EP0218464B1

EP0218464B1 - Chair and method of producing a chair

Info

Publication number: EP0218464B1
Application number: EP86307545A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Charles R. Pollock; William A. Jaremko
Original assignee: Olivetti Synthesis SpA
Current assignee: Olivetti Synthesis SpA
Priority date: 1985-10-01
Filing date: 1986-10-01
Publication date: 1991-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-01
Also published as: ATE63440T1; DE3679270D1; EP0218464A3; EP0218464A2; AU603997B2; JPS62167511A; ES2022121B3; AU6351986A

Abstract

The frame for a chair is composed of a thin tubular back member 18 whose ends slot into the first ends 20a, 22b of thicker tubular arm members 20, 22, whose second ends 20c, 22d in turn slot into ends 24c, 26d of still thicker tubular seat support members 24, 26. After assembly, the second ends 24e, 26e of the seat support members 24, 26 are attached to a pedestal and a seat and back are attached to the frame. The tubular members of the frame are fitted together, laid out flat, a plastics cladding is then moulded on to the flat frame which is subsequently bent into its final configuration. The cladding holds the tubular members together. In a modified embodiment the tubular members are individually clad and are held together by fastening devices such as bayonet devices. The differing tube diameters provide ergonomic yielding of the frame.

Description

The present invention relates to a chair comprising a frame including first and second tubular means for a differentiated rigidity and to a method for producing the same.
The invention is concerned more specifically with a chair as set forth in the introductory part of claim 1 and with a method as set forth in the introductory part of claim 8.
A chair with a frame made of first and second tubular means is known (GB-A-451909) wherein a seat portion of the chair frame includes a first tubular means of given outer and inner surfaces, wherein the back portion of the frame is formed with a second tubular means of outer cylindrical surface having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first tubular means and wherein the second tubular means is partially lodged in the first tubular means to increase the rigidity of the back portion of the frame. In particular the desired configuration of the frame is obtained by mechanical deformation of the first tubular means and the portion of the second tubular means lodged therein. The two tubular means provide common bends through 90° which guarantee a substantial rigidity to the back portion and a certain flexibility to its back portion. No covering of the tubular means is provided. Such a chair has the disadvantage of questionable aesthetics and comfort, and requiring three-dimensional deformations of tube members and/or weldings to reach the desired configuration of the frame. It also does not allow obtaining shapes of complex type in the frame.
Another chair is known (US-A-4,361,357) wherein the frame is formed by a single tubing member defining the seat portion and the back portion of the chair and which is covered by a single elastomeric coating. The seat portion of the frame is engaged with suitable ends of a four arm base which increases the rigidity of the seat portion. This chair is costly in view of the high cost in shaping the frame and the base three-dimensionally, in covering the same with the elastomeric coating in its three-dimensional shape and in the requirements of the connections between the back portion of the frame and the ends of the base member.
The object of the present invention is to provide a chair which is comfortable, inexpensive, rugged and decorative and a method for simple production of the said chair.
In accordance with this object, the present invention provides a chair according to claim 1. The invention further provides a method of producing a chair according to claim 8.
A chair embodying the invention has a frame which is black self-skinning urethane moulded on to a tubular steel frame. The steel frame is made of separate parts with a difference in the diameters of the tubular parts designed to enable each section of the frame to respond to the flexibility demands made upon it. The configuration of the frame provides slots for the insertion and removal of the seat and back shells.
The seat and the back of the chair are flexible moulded plastics shells which attach to the frame with a snap-in or slide-in configuration for easy assembly, maintenance and replacement. A pin is used for additional security to prevent any accidental or unintended removal of the shell.
The upright of the chair will accommodate a wide variety of standard or custom designed raise and lower swivel devices. A five legged star base can accommodate casters and glides, and can be manufactured by various techniques including steel stamping and plastics casting.
The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 is a front perspective view of a fully assembled chair embodying the invention;
Fig.2 is a front elevation of the chair shown in Fig. 1;
Fig.3 is a side view of the chair shown in Fig.1 with the ergonomical movements of the chair illustrated by broken lines;
Fig.4 is an exploded perspective view of the chair of Fig.1 illustrating the parts thereof;
Fig.5 is an exploded perspective view of the steel frame of the chair with the elastomeric clothing absent;
Fig.6 is a plan view of the steel frame in assembled condition in position for moulding of the elastomeric clothing thereon;
Fig.7 is a sectional view of a section of frame with clothing:
Fig.8 is a plan view of the frame with clothing prior to rotation of the various members for attachment to the pedestal;
Fig.9 is a perspective view of the frame as shown in Fig.8 but with members rotated into position for attachment to the pedestal;
Fig.10 is a view similar to Fig.1 but of an alternative embodiment of the invention;
Fig.11 is a view similar to that of Fig.2 but of the chair shown in Fig.10;
Fig.12 is a view somewhat similar to that of Fig.3 but of the chair shown in Fig.10;
Fig.13 is a rear view of the chair shown in Fig. 10; and
Fig.14 is a perspective exploded view of a segment of the chair of Fig.10 illustrating the manner of joint assembly of that embodiment.

