Fastenerless and adhesiveless furniture pieces

Abstract

Fastenerless and adhesiveless furniture pieces, which in various embodiments may include chairs, steps, adirondack chairs, footrests, and other furniture pieces, may each include a first panel, a second panel, and a plurality of support panels. The first and second panels may each one or more outwardly extending engagement members. The engagement members may each include a tapered void that mates with one of the support panels. The first and second panels may include curved edges that complement one another. The first panel, the second panel, and the plurality of support panels may be securely coupled to form the furniture piece, without relying on any fasteners or adhesives, when the complementary curved edges of the first and second panels are forced into abutting engagement with one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fastenerless and adhesiveless furniture piece, comprising:
 a first panel, the first panel including a first edge, a second edge, a top surface disposed between the first edge and the second edge, a bottom surface disposed opposite the top surface between the first edge and the second edge, side edges each disposed between the first edge and the second edge, and an engagement member extending outwardly from each side edge, wherein the second edge includes a curve and each engagement member includes a tapered void;   a second panel, the second panel including a first edge, a second edge, a top surface disposed between the first edge and the second edge, a bottom surface disposed opposite the top surface between the first edge and the second edge, side edges each disposed between the first edge and the second edge, and an engagement member extending outwardly from each side edge, wherein the first edge includes a curve and each engagement member includes a tapered void; and   a plurality of support panels, each support panel including a first slot that mates with an engagement member of the first panel and a second slot that mates with an engagement member of the second panel, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the plurality of support panels are securely coupled to form the furniture piece when the second edge of the first panel is forced into abutting engagement with the first edge of the second panel.   
     
     
         2 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the support panel is less than an outer width of the tapered void of each engagement member and greater than an inner width of the tapered void of each engagement member. 
     
     
         3 . The furniture piece of  claim 2 , wherein the forcing the second edge of the first panel into abutting engagement with the first edge of the second panel includes forcing each engagement member of the first panel into abutting engagement with a corresponding first slot of each support panel. 
     
     
         4 . The furniture piece of  claim 3 , wherein forcing each engagement member of the first panel into abutting engagement with a corresponding first slot of each support panel includes forcing the support panel into the tapered void of the engagement member. 
     
     
         5 . The furniture piece of  claim 4 , wherein forcing the support panel into the tapered void of the engagement member includes forcing the support panel through the outer width of the tapered void and into the inner width of the tapered void. 
     
     
         6 . The furniture piece of  claim 2 , wherein the forcing the second edge of the first panel into abutting engagement with the first edge of the second panel includes forcing each engagement member of the second panel into abutting engagement with a corresponding second slot of each support panel. 
     
     
         7 . The furniture piece of  claim 6 , wherein forcing each engagement member of the second panel into abutting engagement with a corresponding second slot of each support panel includes forcing the support panel into the tapered void of the engagement member. 
     
     
         8 . The furniture piece of  claim 7 , wherein forcing the support panel into the tapered void of the engagement member includes forcing the support panel through the outer width of the tapered void and into the inner width of the tapered void. 
     
     
         9 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the curve of the second edge of the first panel is convex with respect to a center of the top surface of the first panel. 
     
     
         10 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the curve of the first edge of the second panel is concave with respect to a center of the top surface of the second panel. 
     
     
         11 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , securely coupling the first panel, the second panel, and the plurality of support panels to form the furniture piece includes two or fewer steps. 
     
     
         12 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the furniture piece includes four or fewer components. 
     
     
         13 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support panels are identical. 
     
     
         14 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein a uniform thickness of the first panel, the second panel, and the plurality of support panels are the same. 
     
     
         15 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the furniture piece is fastenerless. 
     
     
         16 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the furniture piece is adhesiveless. 
     
     
         17 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the furniture piece is a chair. 
     
     
         18 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the furniture piece is a step. 
     
     
         19 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the furniture piece is an adirondack chair. 
     
     
         20 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the furniture piece is a footrest.