EP3320807A1

EP3320807A1 - Seat element with variable configuration

Info

Publication number: EP3320807A1
Application number: EP17198844.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Davide MUGNONI
Original assignee: Rubelli SpA
Current assignee: Rubelli SpA
Priority date: 2016-11-11
Filing date: 2017-10-27
Publication date: 2018-05-16
Also published as: IT201600114061A1

Abstract

A seat element (4) comprising a weight-bearing frame (8) fitted with a base (12) and a seat (16), a covering element (20) for the weight-bearing frame (8), wrapped perimetrally continuously around the weight-bearing frame (8) in order to define therewith and with the seat (16) a containment seat (24) open and accessible from the side opposite seat (16), suitable to receive at least partly a user. The covering element (20) extends along a vertical direction (Y-Y), substantially perpendicular to the seat (16), and comprises a support portion (28) and a soft portion (32) contiguous to each other. Advantageously, the support portion (28) constitutes a stiffener element of the covering element (20), intended to form a backrest for a user. The soft portion (32) is suitable to pass from a raised position in which it delimits the perimeter of the containment seat (24) together with the support portion (28), to a lowered position in which it abuts against the seat (16) to enable the user to lean on the latter.

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a seat element with variable configuration.

PRIOR ART

As is known, seat elements with variable configuration exist in the art which comprise, for example, deformable seat portions and/or support portions of the arms or legs of removable/retractable type.
The above prior art solutions have limitations since, when not in use, are furnishing elements that limit the space available in the room where they are placed.
Moreover, the seat elements of known type have a chair or armchair conformation that does not always integrate with the interior furnishing of a room, if not in the vicinity of a table or similar support element.
This means that the chairs or armchairs of the prior art find specific arrangement in interior furnishings in the vicinity of tables or coffee tables and hardly constitute individual furnishing elements.
Furnishing solutions are also known that are deformable or fitted with deformable parts: however, such solutions deteriorate over time and become aesthetically unpleasant; moreover, they are often uncomfortable for the user as they do not provide the necessary support to have a seat that is comfortable and ergonomic.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In summary, the prior art solutions have limitations in terms of integration with the interior furnishings of the room in which they are placed, as well as the spaces occupied by them, especially when not in use.
Moreover, furnishings of the deformable type are not ergonomic and easily deteriorate with use.
The need of solving the drawbacks and limitations mentioned with reference to the prior art is therefore felt.
Such a need is met by a seat element according to claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of preferred non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a seat element according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a raised or non-use configuration;
figures 2-3 show perspective views, from different angles, of the seat element in figure 1 in a lowered or use configuration;
figure 4 shows a lateral enlarged view of a seat element according to the present invention, in raised configuration;
figure 5 shows a top plan view of the seat element in figure 4;
figure 6 shows a sectional view of the seat element in figure 4, along the section plane VI-VI indicated in figure 5;
figures 7a-7b show sectional views of detail VII in figure 4, along the section plane S-S indicated in figure 5, according to possible embodiment variants;
figures 8a-8b show sectional views of detail VIII in figure 4, along the section plane S-S indicated in figure 5, according to possible embodiment variants;
figure 8c shows various views of an intermediate reinforcement layer of balsa wood, according to a possible embodiment of the present invention;
figure 9 shows a further view of the seat element from the side of arrow IX in figure 4;
figure 10 shows a lateral view of the seat element X in figure 6;
figure 11 shows the enlarged detail XI in figure 6; figure 12 shows the enlarged detail XII in figure 6.

Elements or parts of elements in common o the embodiments described below are referred to with the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the above figures, reference numeral 4 globally indicates an overall schematic view of a seat element. For the purpose of the present invention, the definition of seat element must be considered in a broad, non-limiting sense, in terms of a device adapted to allow the sitting to one or more users.
The seat element 4 comprises a weight-bearing frame 8 fitted with a base 12 and a seat 16.
The weight-bearing frame 8 may have any shape and size and may be made from any material adapted to impart the necessary resistance to the seat element 4. For example, but not necessarily, the weight-bearing frame has an axial-symmetric configuration around an axis of symmetry A-A.
The seat element 4 comprises a covering element 20 for the weight-bearing frame 8, wrapped perimetrally continuously around the weight-bearing frame 8 in order to define therewith and with the seat 16 a containment seat 24 open and accessible from the side opposite seat 16, suitable to receive at least partly a user.
The covering element 20 perimetrally wraps the weight-bearing frame 8 and extends along a vertical direction Y-Y, substantially perpendicular to seat 16. In the vertical portion in which the covering element 20 extends beyond seat 16, the covering element 20 delimits the containment seat 24 open upwards on the side opposite seat 16 and base 12, and adapted to accommodate at least partly a user.
The covering element 20 comprises a support portion 28 and a soft portion 32 contiguous to each other.
The support portion 28 constitutes a stiffener element of the covering element 20, intended to form a backrest for a user, as better described hereinafter.
The soft portion 32 is suitable to pass from a raised position (figure 1) in which it delimits the perimeter of the containment seat 24 together with the support portion 28, to a lowered position (figures 2-3) in which it abuts against seat 16 to enable the user to lean on the latter.
In other words, in the raised position the containment seat 24 is perimetrally delimited by both the support portion 28 and by the soft portion 32, without interruption.
In the lowered position, which can either make the user by hand or approaching directly and seating from the side of the soft portion 32, the soft portion 32 lowers and abuts against seat 16 so as to allow direct access to the containment seat 24. In this lowered configuration, the soft portion 32 flattens, thus forming a sort of pillow interposed between the user and seat 16, while the support portion 28 acts as backrest.
The support portion 28 and the soft portion 32 are connected to each other according to a head coupling 36, at the respective end edges 40.
According to a possible embodiment, said head coupling 36 of the end edges 40 of the support portion 28 and of the soft portion 32 comprises a pair of side seams 44, parallel to each other. Preferably, said side seams 44 are parallel to said vertical direction Y-Y. Such a direction of the side seams 44 contributes to obtaining a programmed, elastic and repeatable deformation of the soft portion 32 with respect to the support portion 28.
Said side seams 44 are adapted to allow a programmed deformation of the soft portion 32: in this way, the side seams 44 constitute weakening lines that allow a precise and repeatable deformation of the soft portion which lowers against seat 16.
According to an embodiment, wherein the covering element 20 comprises a pair of layers of felt 48', 48" superposed on each other.
For example, said layers of superposed felt 48', 48" are sewn together.
The choice of felt arises from the need to obtain the right balance between stiffness of the covering element 20 and deformability of the soft portion 32. For example, the layers of felt 48', 48" are joined together by an upper seam 52 at a top edge 56 of the covering element 20 which superiorly delimits, along the vertical direction Y-Y, the containment seat 24.
Such an upper seam 52 cooperates to the programmed deformation of the soft portion 32 with respect to the support portion 28.
According to an embodiment, the layers of felt 48', 48" each have a thickness of between 7 and 11 mm, and preferably between 8 and 10 mm. The choice of such a thickness is functional to the programmed, elastic and repeatable deformation of the soft portion 32 with respect to the support portion 28.
At the support portion 28, the covering element 20 comprises an intermediate reinforcement layer 60, placed between said layers of felt 48', 48".
According to one embodiment (figures 7a, 8a), the intermediate reinforcement layer 60 is a salpa wood layer. The choice of this type of material is functional to the achievement of the right balance between stiffness of the support portion 28 and softness of the soft portion 32. In fact, the support portion must on the one hand be stiff enough to constitute a backrest for the user and on the other it must also yield elastically in the passage of the soft portion 32 from the raised configuration to the lowered configuration: in the absence of such elastic yield, such a passage would be critical.
According to one embodiment, said intermediate reinforcement layer 60 has a thickness of between 3 and 5 mm, preferably equal to 4 mm.
