GB2425054A

GB2425054A - A foldable seat

Info

Publication number: GB2425054A
Application number: GB0607521A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Lee
Original assignee: BIG JACK VILLAGE Ltd
Current assignee: BIG JACK VILLAGE Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-14
Filing date: 2006-04-13
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Also published as: GB0507605D0; GB0607521D0

Abstract

A foldable seat comprises a seat portion 12, a back support 14 and at least one, preferably two, foldable portions 16,18 joining the back support to at least a portion of the seat portion. The seat is configurable between a pre-deployed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the back support provides support for a back of a seated user. The foldable portion 16,18 is configured to fold upon itself to retain the back support 14 in the deployed configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one foldable portion is contiguous and unitary with both the seat portion and the back support. The seat may comprise a first fold line 20 connecting the back support and the at least one foldable portion, a second fold line 22 connecting the at least one foldable portion and the seat portion and a third fold line on the at least one foldable portion between the first and second fold lines.

Description

FOLDABLE SEAT

The present invention relates to foldable furniture and in particular to foldable seats.

The present invention has been configured for use as a portable and foldable seat for outdoor use, however, as will be understood by the skilled addressee, it is not limited to such uses.

Outdoor furniture and in particular seats are well known. Examples of outdoor seats include basic roll-up mats or rugs which are used to cover an area of ground for seating thereupon, for example at picnics or at beaches. Roll-up mats and rugs are used in a planar configuration and do not provide any support for a user's back when sitting in an upright position.

Deck chairs and director's chairs are designed for outdoor use and provide back support for a user. However they can be heavy and cumbersome to transport to certain picnic areas. Also, they may be inappropriate for use for example at outdoor seated concert venues, since they elevate the user above the ground and may inappropriately block the concert stage view of other users.

One attempt to provide a simple, portable ground-based seat with back support for a user is described in WO-A-02/39851. This seat is a foldable cardboard construction wherein side panel sections attached to either side of a back section are placed under a seating portion to bring the back section into an upright seating position. However, the side panel sections need to be glued to the seating portion, complicating manufacture, or are liable to slide out from under the seating portion causing the seat to collapse.

It is an object of at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the deficiencies of the prior art, or at least to provide a suitable alternative thereto.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a foldable seat comprising: a seat portion; a back support; and at least one foldable portion joining at least a portion of the back support to at least a portion of the seat portion, wherein the seat is configurable between a pre-deployed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the back support provides support for a back of a seated user, the foldable portion being configured to fold upon itself to retain the back support in the deployed configuration.

When in use in the deployed configuration, the seat advantageously makes use of the user's weight upon the seat to hold the foldable portion in place. Because the foldable portion is folded upon itself, there is a relatively significant amount of force required to "unfold" the foldable portion when the user is seated thereby resisting unintended collapse.

Preferably, the at least one foldable portion is contiguous and unitary with both the seat portion and the back support.

Preferably, the seat comprises a first fold line connecting the back support and the at least one foldable portion, a second fold line connecting the at least one foldable portion and the seat portion and a third fold line on the at least one foldable portion between the first and second fold lines. Preferably, the seat comprises a fourth fold line on the back support between the first and second fold lines.

Preferably the at least one foldable portion is adapted such that when the seat is configured in the deployed configuration the foldable portion is folded against, preferably underneath, the seat portion.

Preferably, when the seat is in the deployed configuration, a back support edge contiguous with the folding portion is adjacent a seat portion edge contiguous with the folding portion.

Preferably, in use, the at least one foldable portion is adapted such that when the seat is configured in the deployed configuration upon a ground surface and the foldable portion is folded against the seat portion, the foldable portion is held in place between the ground surface and the seat portion by the weight of a user seated upon a section of the seat portion adjacent the foldable portion.

Preferably, the fold lines are pre-punched. Alternatively, the fold lines may comprise perforations.

Preferably, the back support has a curved outer edge.

Preferably, when in the pre-deployed configuration, the seat is unfolded and planar.

Preferably, in the pre-deployed configuration, the foldable portions are triangular.

