EP0502794B1 - A piece of furniture, like a chair or table, comprising a support placed on legs made of hinged elements - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a new type of piece of furniture, such as a chair, armchair or table, of the type comprising a base consisting of articulated cross-pieces, on which a support forming a backrest or tray is stretched; armchairs known as AA have been known for a very long time consisting of four rigid rigid tubular cross-pieces, rounded at their ends, on which are housed a canvas forming a backrest and seat. Although widespread, this type of chair has the disadvantage of not being foldable, but only removable.

It was then proposed to arrange at each of the ends of the braces, yokes or mechanical hinges hinged together. This mechanically complex arrangement is costly and furthermore makes folding or unfolding maneuver difficult. Furthermore, the yokes or hinges are constantly rubbing on the ground, which scratch it (see for example US-A-2,691,410).

The invention overcomes these drawbacks. It targets a piece of furniture of the type in question, the base of which consists of cross-pieces on which a support is applied which is foldable, easy to fold and unfold, without scratching the ground.

• . un piètement constitué d'au moins trois croisillons formés de montants articulés reliés par leurs extrémités deux à deux ;
• . un support destiné à reposer sur le piètement,

se caractérise en ce que les extrémités libres en regard de deux montants tubulaires, appartenant à deux croisillons différents, mais coopérant entre eux, sont raccordées entre elles par un manchon déformable élastique, monopièce, emmanché dans chacune de ces deux extrémités, de sorte l'ensemble des manchons inférieurs forme point d'appui sur le sol, alors que l'ensemble des manchons supérieurs reçoit le support.This piece of furniture, which includes:

• . a base consisting of at least three crosspieces formed of articulated uprights connected by their ends two by two;
• . a support intended to rest on the base,

is characterized in that the free ends opposite two tubular uprights, belonging to two different braces, but cooperating with each other, are connected to each other by an elastic deformable sleeve, one-piece, fitted into each of these two ends, so that all of the lower sleeves form a fulcrum on the ground, while all of the upper sleeves receive the support.

• le manchon monopièce est en matière plastique déformable, présentant un fort pouvoir élastique de retour, apte à résister aux intempéries, aux différences de température et à l'abrasion ; avantageusement, ce manchon est en polyuréthane thermoplastique, en élastomère, en PVC ; il importe qu'il soit mécaniquement résistant et revienne facilement et sans déformation à sa position initiale ;
• le manchon monopièce déformable élastique est constitué par une pièce monobloc moulée, comprenant un corps cylindrique dont le diamètre correspond sensiblement au diamètre extérieur des montants, ce corps cylindrique présentant à chacune de ses deux extrémités un embout tronconique rattaché à ce corps par sa petite base, l'extrémité des montants étant alors retreinte sur un de ses embouts tronconiques ;
• les montants tubulaires sont en aluminium, en acier, voire en matière composite, et notamment en matière plastique.

Advantageously, in practice:

• the one-piece sleeve is made of deformable plastic, having a strong elastic return power, capable of withstanding bad weather, temperature differences and abrasion; advantageously, this sleeve is made of thermoplastic polyurethane, of elastomer, of PVC; it is important that it is mechanically resistant and returns easily and without deformation to its initial position;
• the elastic deformable one-piece sleeve is constituted by a molded one-piece piece, comprising a cylindrical body whose diameter corresponds substantially to the outside diameter of the uprights, this cylindrical body having at each of its two ends a frustoconical end piece attached to this body by its small base, the end of the uprights then being constricted on one of its frustoconical ends;
• the tubular uprights are made of aluminum, steel, or even of composite material, and in particular of plastic material.

In a first embodiment, the piece of furniture is a seat which comprises four cross-pieces each cooperating with two other cross-pieces, the two amounts of the two cross-pieces, respectively front and rear, being equal, but the amounts of the front cross-piece being smaller than the amounts rear brace, while the amounts of the two lateral braces are not equal, each brace comprising a small amount substantially equal to the amounts of the front brace and a large amount substantially equal to the amounts of the rear brace.

In this embodiment, the support is a trapezoidal fabric, the small base of which is arranged at the front and the large base at the rear, this canvas being fixed to the four upper sleeves by means of gussets provided for this purpose. each of the angles of the trapezoid. Each gusset then has a quick attachment means arranged on the reverse side of the fabric, and on the reverse side of the gusset so as to trap each of the upper sleeves.

