EP1053702A1 - An improved chair structure - Google Patents
An improved chair structure Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1053702A1 EP1053702A1 EP00110179A EP00110179A EP1053702A1 EP 1053702 A1 EP1053702 A1 EP 1053702A1 EP 00110179 A EP00110179 A EP 00110179A EP 00110179 A EP00110179 A EP 00110179A EP 1053702 A1 EP1053702 A1 EP 1053702A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- appendage
- chair structure
- backrest portion
- structure according
- seating
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/36—Support for the head or the back
- A47C7/40—Support for the head or the back for the back
- A47C7/407—Support for the head or the back for the back of collapsible type
Definitions
- the subject of the present invention is an improved chair according to the preamble to the main claim.
- the backrest and the seat are completely separate from one another and have respective engagement means and complementary engagement means for subsequently joining them together.
- the main object of the present invention is to provide a chair which is improved in comparison with the prior art.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a chair in which the backrest and the seat are joined together, even during the transportation stage.
- a further object of the invention is to render the conversion of the chair from the transportation condition to the condition of use reversible.
- a chair according to the present invention including a moulded body 1 made of rigid or semi-rigid plastics material, is generally indicated P.
- the body 1 comprises a lower part 2, preferably formed as a unitary piece by injection moulding and including a seat 3, a pair of arms 4a, 4b, and a lower portion 5 of a backrest, generally indicated 8.
- the backrest 8 also comprises an upper portion 6 which is articulated to the lower part 2 about an axis X, in the region of the ends 7 of the arms 4a, 4b which are closest to the lower portion 5.
- a cylindrical seating 10 elongate along the axis X and having a through-window 11 in its wall, is formed in each arm.
- Each seating 10 is open at both of its axially opposed ends.
- the upper portion 6 of the backrest has, in the region of its base 13, a rib 14 which can stiffen the base 13 and can constitute means for coupling with the free upper end 15 of the lower backrest portion 5.
- the upper backrest portion 6 is flanked on its two opposite sides by two, approximately parallel, coextensive flanges 18 each bearing, at its lower end, a tubular, cylindrical appendage 19.
- Each cylindrical appendage 19 has a pair of parallel and spaced-apart slits 20, between which there is a wall portion 20a bearing a projection 21 at its free end. Owing to the presence of the slits 20, the wall portion 20a is flexible radially so as to allow the appendage 19 to be inserted in the corresponding seating 10 of the respective adjacent arm. The appendage 19 is then restrained in the corresponding seating by snap-engagement of the projection 21 in the window 11.
- the projection 21 is positioned angularly relative to the backrest and to the window 11 in the seating 10 in a mariner such that, when the upper backrest portion 6 is folded parallel to the seat 3 (the lowered position of Figure 4b), the projection 21 is in contact with the continuous inside wall of the seating 10 and keeps the appendage 19 in a radially retracted state.
- the positioning of the projection 21 is also such that, when the upper backrest portion 6 is set upright, perpendicular to the seat 3, in the operative position of Figure 4a, the projection 21 is engaged in the window 11, preventing further pivoting of the upper backrest portion 6 about the axis X.
- the projection 21 is not subjected to stresses when the user leans on the backrest since, in this condition, the base 13 of the upper backrest portion 6 is in abutment with the upper end 15 of the lower backrest portion 5, defining a mechanical travel-limit stop for the relative pivoting between the upper backrest portion 6 and the lower backrest portion 5.
- a plug 25 provided with a flange 26 having a diameter substantially corresponding to the inside diameter of the seating 10 and a cylindrical portion 27 having a diameter substantially corresponding to the inside diameter of the appendage 19 in the state in which it is not retracted radially is also provided for insertion in the appendage 19 in order to keep the latter in the radially extended state which corresponds to the engagement of the projection 21 in the window 11.
- further radial retraction of the wall portion 20a and of the projection 21 is prevented, the projection 21 being restrained in the window 11 so that the upper backrest portion 6 is prevented from rotating relative to the lower backrest portion 5 and to the arms.
- the appendage 19 comprises a window 31 which is intended to constitute a seat for a projection 34 formed at a free end of an element 35 projecting axially as an extension of the cylindrical portion 27 of the plug 25.
- the window 31 is generally L"-shaped and includes a first region 32 for axial sliding of the projection 34 and a second region for circumferential sliding thereof.
- the plug 25 also has an outer cylindrical portion 36 coaxial with and radially spaced from the cylindrical portion 27, having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the seating 10, and extending axially for a distance equal to the difference between the axial dimension of the seating 10 and that of the appendage 19.
