AU2014227497A1 - A chair - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting assembly 18 for an article of furniture comprises a spindle 28. An arm 30 projects laterally from the spindle 18, a portion 32 of the arm 30 arranged about the spindle 18 being slotted to impart yieldability to the cantilever structure while providing stiffness about the spindle 18. A free end 46 of the arm 30 carries a mounting formation 50 for mounting a body member of the article of furniture. Fig. 5 e00

Description

1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 KING FURNITURE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Title: A chair The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us: - 2 'A chair' Cross-Reference to Related Applications [0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2013903660 filed on 23 September 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field [0002] This disclosure relates, generally, to an article of furniture and, more particularly, to a base assembly for an article of furniture and to an article of furniture including the base assembly. Background [0003] Chairs with reclining mechanisms are often quite bulky and their mechanisms may not be aesthetically appealing. The bulkiness of such chairs means that they may not be suitable for use in smaller rooms. In addition, a complete reclining mechanism may not always be required since the occupant of the chair may not need to be, or want to be, in a fully supine position. Summary [0004] In a first aspect, there is provided a base assembly for an article of furniture, the base including a base unit; and a cantilever structure carried by the base unit, the cantilever structure comprising a spindle and an arm projecting laterally from the spindle, at least that portion of the arm arranged about the spindle being slotted to impart yieldability to the cantilever structure while providing stiffness about the spindle, a free end of the arm carrying a mounting formation for mounting a body member. [0005] The base unit may comprise a support post and a number of spaced feet arranged at, or proximate, a first end of the support post, an opposed end of the support post including a receiving formation for receiving the spindle.

3 [0006] The arm may be shaped so that the free end of the arm is out of a plane in which an end of the spindle on which the arm is mounted lies so that a space is provided between a free end of the spindle and the body member, in use. This allows reclining/tipping when a centre of gravity of the body member, which is aligned with an axis of rotation of the spindle, moves out of alignment with the axis of rotation of the spindle and, hence, the body member. As a result, reclining or tipping of the body member, in use, is achieved by elastic deformation of the arm and the need for any pivoting joints between the base unit and the cantilever structure is obviated. [0007] The arm may be a laminate of a plurality of resiliently flexible elements, with the elements being spaced from one another at least in the region of the spindle to provide the slotted structure about the spindle. [0008] The mounting formation may be a flat defined at a free end of the arm to which the body member is securable. Thus, in use, the body member is mounted to the cantilever structure in a region offset from the centre of gravity of the body member. [0009] In a second aspect, there is provided an article of furniture which includes a base unit as described above; and a body member secured to the free end of the arm of the cantilever structure. [0010] The article of furniture of claim 6 in which the body member is a seat defining member. [0011] When the body member is unoccupied, an axis of rotation of the spindle may be substantially aligned with a centre of gravity of the body member The body member may be mounted to the cantilever structure in a region offset from the centre of gravity of the body member. [0012] In a third aspect, there is provided a mounting assembly for an article of furniture, the mounting assembly including a cantilever structure, the cantilever structure comprising a spindle; and an arm projecting laterally from the spindle, a portion of the arm arranged about the spindle being slotted to impart yieldability to the cantilever structure while providing stiffness about the spindle, a free end of the arm carrying a mounting formation for mounting a body member of the article of furniture.

