EP0935935A2

EP0935935A2 - Improvements relating to adjustable furniture

Info

Publication number: EP0935935A2
Application number: EP98310582A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Eastwood
Original assignee: Habitat UK Ltd
Current assignee: Habitat UK Ltd
Priority date: 1997-12-23
Filing date: 1998-12-22
Publication date: 1999-08-18
Also published as: EP0935935A3

Abstract

A deckchair (80) is designed to be retained in erected position by means of selective engagement of its lower cross-bar (87) with one (88) of a plurality of spaced-apart channels provided in a bracket (83) fixed to each of the rear legs (84) of the deckchair. The plurality of spaced-apart channels each have an entry portion (20 to 22) and a transversely directed engagement portion (25' to 27') to ensure that the deckchair is unlikely to collapse accidentally. The invention is applicable to different kinds of furniture besides deckchairs, including sun loungers, folding tables and other folding furniture.

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention concerns improvements relating to adjustable furniture such as deckchairs for example.

Background of the Invention

Deckchairs (1) of the kind shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings are well-known. The deckchair (1) of Figure 1 is adjustable by selective engagement of its lower cross-bar support (2) with one of a series of spaced-apart notches (3) formed in the upper edges of the rear legs (4).
The deckchair (1) shown in Figure 1 is subject to the drawback that the cross-bar support (2) is prone to pop out of the notches (3) whereupon the deckchair is liable to collapse. This can happen if a person sitting in the deckchair makes a sudden movement, for example, and can result in injury of the user, especially if fingers are trapped as the deckchair collapses.
The present invention aims to overcome or at least substantially reduce the above-discussed drawback.

Summary of the Invention

In broad terms, the present invention resides in the concept of forming the notches (3) such that the cross-bar support (2) cannot simply jump out, or at least is unlikely to jump out, as the result of a simple stimulus, but rather has to be disengaged by positive movement in at least two different directions.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an article of furniture having a first structural portion which is designed to be pivotally adjustable relative to a second structural portion and to be retained in adjusted position by means of one or more struts pivotally attached at one end to the first structural portion and having at its other end a locking member engageable selectively with one of a plurality of spaced-apart channels provided in or on the second structural portion of the article, said channels each having an entry portion leading into an engagement portion transverse to the entry portion, and both said entry portion and said engagement portion being dimensioned for receiving said locking member with narrow spacing.
The plurality of spaced-apart channels may be separated by one or more upwardly-facing projections in a bracket structure which can be made of cheap commonly-available material such as sheet metal or moulded plastics material for example, the bracket structure being affixed to the said second structural portion of the article. Alternatively, they can be formed integrally with said second structural portion of the article.
The engagement portion may advantageously comprise forward and rearward sections on opposite sides of the entry portion so as to ensure that a jolting movement of the locking member in the direction of the engagement portion is unlikely to cause the locking member to bounce out through the entry portion. Further, each of the upwardly-facing projections separating the spaced-apart channels may comprise downwardly-directed hook formations overhanging the engagement portion and serving further to discourage any tendency of the locking member engaged with the engagement portion to be jolted out of engagement accidentally.
As mentioned hereinbefore the plurality of spaced-apart channels may be formed in a bracket which can be secured in a structural portion of an article of furniture, for example through the provision of a groove in said structural portion into which the bracket can be inserted. Alternatively, the bracket may be mounted onto a side surface of said structural portion.
The invention also extends to a bracket as aforesaid for engagement with a structural portion of an article of furniture.
The above and further features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims and, together with advantages thereof, will become more clear from consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a known kind of deckchair having a series of notches formed at the upper edges of its rear legs;
Figures 2(a) and 2(b) are side elevation views of a bracket embodying the present invention;
Figure 3(a) is an end elevation view of a bracket embodying the present invention shown mounted to the side of a structural portion of an article of furniture;
Figure 3(b) is another end elevation view of a bracket embodying the present invention shown mounted within a groove formed in a structural portion of an article of furniture;
Figure 4 is a side elevation view of a bracket according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a view showing how a bracket similar to the embodiment of Figure 4 can be engaged with a groove formed within a structural part of an article of furniture; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a deckchair embodying the present invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

