GB2060367A - Seats - Google Patents

Abstract

A seat has a shaped body 1 of sheet material and a cushion 6 is mounted on a hoop 5, the hoop being used to attach the cushion to the seat body by virtue of engagement means 4 on the body. The latter can be projections moulded into the body and the hoop can be of strong metal wire. The cushion can be mounted on the hoop by attaching to it the edges of a covering material the hoop being located on the back of the cushion. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements iki or relating to seallirag This invention relates to seating, particularly to seating of the kind in which the seat has a shaped body of a substantially rigid sheet material.

There are numerous forms of construction for seats which utilize shaped body parts, or shells, of substantially rigid material such as plastics e.g.

polypropylene, glass fibre reinforced polyester, or metal e.g. miid steel.

There is a problem when using this type of construction, that it is difficult to rapidly accurately locate an upholstered cushion on the seat body, and to fix a cushion to the seat in such a way that it can readily be removed if necessary e.g. for cleaning or replacement.

The present invention is directed to the problem of mounting a cushion on a seat with a shaped body.

According to the present invention a seat comprises a shaped body of substantially rigid sheet material and at least one cushion, the cushion being mounted on a hoop and the body having engagement means for the hoop on which the hoop can be engaged thereby securing the cushion in position on the seat body.

The hoop on which the cushion is mounted may be rigid, and the engagement means resilient to hold said hoop. Alternatively and preferably the hoop may be resilient e.g. steel wire, and the engagement means substantially rigid.

The seat body may be one or more mouldings of plastics material such as polypropylene, or glass fibre reinforced polyester, or may be formed from a sheet metal. The engagement means can be several projections, spaced apart to engage the hoop at a plurality of locations, and having undercut surfaces to hold the hoop in position against the seat body.

For example, the engagement means may be mushroom-shaped studs attached to the seat body.

Alternatively the engagement means may be lugs formed integrally with the seat body, by moulding (e.g. in plastics material) or stamping (e.g. in metal).

The cushion is preferably a foam cushion with a cover of fabric, leather, or other upholstery material, the cover being attached to the hoop at the back of the cushion e.g. by means of hog rings. The hoop is preferably positioned on the back of the cushion inwardly of the edges of the cushion.

The invention will now be particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat having one cushion in position, the other being omitted, Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of one lug on the seat and Figure 3 is a rear view of a seat cushion The seat shown in figure 1 consists of a seat body 1 which is moulded from a plastics material such as polypropylene, or glass fibre reinforced polyester.

The seat body 1 consists of base and backrest portions 2 and 3 respectively, each having four projecting lugs 4 to engage hoops 5 located on the back of seat cushions 6 and 7.

The lugs 4 are formed integrally with the seat body as shown in detail in figure 2, each lug being located adjacent an aperture 8 which facilitates moulding of the lug and also enables the hoop to be disengaged from the lug from behind the seat body. Each lug 4 is curved over to provide an undercut and the four lugs are disposed so that the undercut is directed outwardly to engage the inside of the hoop.

As indicated in figure 3 the seat cushions are constructed from foam 9, with a fabric covering 10 which is secured around the hoop 5 on the back of the cushion by means of hog rings 11, for example.

The hoops 5 are of relatively thick steel wire, the thickness used being dependent upon the need for rigidity and hence the peripheral length of the hoop.

The preferred shape of hoop is the "rounded off rectangular" shape shown in Figure 3 with the lugs engaging the hoop on each of its sides. This arrangement readily allows the distortion of the hoop necessary for it to pass over the lugs when the seat cushion is being pushed into position. Clearly, however, the hoop may be other shapes and different arrangements of lugs can be used. Also, more than one hoop per cushion may be used if this is more convenient e.g. as on a long narrow cushion.

1. A seat comprising a shaped body of substantially rigid sheet material and at least one cushion, the cushion being mounted on a hoop and the body having engagement means for the hoop on which the hoop can be engaged thereby securing the cushion in position on the seat body.

2. A seat according to claim 1 in which the engagement means is substantially rigid and the hoop is resilient.

3. A seat according to claim 1 or 2 in which the engagement means is a plurality of projections on the seat body, having undercut portions to engage the hoop.

4. A seat according to claim 1,2 or 3 in which the engagement means is a plurality of lugs formed integrally with the seat body.

