GB2209665A

GB2209665A - Folding chair

Info

Publication number: GB2209665A
Application number: GB8721823A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Helmut Friedmann
Original assignee: BREEZELAND PRODUCTS CLOSE CORP
Current assignee: BREEZELAND PRODUCTS CLOSE CORP
Priority date: 1986-08-20
Filing date: 1987-09-16
Publication date: 1989-05-24
Also published as: GB8721823D0; ZA876800B; AU7837987A

Abstract

A chair frame structure includes a seat frame made of an elongated U-shaped member 12 having two substantially parallel legs 16 and a cross leg 20, a backrest frame made of an elongated U-shaped member 14 having two substantially parallel legs 22 and a cross leg 26; two pivotal connections, each of which respectively joins the two U-shaped members of the seat frame and the backrest frame at an intermediate position along the respective associated parallel legs thereof, and adjustable locking means 50, 60 for allowing the seat frame and the backrest frame to be locked in various positions for varying the inclination of the backrest frame relative to the seat frame. A flexible sheet 68 forming the seat has folded over or pocket ends 70, 72 which fit over the free ends 16.1, 22.1 of the legs 16 and 22. <IMAGE>

Description

FURNITURE FIELD OF ISNENTIOK The present invention relates to furniture.

More particularly, the invention relates to chairs.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION Numerous types of folding chairs or hinged chairs are available on the market. These chairs are mostly adapted to be pivotted or folded from a position of use into a more compact form for storage or transportation.

Some of these chairs have a complicated construction and others are difficult to erect or fold together.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new type of chair, which can be manufactured in relatively compact, light and simple form, and which easily can be erected of folded together.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the invention, a chair frame structure, includes a) a seat frame made of an elongated U-shaped member having two substantially parallel legs and a cross leg, the free ends of the parallel legs of the U defining the front end of a seat; b) a backrest frame made of an elongated U-shaped member having two substantially parallel legs and a cross leg, the free ends of the parallel legs of the U defining the upper ends of a backrest, and the backrest frame being located adjacent the seat frame so that their respective parallel legs are adjacent to each other; c) two pivotal connections, each of which respectively joins the two U-shaped members of the seat frame and the backrest frame at an intermediate position along the respective associated parallel legs thereof; and d) adjustable locking means for allowing the seat frame and the backrest frame to be locked in various positions for varying the inclination of the backrest frame relative to the seat frame.

The elongated U-shaped members may be made of a bar , a rod or a tube.

Each pivotal connection may include a pin having a head, the pin passing through a flared hole in one leg of the U-shaped member of one of the frames and being screw-threaded to pull the head back against the flared edges of the hole, the other end of the pin being located in the associated leg of the U-shaped member of the other frame but passing therethrough and this end of the pin being welded to that leg of the other U-shaped member.

The cross legs of the seat frame and the backrest frame may be adapted to rest on a supporting frame, such as a floor.

The locking means may include an adjustment arm pivotally connected to either the seat frame or the backrest frame, and an associated locating member having a number of spaced apart engagement formations for receiving the adjustment arm and being located on either the backrest frame or the seat frame.

Also according to the invention, a chair includes a) a chair frame structure including al) a seat frame made of an elongated U-shaped member having two substantially parallel legs and a cross leg, the free ends of the parallel legs of the U defining the front end of a seat; a2) a backrest frame made of an elongated U-shaped member having two substantially parallel legs and a cross leg, the free ends of the parallel legs of the U defining the upper ends of a backrest/ and the backrest frame being located adjacent the seat frame so that their respective parallel legs are adjacent to each other; a3) two pivotal connections, each of which respectively join the two U-shaped members of the seat frame and the backrest frame at an intermediate position along the respective associated parallel legs thereof; and a4) adjustable locking means for allowing the seat frame and the backrest frame to be locked in various positions for varying the inclination of the backrest frame relative to the seat frame; and b) a flexible sheet support fitted removably to the free ends of the parallel legs of the U-members of the seat frame and the backrest frame.

The flexible sheet support may include a flexible elongated part, and two attachment means at opposite ends of the elongated part, one of each of the attachment means respectively fitting over the free ends of the parallel legs of the backrest frame, and the other over the free ends of the parallel legs cf the seat frame.

The attachment means may be in the form of pockets.

Yet further according to the invention, a flexible sheet support includes a flexible elongated part; and two attachment means at opposite ends of the elongated part, one of the attachment means being adapted to fit over the free ends of the parallel legs of the backrest frame of a chair as set out herein, and the other attachment means being adapted to fit over the free ends of the parallel legs of the seat frame of a chair as set out herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a side view of a chair frame structure in accordance with the invention and shown in a condition for use (and with the flexible sheet support shown in dotted lines); Figure 2 a side view of the chair frame structure when pivotted into compact form for transportation or storage purposes; Figure 3 a plan view seen along arrow III in Figure 2; and Figure 4 on a larger scale, a sectional side view showing a detail of the pivotal connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, the chair frame structure 10, which is a so-called hammock seat recliner chair, includes two frame parts, namely a seat frame part 12 and a backrest frame part 14.

The seat frame part 12 is constructed of a U-shaped tube and has two parallel legs 16 and 18 and a cross leg 20.

The back rest frame 14 is also constructed of a U-shaped tube and has two parallel legs 22 and 24 and a cross leg 26.

As is shown in Figure 3, the legs 16, 18 are not straight but are slightly bent out from about the centre towards the ends so that their respective ends 16.1, 18.1 abut against the legs 22, 24 when the structure is in the folded condition.

