EP0344718A1

EP0344718A1 - Lounger

Info

Publication number: EP0344718A1
Application number: EP89109745A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Balliu Garcia
Original assignee: TUMBONAS BALLIU SA; Balliu Falgueras Carme; Tumbonas Balliu S A
Current assignee: Balliu Falgueras Carme
Priority date: 1988-05-31
Filing date: 1989-05-30
Publication date: 1989-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-30
Also published as: PT90686A; ES1006875U; ES1006875Y; PT90686B; DE68902099T2; ATE78138T1; DE68902099D1; GR3005892T3; EP0344718B1

Abstract

Comprises a framing constituted by two parts coupled to each other and consisting in each of its halves of a rectangular frame having a cross bar (32, 33) and a pair of angular supporting legs (5, 6), effecting a connection of the parts by the longitudinal bars, and one of the parts forming a head portion defined by an inclination of the end portion of each of its longitudinal bars. The coupling of the two halves of the framing is effected by means of an insert element (9) protruding from the end of each half-portion of the longitudinal bars and the tubular termination of the end of the corresponding half-portion of the longitudinal bars of the other part.

The longitudinal bars of the frame have linear and parallel edges adapted for the connection of curved transverse slat members (13) thereto functioning as supports. The sides of the frame have a plurality of openings (14) for the insertion of elastic holding cords of a rectangular piece of resistant cloth which is permanently tensioned.

The structure of the framing is reinforced by an internal armature in form of a rectangular U, and the angular supporting legs comprise wear resistant protective garnishments (15) in the zones engaging ground.

An inclineable and removable back-rest (16) constituted by a support in form of a rectangular U is pivotally coupled by its ends (17, 18) to the longitudinal bars of the framing and comprise means (22) for fixing the desired inclination.

Description

The present invention refers to a lounger of the type having a light-weight structure, which can be piled up and which is weather resistent and usable as a sun-chair and for relaxation.
The new lounger is of the kind constituted by a framing made from a thermoformable synthetic resin of great mechanical strength, reinforced in some of its parts and adapted to receive the connection of a piece of cloth onto which the user may directly sit down, said coupling being adapted to support said cloth by means of some slat members onto which a pad may eventually be disposed.
The design of the new lounger is of a manner that the production thereof may be performed economically, and for this purpose the framing of the lounger is made from two parts which may be coupled together and which are produced separately each by an injection moulding process of thermoplastic material. The coupling of the two parts is effected by a simple system of insert elements located in seat openings, thereby obtaining a great rigidity of the resulting structure.
Other characteristics of the new lounger are that the framing is reinforced by armatures attached to the two associated parts and providing strength to support the respective part, preventing the undesired separation of the supporting legs. The latter each comprise wear resistant garnishments at the portions thereof contacting ground.
The new lounger is embodied in a single piece basic version and in a version having a back-rest with adjustable inclination. This second version provides great comfort to the user, permitting the selection of different positions of the subject furniture, effecting the adjustment of the back-rest by means of a simple and practical system.
The lounger may be equipped with a sunblind for providing shadow to the head of the user.
In the same way the lounger may be embodied in an adults' size version and in a childrens' size version, differing from one another by the length of the coupled longitudinal bars.
To facilitate the explanation, the description is accompanied by drawings in which as an illustrative and not restricting example an embodiment of a lounger according to the principles of the invention is shown.
In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows the two parts of the framing of the new furniture facing each other and in the relative position for their coupling, which is shown completed in figure 2 which shows the framing of the finished furniture, incorporating transverse slat members onto which a pad or the like may be disposed.
Figures 3 and 4 show in top and side elevation view the version of the new lounger with tiltable back-rest, wherein in figure 4 various possible positions of the tiltable back-rest.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lounger in its version having an tiltable back-rest and a sunblind.
Figure 6 is a detail of the lower portion of each of the supporting legs with a representation of a metallic wear resistant garnishment.
Figure 7 is a detailed illustration of a possible coupling system of the two half-portions of each longitudinal bar of the framing in the position of the assembly of same.
Figure 8 is a view of the device for adjusting the inclination of the back-rest, along with the functional components thereof.
Figure 9 shows three loungers of the type disclosed piled-up for forming a pile of equal length and engaging each other.
Figure 10 is a disassembled view of the components of the articulation device of the tiltable support of the lounger.
Figures 11 and 12 show the structure and the hinge means of the sun-shade or sunblind which can be coupled to the lounger.
Figure 13 shows the supporting and securing system of the support which is tiltable with respect to the framing of the lounger.

