Wall System Having Furniture Modules and Accessories for Attaching and Finishing the Modules

Abstract

A furniture system has multiple modules in which two or more modules may be arranged together in a variety of combinations. Adjacent modules may be attached using turnbuckles which evenly space the modules and provide a gap between modules. The gap may be masked with removable pilasters that match the finish of the furniture modules. The outer walls of each module are unfinished and therefore end caps may be secured to the outer walls of an assembled system. The end caps match the finish of the modules. Each module has associated with it height adjustable rollers and at least one of those rollers may be locked to prevent rotation.

1 . A furniture system comprised of:
 a) a plurality of separate and distinct modules adjacent to one another defining interior modules and two end modules, wherein each module has two opposing outer walls;   b) an apparatus for aligning and securing together adjacent modules, wherein the apparatus has:
 1) a first mounting bracket secured to the outer wall of one of the modules; 
 2) a second mounting bracket secured to the adjacent outer wall of an adjacent module; and 
 3) a mechanism for moving the module outer walls toward one another and establishing a desired gap therebetween. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a turnbuckle secured to the first and second mounting brackets, wherein the turnbuckle may be rotated to pull the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket together thereby moving the module outer walls toward one another and establishing a desired gap therebetween. 
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the turnbuckle is comprised of a first part rotatively connected to a second part, wherein each of the parts have internal threaded bores along a common axis with bolts threadingly engaged therein, wherein mounting plates are secured to the module outer walls, wherein each mounting plate has a recess that non-rotatively captures the head of each bolt such that rotation of the turnbuckle parts results in the bolts being drawn into the threaded bores, thereby pulling the outer walls together. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism for moving the module walls is positioned near the front of the modules and at least one rigid spacer bracket is positioned away from the mechanism to maintain the gap across the entire surface of the outer walls. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein there is a least one passageway positioned away from the mechanism, the passageway extends within one module and is aligned with another passageway in an adjacent module, and wherein the spacer bracket spaces engages the passageways of the modules to space the modules at the desired gap. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the passageway exposes a portion of the wall thickness and the spacer bracket has a middle portion and two opposing U-shaped ends and wherein the U-shaped ends each straddle the thickness of a respective outer wall and maintain the gap between the opposing walls. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each mounting bracket has a connecting pad mounted thereto facing the front of the module to accept a pilaster with a color and texture similar to the color and texture of the adjacent modules for masking the gap between the modules and providing a seamless transition therebetween. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 7 , further including a pilaster secured to the connecting pad. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the connecting pad has a Velcro surface to accept a mating Velcro surface on the back of the pilaster. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the connecting pad and the rear side of the pilaster are magnetically coupled. 
   
   
       11 . In a furniture system having a plurality of separate and distinct modules, wherein each module has two opposing outer walls, a front surface having a color and texture and wherein when modules are adjacent to one another there is a gap therebetween defined by the distance between the outer walls, an apparatus for masking the gap comprised of:
 a) a pad connected to an outer wall of the first module;   b) a pad connected to an outer wall of the second module; and   c) a pilaster secured to each pad over the gap, wherein the pilaster has a similar color and texture to that of the adjacent modules.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the pilaster is attached to the connecting pad through a Velcro connection 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the pilaster is magnetically attached to the connecting pad. 
   
   
       14 . A furniture module having opposing walls and rollers secured thereto for moving the module back and forth, wherein the module is comprised of:
 a) at least three roller brackets secured to the module;   b) an adjustable roller frame secured to each roller bracket, wherein the adjustable roller frame is movable up and down relative to the roller bracket to adjust the height for leveling the module.   
   
   
       15 . The furniture module according to  claim 12 , further including;
 a) a roller wheel secured within each roller frame; and   b) a locking member within at least one roller frame.   
   
   
       16 . The furniture module according to  claim 15 , further including a wheel and the locking member is movable relative to the wheel of the roller frame to lock and unlock the wheel from rotation. 
   
   
       17 . For a furniture system having at least two modules adapted to be positioned adjacent to one another wherein each module has front walls with a decorative appearance having a texture and color and outer walls, an assembly for providing matching decorative ends to cover the outer walls comprised of:
 a) a decorative end cap having a texture and color similar to that of the module front face;   b) a first connector attached to the end cap; and   c) a second connector mounted to the outermost face of a module adapted to be secured to the first connector to secure the end cap to the module, such that with the end caps in place, there is a seamless transition between the decorative front surface and the decorative end caps.   
   
   
       18 . The assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein each end cap has at least one module bracket that fixes to a mounting bracket secured to the outer exposed surface of a module. 
   
   
       19 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the end cap module bracket has a locking tab that engages a receiving opening within the mounting bracket. 
   
   
       20 . A furniture system comprised of:
 a) a plurality of modules, each module having a decorative front face and exposed outer walls, wherein the modules are positioned adjacent to one another to define within the group interior modules and two end modules;   b) a first mounting bracket secured to the outer walls of one modules;   c) a second mounting bracket secured to an adjacent outer wall of an adjacent module; and   d) a turnbuckle secured to each pair of first and second mounting brackets, wherein the turnbuckle may be rotated to pull the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket together thereby moving the module outer walls toward one another and establishing a desired gap therebetween;   e) a pilaster secured between each adjacent module to mask the gap, wherein each pilaster has the color and the texture of the adjacent modules such that the transition therebetween is seamless; and   f) a decorative end cap secured to the exposed outer walls of the end modules, wherein the end cap has a color and texture similar to that of the end modules such that the transition therebetween is seamless.