Modular furniture assembly and associated method of assembly

Abstract

A modular furniture assembly includes a base, a back, a removable seat, and a first bracket. The base defines an interior cavity. The first bracket includes first and second portions. The first portion is configured to connect the back with the base. The second portion is configured to support the removable seat within the interior cavity of the base.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A modular furniture assembly comprising:
 (a) a base that defines an interior cavity;   (b) a back that includes a slot or a projection;   (c) a removable seat; and   (d) a first bracket comprising:
 (i) a first portion configured to connect the back with the base, wherein the first portion includes the other one of the slot or the projection, wherein the slot is configured to receive the projection, and 
 (ii) a second portion configured to support at least a portion of the removable seat within the interior cavity of the base. 
   
     
     
         22 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the base includes an outer surface, wherein the back includes an inner facing surface, wherein the first bracket is configured to force the outer surface of the base into direct contact against the inner facing surface of the back. 
     
     
         23 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the base includes a top surface and an inner surface, wherein the first bracket is configured to extend along a portion of the top and inner surfaces of the base. 
     
     
         24 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the base includes a bottom surface, the modular furniture assembly further comprising a second bracket configured to connect to the back to the inner surface of the base, wherein the second bracket is configured to extend along a portion of the bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         25 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 24 , further comprising a threaded fastener configured to adjustably secure the second bracket against the inner surface of the base. 
     
     
         26 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the projection includes a pin, the modular furniture assembly further comprising an insert configured to surround the slot and receive the pin. 
     
     
         27 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 21 , the removable seat comprising:
 (i) a bottom cushion configured to support a user, and   (ii) a suspension assembly removable from the bottom cushion and configured to contact the second portion, wherein the suspension assembly supports the bottom cushion.   
     
     
         28 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a second bracket spaced a distance from the first bracket, the second bracket comprising:
 (i) a first portion configured to connect the back to the base together with the first portion of the first bracket, and   (ii) a second portion configured to support the removable seat together with the second portion of the first bracket within the interior cavity of the base.   
     
     
         29 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the first portion of each of the first and second brackets comprise:
 (i) the projection extending along a first axis,   (ii) an intermediate portion extending along a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis, and   (iii) a connecting portion that joins the projection with the intermediate portion.   
     
     
         30 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the base includes an outer surface, wherein the back includes an inner facing surface, wherein the first and second brackets are configured to force the outer surface of the base into direct contact against the inner facing surface of the back. 
     
     
         31 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 (a) a first arm; and   (b) a third bracket comprising:
 (i) a first portion configured to connect the first arm with the base, and 
 (ii) a second portion configured to support the removable seat within the interior cavity of the base. 
   
     
     
         32 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a second base connected with the base using a second bracket that is different than the first bracket, wherein the second bracket includes a bracket base, a first leg, and a second leg, wherein the first and second legs extend generally perpendicular to bracket base. 
     
     
         33 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the bracket base of the second bracket extends along bottom surfaces of the base and the second base. 
     
     
         34 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the first leg includes a threaded aperture configured to receive a threaded fastener therethrough. 
     
     
         35 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising first and second electronic chargers configured to charge electronic devices. 
     
     
         36 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the back includes a tapered portion that is angled in a first direction away from the base. 
     
     
         37 . A modular furniture assembly comprising:
 (a) a base that defines an interior cavity;   (b) a back that includes a slot or a projection;   (c) a first arm that includes a slot or a projection;   (d) a removable seat;   (e) a first bracket comprising:
 (i) a first portion configured to connect the back with the base, wherein the first portion includes the other one of the slot or the projection, wherein the slot is configured to receive the projection, and 
 (ii) a second portion configured to support the removable seat within the interior cavity of the base; and 
   (f) a second bracket comprising:
 (i) a first portion configured to connect the first arm with the base, and 
 (ii) a second portion configured to support at least a portion of the removable seat within the interior cavity of the base. 
   
     
     
         38 . The modular furniture assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the base includes an outer surface, wherein the back includes an inner facing surface, wherein the first bracket is configured to force the outer surface of the base against the inner facing surface of the back. 
     
     
         39 . A method of assembling a modular furniture assembly, wherein the modular furniture assembly includes a base, a back, a removable seat, a first bracket, the method comprising:
 (a) attaching a first portion of the first bracket to the back by inserting a projection into a slot so that a gap exists between a second portion of the first bracket and the back;   (b) lifting the back;   (c) lowering the back to insert a portion of the base into the gap to force a wall of the base between a second portion of the first bracket and the back; and   (d) inserting the removable seat into the base which is supported at least by the second portion of the first bracket.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the modular furniture assembly further includes an arm and a second bracket, the method comprising:
 (a) attaching a first portion of the second bracket to the arm so that a gap exists between a second portion of the second bracket and the arm;   (b) lifting the arm; and   (c) lowering the arm to insert a portion of the base into the gap to force the base between a second portion of the second bracket and the arm prior to inserting the removable seat.