GB2358792A - Office style seat with small swivel mounted table for left and right hande d use - Google Patents

Abstract

A seat comprises a support means, such as legs 11, from which extends upwardly a support column 10 supporting a seat portion 13. A support 17, for example a small table or tablet, is positioned at a level above the seat portion 13, held in place, for example by a cranked arm 15, and is angularly movable around the central axis of the support column so as to be usable left or right handed, or in front (fig.2) of the seat. Part of the arm 15 may be telescopic for height adjustment of the support 17. The support 17 may itself also be rotatable around an axis of the end of the arm 15. In a further embodiment, the support means may comprise tubular portions (44, fig. 21) terminating in castors (45, fig.21) and the support 17 may further comprise a metal plate (48, fig.21) terminating in a cutout to hold a beaker 49.

Description

t 1 r t e 2358792 SEAT This invention relates to a seat, particularly in

the form of an office type chair having a central support column extending upwardly from support means, such as at least three angularly spaced support legs, with a seat portion carried by the column.

One type of known seat is a so-called 'tub chair', which has a seat portion generally enclosed on three sides by a structure defining a backrest portion and opposed side portions formed integraRy therewith. The area below the seat portion is 'filled in' at the front of the chair, so that a user's legs cannot be tucked rearwardly under the seat portion. The chair is supported on legs extending, for example, from said structure. UK Registered Design No. 2089244 shows such a chair, with a support tablet fixedly secured to a top front part of one of the side portions defined by said structure. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the chair is handed, i.e. suited for a right handed person, with a chair having the tablet on the opposite side portion being required for a left handed person.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved seat.

According to the invention there is provided a seat comprising support means, a support column extending from the support means, a seat portion carried by the support column, and a support/carrier which is at a level above the seat portion and is angularly movable about an axis of the support column.

1 -2.

Preferably the scat is open or substantially open, around at least part of the seat, between the seat portion and said support means.

Desirably the seat has a backrest portion associated therewith, and desirably said support/carrier, which is conveniently in the form of a flat carrier or tablet, can be moved angularly at least through 180' between its extreme positions adjacent respective opposite sides of the backrest. Advantageously the support/carrier is itself angularly movable relative to an arm extending from the support column and carrying the support/carrier.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a seat of the invention, with a tablet of the seat in one adjusted position, Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a detailed plan view and a detailed side view of the seat shown schematically in Figure 1, with a differently connected tablet in another adjusted position, Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a side view and a plan view of a support column and support legs of the seat, Figure 6 is a side view of a component which fits on said support column, Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a side view and a plan view of a component which connects the support column to a seat portion of the seat, Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a side view and a plan view of a backrest connecting portion of the seat, Figures 11 and 12 are respectively a side view and a plan view of an arm of the seat which carries a tablet, Figures 13 and 14 are respectively a plan view and a side view of a component which fits into the end of said arm, Figures 15 and 16 are respectively a plan view and a side view of a further component which fits on said component of Figures 13 and 14, Figures 17 and 18 are respectively a plan view and a side view of a still further component, which fits over said further component of Figures 15 and 16, Figures 19 and 20 are respectively a plan view and a side view respectively of a tablet carried on said arm of Figures 11 and 12 by way of the components of Figures 13 to 18, and Figure 21 is a view like Figure 1, of a further embodiment of a seat of the invention.

Figure 1 schematically shows a seat or chair of the present invention, the seat having a cylindrical central support column 10 from the lower end of which extend radially four equiangularly spaced support legs 11 which terminate in respective downtumed feet 12 to engage the surface on which the seat is used, the support legs spacing the lower end of the colurnn 10 upwardly of said surface. The upper end of the column 10 carries, in this embodiment in a fixed manner, a wooden, circular, flat seat portion 13 with an upstanding backrest portion 14. Adjacent the upper end of the column 10, for angular movement about the central axis of column is a cranked arm 15 an upwardly extending part 16 of which is disposed at the side of the seat portion and carries, at its upper end a flat platform or carrier 17 which is known in the art as a tablet, and can be of any convenient shape. This is provided for carrying documents or other papers required by the user of the chair, in use, and nowadays it is commonly used to support a laptop computer or the like. As will be explained below, the tablet on its associated arm 15 can be moved angularly through 360' from the one side of the seat portion shown in Figure 1 to the opposite side of the seat portion, and back round, and, in this embodiment, as will also be described, the tablet is itself angularly movable relative to its associated arm 15, preferably through 3600.