Referring first to Figure 2(a), there is shown a bracket (10) for attachment to the rear legs of a deckchair for example. The bracket (10), generally indicated in a horizontal position, comprises an elongate support (11) having a number of substantially mushroom-shaped upwardly-facing projections (13, 14) intermediate its length and having opposed C-shaped projecting members (12, 15) at each end, these formations being such as to provide a number of spaced-apart channels (16 to 18) therebetween. Each of the channels (16 to 18) has an entry portion (20 to 22) leading into an engagement portion (25' to 27') directed in a direction transverse to the entry portion, and both the entry portion and the engagement portion are dimensioned for narrowly receiving a locking member defined by a structural part of the deckchair as will hereinafter be explained. Typical dimensions of the bracket (10) are also given in the Figure.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, each of the engagement portions comprises a forward section (25, 27, 29) and a rearward section (26, 28, 30), and the entry portions (20 to 22) are in the form of narrow slots located intermediate the forward and rearward sections of the engagement portions.
Further, as shown in Figure 2(a), each of the upwardly-facing projections (12 to 15) has a downwardly-directed hook portion (31 to 36) formed so as to overhang the forward and rearward sections (25, 27, 29) and (26, 28, 30) of the engagement portions (25' to 27'). More specifically, each hooked portion (31 to 36) and associated forward or rearward section of the respective engagement portion defines an engagement space for positively engaging a complementarily shaped locking member, namely in the example shown a rail of circular cross-section which is a structural part of the exemplary deckchair.
Another advantageous feature of the above-described bracket (10) is the provision of hook formations (31 to 36) of varying shape and/or size. This is made possible by having upwardly-facing projections with curved upper faces (12 to 15) of different general inclination. This takes account of the differently directed force vectors which arise when the deckchair is used in differently adjusted positions.
It is envisaged that the bracket (10) may be formed of rigid commonly-available material, for example sheet metal or moulded plastics material.
With the above-described bracket (10) used to secure an article of furniture, such as a deckchair or lounger, in erected condition by virtue of the bracket (10) being mounted to a part of said article of furniture (a deckchair leg, for example) and a locking member of said article of furniture (a deckchair cross-bar, for example) being slotted down into and through the narrow entry portion (20 to 22) of one of the spaced-apart channels (16 to 18) provided in the bracket (10), and then moved sideways to engage under a respective one of the hook portions (31 to 36) at the end of the respective engagement portion (25' to 27'), the likelihood of accidental disengagement is clearly much reduced as compared to the prior art arrangement of Figure 1.
Figure 2(b) shows another bracket (50) which is almost structurally identical to that described in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 2(a) but is differently dimensioned. Figure 2(b) employs the same reference numerals as are employed in Figure 2(a) for same/like parts.
Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show the brackets (10, 50) of Figures 2(a) and 2(b) as seen in end elevation view when (a) affixed to the sidewall (45) of a structural part (46), a deckchair leg for example, and when (b) inserted into a groove (56) formed in the structural part (46). As shown, the bracket can be simply affixed to the structural part (46) by way of screws inserted into and through holes (43, 44) formed in the support (11). It is to be appreciated, however, that alternatively the bracket structure can be formed integrally with the structural part (not shown in the figures).
Figure 4 shows a bracket (60) in side elevation view according to another embodiment of the invention. The figure uses the same reference numerals as were used to designate same/like parts in the previous figures. The bracket (60) is similar to the embodiments shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the main difference being that in the present embodiment the formations (12 to 15) are similar so that the curved hooks (31 to 36) formed at the tips of each projection (12 to 15) overhang at the same height above the support (11) and have substantially the same shape and size.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing how a bracket (70) similar to that shown in Figure 4 can be engaged with a groove (56) formed in a structural part (46) of an article, for example the rear leg of a deckchair. The structural part (46) of the article has a groove (56) of generally rectangular cross-section formed therein and the bracket (70) can be retained in the groove (56) by means of screws or dowell pins (75, 76) inserted into and through holes (43, 44, 73, 74) formed in the structural part (46) and in the support (11).
Finally, referring to Figure 6, there is shown a perspective view of a deckchair (80) embodying the invention. As shown, a bracket (83) of the kind described in any of the previous embodiments is affixed to each of the rear legs (84) of the deckchair (80). The support struts (85) of the deckchair (80) are pivotally attached at one end (81) to the chair back (86, 86') with their other ends having a locking member, a cross-bar (87) of narrow circular cross-section, adapted for selective engagement with one of the channels (88) provided in the bracket (83) for retaining the deckchair (80) in erected condition with a selected adjustment. Advantageously, such a deckchair (80) is not likely to fold into a collapsed condition on account of receiving an external stimulus because (a) if the deckchair (80) is pushed, then the crossbar (87) is held firm by the forward section (89) of the bracket (83) and (b) if the deckchair (80) is lifted, then the cross-bar (87) is firmly retained in the rearward section (89') of the bracket (83).
Having thus described the present invention by reference to several embodiments, it is to be appreciated that modifications and variations thereto are possible without departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the above-described bracket structure may be used to engage with various kinds of furniture including deckchairs, sun loungers, folding tables, and other folding furniture. In addition, whereas in the embodiments the bracket is affixed as a separate part to the article of furniture, the bracket could alternatively be integrally formed with the article of furniture. Yet another possibility would be to provide the bracket with its spaced-apart channels at the ends of the struts, namely where the locking members are in the described embodiments, and to provide the locking members on the second structural portions of the article, namely where the brackets are in the described embodiments, in short to interchange the locations of the channels and the locking members that engage therewith.

Claims

An article of furniture having a first structural portion which is designed to be pivotally adjustable relative to a second structural portion and to be retained in adjusted position by means of one or more struts pivotally attached at one end to the first structural portion and having at its other end a locking member engageable selectively with one of a plurality of spaced-apart channels provided in or on the second structural portion of the article, said channels each having an entry portion leading into an engagement portion transverse to the entry portion, and both said entry portion and said engagement portion being dimensioned for receiving said locking member with narrow spacing.
An article of furniture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the engagement portion comprises spaced-apart forward and rearward sections and the entry portion communicates with the engagement portion between said forward and rearward sections.
An article of furniture as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart channels are separated from each other by one or more upwardly-facing projections, and each of the one or more upwardly-facing projections comprises a downwardly-directed hook formation overhanging the or each end of the respective engagement portion, said hook formations being generally complementarily shaped with respect to said locking member.
An article of furniture as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the one or more upwardly-facing projections has an upper surface which is inclined with respect to the engagement portions of the channels.
An article of furniture as claimed in claim 4, wherein said upper surface is upwardly curved.
An article of furniture as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart channels are provided in a bracket affixed to said second structural portion of the article.
An article of furniture as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bracket is formed of metal.
An article of furniture as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bracket is formed of plastics material.
An article of furniture as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart channels are integrally formed with said second structural portion of the article.
An article of furniture as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a deckchair.
An article of furniture as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, comprising a sun lounger.
A bracket for attachment to an article of furniture as claimed in any of the preceding claims, the bracket being formed so as to define said channels.
A bracket substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
An article of furniture substantially as herein described with reference to any of Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
An article of furniture as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 and 14 except that the locations of the channels and the locking members that engage therewith are interchanged.