Furniture Member Attachment System
A furniture member joining system includes a U-shaped fastener having first and second posts extending transversely from a post body. First and second post receiving bight inserts are each engageable with one of a first and second furniture member. The first post is slidably received in the first bight insert and the second post is slidably received in the second bight insert to releasably couple the first furniture member to the second furniture member.
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The present disclosure relates to devices used to releasably couple furniture members.
BACKGROUNDThe statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Furniture members such as chairs, sofas, sectionals, loveseats, and the like often include multiple members that can be joined to create larger seating or reclining surfaces. Common devices to attach multiple furniture members include fasteners such as brackets which couple together, and plates joined individually to each furniture member which are fastened together to semi-permanently join the furniture members. Known joining methods create alignment problems between the furniture members, are often cumbersome and difficult for an end user to disassemble or reassemble the furniture members, and require additional tools to connect and/or disconnect the joining couplings. Known joining methods are also prone to inadvertently disconnect or disengage.
SUMMARYAccording to several embodiments of the present disclosure, a furniture member joining system includes a U-shaped fastener having first and second posts extending transversely from a post body, wherein each of the first and second posts are adapted to engage with one of a first and second furniture member to releasably couple the first and second furniture members.
According to additional embodiments of the present disclosure, a furniture member joining system includes a U-shaped fastener having first and second posts extending transversely from a post body. First and second post receiving bight inserts are each engageable with one of a first and second furniture member. The first post is slidably received in the first bight insert and the second post is slidably received in the second bight insert to releasably couple the first furniture member to the second furniture member.
According to still further embodiments of the present disclosure, a furniture member joining system includes a U-shaped fastener having first and second posts extending transversely from a post body. First and second fastener brackets are each fastenably connected to one of a first and second furniture member. The first post is slidably received in the first fastener bracket and the second post is slidably received in the second fastener bracket to releasably couple the first furniture member to the second furniture member.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
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To help retain the U-shaped fasteners 16, according to several embodiments a plurality of bight inserts 20 are first inserted into adjoining and aligned furniture upholstery faces 18. Bight inserts 20 which are aligned between the first and second furniture members 12, 14 slidably receive and engage the U-shaped fasteners 16. In the embodiment shown, bight inserts 20′, 20″ are connected through furniture upholstery face 18′ and bight inserts 20′″, 20″″ are connected through furniture upholstery face 18″. According to several embodiments, U-shaped fasteners 16 can be made of a metal such as steel or stainless steel, but can also be made from a rigid polymeric material. Bight inserts 20 can be made such as by injection molding from a polymeric material including polyamide materials.
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After frame structures of first and second furniture members 12, 14 have an upholstery covering provided, first and second furniture members 12, 14 are butted against each other for example having a first and second member side surface 30, 32 in abutment with each other. At this time, a first and second member upholstery surface 34, 36 of first and second furniture members 12, 14 should be approximately co-planer with each other. With the first and second furniture members 12, 14 aligned as shown in
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With the furniture frame 38 oriented as shown, at least one fastener bracket 54 is connected to the furniture frame 38. According to additional embodiments including the example shown, two fastener brackets 54 identified as fastener bracket 54′ and fastener bracket 54″ are connected to frame side 40. More than two fastener brackets 54 can also be used if the connecting side lengths of the furniture members warrant additional fasteners. Fastener brackets 54 each include a U-shaped bight member receiving portion 56 shown in this embodiment as bight member receiving portions 56′, 56″. Bight member receiving portions 56 are adapted to receive and engage the bight inserts 20 described in reference to
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First post 82 has a free end defined by a first post apex 86. Similarly, second post 84 has a free end defined by a second post apex 88. The rounded post apexes 86, 88 of the first and second posts 82, 84 are adapted to permit insertion alignment and ease of insertion of the posts. U-shaped fasteners 16 have a post diameter “V” which is maintained for both the first and second posts 82, 84. A post spacing “W” is maintained between first and second post apexes 86, 88. According to several embodiments of the present disclosure, first post length “T” can be 2.5 inches (6.35 cm), second post length “U” can be 1.5 inches (3.81 cm), post diameter “V” can be 0.5 inches (1.27 cm), and post spacing “W” can be 3.3125 inches (8.41 cm). Referring to both
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The furniture member attachment system of the present disclosure offers several advantages. The U-shaped fasteners of the present disclosure allow two or more furniture members to be releasably joined without the use of additional tools. The different length posts of the U-shaped fasteners allow insertion of a longer first post in a first furniture member to help align the second furniture member before insertion of the second shorter post. Post receiving bight inserts made of a polymeric material can be installed through upholstery layers of the furniture member and provide a sliding fit to receive the posts of the U-shaped fastener. Misalignment of the furniture members can also be accommodated by the different post lengths and angular engagement of the U-shaped fasteners.
