Modular furniture

Abstract

A modular furniture assembly unit includes a box having a length, a width, and a depth, the box having first and second major sides in opposition to each other that define the length and the width of the box, and having third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sides therebetween, the first side having a first connector attached thereto at a distance from the third side of the box substantially equivalent to the depth of the box, the second side of the box having a plurality of second connectors attached near at least three of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sides of the box, wherein the first connector is configured to attach to a second connector of an identical box to couple the box to the identical box to form a modular furniture piece. In a further aspect, the first connector is a rotatable clamp and the second connectors are hooks to which the rotatable clamp is connectable.

1 . A modular furniture assembly unit comprising a box including a length, a width, and a depth, the box having first and second major sides in opposition to each other that define the length and width of the box, and having third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sides therebetween, the third and fourth sides being opposite each other and the fifth and sixth sides being opposite each other, the first side having a first connector attached thereto at a distance from the third side of the box substantially equivalent to the depth of the box, the second side of the box having a plurality of second connectors attached near at least three of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sides of the box, wherein the first connector is configured to attach to a second connector of an identical box to couple the box to the identical box to form a modular furniture piece. 
     
     
         2 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a rotatable clamp and the second connectors comprise hooks to which the rotatable clamp is connectable, the clamp recessed within the first side of the box so as to be flush with the top of the box. 
     
     
         3 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the box is formed from a substantially-flat, flexible webbing and a plurality of flexible cross members attached between the third and fourth sides and between the fifth and six sides, the flexible cross members located next to the flexible webbing to provide support to the flexible webbing. 
     
     
         4 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first side includes a plurality of first apertures. 
     
     
         5 . A combination of the modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 4 , the modular furniture assembly unit further comprising a plurality of aperture covers insertable within the plurality of first apertures of the first side of the box to aesthetically cover the first apertures, and an accessory insertable into one of the first apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a pair of base couplers having a plurality of second apertures; and   a plurality of pegs each having attached to one end thereof a threaded bolt portion, wherein the plurality of second apertures are threaded for receipt of the threaded bolt portions, and the first apertures are sized to receive the pegs.   
     
     
         7 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 4 , wherein the third side also includes two or more first apertures, the modular furniture assembly unit further comprising:
 a pair of base couplers and at least two pegs each having attached to one end thereof a threaded bolt portion, each base coupler having a plurality of threaded holes for threaded insertion of a threaded bolt portion, the pegs sized for insertion into any of the plurality of first apertures in the first and third sides of the box.   
     
     
         8 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a liner sized to cover at least five sides of the box, the liner including a plurality of apertures that correspond to the plurality of first apertures and the first connector of the box and a plurality of slits to correspond to the plurality of second connectors.   
     
     
         9 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 7 , wherein the box is substantially hollow, defining between the first and second sides thereof a storage space, the modular furniture assembly unit further comprising:
 a seat cushion;   a seat cushion cover to cover the seat cushion;   a pillow; and   a pillow cover to cover the pillow, wherein the storage space is large enough to simultaneously store a pair of base couplers, the at least two pegs, the seat cushion, the seat cushion cover, the pillow, and the pillow cover.   
     
     
         10 . A piece of modular furniture comprising a combination of first and second modular furniture assembly units of  claim 1 , wherein the box of the first unit functions as a base and the box of the second unit functions as one selected from the group consisting of a back and a side of the piece of modular furniture. 
     
     
         11 . A piece of modular furniture comprising a combination of first and second modular furniture assembly units of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of the first apertures in the first side of the box in each unit comprises four apertures; wherein the third side of each box is along the length of the box, wherein the box of the first unit functions as a base and the box of the second unit functions as an upright piece with its third side adjacent to a floor, the pair of base couplers from each unit each receiving at least one peg inserted into one of the four first apertures of the first side of the box of the first unit and into one of the two or more first apertures of the third side of the second box. 
     
     
         12 . The piece of modular furniture of  claim 11 , wherein one of the base couplers is positioned so that at least one threaded hole is accessible at the side of the piece of modular furniture for receipt of an accessory that threads into the at least one threaded hole. 
     
     
         13 . A chair formed from the piece of modular furniture of  claim 11 , wherein a first pair of base couplers each receive a peg inserted into first apertures near the front corners of the box, a second pair of base couplers each receive two pegs, one inserted into a first aperture near a rear corner of the box and the other inserted into a first aperture in the third side of the second box. 
     
     
         14 . A corner chair comprising a combination of the piece of modular furniture of  claim 11  and a third identical modular furniture assembly unit having a third box positioned as a side of the corner chair where the second box functions as a back thereof, wherein:
 a first base coupler receives a peg inserted into a first aperture in a first front corner of the first box, 
 a second base coupler receives two pegs, one inserted into a first aperture in a second front corner of the first box and the other inserted into a first aperture in the third side of a third box, 
 a third base coupler receives two pegs, one inserted into a first aperture in a first rear corner of the first box and the other inserted into a first aperture in the third side of the second box, and 
 a fourth base coupler receives three pegs, a first inserted into a first aperture in a second rear corner of the first box, a second inserted into a first aperture in the third side of the second box, and a third inserted into a first aperture in the third side of the third box. 
 
