Joshua R Butcher

US Patent:

20100176634, Jul 15, 2010

Filed:

Jan 14, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/353630

Inventors:

Mark A. Wahl - Gentryville IN, US
Joshua A. Peter - Jasper IN, US
Joshua R. Butcher - Washington IN, US

Assignee:

KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Jasper IN

International Classification:

A47C 15/00

US Classification:

297248

Abstract:

A connecting arrangement for articles of furniture, such as seating furniture and/or tables of the type used in an office environment. A pair of articles of furniture are positioned adjacent to one another, each including a downwardly-opening channel along a lower portion of its side. An elongate connector spans the distance between the channels and has opposite side portions in respective engagement with the channels to connect the furniture articles together in a manner wherein the connector may be visually hidden in use. If one, or both, of the connected articles of furniture includes upholstered sides, the upholstery is compressed upon abutting engagement of the articles of furniture to generate a separation force which is resisted by the connector and aids in maintaining the connector in secure engagement with the channels of the adjacent articles of furniture. The connector may have substantially the same length as a distance between front and rear legs of the articles of furniture, such that the connector is engageable with the front and/or rear legs to restrain movement of the articles of furniture in a front-to-back direction with respect to one another.