Preferably, the intermediate reinforcement layer 60 is divided into two layers 60', 60" alongside each other, free to reciprocally slide.
The choice of two layers is 60', 60" alongside and free to reciprocally slide is again tied to the functionality of the support portion 28 that must be able to deform elastically during the passage from the raised configuration to the lowered or seating configuration.
According to a further embodiment (figures 7b, 8b), the intermediate reinforcement layer 60 comprises a wooden panel 70, preferably made of balsa wood with a plurality of longitudinal strips 72 parallel to said vertical direction Y-Y. For example, the longitudinal strips 72 are integrally connected together and are obtained by longitudinal grooves 76 which partially carve into the wooden panel 70.
With this configuration, the longitudinal strips 72 impart high flexural rigidity along the vertical direction Y-Y but at the same time, the longitudinal grooves 76 form weakening lines and allow easy deformation in the circumferential direction, so as to facilitate the adaptability to the back of a user and thus the seat comfort.
It is also possible to create an intermediate reinforcement layer 60 having an overall sandwich structure with two layers of longitudinal strips 80', 80" applied on opposing sides to an inner layer 84. The inner layer 84 serves as the inner core and at the same time ensures resistance and flexibility to the intermediate reinforcement layer 60.
Preferably, the intermediate reinforcement layer 60 extends, along the vertical direction Y-Y, up to an upper end 64 placed rearward of the top edge 56 of the covering element 20, opposite seat 16.
This choice mainly has ergonomic reasons, since it is preferable to soften the support portion 28 at the top which, by acting as a backrest, interfaces with the upper back and/or neck of the user, in sitting configuration of the seat element 4.
Preferably, the intermediate reinforcement layer 60 of the support portion 28 extends for a portion of arc 68 between 30% and 50% of a perimetral extension of the covering element 20.
As mentioned above, the covering element 20 has a circular extension and, with respect to a cross-section plane perpendicular to said vertical direction Y-Y, the intermediate reinforcement layer 60 extends for an arc 68 of between 130 and 150 degrees.
Preferably, the intermediate reinforcement layer 60 extends between said side seams 44 of the end edges 40 defining the head coupling 36 between the support portion 28 and the soft portion 32.
This further contributes to obtaining a programmed, elastic and repeatable deformation of the soft portion 32 with respect to the support portion 28.
It should be noted that the covering element 20 may in turn be covered by an outer covering, such as a fabric, having essentially a decorative function.
For example, said outer covering may wrap the outermost felt layer 48" and may be blocked on the covering element by refolding a part of the outer covering and inserting it, so as to block it, in the interface between these said two layers of felt 48', 48".
Of course, further different locking means of the outer covering other than the covering element 20 may be used.
Finally, the covering element 20 preferably has an axial-symmetric circular shape with respect to an axis of symmetry, parallel to said vertical direction, and has a diverging truncated cone pattern on the side opposite the base.
This particular divergence of flaring outwards contributes to obtaining a programmed, elastic and repeatable deformation of the soft portion 32 with respect to the support portion 28.
In fact, the slight flaring outwards favours the return of yielding the soft portion to the raised configuration.
As can be seen from the above description, the seat element according to the invention allows the drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome.
In particular, the seat element of the present invention allows implementing a piece of furniture that does not have the canonical aesthetic traits of seat elements, such as chairs and armchairs, of the prior art.
For this reason, the seat element of the present invention may be integrated with the furnishing arranged in a room, without being necessarily placed in the vicinity a table or coffee table.
Also, the seat element of the present invention allows reducing the overall space occupied with respect to the known solutions, since it has a very compact conformation free from overhanging elements, such as seats or armrests.
Moreover, the seat element of the present invention, when not in use by a user, can be conveniently used to store even temporarily objects.
Moreover, the seat element of the present invention is particularly comfortable as it has a soft and yielding support structure.
The seat element comprises a plurality of technical measures which synergistically contribute to the achievement of a structure sufficiently rigid at the support portion, and even elastically and repeatedly deformable at the soft portion.
These measures allow the deformation of the soft portion to be controlled and repeatable over time, without causing mechanical failures or damage or anti-aesthetic deformation pf the covering element.
A man skilled in the art may make several changes and adjustments to the seat elements described above in order to meet specific and incidental needs, all falling within the scope of protection defined in the following claims.