A first chair embodying the invention is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in fully assembled condition. The main portions of the chair as seen in these figures are frame 10, back 12, seat 14 and pedestal 16.
The chair is shown in exploded view in Fig.4 which illustrates generally the manner in which these parts go together.
The frame 10 is the primary portion of the chair and is shown particularly in Figs. 5 to 9 in various stages of fabrication and assembly. A back support member 18, right arm support member 20, left arm support member 22, left seat support member 24 and right seat support member 26 are steel members which, when assembled, provide the mechanical or structural support for the frame 10 with the elastomeric coating which is indicated by the numeral 28 providing clothing or covering thereof.
The back support member 18 comprises a single steel rod which can be hollow tubing or solid with each of the ends formed into the shape of a "U". Back support legs 18a and 18b are respective legs of the ends so formed.
The arm support members 20 and 22 are each a single hollow steel rod or steel tubing with a respective end of each formed into the shape of a "U" with respective legs 20a and 22b constructed and arranged to respectively receive back support legs 18a and 18b in the tubing in the assembled condition of the chair.
The other ends of the arm support members 20 and 22 are formed generally into the shape of a "Z" with legs 20c and 22d respectively thereto lying generally in the same plane, which plane is generally perpendicular to the axes of the legs 20a and 22b. The term "generally" is used herein to indicate that these conditions are not critical and need not be precise to the chair design, assembly and/or usage.
The seat support members 24 and 26 are also formed of hollow steel rods or tubing with a respective end of each formed into the shape of a "U" with respective legs 24c and 26c constructed and arranged to respectively receive seat support legs 20c and 22d in the tubing in the assembled condition of the chair.
The remaining portion of each seat support member slopes arcuately downwardly and is terminated in an end 24e, 26e designed to be attached to a suitable base or pedestal 16.
The steel members are formed and bent as shown primarily in Fig.5. The diameter of the seat support members is greater than the diameter of the arm support members which is greater than the diameter of the back support members so that the various sections can be received in one another. The diameter of the seat support member is largest since it supports the greatest load in use.
Different diameters of different sections allow the frame to be assembled, after forming and bending of individual frame members, by inserting one section into the next and also provides for "zoning" of flexibility throughout the frame.
The frame is assembled generally in one plane as shown in Fig.6, without fasteners by sliding one section into the next, and placed in a two part mould where urethane foam, or other suitable elastomeric material is moulded onto the steel to provide a coating or clothing 28 as is illustrated in Fig. 7.
The frame is then twisted into its three dimensional configuration and mounted in the upright 30 of the base 16.
The twisting and rotational movement of the frame is achievable since the steel members can rotate with respect to each other. The urethane in addition to being a cover holds the steel members together. The urethane has a uniform outside diameter with differing inside diameters since it is moulded around the steel members of differing outside diameter.
