GB1559677A

GB1559677A - Seating unit

Info

Publication number: GB1559677A
Application number: GB4531075A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-01-28
Filing date: 1977-01-28
Publication date: 1980-01-23

Description

(54) IMPROVED SEATING UNIT (71) I, ROGER DEAN, a British subject, of 11 Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton, Sussex, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a seating unit capable of accommodating a plurality of people in aligned or random positions.

Thus, the seating may be used in, for example, an auditorium, where the users may sit in an upright, or substantially upright position, or in a reclining position, in aligned rows, or for example in a reception area or in the living room of a dwelling where the users may sit in an upright, or substantially upright position, or in a reclining position, in random positions.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a seating unit which is simple and relatively inexpensive to produce, and one which creates an air of informality against the stark designs of conventional seating units such as rows of seats, or armchairs and settees.

According to the present invention, there is provided a seating unit capable of accommodating a plurality of people which comprises a plurality of spaced cavities formed in a mass of resilient material, each cavity, in cross-section, having a narrow portion open to the uppermost surface of the mass of material and a wider bulbous portion below and in communication with the narrow portion, and each cavity, or a pluralitv of closely adjacent cavities, providing a sitting and/or a reclining position for at least one person, and being of a size such as to at least partially wrap around said person or persons.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing seating units in the form of landscape seating, Figure 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of part of one of the units of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a section showing two adjacent seating units in use, Figure 5 is a plan view of part of a seating unit having uniformly spaced sitting positions, Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a plan view of part of an alternative form of seating unit having random individual sitting positions, and Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a seating unit 1 comprises a large undulating or convex mass 2 of a resilient plastics material, such as high density, soft, fire resistant polyurethane foam, which may be supported on a rigid base or support generally indicated at 3.

The upper surface of the large mass of material 2 is formed with a plurality of cavities 4, each cavity being in the form of a narrow portion 5 and a bulbous portion 6. To prevent the ingress of dirt and other foreign matter, and also to provide a continuous surface, the narrow portions 5 are closed by strips 7 of a resilient, i.e. elastic, material which strips are secured in position by means of an adhesive, or by other suitable means.

The sizes of the portions 6, and the shapes thereof, may vary throughout the length of each cavity, and from one cavity to another, in order to present different sitting and/or reclining attitudes. Thus, a cavity which is relatively wide, or a plurality of closely spaced cavities, will present a reclining position, whereas a cavity which is relatively narrow will present an upright, or substantially upright, position.

In the latter respect, the difference between a reclining position and a sitting position will also be influenced by the angle of repose of the upper surface of the mass of material 2. Thus, where the angle is, for example, between 25 and 35 sitting positions are provided and; where the angle is horizontal, or substantially horizontal, reclining positions are provided.

In use, as shown in Figure 4 which illustrates one person in a reclining position and one person in a sitting position, it will be seen that the weidlt of a person deforms the inwardly facing portions 8 of a cavity 4 in a downward direction so that they are folded in to the bulbous portion 6 of the cavity, and so that the bulk of the surre.nding material also deforms to conform to the shape of the persons body. In this respect, if a number of people are occupying one cavity in widely spaced relationship, or if only one person is occupying a cavity, it will be appreciated that the bulk of material around the or each person will tend to partially wrap around them and, at least partially, provide arm rests. Obviously, if a plurality of people are sifting close to one another in the same cavity, this will not occur.

The spacing of the cavities may be regular and uniform but, in one preferred arrangement as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the spacing is irregular to provide, over the whole area of the unit a variety of sitting and reclining positions depending upon the spacing of the cavities in different areas of the unit, and/or the angle of respose of different areas of the unit.

The choice of positions may be made by a user by observing the relative positions of the strips 7 which are of a different material, and/or may be of a different colour, to that of the material 2. In this respect, the unit may be provided with a fixed or removable cover having lines or other markings corresponding to the position of the strips 7.

Alternatively, the cover may be provided with markings defining individual sitting positions. Thus, a substantially circular area may, according to its size, indicate an upright sitting position or a reclining position, and/or an elongated area may indicate a reclining position, the size of the elongated area indicating the degree of recline.

In the modification shown in Figures 5 and 6, there is provided a seating unit 1 for use, for example, in an auditorium. In this unit there is provided a mass 2 of a plastics material which is positioned on a uniformly sloping rigid base or support generally indicated at 3. In this case, the mass of material 2 is formed with a pluralitv of regularly spaced and regularly sized cavities 4 each in the form hereinbefore described. As is obvious, each cavity will collapse in the same manner to provide a plurality of uniform upright sitting positions.

In this case also, a fixed or removable cover can be provided which has markings to indicate the positions of each row of seats, or to indicate individual sitting positions in each row.

In the further modification shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, there is provided a seating unit 1 which is similar to that shown with reference to Figures 1 to 4 except that the sitting positions are provided by separate, randomly disposed, cavities 4 each providing an individual sitting position. In this case also, a fixed or removable cover may be provided having markings to identify the individual sitting positions.