Claims

Seat element (4) comprising:
- a weight-bearing frame (8) fitted with a base (12) and a seat (16),

- a covering element (20) for the weight-bearing frame (8), wrapped perimetrally continuously around the weight-bearing frame (8) in order to define therewith and with the seat (16) a containment seat (24) open and accessible from the side opposite the seat (16), suitable to receive at least partly a user,

- wherein the covering element (20) extends along a vertical direction (Y-Y), substantially perpendicular to the seat (16), and comprises a support portion (28) and a soft portion (32) contiguous to each other,

- wherein the support portion (28) constitutes a stiffener element of the covering element (20), intended to form a backrest for a user,

- wherein the soft portion (32) is suitable to pass from a raised position in which it delimits the perimeter of the containment seat (24) together with the support portion (28), to a lowered position in which it abuts against the seat (16) to enable the user to lean on the latter.
Seat element (4) according to claim 1, wherein the support portion (28) and the soft portion (32) are connected to each other according to a head coupling (36), at the respective end edges (40).
Seat element (4) according to claim 2, wherein said head coupling (36) of the end edges (40) of the support portion (28) and of the soft portion (32) comprises a pair of side seams (44), parallel to each other.
Seat element (4) according to claim 3, wherein the side seams (44) are parallel to said vertical direction (Y-Y) .
Seat element (4) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the covering element (20) comprises a pair of layers of felt (48', 48") superposed on each other.
Seat element (4) according to claim 5, wherein said layers of superposed felt (48', 48'') are sewn together.
Seat element (4) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said layers of felt (48', 48") each have a thickness of between 7 and 11 mm, and preferably between 8 and 10 mm.
Seat element (4) according to any of the claims from 5 to 7, wherein at the support portion (28), the covering element (20) comprises an intermediate reinforcement layer (60), placed between said layers of felt (48', 48").
Seat element (4) according to claim 8, wherein said intermediate reinforcement layer (60) has a thickness between 3 and 5 mm, preferably equal to 4 mm.
Seat element (4) according to any of the claims from 8 to 9, wherein the intermediate reinforcement layer (60) comprises a wooden panel (70), preferably made of balsa wood, having a plurality of longitudinal strips (72) parallel to said vertical direction (Y-Y).
Seat element (4) according to claim 10, wherein the longitudinal strips (72) are integrally connected together and are obtained by longitudinal grooves (76) which partially carve into the wooden panel (70).
Seat element (4) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the intermediate reinforcement layer (60) has an overall sandwich structure with two layers of longitudinal strips (80', 80'') applied on opposing sides to an inner layer (84).
Seat element (4) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the intermediate reinforcement layer (60) is a layer made of salpa wood.
Seat element (4) according to claim 13, wherein said intermediate reinforcement layer (60) is divided into two layers (60', 60") alongside each other, free to reciprocally slide.
Seat element (4) according to any of the claims from 8 to 14, wherein said intermediate reinforcement layer (60) extends, along the vertical direction (Y-Y), up to an upper end (64) placed rearward of a top edge (56) of the covering element (20), opposite the seat (16).
Seat element (4) according to any of the claims from 8 to 15, wherein said intermediate reinforcement layer (60) of the support portion (28) extends for a portion of arc (68) between 30% and 50% of a perimetral extension of the covering element (20).
Seat element (4) according to any of the claims from 8 to 13, wherein the covering element (20) has a circular extension and, with respect to a cross-section plane perpendicular to said vertical direction (Y-Y), the intermediate reinforcement layer (60) extends for a portion of arc (68) of between 130 and 150 degrees.
Seat element (4) according to any of the claims from 8 to 17 in conjunction with the claim 3 or 4, wherein the intermediate reinforcement layer (60) extends between said side seams (44) of the end edges (40) defining the head coupling (36) between the support portion (28) and the soft portion (32).