WO2018190700A1

WO2018190700A1 - Multipurpose furniture assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2018190700A1
Application number: PCT/MY2017/050016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Teck Lai NG
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-04-14
Filing date: 2017-04-14
Publication date: 2018-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-14

Abstract

A knock-down lay flat furniture kit having a basic unit comprising a generally rectangular back-board ( 100) and a pair of generally rectangular metal side members (200) comprising ladder-like frames hingedly connected to the vertical edges of the back-board (100) so that they can be moved between a position in which they lie flat on the back-board (100) and a position in which they extend perpendicular to the back-board (100).

Description

MULTIPURPOSE FURNITURE ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to a furniture. More particularly, the invention relates to a knock-down lay flat fiirniture kit being able to serve different purposes with different forms of further panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Furniture may be defined as a movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating, eating, and sleeping. Besides, furniture is also used to hold objects at a convenient height for work or store things. Majority of the people are living in a smaller space in the current era, resulting in the needs for making every piece of furniture pull double duty. In the quest to live smaller, the idea of 'multipurpose' goes a long way. When possessions perform more than one function, people may have need for fewer of them. In the modern homes, multipurpose furnishings save space, which allows the people to choose smaller, more efficient dwellings. Also known as modular furniture, multipurpose furnishings are able to expand or shrink depending on needs, serve two purposes at once, or transform seamlessly from one function to another.

In one example as shown in the patent document US3SS6S86A discloses a multifunctional article of furniture, especially child furniture, formed as a monolithic hollow Walled molding of rigid plastic material operationally usable as an upright chair, a rocking chair, a desk and a table according to selective positioning of the article. However, the disclosed furniture has a limitation whereby the furniture is not foldable into a compact size for storage purpose. In second example as shown in patent document US20080276839A1, a convertible furniture item is disclosed. The disclosed furniture item is convertible between a coffee table and a dining table with chairs, by simply rotating the furniture from a horizontal position to an upright standing position. However, the furniture has a difficult connection whereby it cannot to be detached easily into smaller pieces for transportation and storage purpose.

Meanwhile, a patent document BE1008843 A3 discloses a folding piece of furniture which is able to transform its functions between a chair, stool, table or shelving. The furniture consist of hinges to allow the furniture to be folded in certain degree. However, the rigidness of the furniture is not guaranteed.

In a nut shell, it is necessary to provide an invention of multi-functional furniture which is fbldable, dismountable into smaller pieces with a simple connection. Therefore, this invention provides such a furniture.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a knock-down lay flat furniture kit having a basic unit comprising a generally rectangular back-board and a pair of generally rectangular metal side members comprising ladder-like frames hingedly connected to the vertical edges of the back-board so that they can be moved between a position in which they lie flat on the back-board and a position in which they extend perpendicular to the back-board.

Preferably, the kit includes panels attached to the frame by clip members that fit closely on the rungs and side pieces of the side members.

Preferably, the kit includes further back panel with interlocking means for connecting the back panels.

Preferably, the side members includes ladder-like members with both horizontal and inclined rungs.

Preferably, the back-board comprises a pair of hinged panels being able to fold symmetrically along the vertical axis.

Preferably, the further panel may comprises but not limit to drawer, shelf, cabinet, foldable table and chair.

Alternately, the clip members comprises a 'U'-shaped hook with a flange extended from the hook. Alternately, the side panels include a limit means next to the hinge, limiting the extension of the side panel to allow the kit to stand upright before attaching the further panels.

Alternately, the kit further includes earthquake prevention measures applied on the clips members and the further panels.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments described herein are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated.

Figure 1 is a drawing illustrating the knock-down lay flat furniture kit.

Figure 2 is a drawing illustrating the basic unit and extended unit of the furniture kit.

Figure 3 is a drawing illustrating the shelving of the furniture kit.

Figure 4 is a drawing illustrating the charging corner of the furniture kit.

Figure 5 is a drawing illustrating the drawer assembly of the furniture kit. Figure 6 is a drawing illustrating the folding table assembly of the furniture kit.

Figure 7 is a drawing illustrating the dismountable storage box assembly of the furniture kit. Figure 8 is a drawing illustrating the extension of wired frame of the furniture kit.

Figure 9 is a drawing illustrating the hook for holding the wired frame. Figure 10 is a drawing illustrating the first embodiment of the clip member.

Figure 11A is a drawing illustrating the second embodiment of the clip member. Figure 11 B is a drawing illustrating the attachment of the further panels to the second embodiment of the clip member.

Figure 12 is a drawing illustrating the roller of drawer assembly. Figure 12A is a drawing illustrating the cross-sectional view of roller for drawer assembly.

Figure 13 is a drawing illustrating the base of the side member's leg. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 indicate the drawing of the knock down lay flat furniture kit together with its accessories. The furniture kit has a basic unit which comprises a generally rectangular back-board 100 and a pair of generally rectangular metal side members 200 formed by ladder-like frames hingedly connected to the vertical edges of the back-board 100 so that they can flip into two positions, one which the side members 200 are lied flat on the back-board 100 and the other which the side members 200 extend perpendiculair to the back-board 100. The side members 200, 210 further include a means for limiting the extension of the side panel to allow the kit to stand upright before attaching the further panels. Preferably, the limiting means may be but not limit to an extra bar added at the ladder-like frame of the side members 200,210, a stopper or ridge added at the end of the back-board 100,1 lO.The back-board 100 comprises a pair of hinged panels capable of folding along the vertical axis in a corrugated way. The kit is also extendable horizontally by attaching another backboard 110 with single side member 210 to the main back-board 100 by interlocking means. Besides, the back-board 100 also includes a hook 222 for attaching a wired frame 220 so that the wired frame 220 can be extended vertically from the back-board 100 as illustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. The wired frame 220 also has an additional hook 221 to be clung on the back-board 100 for reinforcement.