Preferably, one edge of the at least one foldable portion is curved.

Preferably, in the pre-deployed configuration, the at least one foldable portion is defined by two substantially straight edges converging towards an apex, and at least one other edge, and wherein the two straight edges form an angle at the apex of between 15 and 60 , more preferably the angle is between 20 and 50 , and further preferably, the angle is 450* Preferably, the seat comprises two said foldable portions, wherein the foldable portions are between the seat portion and the back support. Preferably, the foldable portions are adjacent one another at their respective apexes.

Preferably, when in the pre-deployed configuration, the adjacent foldable portions form an angle therebetween of between 600 and 180 , more preferably the adjacent foldable portions form an angle therebetween of between 70 and 1200, and further preferably, the adjacent foldable portions form an angle therebetween of 90 .

The seat may comprise a hole at the adjacent said apexes for facilitating folding of the foldable portions.

The seat is also preferably configurable in a storage and transportable configuration.

Preferably, the seat portion comprises a lateral fold line for folding the seat portion upon itself. Preferably, the seat portion is configured for folding upon itself when in the storage and transportable configuration and/or the deployed configuration. The seat portion may also be elongate and/or symmetrical about its lateral fold line.

Preferably, the seat comprises a handle device attached thereto for facilitating manual carrying of the seat when in the pre-deployed configuration. Also preferably, the seat comprises attachment means for attaching the foldable portion to the seat portion to retain the back support in the deployed configuration.

Alternatively, the seat may comprise an attachment device for supporting the seat in the deployed configuration. The attachment device may comprise a pair of arms configured to be passed under the seat portion when in the deployed configuration.

The attachment device may also comprise a tongue and a slit on respective arms for releasable engagement, preferably releasable interlocking engagement, when the seat is in the deployed configuration.

The seat preferably comprises cardboard or paperboard, though may comprise one or more of neoprene, laminated fabric, fabric with one or more reinforcing elements, and/or plastic.

Preferably, the seat portion and/or the back support and/or the at least one foldable portion is adapted for receiving indicia.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a foldable seat having a back support, a seat portion and at least one foldable portion between the back support and the seat portion, the method comprising the steps of: a) cutting a seat blank from a sheet of seat material; b) forming a plurality of fold lines in the seat, wherein at least some of the fold lines define the back support, the seat portion and the at least one foldable portion; and C) printing indicia upon at least one of the back support, the seat portion or the foldable portion.

Preferably, the step of cutting is preceded by a step of storing a template of the seat in a memory means and using the template for cutting the seat blank.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a foldable seat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in a storage configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the foldable seat, illustrated in Figure 1, in a deployed configuration; Figure 3 is plan view of the foldable seat, illustrated in Figure 1, in a pre-deployed configuration; and Figures 4 to 6 are plan views of a foldable seat according to alternative embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a cardboard foldable seat 10 comprising a seat portion 12, a back support 14 and two foldable portions 16 and 18. The seat is configurable from a storage and transportable configuration, illustrated in Figure 1, to a deployed configuration, as illustrated in Figure 2, via a pre-deployed configuration, as illustrated in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 3, illustrating the seat 10 in a planar and unfolded configuration, the seat comprises a first fold line 20 connecting the back support 14 to both foldable portions 16 and 18, and a second fold line 22 connecting one 16 foldable portion to a proximal end 24 of the seat portion 12. A third fold line 26 is intermediate the first and second fold lines 20 and 22 to facilitate folding the foldable portion 16 upon itself. A fourth fold line 28 connects the seat portion 12 to the other foldable portion 18. A fifth fold line 30 is intermediate the first and fourth fold lines 20 and 28 to facilitate folding the other foldable portion 18 upon itself.

Another fold line 32 is on the back support 14, perpendicular to the first fold line 20.

While not essential, this fold line 20 can improve the comfort of the seated user as will be described in more detail below. The fold lines are punched or crimped into the cardboard. The fold lines and/or portions of the seat adjacent the fold lines may be reinforced, for example with relatively more flexible material. In alternative embodiments the fold lines may comprise a plurality of perforations or are pre- folded.