- the outer cylindrical portion 36 comprises a catch projection 37 which can engage for sliding axially in a guide 38 formed in the seating 10, thus preventing relative rotation of the plug 25 once it is inserted in the seating 10 of the respective arm.
- the rotation of the backrest portion 6 about the axis X which enables the chair P to be brought to the operative position brings about circumferential sliding of the projection 34 along the region 33 of the window 31.
- the window 31 and the projection 21 are positioned relative to one another on the appendage 19 in a manner such that the projection 21 snap-engages the window 11 at the moment at which the projection 34 of the plug 25 reaches the region 32 of the window 31.
- the plug 25 can thus be inserted fully in the seating 10, since the projection 34 can slide axially in the region 32 until the free end of the outer cylindrical portion 36 abuts the free end of the appendage 19, or the projection 34 abuts the edge of the region 32 of the window 31.
- part of the cylindrical portion 27 abuts the wall portion 20a, locking it in its radially expanded condition.
- the invention thus achieves its objects, overcoming the limitations complained of with reference to the prior art cited.
Landscapes
- Magnetic Heads (AREA)
- Chairs For Special Purposes, Such As Reclining Chairs (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The subject of the present invention is an improved chair according to the preamble to the main claim.
- Within the specific technical field, chairs with bodies which can be dismantled, in which, in order to reduce transportation costs, the backrest and the seat are produced as separate pieces to be fixed together subsequently by the retailer or the final user are known, for example, from patent of industrial invention No. 1262148 in the name of Effezeta s.r.l.
- In the technical solution proposed by this prior patent, the backrest and the seat are completely separate from one another and have respective engagement means and complementary engagement means for subsequently joining them together.
- In practice, this technical solution has been found rather unsuitable for the proposed purpose because the backrest and the seat are completely separate.
- The main object of the present invention is to provide a chair which is improved in comparison with the prior art.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a chair in which the backrest and the seat are joined together, even during the transportation stage.
- A further object of the invention is to render the conversion of the chair from the transportation condition to the condition of use reversible.
- These and other objects are achieved by the invention by means of a chair formed in accordance with the following claims.
- The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of an embodiment thereof, described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair formed in accordance with the present invention,
- Figure 2 is an exploded, perspective view of a detail of the chair of Figure 1,
- Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the detail of Figure 2, in the assembled condition,
- Figures 4a and 4b are side elevational views of the chair of the previous drawings with the backrest in the operative position and in the inoperative position, respectively,
- Figure 5 is an exploded view of the detail of Figure 2 in accordance with a variant of the invention,
- Figure 6 is a section through a detail of Figure 5, rotated through 90°,
- Figures 7 and 8 are sections through the detail of Figure 5, in the assembled condition with the backrest in the operative and inoperative positions, respectively.
- In the drawings, a chair according to the present invention, including a
moulded body 1 made of rigid or semi-rigid plastics material, is generally indicated P. - The
body 1 comprises alower part 2, preferably formed as a unitary piece by injection moulding and including aseat 3, a pair ofarms 4a, 4b, and alower portion 5 of a backrest, generally indicated 8. Thebackrest 8 also comprises anupper portion 6 which is articulated to thelower part 2 about an axis X, in the region of theends 7 of thearms 4a, 4b which are closest to thelower portion 5. - For the articulation between the
backrest portion 6 and thearms 4a, 4b, acylindrical seating 10, elongate along the axis X and having a through-window 11 in its wall, is formed in each arm. Eachseating 10 is open at both of its axially opposed ends. - The
upper portion 6 of the backrest has, in the region of itsbase 13, arib 14 which can stiffen thebase 13 and can constitute means for coupling with the freeupper end 15 of thelower backrest portion 5. Theupper backrest portion 6 is flanked on its two opposite sides by two, approximately parallel,coextensive flanges 18 each bearing, at its lower end, a tubular,cylindrical appendage 19. Eachcylindrical appendage 19 has a pair of parallel and spaced-apartslits 20, between which there is a wall portion 20a bearing aprojection 21 at its free end. Owing to the presence of theslits 20, the wall portion 20a is flexible radially so as to allow theappendage 19 to be inserted in thecorresponding seating 10 of the respective adjacent arm. Theappendage 19 is then restrained in the corresponding seating by snap-engagement of theprojection 21 in thewindow 11. - The
