GB1585622A

GB1585622A - Adjustable table and chair unit

Info

Publication number: GB1585622A
Application number: GB34555/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-08-18
Filing date: 1977-08-17
Publication date: 1981-03-11
Also published as: FR2361844A1; DE2737349A1

Description

(54) ADJUSTABLE TABLE AND CHAIR UNIT (71) I, ANTONIO TOMASI, an Italian Citizen, of via S. Francesco, Tarzo, (Treviso), Italy, 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: The present invention relates to a unit comprising a table and a chair the elements of which are adjustable both in height and horizontally in relation to one another so that the unit is particularly suitable as a school desk and chair arrangement.

It is well-known that desks of this kind which are used for school purposes, be they of the oldfashioned kind comprising fixed pairs of desk and chair or of the more modern type made up of simple, small, free-standing tables and chairs which are separate from one another, give rise to serious deformations in the bone structures of pupils using them, the most prevalent of which is that known as scholiosis.

The chief cause of this kind of deformation is the fact that the pupil is constrained for long periods of time to remain in incorrect postures due to the fact that the size both of the table and of the chair are fixed, at least as far as height is concerned and cannot therefore be matched to the correct position to correspond with the various people using them, these latter, being young people, having different heights and indeed heights which vary over periods of time.

It is clear, therefore, that it would be beneficial to have available desk arrangements in which the table and the chair can easily be adjusted both in height and in relation to one another in order to adapt them as circumstances require, to the stature of the person who is going to use them.

According to the present invention a table and chair unit comprises a rigid base structure upon which support structures for a worktable and a chair are mounted with the support structures each being independently adjustable vertically with respect to the base structure, a worktable mounted on the support structure therefor, and a chair mounted on the support structure there for, at least one of said chair and said worktable being horizontally adjustably mounted on its support structure.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a table and chair unit in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing, for the sake of clarity, the various flat surfaces (worktable, bookshelf, back rest and seat), have been shown in thin line in order to differentiate them from the structural parts which have been shown in thick line, furthermore the member constituting the worktable has been illustrated separate from its supporting structure.

In the preferred embodiment to which reference is made here, it will be observed that the structural parts are formed by a tubular framework.

Referring to the drawing, it will be observed that a rigid base structure is constituted by two tubular side elements 1 which are U-shaped, connected together at the front by the front transverse tubular element 2 which has the form of an inverted U, and at the rear by the rear transverse tubular element 3 which also has an inverted U-shape. The front transverse element 2 also acts as a footrest and can be approriately covered upon the longitudinal section 4, with a layer of non-slip material in a manner known per Se.

The ends of the transverse elements 2 and 3 constitute the supports through which the whole unit rests upon the ground and can be provided with appropriate rubber caps 5 or also with adjuster elements in order to accommodate any unevenness. The ends of the lateral tubular elements 1 are provided with extensions 6 which penetrate in part into the ends of the tubular elements and are fixed there by known means, for example by welding or preferably by brazing. Again, the attachment of the side elements 1 to the transverse elements 2 and 3 will preferably be performed by welding.

A support structure 7 for a worktable also has a U-shape, part 9 of the ends of the arms 8 being bent through approximately a right angle in relation to the arms themselves. These parts overlap in telescopic fashion the extensions 6 of the base structure so that said support structure 7 can be vertically adjusted upon the base structure, being guided by said extension 6 in so doing, and can furthermore be locked to same using known means, for example, as illustrated in the drawing, using clamping screws 10 with butterfly heads 11, which locate in a screwed hole formed in proximity to the ends of the parts 9 of the support structure 7. This hole will, of course, be formed, in a manner known per se, in some suitable element, for example a normal nut welded to said parts 9.

The support structure for the seat is constituted by two side elements 12 which are L shaped and are attached together by a transverse element 13 which is welded to them. This structure, too, as the drawing clearly shows, can be vertically adjusted on the base structure and be locked to the same in the manner already described in relation to the earlier structure. The frame of the seat is constituted by the tubular element 14 of U-shape, with part 15' of the arms bent approximately to a right angle. To the sections 1 5 of the arms of this framework there are attached (for example by welding) two tubular sections 16 which can be slipped over the horizontal arms of the side elements 12 and slide along same. The tubular sections 16 will likewise be provided with fixing elements of the same kind already described earlier.It will be self-evident that the whole framework of the seat can therefore be displaced horizontally on the appropriate supporting structure 12,13 and be fixed to the same in any desired position.

To said frame 14 there is attached the seat member 17 upon which the user sits, and a back rest in the form of a panel 18. The panel 18, instead of being fixed to the sections 15' of the frame 14, could, in the manner shown in the drawing, be equipped with two tubular sections 19 which can slide on the said sections 15 so that it can be adjusted vertically on these sections to the desired position and fixed there by fixing elements of the kind already referred to.

It will be observed that the seat member 17, too, could be positionally adjusted along the sections 15 of the frame 14.

On the support structure 7 there is placed a member 20 constituting the worktable and having a flat surface. The flat surface is provided with a lateral projection 21 upon which the pupil can rest his arm so that incorrect posture, in particular during writing, is avoided.

The worktable can be completed by an inset tray 22 where the pupil can place various items while not in use, as for example pens, pencils, rubbers, etc.