As stated above, after fabrication the frame 10 is mounted on the base by attaching seat support member ends 24e and 26e to the base upright 30. The base can be any suitable base and may be conventional. As shown herein for example the base 16 has five legs 32, an upright 30 and swivel vertical 34 to which the ends 24e and 26e are suitably connected. In this exemplary design the member 34 is supported within the upright 30 for rotational motion about a vertical axis. A tilt mechanism and/or means for raising or lowering the seat with respect to the floor can be incorporated.
A cover 36 is provided for ornamental purposes and to protect the mechanism from dust and other foreign objects.
The seat 14 and back 12 are flexible, moulded plastics shells which are attached to the frame with a snap-in or slide-in configuration for easy assembly, maintenance and replacement. Upholstering can be added if desired. Pins, not shown, can be used for additional security to prevent any accidental or unintended shell removal.
The flexibility and shape of the seat and back shells, integrated with the flexibility and configuration of the frame provide a unique ergonomical comfort which eliminates the need for a tilt mechanism, although such can be included if desired.
In Fig.3 the solid lines indicate the static or unoccupied condition of the chair while the broken lines indicate the loaded or occupied condition. As shown therein, the application of load to the chair, as when one sits in it, causes rotational movement of back and seat in the direction of the arrows "A" and a decrease in angle ϑ without the use of a tilt mechanism, to a degree determined by the magnitude of the load. Hence the degree of such rotational movement will be less for a person of lesser weight and greater for a person of greater weight, whereby the relationship of chair sections alters to provide a position unique to each user and his or her distributioon of weight. Additionally as one moves within the chair the chair sections will move to provide a comfortable and properly supportive chair to relative positions.
An alternative embodiment of the chair is shown in Figs. 10 to 14 wherein similar parts are identified by the numerals used in describing the embodiment of Fig. 1 with added primes.
The essential difference in the second embodiment is in the introduction of the concept that the frame of the chair can be realized also with separate parts (every part made of a bended steel tube covered with a coat of polyurethane). Separate parts are coupled by fasteners as will be explained below.
The main portions of the chair as seen in Figs. 10 to 14 are the frame 10', back 12', seat 14' and pedestal 16'.
The frame 10' is the primary portion of the chair as explained in connection with the first embodiment. The back support member 18', right arm support member 20', left arm support member 22', left seat support member 26' and right seat support member 24' when assembled provide the mechanical or structural support for frame 10' with the elastomeric coating which is indicated by the numeral 28' providing clothing or covering thereof as seen best in Fig. 14.
Each of these parts comprises a single steel rod, which can be hollow tubing or solid, bent to shape and covered with a suitable coating such as polyurethane before assembly.
The parts are coupled by means of any suitable fastening device 40, such as that shown in Fig.14 by way of example, for fastening two typical parts 42 and 44.
Fastener 40 is provided with a spiral, bayonet slot 46 to receive a pin 48 of member 42 which is inserted therein in the direction of the arrow "A" and rotated in the direction of arrow "B" to fasten the parts 42 and 44 together. Fig. 14 is illustrative of the assembly of each of the pairs in the second embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. 10 to 14.
The remainder of the assembly and operation and use of the chair of Figs. 10 to 14 are the same as in Figs. 1 to 9.

