EP2965661B1

EP2965661B1 - Portable briefcase-chair

Info

Publication number: EP2965661B1
Application number: EP14761099.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miguel Sanza Pilas
Original assignee: Equx Estudio De Diseno SL
Current assignee: Equx Estudio De Diseno SL
Priority date: 2013-03-06
Filing date: 2014-02-11
Publication date: 2018-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2034-02-11
Also published as: EP2965661A1; EP2965661A4; ES1078864U; ES2708754T3; PT2965661T; ES1078864Y

Description

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a transportable folder-chair, forming a single unit in which two parts with different uses are established with a foldable nature, one as a chair in the corresponding folding and assembly of the general structure and another as a folder which allows documents to be carried and which can be folded and unfolded with respect to the part which forms the seat.
The object of the invention is to provide a support for transporting and storing documents, using for this a folder as part of the object of the invention as well as forming a resting element or chair usable at any time.
The folder-chair is preferably made of cardboard or polypropylene and in any case is complemented by a belt for the transport thereof.

Background of the invention

In the Spanish utility model with publication number ES 1074232 U , a cardboard stool is described which is formed by a rectangular prismatic body, with two flat faces and the other two forming bellows, with the object of allowing the folding of the body such that the support is carried out by way of one of the bases which form the body referred to and which is open while the seat surface per se is formed by two extensions derived from the lateral planes corresponding to the upper opposing edge, extensions which have a central cutout and a transversal fold line for linking such extensions, following the folding of the sections which are determined by way of the fold line in the vertices or dihedrals which are determined at the top of the faces in the form of bellows of the body, thus forming a chair or stool which allows the use thereof at any time and which logically, when it is not used, completely folds forming a practically flat body.
This stool has no other function than that of a seat, also having the drawback that the stability of the same leaves much to be desired since the link between the cutouts of the extensions forming the seat surface and the upper dihedrals or vertices of the faces in the form of bellows can be separated in the face of movements which produce a deformation and definitively instability with respect to the prismatic body which forms the seat per se.
In the Spanish utility model with publication number ES 1068528 U , another fast-erecting stool is described, which provides an upper surface based on various sections and has an independent element which is couplable in this upper part, providing a high resistance or rigidity to unit of the stool and therefore greater stability during the use thereof.
However, the stool corresponding to this utility model which has just been mentioned, is complex both in the manufacture thereof and the erecting or assembly thereof.
Document CN 102 349 756 A discloses a stool made of folded old packing case. The stool has a stool plane, supporting bodies and a stool bottom. The stool plane and the stool bottom are respectively formed by folded and latched components of two first end swing covers on the top of an old packing case and two second end swing covers on the bottom of the old packing case. The supporting bodies are formed by: end case boards positioned on the two ends of the old packing case; side case boards positioned on the front and the back of the old packing case; and side swing covers cut from the old packing case folded into cuboid tubes. By means of this invention, after a packing case is used for packing, a secondary function can be provided by the old packing case.
Document US 6 048 032 A discloses a foldable seat or support structured from one or more blanks made of a lightweight and waterproof material tightly secured together at their ends and cut and scored to provide fold lines and integral and foldable panels which can easily and quickly be folded into an assembled and operable seat or support capable of supporting heavy loads and capable of being used repeatedly even after being exposed to moisture. Certain panels of the assembled and operable seat can be unfolded and thereafter refolded in a certain manner or sequence for a quick conversion into a tightly secured and self-contained compact bundle or package for carrying, for use as a seat cushion, or for storage. A shoulder strap can be attached to the tightly secured bundle for ease of carrying or storage.
In these documents, as in others which it is not appropriate to assess, the stool has no other function than that of a seat at a determined time and with one or another form, does not offer other benefits.