projection 21 is positioned angularly relative to the backrest and to thewindow 11 in theseating 10 in a mariner such that, when theupper backrest portion 6 is folded parallel to the seat 3 (the lowered position of Figure 4b), theprojection 21 is in contact with the continuous inside wall of theseating 10 and keeps theappendage 19 in a radially retracted state. The positioning of theprojection 21 is also such that, when theupper backrest portion 6 is set upright, perpendicular to theseat 3, in the operative position of Figure 4a, theprojection 21 is engaged in thewindow 11, preventing further pivoting of theupper backrest portion 6 about the axis X. - In spite of the above-mentioned condition of engagement, the
projection 21 is not subjected to stresses when the user leans on the backrest since, in this condition, thebase 13 of theupper backrest portion 6 is in abutment with theupper end 15 of thelower backrest portion 5, defining a mechanical travel-limit stop for the relative pivoting between theupper backrest portion 6 and thelower backrest portion 5. - A
plug 25 provided with aflange 26 having a diameter substantially corresponding to the inside diameter of theseating 10 and acylindrical portion 27 having a diameter substantially corresponding to the inside diameter of theappendage 19 in the state in which it is not retracted radially is also provided for insertion in theappendage 19 in order to keep the latter in the radially extended state which corresponds to the engagement of theprojection 21 in thewindow 11. In this condition, further radial retraction of the wall portion 20a and of theprojection 21 is prevented, theprojection 21 being restrained in thewindow 11 so that theupper backrest portion 6 is prevented from rotating relative to thelower backrest portion 5 and to the arms. - In each
flange 18 of theupper backrest portion 6, in the region of therespective appendage 19, there is anopening 29 which is coaxial with the axis X and through which atool 30 can be inserted to expel theplug 25 from theseating 10 and from theappendage 19 in order to allow theappendage 19 to be retracted radially again and theupper backrest portion 6 consequently to pivot to the inoperative, transportation position of Figure 4b, close to theseat 3. - A variant according to the present invention is described below with reference to Figures 5 to 8, in which details similar to those described in the previous embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals.
- In this variant, the
appendage 19 comprises awindow 31 which is intended to constitute a seat for aprojection 34 formed at a free end of anelement 35 projecting axially as an extension of thecylindrical portion 27 of theplug 25. Thewindow 31 is generally L"-shaped and includes afirst region 32 for axial sliding of theprojection 34 and a second region for circumferential sliding thereof. - The
plug 25 also has an outercylindrical portion 36 coaxial with and radially spaced from thecylindrical portion 27, having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of theseating 10, and extending axially for a distance equal to the difference between the axial dimension of theseating 10 and that of theappendage 19. The outercylindrical portion 36 comprises acatch projection 37 which can engage for sliding axially in aguide 38 formed in theseating 10, thus preventing relative rotation of theplug 25 once it is inserted in theseating 10 of the respective arm. - When the assembled chair P is in the inoperative position of Figure 7, the
projection 34 of theplug 25 is in abutment in thewindow 31 of theappendage 19 and thecatch projection 37 is at least partially engaged in theguide 38 so that both axial and rotary movements of theplug 25 are prevented. Moreover, in this position, no part of thecylindrical portion 27 interferes with possible radial movements of the wall portion 20a. - The rotation of the
backrest portion 6 about the axis X which enables the chair P to be brought to the operative position (Figure 8) brings about circumferential sliding of theprojection 34 along theregion 33 of thewindow 31. Thewindow 31 and theprojection 21 are positioned relative to one another on theappendage 19 in a manner such that theprojection 21 snap-engages thewindow 11 at the moment at which theprojection 34 of theplug 25 reaches theregion 32 of thewindow 31. Theplug 25 can thus be inserted fully in theseating 10, since theprojection 34 can slide axially in theregion 32 until the free end of the outercylindrical portion 36 abuts the free end of theappendage 19, or theprojection 34 abuts the edge of theregion 32 of thewindow 31. - As a result of this translation, part of the
cylindrical portion 27 abuts the wall portion 20a, locking it in its radially expanded condition. - The invention thus achieves its objects, overcoming the limitations complained of with reference to the prior art cited.
Claims (9)
- An improved chair structure comprising a body (1) with a lower part (2) including a seat (3), a lower backrest portion (5), and two arms (4a, 4b), and an upper part including an upper backrest portion (6), the upper backrest portion being movable between an operative position in which it is connected to the lower part (2) as an extension of the lower backrest portion (5) and an inoperative, transportation position, characterized in that the parts are articulated to one another in the region of the arms (4a, 4b) so that the upper backrest portion (6) can pivot from the inoperative position, in which it is disposed substantially parallel to the seat (3), to the operative position.