In a second embodiment, the seat is a tripod and is made up of three braces, the uprights of which each cooperate with the two uprights of the other two braces, the uprights of the front brace being equal, the two lateral braces each having a small amount intended to be directed towards the front, and a large amount intended to be directed towards the rear, the support is then a triangular canvas, the base of which is directed towards the front and the apex towards the rear of similar gussets to the previous gussets of the trapezoidal fabric.

In a third embodiment, the piece of furniture is a table in which the base consists of four cross-pieces, the amounts of which are equal to each other, and the support of which forms a tray and consists of a succession of parallel rollable bars, the face internal tray having hooking means with the upper sleeves to thereby define different heights for positioning the tray, the assembly thus being advantageously foldable.

The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the exemplary embodiments which follow, in support of the appended figures.

Figure 1 shows a summary perspective view of a base for a four-legged seat, while Figure 2 shows a trapezoidal support canvas.

Figure 3 is a summary perspective view of such a four-legged chair.

FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of an elastic one-piece articulation sleeve and FIG. 5 another embodiment of this sleeve.

Figure 6 shows in detail the realization of a gusset.

Figure 7 shows the folded chair of Figure 3.

Figure 8 shows another embodiment of a tripod seat.

Figure 9 shows an embodiment for table.

Figure 10 shows in section and in side view a preferred embodiment of the one-piece sleeve characteristic of the invention.

Figures 11 and 12 show an embodiment of a four-legged seat.

In the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, the furniture according to the invention is an armchair with four legs. This armchair comprises a base designated by the general reference (1) shown in detail in FIG. 1, intended to receive a support designated by the general reference (2), of generally trapezoidal shape, in canvas, forming the backrest and seat, shown in plan in figure 2.

• le croisillon avant (10) est constitué de deux montants égaux, respectivement (20) et (21) ;
• le croisillon arrière (11) est formé également de deux montants, respectivement (22,23), égaux, articulés en (17), plus grands que (20,21) ;
• alors que les deux croisillons latéraux (12,13) sont constitués chacun de deux montants, respectivement (24,26), égaux à (20,21) et (25,27) égaux à (22,23).

The base (1) characteristic of the invention comprises four cross bars, respectively front (10), rear (11), right side (12), left side (13), each of these cross bars being made up of two tubular uprights articulated at their medium (15,16,17,18), in which:

• the front spider (10) consists of two equal uprights, respectively (20) and (21);
• the rear spider (11) is also formed of two uprights, respectively (22,23), equal, articulated in (17), larger than (20,21);
• while the two lateral braces (12,13) each consist of two uprights, respectively (24,26), equal to (20,21) and (25,27) equal to (22,23).

• des manchons (30,31,32,33) inférieurs destinés à former les quatre pieds et formant point d'appui sur le sol ;
• des manchons supérieurs (35,36,37,38), dont l'ensemble est destiné à recevoir la toile (2).

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the opposite ends of two uprights are connected together by elastic deformable sleeves, respectively:

• lower sleeves (30,31,32,33) intended to form the four feet and forming a fulcrum on the ground;
• upper sleeves (35,36,37,38), the assembly of which is intended to receive the fabric (2).

These characteristic one-piece sleeves (31-38) consist of a rubber or elastomer cylinder reinforced with textile fibers, force-fitted or constricted on the ends of the uprights (1.27). Advantageously, these sleeves are full, and preferably molded. It is important that they are mechanically resistant and return easily and without deformation to their initial position, that is to say with the minimum of afterglow or hysteresis.

In a first embodiment shown in Figure 4, these sleeves (30) have at each of its two ends (40,41) an equally cylindrical portion (40,41), the diameter of which corresponds substantially to the internal diameter of the uprights . These ends (40,41) are then force fitted into the corresponding uprights (20,25) and are held in place by a punch (42,43).

In an advantageous embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the sleeve (30) comprises a solid cylindrical body (43), the diameter of which corresponds substantially to the outside diameter of the uprights, for example (20). This body (43) has at each of its two ends, a frustoconical tip (44,45), connected to the body by its small base (46,47). The large base (48) has a diameter slightly larger than the internal diameter of the corresponding upright (20), which allows it to be force-fitted, then to ensure the maintenance of the assembly, it suffices to restrict the end (49) of the corresponding tube (20) on the small frustoconical portion (46), for example by means of a press. As the diameter of the body (43) is substantially the same as that of the upright (20), this avoids protruding angles which often cause small injuries, but which above all risks causing tearing of the canvas.