Description of the invention

According to the invention, a folder-chair is provided as claimed in claim 1. This folder-chair has the particularity that in one single unit or completely foldable body, there are established, on the one hand, a folder for documents and on the other hand a seat structure.
More specifically, the folder-chair of the invention has a prismatic body with two flat faces and two in the form of bellows, as is common, however, with the special particularity that the first extensions which must form the upper seat surface have a transversal fold line and at the free edge thereof two second cutouts which correspond to first cutouts provided for such purpose in the upper part of the edge or vertex which determine the lateral faces in the form of bellows, such that both upper first extensions are perfectly connected to the laterals in the form of bellows, preventing these from folding or unfolding and preventing an undesired dismantling of the structure of the chair or seat being carried out.
On one of the lateral faces in the form of bellows, the fixing of the ends of a strap for transport is envisaged while a second extension corresponding to a folder is derived from the opposing face and corresponding to the corresponding edge following a double fold line, a second extension which has the same size as one of the flat lateral faces of the prismatic body of the chair or seat and furthermore, has two second flaps corresponding to two of the opposing edges thereof, and a third flap corresponding to the edge opposed to that of the fold line which connects this second extension of the folder to the prismatic body, defining in the folding of this second extension, the folder per se, which can be opened by way of the fin derived in opposition to the double fold line with which it is joined to the structure of the seat, both the fin and the corresponding face of the body of the seat having fastening or fixing means for maintaining the folder in a closed position since this is determined by the flaps or extensions previously mentioned, the closing third flap and of course the face which forms one of the laterals, precisely that from which the folder is derived, of the prismatic body of the seat.
The fixing of the folder to the chair, in the folded position, can be implemented in various ways, for example, by means of complementary tabs and cutouts and provided in one or another part; by means of adhesive Velcro ® portions, by means of bracket fastening elements, etc.
Consequently, by means of one single body and from the development of a sheet of cardboard or polypropylene, the double element can be obtained which corresponds to a chair and to a folder in a folded position of the latter and in an unfolded position of the chair or seat, it being completely foldable so as to occupy a minimum volume and being transportable by means of the transport strap in the form of a shoulder strap, by hand as well as if it is a carrying case or briefcase.

Description of the drawings

In order to complement the description below and with the aim of aiding a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a practical preferred exemplary embodiment, a set of drawings are attached as an integral part of said description, in which the following is represented in an illustrative and non-limiting manner:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the folder-chair object of the invention in a completely folded position.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view in a folded position, but starting from the opening of the folder by way of the closing flap of the same.
Figure 3 shows another perspective view of the unit in an intermediate position or state of the unfolding of the body which is going to constitute the chair and the extension, which constitutes the folder, unfolded.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view like that of the previous figure, allowing the two extensions to be seen which derive from the flat laterals of the body of the seat to form the seat surface per se in a closed position.
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the chair in a position of use and the folder in a closed position, starting from the opening thereof.
Figure 6 lastly shows a perspective view of the folder completely folded over the prismatic structure which forms the chair or seat in a position of use.
Figure 7 lastly shows a perspective view of the form in which the folder-chair can be carried in a folded state, allowing to be seen how the user introduces a document into the interior of the folder.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

As can be seen in the figures referred to, the folder-chair of the invention comprises two fundamental parts or elements, one corresponding to a first part 1 for the formation of the chair or seat per se and a second part 2 corresponding to the folder.
The first part 1 corresponding to the chair or seat is formed by a rectangular prismatic body with two flat lateral faces 3 and other faces alternating with these and referenced with the number 4, which are in the form of bellows, these faces in the form of bellows 4 having an upper first cutout 5 precisely corresponding to the line which delimits both sectors of the bellows formation of each face 4.
In one of these faces in the form of bellows 4, the fixing is provided, at the ends thereof, for a strap 6 for the transport of the unit.
From the upper edge corresponding to the flat faces 3, first extensions 7 are derived which following respective fold lines 8 extends in first flaps 9 impinged by a pair of second cutouts 10, all of which in a manner such that following the unfolding of the prismatic element or body 1, the first extensions 7 are folded over in order to be located horizontally on the upper part and form the seat surface, while the first flaps 9 following the fold line 8 thereof, are folded inwards and the second cutouts 10 fit into the first cutouts 5 of the laterals in the form of bellows 4 of the structure, thus perfectly forming a rectangular prismatic body, the upper seat surface of which is formed by the first extensions 7, in addition to being perfectly stiffened and assembled based on the first flaps 9 and fits between the mentioned first cutouts 5 and second cutouts 10.
A second extension 11 is derived from one of the edges of the prismatic body 1 constituting the chair or seat per se following a double fold line, in which the double fold line defines a narrow section 12 which is going to correspond to the depth or thickness of the folder which is going to form the second extension 11 together with the flat lateral face 3 from which it is derived, and lateral second flaps 13 and another third flap 14 opposing this section 12 of the double fold line, such that the third flap 14 is going to form the closure of the folder.
In the third flap 14 as well as in the corresponding flat face 3 of the prismatic body 1, there are included complementary means for mutual fixing in order to achieve the folder, in the folded arrangement thereof or attached to the flat face 3 of the prismatic body 1, it is folded or unfolded, staying in the closed state.
At the same time, the second flaps 13 of the folder also have means complementary to others provided on the flat face 3 of the prismatic body 1 for maintaining the folder attached and perfectly fixed to the flat face 3 of the prismatic body 1 and the means of which can be small strips of Velcro ® adhesive, brackets, or any other fixing element which allows connecting or disconnecting, that is to say, folding and unfolding of the folder with respect to the prismatic body 1.
Lastly, to say that in figure 7, it can be seen how a user 15 transports the folder-chair on a should strap by means of the strap 6, the introduction of a document into the interior of the folder being observed, and wherein the chair is in this case completely folded, as can be seen in figure 1.

Claims

A transportable folder-chair, formed by two foldable/unfoldable parts (1,2), forming a single unit, wherein the first part (1) corresponds to a seat or chair and is formed by a rectangular prismatic body with two flat faces (3) and two faces in the form of bellows (4), with first extensions (7) corresponding to the upper edge of the flat faces to form the seat surface in a position of use of the chair, said first extensions (7), following a fold line (8) being continued in first flaps (9) with two second cutouts (10) complementary to others first cutouts (5) established for such purpose in the intermediate fold of the faces in the form of bellows (4) of the prismatic body (1) of the seat or chair, wherein said prismatic body (1) of the seat or chair includes a strap (6) fixed at two ends for transporting the unit in a folded position;
characterized by a second part (2) comprising a second extension (11) extending from one of the edges of said prismatic body (1) following a double fold line, said second extension (11) being of the same length as the corresponding face and comprising two second flaps (13) on two opposing edges and one third flap (14) on the edge opposing that of the double fold line, said second part (2) forming, on the fold thereof over the corresponding and flat face (3) of the prismatic body (1), a folder wherein said third flap (14) forms the closure of said folder.
The transportable folder-chair according to claim 1, characterized in that the second extension (11) with the second flaps (13) and third flap (14) thereof, which form the folder, is foldable and unfoldable with respect to the corresponding face of the prismatic body (1) constituting the chair or seat both in a folded position and in an unfolded position of the same.
The transportable folder-chair according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third flap (14) which together with the corresponding second extension (11) form the folder attached to the respective lateral of the prismatic body (1) of the seat or chair, have elements complementary to others established on the corresponding face of the prismatic body (1) for maintaining the body of the folder in a folded state with the possibility of unfolding by releasing said fixing elements.
The transportable folder-chair according to claim 3, characterized in that the complementary means which maintain the folder fixed to the chair in a folded position are formed by tabs and cutouts provided on the part of the folder and on the part of the chair, respectively.
The transportable folder-chair according to claim 3, characterized in that the complementary means which maintain the folder fixed to the chair in a folded position are formed by self-adhering portions on one and the other part, or by bracket elements or similar.