EP0344718B1

EP0344718B1 - Lounger

Info

Publication number: EP0344718B1
Application number: EP89109745A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Balliu Garcia
Original assignee: Balliu Falgueras Carme
Current assignee: Balliu Falgueras Carme
Priority date: 1988-05-31
Filing date: 1989-05-30
Publication date: 1992-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-30
Also published as: PT90686A; ES1006875U; DE68902099D1; PT90686B; GR3005892T3; ATE78138T1; EP0344718A1; DE68902099T2; ES1006875Y

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 invention refers to a lounger as set forth in the preamble of claim 1. A lounger of this type is known from GB-A-2 168 890.
In that document, a lounger is disclosed having a rectangular rigid, panel-supporting frame provided with two supporting leg means on each side outside the circumference of said frame and each being V-shaped to enable a plurality of said loungers to be easily piled up for compact storage whereby the legs of two stacked loungers engage each other. The frame of the lounger is a one-part element so that it is difficult or hardly possible to stow the lounger within a common passenger vehicle.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a lounger of the aforementioned type having a light-weight structure, which can be piled up and which is wheather resistant and usable as a sunchair and for relaxation.
This object is attained by the characterizing features of claim 1 Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject matter of the dependent claims.
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 lounger 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 lounger, 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 longitudinal bars and cross bars at the external end portions and four legs of angular design, resting on ground at their portions corresponding to the vertices.
The framing consists of two coupled parts indicated A and B in figure 1 each of which consisting of a rectangular frame part with longitudinal bar sections 34,35 and 1,3 and 2,4 respectively and a pair of angular supporting legs 5,6. The linkage of the longitudinal bar sections 34,35 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 portions 7,8 of each of its longitudinal bar sections 34,35.
The coupling of the two parts A,B of the framing is performed according to figures 1 and 7 by means of an insert element in form of a tappet (10) of circular, polygonal of equivalent cross section having an engagement member 9 constituted by a metallic tube portion matching with the insert opening 11 of tubular design and corresponding cross section in the end of the section of the longitudinal bar of the other part of the frame.
The longitudinal bars 34,35 of the frame 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.
Alternatively the sides of said frame 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 32,33 in the shape of a "U" which, for example, are made from a suitably formed tube and which affect the additional cross bars 3 and 4 and the corresponding downwardly extending portions of the supporting legs 5 and 6 close to said additional cross bars 3,4, and by means of interior rods located within said longitudinal bars 34,35.
The angular legs 5 and 6 further are provided with 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 C 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 16 near the location of the pivot connection.
The desired inclination of the support 16 of the back-rest C is fixed by means of a rectangular frame 22 pivotally mounted by its upper vertices by articulation extensions 23 and 24 at the tiltable supporting arms which are supported by their lower vertices provided with lugs 25 and 26 at opposite sides and by recesses 27 and 28 symmetrically disposed in the arms of a fitting 29 affixed to the longitudinal bars 34 and 35 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 D in form of a frame 43 covered by a resistant cloth 44, as seen in figures 5, 11 and 12. The openings 52 and 53 at the ends of the longitudinal bars 34 and 35 are adapted to receive the legs of said holders 40,41.
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 articulation extensions 23 and 24 of the frame in form of bifurcations according to said figure 10.
The inclination of the blind or sun-shield D may be varied according to figure 12 by articulation of the holder 40 of each side with the frame of the sun-shiel D 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 support 16 can be inserted into matching recesses provided in the longitudinal bars 34,35 of the framing in order to fix the position of the tiltable support 16, as can be seen in figure 13.
In order to secure the connection established between the parts A and B of the framing, according to figures 1 and 7 one (B) of the parts A and B presents at both of it ends protrusions 38 in form of flat extensions matching with recesses 39 provided in the other part A so that the connections so established promote the coupling and prevent an undesired separation of the associated parts.

Claims

1. Lounger of light-weight structure, which can be piled up, comprising a rectangular framing formed of two longitudinal bars (34,35) and two cross bars (1,2) extending between the end portions of said longitudinal bars (34,35) and connecting same, and two pairs of angular supporting legs (5,6) affixed to the longitudinal bars (34,35), characterized in that said framing is constituted of two parts (A,B) coupled with each other by means of the respective sections of their longitudinal bars (34,35) and each consisting of a frame part having an additional cross bar (3,4) extending between its longitudinal bar sections (34,35), each of said frame parts (A,B) having one of said pairs of angular supporting legs (5,6), and one of the frame parts forming a head portion defined by an inclination of the end portion (7,8) of its longitudinal bar sections (34,35).

2. Lounger as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of the two parts (A,B) of the framing to each other is effected by an insert element (9,10) protruding from the end of each section of the longitudinal bars (34,35) of one part (B) and a tubular insert opening (11) in the end portion of the corresponding section of the longitudinal bars (34,35) of the other part (A), said insert element (10) comprising a tappet (10) and a coaxial reinforcing sleeve (9) adapted to be inserted in said insert opening (11), said opening (11) having the same cross section as said insert element (9,10), the interconnection being immobilized by a protrusion (38) extending from one frame part (B) in parallel to the insert element (9,10) and a corresponding seat (39) provided in the other frame part (A).

3. Lounger as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the longitudinal bars (34,35) have linear and parallel edges (12) adapted for the connection of transverse slat members (13) which function as support elements and are provided with connection and retention ribs at the ends thereof.

4. Lounger as set forth any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sides of the frame are provided at the inner edges thereof with a plurality of openings (14) for the insertion of elastic holdings cords of a rectangular and longitudinal piece of resistant and porous cloth, which is permanently tensioned.

5. Lounger as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the parts (A,B) of the framing each are reinforced by an interior armature (32,33) in form of a rectangular "U" affecting the additional cross bars (3,4) and two downwardly extending portions of the respective supporting legs (5,6), and by the coupling means of said parts (A,B), constituted each by a metallic sleeve (9) through which a tappet (10) extends longitudinally.

6. Lounger as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the angular supporting legs (5,6) comprise in the zones engaging ground wear resistent protective garnishments (15) of a stainless metallic material.

7. Lounger as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises an tiltable and removable back-rest (C) of adjustable inclination, constituted by a support (16) in form of a rectangular "U" coupled at its ends to the longitudinal bars (34,35) of the framing by means of pivotal joints and comprising securing means constisting of a rectangular tranverse frame (22) pivotally mounted at its upper vertices (23,24) at the sides of the tiltable support (16) and supported by its lower vertices provided with opposing lugs (25,26) in symmetric recesses (27,28) formed in the sides of a fittings (29) affixed to the longitudinal bars (34,35) of the framing.