AU2015101395A6 - A backrest assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A backrest assembly 10 for an article of furniture includes a frame 18. A cushion member 24 is attachable to the frame 18. The assembly 10 includes an attachment arrangement 30 for attaching the cushion member 24 to the frame 18. The attachment arrangement 30 includes a receiving formation 32 defined in at least one of the cushion member 24 and the frame 18 and an engaging element 34 carried by the other of the cushion member 24 and the frame 18, the engaging element 34 being slidably received in the receiving formation 32. Fig for publication: Fig. 1 -4 '-4 -4 - 0 ir -4 C n -4

Description

1 "A backrest assembly" Technical Field [0001] This disclosure relates, generally, to an article of furniture and, more particularly, to a backrest assembly for an article of furniture. The backrest assembly is intended particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, for use with outdoor furniture. Summary [0002] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. [0003] In an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a backrest assembly for an article of furniture, the backrest assembly including a frame; a cushion member attachable to the frame; and an attachment arrangement for attaching the cushion member to the frame, the attachment arrangement including a receiving formation defined in at least one of the cushion member and the frame and an engaging element carried by the other of the cushion member and the frame, the engaging element being slidably received in the receiving formation. [0004] The frame may include at least one cross member and the receiving formation may be a slot defined in the at least one cross member of the frame, the receiving formation extending longitudinally in the at least one cross member and the engaging element being an elongate, enlarged formation (in the form of a length of piping) carried by, and extending across, at least a part of an operatively rear surface of, the cushion member. More particularly, the cushion member comprises a cover covering padding and the length of piping may be carried by the cover. [0005] At least one access aperture may be defined in the slot to facilitate insertion of the enlarged formation into the slot, the slot and the enlarged formation being dimensioned so that the enlarged formation is a snug fit within the slot.

2 [0006] The enlarged formation may be carried on webbing extending from the operatively rear surface of the cushion member. The webbing may be configured to facilitate drainage of liquid from the webbing. More particularly, the webbing may contain a plurality of spaced openings through which liquid is able to drain. Brief Description of Drawings [0007] An embodiment of the disclosure is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0008] Fig. 1 shows a perspective, rear view of an article of furniture including a plurality of backrest assemblies, each in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; [0009] Fig. 2 shows a perspective, exploded view of an embodiment of the backrest assembly; [0010] Fig. 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, a perspective view of a part of the backrest assembly; [0011] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a part of a frame of the backrest assembly; [0012] Fig. 5 shows a sectional side view of the backrest assembly; and [0013] Fig. 6 shows, on an enlarged scale, a sectional side view of the part of the backrest assembly circled by Circle 'A' in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments [0014] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates an embodiment of a backrest assembly. The backrest assembly 10, in use, forms part of a modular article of furniture such as a sofa 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the sofa 12 comprises a base 14 and a pair of seat cushions 16. Each seat cushion 16 has a backrest assembly 10 associated with it. The seat cushions 16 and backrest assemblies 10 are removably mountable on the base 14 of the sofa 12. [0015] While the sofa 12 has been illustrated as having two seat cushions 16 and associated backrest assemblies 10, it will be appreciated that the sofa 12 could have other configurations such as, for example, three seat cushions 16, each of which has a backrest assembly 10 3 associated with it. Further, the article of furniture could adopt other forms such as, for example, a chair or chaise. In the latter case, the backrest assembly 10 is mounted on an end of the base 14. [0016] Referring again to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the backrest assembly 10 comprises a frame 18. The frame 18 has a plurality of cross members 20 extending between a pair of end members 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 18 has four cross members 20. The frame 18 could have a greater or fewer number of cross members 20 depending on the required configuration. [0017] A cushion member, or cushion, 24 is attachable to the frame 18. The cushion 24 includes padding 26 (Figs. 5 and 6), such as elastomeric padding. The padding 26 is covered by a moisture resistant cover 28. Moisture resistance may be imparted to the cover 28 as a result of a suitable hydrophobic coating, the use of moisture resistant layers or a combination of the two. [0018] The backrest assembly 10 includes an attachment arrangement 30 for attaching the cushion 24 to the frame 18. The attachment arrangement 30 comprises a receiving formation in the form of a slot 32 defined in one of the cross members 20.1 of the frame 18. The slot 32 extends substantially the full-length of the cross member 20.1 between the end members 22 of the frame 18. [0019] The attachment arrangement 30 further comprises an engaging element 34 carried by the cover 28 of the cushion 24. More particularly, the engaging element 34 is an enlarged, bulbous-like (when viewed in cross-section) element in the form of a length of piping 36 carried by webbing 38. The piping 36 is dimensioned to be a snug fit within the slot 32. [0020] The engaging element 34 is carried on an operatively rear surface of the cover 28 of the cushion 24 and extends transversely, over at least a part of the length of the cushion 24 substantially parallel to upper and lower edges of the cushion 24. [0021] To facilitate insertion of the piping 36 into the slot 32, an access aperture 40 is defined in the cross member 20.1 proximate each end of the slot 32. The access apertures 40 facilitate a user being able to grip the piping 36 and insert it into the slot 32 following which the piping 36 can be slid into the slot to retain the cushion 24 in position relative to the frame 18.

