Apparatus and method for assembling components of knock-down furniture

Abstract

Components of knock-down furniture and modules of sectional furniture are equipped with interlocking brackets, connector frames and a shelf assembly at the time of manufacture to provide for a method of assembling the components that avoids the difficulty heretofore experienced in adjusting the positions of components when needed to align and connect brackets to interlock the furniture components.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of assembling the back, seat and arms of knock-down furniture, the method comprising: 
 a) installing a shelf assembly including a shelf in the back and support boards extending rearwardly from the seat toward the shelf;    b) equipping the forward and rearward portions of the arms with receiver brackets;    c) equipping the shelf assembly with slide brackets positioned to register with the receiver brackets on rearward portions of the arms;    d) equipping the seats with slide brackets positioned to register with the receiver brackets on forward portions of the arms;    e) connecting the slide brackets on the shelf assembly with the receiver brackets on rearward portions of the arms; and    f) moving the seat relative to the shelf assembly as needed to align and connect the slide brackets on the seat with receiver brackets on the forward portions of the arms.    
     
     
         2 . A method of assembling components of knock-down furniture with interlocking brackets having a receiver bracket and a slide bracket, the components including a seat and a back and the method comprising the following steps: 
 i) provide slide brackets on the forward side portions of the seat;    ii) provide a slide bracket on each side of the back;    iii) provide third and fourth components, each equipped with receiver brackets positioned toward the front to register with the slide brackets on the seat and toward the rear to register with the slide brackets on the back;    iv) provide means to loosely support the rear of the seat;    v) connect the slide brackets on the back with the receiver brackets on rear portions of the third and fourth components;    vi) adjust the position of the seat as needed to align the slide brackets on the seat with the receiver brackets toward the fronts of the third and fourth components; and    vii) lock the slide brackets on the seat and back with the receiver brackets on the third and fourth elements.    
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein the third and fourth components are arms.  
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein the third and fourth components are connector frames.  
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein said means to loosely support the rear of the seat is a shelf assembly.  
     
     
         6 . A method of assembling components of knock-down furniture, the components including a seat, arms and a back, the method including: 
 i) providing a shelf assembly including a shelf in the back and support boards extending rearwardly from the seat toward the shelf;    ii) providing a receiver bracket toward the rear of each arm and a receiver bracket toward the front of each arm;    iii) providing slide brackets on the shelf assembly positioned to register with receiver brackets toward the rear of each arm;    iv) providing slide brackets on the seat positioned to register with receiver brackets toward the front of each arm;    v) positioning the back and the arms to align the slide brackets on the shelf assembly with the receiver brackets toward the rear of each arm and engaging those slide brackets with those receiver brackets;    vi) positioning the seat with its front facing up and with the support boards loosely positioned on the shelf in the back;    vii) adjusting the position of the seat as needed to align the slide brackets on the seat with the receiver brackets toward the front of each arm; and    viii) with the support boards resting on the shelf, interlocking the slide brackets on the shelf assembly and the slide brackets on the seat with the receiver brackets on each arm.    
     
     
         7 . A method of assembling armless modules of a knock-down sectional sofa, the modules including a seat and a back and the method including these steps: 
 i) providing two connector frames equipped with foremost and rearmost receiver brackets;    ii) providing a shelf assembly including a shelf beneath the back and support boards extending rearwardly from the seat toward the shelf;    iii) providing slide brackets on the shelf assembly positioned for alignment and connection with a receiver bracket on the rear of each connector frame;    iv) providing slide brackets on the seat positioned for alignment and connection with a receiver bracket on the front of each connector frame;    v) positioning the connector frames to align their rearmost receiver brackets with the slide brackets on the shelf assembly;    vi) positioning the seat with its front facing up and with the support beams resting loosely on the shelf beneath the back;    vii) adjusting the position of the seat as needed to align the slide brackets on the seat with the foremost receiver brackets on the connector frames;    viii) connecting the slide brackets on the seat with the foremost receiver brackets on the connector frames;    ix) positioning the seat, back and connector frames for use; and    x) applying pressure to the seat to press the slide brackets on the seat and the slide brackets on the shelf assembly all the way into their respective receiver brackets on the connector frames.    
     
     
         8 . Knock-down furniture with components that include a seat, a back, support means at the sides of the seat and a shelf assembly, 
 i) said components being equipped with receiver brackets and slide brackets positioned for alignment and connection during assembly of the components to form interlocking brackets that connect the components for use as furniture, and    ii) the shelf assembly loosely supporting the rear of the seat whereby the seat has “wiggle room” and may be adjusted as needed for alignment and connection of slide brackets with respective receiver brackets during assembly of the components.    
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 8  wherein said support means at the sides of the seat are arms of the furniture.  
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 8  wherein said support means at the sides of the seat are connector frames.  
     
     
         11 . Knock-down furniture including a seat with slide brackets, a back, arms with receiver brackets and a shelf assembly with slide brackets, the shelf assembly comprising: 
 i) a rectangular frame located in the back and including a shelf, and    ii) means for loosely supporting the rear of the seat on the shelf during assembly of the components to provide “wiggle room” for the seat to align and connect slide brackets on the seat with receiver brackets on the arms after connection of the slide brackets on the shelf assembly with receiver brackets on the arms.    
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 11  wherein the arms are replaced by connector frames.  
     
     
         13 . The invention of  claim 11  wherein said means for loosely supporting the seat by the shelf comprises support boards extending rearwardly from the seat toward the shelf to be placed on the shelf to support of the rear of the seat during and after assembly of the components.  
     
     
         14 . A connector frame to function as a component of knock-down furniture including a seat and a back equipped with slide brackets, the connector frame comprising: 
 i) front and rear legs spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the front and rear of the seat,    ii) means connecting the front and rear legs, and    iii) receiver brackets fixed to the front and rear legs for alignment with the slide brackets on the back and on the seat.    
     
     
         15 . The invention of  claim 14  wherein there are two receiver brackets fixed in back-to-back relation to each other on the front leg and on the rear leg.  
     
     
         16 . The invention of  claim 14  wherein the connector frame includes means for supporting furniture accessories, including tables, consoles and lamps.  
     
     
         17 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein said means for supporting furniture accessories includes legs of tubular construction with open tops at the front and rear of the connector frame and wherein shouldered rods are removably inserted in the open tops of the front and rear legs and extend upwardly therefrom in support of furniture accessories attached to the upper ends of the shouldered rods.  
     
     
         18 . The invention of  claim 17  wherein the connector frame includes a short length of steel tubing with an open top fastened to one leg of the connector frame for reception of a shouldered rod to support a furniture accessory.