EP2548471B1

EP2548471B1 - Folding chair

Info

Publication number: EP2548471B1
Application number: EP20120177100
Authority: EP
Inventors: Helmut Schneider
Original assignee: BRUNNER Srl
Current assignee: BRUNNER Srl
Priority date: 2011-07-21
Filing date: 2012-07-19
Publication date: 2014-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-19
Also published as: ITMI20111362A1; EP2548471A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a folding stool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Folding stools are known in the art, for instance, from DE 202 17 785 U or DE 91 07 551 U . These stools generally comprise a structure having a leg with three braces engaged therewith, which branch off a common central element. The three braces can rotate relative to the central element from a minimum profile configuration, in which all of them are parallel, to an operating (or seating support) configuration, in which they are opened out, to receive a triangular fabric therein, connected at their ends, and form the stool seat.
In the light of the above prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel folding stool that affords improved versatility in profile compaction and/or an even smaller profile.
Furthermore, the present invention affords advantages in terms of simple fabrication, greater strength, more compact design and/or higher versatility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, this object is fulfilled by a folding stool as defined in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description of one practical embodiment, which is illustrated without limitation in the annexed drawings, in which:

Figures 1a-1g show successive steps of use of the bearing structure of the folding stool, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a seat element suitable for the bearing structure as shown in Figures 1a-1g;
Figures 3a-3d show exemplary embodiments of the central element of the folding stool of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures, numeral 1 generally designates a folding tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The stool 1 comprises a bearing structure 2 and a seat element 4, and advantageously these two elements only (with no backrest).
The seat element 3 is advantageously made of a flexible material, e.g. a polymeric material or fabric.
The seat element may be removably engaged with the bearing structure 2, for easy mounting and removal thereof. These steps will be clearly described below.
The bearing structure 2 comprises a central body 21, at least one support leg 22 and a plurality of seat braces 23.
The central body 21 defines a longitudinal axis X-X, e.g. has a radial symmetry about the longitudinal axis X-X.
The central body 21 may comprise a plurality of seats 211, which may be radially equally spaced about the axis X-X.
The support leg 22 has a proximal end 22v and a distal end 22z and extends along its longitudinal axis, which will be referred to for simplicity as X-X. This is because, in the expected operation, the axes X-X of the central body 21 and the support leg 22 are parallel, and preferably coincident.
The support leg 22 is adapted to support the weight of a user sitting on the folding stool 1, along the axis X-X, and may have a telescopic construction.
The distal end 22z of the support leg 22 may be equipped with a ground-supported element 221, comprising arrangements to prevent the support leg 22 from slipping and causing the user that sits on the folding stool 1 to fall, in case of imperfect ground support and/or imperfectly vertical load on the folding stool 1.
The support element 221 may include seats 221a for holding the distal ends 23z of the seat braces 23 by snap-engagement when the latter are in the folded (or minimum profile) configuration.
Advantageously, if the support leg 22 has a telescopic construction, the inner elements extend from the outer elements on the side of the distal end 22z.
In a preferred embodiment, a single support leg 22 is provided.
The seat braces 23 also have a proximal end 23v and a distal end 23z and extend along their main axis Y-Y.
Advantageously, the folding stool 1 comprises at least two seat braces 23, preferably five or less; in a preferred embodiment, it comprises three seat braces, e.g. exactly three.
Each of the seat braces 23 is hinged to the main body 21 at a seat 211, to rotate about a circumferential axis, i.e. perpendicular to its longitudinal axis; advantageously, hinging occurs at the proximal end 23v.
Such rotation may advantageously be restricted to an angle from 5° to 75° and allows the folding stool to move from a folded configuration, in which the axes Y-Y of the seat braces 23 are parallel to the axis X-X, to an operating configuration, in which the axes Y-Y of the seat braces 23 are inclined relative to the axis X-X to form the above angle.
In the operating configuration, the seat braces 23 are arranged with their distal ends 23z relatively far from each other, and substantially lying on a common plane, preferably substantially perpendicular to the axis X-X.
The seat element 3 is advantageously a polygonal element, with as many vertices 31 as there are seat braces 23.
At each vertex 31, the seat element 3 has engagement means for engagement with the distal ends 23z of the seat arms 23, e.g. pockets.
The seat element 3 may be rigid or, advantageously, flexible and may have the above mentioned engagement means on the side opposite to the seat side (i.e. the side facing downwards, in operation).
The vertex/ices 31 of the seat element may be truncated, for easier manufacture and assembly thereof with the seat braces 23.
Each seat brace 23 may have a cam element 24 at its proximal end 23v, whose outer surface can allow rotation of the seat brace to the preset angle and to prevent any further rotation, even when a user sits on the folding stool 1.
For instance, the surface of this cam element 24 may include a substantially circular portion, whose radial dimension (as taken about the axis of rotation of the seat brace 23) leaves some clearance from the walls of the seats 211, and a substantially flat portion, for abutment against at least one of the walls of the seats 211, to block the rotary motion of the seat braces 23.
The central body 21 advantageously extends on a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis X-X and has a top face 212 and a bottom face 213.
Advantageously, the top face 212 comprises an upper seat 212a which is designed to provide a form fit with a proximal end 22v of the support leg 22; the bottom face 213 also comprises a lower seat 213a which is designed to provide a form fit with the proximal end 22v of the support leg 22.
In a preferred embodiment, the two seats 212a, 213a are equal; for instance, they may be symmetrical with respect to a plane intermediate therebetween, e.g. this plane may be perpendicular to the axis X-X.
In a preferred embodiment, the seats 212a, 213a have a substantially circular symmetry about the axis X-X and advantageously comprise a first larger cylindrical (or advantageously conical) cavity, and a second smaller cavity, concentric therewith, which also has a cylindrical (or advantageously conical) shape.
Advantageously, both cavities are coaxial and extend along the axis X-X.
In a preferred embodiment, the second cavity defines a through hole in the central body 21.
One or both cavities may have a circular section, or a section other than the circular section, e.g. a triangular or square section. Here, the corners may be advantageously chamfered.
Thus, the proximal end 22v of the support leg 22 may include an engagement element whose shape may be complementary to the shape of the seats 212a, 213a.
Advantageously, retaining means may be provided for engaging, although in a relatively loose fashion, the support leg 22 with the central body 21.
For instance, the cavity 213a may include a recess 214 for receiving a rubber seal or, for example, snap elements 214a contained in the support leg 22, e.g. in the proximal end thereof.
The central body 21 may be contained in a circle having a diameter of not more than 50 mm, may have a thickness of less than 20 mm and may be made of a metal (e.g. aluminum or alloys thereof), ferrous or polymeric material.
The steps required to move from the minimum profile configuration to the operating configuration of a folding stool 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, will be now described.
In the minimum profile configuration, the proximal end 22v of the support leg 22 is engaged in the upper seat 212a of the central body 21 and the seat braces 23 are rotated for their main axes Y-Y to be parallel to the axis X-X, which is common to the central body 21 and the support leg 22.
The distal ends 23z of the seat braces 23 are snap-engaged in the seats 221a formed at the distal end 22z of the support leg 22.
The seat element 3 is separated from the folding stool of the present invention.
The user releases the seat braces 23 from the seats 221a, by rotating them to the limit position.
Then, the user disengages and releases the support leg 22 from the upper seat 212a of the central body 21.
Now, the user may engage the support leg 22 in the lower seat 213a of the central body 1, possibly by telescopically extending the support leg 22, if the latter has a telescopic construction.
Finally, the seat element 3 may be mounted to the seat braces 23.

