GB2422173A

GB2422173A - Chair connection arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2422173A
Application number: GB0500935A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Reginald Cumbley
Original assignee: Senator International Ltd
Current assignee: Senator International Ltd
Priority date: 2005-01-18
Filing date: 2005-01-18
Publication date: 2006-07-19
Also published as: GB0500935D0

Abstract

A chair comprises a seat 1, arms 3 and metal frame 4. The seat is moulded from synthetic plastics material and defines a recess 10 which houses a moulded synthetic plastics material connector 6. The connector comprises an elongate body 7 and formations 8 and 9 on opposite ends respectively thereof. One formation 9 pivotally connects the connector to the frame 4 of one chair allowing the connector to be pivoted from a stored position to an operative position in which the other formation 8 may be clipped to the frame 4 of a next adjacent chair to connect the two chairs together (fig 5c).

Description

AONNECTOR FOR A CHAIR

The present invention relates to a connector for a chair and to a chair incorporating such a connector.

It is known when arranging individual chairs in rows to connect adjacent chairs in each row together. This provides order and stability.

Advantageously, the chairs to be connected together are the same as or similar to each other in order to facilitate connection. The number of chairs to be connected together may be varied as desired.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for connecting a chair to another adjacent chair, the connector having a body and formations at opposite ends respectively of the body one of which provides for pivotal connection to one chair and the other of which provides for connection to the next adjacent chair.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chair having means for connecting the chair to an adjacent chair, the means for connecting comprising a connector having a body and formations at opposite ends respectively of the body one of which is pivotally connected to the chair and the other of which is adapted for connection to an adjacent chair.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the chair preferably comprises a seat mounted on a frame. The seat is advantageously moulded from synthetic plastics material and defines a recess on its underside which houses the connector in its stowed position. Preferably, clips, extending from the recess, seat in recesses in the body of the connector to retain the connector in the stowed position.

Each formation is preferably of open circular cross section enabling it to be clipped to the corresponding frame. Thus, in use the connector is pivoted from the stowed position about the said one formation through 1800 to present the formation at the other end of the connector to the frame of the adjacent chairs so that it can be resiliently clipped onto that frame to connect the adjacent chair together. Each connector is preferably formed with a finger pull to facilitate pulling the connector from the stowed position.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a perspective view from above of the chairs connected together; Figure 2 shows an underplan view of two adjacent chairs with the chairs unconnected; Figure 3 shows an underplan view of the two adjacent chairs of Figure 2 with the chairs connected; Figure 4a shows a connector on a chair in a stowed position; Figure 4b shows the connector on the chair of Figure 4a in a position between stowed and connected positions; Figure 4c shows the connector of Figures 4a and 4b in a connected position between two adjacent chairs, and Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are cross sectional views corresponding respectively to Figures 4a, 4b and 4c.

Figure 1 shows two identical chairs connected together. Each chair comprises a seat 1, squab 2 and arms 3 mounted on a metal frame 4 which also provides the legs 5. a connector 6 is visible between the two chairs. Referring additionally to Figures 2 and 3, which show two adjacent chairs in underplan view, each chair in Figure 2 shows the connector 6 in the stowed position. Each connector 6 comprises an elongate body 7 and formations 8 and 9 on opposite ends respectively thereof. In the stowed position shown in Figure 2, each connector 6 seats in a complementary recess 10 formed in the underside of the corresponding seat 1 so that the surface of the connector is flush with the underside of the corresponding seat. Both seat 1 and connector 6 are moulded from synthetic plastics material. Each connector is retained in the stowed position by means of clips 11 which extend from the corresponding recess 1 0 and which seat in complementary recesses 1 2 formed in the lateral sides of the corresponding connector (see Figures 4b and 4c). To enable the connector 6 to be pulled from the stowed position a finger pull is provided at 13.

Referring additionally to Figures 5a, 5b and 5c, each formation 9 is of open part circular cross-section and clips onto the correspondingly dimensioned frame 4 so as to permit pivotal movement of the connector 6 on the frame 4. Each formation 8 is also of open part circular cross- section but the opening faces in the opposite direction to that of the formation 9. Again however, the formation is dimensioned to clip resiliently onto the frame 4 of the adjacent chair thus connecting adjacent chairs together as shown particularly in Figure 4c and 5c. At the point at which the formation 8 clips onto the frame 4, a recess 8a is formed in the underside of the chair to accommodate it (see Figure 4a, 4b and 4c).

This ensures that the formation 8 can only clip onto the frame 4 in one position ensuring that all the chairs in a row line up.

The above described arrangement greatly facilitates the connection together in a row of a plurality of chairs. After placing each chair in the desired position, its connector 6 is unhooked from the stowed position pivoted through 180 and clipped onto the frame of the next adjacent chair. In this way a row of connected chairs may be quickly assembled, the resultant row being stable and ordered. The final chair of the row will be connected by the connector of the next adjacent chair and therefore its own connector may remain stowed.

An assembled row can also be quickly disassembled simply by releasing the connectors. The released connectors can be restowed in their corresponding recesses so that they do not interfere with the individual use of chairs.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a chair to another adjacent chair, the connector having a body and formations at opposite ends respectively of the body one of which provides for pivotal connection to one chair and the other of which provides for connection to the next adjacent chair.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, in which one formation is of open part-circular cross-section.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2, in which the other formation is of open part-circular cross section, the opening in that formation facing in the opposite direction to that in the said one formation.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the body is elongate and the formations extend transversely to elongate axis of the body.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, comprising a finger pull.

6. A connector as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, moulded from synthetic plastics material.

7. A chair having means for connecting the chair to an adjacent chair, the means for connecting comprising a connector having a body and formations at Opposite ends respectively of the body one of which is pivotally connected to the chair and the other of which is adapted for connection to an adjacent chair.

8. A chair as claimed in claim 7, comprising a seat mounted in a frame.

9. A chair as claimed in claim 8, in which the seat is moulded and defines a recess on its underside which houses the connector in a stored position.

10. A chair as claimed in claim 9, in which the seat is moulded from synthetic plastics material.

11. A chair as claimed in claim 9 or 1 0, in which clips extend from the recess and seat in recesses formed in the body of the connector to retain the connector in the stored position.

12. A chair as claimed in any of claims 7 to 11 in which the said one formation is of open part-circular cross-section.

13. A chair as claimed in any of claims 7 to 12, in which the said other formation is of open part-circular cross-section.

1 4. A chair as claimed in any of claims 7 to 1 3, in which the connector is moulded from synthetic plastics material.

15. A chair as claimed in any of claims 7 to 14, in which a recess is formed in the underside of the chair to accommodate the said other formation of a connector of a next adjacent chair to ensure that adjacent chairs, when connected together, are aligned.

1 6. A chair as claimed in any of claims 7 to 1 5, in which a finger pull is provided on the connector.

1 7. A chair substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.