The elements designated by numerals in the drawings correspond to the parts indicated throughout the description.
The described lounger comprises a framing constituted by a rectangular oblong frame forming the upper part and comprising cross bars and, at its external end portions, four legs of angular design, resting on ground at their portions corresponding to the vertices.
The framing constists of two coupled parts indicated in figure 1 by the numerals 1 and 2, each of which consisting of a rectangular frame part with a cross bar 3,4 and a pair of angular supporting legs 5,6. The linkage of the longitudinal bars of the upper frame is established by the middle portions of same, and the frame, at one of its ends, is forming a head portion defined by an inclination of the end portion 7,8 of each of its longitudinal bars.
The coupling of the two parts of the framing is performed according to figures 1 and 7 by means of an insert element 9 in form of a tappet of circular, polygonal or equivalent cross section having an engagement member 10 constituted by a metallic tube portion matching with the insert opening 11 of tubular design and corresponding cross section in the end of the half-portion of the longitudinal bar of the other part of the frame.
The longitudinal bars of the frame of the framing are at their inner edges 12 perfectly linear and parallel, adapted to receive the connection of transversal slat members 13 of oblong rectangular and curved configuration which function as supporting elements and are provided with connection and retention ribs at their ends. Said slat members are precisely affixed by adjacently positioning said ribs and edges in correspondence.
The sides of said frame formed by the framing have openings 14 at their inner edges designated to receive elastic holding cords of a rectangular and longitudinal piece of resistant, plastified and porous cloth, in which case the slat members 13 are evidently missing. Said cloth is permanently tensioned due to the elasticity of the holding cords.
The slat members 13 may be disposed individually or also, in contrary, in groups forming oblong rectangles equivalent to approximately a half or a third part of the linear major portion of the supports, whereas the minor portion, which forms the inclination of the head portion, comprises at its turn the other group of slat members or also the end of the supporting cloth piece.
The structure of the framing is reinforced by means of two metallic armatures in the shape of a "U" which, for example, are made from a suitably formed tube and which affect the cross bars 3 and 4 and the corresponding downwardly extending portions of the supporting legs 5 and 6 close to said cross bars, and by means of interior rods located within said longitudinal bars.
The angular legs 5 and 6 further are reinforced by means of metallic garnishments 15 applied to the ground contact regions thereof and secured there, for example, by means of screws in order to protect said legs against wear by friction on ground, see figure 6.
An improved embodiment of the described lounger comprises a tiltable and removable back-rest of adjustable inclination, constituted by a support 16 in shape of a rectangular "U" pivotally mounted by the ends of its parallel arms 17 and 18 at symmetric locations of the longitudinal bars of the framing, providing the connection e.g. by simple pivot mechanisms located in a cylindric recess. Preferably, the parallel arms of the support form at their portions proximate said pivot connection a bend of obtuse angle in the regions 19 and 20. The cross bar 21 reinforces the support near the location of the pivot connection.
The desired inclination of the support of the back-rest is fixed by means of a rectangular frame 22 pivotally mounted by its upper vertices 23 and 24 at the tiltable supporting arms which are supported by their lower vertices provided with pins 25 and 26 at opposite sides and by recesses 27 and 28 symmetrically disposed in the arms of fittings 29 affixed to the longitudinal bars of the framing, see figures 5 and 10.
In the regions of its external vertices the tiltable support 16 is provided with respective openings 30 and 31 adapted to permit the insertion of two holders 40,41 of a sun-shield framing 43 in form of a frame covered by a resistant cloth 44, as seen in figures 5, 11 and 12. The openings 32 and 33 at the ends of the longitudinal bars 34 and 35 are adapted to receive the legs of said holders.
The connection between the inclineable frame 16 and its support 22 permitting the adjustment of the inclination thereof is provided according to figure 8 symmetrically by means of articulations 23,36 and 24,37 or also by studs 36 and 37 according to figure 10 which are engaged by the extensions 23 and 24 of the frame in form of bifurcations according to said figure 10.
The inclination of the blind or sun-shield may be varied according to figure 12 by articulation of the holder 40 of each side with the frame of the sun-shield to which an oblique strut 42 is pivotally connected as well which is integral with a sleeve 50 slidably mounted on said holder.
The openings 45 in the central part of the piece serve functions similar to those in the other arms of the framing.
The protrusions 46 and 47, 48 and 49 at the ends of the tiltable frame 16 can be inserted into matching recesses provided in the longitudinal bars of the framing in order to fix the position of the tiltable element, as can be seen in figure 13.
In order to secure the connection established between the parts 1 and 2 of the framing, according to figures 1 and 7 one of the parts presents at both of its ends protrusions 38 in form of flat extensions matching with recesses 39 provided in the other part so that the connections so established promote the coupling and prevent an undesired separation of the associated parts.

Claims

1. Lounger of the type having a light-weight structure, which can be piled up and which is weather resistent, characterized essentially by comprising a framing constituted by two coupled parts each consisting of a rectangular half-portion of a frame having a cross bar and a pair of angular supporting legs effecting a connection of the parts by of the longitudinal bars and one of the parts forming a head portion defined by an inclination of the end portion of each of its longitudinal bars.

2. Lounger as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of the two parts of the framing to each other is effected by an insert element protruding from the end of each half-portion of the longitudinal bars of one part and a tubular termination of the end portion of the corresponding half-portion of the longitudinal bars of the other part, said insert element comprising a tappet and a coaxial reinforcing sleeve adapted to be inserted in the seat opening of the tubular termination, said opening having the same cross sectional as the associated half-portion of the longitudinal bar, the interconnection being immobilized by a protrusion extending in parallel to the insert element and a corresponding seat.

3. Lounger as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal bars of the frame formed by the framing have linear and parallel edges adapted for the connection of transverse slat members which function as support elements and are provided with connection and retention ribs at the ends thereof.

4. Lounger as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the sides of the frame formed by the framing are provided at the inner edges thereof with a plurality of openings for the insertion of elastic holding cords of a rectangular and longutudinal piece of resistant and porous cloth, which is permanently tensioned.

5. Lounger as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the structure of the framing is reinforced by an interior armature in form of a rectangular "U" affecting the cross bars and two downwardly extending portions of the respective supporting legs, and by half-portion of the tappet, constituted by a metallic tube through which the armature extends longitudinally.

6. Lounger as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the angular supporting legs comprise in the zones engaging ground wear resistent protective garnishments of a stainless metallic material.

7. Lounger as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an tiltable and removable back-rest of adjustable inclination, constituted by a support in form of a rectangular "U" coupled at its ends to the longerons of the framing by means of pivotal joints and comprising securing means constisting of a rectangular tranverse frame pivotally mounted at its upper vertices at the sides of the tiltable support and supported by its lower vertices provided with opposing lugs in symmetric recesses formed in the sides of each of fittings affixed to the longitudinal bars of the framing.