GB2038622A - Improvements in chairs - Google Patents

Abstract

A chair back 1 has at each side of the rear surface a socket 2. The upstanding end part of a supporting pillar 3 is received in the socket and is secured to a resiliently flexible part of the socket wall so that it can move in the socket to take up a back configuration appropriate to the attitude of the person in the chair. The flexible part is a leaf 8 attached to the socket wall at its base only. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in chairs This invention relates to the construction of chairs more particularly to an improved means for support ing a chair back.

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly of a chair back and at least one support pillartherefor, wherein the back has a socket for receiving the pillar and wherein the pillar is secured to a part of the socket wall which is adapted to flex relatively to the remainder of the wall.

The said part may be a leaf having a base attached to the socket walls but side and end walls separated from the socket walls. Preferably the socket will be moulded integrally with the chair back in a relatively hard but resilient plastics material such as polypropylene. The pillar attached to the leaf will then be capable of resiliently flexible movement in the soc ket thereby allowing the back within defined limits to take up a position appropriate to the posture of the person sitting in the chair.

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a rear view of part of a chair back in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view from the centre of the back of the socket and pillar assembly; and Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views corresponding to Figure 2 illustrating the operation of the invention.

Turning initially to Figure 1 the chair back 1 shown therein is a one-piece polypropylene moulding con figurated to fit the human back. At each side of the rear surface of the back a socket 2 depends with the mouth 18 thereof facing downwardly. The upstanding end part of a supporting pillar 3 associated with a chair seat (not shown) is received in each socket 2.

The pillar3 is shown in Figures 2 to 4 and its position is illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

The socket 2 is generally rectangular in cross section with front and rear walls 4 and 5 and inner and outer side walls 6 and 7. A leaf part 8 which acts as a spring securementfor pillar 3 is defined in the socket walls by a U-shaped slot 9. Thus the leaf base, as can be seen in Figure 2 is attached to the inner side wall 6 but the side and end walls of the leaf are not attached to the remainder of the socket. The leaf 8 is secured to pillar3 bysecurement means 10 such as a rivet.

In use as can best be seen from consideration of Figures 3 and 4 the pillar 3 can move in the socket 2 to take up a configuration appropriate to the attitude of the person in the chair. This movement is accomodated by flexing of leaf 8.

1. An assembly of a chair back and at least one support pillartherefor, wherein the back has a socket for receiving the pillar and wherein the pillar is sec ured to a part of the socket wall which is adapted to flex relatively to the remainder of the wall.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the part is a leaf having a base attached to the socket walls but side and end walls separated from the socket walls.

3. An assembly as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the socket is moulded integrally with the chair back in a relatively hard but resiliently plastics material.

4. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

5. A chair including an assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in chairs This invention relates to the construction of chairs more particularly to an improved means for support ing a chair back. According to the present invention there is provided an assembly of a chair back and at least one support pillartherefor, wherein the back has a socket for receiving the pillar and wherein the pillar is secured to a part of the socket wall which is adapted to flex relatively to the remainder of the wall. The said part may be a leaf having a base attached to the socket walls but side and end walls separated from the socket walls. Preferably the socket will be moulded integrally with the chair back in a relatively hard but resilient plastics material such as polypropylene. The pillar attached to the leaf will then be capable of resiliently flexible movement in the soc ket thereby allowing the back within defined limits to take up a position appropriate to the posture of the person sitting in the chair. A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a rear view of part of a chair back in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view from the centre of the back of the socket and pillar assembly; and Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views corresponding to Figure 2 illustrating the operation of the invention. Turning initially to Figure 1 the chair back 1 shown therein is a one-piece polypropylene moulding con figurated to fit the human back. At each side of the rear surface of the back a socket 2 depends with the mouth 18 thereof facing downwardly. The upstanding end part of a supporting pillar 3 associated with a chair seat (not shown) is received in each socket 2. The pillar3 is shown in Figures 2 to 4 and its position is illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The socket 2 is generally rectangular in cross section with front and rear walls 4 and 5 and inner and outer side walls 6 and 7. A leaf part 8 which acts as a spring securementfor pillar 3 is defined in the socket walls by a U-shaped slot 9. Thus the leaf base, as can be seen in Figure 2 is attached to the inner side wall 6 but the side and end walls of the leaf are not attached to the remainder of the socket. The leaf 8 is secured to pillar3 bysecurement means 10 such as a rivet. In use as can best be seen from consideration of Figures 3 and 4 the pillar 3 can move in the socket 2 to take up a configuration appropriate to the attitude of the person in the chair. This movement is accomodated by flexing of leaf 8. CLAIMS

1. An assembly of a chair back and at least one support pillartherefor, wherein the back has a socket for receiving the pillar and wherein the pillar is sec ured to a part of the socket wall which is adapted to flex relatively to the remainder of the wall.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the part is a leaf having a base attached to the socket walls but side and end walls separated from the socket walls.

3. An assembly as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the socket is moulded integrally with the chair back in a relatively hard but resiliently plastics material.

4. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

5. A chair including an assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims.