US 6,615,999 B1Granted

System for modular construction

AssigneeSmart Furniture, LLC

InventorStephen A. Culp

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Abstract

A system for construction including a first subassembly, a second subassembly, and a connecting member. The first subassembly comprises a plurality of first structural members, each of which includes a plurality of first member sides. At least one of the first member sides includes a first member slot having a first member slot axis. Further, at least one of the first structural members of the first subassembly has at least two first member slots. Each of the first structural members of the first subassembly is detachably connected slot-to-slot to at least one other first structural member to produce the first subassembly. The second subassembly comprises a plurality of second structural members, each of which includes a plurality of second member sides. At least one of the second member sides includes a second member slot having a second member slot axis. Further, at least one of the second structural members of the second subassembly has at least two second member slots. Each of the second structural members of the second subassembly is detachably connected slot-to-slot to at least one other second structural member to produce the second subassembly. Finally, a connecting member having at least two slots is detachably connected slot-to-slot to at least one of the first structural members and at least one of the second structural members to produce the assembled unit.

A system for modular construction comprising:

(a) a first subassembly which comprises a plurality of first structural members, each of said first structural members includes:
(i) a pair of generally parallel first structural member lengthwise sides;
(ii) a pair of generally parallel first structural member widthwise sides;
and
(iii) a first structural member thickness;
wherein at least one of said first structural member lengthwise sides of each of said first structural members includes at least two first structural member slots, each of said first structural member slots having a first structural member slot axis;
and
wherein the distance between one of the widthwise sides of each of said first structural members and the first structural member slot axis of the first structural member slot that is located nearest said widthwise side is a predetermined slot-to-side distance;
and
wherein the distance between the first structural member slot axes of each of said first structural member slots on each of said first structural members is a whole-number multiple of the predetermined slot-to-side distance;
and
wherein each of said first structural members is detachably connected slot-to-slot to respective ones of said first structural members;
(b) a second subassembly which comprises a plurality of second structural members, each of said second structural members includes:
(i) a pair of generally parallel second structural member lengthwise sides;
(ii) a pair of generally parallel second structural member widthwise sides;
and
(iii) a second structural member thickness;
wherein at least one of said second structural member lengthwise sides of each of said second structural members includes at least two second member slots, each of said second structural member slots having a second structural member slot axis;
and
wherein the distance between one of said widthwise sides of each of said second structural members and the second structural member slot axis of the second structural member slot that is located nearest said widthwise side is the same as the predetermined slot-to-side distance defined by the first structural members;
and
wherein the distance between the second structural member slot axes of each of said second structural member slots on each of said second structural members is a whole-number multiple of the predetermined slot-to-side distance;
and
wherein each of said second structural members is detachably connected slot-to-slot to respective ones of said second structural members;
and
(c) a connecting member having at least two slots, said connecting member being detachably connected slot-to-slot to at least one of said first structural members and at least one of said second structural members to produce an assembled unit.

23 more elements

Abstract

Claims13