Oh, patents! Roche Bobois™ vintage coffee table

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The timeless Roche Bobois™* marble sphere and square glass coffee table is an invention that was patented in Spain. The invention was granted the Spanish utility patent, ES294084, titled Mesa, in Spanish (meaning “table” in English). No other patent family members were filed. As a result, the only official version of the patent is in Spanish. The patent was granted on September 1st, 1986. The applicant was Roche Bobois Espana S. A. The company’s legal representative was Don Ignacio Ponti Grau. The inventor is unspecified. 

According to the specification of the disclosure, the marble sphere and square glass coffee table invention was intended to resolve the complexity invoked in the design of prior art coffee tables and to reduce associated production and lead time costs. A prior art that required several parts and processes (i.e., table top and table legs, plus tools and means to connect the table top to the table legs, using such items as srews, staples, braces, or soldering).

The patent Figure 2, included below, illustrates the simplicity of the invention that does not necessitate small parts and associated tools for fabrication. A sloped plate 1, advantageously made of thick glass, has a lower edge 2 covered with protective grips 3 to prevent the sloped glass 1 from contacting the floor 4. An opening 5 on the sloped plate 1 is designed to accommodate the sphere 6. The upper edge 9 of the sloped plate 1, and the top of the sphere 6, both at the same level, are secured to the tabletop plate 10, with a slip-resistant compound 7. The slip-resistant compound 7 also secures the sphere 8, contacting the floor 4, to the sloped plate 1.

An image of the marketed marble sphere and square glass Roche Bobois™ coffee table is included below the patent Figure 2. The scope of the invention extends to other materials that might be used for fabrication.

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* Roche Bobois™ is a French, luxury, home furnishing company; an international leader presenting collections that result from collaborations with renowned European designers and architects.

Reference

Roche Bobois™ (website)

https://www.roche-bobois.com/en-US/

Oh, patents! Yogibo bean bag furniture

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Seeking comfort? Consider the endlessly adaptable Yogibo bean bags, ranging in sizes from a mini three-foot pillow, to a maxi six-foot lounger. Designed in 2009 by Eyal Levy, in Nashau, New Hampshire, (originally as seating for his pregnant wife's comfort), the Yogibo Company now has retail stores in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, plus more. The Yogibo bean bags also come in various vibrant colors and patterns, with some fabrics suited specifically for outdoor use.

The video below shows the versatility of the Yogibo furniture, as well as some of the sizes and color options. 

The unique combination of comfort and support designed into the Yogibo bean bag furniture is patented. The US utility patent, US10869558B2, titled Functionally supportive pillows and methods of preparation thereof, was awarded on December 22, 2020, to Giora Liran and Eyal Levy, both inventors and co-founders of the Yogibo furniture company.

Indeed, the patent precisely recites sustained functional support for sitting, lying, or reclining on Yogibo bean bags, while retaining the comfort of a pillow. Such balance between comfort and support is patented as a dynamically responsive relationship between the body-conforming inner core, comprising bead material, and the outer stretchable fabric, when pressure is applied on the pillow. Thus, the Yogibo bean bag comprises: 1. an inner core with polymeric foam beads that are free-flowing in the absence of applied pressure; 2. a first shell shaped to house the foam beads, the first shell made of fabric engineered for durability and elasticity; and 3. a second outer shell shaped to contain the core of polymeric beads housed in the first inner shell, with the outer shell also made of fabric engineered for durability and elasticity.

Accordingly, the patent further recites the exact composition of the inner core, as well as the first and second shell fabric-engineering.  Composition of the inner core such as shape, dimensions and weight. Engineering of both the inner and outer fabric shells, such as thread composition, stitch, added treatments for dying, enhancing softness, repelling water, retarding flames, environmental sustainability, and durability.  

The patent thus further specifies the required dynamic relationship between the bead core and the outer shells, which together determine the patented comfort and support. Patented comfort and support, unlimited to a single piece of bean bag furniture. Indeed, the scope of the invention extends to a whole range of bean bag furniture that includes chairs, couch, loungers, pillows, back supports plus more that are obvious to those skilled in the art of bean bag furniture.

Below the patent Figures 1B and 1C depict respectively 70% and 100% body-conformity of the bean bag lounger, together with corresponding images of the marketed invention in orange and blue. The abstract of the invention is also provided below.