The construction and operation of the seat will now be described in detail in relation to Figures 2 to 20.

Firstly, as compared to the seat sehematically shown in Figure 1, it will be noted that with the seat shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3 the arm 15 is connected to a different position on the generally kidney-shaped tablet 17, although this point of connection can be varied as required for any particular embodiment of the seat of the invention, this connection being fixed or allowing angular relative movement relative to the arm as previously mentioned. Moreover in Figure 2, the arm 15, and thus the tablet 17 is -5 shown moved through approximately 901 from its Figure 1 position, so as to lie at the front of the seat portion rather than at the side thereof. Moreover Figure 3 shows a slightly different form of backrest portion 14a than the one shown in Figure 1, and in addition Figures 2 and 3 show a backrest connector 18 in the form of a metal plate which will be disclosed hereinafter with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Lastly the embodiment of the chair shown in Figure 3 differs from that shown in Figure 1 in showing a cushion or like member 19 on the seat portion 13.

As shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5, the central support column 10 is formed with a lower cylindrical part 20 to which the legs 11 are secured, and at its upper end, a central, smaller diameter cylindrical spigot 2 1, integral with the part 20. The upper edge of the spigot is slightly chamfered, and in its flat upper surface are three aligned tapped holes 22, the central one of which is disposed on the central axis of the column 10 as shown in Figure 4.

A hollow cylindrical sleeve 23 in the form of a nylon turning is a rotatable fit on the spigot 21, the sleeve 23 having at its lower end a short collar 24 which has the same exterior diameter as the cylindrical part 20, with the external diameter of the remaining part of the sleeve 23 being slightly reduced, whilst the axial length of the sleeve matches the axial length of the spigot 2 1.

Figures 11 and 12 show the cranked arm 15, this being formed of hollow tube with a hollow thin-walled cylindrical sleeve 25 being secured to one end of the tube in a radial orientation, as shown best in Figure 12. The wall thickness of the sleeve 25 substantially corresponds to the difference in external diameter between the two parts of the sleeve 23, and has an outer diameter corresponding to that of the collar 24. The sleeve 25 is thus fitted onto the sleeve 23 above the collar 24 so that it matches the outer diameter of the collar as shown in Figure 3. However the axial extent of the sleeve 25 is less than the axial extent of the part of the sleeve 23 above the collar 24, so that a short part of the spigot 21 and sleeve 23 project upwardly through the top of the sleeve 25. The sleeve 23 thus acts as a bearing between the spigot of the fixed column 10 and the sleeve 25 of the angularly movable arm 15, and in practice although there is a relatively tight fit between the spigot, the sleeve 23 and the sleeve 25, the sleeve 23 will be tighter to the sleeve 25 and have a tendency to rotate therewith rather than to remain secured relative to the spigot.

Figures 7 and 8 show a connecting plate 26 of circular form which has three aligned holes 27 corresponding to the holes 22, with the central one of the holes 27 aligned with the central axis of the plate 26. Three short screws are received through the holes 27 into the tapped holes 22 to secure this plate 26 to the top of the spigot 21. The plate also has four holes 28 therethrough as shown in Figure 7, these being equi- angularly radially arranged beyond the holes 27 and receiving fixing screws (not shown) extending upwardly from the underside of the plate as shown in Figure 3 to secure the plate to the underside of the wooden seat portion 13 which, although shown in Figure 3 as slightly curved, in contrast to the flat portion 13 shown in Figure 1, will have a substantially flat central under surface part to receive the plate 26 against it. Accordingly in this way the seat portion 13 is fixedly secured via the connecting plate 26 to the spigot 21, and thus to the fixed support column 10 and legs 11. However in an alternative arrangement, means could be provided for allowing the seat portion 13 to itself be angularly movable about its associated support column.