It will be obvious that any of the features of one embodiment described may be interchanged with, or added to, any of the other embodiments described. It will also be understood that, although the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 shows a unit for use in an auditorium, the remaining embodiments described could also be used for this purpose thereby providing so-called landscape seating which is both practical and decorative.

It will further be understood that the fixed or removable cover may also be reinforced at the positions of the markings thereof to span the narrow portions closed by the strips 7.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A seating unit capable of accommodating a plurality of people, which comprises a plurality of spaced cavities formed in a mass of resilient material, each cavity, in cross-section, having a narrow portion open to the uppermost surface of the mass of material and a wider bulbous portion below and in communication with the narrow portion, and each cavity, or a plurality of closely adjacent cavities, providing a sitting and/or a reclining position for at least one person, and being of a size such as to at least partially wrap around said person or persons.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the resilient material is a synthetic plastics material such as high density, soft, fire resistant, polyurethane foam.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the mass of resilient material is supported on a base or other support.

4. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the surface of the mass of resilient material is of convex or undulating formation.

5. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3. in which the surface of the mass of resilient material is of sloping formation.

6. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which each cavity is of elongated or continuous formation in plan view.

7. A unit as claimed in claim 6, in which the elongated space provided by the narrow portion of a cavity is closed by a strip of resilient material.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. horizontal, or substantially horizontal, reclining positions are provided. In use, as shown in Figure 4 which illustrates one person in a reclining position and one person in a sitting position, it will be seen that the weidlt of a person deforms the inwardly facing portions 8 of a cavity 4 in a downward direction so that they are folded in to the bulbous portion 6 of the cavity, and so that the bulk of the surre.nding material also deforms to conform to the shape of the persons body. In this respect, if a number of people are occupying one cavity in widely spaced relationship, or if only one person is occupying a cavity, it will be appreciated that the bulk of material around the or each person will tend to partially wrap around them and, at least partially, provide arm rests. Obviously, if a plurality of people are sifting close to one another in the same cavity, this will not occur. The spacing of the cavities may be regular and uniform but, in one preferred arrangement as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the spacing is irregular to provide, over the whole area of the unit a variety of sitting and reclining positions depending upon the spacing of the cavities in different areas of the unit, and/or the angle of respose of different areas of the unit. The choice of positions may be made by a user by observing the relative positions of the strips 7 which are of a different material, and/or may be of a different colour, to that of the material 2. In this respect, the unit may be provided with a fixed or removable cover having lines or other markings corresponding to the position of the strips 7. Alternatively, the cover may be provided with markings defining individual sitting positions. Thus, a substantially circular area may, according to its size, indicate an upright sitting position or a reclining position, and/or an elongated area may indicate a reclining position, the size of the elongated area indicating the degree of recline. In the modification shown in Figures 5 and 6, there is provided a seating unit 1 for use, for example, in an auditorium. In this unit there is provided a mass 2 of a plastics material which is positioned on a uniformly sloping rigid base or support generally indicated at 3. In this case, the mass of material 2 is formed with a pluralitv of regularly spaced and regularly sized cavities 4 each in the form hereinbefore described. As is obvious, each cavity will collapse in the same manner to provide a plurality of uniform upright sitting positions. In this case also, a fixed or removable cover can be provided which has markings to indicate the positions of each row of seats, or to indicate individual sitting positions in each row. In the further modification shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, there is provided a seating unit 1 which is similar to that shown with reference to Figures 1 to 4 except that the sitting positions are provided by separate, randomly disposed, cavities 4 each providing an individual sitting position. In this case also, a fixed or removable cover may be provided having markings to identify the individual sitting positions. It will be obvious that any of the features of one embodiment described may be interchanged with, or added to, any of the other embodiments described. It will also be understood that, although the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 shows a unit for use in an auditorium, the remaining embodiments described could also be used for this purpose thereby providing so-called landscape seating which is both practical and decorative. It will further be understood that the fixed or removable cover may also be reinforced at the positions of the markings thereof to span the narrow portions closed by the strips 7. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A seating unit capable of accommodating a plurality of people, which comprises a plurality of spaced cavities formed in a mass of resilient material, each cavity, in cross-section, having a narrow portion open to the uppermost surface of the mass of material and a wider bulbous portion below and in communication with the narrow portion, and each cavity, or a plurality of closely adjacent cavities, providing a sitting and/or a reclining position for at least one person, and being of a size such as to at least partially wrap around said person or persons.

8. A unit as claimed in any one of

claims 1 to 7, in which the cavities are uniformly spaced apart.

9. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the spacing between the cavities is irregular.

10. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the cavities are of generally circular formation in plan view and each provide an individual sitting or reclining position.

11. A unit as claimed in claim 10, in which the cavities are randomly spaced apart.

12. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, including a fixed or removable cover, the surface of which is provided with markings or the like to indicate sitting positions.

13. A seating unit, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 4, or Figures 5 and 6, or Figures 7 and 8, of the accompanying drawings.