The present invention is directed to a functionally supportive pillow comprising a dynamically responsive combination of an inner core enclosing a bead material and an outer shell, such that the combination of the inner core with the outer shell creates a dynamic response to applied pressure to the pillow for increased functional support of said pillow.  
[Abstract US10869558B2]

Reference
Yogibo (website)
https://yogibo.com/ 

Oh, patents! Ori Inc., robotic furniture (2)

Copyright Françoise Herrmann

The Ori robotics furniture invention is recited in the 42-page US utility patent application US2018311826 (A1), titled Apparatuses, systems, and methods for transformable living spaces. The patent recites the robotics, computer science, engineering and architecture that together enable the transformation of living spaces. 

In particular, the patent discloses several exemplary embodiments of the invention. The embodiments of the invention, suited to transform living spaces, may comprise a chassis, a drivetrain coupled to the chassis, a robotic control system coupled to the drivetrain assembly, and at least one communication interface coupled to the robotic control system. 

The user interface enables reconfiguration of a configurable unit (i.e. a prefabricated piece of furniture). The robotic control system comprises an actuator configured for rotary actuation. The actuator is electrically coupled to the user interface. The robotic control system also comprises sensors for detecting or calculating the position of configurable units. Sensors may comprise, pressure sensors, accelerometers, position sensors, proximity sensors, a gyroscope, inclinometers and yaw rate sensors.

The drivetrain translates rotary actuation to linear movement. It may comprise a drive wheel, a cable, a drive shaft, a sprocket, a spring, a damper, a countermeasure, a counterweight, a chain tensioner, and a ribbon, depending on the embodiment.

The user communication interface may be wireless. It may be positioned on the configurable unit. The user communication interface may comprise a pressure sensor, a gesture sensor and/or a graphical touch screen interface.  

The configurable unit comprises at least one piece of furniture and may also comprise an appliance. The configurable unit comprises sensors to detect proximity to another object. The configurable unit sensors are connected to the robotic control system. The chassis also has electrical interconnexions enabling to power the robotic control system.

The configurable units are prefabricated. They may comprise HVAC components for ventilation and cooling, in particular, an electrically adjustable louver. The configurable units may further comprise, modular plumbing and electrical components, connected to the robotic control system. The prefabricated configurable unit components may further comprise track and recessed means of fastening the configurable units. The configurable units are further integrated with a 200 to 800 square feet floor plan, and a computer modeling tool designed to customize prefabrication of the configurable units according to user preferences. 

The various embodiments of the invention disclosed in the patent description include, but are not limited to, a drop-down bed, a roll-out bed, a drop-down table, a sliding panel system, a sliding display system, and a moving divider wall. In turn, the possible components of these modular units, and their various robotic, engineering and informatics aspects are each described in greater detail. 

The abstract for the US patent application US2018311826 (A1) is included below together with the patent Figure drawing 1A showing one embodiment of transformable space with a drop-down bed. In particular, Figure 1A depicts the drop-down bed (101), transitioning from a recessed place within the ceiling to a deployed position, supported by additional pieces of furniture such as a couch (102), a table (103) and a bench (104). 

The present disclosure provides apparatuses, methods and systems operable to provide transformable living spaces. The system includes a chassis and a configurable unit movably coupled to the chassis for at least one of translation and rotation with respect to the chassis. The system also includes at least one drivetrain assembly movably coupling the configurable unit to the chassis. The system includes at least one actuator coupled to the configurable unit by the at least one drivetrain assembly. The system also includes at least one robotic controller communicatively coupled to the at least one actuator. [Abstract US2018311826]

The drop-down bed is marketed as the Ori Cloud Bed (McDowell, 2019). A short Youtube video is also included, showing how the bed drops down and glides back up to its recessed position in the ceiling.

References

Ori living

www.oriliving.com
McDowell, M. (Feb. 12, 2019) This robotic bed transforms into a sofa and coffee table. 
https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a26306847/ori-robotic-cloud-bed-transforms-into-sofa/ 

Oh, patents! Ori Inc., robotic furniture (1)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Does your furniture have superpowers? Chances are that if it does, it is robotic furniture, made by Ori Inc., a company that is an offshoot of the MIT Media Lab.  In this case, your furniture also folds, just like origami, the Japanese art of folding paper, which gave the company its Ori name.

Why robotic furniture? The answer is one of many that comes in response to the shortage and escalating price of urban space. It also comes as a viable alternative to tiny apartments (micro-units), which are inadequate in meeting the various needs of urban dwellers, young professionals in particular. Thus, Robotic furniture is a researched solution to maximizing space, in effortless, aesthetic, comfortable and clever ways.