The kit includes further panels attached to the side members 200 by clip members 400 that fit closely on the rungs and side pieces of the side members 200 whereby the side members 200 include ladder-like members with both horizontal and inclined rungs. The further panels of the kit can be in different forms, which includes but not limited to drawer 320, shelf, cabinet 370, foldable table 330 and chair. In a first example as shown in Fig. 5, where the further panels are in the form of drawer 320, the drawer 320 has two pairs of clips 400 with a different orientation mounted on the inner sides of the drawer 320, so that the drawer 320 is capable of sliding in a maximum allowance along the rungs. The change of clip orientation not only allow the drawer 320 to be attached to the rungs but also act as a grip channel to allow the slid-ability of the drawer 320.

In second example as shown in Fig. 6, where the further panels are in the form of foldable table 330, the foldable table 330 includes a two-part form foldable table top attached with the clips on one side 332 and a folding leg 331 on the other side of the table top. The table 330 has an erected configuration and a compact configuration. In the erected configuration, the table top is laid flat at a generally horizontal position and the leg is flipped outwardly to a generally vertical position to support the table top. In the compact configuration, a first section of the table top is swung downwardly to a position which is perpendicular to a second section 332 of the table top and the leg is flipped inwardly to a position parallel to the first section. The height of the table is corresponded to the length of the folding leg 331 and different heights can serve different purposes. For instance, a taller table can serve as a bar table while a shorter foldable table 330 can serve as a working desk. In a third example as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, where the further panels are in a form of a shelf, the shelf is attachable to the side members 200 at any level via the clips 400. The shelf can be in the form of a flat panel (350,360) or an L-shaped panel (310,340) to serve different purposes. For instance, the flat panel (350,360) can be laid horizontally to form a display shelf; the L-shaped panel (310,340) can be placed on top of the flat panel to form a concealed area; the L-shaped panel (310,340) can also attached to the side members 200 at a slanted angle where one end of the panel can be transformed into a ridge to hold an object on the panel at the slanted angle.

In the fourth example as shown in Fig.9, where the further panels are in the form of a cabinet 370. The cabinet 370 has a bottom panel with two pairs of clips 400 at the sides, two side panels 373 with hinged door 371 and a top cover panel 372 being connected via dowel connection.

A first embodiment of the clip members 400 as shown in Fig.10 comprises a "U"- shaped hook 402 for the attachment to the rungs, a flange 404 extended either from one of the top end of the 'U'-shaped hook 402 or from the parabola base 401 of the 'U'-shaped hook 402. The flange has a hole 403 at the centroid allowing any fastening medium such as bolts, lock nuts and screws. A second embodiment of the clip members 400 as shown in Fig 11A & Fig 11B comprises a beam structure 405 where each free end has a 'U'-shaped hook 402 for the attachment to the rungs of the side member's frame. The beam structure also has a pair of protrusions 406 mate able with the recesses of the further panel 350. A third embodiment of the clip members as shown in Fig. 12, each is in the form of a grooved wheel 321, in which the rungs are seated within the grooved section of the wheel. This embodiment can be applied on the further panel in the form of drawer 320 for a better sliding of the drawer with the reduced friction.

In certain countries where earthquake occurs frequently, the furniture may incorporate features with earthquake prevention as shown in Fig. 11 to Fig. 13. In one of the example where the clip members 400 can further comprise a support beam structure 405 connecting both side of the clip members with a securing means to prevent the detachment of the clips 400 from the rungs caused by external force. The beam also includes a pair of holding means 406 such as roller catch for holding the further panels 350. In another example, the safety measures may be applied on the grooved wheel 321 of the drawer 320 whereby a reinforce panel 322 is added next to the grooved wheel 321 to provide further support to the drawer 320. Furthermore, the legs of the side members 200 has a foot 201 which its size can be enlarged to enhance the stability of the furniture.

Claims

1. A knock-down lay flat furniture kit having a basic unit comprising a generally rectangular back-board (100) and a pair of generally rectangular metal side members (200) comprising ladder-like frames hingedly connected to the vertical edges of the back-board (100) so that they can be moved between a position in which they lie flat on the back-board (100) and a position in which they extend perpendicular to the back-board (100).

2. A kit as claimed in claim 1, which includes further panels attached to the frame by clip members that fit closely on the rungs and side pieces of the side members (200).

3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which includes further back-board (110) with interlocking means for connecting the back-boards (100,110).

4. A kit as claimed in anyone of claim 1 to 3, wherein the side members (200,210) includes ladder-like members with both horizontal and inclined rungs.

5. A kit as claimed according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein the back-board (100,110) comprises a pair of hinged panels being able to fold symmetrically along the vertical axis.

6. A kit as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the further panel is drawer (320), shelf, cabinet (370), foldable table (330) and chair, or any combination thereof.

7. A kit as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 6, wherein the clip members (400) comprises a 'U'-shaped hook with a flange extended from the hook.

8. A kit as claimed according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein the side panels include a means for limiting the extension of the side panel to allow the kit to stand upright before attaching the further panels.

9. A kit as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein the kit further includes earthquake prevention measures applied on the clips members (400) and the further panels.