The seat frame 12 and the backrest frame 14 are pivotably connected at 28 and 30 by means of a pivotal connection. The one pivotal connection at 28 is shown in more detail in Figure 4. This pivottal connection (the example given being the connection between the legs 16 and 22) includes a pin 32 which has a head 34 at one end and which extends through a hole 36 in the tube 16. The hole 36 has a flared circumference 38 which, on pulling the pin 32 in the direction indicated by arrow 40, will cause the head 34 to be tightened thereon. The pin 32 further passes through holes 42 and 44 provided in the tube 22. The hole 44 also has a flared circumferential edge 46 and the end 48 of the pin 32 is welded thereto. A spacer bearing disc 49 is located between the tubes 16 and 22.

The frame parts 12 and 14 are relatively adjustable by means of a U-shaped adjusting bar 50 of which the legs 52 and .54 have bent-off ends 56 and 58 fitting into holes provided in the tubular legs 22 and 24, and it further has a crossbar 60, which is adapted to be fitted into various locking formations or cut-outs of identical adjustment plates 62 64 welded to the legs 16, 18 respectively. By moving the bar 60 into different cut-outs 66 the inclination of the backrest 14 is varied.

In use, the cross legs 20, 26 rests on a supporting surface such as a floor.

As can be seen from the drawings the frame members 12 and 14 do not have any crossbars which would interfere with the position of rest of a body thereon.

Furthermore the pivottal connections at 28, 30 ensure that the tubes are not weakened unduly.

Finally, the adjustability is of relatively simple construction and the inclination qf the backrest frame 14 can be varied easily.

The support seat is in the form of a sheet of fabric (e.g. canvas) shown in dotted lines and generally indicated by reference numeral 68 in Figure 1. It has a folded over or pocket end 70 for fitting over the free ends 16.1, 18.1 of the legs 16, 18 and a folded over or pocket end 72 for fitting over the free ends 22.1, 24.1 of the legs 22, 24. If required, the folded over ends 70, 72 may be strengthened, in particular in the contact positions with the tubular ends 16.1, 18.1 and 22.1, 24.1, and each may include a pair of tubes so as to fit tightly over its respective tubular end 16.1, 18.1, 22.1 or 24.1.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A chair frame structure, which includes a) a seat frame made of an elongated U-shaped member having two substantially parallel legs and a cross leg, the free ends of the parallel legs of the U defining the front end of a seat; b) a backrest frame made of an elongated U-shaped member having two substantially parallel legs and a cross leg, the free ends of the parallel legs of the U defining the upper ends of a backrest, and the backrest frame being located adjacent the seat frame so that their respective parallel legs are adjacent to each other; ci two pivotal connections, each of which respectively joins the two U-shaped members of the seat frame and the backrest frame at an intermediate position along the respective associated parallel legs thereof;;. and d) adjustable locking means for allowing the seat frame and the backrest frame to be locked in various positions for varying the inclination of the backrest frame relative to the seat frame.

.

2. A chair frame structure as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongated U-shaped - members are made of a bar, rod or a tube.

3. A chair frame structure as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2, in which each pivotal connection includes a pin having a head, the pin passing through a flared hole in one leg of the U-shaped member of one of the frames and being screw-threaded to pull the head back against the flared edges of the hole, the other end of the pin being located in the associated leg of the U-shaped member but passing therethrough and the end of the pin being welded to that leg of the other U-shaped member.

4. A chair frame structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cross legs of the seat frame and the backrest frame are adapted to rest on a supporting surface, such as a floor.

5. A chair frame structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the locking means includes an adjustment arm in pivotally connected to either the seat frame or the backrest frame, and an associated locating member having a number of spaced apart engagement formations for receiving the adjustment arm and being located on either the backrest frame or the seat frame.

6. A chair frame structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

7. A chair, which includes a) a chair frame structure including al) a seat frame made of an elongated U-shaped member having two susbstantially parallel legs and a cross leg, the free'ends of the parallel legs of the .U defining the front end of a seat; a2) a backrest frame made of an elongated U-shaped member having two substantially parallel legs and a cross leg, the free ends of the parallel legs of the U defining the upper ends of a backrest, and the backrest frame being located adjacent the seat frame so that their respective parallel legs are adjacent to each other; a3) two pivotal connections, each of which respectively joins the two U-shaped members of the seat frame and the backrest frame at an intermediate position along the respective associated parallel legs thereof; and a4) adjustable locking means for allowing the seat frame and the backrest frame to be locked in various positions for varying the inclination of the backrest frame relative to the seat frame; and b) a flexible sheet support fitted removably to the free ends of the parallel legs of the U-members of the seat frame and the backrest frame.

8. A chair as claimed in claim 7, in which the flexible sheet support includes a flexible elongated part, and two attachment means at opposite ends of the elongated part, one of each of the attachment means respectively fitting over the free ends of the parallel legs of the backrest frame and the other over the free ends of the parallel legs of the seat frame.

9. A chair as claimed in claim 8, in which the attachment means are in the form of pockets.

10. A chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

11. A flexible sheet support for a chair including a flexible elongated part; and two attachment means at opposite ends of the elongated part, one of the attachment means being adapted to fit over the free ends of the parallel legs of the backrest frame of a chair as claimed in any one of claims 7 to. 10, and the other attachment means being adapted to fit over the free ends of the parallel legs of the seat frame of a chair as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10.

12. A flexible sheet support for a chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accmpanying schematic drawings.