No more Murphy beds that tax your musclepower. Ori Inc., foldable furniture, is mobile-app-operated or smart home assistant-operated. Just summon your robotic furniture with voice-activated commands, or configure it into place on a mobile app. Robotic furniture glides in and out of recesses, transforming spaces, making them multifunctional, emptying them of “space killers” such as unused beds, dining room tables, or walk-in closets.  

Based on the premiss that people actually need much less space than presumed, robotics-assisted architecture and interior design create a fluid and flexible space that morphs. A 200 sq. ft apartment is quite small, but when it morphs as a single space, it can become, through transformation,  a very big bedroom with a walk-in closet, or a big living room, or a big office, even a big entertainment space.

The following video illustrates how single spaces can acquire multiple functions, and how the transformation of space is actuated so effortlessly.

The Ori Inc., robotic furniture invention and its many aspects are recited in several patent applications including:

• US20180311826A1 - Apparatuses, systems, and methods for transformable living spaces 
• WO2018237139A2 - Control elements for tracking and movement of furniture and interior architectural elements 

References

Ori living

www.oriliving.com

Matheson, R. (Jan 31, 2018) Robotic interiors, MIT Media Lab.

https://www.media.mit.edu/articles/robotic-interiors/

Jackson, C. (Sept. 24, 2018) Get in bed with Skynet - NY Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/24/style/robot-furniture-beep-beep-boop.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftechnology

Oh, patents! JC Decaux (2)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

A search for JC Decaux patents at l’INPI, the USPTO, WIPO and the EPO returns a few hundred patents. The following is a non-exhaustive, and illustrative, hyperlinked list.

• FR2897589 ― 2007-08-24 - Système automatique de stockage de cycles
• FR2897588 ― 2007-08-24 - Système automatique de stockage de cycles, cycle pour un tel système et dispositif de verrouillage pour un tel cycle
• FR2865994 ― 2005-08-12 - Bicyclette equipée d'un système de controle embarqué
• FR2838227 ― 2003-10-10 - Mobilier urbain de sécurité routière pour l'affichage d'une information variable destinée aux usagers de la route et procédé d'affichage d'un message de sécurité routière à l'aide d'un mobilier urbain
• FR2838226 ― 2003-10-10 - Mobilier urbain de sécurité routière comportant au moins un moyen de signalisation d'un risque et procède de signalisation d'un risque à l'aide d'un mobilier (rejeté)
• FR2838224 ― 2003 -10-10 - Mobilier urbain de sécurité routière comportant au moins un moyen de signalisation d'un risque et procédé de signalisation d'un risque à l'aide d'un mobilier
• FR2829271 ― 2003-03-07 - Système de télésurveillance pour dispositif d'affichage lumineux
• FR2827107 ― 2003-01-10 - Procédé et dispositif de diffusion d'information publicitaire
• FR2826993 ― 2003-01-10 - Dispositif reproduisant le flottement d'un drapeau
• FR2825967 ― 2002-12-20 - Dispositif de parking pour bicyclette
• FR2824942 ― 2002-11-22 - Système de gestion d'une flotte de bicyclettes, bicyclette et équipements de stockage pour un tel dispositif
• FR2821199 ― 2002-08-23 - Système d'information du public

  

