IP Library Granted Patent US 7,155,761
Granted Patent B2
US 7,155,761 · App. 10/382,098 · Granted Jan 2, 2007

Interchangeable furniture system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,155,761
App. No.
10/382,098
Granted
Jan 2, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interchangeable furniture system for providing an interchangeable furniture element having faces with different appearances. The desired face may be selected and the interchangeable furniture element selectively oriented to make that face visible.

Claims (25)

1. A reversible panel system for a furniture product, comprising:

a furniture product including a frame defining an opening therein, the frame defined by a lower end receiving member, an upper end receiving member, and a pair of side members, the lower and upper end receiving members comprising channels;

a reversible panel constructed and arranged to be releasably received by the frame so as to cover at least a portion of the opening;

wherein the lower end receiving member is constructed and arranged to receive a lower end of the panel and the upper end receiving member is constructed and arranged to receive an upper end of the panel;

wherein the upper end receiving member is sized to allow sufficient space such that sliding movement of the panel toward the upper end receiving member allows the panel to be removed from the frame by a user gripping the lower end of the panel; and

wherein the panel is received in the frame of the furniture product by upwardly moving the reversible panel into the channel of the upper end receiving member and subsequently downwardly moving the reversible panel into the channel of the lower end receiving member.

2. The reversible panel system of claim 1 , wherein the reversible panel includes a first panel face with a first decorative aspect and a second panel face with a second decorative aspect.

3. The reversible panel system of claim 2 , wherein when the reversible panel is received in the frame of the furniture product, one of said first and second panel faces substantially covers the opening.

4. The reversible panel system of claim 1 , wherein the panel may be received in the frame such that either the first or second panel faces covers the opening of the frame in a desired direction.

5. The reversible panel system of claim 1 , wherein the furniture product is a headboard for a bed.

6. The reversible panel system of claim 1 , wherein the upper end receiving member is a channel defined by an angle iron.

7. An interchangeable furniture system for a furniture product, comprising:

a furniture product including a frame defining an opening, the frame defined by a lower end receiving member, an upper end receiving member, and a pair of side members;

an interchangeable furniture element having a lower end, an upper end, and a first surface, the first surface being sized so that when the interchangeable furniture element is in a frame-engaging position, the first surface extends across the opening;

wherein the lower end receiving member comprises a channel for selectively receiving the lower end of the interchangeable furniture element in the frame engaging position,

wherein the upper end receiving member comprises a channel for selectively receiving the upper end of the interchangeable furniture element in the frame engaging position; the upper end receiving member being sized to accommodate sufficient upward movement of the interchangeable furniture element to permit the lower end to be positioned over the channel of the lower end receiving member and thereby removed from the lower end receiving member;

wherein the panel is received in the frame of the furniture product by upwardly moving the reversible panel into the channel of the upper end receiving member and subsequently downwardly moving the reversible panel into the channel of the lower end receiving member; and

whereby the interchangeable furniture element can be selectively placed in the frame-engaging position and removed therefrom.

8. The interchangeable furniture system of claim 7 , wherein the interchangeable furniture element further includes a second surface; the interchangeable furniture element being selectively positionable in a first frame-engaging position so that the first surface extends across the opening, or a second frame-engaging position so that the second surface extends across the opening.

9. The interchangeable furniture system of claim 7 , wherein the furniture product is a headboard for a bed.

10. The interchangeable furniture system of claim 7 , wherein the upper end receiving member is a channel defined by an angle iron.

11. A method for changing the decorative appearance of a furniture panel including a reversible decorative panel having at least two decorative aspects, the reversible decorative panel being removably supported within a frame in the furniture panel such that at least one of the at least two decorative aspects is visible in a desired direction, comprising:

removing the decorative panel at least partially from the frame, wherein the frame is defined by a lower end receiving member, an upper end receiving member, and a pair of side members, the lower and upper end receiving members comprising channels, the upper end receiving member being sized to accommodate sufficient upward movement of the interchangeable furniture element to permit the lower end to be positioned over the channel of the lower end receiving member and thereby removed from the lower end receiving member,

re-orienting the panel with respect to the frame such that a different decorative aspect of the decorative panel is visible from the desired direction; and

replacing the panel in the frame of the furniture product by upwardly moving the reversible panel into the channel of the upper end receiving member and subsequently downwardly moving the reversible panel into the channel of the lower end receiving member.

