FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly a furniture and display system capable of being arranged into multiple configurations to be used as seating, tables, retail displays and so forth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seating, tables, storage and merchandise displays are constantly changed and rearranged in retail settings. Such fixtures or pieces of furniture may be temporary disposable articles or more permanent type pieces. Disposable articles create a great deal of waste and more permanent pieces typically only offer limited uses and thus can only be used when a specified need arises. These permanent pieces must then be stored when not in use, which takes up valuable storage space.

Therefore, a need exists for a furniture and display system capable of being arranged into multiple configurations to be used as seating, tables, storage, merchandise displays and so forth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a furniture and display system capable of being arranged into multiple configurations to be used as seating, tables, storage, merchandise displays and so forth.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by a providing furniture and display system having a right side structure and a left side structure that may be configured together to be used as a chair or display in a retail setting. A rear panel of at least one of the two side structures has two panels which form a space to allow the rear panel of the second side structure to be inserted therein to form an elongated shelf or seat. The design of the two pieces allows the pieces to be nested together in multiple configurations. Inserts may be provided, such as shelves, signs, dividers, leveling pieces and so forth to further adapt the furniture and display system for various uses.

The present invention allows for multiple configurations, such as seating, shelving, floor displays, countertop displays, point of purchase displays, tables, mannequin bases, dump bins and so forth. Such configurations may be achieved by using one, two or a plurality of side structures to create various shaped-configurations.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective left side view of a furniture and display system of the present invention having a right side structure and a left side structure nested together in a primary configuration in which the left rear panel has a full rear panel and a partial rear panel; FIG. 2 is a perspective left side view of the right side structure of the present invention in which the right rear panel is a single panel;

FIG. 3 is a right side perspective view of the left side structure of the present invention in which the left rear panel has a full rear panel and a partial rear panel;

FIG. 4 is a perspective right side view of a furniture and display system of the present invention having a right side structure and a left side structure nested together in a primary configuration in which the right rear panel has a full rear panel and a partial rear panel;

FIG. 5 is a perspective left side view of the right side structure of the present invention in which the right rear panel has a full rear panel and a partial rear panel;

FIG. 6 is a right side perspective view of the left side structure of the present invention in which the left rear panel is a single panel;

FIG. 7 is a perspective left side view of a leveling insert of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective left side view of a shelving insert of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective left side view of a divider insert of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective left side view of a furniture and display system of the present invention having a right side structure and a left side structure nested together in a primary configuration and constructed out of foldable sheets of material;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a foldable sheet of material;

FIG. 12 is a top view of an unfolded right folded seat support;

FIG. 13 is a perspective left side view of a folded right folded seat support; FIG. 14 is a top view of an unfolded right folded corner support;

FIG. 15 is a perspective left side view of a folded right folded corner support;

FIG. 16 is a perspective left side view of a folded right side structure;

FIG. 17 is a top view of an unfolded left folded seat support;

FIG. 18 is a perspective right side view of a folded left folded seat support;

FIG. 19 is a top view of an unfolded left folded corner support;

FIG. 20 is a perspective right side view of a folded left folded corner support;

FIG. 21 is a perspective right side view of a folded left side structure;

FIG. 22 is a perspective front view of a furniture and display system of the present invention configured as a table;

FIG. 23 is a perspective rear view of a furniture and display system of the present invention configured as a table;

FIG. 24 is a perspective front view of a furniture and display system of the present invention configured as a dump bin; and

FIG. 25 is a perspective left side view of a furniture and display system of the present invention configured as a point of purchase display.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:

1. furniture and display system, generally

2. right side structure 3. left side structure

4. right rear panel

4a. top edge

4b. bottom edge

4c. left side edge

4d. right side edge

4e. full rear panel

4f. partial rear panel

4g- top rear panel

5. right side panel

5a. top edge

5b. bottom edge

5c. rear edge

5d. front edge

6. right rear corner

7. right front panel

7a. top edge

7b. bottom edge

7c. right side edge

7d. left side edge

8. right front corner

8a. top of right front corner

9. right horizontal support panel

9a. front edge

9b. rear edge

9c. right side edge

9d. left side edge

10. left rear panel 10a. top edge

10b. bottom edge

10c. left side edge

lOd. right side edge

lOe. full rear panel

lOf. partial rear panel lOg. top rear panel

11. left side panel

11a. top edge

1 lb. bottom edge

11c. rear edge

l id. front edge

12. left rear corner

13. left front panel

13 a. top edge

13b. bottom edge

13c. right side edge

13 d. left side edge

14. left front corner

14a. top of left front corner

15. left horizontal support panel 15 a. ^■ front edge

15b. rear edge

15c. right side edge

15d. left side edge

16. leveling insert

17. shelving insert

18. divider insert 19. foldable sheet

19a. front surface

19b. a rear surface

19c. top edge

19d. bottom edge

19e. left side edge

19f. right side edge

19g. inner vertical edge

19h. inner horizontal edge

19i. first foldable sheet

19j- second foldable sheet

19k. third foldable sheet

191. fourth foldable sheet

20. right folded seat support

21. left folded seat support

22. right folded corner support

23. left folded corner support

24. central axis of foldable sheet

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the furniture and display system 1 of the present invention comprises a right side structure 2 and a left side structure 3 that are capable of being nested together in a primary configuration or placed together in a variety of other configurations. As described below, the right side structure 2 and the left side structure 3 are substantial mirror images of each other.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, a perspective left side view of the right side structure 2 of the present invention is illustrated. Said right side structure 2 comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped right rear panel 4 having a top edge 4a, bottom edge 4b, left side edge 4c and right side edge 4d. A right side panel 5 extends perpendicularly from the right side edge 4d of the right rear panel 4. Said right side panel 5 comprises a top edge 5a, a bottom edge 5b, a rear edge 5c (which shares a right rear corner 6 with the right side edge 4d of the right rear panel 4) and a front edge 5d. The top edge 5a of the right side panel 5 is preferably angled in relation to the bottom edge 5b or the top edge 5a may be parallel to the bottom edge 5b to create a rectangular-shaped right side panel 5. A substantially rectangular-shaped right front panel 7 extends perpendicularly from the front edge 5d of the right side panel 5. Said right front panel 7 comprises top edge 7a, a bottom edge 7b, a right side edge 7c (which shares a right front corner 8 with the front edge 5d of the right side panel 5) and a left side edge 7d. The top edge 7a of the right front panel 7 preferably terminates at a top 8a of the right front corner 8 where the top edge 5a of the right side panel 5 is angled upward in relation to the bottom edge 5b of the right side panel 5. A substantially rectangular-shaped right horizontal support panel 9 is located between the right rear panel 4, the right side panel 5 and the right front panel 7 and is perpendicularly oriented in relation to the right rear panel 4, the right side panel 5 and the right front panel 7. The right horizontal support panel 9 comprises a front edge 9a, a rear edge 9b, a right side edge 9c and a left side edge 9d. The front edge 9a of the right horizontal support panel 9 is preferably directly adjacent to the top edge 7a of the right front panel 7. The three-sided configuration of the right side structure 2 provides open accessible spaces above and below the right horizontal support panel 9 that allows the right side structure 2 and the left side structure 3 to be nested together in various configurations.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, a right side perspective view of the left side structure 3 of the present invention is illustrated. Said left side structure 3 comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped left rear panel 10 having a top edge 10a, bottom edge 10b, left side edge 10c and right side edge lOd. A left side panel 11 extends perpendicularly from the left side edge 10c of the left rear panel 10. Said left side panel 11 comprises a top edge 11a, a bottom edge lib, a rear edge 11c (which shares a left rear corner 12 with the left side edge 10c of the left rear panel 10) and a front edge lid. The top edge 11a of the left side panel 11 is preferably angled in relation to the bottom edge lib or the top edge 11a may be parallel to the bottom edge lib to create a rectangular- shaped left side panel 11. A substantially rectangular-shaped left front panel 13 extends perpendicularly from the front edge lid of the left side panel 11. Said left front panel 13 comprises top edge 13a, a bottom edge 13b, a right side edge 13c (which shares a left front corner 14 with the front edge lid of the left side panel 11) and a left side edge 13d. The top edge 13a of the left front panel 13 preferably terminates at a top 14a of the left front corner 14 where the top edge 11a of the left side panel 11 is angled upward in relation to the bottom edge lib of the left side panel 11. A substantially rectangular- shaped left horizontal support panel 15 is located between the left rear panel 10, the left side panel 11 and the left front panel 13 and is perpendicularly oriented in relation to the left rear panel 10, the left side panel 11 and the left front panel 13. The left horizontal support panel 15 comprises a front edge 15a, a rear edge 15b, a right side edge 15c and a left side edge 15d. The front edge 15a of the left horizontal support panel 15 is preferably directly adjacent to the top edge 13a of the left front panel 13. The three-sided configuration of the left side structure 3 provides open accessible spaces above and below the right horizontal support panel 15 that allows the right side structure 2 and the left side structure 3 to be nested together in various configurations.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the left rear panel 10 comprises two panels one of which is a full rear panel lOe and the second of which is a partial rear panel lOf each of which are spaced apart a predetermined distance by a top rear panel lOg. The partial panel lOf extends upward from the rear edge 15b of the left horizontal support panel 15 and terminates at the top edge 10a of the left rear panel 10. The full rear panel lOe and partial rear panel lOf create a nesting space into which the right rear panel 4 may be inserted into in order to connect the right side structure 2 to the left side structure 3, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the right rear panel 4 may comprise two panels one of which is a full rear panel 4e and the second of which is a partial rear panel 4f each of which are spaced apart a predetermined distance by a top rear panel 4g. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the left rear panel 10 may comprise a single panel as illustrated in FIG. 6 and the left side structure 3 may be inserted into the right left side structure 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the nesting of the right side structure 2 and the left side structure 3 creates an offset on the side having a single paneled rear panel. These offsets may be corrected using a leveling insert 16, as illustrated in FIG. 7, which comprises one or more rectangular shaped panels that create a flush even surface when placed over the offset area of the furniture and display system 1 of the present invention. Additional inserts may include shelving inserts 17, as illustrated in FIG. 8, divider inserts 18, as illustrated in FIG. 9, and so forth.