Figures 9 and 10 show the backrest connector 18 in the form of a cranked metal plate which has four fixing holes 29 arranged in a square configuration in its one cranked part, for fixing the connector to a rear part of the upper surface of the seat portion 13, there being a further four fixing holes 30, also arranged in a square configuration, in the other cranked part of the connector 18, which lies at an obtuse angle to the first cranked part, these fixing holes 30 receiving screws to connect to the backrest portion 14 to said connector 18, as shown in Figure 3. In an alternative arrangement, means may be provided to enable the backrest to be reclinable.

Figures 13 and 14 show a connector 31 in the form of a mild steel turning which is of generally stepped-cylindrical form along its axial length. It has a lower cylindrical portion 32 which is sized to be a tight fit in the upper end of the hollow tube forming the cranked arm 15. Insertion is limited by a cylindrical shoulder 33 at the upper end of the portion 32, which has an external diameter equal to the outer diameter of the tube forming the cranked arm 15. Extending upwardly from the shoulder 33 is a further cylindrical portion 34 which is of an external diameter slightly less than that of the portion 32, this portion 34 being interrupted near its upper end by a generally square section groove 35 for a bearing sleeve. Figures 15 and 16 show a hollow cylindrical sleeve 36 which has an outer diameter corresponding to, or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the shoulder 33, the sleeve 36 having an axial length equal to the axial extent of the connector above the shoulder 33. At its upper end, the sleeve 36 has a radial hole 37 extending from its outer surface to break into the hollow interior of the sleeve 36. The sleeve 36 is a swivel fit on the connector 31 above the shoulder 33.

Figures 17 and 18 show a connector 38 in the form of a flat cylindrical plate 39 from the underside of which centrally depends a hollow cylindrical sleeve 40, with the diameter of the plate being almost twice the external diameter of the sleeve 40. As shown best in Figure 17, three countersunk holes 41 extend upwardly through the plate 39, these holes being equi-angularly spaced around the plate, each on an equal radius which is greater than the radius of the external surface of the cylindrical sleeve 40 so that, as shown in Figure 17, these holes lie outside the boundary of the sleeve 40.

The hollow sleeve 40 is a push fit over the sleeve 36, so that, in use, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the connector 38 is in fact pushed down over the sleeve 36, and a tapped hole 42 which extends radially through the wall of the sleeve 40 is aligned with the hole 37 to receive a grub screw (not shown) which is threadedly received in the hole 42 and extends into the hole 37 so as to secure the connector 38 to the sleeve 36 for angular movement therewith about the portion 34 of the connector 31.

The tablet 17, which would normally be of wood, has a circular section rebate 43 in its underside, as best shown in Figure 20, to receive as a tight, flush fit, the plate 39, as shown in Figure 3, with screws (not shown) passing upwards through the countersunk holes 41 into the tablet 17 so as to secure it to the connector 38, and thus in an angularly movable manner to the arm 15, which is of course itself angularly movable relative to the fixed support 9_ column 10, and thus, in this embodiment also relative to the fixed seat portion 13.

Accordingly with the seat described, a user can position the arm at any angularly adjusted position around the front of the seat between its two extreme positions, 180' apart, at respective opposite sides of the backrest portion, although in this embodiment the arm 15 is actually adjustable through a complete 360', even with the backrest portion 13 being provided. The arm can thus conveniently be adjusted to lie at either side of the seat, i.e. for right or left hand use, or can be positioned to the front thereof, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. As far as the tablet 17 is concerned, the seat is thus unhanded. Additionally, in this embodiment, the carrier or tablet 17 itself is arranged to be angularly movable on its arm, through 3601, so that the user can orientate it as required to support, for example a lap-top computer or the like, the shape of the tablet shown being such that its greatest extent can be positioned laterally of the user or longitudinally thereof, or any position in between, thus allowing versatility of the tablet, which can be of any required shape. In one alternative embodiment the tablet can pivot about a horizontal axis, and in a further alternative embodiment, the tablet is fixed relative to the arm. The rotation of the tablet itself can of course be restricted to less than 3600.