The support fabric (2) (see Figures 2 and 6), has a general trapezoidal shape, the small base (50) of which is intended to cooperate with the upper front sleeves (35,38), while the large base (51) cooperates with the rear upper sleeves (36,37). The periphery (52) of this fabric has an overlock and each of the angles (53,54,55,56) has a gusset shown in detail in Figure 6, intended to cooperate with the upper sleeves (35-38). The reverse side (57) of the fabric (2) has, in the vicinity of the gusset (53), a quick coupling member, for example male (58), intended to cooperate with a corresponding member, for example female (59), formed for this purpose on the reverse side of the gusset (53). It suffices to introduce the gusset (53) onto the corresponding sleeve (35), then to trap this sleeve (35) by the additional hooking devices (58, 59), for example of the hook velvet type known under the registered trademark VELCRO.

The articulation axes (15, 16, 17, 18) of the uprights, can be produced in any known manner, for example by means of a riveted axis. Advantageously, one of these axes, for example (16), has a strap (60) intended to ensure the maintenance of the assembly in the fully folded position (see Figures 1 and 7).

It is easy to understand that the assembly shown in Figures 1 and 3 is easy to fold, even leaving the fabric (2) in place. It suffices to close the compass formed by each of the uprights of the crosspieces to bring them into the position shown in FIG. 7, and to maintain the assembly by means of the strap (60) which engages on a projecting axis provided for this effect on the joint itself concerned (16).

In a second embodiment, the piece of furniture is a tripod seat shown in FIG. 8, consisting of a base designated by the general reference (100) and a triangular support canvas (101), produced in a similar manner to the canvas (2), except that its general shape is triangular and not trapezoidal, and that the base is intended to cooperate with the front and the point with the rear.

• le croisillon avant (102) de deux montants (105,106) articulés en leur milieu (107) ;
• alors que les deux croisillons latéraux (103,104) sont constitués de deux petits montants (108,109) égaux à (105,106), et de deux grands montants (110,111), chacun deux à deux articulés en (112,113).

The base (100) comprises three cross bars, respectively (102,103,104), namely:

• the front spider (102) of two uprights (105,106) articulated in their middle (107);
• while the two lateral braces (103,104) consist of two small uprights (108,109) equal to (105,106), and two large uprights (110,111), each two by two articulated in (112,113).

• . de trois manchons (120,121,122) inférieurs, destinés à former point d'appui sur le sol,
• . et de trois manchons (123,124,125) supérieurs, destinés à recevoir les goussets placés aux angles de la toile support triangulaire (101).

The cross-pieces (102,103,104) each cooperate with the other two cross-pieces by means of sleeves, respectively:

• . three lower sleeves (120,121,122), intended to form a fulcrum on the ground,
• . and three upper sleeves (123,124,125), intended to receive the gussets placed at the corners of the triangular support fabric (101).

These respectively lower (120,121,122) and upper (123,124,125) sleeves are similar to the preceding sleeves (30-38).

• des manchons inférieurs (170,171,172,173), destinés à former pieds et appuis sur le sol ;
• et des manchons supérieurs, respectivement (174,175,176,177), destinés à recevoir le support, à savoir le plateau.

In another embodiment shown in Figure 9, the furniture is a table. In this embodiment, the base designated by the general reference (150), is formed by four equal braces (151,152,153,154), each formed of two uprights, for example (155,156,157,158), articulated in pairs, for example in (160,161 ), and having at their opposite ends two by two sleeves similar to (120-125) or similar to (30-38), deformable elastic bands, respectively:

• lower sleeves (170,171,172,173), intended to form feet and supports on the ground;
• and upper sleeves, respectively (174,175,176,177), intended to receive the support, namely the plate.

The support, forming a tray designated by the general reference (180), is constituted by a succession of parallel slats (181,182,183), interconnected so as to be able to be rolled up.

The lower internal face of the plate (180) comprises hooking means, such as lugs coming from molding or added, intended to cooperate with the upper sleeves (174-177), to block the crosspieces in position and thus adjust the height of the plate (180) relative to the ground.

