Modular furniture and method for making the same

Abstract

A kit of making a modular furniture assembly, wherein the kit includes at least two base units, a plurality of back portions, each respective back portion having at least one leg extending therefrom and connectable to a respective base unit, a plurality of side portions, each respective side portion having at least one leg extending therefrom and connectable to a respective base unit, and a plurality of cushions for covering respective base units. Each base unit includes a rectangular frame portion defining a top surface, a plurality of side members, a bottom side, and a storage volume, a plurality of spaced apertures, upholstery covering the top surface and side members, and at least one flexible flap operationally connected to the bottom side. The rectangular frame portion further includes a closed cell polyurethane matrix portion exhibiting at least some properties associated with wood, a particulate portion homogeneously distributed and suspended in the matrix portion. The particulate portion is selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, hemp fiber, textile fibers, cotton fibers, textile strips, poly(azanediyl-1,4-phenyleneazanediylterephthaloyl) fiber, graphene, graphite, carbon nanotubes, alumina, silica, Portland cement, aluminum powder, steel powder, iron powder, iron filings, copper powder, tungsten carbide, boron nitride, diamond, amorphous carbon, and combinations thereof. The composite material has a tensile strength between 5.5 MPa and 70 MPa and a density between 0.15 g/cc and 1.2 g/cc.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A modular furniture assembly comprising:
 at least two base units, wherein each base unit further comprises:
 a rectangular frame portion defining a top surface, a plurality of side members, 
 a bottom side, and a storage volume; 
 a plurality of spaced apertures; 
 upholstery covering the top surface and side members; and 
 at least one flexible flap operationally connected to the bottom side; 
   a plurality of back portions, each respective back portion having at least one leg extending therefrom and connectable to a respective base unit;   a plurality of side portions, each respective side portion having at least one leg extending therefrom and connectable to a respective base unit; and   a plurality of cushions for covering respective base units;   wherein the rectangular frame portion is made of materials selected from the group comprising wood, metal, polymer composite material, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 1  wherein the rectangular frame portion further comprises:
 a closed cell polyurethane matrix portion exhibiting at least some properties associated with wood; and 
 a particulate portion homogeneously distributed and suspended in the matrix portion; 
 wherein the particulate portion is selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, hemp fiber, textile fibers, cotton fibers, textile strips, poly(azanediyl-1,4-phenyleneazanediylterephthaloyl) fiber, graphene, graphite, carbon nanotubes, alumina, silica, Portland cement, aluminum powder, steel powder, iron powder, iron filings, copper powder, tungsten carbide, boron nitride, diamond, amorphous carbon, and combinations thereof; 
 wherein the composite material has a tensile strength between 5.5 MPa and 70 MPa; and 
 wherein the composite material has a density between 0.15 g/cc and 1.2 g/cc. 
 
     
     
         3 . A furniture kit, comprising:
 at least two base units, wherein each base unit further comprises:
 a rectangular frame portion defining a top surface, a plurality of side members, a bottom side, and a storage volume; 
 a plurality of spaced apertures; 
 upholstery covering the top surface and side members; and 
 at least one flexible flap operationally connected to the bottom side; 
   a plurality of back portions, each respective back portion having at least one leg extending therefrom and connectable to a respective base unit;   a plurality of side portions, each respective side portion having at least one leg extending therefrom and connectable to a respective base unit; and   a plurality of cushions for covering respective base units.   
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 3 , wherein the rectangular frame portion further comprises:
 a closed cell polyurethane matrix portion exhibiting at least some properties associated with wood; and   a particulate portion homogeneously distributed and suspended in the matrix portion;   wherein the particulate portion is selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, hemp fiber, textile fibers, cotton fibers, textile strips, poly(azanediyl-1,4-phenyleneazanediylterephthaloyl) fiber, graphene, graphite, carbon nanotubes, alumina, silica, Portland cement, aluminum powder, steel powder, iron powder, iron filings, copper powder, tungsten carbide, boron nitride, diamond, amorphous carbon, and combinations thereof;   wherein the composite material has a tensile strength between 5.5 MPa and 70 Mpa; and   wherein the composite material has a density between 0.15 g/cc and 1.2 g/cc.   
     
     
         5 . A modular furniture system, comprising in combination:
 a plurality of identical base units, wherein each base unit further comprises:
 a rectangular frame portion defining a top side, a bottom side, an endless side portion disposed between the top side and the bottom side, and a storage volume disposed therebetween; 
 a plurality of spaced apertures positioned on the top side; 
 upholstery covering the top side and the endless side portion; and 
 at least one flexible flap operationally connected to the bottom side; 
   a plurality of back portions, each respective back portion having a pair of leg extending therefrom for engaging respective spaced apertures;   a plurality of side portions, each respective side portion having a pair of leg extending therefrom for engaging respective spaced apertures; and   a plurality of cushions for covering respective base units;   wherein the rectangular frame portion is made of materials selected from the group comprising wood, metal, polymer composite material, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         6 . The modular furniture system of  claim 5  wherein the rectangular frame portion further comprises:
 a closed cell polyurethane matrix portion exhibiting at least some properties associated with wood; and 
 a particulate portion homogeneously distributed and suspended in the matrix portion; 
 wherein the particulate portion is selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, hemp fiber, textile fibers, cotton fibers, textile strips, poly(azanediyl-1,4-phenyleneazanediylterephthaloyl) fiber, graphene, graphite, carbon nanotubes, alumina, silica, Portland cement, aluminum powder, steel powder, iron powder, iron filings, copper powder, tungsten carbide, boron nitride, diamond, amorphous carbon, and combinations thereof; 
 wherein the composite material has a tensile strength between 5.5 MPa and 70 MPa; and 
 wherein the composite material has a density between 0.15 g/cc and 1.2 g/cc.