4 Brief Description of Drawings [0013] An embodiment of the disclosure is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0014] Fig. 1 shows a side view of an article of furniture, in the form of a chair, including an embodiment of a base assembly for an article of furniture; [0015] Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a component of the base assembly for the article of furniture; [0016] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the base assembly; [0017] Fig. 4 shows an end view of the base assembly; [0018] Fig. 5 shows a side view of the base assembly; and [0019] Fig. 6 shows a sectional side view of the base assembly taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments [0020] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates an article of furniture in the form of a chair. The chair 10 includes an embodiment of a base assembly 12 for supporting a body member 14 of the chair 10. [0021] The base assembly 12 comprises a base unit 16 on which the body member 14 is mounted. The base unit 16 includes an embodiment of a mounting assembly 18 carried on the base unit 16. The mounting assembly 18 will be described in greater detail below with reference to Figs 2-6 of the drawings. [0022] The base unit 16 comprises a support post 20 and a number of spaced feet 22 arranged at, or proximate, a first end 24 of the support post 20. An opposed end 26 of the support post 20 has a receiving formation, in the form of a bore (not shown), in which a component, in the form of a spindle 28 (Figs 3-6), of the mounting assembly 18 is rotatably received to permit rotation of 5 the body member 14 relative to the base unit 12. In other embodiments, the spindle may be fixed in position relative to the base unit 12. [0023] Referring now to Figs 2-6 of the drawings, the mounting assembly 18 is described in greater detail. The mounting assembly 18 is in the form of a cantilever structure comprising the spindle 18 and an arm 30 projecting laterally from the spindle 28. [0024] At least that portion 32 of the arm 30 arranged about the spindle 28 is slotted to impart yieldability to the cantilever structure of the mounting assembly 18 while providing stiffness about the spindle 28. [0025] As illustrated most clearly in Figs 5 and 6 of the drawings, the arm 30 is a laminate comprising a plurality of plates 34, 36 and 38. While three plates 34-38 are shown in the illustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated that a greater or fewer number of plates could constitute the arm 30 depending on the degree of yieldability required. [0026] The free ends of the plates 34 and 36 are in mating relationship and are secured together. The dimensions of the plates 34 and 36 are roughly the same so that the peripheries of the plates 34 and 36 align with each other. In contrast, the plate 38 is more tongue-like, as illustrated most clearly in fig 4 of the drawings, and is of smaller dimensions than the plates 34 and 36. Thus, a free end 40 of the plate 38 bears against an underside surface 42 of the plate 36 and facilitates yielding of the arm 30 when pivoting in a direction of arrow 44 (Fig 6). [0027] An upper surface 46 (Figs 2 and 3) of a free end 48 of the plate 34 defines a flat 50 to which the body member 14 of the chair 10 is securable. It is to noted that the flat 50 is offset with respect to an axis of rotation 52 (Fig 6) of the mounting assembly 18. In addition, the flat 50 is in an operatively raised position relative to a plane 54 (Fig 6) in which a free end of the spindle 28 lies. This facilitates pivoting of the body member 14 of the chair 10 in the direction of arrow 44 to an at least partially reclining position and a return from that at least partially reclining position to the upright position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. [0028] The ends of the plates 34, 36 and 38 arranged about the spindle 28 are spaced from each other and retained in spaced relationship by spacers 56. This arrangement of the ends of the plates 34-38 about the spindle 28 provides the slotted structure 32 and facilitates yielding of the 6 arm 30 in the direction of the arrow 44 when an occupant seated on the body member 14 of the chair 10 wishes to recline. [0029] As described above, the free ends of the plates 34 and 36, are secured together. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the free end 14 of the plate 38 is not secured to the underside surface 42 of the plate 36 and is allowed to move relative to the plate 36. This provides greater resilient flexibility and, hence, yieldability of the arm 30. In another embodiment (not illustrated), the free end 40 of the plate 38 is secured, for example by being welded, to the underside surface 42 of the plate 36. This increases the stiffness of the arm 30 and, as a result, reduces the yieldability of the arm 30. [0030] There are various factors governing the yieldability of the arm 30 and plate thickness is one of these factors. Typically, the plates 34-38 are steel plates and have a thickness of at least 3mm and, preferably, about 5mm. This, the applicant believes, provides the requisite degree of yieldability for the arm 30. However, if greater or lesser yieldability is required, this can be achieved either by altering the plate thickness, altering the geometry of the plates 34-38, altering the number of plates constituting the arm 30 and/or securing the free end 40 of the plate 38 to the underside surface 42 of the plate 36. [0031] In use, when the chair 10 is unoccupied, a centre of gravity of the body member 14 is aligned with the axis of rotation 52 of the spindle 28 of the mounting assembly 18. When the body member 14 is occupied, the position in which the occupant sits governs where the centre of gravity of the body member 14 lies. By the occupant positioning himself or herself in the body member 14 of the chair 10 the occupant can affect how much the body member 14 pivots relative to the base unit 12 to the at least partially reclining position. [0032] Thus, the occupant can position himself or herself on the body member 14 so that the centre of gravity remains aligned with the axis of rotation 52. In this way, the body member 14 is retained in an upright orientation relative to the base unit 12. If the occupant moves on the body member 14 in the direction of arrow 58 (Fig. 1), the centre of gravity moves out of alignment with the axis of rotation 52 of the spindle 28 and the free end of the arm 30 pivots upwardly relative to the plane 54 so that the body member 14 moves in the direction of arrow 60 (fig 1) to the at least partially reclining position.

7 [0033] To reverse the operation, the occupant need only move on the body member 14 in a direction opposite to that of arrow 58 and the body member 14 will rise relative to the base unit 12 and return to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings under the action of the resilient flexibility of the arm 30. It is to be noted that the plate 38 is a tension member and assists in the movement of the body member 14 in the direction of arrow 60 when the occupant moves his or her body in the direction of the arrow 58. [0034] Hence, it is an advantage of the described embodiment that an article of furniture 10 is provided which affords a significant degree of reclining motion with a simplified structure and with considerably reduced bulkiness. Hence, an article of furniture 10 including the described mounting assembly 18 lends itself for use in smaller spaces and is also of an aesthetically appealing layout. [0035] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (10)

1. A base assembly for an article of furniture, the base including a base unit; and a cantilever structure carried by the base unit, the cantilever structure comprising a spindle and an arm projecting laterally from the spindle, at least that portion of the arm arranged about the spindle being slotted to impart yieldability to the cantilever structure while providing stiffness about the spindle, a free end of the arm carrying a mounting formation for mounting a body member.

2. The assembly of claim 1 in which the base unit comprises a support post and a number of spaced feet arranged at, or proximate, a first end of the support post, an opposed end of the support post including a receiving formation for receiving the spindle.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the arm is shaped so that the free end of the arm is out of a plane in which an end of the spindle on which the arm is mounted lies so that a space is provided between a free end of the spindle and the body member, in use.

4. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims in which the arm is a laminate of a plurality of resiliently flexible elements, with the elements being spaced from one another at least in the region of the spindle to provide the slotted structure about the spindle.

5. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting formation is a flat defined at a free end of the arm to which the body member is securable.

6. An article of furniture which includes a base unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; and a body member secured to the free end of the arm of the cantilever structure.

7. The article of furniture of claim 6 in which the body member is a seat defining member.

8. The assembly of claim 6 or claim 7, in which, when the body member is unoccupied, an axis of rotation of the spindle is substantially aligned with a centre of gravity of the body member. 9

9. The assembly of claim 8 in which the body member is mounted to the cantilever structure in a region offset from the centre of gravity of the body member.

10. A mounting assembly for an article of furniture, the mounting assembly including a cantilever structure, the cantilever structure comprising a spindle; and an arm projecting laterally from the spindle, a portion of the arm arranged about the spindle being slotted to impart yieldability to the cantilever structure while providing stiffness about the spindle, a free end of the arm carrying a mounting formation for mounting a body member of the article of furniture.