US-12616308-B2 - Modular lounge seating assembly system

Abstract

A modular lounge seating assembly system includes a universal base platform that has a cavity in the separation between an upper portion and a lower portion. Legs may be installed under one or more of the corners of the universal base platform. The universal base platform may also have pass-through holes in the center of its bottom frame. Two universal base platforms may be joined by a joining plate that is partially inserted into each of the cavities with the two universal base platforms. The system also includes a T-shaped panel that may be partially inserted into a universal base platform. Cushions may be installed or laid upon these T-shaped panels. Combinations of the universal base platforms, joining plates, T-shaped panels, and cushions may be assembled to create a variety of benches, couches, chaises, and sectionals, with or without arms.

Inventors

• Evan Clabots

Assignees

• Evan Clabots Design LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231109

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A system comprising: a first base platform having a first upper portion, a first lower portion, a first cavity created by separation of the first upper portion and the first lower portion, and a first base platform securing hole; a second base platform having a second upper portion, a second lower portion, a second cavity created by separation of the second upper portion and the second lower portion, and a second base platform securing hole; a joining plate having a first joining plate securing hole, a second joining plate securing hole, and at least one joining plate leg connection tube; at least one center leg having a leg threaded rod secured to the at least one of the joining plate leg connection tube via the leg threaded rod for supporting the first base platform and the second base platform; a first securing mechanism for securing the first base platform to the joining plate via the first base platform securing hole and via the first joining plate securing hole after a first portion of the joining plate is inserted into the first cavity without interfering with the at least one center leg; and a second securing mechanism for securing the second base platform to the joining plate via the second base platform securing hole and via the second joining plate securing hole after a second portion of the joining plate is inserted into the second cavity without interfering with the at least one center leg.
2. 2 . The system as in claim 1 , wherein the separation of the first upper portion and the first lower portion is created by a first set of at least one spacer, and the separation of the second upper portion and the second lower portion is created by a second set of at least one spacer.
3. 3 . The system as in claim 2 , wherein the first set of at least one spacer comprises a set of first spacers installed in corners of the first cavity; and wherein the second set of at least one spacer comprises a set of second spacers installed in corners of the second cavity.
4. 4 . The system as in claim 1 , wherein the separation of the first upper portion and the first lower portion is created by a first U-channel having a first U-channel upper leg and first U-channel lower leg, wherein the first U-channel is positioned on its side, wherein the first U-channel upper leg acts as part of the first upper portion and the first U-channel lower leg acts as part of the first lower portion; and the separation of the second upper portion and the second lower portion is created by a second U-channel having a second U-channel upper leg and second U-channel lower leg, wherein the second U-channel is positioned on its side, wherein the second U-channel upper leg acts as part of the second upper portion and the second U-channel lower leg acts as part of the second lower portion.
5. 5 . The system as in claim 1 , wherein the first securing mechanism comprises a first threaded bolt, and the second securing mechanism comprises a second threaded bolt.
6. 6 . The system as in claim 5 , wherein the first base platform securing hole is a pass-through hole, the second base platform securing hole is a pass-through hole, the first joining plate securing hole is a threaded hole, and the second joining plate securing hole is a threaded hole.
7. 7 . The system as in claim 5 , wherein the first base platform securing hole is a threaded hole, the second base platform securing hole is a threaded hole, the first joining plate securing hole is a pass-through hole, and the second joining plate securing hole is a pass-through hole.
8. 8 . The system as in claim 7 , wherein the first upper portion comprises a first removable cushion; wherein the second upper portion comprises a second removable cushion; wherein the first securing mechanism is installed from a top of the first base platform after removal of the first removable cushion; and wherein the second securing mechanism is installed from a top of the second base platform after removal of the second removable cushion.
9. 9 . The system as in claim 5 , further comprising: at least one first leg secured to a bottom of the first base platform; and at least one second leg secured to a bottom of the second base platform.
10. 10 . A system comprising: a base platform having an upper portion, a lower portion, a cavity created by separation of the upper portion and the lower portion, and a first base platform securing hole; a first panel comprising a first vertical surface having a first vertical surface width and a first horizontal surface connected to a side of the first vertical surface, wherein the first horizontal surface has a first panel securing hole and wherein the first horizontal surface does not extend across all of the first vertical surface width; at least one leg secured to a bottom corner of the first base platform; and a first securing mechanism for securing the base platform to the first panel via the first base platform securing hole and via the first panel securing hole while the first horizontal surface is inserted into the cavity without interfering with the at least one leg secured to the bottom corner of the first base platform.
11. 11 . The system as in claim 10 , wherein the separation of the upper portion and the lower portion is created by at least one spacer installed in corners of the cavity.
12. 12 . The system as in claim 10 , wherein the separation of the upper portion and the lower portion is created by a U-channel having a U-channel upper leg and U-channel lower leg, wherein the U-channel is positioned on its side, wherein the U-channel upper leg acts as part of the upper portion and the U-channel lower leg acts as part of the lower portion.
13. 13 . The system as in claim 10 , wherein the base platform further comprises a second base platform securing hole; and further comprising: a second panel comprising a second vertical surface having a second vertical surface width and a second horizontal surface connected to a side of the second vertical surface, wherein the second horizontal surface has a second panel securing hole and wherein the second horizontal surface does not extend across all of second first vertical surface width; a second securing mechanism for securing the base platform to the second panel via the second base platform securing hole and via the second panel securing hole while the second horizontal surface is inserted into the cavity without interfering with the at least one leg secured to a bottom corner of the first base platform.
14. 14 . The system as in claim 13 , wherein the first securing mechanism comprises a first threaded bolt, and the second securing mechanism comprises a second threaded bolt.
15. 15 . The system as in claim 14 , wherein the first base platform securing hole is a pass-through hole, the second base platform securing hole is a pass-through hole, the first panel securing hole is a threaded hole, and the second panel securing hole is a threaded hole.
16. 16 . The system as in claim 14 , wherein the first base platform securing hole is a threaded hole, the second base platform securing hole is a threaded hole, the first panel securing hole is a pass-through hole, and the second panel securing hole is a pass-through hole.
17. 17 . The system as in claim 16 , wherein the upper platform comprises a removable cushion; and wherein the first securing mechanism and the second securing mechanism is installed from a top of the base platform after removal of the removable cushion.
18. 18 . The system as in claim 14 , wherein the first panel supports a first cushion, and the second panel supports a second cushion.
19. 19 . A system comprising: a first base platform having a first upper portion, a first lower portion, a first cavity created by separation of the first upper portion and the first lower portion, a first base platform securing hole and a second base platform securing hole; a first leg secured to a bottom of the first base platform; a second base platform having a second upper portion, a second lower portion, a second cavity created by separation of the second upper portion and the second lower portion, a third base platform securing hole and a fourth base platform securing hole; a second leg secured to a bottom of the second base platform; a joining plate having a first joining plate securing hole, a second joining plate securing hole, and at least one joining plate leg connection tube; at least one center leg having a leg threaded rod secured to the at least one of the connection tube securing holes via the leg threaded rod for supporting the first base platform and the second base platform; a first panel comprising a first vertical surface and a first horizontal surface connected with a portion of a side of the first vertical surface, the first horizontal surface having a first panel securing hole; a second panel comprising a second vertical surface and a second horizontal surface connected with a portion of a side of the second vertical surface, the second horizontal surface having a second panel securing hole; a first securing mechanism for securing the first base platform to the joining plate via the first base platform securing hole and via the first joining plate securing hole while a first portion of the joining plate is inserted into the first cavity without interfering with the at least one center leg; and a second securing mechanism for securing the second base platform to the joining plate via the third base platform securing hole and via the second joining plate securing hole while a second portion of the joining plate is inserted into the second cavity without interfering with the at least one center leg; a third securing mechanism for securing the first base platform to the first panel via the second base platform securing hole and via the first panel securing hole while the first horizontal surface is inserted into the first cavity without interfering with the first leg; and a fourth securing mechanism for securing the second base platform to the second panel via the fourth base platform securing hole and via the second panel securing hole while the second horizontal surface is inserted into the second cavity without interfering with the second leg.
