Stackable furniture system

Abstract

A furniture construction includes a frame structure made up of a pair of spaced frame sections connected together, and a furniture component mounted to the frame structure. Each frame section includes a lower base section, an upright, and a furniture component support member extending from the upright and to which the furniture component is mounted. The frame sections are preferably C-shaped when viewed from the side. In one form, the furniture component is a seat mounted to the furniture component support, and the frame structure includes a back support area extending upwardly from the seat. A back is mounted to the back support area. In another form, the furniture component is a desk or table top mounted to the furniture component support. Combination desk/chair units may also be constructed utilizing the same basic frame structure.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A chair, comprising: 
 a frame including a pair of spaced apart side frame sections, wherein each side frame section includes a base section defining a forward end and a rearward end, an upright extending upwardly from the rearward end of the base section, and a seat support member extending forwardly from the upright below an upper end defined by the upright;    a handle member extending between and interconnecting the upper ends of the uprights;    a seat mounted to the seat support members; and    a back mounted to the handle member.    
     
     
         2 . An article of furniture, comprising: 
 a pair of frame sections, each of which includes a base section, an upright extending upwardly from an end defined by the base section, and a furniture component support member extending from the upright at an elevation above the base section; and    a furniture component mounted to and extending between the furniture component support members.    
     
     
         3 . A chair, comprising: 
 a frame assembly defining a rigid seat support structure and a rigid back support structure;    a seat mounted to the seat support structure; and    a back mounted to the back support structure;    wherein the seat and back are separate from each other and wherein the seat defines a rearward user support surface having a rearward slope of approximately 8° relative to horizontal and a forward portion defining a forward slope of approximately 5° relative to horizontal, and wherein the back defines a back support surface having a rearward slope of approximately 15° relative to vertical.    
     
     
         4 . A chair frame, comprising: 
 a pair of side frame sections, wherein each side frame section includes a base section defining a forward end and a rearward end, an upright extending upwardly and forwardly from the rearward end of the base section, wherein the upright terminates in an upper end portion which is angled so as to extend upwardly and rearwardly relative to the base section, and a seat support member extending forwardly from the upright at an elevation below the upper end portion of the upright and above the base section;    a cross-brace member extending between and interconnecting the side frame sections at a location between the seat support members; and    an upper connector member extending between and interconnecting the upper end portions of the uprights.    
     
     
         5 . The chair frame assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the upper connector member comprises a handle member defining an upper horizontal hand grip section and a pair of spaced downwardly extending sections, each of which is engaged with the upper end portion of one of the uprights.  
     
     
         6 . A glide arrangement for an article of furniture including a base arrangement defining a corner adapted for placement adjacent a supporting surface, comprising: 
 a glide mounting tab secured to and extending outwardly and downwardly from the corner of the base; and    a glide member including a slot adapted to receive the glide mounting tab, wherein the glide member defines an engagement surface spaced below the lower extent of the base for engaging the supporting surface and supporting the base thereabove.    
     
     
         7 . The glide arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the glide mounting tab includes an opening and wherein the glide member is adapted to be secured to the glide mounting tab by means of a threaded fastener extending through an opening formed in the glide member and into engagement with the opening in the glide mounting tab.  
     
     
         8 . A glide arrangement for an article of furniture including a base having an end including wall structure defining an internal passage, comprising: 
 a glide member including a lower engagement surface spaced below the lower extent of the base and adapted to engage the wall structure at the end of the base, wherein the glide member includes an opening and an annular area which engages the wall structure at the end of the base; and    an end cap having a cap portion and an engagement section extending therefrom, wherein the engagement section is adapted for passage through the opening in the glide member and into the passage defined by the end of the base, and wherein the cap portion is engageable with the glide member for enclosing the opening of the glide member.    
     
     
         9 . In a chair including a frame, a seat and a back, the improvement comprising: 
 a seat support arrangement comprising a pair of spaced apart seat support members forming a part of the frame;    a seat support plate interconnected with and extending between the seat support members;    a series of mounting bosses formed on the seat and extending downwardly from an underside defined by the seat; and    a connection arrangement for securing the mounting bosses to the seat support plate.    
     
     
         10 . A desk, comprising: 
 a pair of C-shaped desk frame members, each of which defines a base section, an upright section, and a desk top support section spaced above the base section;    one or more cross-brace members extending between and interconnecting the side frame sections; and    a desk top mounted to and extending between the desk top support members.    
     
     
         11 . The desk of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more cross-brace members comprise a lower cross-brace extending between and interconnecting the uprights of the side frame sections and one or more upper members extending between and interconnecting the desk top support sections of the side frame sections.  
     