  Anyone remember public phone booths?
  Figure 1 - FR2614640
    

• FR2819338 ― 2002-07-12 - Dispositif interactif pour lieu public
• FR2816437 ―  2002-05-10 - Panneau d'affichage rétro-éclairé
• FR2761189 ― 1998-09-25 - Panneau d'affichage de messages à matrices de points
• FR2731828 (A1) ― 1996-09-20 - Cellule élémentaire d'affichage à pastille pivotante pour panneau d'affichage a matrices de points 
• FR2731827 (A1) ― 1996-09-20 -  Dispositif de fixation de supports d'informations sur abris de cars ou d'autobus
• FR2730840 (A1) ― 1996-08-23 - Distributeur automatique d'objets, en particulier de journaux
• FR2727781 (A1) ― 1996-06-07- Système de détection d'un véhicule sur une chaussée multivoie, avec discrimination de voie, et son application a la détection sélective d'un véhicule hors gabarit
• FR2710671 (A1) ― 1995-04-07 - Installation de distribution d'eau au sol, de nettoyage ou de sécurité incendie
• FR2705158 (A1) ― 1994-11-18 - Unité mobile pour l'affichage sur site d'informations
• FR2696034 (A1) ― 1994-03-25 - Procédé et appareillage de visualisation sélective d'un message inscrit sur une bande support de messages
• FR2662781 ― 1991-12-06 - Appareil d'éclairage et installation d'éclairage de la voie publique comportant plusieurs appareils d'éclairage
• FR2659161 (A1) ― 1991-09-06 - Dispositif d'enroulement d'une bande sur un rouleau à partir d'un autre rouleau
• FR2629853 (A1) ― 1989-10-13 - Kiosque à journaux
• FR2627106 (A1) ― 1989-08-18 - Récupérateur et concasseurs de bouteilles de verre
• FR2614640 (A1) ― 1988-11-04 - Cabine téléphonique à fermeture automatique
• FR2603628 (A1) ― 1988-03-11 - Mat de signalisation à caissons indicateurs axiaux
• FR2596557 (A1) ― 1987-10-02 - Procédé et dispositif de fixation, d’exposition et des suspension d’une feuille telle qu’une affiche publicitaire ou informative 
• FR2590059 (A1) ― 1987-05-15 - Enseigne rigide du type drapeau
• FR2578803 (A1) ― 1986-09-19 - Parc à bicyclettes modulaire formant un abri antivol d’encombrement réduit
• FR2578888 (A1) ― 1986-09-19 - Dispositif antivol à verrou, notamment pour parc à véhicule à deux roues.
• FR2576291 (A1) ― 1986-07-25 - Corbeille à papier à verrouillage automatique
• FR2167410 (A5) ― 1973-08-24 - Panneau d’affichage urbain
• ES2072843 ― 1995-08-01 - Instalación de distribución de agua al suelo, de limpieza o de seguridad de incendios
• ES2070452 ― 1995-06-01 - Aparato de alumbrado e instalación de alumbrado de la vía publica que comprende varios aparatos de alumbrado
• ES279666 (U) ― 1985-01-01 - Marquesina
• CA2472894 (A1) ― 2005-01-04 - Sanitaire public équipé d’un dispositif de lavage au sol
• CA2472888 (A1) ― 2005-01-04 - Sanitaire équipé d’une urinoir éparé
• CA2204101 (A1) ― 1997-11-03 - Boitier portatif pour informer les usagers d’un réseau d’autobus sur les temps d’attente aux arrêt de ce réseau
• CA2133043 ― 1995-03-30 - Water ground distribution facility, also for cleaning or fire fighting
• DE645499 ― 1995-11-09 - Bodenwasserversorgungsanlage zum Reinigen oder zur Feuerlöschung
• DE69106052 – 1995-05-11 - Leuchte und Beleuchtungsanlage von Strassen
• DK0459847 – 1995-03-13 - Belysningsapparat og belysningsinstallation til offentlig vej, omfattende flere belysningsapparater
• EP1603081 (A1) ― 2005-12-07 - Procédé et système de gestion d’une flotte de véhicule
• EP0805427 ― 1997-11-05 - Boîtier portatif pour informer les usagers d'un réseau d'autobus sur les temps d'attente aux arrêts de ce réseau
• EP0645499 ― 1995-03-29 - Installation de distribution d'eau au sol, de nettoyage ou de sécurité incendie
• EP0459847 ― 1991-12-04 - Appareil d'éclairage et installation d'éclairage de la voie publique
• EP0261022 ― 1988-03-23 - Mât de signalisation à caissons indicateurs axiaux
• USD579053 ― 2008-29-29 - Advertizing display unit 
• US2007270099 (A1) ― 2007-11-22 - Method and System for Transmitting Selective Local Information
• US2007239465 (A1) ― 2007-10-11 - Method and system for automatically renting bicycles
• USD507813 (S) ― 2005-07-26 - Electronic interactive apparatus 
• USD352361 – 1994-11-08 - Toilet
• US5171088 (A) ― 1992-12-15 - Lighting equipment
• WO9629690 ― 1996-09-26 - Cellule élémentaire d'affichage à pastille pivotante pour panneau d'affichage à matrices de points

 References

JCDecaux Group

http://www.jcdecaux.com/
EPO - European Patent Office
www.epo.org
INPI - Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle
www.inpi.fr
USPTO - United States Patent and Trademark Office
www.uspto.org
WIPO - World Intellectual Property Office
www.wipo.org

Oh, patents! Gae Aulenti

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Questions: Who redesigned the Old Main Library in San Francisco, transforming it from the inside out into the New Asian Art Museum? Who transformed the old Paris Orsay train station into a fabulous museum of contemporary art ? 