As before, the base (150) and tray (180) assembly is entirely foldable.

FIG. 10 shows, as already said, a preferred embodiment of the characteristic one-piece sleeve. This sleeve designated by the general reference (200) consists of a solid monobloc piece, injection molded, made of elastic thermoplastic material, for example a polyurethane elastomer loaded with glass fibers and colored.

The central body (201), has at each of its ends a head respectively (202) and (203) comprising a male end piece (204 and 205) projecting, chamfered, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to the internal diameter of the braces, to be fitted force and diameter of the body (201). These end pieces (204,205) coaxial with the body (201) are surrounded by a covering skirt (206,207) providing with the end piece a space corresponding to the thickness of the braces.

The end of these skirts (206,207) has toroids (208-211) intended to perfect the tightening of the skirt (206,207) on the end of the cross-pieces when these are folded or placed in position.

In a practical embodiment, the body and the end pieces are approximately fifteen millimeters in diameter, an overall length of 120 mm, and each skirt has a length of 25 mm for an average diameter (excluding torus) of 20 mm.

In an embodiment shown in Figures 11 and 12, the piece of furniture is a quadripod seat, consisting of a base designated by the general reference (220) and a rectangular support canvas (221), produced in a similar manner to the canvas (2).

• un croisillon avant (222) formé de deux montants égaux (223,224) articulés en leur milieu (225) ;
• un croisillon arrière formé de deux montants également égaux (227,228), articulés en leur milieu (229), plus grands que les montants avant (223.224) ;
• de deux croisillons latéraux (230,231) constitués de deux petits montants (232,233) égaux à (223,224) et de deux montants de longueur intermédiaire en longueur (234,235), chacun articulé deux à deux en (236) et (237).

The characteristic base (220) comprises as (1) four cross-bars, respectively:

• a front spider (222) formed by two equal uprights (223,224) articulated in their middle (225);
• a rear spider formed by two equally equal uprights (227,228), articulated in the middle (229), larger than the front uprights (223,224);
• two lateral braces (230,231) made up of two small uprights (232,233) equal to (223,224) and two uprights of intermediate length in length (234,235), each articulated in pairs in (236) and (237).

The lower ends of all uprights are interconnected by elastic deformable one-piece sleeves, fitted (240,243), intended to form a support on the ground. Similarly, the upper front ends are connected together by two similar sleeves (244,245) on which are housed the gussets not referenced, placed at the two front angles of the support fabric (221) and similar to (55,56).

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the two rear uprights (227,228) cooperate with the two intermediate lateral uprights (234,235) by means of a slide (250,251) shown in detail in FIG. 12. This one-piece slide made of molded plastic , for example made of polyurethane, comprises a connection (252), similar to (201-209) to be fitted at the upper end of the two intermediate lateral uprights (227,228). This connection is integral with a cylindrical ring (253), pierced in its center with an opening (254) also cylindrical and whose diameter is slightly greater than the diameter of the rear uprights (227,228) in order to be able to slide thereon.

The upper ends (260,261) of the rear uprights (227,228) receive a rounded support piece (262,263), for example of molded plastic, in particular polypropylene, intended to be housed in the two not shown gussets similar to (53, 54), so that the rear part of the support canvas (221) forms a backrest.

• tout d'abord et surtout le fait que l'ensemble est totalement repliable, donc facile à transporter et à stocker ;
• le fait que les manchons inférieurs notamment sont en matière plastique et non pas en métal, forment alors patins, ce qui évite de rayer le sol ; en outre, ils ont également une fonction amortisseur et anti-dérapante ;
• le fait que les manchons supérieurs également en matière plastique, permettent d'éviter l'agression de la toile ou du plateau ;
• les manchons élastiques caractéristiques étant déformables, forment également amortisseurs lors de la mise en tension de la toile et contribuent ainsi au déploiement et à la mise en place de l'ensemble ;
• enfin, la possibilité de recourber totalement les manchons (voir figure 7), ce qui permet de replier totalement l'ensemble et facilite la mise en place et le maintien replié grâce à la sangle de fermeture (60) ; cette dernière est en permanence sous tension, compte tenu de la rémanence des manchons.

