# US 5,346,285 A · Structurally reinforced furniture frames > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,346,285 A - Document ID: US5346285A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/140,883 - Filed: 1993-10-25 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1992-04-24 - Inventors: David T. West, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346285A ## CPC - A47C 23/26: Frames therefor; Connecting the springs to the frame - A47C 7/28: with tensioned springs, e.g. of flat type - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS ## Abstract Furniture frames for sofas, chairs and related seating having wooden frames structurally reinforced by metallic frames which are anchored at each of the stress bearing components of the wooden frames and which metallic frames also permanently anchor the spring seat cushion suspension decking of the furniture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of furniture utilized for seating comprising, a rectilinear horizontally oriented wood frame deck having front, rear and opposite side components, vertically extending wooden arm rest support posts connected to said frame deck adjacent each side component thereof, at least one vertically extending wooden back rest support post fastened to said rear component of said frame deck, each of said arm rest support posts and said at least one back rest support post having inner and outer surfaces, a rectilinear horizontally oriented metallic reinforcing frame having front, rear and opposite side portions, and fastening means for securing said reinforcing frame directly to said inner surfaces of each of said arm rest support posts and said at least one back rest support post adjacent said wooden frame deck so as to reinforce said support posts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of furniture of claim 1 including at least two wooden arm rest support posts connected to said frame deck adjacent each of said side components thereof and adjacent said front and rear components. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article of furniture of claim 1 in which said reinforcing frame includes four corners, mounting plates secured to said reinforcing frame adjacent each of said corners, each of said mounting plates having at least two vertically spaced openings therein, and one of said fastening means extending through each of said openings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The article of furniture of claim 3 including at least one mounting plate secured to said rear portion of said reinforcing frame and spaced from said corners. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of furniture of claim 1, including a plurality of longitudinally extending spring means, and means for mounting said spring means to said front and rear portions of said metallic reinforcing frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The article of furniture of claim 2, including a plurality of elongated hook elements being secured to said front and rear portions of said metallic reinforcing frame and extending upwardly therefrom, a non-metallic insert being disposed within each of said hook elements, each of said longitudinally extending spring means having outer end portions, and said outer end portions being seated within said non-metallic inserts such that said spring means are mounted to said hook elements in a non-metallic contact relationship with respect to one another. ### Claim 7 An article of furniture comprising a frame deck having front, rear and side components; an arm rest support post connected to said frame deck adjacent each said side component; a back rest support post connected to said rear component of said frame deck, said arm rest support posts and said back rest support post having inner and outer surfaces; a metallic reinforcing frame having front, rear and side portions; fastening means for securing said reinforcing frame to said inner surfaces of said arm rest support posts and said back rest support post adjacent to said frame deck so as to reinforce said support posts; a plurality of elongated hook elements secured to opposite portions of said reinforcing frame and extending outwardly therefrom; a non-metallic insert disposed within each of said hook elements; and a plurality of resilient metallic elements extending between said opposite portions of said reinforcing frame and having end portions seated within said non-metallic inserts. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The article of furniture of claim 7, wherein said back rest support post is fastened directly to said rear component of said frame deck, and said reinforcing frame is fastened directly to said inner surfaces of said arm rest support posts and said back rest support post. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The article of furniture of claim 7, comprising two arm rest support posts connected to said frame deck adjacent to each of said side components and said front and rear components. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The article of furniture of claim 7, wherein said metallic resilient elements are springs. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The article of furniture of claim 7, wherein said reinforcing frame includes four corners; mounting plates secured to said reinforcing frame adjacent each of said corners, each of said mounting plates defining vertically spaced openings therein, and one of said fastening means extends through each of said openings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The article of furniture of claim 11, comprising a mounting plate secured to said rear portion of said reinforcing frame and spaced from said corners.