Flat-pack chair having tool-free assembly

Abstract

A furniture piece includes a first furniture subassembly, a first fitting on the first furniture subassembly, a second furniture subassembly, and a second fitting on the second furniture subassembly. The second fitting is selectively attachable to the first fitting to secure the first furniture subassembly to the second furniture subassembly. One of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding interference slot with an open end and a blind end, and the other of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding tongue slidably introducible in the open end of the interference slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A furniture piece, comprising:
 a first furniture subassembly;   a first fitting on the first furniture subassembly;   a second furniture subassembly; and   a second fitting on the second furniture subassembly, the second fitting being selectively attachable to the first fitting to secure the first furniture subassembly to the second furniture subassembly,   wherein one of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding interference slot with an open end and a blind end, and the other of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding tongue slidably introducible in the open end of the interference slot.   
     
     
         2 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding interference slot is one of T-shaped, L-shaped, and dove-tail shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the first fitting and the second fitting snap into place. 
     
     
         4 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the first fitting comprises one of a protrusion and a detent and the second fitting comprises the other of the protrusion and the detent. 
     
     
         5 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the second fitting is attached to the second furniture subassembly. 
     
     
         6 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the first furniture subassembly comprises a first frame having multiple, spaced first fittings thereon, and wherein the second furniture subassembly comprises a second frame having multiple, spaced second fittings spaced thereon to simultaneously secure to the multiple, spaced first fittings. 
     
     
         7 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding interference slot includes:
 a lengthwise opening extending from the open end toward the blind end,   a lengthwise recess accessible through the lengthwise opening, the lengthwise opening having a first width and the lengthwise recess having a second width greater than the first width.   
     
     
         8 . A chair furniture piece, comprising:
 a side subassembly;   a first fitting on the side subassembly;   a seat subassembly; and   a second fitting on the seat subassembly, the second fitting being selectively attachable to the first fitting to secure the side subassembly to the seat subassembly,   wherein one of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding interference slot with an open end and a blind end, and the other of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding tongue slidably introducible in the open end of the interference slot.   
     
     
         9 . The furniture piece of  claim 8 , wherein the sliding interference slot is one of T-shaped, L-shaped, and dovetail shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The furniture piece of  claim 8 , wherein the first fitting and the second fitting snap into place. 
     
     
         11 . The furniture piece of  claim 8 , wherein the first fitting comprises one of a protrusion and a detent and the second fitting comprises the other of the protrusion and the detent. 
     
     
         12 . The furniture piece of  claim 8 , wherein the side subassembly comprises a first frame having multiple, spaced first fittings thereon, and wherein the seat subassembly comprises a second frame having multiple, spaced second fittings spaced thereon to simultaneously secure to the multiple, spaced first fittings. 
     
     
         13 . The furniture piece of  claim 8 , wherein the sliding interference slot includes:
 a lengthwise opening extending from the open end toward the blind end,   a lengthwise recess accessible through the lengthwise opening, the lengthwise opening having a first width and the lengthwise recess having a second width greater than the first width.   
     
     
         14 . A chair consisting of:
 a first side subassembly;   a second side subassembly;   a seat subassembly attachable to the first side subassembly and the second side subassembly;   a backrest subassembly attachable to the first side subassembly and the second side subassembly;   the first side subassembly, the second side subassembly, the seat subassembly; and the backrest subassembly fit within a package having a total volume within a range of about 2.3 to 6.0 cubic feet, and being assemblable without the use of a tool.   
     
     
         15 . The chair of  claim 14 , wherein the first side subassembly is attachable to the seat subassembly, the second side subassembly is attachable to the seat subassembly, the backrest subassembly is attachable to both the first and the second armrest subassemblies, and the backrest subassembly is configured to abut but not attach to the seat subassembly. 
     
     
         16 . The chair of  claim 14 , wherein the first side subassembly is attachable to the seat subassembly by snapping into place, the second side subassembly is attachable to the seat subassembly by snapping into place. 
     
     
         17 . A furniture piece assembleable without the use of tools, comprising:
 a first furniture subassembly having a first fitting thereon; and   a second furniture subassembly having a second fitting thereon,   the second fitting being shaped and sized to be selectively attachable to the first fitting to secure the first furniture subassembly to the second furniture subassembly.   
     
     
         18 . The furniture piece of  claim 17 , wherein one of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding interference slot with an open end and a blind end, and the other of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding tongue slidably introducible in the open end of the interference slot. 
     
     
         19 . The furniture piece of  claim 18 , wherein one of the first fitting and the second fitting includes a plurality of stiffening features. 
     
     
         20 . The furniture piece of  claim 17 , wherein one of the first fitting and the second fitting is a pin having:
 a threaded portion;   a non-threaded portion; and   at least one spring-loaded bearing or tab disposed in the non-threaded portion, and wherein the other of the first fitting and the second fitting is a threaded receiver having:   a non-threaded cavity configured to receive the non-threaded portion of the pin; and   a detent configured to receive the at least one spring-loaded bearing or tab.   
     
     
         21 . The furniture piece of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one cushion reversibly positionable on a seat or backrest of the furniture piece. 
     
     
         22 . The furniture piece of  claim 17 , further comprising four backrest planks and four seat planks. 
     
     
         23 . The furniture piece of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one handhold sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of a user's hand during assembly or movement of the furniture piece.