GB2422098A

GB2422098A - Injection moulded seat base and backrest with plurality of stiffening ribs.

Info

Publication number: GB2422098A
Application number: GB0500705A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hsiu-Hsueh Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-12
Filing date: 2005-01-14
Publication date: 2006-07-19
Also published as: US20060152064A1; GB0500705D0

Abstract

A seat (20) has a backrest (21) and a seat base or squab (30). Both the base and the backrest have a series of interlinking stiffening grids or ribs or webs (36 and 39) that act as stiffening members. The base and the backrest are each made as one piece plastic injection mouldings so that the side frame (41) is integral with the stiffening grid. The ribs (36, 39) are also interconnected alternately at the top or bottom of the web by a closing member or patch see section ( 3-3) and Figure 3. A padded cushion and a leather cover may be provided for both the squab and backrest. In order to transport the component parts prior to manufacture a notch 33 is provided so that a rope 45 Figure 8, may be used to tie a plurality of units together.

Description

Human Body-Supportjnu Device for Use in Chair 3 Backroijnd of invention

4 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a chair and, more particularly, to a human 6 bodysupporting device for use in a chair.

8 2. Related Prior Art

9 Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional seat 10 includes an upper member 11 and a lower member 12. The seat 10 is substantially shaped like a 11 rectangle. The upper member 11 includes a plurality of radial rods 15 12 and a plurality of annular ribs 16 installed on the radial rods 15. The 13 upper member li includes a plurality of screw holes 13 defined therein.

14 The lower member 12 includes a frame 20 formed thereon. The frame 20 includes two long walls 21 and two short walls 22. A plurality of 16 grids 18 is located in and connected with the frame 20. The grids 18 are 17 formed by means of a first group of ribs 23 and a second group of ribs 24 18 intersecting the first group of ribs 23. The first group of ribs 23 extends 19 in parallel to the long walls 21 of the frame 20. The second group of ribs 24 extends in parallel to the short walls 22 of the frame 20. The 21 lower member 12 includes a plurality of collars 17 formed thereon.

22 Each of the collars 1 7 is aligned with corresponding one of the screw 23 holes 13. A bolt 14 is driven into each of the screw holes 13 through 24 corresponding one of the collars 1 7. Thus, the upper member 11 is firmly attached to the lower member 1 2. However, this conventional 26 seat includes a complicated structure for including the upper member 11 1 and the lower member 12. Moreover, this conventional seat involves a 2 complicated process because the upper member 11 and the lower member 3 12 are molded separately and assembled. Furthermore, this 4 conventional seat inevitably entails a high cost for including a complicated structure and involving a complicated process. In addition, 6 this conventional seat is not durable because the upper member 11 might 7 be detached from the lower member 12 as the bolts 14 are disengaged 8 from the screw holes 13. Additionally, this conventional seat is poor in 9 strength because the grids 18 might be deformed and broken.

11 The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate

12 the problems encountered in prior art. 1-,

14 $tlmmary of Invention A human body-supporting device is provided a chair. The human 16 body-supporting device includes a frame, a plurality of grids and a 17 plurality of patches. The grids are formed in the frame. Each of the is grids includes a first side and an opposite second side. The first side of 19 one of the grids is connected with one of the patches while the second side of next one of the grids is connected with one of the patches for 21 retaining the grids in shape.

23 The primary advantage of the body-supporting device of the present 24 invention is the simple structure. Another advantage of the bodysupporting device of the present invention is the easy fabrication.

26 Another advantage of the body-supporting device of the present invention I is the low cost. Another advantage of the body-supporting device of the 2 present invention is the durability.

4 Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when 6 taken in conjunction with the drawings.

8 Brief Description of Drawjns

9 The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

12 Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional seat 14 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a human body-supporting device for use in a chair according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

17 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

19 Fig. 4 shows the backrest of Fig. 2 to be assembled with a cushion and a piece of leather.

22 Fig. 5 shows the seat of Fig. 2 to be assembled with a cushion and a piece 23 of leather.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the seat, the cushion and the leather of 26 Fig. 5 assembled.

1 Fig. 7 is a side view of a person sitting on the seat of Fig. 1.

3 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a plurality of seats of Fig. 2 piled and tied 4 together by means of a rope through the notches.

6 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

7 Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, a chair 20 includes a backrest 21 and a seat 30 8 connected with the backrest 21. According to the present invention, a 9 human body-supporting device may be implemented as the backrest 21 and the seat 30. That is, the backrest 21 is substantially identical to the 11 seat 30 except for including a different profile. Hence, the human 12 body-supporting device according to the present invention will be 13 described in detail in relation to the seat 30.