The chairs and tables produced in accordance with the invention have numerous advantages over those marketed to date. We can cite :

• first and foremost the fact that the assembly is completely foldable, therefore easy to transport and store;
• the fact that the lower sleeves in particular are made of plastic and not of metal, then form pads, which avoids scratching the ground; in addition, they also have a shock absorbing and non-slip function;
• the fact that the upper sleeves, also made of plastic, make it possible to avoid attacking the canvas or the tray;
• the characteristic elastic sleeves being deformable, also form shock absorbers during the tensioning of the fabric and thus contribute to the deployment and the positioning of the assembly;
• finally, the possibility of completely bending the sleeves (see FIG. 7), which allows the assembly to be completely folded back and makes it easier to put in place and keep it folded in thanks to the closure strap (60); the latter is permanently energized, taking into account the persistence of the sleeves.

Claims (9)

1. Furniture, such as easy chair, chair or table, comprising:

   - an underframe (1,100,150), made up of at least three cross-pieces formed of jointed struts connected two by two at their ends;

   - a support (2,101,180) intended to rest on the underframe,

   characterized by the fact the free ends of two tubular struts (15,24) made up of two cross-pieces (10,13) that are different but work together, are attached to each other by an elastic deformable sleeve (35) of unitary construction, fitted into each of these two ends, in such a way that all of the lowers sleeves (30-33) form a support point on the ground, while the assembly of the upper sleeves (35-38) holds the support.
2. Furniture according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the sleeve of unitary construction (30-38,120-125,170-177) is of molded elastic deformable plastic material.
3. Furniture according to Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the elastic deformable sleeve (30-38,120-125,170-177) contains a cylindrical body (43) of which the diameter corresponds to the exterior diameter of the struts (20,25), this cylindric body (43) exhibiting at each of its ends a joining piece in the form of a frustoconical tip (44,45) attached to the body by its small base (46,47) and of which the large base (48) exhibits a diameter that is slightly greater than the lower diameter of the corresponding strut (20), the end (49) of the corresponding strut (20) being contracted on the corresponding frustoconical tip (44).
4. Furniture according to one of Claims 1 to 3, forming a seat, characterised by the fact that it includes four cross-pieces (10-13) each working with two other cross-pieces, the two struts (20,21) and (22,23) of the two cross-pieces, the front (20,21) and rear (22,23) respectively, being equal to each other, but the front struts (20,21) being smaller than the rear struts (22,23) while the struts (24,27) of the side cross-pieces (12,13) are different.
5. Furniture that is a seat according to Claim 4, characterised by the fact that the support (2) is a trapezoidal or rectangular piece of cloth, of which the small base (50) works together with the front cross-piece (10), while the large base (51) works together with the rear cross-piece (11), the cloth (2) being attached to the four upper struts (35-38) by means of gussets (53-56) arranged for this purpose on each of the corners of the trapezoid or rectangle respectively.
6. Furniture that is a seat according to Claim 5, characterised by the fact that the gussets (53,56) have a quick attachment method (58,59) provided on the side (57) toward the cloth (2) and on the side toward the gusset (53) in such a way as to hold each to an upper strut (35-38).
7. Furniture that is a seat according to one of Claims 1 to 3 and 6, characterised by the fact that the underframe (100) is in the form of the three cross-pieces (102,103,104) each working together with the two struts of the two other cross-pieces, the struts (105,106) of the front cross-piece (102) being equal, while the two jointed side cross-pieces (103,104) each have a small support (108,109) intended to be directed to the front in order to work together with the struts (105,106) of the front cross-piece (102) and have a large strut (100,111) intended to be connected by an upper sleeve (124), the support cloth (101) being supported by the upper sleeves (123,124,125).
8. Furniture in the form of a table according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fact that it is made up of four equal cross-pieces (151,152,153,154) and by the fact that the support (180) forms a top and is made up of a succession of parallel strips (181,182,183), connected to each other so that they can be rolled up.
9. Furniture that is a seat according to Claim 4, characterized in that the fact the support (221) is a trapezoidal or rectangular piece of cloth of which the small base works together with the front cross-pieces (222) while the large base works together with the rear cross-pieces (227-229), the cloth (221) exhibiting at each of its corners gussets that work in the front together with the upper front sleeves (244) and (245) and in the back with the rounded support parts (262,263) placed for this purpose on the ends (260,261) of the rear struts (227,228) of the rear cross-piece.

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