GB2154868A - Furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

A support assembly, e.g. for a stool, has a pair of U-shaped leg members 30 which can be placed together so their transverse portions 36 cross and are engageable in a locating member 20 which maintains their angular relationship. Leg portions 34 of different members 30 are forced resiliently apart by detachable struts 52, giving a stable assembly. A single bolt 44 passed through the transverse portions 36 and the locating member 20 can secure the whole to a seat 12 and maintain its configuration. The struts 52 may have detents 66 (Fig. 4) for retaining their ends in apertures 50 in the legs 34. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Furniture The present invention relates to an article of furniture. It particularly relates to knock-down furniture, such as a knock-down stool or chair.

In another aspect it relates to a support assembly for an article of furniture.

According to the present invention there is provided an article of furniture or support assembly therefor comprising an upper portion and a leg assembly for supporting it, the leg assembly including a pair of generally Ushaped leg members each of which has two leg portions which are connected at their upper end regions by a transverse portion; the upper portion having locating means for engaging both of the leg members when they are arranged with one of the transverse portions crossing the other, the locating means acting to hold the transverse portions in a predetermined angular relationship; at least two leg portions of different leg members being connected by means arranged to urge them from a configuration corresponding with the angular relationship in which the transverse portions are held, whereby the leg assembly is stressed.

In a preferred form, two pairs of leg portions of different leg members each have a respective strut connecting them and forcing them further apart than their unstressed confi gyration.

The locating means will generally comprise means arranged to define respective channels for the transverse portions. There may, for example, be four separate blocks for attachment to the underside of (e.g.) a seat. More preferably, the locating means comprises a unitary locating block shaped to define two channels.

For positive location of the leg members, each transverse portion must be firmly seated.

When a leg member is formed by bending a metal tube, there is a significant risk that the transverse portions will not be in a plane, particularly if a central portion is deliberately flattened to facilitate its engagement with the transverse portion of the other leg member.

To ensure that the transverse portion is properly seated at least at spaced end regions, it may be provided with end portions which project above the level of the middle portion.

This is not necessary if the locating means is shaped to provide contact portions for end regions of the transverse portions. Thus one preferred locating means is an annular block which is of uniform thickness except for four areas of reduced thickness arranged to define two diametrical channels. End regions of a transverse portion rest on the annulus within a channel, slightly spaced from the upper face of the locating block which is secured, e.g. to a seat.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a stool according to one embodiment of the invention, and in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view from beneath of the stool; Fig. 2 is an elevation in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded view, generally in elevation in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view on a larger scale of a plug; and Fig. 5 is a view on a larger scale of an alternative locating block.

The illustrated stool 10 has a circular timber seat 1 2. On the underside, a screw socket 14 is fitted centrally. This has an external thread 1 6 by which it is screwed into the seat 12, and an internal thread 1 8 in the same sense.

A locating block 20 is annular in plan. It is generally of uniform thickness, except for a pair of diametrical channels, each defined by a pair of portions 26 of reduced thickness..

The channels are rectangular in section. The block 20 may be a plastics moulding. It is secured centrally on the underside of the seat 1 2 (concentric with the socket 14) by means of a plurality (here eight) of screws 28.

A pair of leg members 30,32 are each generally U-shaped. Thus each has a pair of leg portions 34 extending downwardly and outwardly, connected at their upper ends by a transverse portion 36. The two leg members 30,32 are not quite identical, since each has a flattened portion 38,40 in the middle of its transverse portion 36, but these face different ways so that the two members 30,32 can be placed together with their transverse portions 36 substantially coplanar and intersecting centrally. The flattened portions 38,40 are penetrated by respective apertures 42 arranged so that when the leg members are placed together the apertures 42 are in line so that a bolt 44 (bearing a split washer 46) can be passed vertically through them.

The leg members 30,32 are made of metal tubing, of diameter slightly less than the width of the channels 22,24 in the locating block 20.

Each leg portion 34 has an aperture 50 at an intermediate region, rather nearer its lower than its upper end. These apertures 50 are arranged so that when the two leg members 30,32 are fitted together the apertures 50 on adjacent leg portions 34 of different leg members 30,32 are approximately opposed. Thus a pair of bars 52 can be mounted by means of the apertures 50 so as to extend between leg portions 34 and constitute foot rails.