The seat 30 includes a frame 41, a plurality of grids 37 located in and 16 connected with the frame 41 and a plurality of patches 38 formed on the 17 grids 37 in order to retain the grids 37 in shape.

19 The frame 41 includes two long walls 35 and two short walls 32. The grids 37 are formed by means of a first group of ribs 36 and a second 21 group of ribs 39 intersecting the first group of ribs 36. The first group of 22 ribs 36 does not extend in parallel to the walls 35 and 32. The second 23 group of ribs 39 does not extend in parallel to the walls 35 and 32. Each 24 of the grids 37 includes a first side and a second side. Thus, the grids 37 provide a strong structure. The first side of one of the grids 37 is 26 connected with one of the patches 38 while the second side of next one of 1 the grids 37 is connected with one of the patches 38 (see Fig. 6). Each 2 of the long walls 35 includes a notch 33 defined therein. The notches 33 3 are used for receiving a rope 45 for fastening a plurality of the seats 30 4 together (see Fig. 8). Each of the short walls 32 includes an inclined edge 34 devised for ergonomic purposes.

7 The seat 30 that includes the frame 41, the grids 37 and the patches 38 is 8 molded in one piece.

Referring to Fig. 4, a cushion 26 is installed on the backrest 21. A piece 11 of leather 27 is installed on the cushion 26.

13 Referring to Fig. 5, a cushion 42 is installed on the seat 30. A piece of 14 leather 43 is installed on the cushion 42.

16 Referring to Fig. 6, the seat 30 provides a concave upper surface that 17 conforms to ergonomics. Thus, a user can sit on the seat 30 for a long 18 period of time.

Fig. 7 shows a person sat on the seat 30. Each of the short walls 32 of 21 the seat 30 includes an inclined edge 34 formed thereon. Thus, the 22 concave upper surface of the seat 30 includes a portion that is inclined 23 forwards. Therefore, the user can rest his or her thighs on the seat 30 24 comfortably.

26 The present invention has been described through detailed illustration of I the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variation 2 from the preferred embodimejit without departing from the scope of the 3 present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit 4 the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1 What Is Claimed Is 2 1. A human body-supporting device for use in a

chair, the human 3 body-supporting device comprising: 4 a frame; a plurality of grids formed in the frame, each of the grids comprises a 6 first side and an opposite second side; and 7 a plurality of patches, wherein the first side of one of the grids is 8 connected with one of the patches while the second side of next one 9 of the grids is connected with one of the patches for retaining the grids in shape.

11 2. The human body-supporting device according to claim 1. wherein the 12 human body-supporting device is molded as one piece.

13 3. The human body-supporting device according to claim 1 wherein the 14 human body-supporting device is a backrest.

4. The human body-supporting device according to claim 1 wherein the 16 human body-supporting device is a seat.

17 5. The human body-supporting device according to claim 4 wherein the 18 frame comprises two lateral walls each comprising an upper edge 19 comprising a portion that is inclined forwards.

6. The human body-supporting device according to claim 1 wherein the 21 frame comprises two long walls and two short walls.

22 7. The chair according to claim 6 wherein each of the long walls defines 23 a notch for receiving a rope for fastening a plurality of seats together.

24 8. The chair according to claim 6 wherein the grids are formed by a first group of ribs and a second group of ribs intersecting the first group of 26 ribs, wherein the first group of ribs does not extend in parallel to the long and short walls of the frame, wherein the second group of ribs 2 does not extend in parallel to the long and short walls of the frame.

3 9. A chair comprising a seat and a backrest connected with the seat, 4 both the seat and the backrest comprising: a frame; 6 a plurality of grids formed in the frame, each of the grids comprises a 7 first side and an opposite second side; and 8 a plurality of patches, wherein the first side of one of the grids is 9 connected with one of the patches while the second side of next one of the grids is connected with one of the patches for retaining the 11 grids in shape.

12 10. The human body-supporting device according to claim 9 wherein the 13 frame of the seat comprises two lateral walls each comprising an 14 upper edge comprising a portion that is inclined forwards.

11. The human body-supporting device according to claim 9 wherein the 16 frame comprises two long walls and two short walls.

17 12. The chair according to claim 11 wherein the grids are formed a first 18 group of ribs and a second group of ribs intersecting the first group of 19 ribs, wherein the first group of ribs does not extend in parallel to the long and short walls of the frame, wherein the second group of ribs 21 does not extend in parallel to the long and short walls of the frame.

22 13. The chair according to claim 11 wherein each of the long walls of the 23 frame defines a notch for receiving a rope for fastening a plurality of 24 frames together.