EP0873708A2

EP0873708A2 - Chair with a writing top

Info

Publication number: EP0873708A2
Application number: EP98201303A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Hoogstad
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-04-24
Filing date: 1998-04-23
Publication date: 1998-10-28
Also published as: NL1005889C2; EP0873708A3

Abstract

A chair with a writing top, which comprises a seat, a back, as well as two spaced-apart, at least substantially parallel armrests, which extend at least substantially horizontally so as to support the writing top, characterized in that the writing top is detachably attached to the chair, wherein the writing top can be moved from an extended condition, in which it is attached to the chair, to a closed, detached condition, and vice versa, in which closed, detached condition the writing top forms a bag.

Description

The invention relates to a chair with a writing top, which comprises a seat, a back, as well as two spaced-apart, at least substantially parallel armrests, which extend at least substantially horizontally so as to support the writing top.

Such a chair with a writing top is known from international patent publication WO 9635354 (Llanes). With this known chair the writing top is adjustably and pivotally connected to one of the armrests. In use the writing top is lying on the two armrests, whilst it can be pivoted to a vertical position so as to provide a user access to the seat or enable him or her to stand up from the chair.

One drawback of the known chair is the laborious manner in which the writing top must be pivoted from a horizontal position of use to a vertical position of rest, and vice versa, in order to enable a user to sit down on the chair and stand up therefrom respectively. Moreover, practice teaches us that in particular persons attending a conference or a lecture often have a limited amount of space available to them when the writing top is in the position of use, which gives them a feeling of "confinement". Another drawback is the fact that the known chair not only is of complex construction, which makes it relatively expensive, but also that it occupies a large amount of space in lateral direction, since it must be possible to swing the writing top to a vertical position of rest beside the chair. It will be apparent that this drawback is even more weighty when the amount of space that is available in for example a conference hall or a lecture-room is limited.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple yet elegant chair with a writing top, in particular for use in conference halls and lecture-rooms, wherein the above drawbacks of a chair according to prior art are obviated.

In order to accomplish that objective a chair of the kind referred to in the introduction is characterized in that the writing top is detachably attached to the chair, wherein the writing top can be moved from an extended condition, in which it is attached to the chair, to a closed, detached condition, and vice versa, in which closed, detached condition the writing top forms a bag. The bag, which is for example given out to participants at the entrance, can thus conveniently function as a writing top as well once the visitor has been seated. Preferably the writing top is provided with a writing pad and a pen, so that the conference participant will have these writing materials directly at his disposal from the bag which has been transformed into a writing top. When the participant wishes to leave, he can subsequently convert the writing top into a bag again. Another advantage is the fact that the chair is only "fitted" with the writing top when the user of the chair has a need for this.

In one preferred embodiment of the chair according to the invention the armrests each comprise a supporting element, which can be retracted into said armrest and be extended therefrom, which supporting element functions to support the writing top. Each supporting element in particular comprises a section (which preferably has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, whilst the writing top is provided along part of its longitudinal edges with pivoted parts, which co-operate with the (sections of the) supporting elements when the writing top is attached to the chair. This ensures a stable positioning of the writing top with respect to the chair.

In another preferred embodiment of a chair according to the invention the writing top is provided along another part of its longitudinal edges with pivoted flaps, which comprise means for attaching parts of the respective flaps together in the closed, detached condition of the writing top. Said means are in particular press-studs. In this manner a closed bag can be formed in a simple manner, in which bag all kinds of articles which are relevant to for example a conference participant (conference file, information brochures, and the like) can be stored.

In another preferred embodiment of a chair according to the invention the writing top comprises a stiffening rib, along which the writing top can be pivoted from the extended condition, in which it is attached to the chair, to the closed, detached condition, and vice versa, as will be explained in more detail with reference to the figures yet to be discussed hereafter.

The invention also relates to a separate writing top which is obviously suitable for use in a chair according to the invention. The writing top is preferably made of plastic material, so that it advantageously meets the requirements which are made both of a writing top and of a bag, in particular regarding strength, durability, production cost and the like. In another preferred variant the writing top is made of cardboard.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures of a drawing, which relate to a preferred embodiment of a chair with a writing top according to the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a writing top according to the invention, which has been transformed into a bag;
Figures 2 and 3 show the bag of Figure 1 in extended condition, so that it can function as a writing top;
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the bag of Figure 1 and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the writing top of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a chair with the aforesaid writing top according to the invention; and
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side view of the chair of Figure 6.

Figure 1 shows a writing top according to the invention, which has been converted into a bag 1, and which - as will be explained in more detail hereafter - is provided along part of its longitudinal edges with pivoted parts 2, which co-operate with the supporting elements of the chair when the writing top is attached to the chair, and which is provided along another part of its longitudinal edges with pivoted flaps 3. The pivoted parts 2 are provided with a handle opening 4, to enable easy carrying of bag 1. Figure 2 shows bag 1 in the extended condition thereof, in which condition it can function as a writing top, to which end the pivoted parts 2 and flaps 3 are shown to be pivoted or folded downwards in Figure 3. A writing pad 5 and a ring binder with sheets of paper 6 present therein are directly available from the bag 1 that has been converted into a writing pad.

Figure 4 is a side view of bag 1, wherein parts of flaps 3, which are adjacent to each other in the closed, detached condition of the writing pad, are shown being attached together by means of press-studs 7. Figure 5 is a plan view of the writing top of Figure 2, wherein a stiffening rib 8 is provided, along which the writing top can be pivoted from the extended condition, in which it is attached to the chair, to the closed, detached condition, and vice versa.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a chair 9 with the aforesaid writing top in the condition as shown in Figure 3, which chair 9 comprises a seat 10, a back 11, as well as two spaced-apart, parallel armrests 12, which extend horizontally so as to support the writing top. Each armrest 12 comprises an supporting element 13 which can be retracted into said armrest and be extended therefrom, and which comprises a section having a U-shaped cross-section, with which the pivoted parts 2 co-operate. The U-shaped section forms a U-slot, as it were, in which the writing top can be secured with its parts 2. All this results in a stable positioning of the writing top with respect to chair 9. Figure 7 is a side view of the chair 9 of Figure 6.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments which are shown in the Figures, but it also extends to other variants embodying the invention.

Claims

A chair with a writing top, which comprises a seat, a back, as well as two spaced-apart, at least substantially parallel armrests, which extend at least substantially horizontally so as to support the writing top, characterized in that the writing top is detachably attached to the chair, wherein the writing top can be moved from an extended condition, in which it is attached to the chair, to a closed, detached condition, and vice versa, in which closed, detached condition the writing top forms a bag.
A chair according to claim 1, wherein the armrests each comprise a supporting element, which can be retracted into said armrest and be extended therefrom, which supporting element functions to support the writing top.
A chair according to claim 2, wherein each supporting element comprises a section, which preferably has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
A chair according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the writing top is provided along part of its longitudinal edges with pivoted parts, which co-operate with the (sections of the) supporting elements when the writing top is attached to the chair.
A chair according to claim 4, wherein the writing top is provided along another part of its longitudinal edges with pivoted flaps, which comprise means for attaching parts of the respective flaps together in the closed, detached condition of the writing top.
A chair according to claim 5, wherein said means are press-studs.
A chair according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 6, wherein the writing top is provided with a writing pad and a pen.
A chair according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 7, wherein the writing top comprises a stiffening rib, along which the writing top can be pivoted from the extended condition, in which it is attached to the chair, to the closed, detached condition, and vice versa.
A chair according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 8, wherein the writing top is made of plastic material.
A writing top which is obviously suitable for use in a chair according to any one of the preceding claims.