The two channels 22,24 in the locating block are at right angles to one another. Thus, if the leg members 30,32 were to be secured to the locating block 20 by means of the bolt 44 passing through the apertures 42 and into the internally threaded aperture 1 8 of the screw socket 14, then the leg portions 34 would tend to extend away from the seat 1 2 symmetrically, with the two leg portions 34 of one leg member 30 in an upright plane at right angles to a plane containing the leg portions 34 of the other leg member 32. Thus in any horizontal plane, the four leg portions 34 would define a square. However, the bars 52 are made longer than would be the case if this square configuration were to be maintained.In practice, to assemble the stool, the two leg members 30,32 are placed together, the bolt 44 is passed through the washer 46 and the two apertures 42 and may be engaged slightly in the thread 18 of the screw socket 14. However, the leg members 30,32 are as yet free of the locating block 20. The two bars 52 are then engaged in respective apertures 50. The bolt 44 is then screwed fully into the screw socket 14. This drives the transverse portions 36 of the two leg members 30,32 into respective channels 22,24 of the locating block 20. Thus the transverse portions 36 are forced to assume a rightangled configuration, whereas the lower parts of the leg portions 34 are forced by the bars 52 to remain in a different configuration.

Thus the bars 52 are in compression, torsional stress being applied by the leg members 30,32 to the bars 52, and also to the locating block 20. This leads to a very firm, secure leg assembly, even though it is all held by a single bolt 44.

The deviation of the leg portions 34 from the square configuration is indicated in Figs 1 and 3. Thus in Fig. 1, it can be seen that the transverse portions 36 of the two leg members 30,32 are mutually at right angles, and are not coplanar with their associated leg portions 34. In Fig. 3, the broken line 34' shows the position that one leg portion 34 would adopt if it were not forced out of it by the bar 52.

To give an idea of suitable dimensions, one practical embodiment has leg members 30,32 formed of chromium plated steel tubing of diameter 19 mm (16 or 17 gauge M.S. tube).

The locating block 20 has an external diameter of 1 80 mm and an internal diameter of 100 mm. Each leg portion is about 600 mm long, and each transverse portion is about 1 60 mm long. The apertures 50 for receiving the bars 52 are positioned so that the symmetrical spacing of the leg portions 34 there is about 250 mm, and this is increased by the insertion of the bars 52 to about 300 mm.

The compressive force applied by the leg portions 34 holds the bars 52 firmly in place.

For even greater security they may be provided with end plugs 60 as shown in Fig. 3 and, in greater detail, in Fig. 4. The illustrated plug is a plastics moulding having a plastics core 62 shaped and dimensioned so that it can be pushed reasonably firmly into the end of a tubular bar 52. One end portion of the core 62 is surrounded by an annular skirt 64 which is serrated, having teeth 66 which extend over the core 62, slightly spaced from it. At the end of the plug, beyond the skirt 64, there is a solid head portion 68. In use, a plug 60 is fitted at either end of a bar 52 so that the core 62 of each plug 60 is received within the tubular bar 52 as far as the ends of the teeth 66. The cylindrical surface defined by the teeth 66 and head 68 is substantially continuous with the external surface of the bar 52.Thus the plugs 60 and respective end portions of the bar 52 can be easily passed through the apertures 50 of the leg portions 34. The leg portions 34 are then given a sharp blow to urge them together. This drives the cores 62 more deeply into the bars 52, whereupon the teeth 66 are splayed outwardly, partly passing over the external surface of the bar 52. The plug is now too large to be withdrawn through the aperture 50, and acts to retain the bar 52 in place. Of course, if it should be necessary to dismantle the stool, a sufficient force on the leg portions 34 enables the bars 52 to be removed.

Of course, the bottom ends of the leg portions 34 may also be provided with end plugs or other members to serve as feet.

It will be appreciated that a stool or other article of furniture embodying the invention can be very stable, and nevertheless be easy to erect and take apart again. Normally the locating means, such as the locating block 20, will be permanently fixed to the seat or other part of the furniture, so that assembly only involves a single screw bolt.

A plug with a splayable skirt portion such as the illustrated plug 60 may be of wide utility in many fields.

While we have described the locating block 20 as being screwed to the seat 12, this is not essential as the whole support assembly could be attached by the means for connection to the seat such as the illustrated bolt 44.

In a preferred such arrangement, the block then has a much smaller central aperture, just large enough to take the bolt 44, and its thickness may taper towards this aperture. For assembly, the leg members 30,32 and bars 52 are engaged together, and partly engaged in the locating block. The bolt is passed through the apertures 42 in the leg members and that in the block. The seat is engaged on the bolt and rotated to ensure a connection.