Answer: None other than Gae Aulenti, a famous Italian architect, and designer.

Gae Aulenti [1927-1912] also designed furniture. In 1974 she was awarded the US design patent USD232655S for a table lamp. A picture of the patent drawings and of a marketed embodiment are included below.

As a reminder the difference between a design and a utility patent is the following:

“a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a "design patent" protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171)” (USPTO)

References

Aisan Art Museum in San Francisco

www.asianart.org

Musée d'Orsay in Paris, France

http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html 

USPTO 
www.uspto.gov 

Oh, patents! Lovesac sacs

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Before Lovesac began marketing the versatile Sactionals, it was a gigantic puffy pillow packaged in a sac called a Lovesac that launched the company.

The original Lovesac is a huge, XXXXL bean-bag-looking item, packaged in a relatively small cubic duffle sac, that you are pressed to never call a bean-bag because it contains no polystyrene beads…! Rather, it is filled with premium shredded foam, called Durafoam, discarded from couch manufacturing, which makes it quite possibly the most comfortable pillow chair/sofa/bed on the face of the earth!

The largest of the Lovesac sacs is the original size, on which a couple of adults can comfortably sit or even lie down.  Since the original Lovesac, the product line includes a total of 6 sibling Lovesacs, of increasingly smaller size (from 88 to 6 cubic feet), the smallest of which accommodates a child. The Lovesac covers come in hundreds of fabrics, all of which (except leather) are machine washable.

©  Lovesac

The packaging method of the Lovesacs, called compressible furniture in technical terms, is patented. The patent US2004107675 titled Packaged furniture assembly and method thereof for compressible furniture discloses this invention.

Relying on a packaging method, the Lovesac invention generally addresses issues of shipment, transportation and storage for bulky furniture, such as sofas and beds, and in particular, for compressible furniture. The patented packaging method invokes vacuuming the air out of the bladder containing the compressible material of the furniture, and thus reducing the size and volume of the furniture. For example, once air-vacuumed, the largest pieces of compressible furniture are reduced to 5 % of their original volume, the intermediate pieces to 8 % and the small pieces to 10 %. This means that a large piece of compressible furniture, with about 86 cubic feet, is reduced to approximately 4 cubic feet!

As a result, once the air is vacuumed out of the Lovesacs, the sacs can be neatly packaged into duffle bags, that are in turn easily stacked, shipped, stored and transported. 

Thus, beyond the comfort and practicality of these puffy pieces of furniture, it is the packaging that is patented, which perhaps explains the brand-name term “sac”, in both the Sactional and the Lovesac. Even though both furniture packaging issues are resolved very differently, with a Lego™-inspired assembly system for the hardwood frame Sactional, and with vacuum for the shredded Durafoam Lovesac, this furniture is also all about mobility in a mobile world! In other words, it's about bringing home your sofa (or Sactional) in a sac...!

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Below, you will find the abstract for US2004107675 titled Packaged furniture assembly and method thereof for compressible furniture, and one of the patent figures showing different vacuuming forces, suctioning the air out of the furniture bladder.

The present invention provides a chair having a removable outer cover. The chair has an air permeable bladder which houses compressible filler material. The compressible filler material allows the chair to be selectively compressed between various compressed states. A method for packaging the chair is provided which significantly reduces the weight and size of the chair. The method includes placing the chair in a vacuum chamber and suctioning air from the chair. The vacuum chamber may be partially open or closed during storage. [Abstract US2004107675]

References
Lovesac -- www.lovesac.com
Herrmann, F (2015) Oh, patents! Sactionals posted at Patents on the soles of your shoes (June 20, 2015) 
http://patentsonthesolesofyourshoes.blogspot.com/2015/06/oh-patents-sactionals.html 
US2004107675 Packaged furniture assembly and method thereof for compressible furniture
http://tinyurl.com/o54h9dm  

Oh, patents! Sactionals

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Is there a sectional in your media room called a Sactional? Is it reconfigurable, washable, changeable, durable, and super comfortable? If so, then you might be pleased to know that your Sactional, manufactured by Lovesac is a patented sectional sofa system, inspired by Legos™ and informed by practicality!

