also renders
assembly
easier for users compared to conventional connectors used for modular seat
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assemblies, as the user can easily guide male stud connectors through the
opening
and the channel, into the horizontal portion.
= Easier and cheaper manufacturing: the male stud connector and female
connector are
placed on the outside (exterior surface) of their respective modules, which
makes it
much easier and cheaper to produce, when compared to conventional modular seat
assemblies.
= Ease of replacement: In the case of a defect or a broken male stud
connector and/or
female connector, the fact that both the male stud connector and female
connector
are located on the outside (exterior surface) of their respective modules
makes it much
easier for the user to replace it themselves and can give each module a longer
lifetime
than if connectors had been located in places that are unreachable.
PREFERRED METHOD OF ASSEMBLING MODULAR SEAT ASSEMBLY
[067] In a second aspect of the present invention, a method of assembling the
above-
defined modular seat assembly is provided, comprising:
[068] releasably connecting the left arm module, the at least one seat module,
and the right
arm module together by slidably connecting each male stud connector to a
corresponding
female connector, such that the at least one seat module is bookended by the
left arm module
and the right arm module;
[069] wherein the step of slidably connecting each male stud connector to a
corresponding
female connector comprises sliding each male stud connector through the
opening of the
corresponding female connector, and through the downwardly angled channel
extending into
the horizontal portion.
[070] In preferred embodiments, the step of releasably connecting the left arm
module, the
at least one seat module, and the right arm module together is performed from
left to right or
right to left, if only one of the left arm module or the right arm module
comprises male
connectors (see previous section for more detail).
[071] Once the left arm module, the at least one seat module, and the right
arm module are
releasably connected together using the male stud connectors and the female
stud
connectors, if not properly aligned, the seat modules, the left arm module,
and the right arm
module can be aligned together by sliding the appropriate male stud connectors
along the
horizontal portions. The design of the female connectors renders the seat
modules, the left
arm module, and the right arm module more easily alignable when compared to
conventional
modular seat assemblies.
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[072] In embodiments of the method of the present invention, the step of
slidably connecting
each male stud connector to its corresponding female connector is performed
such that each
leg module receiving means is positioned so as to be adjacent to another leg
module
receiving means on an adjacent seat module, on the right arm module, or on the
left arm
module. In such embodiments, the method further comprises the step of
releasably
connecting each leg module to two adjacent leg module receiving means. In
preferred
embodiments, the step of releasably connecting each leg module to two adjacent
leg module
receiving means is performed using hand screws.
[073] In embodiments of the method of the preset invention, the method further
comprises
the step of releasably engaging each latch with its corresponding latch
receiving means. In
preferred embodiments, this step is performed after releasably connecting each
leg module
to two adjacent leg module receiving means.
[074] In preferred embodiments, the modular seat assembly is flipped on its
back, as shown
in Figure 5, after slidably connecting each male stud connector to a
corresponding female
connector. This makes it much easier access the leg module receiving means,
the latches,
and the latch receiving means, thereby making it easier to releasably connect
each leg
module to two adjacent leg module receiving means and to releasably engage
each latch
with its corresponding latch receiving means. Furthermore, flipping the sofa
on its back (onto
a flat surface) can help align the at least one seat module, the left arm
module, and the right
arm module, as the at least one seat module, the left arm module, and the
right arm module
will align with the flat surface. In preferred embodiments, the at least one
seat module, the
left arm module, and the right arm module are aligned by flipping the sofa on
its back.
[075] Naturally, if the modular seat assembly has been flipped onto its back
during
assembly, the modular seat assembly can then be flipped back to an upright
position once it
has been assembled, such that its weight is borne by the plurality of leg
modules.
[076] In embodiments of the method of the present invention, the method
further comprises
the step of arranging cushions on each seat module. In preferred embodiments,
the cushions
are arranged on each sitting portion and each backrest portion.
[077] In preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention, prior
to releasably
connecting the left arm module, the at least one seat module, and the right
arm module
together, the method further comprises the step of releasably connecting each
backrest
portion with each sitting portion. In preferred embodiments, this step is
performed by inserting
a plurality of pins 85 located on the bottom exterior surface of the backrest
portion into a
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-22
plurality of openings in the top exterior surface of the sitting portion as
shown for example in
Figure 9.
[078] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set forth
in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent
with the
description as a whole.
DEFINITIONS
[079] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the
context of
describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims)
are to be construed
to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein
or clearly
contradicted by context.
[080] The terms "comprising", "having", "including", and "containing" are to
be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to") unless
otherwise noted.
[081] Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a
shorthand
method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the
range, unless
otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as
if it were individually recited herein. All subsets of values within the
ranges are also
incorporated into the specification as if they were individually recited
herein.
[082] All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise
indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
[083] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as")
provided
herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on
the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed.
[084] No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any
non-claimed
element as essential to the practice of the invention.
[085] Herein, the term "about" has its ordinary meaning. In embodiments, it
may mean plus
or minus 10% or plus or minus 5% of the numerical value qualified.
[086] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein
have the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
this invention
belongs.
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