Modular chair

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a chair assembly kit comprises at least two end pieces, at least two middle pieces including a first middle piece as a chair back and a second middle piece as a chair seat, and at least four locking pieces. The middle pieces each include at least two tabs, one tab each on two opposing sides and each tab defining a hole. The end pieces each include at least two slots configured to receive the tabs on the middle pieces. The locking pieces each include at least two posts each having a detent mechanism, the posts being received in the holes in the middle pieces. The middle pieces selectively couple to the end pieces, and the locking pieces selectively lock the middle pieces to the end pieces via the detent mechanisms, to form a chair.

1 . A chair assembly, comprising: 
 at least two end pieces including a first end piece and a second end piece, each end piece including at least one slot, said end pieces being interchangeable; and    at least one middle piece, at least two opposing sides of said middle piece each including at least one tab defining a hole, wherein said tabs on said middle piece are configured to be received in said slots in said end pieces to selectively couple said middle piece to said end pieces to form a chair; and    at least two locking pieces to selectively lock said middle piece to said end pieces, each of said locking pieces including at least one post having a detent mechanism, wherein said selective locking includes said posts and detent mechanisms received through said holes and said detent mechanisms resiliently flexing and reverting upon insertion of said posts in said holes to prevent disengagement of said tabs from said slots.    
   
   
       2 . The chair assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said end pieces includes a plurality of slots to allow for positioning of said middle piece at selected height levels.  
   
   
       3 . The chair assembly of  claim 1 , comprising at least two of said middle pieces including a first middle piece and a second middle piece, wherein said first middle piece is positionable as a chair back and said second middle piece is positionable as a chair seat.  
   
   
       4 . The chair assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second middle pieces each include at least four tabs, each middle piece having two tabs on each of two opposing sides.  
   
   
       5 . The chair assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each of said end pieces includes at least four slots, said four slots receiving two of said tabs of each of said middle pieces.  
   
   
       6 . The chair assembly of  claim 4 , comprising at least four of said locking pieces, each of said locking pieces including two of said posts having a detent mechanism, wherein each of said locking pieces operates to lock two of said tabs on one of said opposing sides of one of said middle pieces in said corresponding slots in one of said end pieces substantially simultaneously.  
   
   
       7 . The chair assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said middle piece includes at least four tabs, with two tabs on each of said two opposing sides including a first larger tab and a second smaller tab, wherein each of said end pieces includes at least two slots including a first larger slot corresponding to said first larger tab and a second smaller slot corresponding to said second smaller tab.  
   
   
       8 . A chair assembly, comprising: 
 at least two interchangeable end pieces including a first end piece and a second end piece, each end piece including at least four slots; and    at least two middle pieces including a first middle piece positionable as a chair back and a second middle piece positionable as a chair seat, wherein each of said middle pieces includes at least four tabs each defining a hole, two of said tabs each on two opposing sides, wherein said middle pieces selectively couple to said end pieces, said selective coupling including two tabs on a first side of said first middle piece and two tabs on a first side of said second middle piece received through said slots of said first end piece, and two tabs on a second side of said first middle piece and two tabs on a second side of said second middle piece received through said slots of said second end piece;    at least four locking pieces each having at least two posts configured to be received through two of said holes to selectively lock said middle pieces to said end pieces, each of said posts including a detent mechanism, wherein said detent mechanisms are configured to resiliently flex during insertion of said posts in said holes and resiliently revert upon complete insertion to engage the tab and to prevent disengagement of said tabs from said slots.    
   
   
       9 . The chair assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each of said end pieces includes multiple slots to allow for different height positioning of said middle pieces.  
   
   
       10 . The chair assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said detent mechanisms each include an angled introductory surface to assist in said resilient flexing.  
   
   
       11 . The chair assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said locking pieces are configured such that said posts are substantially concealed after said selective locking.  
   
   
       12 . The chair assembly of  claim 8 , wherein when the chair assembly is arranged, said locking pieces are positioned substantially flush against said end pieces.  
   
   
       13 . The chair assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the substantially flush arrangement of said locking pieces to said end pieces is configured to eliminate gaps therebetween and prevent insertion of a child's finger between said locking pieces and said end pieces.  
   
   
       14 . The chair assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said middle pieces are interchangeable.  
   
   
       15 . A kit, consisting essentially of: 
 at least two end pieces of a chair assembly, each end piece including at least four slots;    at least two middle pieces of a chair assembly including a first middle piece positionable as a chair back and a second middle piece positionable as a chair seat, each of said middle pieces including at least one set of tabs, each tab defining a hole, wherein said set of tabs includes a first tab on a first opposing side of each of said middle pieces and a second tab on a second opposing side of each of said middle pieces; and    a plurality of locking pieces each including at least one post having a detent mechanism, wherein said plurality of locking pieces collectively includes a number of posts corresponding to the number of tabs on said middle pieces;    wherein said middle pieces selectively couple to said end pieces and said locking pieces to form a chair, said coupling including said first tabs on said first opposing sides of said first and second middle pieces received through said slots of said first end piece, and said second tabs on said second opposing sides of said first and second middle pieces received through said slots of said second end piece, said coupling including said posts received through said holes in said middle pieces such that said detent mechanisms engage said tabs to lock said tabs in said slots.    
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein each of said end pieces includes a plurality of slots to allow different height positioning of each of said middle pieces.  
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein said end pieces are interchangeable.  
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein said middle pieces include contoured surfaces.  
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein said detent mechanisms are configured to resiliently flex during insertion of said posts in said holes and resiliently revert to prevent disengagement of said tabs in said slots.  
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein when the chair assembly is arranged, said locking pieces are positioned substantially flush against said end pieces to prevent insertion of a child's finger between said locking pieces and said end pieces.