Furniture unit

Abstract

A furniture unit ( 101 ) which can be unfolded from a flat pack configuration to a deployed configuration. Two rigid body panels ( 102, 103 ) are connected by hinges to three foldable spacer panels ( 104, 105, 106 ). In the deployed configuration, the three spacer panels hold the body panels apart to define a space between the body panels.

1 . A furniture unit comprising;
 first and second rigid body panels and a spacer which is moveably mounted to both of the body panels, such that the unit is moveable between;   a flat pack configuration in which the spacer is disposed flat between the body panels, and   a deployed configuration in which the body panels are separated by the spacer to define a space between the body panels.   
     
     
         2 . A furniture unit according to  claim 1  wherein the spacer comprises first and second portions which have generally equal lengths and which are pivotally connected to each other, wherein the first portion is moveably mounted to the first body panel and the second portion is moveably mounted to the second body panel, such that in the flat pack configuration, the two portions of the spacer adopt a side by side orientation between the body panels. 
     
     
         3 . A furniture unit according to  claim 2  wherein the two spacer portions are connected to each other by a hinge, which is optionally a one way hinge. 
     
     
         4 . A furniture unit according  claim 1  wherein the spacer is pivotally mounted to one, or both, of the body panels. 
     
     
         5 . A furniture unit according to  claim 1  further comprising a brace which is removably engageable with a body panel or with the spacer to retain the unit in its deployed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A furniture unit according to  claim 5  wherein the brace is a rigid panel. 
     
     
         7 . A furniture unit according to  claim 6  wherein each of the body panels are provided with a track, with which edges of the rigid brace panel may be slidably engaged. 
     
     
         8 . A furniture unit according to  claim 5  wherein the unit comprises more than one brace. 
     
     
         9 . A furniture unit according to  claim 1  wherein the unit comprises two or more spacers. 
     
     
         10 . A furniture unit according to  claim 9  wherein, when the unit is moved from its deployed configuration to its flat pack configuration, two spacers fold towards each other. 
     
     
         11 . A furniture unit according to  claim 9  wherein, when the unit is moved from its deployed configuration to its flat pack configuration, two spacers fold in in orthogonal directions. 
     
     
         12 . A furniture unit according to  claim 9  wherein, in the deployed configuration, two spacers are panels which are disposed orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
         13 . A furniture unit according to  claim 1  wherein, in the deployed configuration, the spacer forms a top or bottom panel of the furniture unit. 
     
     
         14 . A furniture unit according to  claim 1  wherein, in the deployed configuration, the spacer forms a shelf within the furniture unit. 
     
     
         15 . A furniture unit according to  claim 1  wherein the spacer is connected to the body panels by hinges, which are optionally one way hinges. 
     
     
         16 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A furniture unit according to  claim 1  wherein, in the flat pack configuration, corresponding edges of the first and second body panels are generally in registry with each another. 
     
     
         21 . A furniture unit according to  claim 1  wherein the furniture unit is a wardrobe, a bedside unit, a drawer, or a frame for a chest of drawers. 
     
     
         22 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A furniture unit comprising;
 first and second rigid body panels and a spacer which is moveably mounted to both of the body panels, such that the unit is moveable between;   a flat pack configuration in which the spacer is disposed flat between the body panels, and   a deployed configuration in which the body panels are separated by the spacer to define a space between the body panels, wherein the spacer comprises first and second portions which have generally equal lengths and which are pivotally connected to each other, wherein the first portion is pivotally mounted to the first body panel and the second portion is pivotally mounted to the second body panel, such that in the flat pack configuration, the two portions of the spacer adopt a side by side orientation between the body panels.   
     
     
         27 . A furniture unit comprising;
 first and second rigid body panels and a spacer which is moveably mounted to both of the rigid body panels, such that the unit is moveable between;   a flat pack configuration in which the spacer is disposed flat between the body panels, and   a deployed configuration in which the body panels are separated by the spacer to define a space between the body panels,   wherein the unit further comprises a rigid brace panel which is removably engageable with the first and second rigid body panels to retain the unit in its deployed configuration, and   wherein each of the first and second rigid body panels are provided with a track, with which edges of the rigid brace panel may be slidably engaged.