The whole assembly can then be inverted and the bolt then screwed in tightly. Such a construction can further simplify manufacture and assembly.

An example of such a block 1 20 is shown in Fig. 5. It is a unitary plastics moulding having a flat portion 1 80 which is substantially of uniform thickness and crossshaped.

Each arm 1 82 of the cross has a respective upstanding wall portion 1 84 adjacent either longitudinal edge, the two walls 184 and the arm 182 defining a channel in line with that of the opposite arm 1 82. Each wall portion 1 84 is continuous with the adjacent portion 1 84 of the adjacent arm 182. Thus they serve to strengthen the block 1 20.

The block has a central aperture 1 86 for the bolt 44. Additionally there may be another aperture 1 88 off-centre. This is shown as small, and provided in a web portion 1 90 extending in the angle between two arms 1 82. It is for receiving a small locking element (e.g. a wood screw) once the stool is assembled, to prevent unwanted rotation of the seat 12, which might cause the whole to come apart.

The stool may be provided with a back.

Suitably an L-shaped support has one arm attachable beneath the seat with a non-circular block like that (120) of Fig. 5, this arm may then extend so as to prevent relative rotation of the seat 1 2 and block, thus making use of a locking aperture 1 88 unnecessary. Thus with a block 1 20 the arm is attached so as to extend between two arms 1 82 of the cross. The other arm of the support has a pair of apertures for securing a backrest. This may be unsymmetrical, and designed so that it can be secured either way up, at the customer's preference.

As a simpler alternative to locking plugs 60 as shown in Fig. 4, each end of the bars 52 may have an out-turned lip at one angular location, such that it can be passed through an aperture 50 only when angled. It can then be swung into the horizontal configuration, in which it cannot be withdrawn because of the hooking effect of the lip. A bar 52 with such lips can be engaged in the two leg members 30,32 before they are locked in the final configuration by means of the bolt 44. When they are locked, the leg portions 34 connected by a bar 52 cannot be prised apart.

A stool assembly may be packaged for sale in a shaped receptacle (e.g. a plastics tray or expanded polystyrene block) having recesses adapted to receive the various components.

Thus it can be seen at a glance if any component is missing.

Claims (11)

1. An article of furniture or support assembly therefor comprising an upper portion and a leg assembly for supporting it, the leg assembly including a pair of generally Ushaped leg members each of which has two leg portions which are connected at their upper end regions by a transverse portion; the upper portion having locating means for engaging both of the leg members when they are arranged with one of the transverse portions crossing the other, the locating means acting to hold the transverse portions in a predetermined angular relationship; at least two leg portions of different leg members being connected by means arranged to urge them from a configuration corresponding with the angular relationship in which the transverse portions are held, whereby the leg assembly is stressed.

2. An article according to claim 1 wherein two pairs of leg portions of different leg members each have a respective strut connecting them and forcing them further apart than their unstressed configuration.

3. An article according to claim 2 wherein the leg portions are tubular and have apertures for receiving end portions of the struts which are provided with detent means for engagement within the tubular portions for resisting accidental withdrawal.

4. An article according to claim 3 wherein each detent means is provided by an end piece on the strut, the transverse size of the end piece being increasable once it has been passed through an aperture in a leg portion so that it resists withdrawal.

5. An article according to claim 4 wherein the end piece has a plug portion engageable in a cavity in the end of the strut, and a skirt portion outside the plug portion, arranged so that when the plug portion is driven into the cavity the strut tends to splay the skirt portion radially outwardly.

6. An article according to claim 3 wherein each detent means comprises a lip projecting transversely of the strut arranged so that it can be passed through an aperture only when the strut is displaced from its final angle relative to tbe leg portion.

7. An article according to any preceding claim wherein the locating means comprise means arranged to define respective channels for the transverse portions.

8. An article according to any preceding claim wherein the locating means comprise a unitary locating member shaped to define two channels.

9. An article according to any preceding claim wherein each leg member is generally tubular and a central portion of its transverse portion is flattened to facilitate its engagement with the transverse portion of the other leg member.

1 0. An article according to any preceding claim wherein each transverse portion is provided with end portions which project above the level of the middle portion.

11. An article according to any preceding claim which is a stool having a seat portion to which said upper portion is attached or attachable.

1 2. An article according to claim 11 wherein a bolt passes through the transverse portions of both leg members and the upper portion and into the seat portion.

1 3. An article of furniture or support assembly therefor substantially as any herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.