The furniture and display system 1 of the present invention may be a rigid structure or constructed out of a paper cardboard or similar foldable material as illustrated in FIGS. 10-21 and FIG. 24, that allows the furniture and display system 1 to be easily shipped and the assembled for quick use. The foldable furniture and display system 1 of the present invention comprises four sheets 19 each having substantially the same shape and dimensions. Each sheet 19 comprises a front surface 19a, a rear surface 19b, top edge 19c, a bottom edge 19d, a left side edge 19e and a right side edge 19f. Said right side edge 19f has a length that is two thirds the length of the left side edge 19e. Said top edge 19c has a length that is half the length of the bottom edge 19d, thereby creating a cutout having an inner vertical edge 19g and inner horizontal edge 19h. Said inner vertical edge 19g has a length that is equal to the length of the top edge 19c and said inner horizontal edge 19h has a length that is equal to the length of the top edge 19c. Each of the four sheets 19 may be split into five substantially equal sized rectangular- shaped quadrants labeled A through E, as illustrated in FIG. 11

The four sheets 19 may be folded to create a right side structure 2 and a left side structure 3, as illustrated in FIGS 16 and 21 respectively. The right side structure 2 and left side structure 3 each comprise a folded seat support 20 and 21 and folded corner support 22 and 23.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the right side structure 2 comprises a right folded seat support 20 folded out of a first sheet 19i wherein quadrant A is folded downward over quadrant B and quadrant D is folded in half to create a forty five degree angle. Then, quadrants A, B and C are folded inward to meet quadrants D and E to create a ninety degree angle along a central axis 24.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the right side structure 2 further comprises a right folded corner support 22 folded out of a second sheet 19j wherein quadrant A is folded at a ninety degree angle in relation to quadrant B. Quadrants B and C are folded at a ninety degree angle in relation to quadrants D and E. Then, quadrant D is folded in half to create a forty five degree angle as quadrant E is folded inward along the central axis 24 to create a ninety degree angle between quadrants C and E.

The right folded seat support 20 may then be inserted or nested into the right folded corner support 22 to create the right side structure 2 as illustrated in FIG. 16.

As illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, the left side structure 3 comprises a left folded seat support 21 folded out of a third sheet 19k wherein quadrant A is folded downward over quadrant B and quadrant D is folded in half to create a forty five degree angle. Then, quadrants A, B and C are folded inward to meet quadrants D and E to create a ninety degree angle along the central axis 24. As illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the left side structure 3 further comprises a left folded corner support 23 folded out of a fourth sheet 191 wherein quadrant A is folded at a ninety degree angle in relation to quadrant B. Quadrants B and C are folded at a ninety degree angle in relation to quadrants D and E. Then, quadrant D is folded in half to create a forty five degree angle as quadrant E is folded inward along the central axis 24 to create a ninety degree angle between quadrants C and E.

The left folded seat support 21 may then be inserted or nested into the left folded corner support 23 to create the left side structure 3 as illustrated in FIG. 21.

Finally, the left side structure 3 may be inserted or nested into the right side structure 2, or vice versa, as illustrated in FIG. 10 to create an assembled furniture and display system 1 of the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 22 and 23, a furniture and display system 1 of the present invention configured as a table is illustrated. The table may be adjusted length wise to accommodate a desired wall space or corner. When placed against an inside corner of a wall, a space is left for an additional display behind the table, such as a mannequin. Multiple tables may be placed next to each other at ninety degree angles to form L- shaped to go around an outside corner of a wall or to create a square-shape having an opening for an additional display, such as a mannequin, in the center.

With reference to FIG. 24, a perspective front view of a foldable furniture and display system 1 of the present invention configured as a dump bin is illustrated. The dump bin may be used as a display in a retail setting for holding bulk merchandise, such as sports balls, pillows, stuffed animals and so forth.

With reference to FIG. 25, a perspective left side view of a furniture and display system 1 of the present invention configured as a point of purchase display is illustrated. The furniture and display system 1 is configured in the same configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 with the addition of the insert displayed in FIG. 8 to create a multi-shelf display. The multi-shelf display may available in various sizes. For example, a full size display may be placed on the floor or a small display that is placed on a countertop near a cash register.

It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.