GB2216402A

GB2216402A - Seating arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2216402A
Application number: GB8904137A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Abbasali Abdulla Currimjee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-23
Filing date: 1989-02-23
Publication date: 1989-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-23
Also published as: IT8920623V0; GB2216402B; GB8904137D0

Abstract

A seat comprises an L-shaped frame (10, 12, 14) having a backrest element (20) and a seat element (22) both made of flexible material. A transverse member (16) is supported by the frame (10, 12, 14) between the backrest element and the seat element (22) and may be provided with slots (18) to prevent a person sitting on the seat from slipping. The transverse member (16), backrest element (20) and seat element (22) provide a continuous, gently-curved seating surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SEATING ARRANGEMENT This invention relates to a seating arrangement, for example a chair. The principles disclosed herein may also be used in other seating arrangements such as a bench.

The applicant has identified a need for a chair in which the back and seat of a user are supported by a sheet or sheet-like element and in which the back and seat define a generally smooth and continuous surface. The so-called film directors chair incorporates sheet-like supports for the back and seat but the supports are spaced so that there is no lumbar support for a sitter. Deckchairs comprise a single sheet-like support for the back and seat but it is not possible to provide such an arrangement in which the back is substantially vertical and the seat horizontal.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a seating arrangement including a structural support, for example a frame, a backrest element and a seat element both of a flexible sheet or sheetlike material, each of said backrest element and said seat element being supported in spaced relationship on said structural support, and a relatively rigid support member connected to said structural support and extending between said backrest element and said seat element and together with said backrest and seat elements defining a generally smooth profile.

Preferably, said seating arrangement includes friction means associated therewith arranged in use to assist prevention of slippage of a person seated on the arrangement.

In one embodiment, the friction means comprises a plurality of parallel elongate slots or grooves extending generally horizontally along the support member.

In one embodiment, the structural support comprises a pair of spaced side frame members of generally L-shaped form connected at their free ends by a back frame member and a front frame member respectively, the relatively rigid support member extending transversely between said side frame members adjacent the bent section thereof.

In this arrangement, the backrest element and the seat element are secured at their peripheries to the frame defined by the side frame members, the back member, and the relatively rigid support member, and the frame defined by the side frame members, the relatively rigid support member an-d the front member, respectively.

The flexible sheet or sheet-like material may comprise, for example, cane webbing, leather or fabric. If leather or fabric are used then, normally, the seat and back should include a stiffener element such as, for example, plywood.

The main frame members are preferably formed of laminated wood.

In certain arrangements there may be a gap between the relatively rigid support member and the backrest and seat elements to either side thereof.

Further aspects will become apparent from the following description of a non-limiting example of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of a chair embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the part of a chair illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the chair comprises two spaced laminated wood main frame members 10 of smoothly curved L-shape defining a structural support and connected by a front member 12, a back member 14 and a shaped transverse member 16. The back member 14, transverse member 16 and front member 12 are made of profiled wood.

The main frame members are connected to a suitable support frame (not shown) which may comprise, for example, a tubular framework. The transverse member 16 has three elongate parallel slots 18 extending across the member. The slots 18 act as a friction device for a purpose to be described later. The transverse member 16 is smoothly curved so that it blends smoothly with the surface defined by the main frame members 10.

A backrest element 20 of sheet or sheet-like material is supported at its periphery by the back, main frame and transverse members 14, 10, 16 respectively and a seat element 22 is supported at its periphery by the transverse, main frame and front members 16, 10, 12 respectively. The backrest element and seat element may be attached by any suitable method.

The seat as illustrated comprises a generally smooth and continuous surface defined by the backrest element 20, the transverse member 16 and the seat element 22. This provides good, continuous support for the back and seat of a sitter and the transverse member 16 reduces the tendency for the sitter to slide forwardly due to the curve.

Thus the concept of the seat is that it enables a continuous back and seat combination to be effectively supported along a continuous frame by the introduction of a curved and grooved transverse member which also acts as an anti-sliding element for the person seated. The introduction of the transverse member also prevents deformation of the back and seat element when it is stretched between the front of the seat and the top of the back.

Claims

1. A seating arrangement including a structural support, for example a frame, a backrest element and a seat element both of a flexible sheet or sheet-like material, each of said backrest element and said seat element being supported in spaced relationship on said structural support, and a relatively rigid support member connected to said structural support and extending between said backrest element and said seat element and together with said backrest and seat elements defining a generally smooth profile.

2. A seating arrangement according to Claim 1, which includes friction means arranged in use to assist prevention of slippage of a person seated on the arrangement.

3. A seating arrangement according to Claim 2, wherein the friction means comprises a plurality of parallel elongate slots or grooves extending generally horizontally along the support member.

4. A seating arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the structural support comprises a pair of spaced side frame members of generally L-shaped form connected at their free ends by a back frame member and a front frame member respectively, the relatively rigid support member extending transversely between said side frame members adjacent the bent section thereof.

5. A seating arrangement according to Claim 4, wherein the backrest element and the seat element are secured at their peripheries to the frame defined by the side frame members, the back member, and the relatively rigid support member, and the frame defined by the side frame members, the relatively rigid support member and the front member, respectively.

6. A seating arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the flexible sheet or sheet-like material comprises cane webbing, leather or fabric.

7. A seating arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the main frame members are made of laminated wood.

8. A seating arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.