The chair described and illustrated is particularly adapted for use as a 'breakout' chair for use with meetings of a group of people, for example arranged in a circle, away from a desk. Not only is the tablet 17 previously described adapted for this mode of use of the chair, but additionally, in this embodiment, the underside of the chair, i.e. the portion beneath the seat is generally 'empty' around the whole of the seat, but particularly at the front of the seat, so as to allow a user to position his or her legs in said space when in such a group. This is in contrast to known so-called 'tub chairs' in which this space is filled in. As mentioned, other features with which the chair may be provided are a reclinable backrest and/or an angularly movable seat portion.

The seat shown in Figure 21 represents a further embodiment, and differs from the seat of Figure 1 in several aspects. Firstly it has differently formed legs in the form of tubes 44, each terminating in a vertical downwardly socket to receive a stem 45 of a braked castor 46. Secondly the vertical part of its cranked arm 47 is telescopic, i.e. height adjustable. Thirdly the arm carries a metal platform 48 fixed to the upper end thereof and having at one end a cutout to hold a beaker 49 or cup. Finally, the platform rotatably carries at its other end a tablet 50 of generally square shape. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments certain features may change, such as: i) a fixed height mitred arm, ii) a pedestal base, iii) a base with glides, iv) the seat portion having arms and v) a base with five legs. Any combination of optional features may be employed with the seat.

Claims (1)

1. A seat comprising support means, a support column extending from the support means, a seat portion carried by the support column, and a support/carrier which is at a level above the seat portion and is angularly movable about an axis of the support column.

2. A seat as claimed in Claim 1, which is open or substantially open, around at least part of the seat, between the seat portion and said support means.

3. A seat as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the support/carrier is carried by an arm which is mounted on the support column for angular movement therearound.

4. A seat as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the arm is cranked, having a first part extending generally radially outwardly from the support column to a position beyond the periphery of the seat portion, and a second part extending upwards from the first part at said position beyond the periphery of the seat portion to terminate at said level above the seat portion.

5. A seat as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said second part of the arm is telescopic to adjust the height of the support/carrier carried by the arm above said seat portion.

1 6. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the arm extends from a sleeve which is angularly movable about a spigot at an upper end of the support column.

7. A seat as claimed in Claim 6, wherein a bearing sleeve is disposed between the sleeve from which the arm extends and said spigot.

8. A seat as claimed in Clahn 7, whereinthe bearing sleeve is arranged to move angularly with said sleeve, in use, relative to the spigot.

9. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein extending from the seat portion is a backrest portion, and the support/carrier is movable through at least 180' so that it can be disposed at respective alternative positions at opposite sides of the backrest portion.

10. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein an upper end of the support column has secured thereto a connecting element which is secured to an undersurface of the seat portion.

11. A seat as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the connecting element is a plate having a row of central holes for fixing elements securing the plate to the or a spigot at said upper end of the support column.

12. A scat as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the connecting element is a plate having a multiplicity of spaced holes adjacent its periphery for fixing elements securing the plate to said underside of the seat portion.

1 13. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the seat portion is angularly movable about the support column.

14. A seat as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 9, wherein the support/carrier is angularly movable about said arm.

15. A seat as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the arm has a tubular upper free end portion in which is non-rotatably fitted a connector about which a further connector, secured to the support/carrier, is angularly movable.

16. A seat as claimed in Claim 15, wherein said further connector has a part thereof fixed in a rebate in an underside of the support/carrier.

17. A seat as claimed in Claim 15 or Clahn 16, wherein said further connector is fixed to a sleeve for angular movement therewith, said sleeve being a swivel fit on said connector.

18. A seat as claimed in Clahn 1 or Claim 2, wherein the support/carrier is carried by an intermediate element fixed to an arm mounted on the support column for angular movement therearound.

19. A seat as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the intermediate element defines a location for holding a drinking or like receptacle.

20. A seat as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a backrest portion.

22. A seat substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 to 20 or Figure 21 of the accompanying drawings.