Universal Arm Assembly Connection For Furniture Members

Abstract

An arm attachment system for a furniture member assembly includes a furniture member having a support frame. An attachment member is connected to the support frame. First and second connection members are individually fixed at opposing ends of the attachment member each extending vertically upward from the attachment member and individually positioned outward of a right hand side or a left hand side of the furniture member. Identically configured first and second arm assemblies each include first and second brackets. Each bracket includes a connection member receiving cavity opening downwardly. Each cavity is adapted to receive one of the first or second connection members upwardly into the cavity such that the first and second arm assemblies can be interchangeably connected at either a right hand side or a left hand side of the furniture member.

1 . An arm attachment system for a furniture member assembly, comprising:
 a furniture member including:
 a support frame supporting an occupant seat portion; 
 an attachment member connected to the support frame; and 
 a connection member fixed to the attachment member and positioned outward of one of a right hand and a left hand side of the occupant seat portion and the support frame; and 
   an arm assembly including:
 an arm assembly frame; and 
 at least one bracket connected to the arm assembly frame having a connection member receiving cavity adapted to slidably receive the connection member when the arm assembly abuts the furniture member. 
   
   
   
       2 . The arm attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bracket includes:
 opposed first and second bracket legs creating first and second boundary walls defining the connection member receiving cavity;   first and second bracket wings integrally and individually connected to one of the first and second bracket legs, the first and second bracket wings oriented substantially transverse to the first and second bracket legs; and   a connecting portion integrally connecting the first bracket leg to the second bracket leg.   
   
   
       3 . The arm attachment system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a side frame member having a frame wall connected to the side frame member;   wherein the first and second bracket legs and the connecting portion are fixedly connected to an interior facing frame wall surface of the frame wall; and   wherein the first and second bracket wings are fixedly connected to an interior facing frame surface of the frame wall.   
   
   
       4 . The arm attachment system of  claim 3 , wherein the frame wall defines a third boundary wall of the connection member receiving cavity. 
   
   
       5 . The arm attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bracket includes opposed first and second bracket legs having the connection member receiving cavity positioned between the first and second bracket legs. 
   
   
       6 . The arm attachment system of  claim 5 , the first and second bracket legs are fixedly connected to an interior facing surface of the support frame. 
   
   
       7 . The arm attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bracket includes first and second U-shaped brackets each including opposed first and second bracket legs having the connection member receiving cavity positioned between the first and second bracket legs. 
   
   
       8 . The arm attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection member extends vertically upward from the attachment member. 
   
   
       9 . The arm attachment system of  claim 1 , including an assembled condition of the furniture assembly having the connection member received within the connection member receiving cavity by a downward directed motion of the arm assembly onto the connection member to releasably couple the arm assembly to the furniture member. 
   
   
       10 . The arm attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the arm assembly includes:
 an upholstery cover; and   an alignment seam axially aligned with the connection member receiving cavity to assist with visual alignment of the connection member receiving cavity with the connection member.   
   
   
       11 . An arm attachment system for a furniture member assembly, comprising:
 a furniture member including:
 a support frame; 
 an attachment member connected to the support frame; and 
 first and second connection members individually fixed at opposing ends of the attachment member each extending vertically upward from the attachment member and individually positioned outward of one of a right hand side and a left hand side of the furniture member; and 
   identically configured first and second arm assemblies each including first and second brackets each having a connection member receiving cavity opening downwardly and adapted to slidably receive one of the first or second connection members upwardly into the connection member receiving cavity such that the first and second arm assemblies can be interchangeably connected at either a right hand side or a left hand side of the furniture member.   
   
   
       12 . The arm attachment system of  claim 11 , wherein each arm assembly includes an arm assembly frame having first and second side frame members, the first and second brackets being individually connected to one of the first and second side frame members. 
   
   
       13 . The arm attachment system of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment member is a metal tube having first and second mounting apertures at opposed ends individually adapted to receive a connecting portion of one of the first and second connection members. 
   
   
       14 . The arm attachment system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second connection members are each a metal tube adapted to be fixedly connected by a weld to the attachment member. 
   
   
       15 . The arm attachment system of  claim 11 , further including a cap connected to a free end of each of the first and second connection members, the cap being made of a polymeric material. 
   
   
       16 . The arm attachment system of  claim 11 , wherein a first spacing of the first connection member from the right hand side of the furniture member equals a second spacing of the second connection member from the left hand side of the furniture member, and wherein the first and second arm assemblies each include first and second legs. 
   
   
       17 . The arm attachment system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second arm assemblies each include:
 an upholstery cover; and   opposed first and second alignment seams each axially aligned with the connection member receiving cavity of one of the first and second brackets to assist with visual alignment of the connection member receiving cavity with the connection member.   
   
   
       18 . The arm attachment system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first connection member is received in the connection member receiving cavity of the first bracket when the first arm assembly is positioned at the right hand side of the furniture member; and   the second connection member is received in the connection member receiving cavity of the second bracket when the second arm assembly is positioned at the left hand side of the furniture member.   
   
   
       19 . An arm attachment system for a furniture member assembly, comprising:
 at least first and second furniture members, each including:
 a support frame supporting an occupant seat portion; 
 an attachment member connected to the support frame; and 
 first and second connection members individually fixed at opposing ends of the attachment member and each extending vertically upward from the attachment member and individually positioned outward of one of a right hand side and a left hand side of the occupant seat portion and support frame; and 
   at least first, second, and third identically configured arm assemblies each including:
 an arm assembly frame having first and second side frame members; and 
 first and second brackets individually connected to one of the first and second side frame members and each having a connection member receiving cavity opening downwardly and adapted to slidably receive one of the first or second connection members upwardly into the connection member receiving cavity such that the at least first, second, and third arm assemblies can be interchangeably connected at either a right hand side or a left hand side of the first or second furniture members, having one of the at least first, second, and third arm assemblies connecting proximate ones of the at least first and second furniture members. 
   
   
   
       20 . The arm attachment system of  claim 19 , further including a modified arm assembly defining a different geometric shape than a shape of the at least first, second, and third arm assemblies. 
   
   
       21 . The arm attachment system of  claim 20 , wherein the different geometric shape comprises a wedge shape. 
   
   
       22 . The arm attachment system of  claim 19 , wherein a first spacing of the first connection member from the right hand side of the furniture member equals a second spacing of the second connection member from the left hand side of the furniture member. 
   
   
       23 . A method for connecting arms to a furniture member, the furniture member including a support frame, an attachment member connected to the support frame, and first and second connection members individually fixed at opposing ends of the attachment member, and the arms including identically configured first and second arm assemblies each having first and second brackets each including a connection member receiving cavity opening downwardly, the method comprising:
 orienting the first and second connection members vertically upward from the attachment member;   individually positioning the first and second connection members outward of one of a right hand side and a left hand side of the furniture member; and   positioning each of the first and second arms to enclose one of the first or second connection members upwardly into the connection member receiving cavity such that the first and second arm assemblies can be interchangeably connected at either a right hand side or a left hand side of the furniture member.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising enclosing the first connection member in the connection member receiving cavity of the first bracket when the first arm assembly is positioned at the right hand side of the furniture member. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising enclosing the second connection member in the connection member receiving cavity of the second bracket when the second arm assembly is positioned at the left hand side of the furniture member. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 covering each of a first and second arm with an upholstery cover; and   creating opposed first and second alignment seams in each of the first and second arms, the first and second alignment seams each axially aligned with the connection member receiving cavity of one of the first and second brackets to assist with visual alignment of the connection member receiving cavity with the connection member.