5. A seat according to any preceding claim in which the seat body is one or more mouldings of plastics material.

6. A seat according to any preceding claim in which the hoop is of metal wire.

7. A seat according to any preceding claim in which the hoop is on the back of the cushion, spaced inwardly from the edges of the cushion, and the cushion has a cover which is attached to the hoop.

8. A seat substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements iki or relating to seallirag This invention relates to seating, particularly to seating of the kind in which the seat has a shaped body of a substantially rigid sheet material. There are numerous forms of construction for seats which utilize shaped body parts, or shells, of substantially rigid material such as plastics e.g. polypropylene, glass fibre reinforced polyester, or metal e.g. miid steel. There is a problem when using this type of construction, that it is difficult to rapidly accurately locate an upholstered cushion on the seat body, and to fix a cushion to the seat in such a way that it can readily be removed if necessary e.g. for cleaning or replacement. The present invention is directed to the problem of mounting a cushion on a seat with a shaped body. According to the present invention a seat comprises a shaped body of substantially rigid sheet material and at least one cushion, the cushion being mounted on a hoop and the body having engagement means for the hoop on which the hoop can be engaged thereby securing the cushion in position on the seat body. The hoop on which the cushion is mounted may be rigid, and the engagement means resilient to hold said hoop. Alternatively and preferably the hoop may be resilient e.g. steel wire, and the engagement means substantially rigid. The seat body may be one or more mouldings of plastics material such as polypropylene, or glass fibre reinforced polyester, or may be formed from a sheet metal. The engagement means can be several projections, spaced apart to engage the hoop at a plurality of locations, and having undercut surfaces to hold the hoop in position against the seat body. For example, the engagement means may be mushroom-shaped studs attached to the seat body. Alternatively the engagement means may be lugs formed integrally with the seat body, by moulding (e.g. in plastics material) or stamping (e.g. in metal). The cushion is preferably a foam cushion with a cover of fabric, leather, or other upholstery material, the cover being attached to the hoop at the back of the cushion e.g. by means of hog rings. The hoop is preferably positioned on the back of the cushion inwardly of the edges of the cushion. The invention will now be particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat having one cushion in position, the other being omitted, Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of one lug on the seat and Figure 3 is a rear view of a seat cushion The seat shown in figure 1 consists of a seat body 1 which is moulded from a plastics material such as polypropylene, or glass fibre reinforced polyester. The seat body 1 consists of base and backrest portions 2 and 3 respectively, each having four projecting lugs 4 to engage hoops 5 located on the back of seat cushions 6 and 7. The lugs 4 are formed integrally with the seat body as shown in detail in figure 2, each lug being located adjacent an aperture 8 which facilitates moulding of the lug and also enables the hoop to be disengaged from the lug from behind the seat body. Each lug 4 is curved over to provide an undercut and the four lugs are disposed so that the undercut is directed outwardly to engage the inside of the hoop. As indicated in figure 3 the seat cushions are constructed from foam 9, with a fabric covering 10 which is secured around the hoop 5 on the back of the cushion by means of hog rings 11, for example. The hoops 5 are of relatively thick steel wire, the thickness used being dependent upon the need for rigidity and hence the peripheral length of the hoop. The preferred shape of hoop is the "rounded off rectangular" shape shown in Figure 3 with the lugs engaging the hoop on each of its sides. This arrangement readily allows the distortion of the hoop necessary for it to pass over the lugs when the seat cushion is being pushed into position. Clearly, however, the hoop may be other shapes and different arrangements of lugs can be used. Also, more than one hoop per cushion may be used if this is more convenient e.g. as on a long narrow cushion. CLAIMS

1. A seat comprising a shaped body of substantially rigid sheet material and at least one cushion, the cushion being mounted on a hoop and the body having engagement means for the hoop on which the hoop can be engaged thereby securing the cushion in position on the seat body.

2. A seat according to claim 1 in which the engagement means is substantially rigid and the hoop is resilient.

3. A seat according to claim 1 or 2 in which the engagement means is a plurality of projections on the seat body, having undercut portions to engage the hoop.

4. A seat according to claim 1,2 or 3 in which the engagement means is a plurality of lugs formed integrally with the seat body.

5. A seat according to any preceding claim in which the seat body is one or more mouldings of plastics material.

6. A seat according to any preceding claim in which the hoop is of metal wire.

7. A seat according to any preceding claim in which the hoop is on the back of the cushion, spaced inwardly from the edges of the cushion, and the cushion has a cover which is attached to the hoop.

8. A seat substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.