Blow molded resin furniture having a stabilizing box structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9526342-B2
Application number	US-201414473727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2014
Priority date	Nov 11, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

The invention involves a system and method for constructing lawn furniture. The system includes box type beam members as well as a large box structure supported above a ground surface. The box structure provides rigidity and stability to the furniture while also functioning as storage space. The components are formed to ship in a dissembled compact state and snap together with minimal use of fasteners and tools.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A resin furniture assembly comprising:
a box structure, said box structure formed by a first end structure said first end structure including a first side panel, said first side panel including an inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of edge walls integrally connected to each other to create an enclosed hollow panel, a second end structure, said second end structure including a first side panel, said first side panel including an inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of edge walls to create an enclosed hollow panel, said first end structure and said second end structure each including at least one tack off, said at least one tack off including an inwardly extending cavity, said inwardly extending cavity connecting said inner wall to said outer wall of each of said first end structure and said second end structure, a front panel, a rear panel, a base panel and a seat panel to include a hollow interior portion, said box structure including a plurality of legs for supporting a bottom surface of said base panel in a spaced apart relationship above a ground surface so that an air gap is maintained between said bottom surface of said base panel and a ground surface, a back panel, said back panel secured to said box structure to form a seat back, said seat panel secured to said box structure for enclosing the top potion of said box structure, at least one of said first end structure, said second end structure, said front panel, said rear panel, or said seat panel being pivotally secured to said box structure for movement between a closed position enclosing said box structure and an open position providing access to an inner portion of said box structure, said inner portion of said box structure providing an enclosed storage area.

2. The resin furniture assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second end structures being supported in a vertical spaced apart orientation, said front panel being secured to said inner wall of said first and said second end structures at a front portion of said first and said second end structures to be spaced above said ground surface, said rear panel being secured to said inner wall of said first and said second end structures at a rear portion of said first and said second end structures to be spaced above said ground surface, said base panel being secured to said inner wall of said first and said second end structures, said base panel being in contact with an inner surface of said front panel and an inner surface of said rear panel.

3. The resin furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein said seat panel is pivotally secured to said inner wall of said first and said second end structures.

4. The resin furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first end structure, said second end structure, said front panel, or said rear panel include a pivoting side door which provides access to said inner portion of said box structure, said pivoting side door including a catch member for releasably securing said pivoting side door in a closed position.

5. The resin furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first end structure, said second end structure, said front panel, or said rear panel include a drawer assembly which provides access to said inner portion of said box structure, said drawer assembly including a front panel said front panel suitably secured to a bottom panel and at least three side walls, whereby said bottom panel and said at least three side walls slide with said front panel along a track.

6. The resin furniture assembly of claim 2 wherein said first end structure and said second end structure each include armrest stands extending outwardly from an upper edge wall to support an armrest, said armrest stands secured to edges of said back panel for supporting said back panel in a generally vertical orientation.

7. The resin furniture assembly of claim 6 wherein said inner wall of said armrest stands each include a round dovetail receiver, said edges of said back panel including a round dovetail, said round dovetail securable within said round dovetail receiver for securing said back panel to said first end structure and said second end structure.

8. The resin furniture assembly of claim 1 wherein said first end structure, said second end structure, said front panel, said rear panel, said back panel, said base panel and said seat panel are formed from a resin plastic material by the process of blow molding to be fully enclosed hollow structural components.

9. A resin furniture assembly comprising:
a first end structure oriented in a substantially vertical orientation, said first end structure including a first side panel, said first side panel including said inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of edge walls integrally connected to each other to create an enclosed hollow panel, said first end structure including at least one tack off, said at least one tack off including an inwardly extending cavity, said inwardly extending cavity connecting said inner wall to said outer wall, a second end structure oriented at a substantially vertical orientation, said second end structure including a first side panel, said first side panel including said inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of edge walls to create an enclosed hollow panel, said first and said second end structures arranged in a spaced apart arrangement, said second end structure including at least one tack off, said at least one tack off including an inwardly extending cavity, said inwardly extending cavity connecting said inner wall to said outer wall, a front panel being secured to said inner wall of said first and said second end structures at a front portion of said first and said second end structures, to be spaced above a ground surface, a rear panel being secured to said inner wall of said first and said second end structures at a rear portion of said first and said second end structures to be spaced above said ground surface, a base panel being secured to said inner wall of said first and said second end structures, said base panel being in contact with an inner surface of said front panel and an inner surface of said rear panel, said base panel including a top surface and a bottom surface, said base panel secured within said inner wall of said first and second end structures so that an air gap is maintained between said bottom surface and said ground surface, a seat panel secured to cover an upper portion of said first end structure, said second end structure, said front panel, and said rear panel, said first end structure, said second end structure, said front panel, said rear panel and said seat panel combining to define a box structure, said first end structure and said second end structure including legs for supporting said box structure above said ground surface, at least a portion of one of said first end structure, said second end structure, said front panel, said rear panel or said seat panel being pivotally secured to the adjacent panels for allowing access to an inner portion of said box structure, said inner portion of said box structure providing an enclosed storage area within said resin furniture assembly.

10. The resin furniture assembly of claim 9 wherein said first end structure, said second end structure, said front panel, said rear panel, said back panel, said base panel and said seat panel are formed from a resin plastic material by the process of blow molding to be fully enclosed hollow structural components.

11. The resin furniture assembly of claim 10 wherein said first end structure and said second end structure each include armrest stands extending outwardly from an upper edge wall to support an armrest, said armrest stands secured

Assignees

• Suncast Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Thuma Michael
• Anderson Torrence
• Vogler Michael R

Classifications

• A47C17/86

  Parts or details specially adapted for beds, sofas or couches not fully covered by any single one of groups A47C17/02 - A47C17/84 · CPC title

• B29L2031/443

  Chairs · CPC title

• A47C1/14

  Beach chairs {; Chairs for outdoor use, e.g. chairs for relaxation or sun-tanning} · CPC title

• A47C7/54

  Supports for the arms · CPC title

• B29L2031/44

  Furniture or parts thereof · CPC title