     
         12 . The desk of  claim 11 , wherein the desk top is mounted to the one or more upper members.  
     
     
         13 . A desk assembly, comprising: 
 a frame assembly defining a base for engaging a supporting surface and a desk top support structure located above the base; and    a desk top mounted to the desk top support structure, wherein the desk top comprises a pair of side desk top sections and a center desk top section located between spaced, facing side edges defined by the side desk top sections.    
     
     
         14 . A student desk, comprising: 
 a seat section including a pair of spaced frame members, each of which defines a base and an upright and includes a seat support member extending forwardly from the upright, wherein a seat is mounted to the seat support members and a back is interconnected with the uprights;    a desk top support upright interconnected with at least one of the frame section bases and extending upwardly therefrom to an elevation above that of the seat, wherein the desk top support upright includes a desk top support structure; and    a desk top mounted to the desk top support arrangement and spaced above and forwardly of the seat.    
     
     
         15 . The student desk of  claim 14 , including a pair of desk top support uprights, wherein each desk top support upright extends upwardly from one of the bases at a location spaced forwardly of a forward edge defined by the seat and wherein the desk top support structure extends rearwardly from upper ends defined by the desk top support uprights.  
     
     
         16 . A student desk, comprising: 
 a frame arrangement including a base adapted for engagement with a supporting surface and a desk top support structure located above the base;    a desk top mounted to the desk top support structure; and    a box member, wherein a removable engagement arrangement is interposed between the box member and the desk top for removably mounting the box member to the desk top.    
     
     
         17 . The desk of  claim 16 , wherein the removable engagement arrangement comprises a pair of spaced rails interconnected with the desk top support structure of the frame arrangement, and wherein the box member includes a pair of flanges engageable with the rails for slidably engaging the rails to releasably engage the box member with the frame arrangement.  
     
     
         18 . An arrangement for supporting a computer mouse adjacent a computer keyboard, comprising: 
 a keyboard support structure including a transverse wall for supporting the keyboard; and    a mouse support platform, wherein the mouse support platform is movably mounted to the transverse wall for movement between an extended position and a retracted position.    
     
     
         19 . The mouse support arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein the support platform in its extended position extends outwardly of a side wall interconnected with the transverse wall of the keyboard support structure, and in its retracted position is located inwardly of the side wall.  
     
     
         20 . The mouse support arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein the support platform defines a pair of end areas, and is movable in either a first direction or a second direction to expose one or the other of the platform end areas outwardly of one or the other of a pair of side walls interconnected with the transverse wall.  
     
     
         21 . The mouse support arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein the support platform is movable relative to the transverse wall via a pair of spaced apart guide flanges interconnected with the transverse wall, and wherein the support platform includes a pair of spaced edges, each of which includes a notch for receiving one of the guide flanges for providing sliding movement of the mouse support platform relative to the transverse wall.  
     
     
         22 . A desk for use in combination with a desk support structure, comprising: 
 a desk top defining a peripheral edge and an upwardly facing surface located inwardly of the peripheral edge, wherein a recess is formed in the upwardly facing surface; and    a substantially flat insert adapted to be received within the recess, wherein the insert defines an upwardly facing surface.    
     
     
         23 . The article of furniture of  claim 2 , wherein the furniture component comprises a desk or table top.  
     
     
         24 . The article of furniture of  claim 23 , wherein the furniture component support comprises a desk or table top support member which extends substantially parallel to the base section.  
     
     
         25 . The article of furniture of  claim 24 , wherein the frame structure comprises a pair of bent tubular members wherein the base section, the upright and the desk or table top support member are formed integrally with each other.  
     
     
         26 . The article of furniture of  claim 2 , wherein the furniture component comprises a seat.  
     
     
         27 . The article of furniture of  claim 26 , wherein the frame structure further includes a back support section extending upwardly from the furniture component support member, and a back member mounted to the back support section.  
     
     
         28 . The article of furniture of  claim 27 , wherein the back support section includes a handle member to which the back member is mounted.  
     
     
         29 . The article of furniture of  claim 27 , further comprising a desk member support interconnected with the frame structure and a desk member mounted to the desk member support, wherein the desk member support is constructed and arranged to support the desk member at a location above and forwardly of the seat.  
     
     
         30 . The article of furniture of  claim 29 , wherein the desk member support comprises an upright member extending upwardly from the base section of one of the frame sections, wherein the upright member is located to a side of the seat member.  
     
     
         31 . The article of furniture of  claim 29 , wherein the desk member support comprises a pair of upright members, each of which extends upwardly from the base section of one of the frame sections, wherein each upright member is located forwardly of the seat member, and wherein each upright includes a rearwardly extending support member to which the desk member is mounted.