- A chair structure according to Claim 1, in which the lower part (2) is moulded as a unitary piece of plastics material.
- A chair structure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which a cylindrical seating (10) is formed at the end of each of the arms (4a, 4b) closest to the lower backrest portion, the upper backrest portion (6) having, for each seating, an associated cylindrical appendage (19) which can engage rotatably in the corresponding seating in order to permit a relative rotation between the body parts, snap-restraining means being provided between each seating (10) and the corresponding appendage (19) for preventing the said relative rotation.
- A chair structure according to Claim 3, in which the restraining means comprise at least one window (11) opening in each seating (10) and at least one projection (21) on each appendage (19) for snap-engaging the corresponding window (11) when the body parts are in the operative position.
- A chair structure according to Claim 4, in which the projection (21) is resilient.
- A chair structure according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the projection (21) is provided on a strip (20a) of the wall of the appendage (19), the strip (20a) being able to pivot radially relative to the rest of the appendage wall.
- A chair structure according to Claim 6, in which the strip (20a) of the wall is defined between two slits (20) provided in the wall of the appendage (19), starting from its free end.
- A chair structure according to one or more of Claims 3 to 7, in which means are provided for locking the snap-restraining means when the body is in the operative condition.
- A chair structure according to Claim 8, in which the cylindrical appendages (19) are tubular and the locking means comprise a cylindrical plug (25) which can be inserted in the corresponding appendage (19) in order to prevent radial retraction of the strip (20a).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITPD990110 | 1999-05-21 | ||
ITPD990110 IT1306662B1 (en) | 1999-05-21 | 1999-05-21 | STRUCTURE OF PERFECTED ARMCHAIR. |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1053702A1 true EP1053702A1 (en) | 2000-11-22 |
Family
ID=11392620
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00110179A Withdrawn EP1053702A1 (en) | 1999-05-21 | 2000-05-15 | An improved chair structure |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1053702A1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1306662B1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1281335A2 (en) * | 2001-07-31 | 2003-02-05 | New Relax S.R.L. | Articulated foldable armchair |
EP1300102A2 (en) * | 2001-10-05 | 2003-04-09 | COMPAS S.r.l. | Chair with foldable back-rest |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4775187A (en) * | 1985-03-11 | 1988-10-04 | Herr Richard W | Folding boat chair |
EP0630599A1 (en) * | 1993-06-28 | 1994-12-28 | EFFEZETA Srl | Office armchair body which can be dismantled |
FR2713064A1 (en) * | 1993-12-03 | 1995-06-09 | Fantino Gilles | Seat whose articulated backrest serves as a protective cover for the seat when folded. |
US5820220A (en) * | 1997-07-29 | 1998-10-13 | Wu; Tien Tzu | Chair with a folding collapsible back |
US5992936A (en) * | 1996-09-25 | 1999-11-30 | Tempress Products, L.L.C. | Foldable seat having removable panels |
-
1999
- 1999-05-21 IT ITPD990110 patent/IT1306662B1/en active
-
2000
- 2000-05-15 EP EP00110179A patent/EP1053702A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4775187A (en) * | 1985-03-11 | 1988-10-04 | Herr Richard W | Folding boat chair |
EP0630599A1 (en) * | 1993-06-28 | 1994-12-28 | EFFEZETA Srl | Office armchair body which can be dismantled |
FR2713064A1 (en) * | 1993-12-03 | 1995-06-09 | Fantino Gilles | Seat whose articulated backrest serves as a protective cover for the seat when folded. |
US5992936A (en) * | 1996-09-25 | 1999-11-30 | Tempress Products, L.L.C. | Foldable seat having removable panels |
US5820220A (en) * | 1997-07-29 | 1998-10-13 | Wu; Tien Tzu | Chair with a folding collapsible back |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1281335A2 (en) * | 2001-07-31 | 2003-02-05 | New Relax S.R.L. | Articulated foldable armchair |
EP1281335A3 (en) * | 2001-07-31 | 2003-10-08 | New Relax S.R.L. | Articulated foldable armchair |
EP1300102A2 (en) * | 2001-10-05 | 2003-04-09 | COMPAS S.r.l. | Chair with foldable back-rest |
EP1300102A3 (en) * | 2001-10-05 | 2003-11-05 | COMPAS S.r.l. | Chair with foldable back-rest |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IT1306662B1 (en) | 2001-10-02 |
ITPD990110A1 (en) | 2000-11-21 |
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Effective date: 20010322 |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20030113 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20040427 |