The attachment of said member 20 to the associated support structure 7 is achieved by two lateral plates 23, each containing a slotted hole 24, by normal bolts 25 passing through said slotted holes 24 and into the holes 27, and by normal wingnuts 26 which screw onto said bolts 25. It will be clear that by slacking off the wingnuts 26, the whole member 20 can be slid longitudinally on the horizontal sections of the arms 8 of the associated support structure 7 and can then be positioned as required, subsequently being fixed in the new position by tightening down the wingnuts 26.

A further member 28 providing a flat surface used as a shelf for books, exercise books etc., can be provided to finish off the unit. This flat member can be attached to the structure 7 in whatever manner is deemed most convenient.

It should be noted that in addition to the special features already referred to, the unit, in view of the nature of its structure, finally has the important feature that its various elements can be dismantled and this gives rise to other substantial advantages such as reduction in bulk, easy packing, storage and transportation.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A table and chair unit comprising a rigid base structure upon which support structures for a worktable and a chair are mounted with the support structures each being independently adjustable vertically with respect to the base structure, a worktable mounted on the support structure therefor, and a chair mounted on the support structure therefor, at least one of said chair and said worktable being horizontally adjustably mounted on its support structure.

2. A table and chair unit as claimed in Claim 1 in which both the worktable and the chair are adjustable horizontally with respect to the respective support structure.

3. A table and chair unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the chair comprises a frame adjustably mounted on said support structure and a substantially horizontal seat member and a substantially vertical back rest mounted on said frame.

4. A table and chair unit as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said back rest is adjustable vertically with respect to said frame.

5. A table and chair unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each pair of cooperating relatively adjustable parts has locking means which permit the parts to be locked together.

6. A table and chair unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said worktable comprises a member providing a flat surface and having a projection on one side which serves as a support for the arm of a user of the unit.

7. A table and chair unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rigid base structure and the support structures are of shaped metal tubing.

8. A table and chair unit as claimed in Claim 3 or 4 wherein said frame is of shaped metal tubing.

9. A table and chair unit comprising a rigid

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. being bent through approximately a right angle in relation to the arms themselves. These parts overlap in telescopic fashion the extensions 6 of the base structure so that said support structure 7 can be vertically adjusted upon the base structure, being guided by said extension 6 in so doing, and can furthermore be locked to same using known means, for example, as illustrated in the drawing, using clamping screws 10 with butterfly heads 11, which locate in a screwed hole formed in proximity to the ends of the parts 9 of the support structure 7. This hole will, of course, be formed, in a manner known per se, in some suitable element, for example a normal nut welded to said parts 9. The support structure for the seat is constituted by two side elements 12 which are L shaped and are attached together by a transverse element 13 which is welded to them. This structure, too, as the drawing clearly shows, can be vertically adjusted on the base structure and be locked to the same in the manner already described in relation to the earlier structure. The frame of the seat is constituted by the tubular element 14 of U-shape, with part 15' of the arms bent approximately to a right angle. To the sections 1 5 of the arms of this framework there are attached (for example by welding) two tubular sections 16 which can be slipped over the horizontal arms of the side elements 12 and slide along same. The tubular sections 16 will likewise be provided with fixing elements of the same kind already described earlier.It will be self-evident that the whole framework of the seat can therefore be displaced horizontally on the appropriate supporting structure 12,13 and be fixed to the same in any desired position. To said frame 14 there is attached the seat member 17 upon which the user sits, and a back rest in the form of a panel 18. The panel 18, instead of being fixed to the sections 15' of the frame 14, could, in the manner shown in the drawing, be equipped with two tubular sections 19 which can slide on the said sections 15 so that it can be adjusted vertically on these sections to the desired position and fixed there by fixing elements of the kind already referred to. It will be observed that the seat member 17, too, could be positionally adjusted along the sections 15 of the frame 14. On the support structure 7 there is placed a member 20 constituting the worktable and having a flat surface. The flat surface is provided with a lateral projection 21 upon which the pupil can rest his arm so that incorrect posture, in particular during writing, is avoided. The worktable can be completed by an inset tray 22 where the pupil can place various items while not in use, as for example pens, pencils, rubbers, etc. The attachment of said member 20 to the associated support structure 7 is achieved by two lateral plates 23, each containing a slotted hole 24, by normal bolts 25 passing through said slotted holes 24 and into the holes 27, and by normal wingnuts 26 which screw onto said bolts 25. It will be clear that by slacking off the wingnuts 26, the whole member 20 can be slid longitudinally on the horizontal sections of the arms 8 of the associated support structure 7 and can then be positioned as required, subsequently being fixed in the new position by tightening down the wingnuts 26. A further member 28 providing a flat surface used as a shelf for books, exercise books etc., can be provided to finish off the unit. This flat member can be attached to the structure 7 in whatever manner is deemed most convenient. It should be noted that in addition to the special features already referred to, the unit, in view of the nature of its structure, finally has the important feature that its various elements can be dismantled and this gives rise to other substantial advantages such as reduction in bulk, easy packing, storage and transportation. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A table and chair unit comprising a rigid base structure upon which support structures for a worktable and a chair are mounted with the support structures each being independently adjustable vertically with respect to the base structure, a worktable mounted on the support structure therefor, and a chair mounted on the support structure therefor, at least one of said chair and said worktable being horizontally adjustably mounted on its support structure.

9. A table and chair unit comprising a rigid

base structure upon which support structures for a worktable and a chair respectively are mountable so as to be each independently adjustable vertically, a support structure for a worktable, a worktable mountable on said support structure, a support structure for a chair, a chair mountable on said support structure and at least one of the worktable and the chair being horizontally adjustably mountable on its support structure.

10. A table and chair unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.