Assignments (13)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2018
From: HHG GLOBAL DESIGNS LLC
To: UFI IP LLC
Reel/Frame 044570/0590 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO, NATIONAL CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: HERITAGE HOME GROUP LLC; HHG GLOBAL DESIGNS LLC
Reel/Frame 044761/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2017
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION; NEXBANK SSB
To: FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BROYHILL FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; HDM FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; LANE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; MAITLAND-SMITH FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; THOMASVILLE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; ACTION TRANSPORT, INC.; BROYHILL HOME FURNISHINGS, INC.; BROYHILL RETAIL, INC.; FURNITURE BRANDS RESOURCE COMPANY, INC.; FURNITURE BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC.; FURNITURE BRANDS OPERATIONS, INC.; HDM RETAIL, INC.; LANE HOME FURNISHINGS RETAIL, INC.; THOMASVILLE HOME FURNISHINGS, INC.; THOMASVILLE RETAIL, INC.
Reel/Frame 044771/0428 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2017
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: HERITAGE HOME GROUP LLC; HHG GLOBAL DESIGNS LLC
Reel/Frame 044772/0524 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2017
From: KPS SPECIAL SITUATION FUNDS III (A), L.P.
To: HERITAGE HOME GROUP LLC; HHG GLOBAL DESIGNS LLC
Reel/Frame 044772/0620 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER D481339 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 029124 FRAME 0923. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Jul 24, 2015
From: FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; HDM FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LANE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC., A MISSISSIPPI CORPORATION; MAITLAND-SMITH FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; THOMASVILLE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ACTION TRANSPORT, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; BROYHILL HOME FURNISHING, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; BROYHILL RETAIL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FURNITURE BRANDS RESOURCE COMPANY, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FURNITURE BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FURNITURE BRANDS OPERATIONS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; HDM RETAIL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LANE HOME FURNISHING RETAIL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; THOMASVILLE HOME FURNISHINGS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; THOMASVILLE RETAIL, INC., A VIRGINIA CORPORATION
To: PATHLIGHT CAPITAL LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 036188/0738 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 20, 2013
From: HERITAGE HOME GROUP LLC; HHG GLOBAL DESIGNS LLC
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 031866/0850 →
PATENT FIRST PRIORITY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2013
From: HHG GLOBAL DESIGNS, LLC
To: KPS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND III (A), L.P.
Reel/Frame 031847/0384 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2013
From: LANE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: HHG GLOBAL DESIGNS LLC
Reel/Frame 031754/0236 →
ASSIGNMENT OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 22, 2013
From: PATHLIGHT CAPITAL LLC
To: NEXBANK SSB
Reel/Frame 030466/0119 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 26, 2012
From: FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BROYHILL FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; HDM FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; LANE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; MAITLAND-SMITH FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; THOMASVILLE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.; ACTION TRANSPORT, INC.; BROYHILL HOME FURNISHINGS, INC.; BROYHILL RETAIL, INC.; FURNITURE BRANDS RESOURCE COMPANY, INC.; FURNITURE BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC.; FURNITURE BRANDS OPERATIONS, INC.; HDM RETAIL, INC.; LANE HOME FURNISHINGS RETAIL, INC.; THOMASVILLE HOME FURNISHINGS, INC.; THOMASVILLE RETAIL, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 029032/0390 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 26, 2012
From: FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; HDM FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LANE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC., A MISSISSIPPI CORPORATION; MAITLAND-SMITH FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; THOMASVILLE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ACTION TRANSPORT, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; BROYHILL HOME FURNISHING, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; BROYHILL RETAIL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FURNITURE BRANDS RESOURCE COMPANY, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FURNITURE BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; FURNITURE BRANDS OPERATIONS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; HDM RETAIL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LANE HOME FURNISHING RETAIL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; THOMASVILLE HOME FURNISHINGS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; THOMASVILLE RETAIL, INC., A VIRGINIA CORPORATION
To: PATHLIGHT CAPITAL LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 029124/0923 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2003
From: DEROSE, JAMES
To: LANE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 014200/0199 →