     
     
         15 . A modular furniture assembly unit comprising:
 a substantially-hollow box including a length, a width, and a depth, the box having first and second major sides in opposition to each other and third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sides therebetween, the first and second sides defining the length and width of the box, the first side having a first connector attached thereto, the second side of the box having a plurality of second connectors attached near at least three of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sides of the box, wherein the first connector is configured to attach to a second connector of an identical box to couple the box to the identical box to form a modular furniture piece, the third side including a door that allows access to storage space defined between the first and second sides within the box.   
     
     
         16 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a third connector attached to the door and a fourth connector attached on the third side of the box, wherein the third connector is configured to attach to the fourth connector to secure the door in a closed position.   
     
     
         17 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 16 , wherein the first and third connectors comprise a rotatable clamp and the second and fourth connectors comprise hooks to which the rotatable clamps are respectively connectable, wherein the first and third clamps are recessed, respectively, within the first side and the door. 
     
     
         18 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 15 , wherein the first side includes a plurality of apertures, wherein the third side of the box is along the length of the box and the door includes a pair of apertures substantially the same size as the plurality of apertures in the first side of the box. 
     
     
         19 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a liner sized to cover all but the third side of the box, the liner including apertures to correspond to the plurality of apertures and the first connector of the first side and slits corresponding to the plurality of second connectors on the second side of the box, wherein the liner is attached to outside edges of the third side of the box.   
     
     
         20 . The modular furniture assembly unit of  claim 18 , the modular furniture assembly unit further comprising:
 a pair of base couplers and at least two pegs, each base coupler having a plurality of threaded holes for receipt of the pegs, wherein the pegs include a threaded bolt portion for threaded insertion into the threaded holes, the pegs sized for insertion into any of the plurality of apertures in the first side and the door;   a seat cushion;   a seat cushion cover to cover the seat cushion;   a pillow; and   a pillow cover to cover the pillow, wherein the pair of base couplers, the at least two pegs, the seat cushion, the seat cushion cover, the pillow, and the pillow cover are insertable within the storage space.   
     
     
         21 . A modular furniture assembly comprising:
 a box including a length, a width, and a depth, the box having first and second major sides in opposition to each other and third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sides therebetween, the first and second sides defining the length and width of the box, the first side having a plurality of apertures and a first connector attached thereto, the second side of the box having a plurality of second connectors attached near at least three of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sides of the box, wherein the first connector is configured to attach to a second connector of an identical box to couple the box to the identical box to form a modular furniture piece, wherein the third side is along the length of the box and also includes a plurality of apertures; and   a pair of base couplers and at least two pegs, each base coupler having a plurality of threaded holes for receipt of the pegs, wherein the pegs include a threaded bolt portion for insertion within the threaded holes, the pegs sized for insertion into any of the plurality of apertures in the first and third sides of the box.   
     
     
         22 . A piece of modular furniture comprising a combination of first and second modular furniture assembly units of  claim 21 , wherein the box of the first unit functions as a base and the box of the second unit functions as an upright piece with its third side adjacent to a floor, the pair of base couplers from each unit each receiving at least one peg inserted into one of the at least four apertures in the first side of the box of the first unit and into two apertures in the third side of the box of the second unit. 
     
     
         23 . A combination of the piece of modular furniture of  claim 22  and a backrest attachable to the fourth side, opposite the third side, of the second box and oriented to provide support to a person seated on the box. 
     
     
         24 . A piece of modular furniture comprising a combination of the piece of modular furniture of  claim 22  and at least a third identical modular furniture assembly unit including a third box to function as an additional base piece, wherein the third box is secured to the box of the first unit with a pair of base couplers, each receiving at least two pegs for insertion into corresponding apertures in the first sides of the box and the third box. 
     
     
         25 . An arm chair comprising a combination of the piece of modular furniture of  claim 22  and third and fourth identical modular furniture assembly units respectively including third and fourth boxes positioned as sides of the arm chair where the second box functions as a back thereof, wherein base couplers of the first through fourth modular furniture assembly units receive pegs for insertion into the plurality of holes in the first side of the box and in the third sides of the second, third, and fourth boxes. 
     
     
         26 . A piece of modular furniture comprising a combination of the piece of modular furniture of  claim 22  and at least one more additional, identical modular furniture assembly units, the box from each additional furniture unit functioning as one selected from the group consisting of a back, a base, and a side to form one selected from the group consisting of a chaise lounge chair, a corner chair, an arm chair, a love seat, a couch, a bed, and a sectional couch, wherein for each additional box, the pair of base couplers receive the at least two pegs of each additional modular furniture assembly unit inserted into the apertures in the first side thereof when functioning as a base and into the apertures of the third side thereof when functioning as one selected from the group consisting of a side and a back.