Claims
1. A furniture member joining system, comprising a U-shaped fastener having first and second posts extending transversely from a post body, wherein each of the first and second posts are adapted to engage with one of a first and second furniture member to releasably couple the first and second furniture members.
2. The furniture member joining system of claim 1, further comprising:
- first and second post receiving bight inserts each engageable with one of the first and second furniture members;
- wherein the first post is slidably received in the first bight insert and the second post is slidaby received in the second bight insert to releasably couple the first furniture member to the second furniture member.
3. The furniture member joining system of claim 2, further comprising first and second fastener brackets each fastenably connected to one of the first and second furniture members, each of the first and second fastener brackets adapted to frictionally receive one of the first and second bight inserts.
4. The furniture member joining system of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second fastener brackets further includes a U-shaped bight member receiving portion.
5. The furniture member joining system of claim 1, further comprising an aperture created in each of the first and second furniture members adapted to receive one of the first and second posts.
6. The furniture member joining system of claim 1, wherein the first post is longer than the second post.
7. A furniture member joining system, comprising:
- a U-shaped fastener having first and second posts extending transversely from a post body; and
- first and second post receiving bight inserts each engageable with one of a first and second furniture member;
- wherein the first post is slidably received in the first bight insert and the second post is slidaby received in the second bight insert to releasably couple the first furniture member to the second furniture member.
8. The furniture member joining system of claim 7, further comprising first and second fastener brackets each fastenably connected to one of the first and second furniture members, each of the first and second fastener brackets adapted to frictionally receive one of the first and second bight inserts.
9. The furniture member joining system of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second fastener brackets further includes a U-shaped bight member receiving portion.
10. The furniture member joining system of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second fastener brackets further includes first and second planar wings each oppositely positioned about the bight member receiving portion.
11. The furniture member joining system of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second bight inserts includes:
- a tubular body; and
- a plurality of bight elements created on the tubular body.
12. The furniture member joining system of claim 11,
- wherein each of the first and second bight inserts further includes a flange defining an end of the tubular body, the flange having a larger diameter than a body diameter; and
- wherein the flange of each of the first and second bight inserts is adapted to seat against an upholstery member disposed on one of the first and second furniture members.
13. The furniture member joining system of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second bight inserts includes an aperture having an aperture diameter adapted to slidingly receive one of the first and second posts.
14. The furniture member joining system of claim 7, wherein the first post is longer than the second post.
15. A furniture member joining system, comprising:
- a U-shaped fastener having first and second posts extending transversely from a post body; and
- first and second fastener brackets each fastenably connected to one of a first and second furniture member;
- wherein the first post is slidably received in the first fastener bracket and the second post is slidaby received in the second fastener bracket to releasably couple the first furniture member to the second furniture member.
16. The furniture member joining system of claim 15, further comprising first and second post receiving bight inserts each engageable with one of the first and second furniture fastener brackets, each of the first and second post receiving bight inserts having an aperture adapted to slidably receive one of the first and second posts.
17. The furniture member joining system of claim 16, wherein each of the first and second bight inserts includes:
- a tubular body; and
- a plurality of bight elements created on the tubular body.
18. The furniture member joining system of claim 17,
- wherein each of the first and second bight inserts further includes a flange defining an end of the tubular body, the flange having a larger diameter than a tubular body diameter; and
- wherein the flange of each of the first and second bight inserts is adapted to seat against an upholstery member disposed on one of the first and second furniture members.
19. The furniture member joining system of claim 14, wherein the first post has a length greater than a second post length.
20. The furniture member joining system of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second posts includes a free end defining a rounded post apex adapted to permit insertion alignment and ease of insertion of the posts.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 14, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 19, 2009
Applicant: West & Knowles Design and Engineering, L.L.C. (Monroe, MI)
Inventors: David J. Westendorf (Monroe, MI), Kevin J. Knowles (Monroe, MI), Shane R. Gamble (Lambertville, MI)
Application Number: 11/838,486
International Classification: A47C 7/00 (20060101);