20. 20 . The system as in claim 19 , wherein the first securing mechanism is a threaded bolt, the second securing mechanism is a threaded bolt, the third securing mechanism is a threaded bolt, and the fourth securing mechanism is a threaded bolt.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Patent Application, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety: Ser. No. 63/383,148, filed on Nov. 10, 2022. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This application is directed to various forms of modular furniture assembly, and in particular, modular couch assemblies that may be assembled in primarily in an upright position. BACKGROUND Conventional seating furniture are typically manufactured as a single frame either covered with padding and fabric and/or provided with cushions. The frame and cushions are then transported directly to the consumer, or to a retail outlet. The bulky nature of the furniture items results in significant transport and storage costs. Modular furniture, which is made of individual pieces that may be coupled together in different configurations, may reduce both transportation and storage costs. This is because when disassembled, the modular pieces may be transported or stored in a smaller space per furniture item. Conventional modular furniture is often assembled as an individual chair and secured to adjacent chairs in a piecemeal fashion. In other words, adjacent modules that form an individual chair (a seat module and a backrest module, and in the case of the end chairs, an armrest module) are coupled to each other one at a time with fasteners. The individual chair is then coupled to each other to form a piece of furniture. This requires simultaneously aligning connectors on the seat and backrest modules with receivers on the adjacent seat and backrest modules. Simultaneously aligning multiple connectors may be difficult, especially when the connectors are on multiple modules. Furthermore, typically the last module to be attached is the legs or feet to an underside of the assembled piece of furniture, which requires flipping the entire piece of furniture on its side or back to attach the legs or feet to both adjacent modules. SUMMARY The modular lounge seating assembled system described herein allows for compatible modular further pieces that may be assembled into a variety of benches, couches, chaises, and sectionals, with or without arms. The system includes a universal base platform that has a cavity in the separation between an upper portion and a lower portion separated by spacers. A U-connector may be used instead of spacers. The universal base platform may optionally have a removable bottom cushion. Legs may be installed under one or more of the corners of the universal base platform. The universal base platform may also have pass-through holes in the center of its bottom frame. Two universal base platforms may be joined by a joining plate that is partially inserted into each of the cavities with the two universal base platforms. The joining plate may be secured into two universal base platforms using threaded bolts through the pass-through holes in the universal base platform center bottom frames and the threaded holes in the joining plate. The joining plate may also receive legs to support the entire lounge seating assembly. The system also includes a T-shaped panel that may be partially inserted into a universal base platform. The T-shaped panel may be secured to the universal base platform using a threaded bolt through the pass-through hole in the universal base platform center bottom frame and a threaded hole in the T-shaped panel. Cushions may be installed or laid upon these T-shaped panels. Combinations of the universal base platforms, joining plates, T-shaped panels, and cushions may be assembled to create a variety of benches, couches, chaises, and sectionals, with or without arms. Alternatively, if removable cushions are always used with the universal base platform, the universal base platform may have threaded holes instead of pass-through holes. Alternative joining plates and T-shaped panels may then have pass-through holes instead of threaded holes. In this alternative construction, threaded bolts may secure the joining plates and T-shaped panels to the universal base platforms from the top down. This means that the assembler conveniently need not overturn the modular couch pieces in order to join them together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a top view of a universal base platform. FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of a universal base platform. FIG. 3 shows views of a cavity in a universal base platform. FIG. 4 shows a cross-section view of a universal base platform. FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a universal base platform. FIG. 6 shows a further exploded view of a universal bas