The WIPO patent WO2006135855 titled Modular furniture assembly discloses the Sactional invention.  This invention resolves several problems of the prior art in sofa/sectional furniture. The first is an issue of furniture assembly. Hardwood-frame sofas are typically massive pieces of furniture, assembled with hardware and nails, that are not readily disassembled, and thus not easily transported from one location to another, moved from one room to another, or changeable from one configuration or dimension  to another. It follows also that sofas/sectionals are also not easily shipped in containers as they cannot easily be stacked without damage to maximize the use of space, thus contributing to costs. The second issue of the prior art is that hardwood-frame sofa upholstery is not typically removable and washable, and thus not easily and inexpensively changeable or resistant to the assaults of everyday use.

The Sactional invention resolves the issues of furniture assembly with a modular assembly system comprising a base and a transverse piece that can be easily, swiftly and effortlessly coupled and decoupled, in different ways, and to other bases and transverse pieces, without any tools, using a simple Lego™-inspired interlocking system. Thus, the Sactional is easily assembled and disassembled for shipment, storage (at retailers), transportation and moving. And it is also easily and variously configurable  as an ottoman, a bench, an armchair, a chaise, a loveseat, deep sofa or sectional of different dimensions and configurations (L-, T-, M-, W-shaped, twister, playpen...) or even as a bed!. Additionally, regardless of the configuration, the Sactional is also easily upholstered, using any one of hundreds of removable, and machine-washable covers! Just add seat and back pillows (also with removable and washable covers) and the Sactional, in whatever configuration, is ready-to-use! There are also provisions for the Sactional to be manufactured in children sizes.

Below, you will find the abstract for patent WO2006135855 titled Modular furniture assembly and two of the patent drawings: the Lego™-inspired interlocking system used to bring together a base and transverse piece or to connect them to other bases or transverse pieces in rock-solid configurations,  and a base and transverse piece coupled using the Lego™-inspired interlocking system.  

Lego-inspired interlocking system

[Abstract WO2006135855]

The invention relates to a modular furniture assembly that is convenient and versatile. One embodiment of the modular furniture assembly comprises a base and a transverse member manually, detachably coupled to the base by a coupler. The base and the transverse member have a defined spatial relationship which enables a variety of different types, configurations and sizes of furniture assemblies to be formed therefrom. Further, the base is configured such that the transverse member can be coupled to the base in a first position to form a first furniture assembly, and can be coupled to the base in a second position to form a second furniture assembly. 

Base and transverse assembled

References
Lovesac - www.Lovesac.com
Modular furniture assembly WO2006135855
http://tinyurl.com/oothaf7

Design patents and Utility patents - What’s the difference?

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Just to clarify the differences between design and utility patents, beyond statutory form since design patents only have one claim and an optional description or specification, here is an explanation of the conceptual differences per US Code Title 35, Sections 101 and 171, as stated in a USPTO brochure intended for applicants. 

In general terms, a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a "design patent" protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171). Both design and utility patents may be obtained on an article if invention resides both in its utility and ornamental appearance. While utility and design patents afford legally separate protection, the utility and ornamentality of an article are not easily separable. Articles of manufacture may possess both functional and ornamental characteristics. (USPTO, p. 2)

It follows then that a single artefact can be patented both for its utility or function and its visual or ornamental properties, depending on whether these separate aspects of invention fulfill all the conditions of patentability.  This is the case, for example, with the Frank O. Gehry wood lattice furniture where the visual or ornamental appeal of the furniture is patented as design patents, and the manufacturing process of the interlocking wood lattice is patented in utility patents. 

Specifically, the Gehry wood lattice furniture is patented in design patents such as: USD344191 titled Dining chair, USD334098 titled Chair or USD341263 titled Club chair, and the wood lattice manufacturing process of this furniture is also patented in two utility patents, US5284380 and US5154486, both titled Furniture comprising laminated slats and methods of manufacturing such furniture 

Included below is the abstract for the utility patent US5154486 titled Furniture comprising laminated slats and methods of manufacturing such furniture, and a patent figure with corresponding image of the marketed product -- just to anchor the beautiful basket weaving of this line of furniture into something you can see!

Furniture comprises a strong, aesthetically appealing, woven lattice of interlocking slats. The slats are made of wood laminate having indentations allowing fitting of the slats across one another so as to form the lattice. Advantageously, the furniture may be manufactured of a single type of material, that of the bent wood laminate slats. No other supporting structural material is needed to make the furniture simultaneously possess the advantages of being sturdy, aesthetically appealing, economical to manufacture, and light in structure and appearance. The methods of manufacturing such furniture has also been included. [US5154486]

Reference

USPTO: Guide to filing a design patent application

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/pdf/brochure_05.pdf