4 [0022] While the access apertures 40 have been illustrated as being arranged slightly inwardly of the ends of the slot 32 of the cross member 20.1, it will be appreciated that the apertures 40 can be arranged anywhere along the length of the slot 32, including at the ends of the slot 32. Further, it is not necessary to have two access apertures 40 as only a single access aperture 40 will serve the required purpose of facilitating insertion of the piping 36 into the slot 32. The provision of two access apertures 40 merely serves to provide a user with a choice as to which end of the slot 32 to use to insert the piping 36 into the slot initially. [0023] The sofa 12 is intended particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, for use in outdoor settings. Thus, the sofa 12 is exposed to the elements and can be subjected to precipitation, or the like which could degrade the cover 28 and padding 26 of the cushion 24. To reduce the likelihood of this and to inhibit pooling of liquid and to facilitate drainage of liquid from the rear of the cushion 24, the webbing 38 defines a plurality of spaced openings 42 (shown most clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings) through which liquid can drain. [0024] It is to be noted, in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, that each of the cross members 20 contains a slot 32. This is for ease of manufacturing purposes as well to provide an increased number of options for mounting a cushion to the frame. [0025] In use, as described above, a user mounts the cushion 24 to the frame 18 by inserting the piping 36 of the cushion 24 into the access aperture 40 of the cross member 20.1 of the frame 18. The user then pushes on the cushion 24 to slide the piping 36 home into the slot 32 of the cross member 20.1 of the frame 18. Once the piping 36 is contained within the slot 32, the cushion 24 is held captive relative to the frame 18. [0026] While the attachment arrangement 30 has been described with reference to the slot 32 being in the cross member 20.1 of the frame 18 and the engaging element 34 being carried by the cushion 24, it will be appreciated that the situation is able to be reversed. In other words, the cross member 20.1 of the frame could carry a protruding engaging element receivable in a corresponding receiving formation defined in the cover 28 of the cushion 24. The corresponding receiving formation could be in the form of a suitably shaped slot having a shape complementary to the protruding engaging element of the frame 18. [0027] It is an advantage of the described embodiment that a backrest assembly 10 is provided having a simple, but aesthetically pleasing, attachment arrangement 30 for attaching a cushion 24 5 to a backrest 18. The attaching arrangement 30 is, in use, effectively hidden which provides an attractive, compact backrest assembly 10. [0028] 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 (5)

1. A backrest assembly for an article of furniture, the backrest assembly including a frame; a cushion member attachable to the frame; and an attachment arrangement for attaching the cushion member to the frame, the attachment arrangement including a receiving formation defined in at least one of the cushion member and the frame and an engaging element carried by the other of the cushion member and the frame, the engaging element being slidably received in the receiving formation.

2. The assembly of claim 1 in which the frame includes at least one cross member and the receiving formation is a slot defined in the at least one cross member of the frame, the receiving formation extending longitudinally in the at least one cross member and the engaging element being an elongate, enlarged formation carried by, and extending across, at least a part of an operatively rear surface of, the cushion member.

3. The assembly of claim 2 in which at least one access aperture is defined in the slot to facilitate insertion of the enlarged formation into the slot, the slot and the enlarged formation being dimensioned so that the enlarged formation is a snug fit within the slot.

4. The assembly of claim 2 or claim 3 in which the enlarged formation is carried on webbing extending from the operatively rear surface of the cushion member.

5. The assembly of claim 4 in which the webbing is configured to facilitate drainage of liquid from the webbing.