Claims

A chair comprising a frame (10) having a seat portion and a back portion, and first and second tubular means (24, 26; 20, 22), each having an outer cylindrical surface and an inner cylindrical surface and wherein the second tubular means (20, 22) defines the back portion and comprises engaging portions of their outer surfaces engaged in the inner surfaces of the first means (24, 26), characterized in that
the first tubular means (24, 26) defines the seat portion of the frame, has a rigidity greater than the rigidity of the second means (20, 22) and comprises two receiving ends (24c, 26d) in the said inner surfaces, close to the sides of a seat member (14) of the chair;
the engaging portions of the second tubular (20, 22) comprise two engaging ends of the outer surfaces which are engaged within the said two receiving ends;
the receiving ends in the first tubular means and the engaging ends of the second tubular means are connected to each other through a slidable and rotatable coupling; and
an elastomeric coating (28) covers the outer surface of the first means (24, 26) and the outer surface of the second means (20, 22) except for the engaging ends and includes sections rotated relative to each other between the first tubular means and the second tubular means adjacent to said receiving ends, and provides a substantial uniform outside surface on the said seat portion and back portion.
A chair in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the frame (10) further comprises a pedestal (30) providing an upper end (34), the first tubular means (24, 26) comprises two lower portions which slope arcuately downwardly with respect to the seat member (14) and in that the first tubular means comprises two further receiving ends (24e, 26e) in the inner surfaces for engaging the upper end (34) of the pedestal (30).
A chair in accordance with clad 1 or 2, characterized in that the second tubular means (20, 22) comprises two receiving ends (20a, 22b) in the inner cylindrical surface, opposite to said engaging ends (20c, 22d) and the back portion of the frame further comprises a third tubular means (18), having an outer cylindrical surface, an inner cylindrical surface and two engaging ends (18a, 18b) on the outer surface opposite each other, in which the engaging ends in the third tubular means are engaged in the receiving ends of the second tubular means through a further slidable and rotatable coupling and in which an elastomeric coating (28) is further provided to cover also the outer surface of the third tubular means except the said engaging ends (18a, 18b).
A chair in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said first tubular means (24, 26) further comprises two seat tubing members ending with two "U" shaped portions close to the sides of the seat member (14) of the chair and each including an intermediate arm and a terminal arm, and in which the two receiving ends (24e, 26e) are located at the respective terminal arms in the said "U" shaped portions.
A chair in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the second tubular means (20, 22) comprises two arm tubing members including two respective vertical "Z" shaped portions each having a lower portion, an upper portion and a diagonal portion between the lower portion and the upper portion, in which the lower portions are disposed at the sides of the said seat member and the said engaging ends (20c, 22d) are located at the ends of the said lower portions and engage the said terminal arms in the "U" shaped portions, and in which the diagonal portions and the upper portions of the said "Z" shaped arms define an angle (ϑ) which is yieldably decreasable upon application of load to the chair.
A chair in accordance with claims 3 and 5, characterized in that the third tubular means (18) comprises a back tubing member including a main horizontal portion and two vertical "U" shaped portions located at the sides of a back member (12) of the chair and each having an upward arm following the main portion and a downward arm defining one of said engaging ends (18a, 18b), in which the two arm tubing members end with two vertical "U" shaped portions each include each one a downward arm which follows said upper portion and an upward arm which defines one of the receiving ends (20a, 22b) to receive a respective engaging end (18a, 18b) of the downward arm of the back tubing member (18), and in which the said back member (12) has two sides located between the "U" shaped portions of the said back tubing member.
A chair in accordance with any of the preceding claims characterized in that the slidable and rotatable coupling between the first tubular means (24, 26) and the second tubular means (20, 22), and optionally between the second tubular means (20, 22) and the third tubular means (18), includes a pin and slot connection between an engaging end and a respective receiving end, and wherein the elastomeric coating covers the said pin and slot connection and comprises a discontinuity adjacent to the said receiving ends.
A method of producing a chair comprising a base member (16), a frame (10) having a seat portion and a back portion, and first and second tubular means (24, 26; 20, 22), each having an outer cylindrical surface and an inner cylindrical surface and wherein the second tubular means defines the back portion and comprises engaging portions of the outer surface engaged in the inner surface of the first means, the method being characterized by the steps of:
shaping the first tubular means (24, 26) to form the seat portion of the frame and to include two receiving ends (24c, 26d) in the said inner surface;
providing the engaging portions in the second tubular means (20, 22) to include two engaging ends in the outer surfaces to define a slidable and rotatable coupling with the two receiving ends in the first tubular means;
connecting the receiving ends of the first tubular means with the engaging ends of the second tubular means through sliding in the slidable and rotatable coupling;
covering the outer surface of the first means (24, 26) and the outer surface of the second means (20, 22) except the engaging ends with an elastomeric coating, either before the engaging of the engaging ends by moulding of singular elastomeric coatings on the first tubular means and the second tubular means or, in alternative, after insertion of the engaging ends in the receiving ends by moulding a continuous covering of the said first and second tubular means with an elastomeric coating, in order to obtain a substantially uniform outside surface in the said seat portion and back portion;
twisting the slideable and rotatable coupling to define the desired frame configuration, either through reciprocal rotation between the elastomeric coatings of the first tubular means and the second tubular means in the case of individual coatings, or, in alternative, through twisting of the elastomeric coating in the case of continuous covering; and
attaching and locking the said first tubular means to the base member (16) of the chair.
A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the slideable and rotatable coupling comprises a spiral bayonet slot (46) on the receiving end covered by the elastomeric coating and a pin (48) on the engaging end close to the elastomeric coating.
A method according to claim 8, characterized in that, in the alternative case of continuous covering, the continuous covering is obtained by placing the first and the second tubular means in a generally flat posture within a mould, moulding the elastomeric coating about the tubular means and then removing the coated first and second tubular means from the mould.