GB2264229A - Knockdown chair - Google Patents

Abstract

A knockdown chair consisting of moulded plastic components and comprising a pair of leg components 1a, 1b; a seat component 2 and a back-rest component 3; each leg component including a pair of diagonally opposed legs 2a, 3a; a diagonal stretcher element 4a formed integrally with said pair of diagonally opposed legs; a stile element 5a constituting an integral extension of one of said legs; a first set of inter-engageable mating elements formed integrally with mid portions of said stretcher element 6a, 6b; a second set of inter-engageable mating elements formed integrally with said legs and said seat component 7a, 70, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b; and a third set of inter-engageable mating elements formed integrally with said stiles and said back-rest component 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b. <IMAGE>

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a knockdown chair consisting of moulded plastic components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Knockdown chairs, in common with other types of knockdown furniture, have long been known. They have generally been formed of wood or metal, though in recent times it has been known to form such knockdown items also of moulded plastics material. In general, such known knockdown chairs consist of a relatively large number of individual components and this leads to a corresponding difficulty in their ready assembly which, in many cases, involves the use of additional coupling elements such as screws.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved knockdown chair formed of moulded plastic material having a minimal number of constituent components and wherein the abovereferred-to difficulties are substantially reduced or overcome.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a knockdown chair consisting of moulded plastic components and comprising a pair of leg components; a seat component and a back-rest component; each leg component including a pair of diagonally opposed legs; a diagonal stretcher element formed integrally with said pair of diagonally opposed legs; a stile element constituting an integral extension of one of said legs; a first set of inter-engageable mating elements formed integrally with mid portions of said stretcher element; a second set of inter-engageable mating elements formed integrally with said legs and said seat component; and a third set of inter-engageable mating elements formed integrally with said stiles and said back-rest component.

Thus, the knockdown chair in accordance with the invention comprises essentially four separate components, each of them being substantially two-dimensional, the components being readily assembled by means of the various sets of inter-engaging mating elements so as to form a secure, rigid structure. By virtue of the fact that the components themselves are substantially two-dimensional, the dismantled chair can be readily packed for sale, transport or storage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of a knockdown chair in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of the chair; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of chair; and Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the chair shown in Fig. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the knockdown chair, which is formed of a moulded plastic material, comprises a pair of leg components la and ib, a seat component 2 and a back-rest component 3.

The leg component la consists of a first leg 2a and a diagonally opposed second leg 3a which are integrally held together by an integrally formed diagonal stretcher element 4a. The leg 3a is formed integrally with a stile element 5a which, in effect, constitutes an extension of the leg 3a.

In similar fashion, the leg component 1b consists of diagonally opposite legs 2b and 3b, a stretcher element 4b and a stile element Sb.

The leg components la and 1b are respectively formed with a pair of inter-engaging mating elements 6a and 6b such that the element 6b firmly snaps into the element 6a.

The legs 2a and 2b of the leg components la and 1b are formed at their upper ends with projecting male elements 7a and 7b.

Similar male projecting elements 8a and 8b are formed integrally and project slightly beyond the legs 3a and 3b.

The seat component 2 is formed on its under-side and at the corners thereof with respective female receiving elements 9a, 9b and 10a, 10b. The seat component 2 is furthermore formed at the corners thereof adjacent the receiving elements 10a and 10b with cut-out recesses 11a and 11b.

The stile elements 5a and Sb are respectively formed at the upper ends thereof with projecting male elements 12a and 12b.

The back-rest element 3 is formed at its side with a pair of receiving female elements 13a and 13b.

The assembly of the chair takes place as follows. The engaging element 6b is snapped into the engaging element 6a. The seat component 2 is lowered onto the assembled leg components so that the male elements 7a, 7b, 8a and 8b snap into the corresponding female receiving elements 9a, 9b, 10b and 10a, with the stiles Sb and Sa respectively accommodated within the recesses 11b and 11a. The back-rest 3 is lowered onto the upper ends of the stiles Sa and 5b with the male elements 12a and 12b firmly located within the female elements 13a and 13b.

The thus-assembled chair forms a rigid, secure structure and can, of course, be disassembled by a reverse procedure.

In the slightly modified form of chair shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, inter-engaging mating elements 6'a and 6'b are provided which allow for the simple inter-engagement and disengagement of the leg components la and lb. Thus the element 6'b consists of an inverted U-shaped element wherein a base portion 15 is formed about one edge thereof with a rib 16. The element 6'a, on the other hand, is of upright U-shape wherein one of the limbs is formed on an inner surface thereof with an elongated groove 18.

The assembly of the two leg components la and 1b is effected by tiltingly inserting the element 6'b into the element 6'a so that the rib 16 is retainably located within the groove 18. The engagement of the seat component 2 with the male elements 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b ensures that the structure is effectively and securely locked in position.

With this form of mating elements 6'a and 6'b, the leg components la and 1b can be readily and easily coupled and uncoupled without any exertion of force.

It will be readily appreciated that the knockdown chair, comprising as it does four separate components, all substantially twodimensional in shape, can be readily stored, stacked and transported and can equally readily be assembled in position with a minimum effort and with considerable ease.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A knockdown chair consisting of moulded plastic components and comprising a pair of leg components; a seat component and a back-rest component; each leg component including a pair of diagonally opposed legs; a diagonal stretcher element formed integrally with said pair of diagonally opposed legs; a stile element constituting an integral extension of one of said legs; a first set of inter-engageable mating elements formed integrally with mid portions of said stretcher element; a second set of interengageable mating elements formed integrally with said legs and said seat component; and a third set of interengageable mating elements formed integrally with said stiles and said back-rest component.

2. A knockdown chair according to Claim 1, wherein said first set comprises a substantially U-shaped receiving portion formed on the mid point of one stretcher element and a correspondingly shaped penetrating portion formed on the mid point of the other stretcher element.

3. A knockdown chair according to Claim 2, wherein said receiving portion is formed with a receiving groove whilst said penetrating portion is formed with a penetrating rib, the arrangement being such that said penetrating portion is tiltingly insertable into said receiving portion so that said rib is retainably located in said groove.

4. A knockdown chair according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said second set comprises male elements formed integrally with upper end portions of said legs and receiving female elements formed in the corners of said seat component.

5. A knockdown chair according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said third set comprises male elements formed integrally with upper ends of said stile elements and female elements formed in the sides of said back-rest component.

6 A knockdown chair substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.