Claims

A folding stool comprising:
- a central body (21) defining a longitudinal axis (X-X) and comprising a plurality of seats (211) that are radially equally spaced in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (X-X),

- at least one support leg (22) which is adapted to support, in operation, the weight of a user sitting on said folding stool (1) along said longitudinal axis (X-X), said support leg (22) comprising a proximal end (22v) and a distal end (22z);

- a plurality of seat braces (23), each extending along its own main axis (Y-Y), and hinged to said central body (21) at one of said plurality of seats (211) to be able to rotate from an operating configuration to a configuration in which said main axis (Y-Y) is parallel to said longitudinal axis (X-X),
wherein
said central body (22) comprises a top surface (212) and a bottom surface (213), characterized in that a top seat (212a) and a bottom seat (213a) being formed in said surfaces, and being shaped to create a form fit for the same proximal end (22v) of said support leg (22),
said support leg (22) being engaged with said central body (21) by one of said form fits when it is in its minimum profile configuration, and by the other of said form fits when it is in the operating configuration.
A folding stool (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said folding stool (1) comprises a single support leg (22).
A folding stool (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said support leg (22) has a telescopic construction.
A folding stool (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said folding stool (1) comprises exactly three or four or five seat braces (23).
A folding stool (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said plurality of seat braces (23) comprise a proximal end (23v), which is hinged to said central body (21), and a distal end (23v) having constraint means for constraining a seat of said folding stool (1), wherein said folding stool (1) further comprises a flexible seat (3), which is adapted to be removably joined to said constraint means on said distal end (23z) of said seat braces (23).
A folding stool (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said central body (21) is made of a metal material, e.g. an aluminum alloy.
A folding stool (1) as claimed in any claim from 1 to 5, wherein said central body (21) is made of a polymeric material.
A folding stool (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said upper and lower seats (212a, 213a) include a first cavity and a second cavity each.
A folding stool (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said second cavities define a through hole in said central body (21).
A use of a folding stool (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, including the steps of:
(a) disengaging said support leg (22) from a face (212, 213) of said central body (21),

(b) engaging said support leg (22) with the other face (213, 212) of said central body (21).