In the embodiment of the seat 10 illustrated in Figures ito 3, the back support 14 has a curved outer edge 34 and the foldable portions 16 and 18 are triangular, or approximately triangular. The first foldable portion 16 is defined by a portion 20a of the first fold line 20, second fold line 22 and a curved outer edge 36, where the portion 20a and the first fold line 20 converge to an apex 37. The second foldable portion 18 is defined by a second portion 20b of the first fold line 20, the fourth fold line 28 and a curved outer edge 38, where the portion 20b and the fourth fold line 28 converge to another apex 39. The angle between the fold lines 20a and 22, and fold lines 20b and 28, respectively, is 450, though in alternative embodiments the angle may lie in the range from 150 to 600, or more preferably 20 to 50 . The angle between the second and fourth fold lines 22 and 28 is 900, though in alternative embodiments may lie between 60 and 180 , or more preferably between 70 and 120 . Also, in alternative embodiments, the first fold line 20 may comprise two fold line portions whose angle therebetween is greater or less than 180 .

The seat portion 12 is elongate, having a fold line 40 along a lateral symmetrical axis thereof. At its proximal end 24, the seat portion 12 is contiguous with the foldable portions 16 and 18 on second and fourth fold lines 22 and 28, forming an angle of 90 therebetween. A distal end 44 of the seat portion 12 has two edges 46 and 48 which also form an angle of 90 therebetween. This configuration allows the seat portion 12 to be folded equally upon itself along the lateral fold line 40.

This allows for the user to use the seat with either a long or short seat portion, as will be described in more detail below. In alternative embodiments, the distal end 44 may be straight and may approximately correspond to the lateral fold line 43 of the above described embodiment.

In use, the user carries the seat 10 in the storage and transportable configuration, as illustrated in Figure 1, where the seat portion 12 is folded upon itself along the lateral fold line 40, and the back support 14 is folded on the first fold line 20, such that it lies over the foldable portions 16 and 18, and the distal end 44 of the seat portion 12. When the user selects a desired ground surface to sit upon, the user unfolds the seat from its storage configuration to the pre-deployed configuration, as illustrated in Figure 3, and proceeds to fold the foldable portion 16 upon itself on its intermediate fold line 26, and foldable portion 18 upon itself on its intermediate fold line 30. The seat is then folded on second and fourth fold lines 22 and 28 to fold the folded foldable portions 16 and 18 under the proximal end 24 of the seat portion 12, as illustrated in Figure 2, and to be between the ground surface and the proximal end 24 of the seat portion 12. At the same time, the seat is folded on the first fold line 20 to configure the back support 14 in a back supporting, or substantially upright position, as illustrated in Figure 2. Depending on the requirements of the user, the seat portion 12 is either left in an elongate unfolded, or extended position, or can be folded on fold line 40 to effectively shorten the seat portion. In this way, this feature is useful to reduce the ground space covered by the seat portion in crowded areas. Also, the seat portion can be used in the extended position to allow the user to place outstretched legs on the seat portion, or to use the additional seat portion to place food, or related items, thereupon.

When the seat 10 is in the deployed configuration, the user sits on the proximal end 24 of the seat portion 12. The weight of the user upon the proximal end 24 aids in retaining the foldable portions 16 and 18 in position between the ground surface and the proximal end 24. Also, because of the inherent stiffness of the cardboard, a substantial load upon the back support 14 is required to unfold the foldable portions 16 and 18 from under the seat portion 12, when a user is sitting thereupon.

As a practical matter, in use, the back support 14 will curve around the back of the user when the user leans back into the back support 14, increasing the user's sitting comfort. The presence of fold line 32 on the back support 14 further aids the curving of the back support 14 around the user's back. The proximal end 24 of the seat portion may also curve around the user's bottom, thus further improving seating comfort.

The seat 10 is well suited to have indicia printed upon the seat portion 12 and/or the back support 14 and/or the foldable portions 16 and 18. For example, if the seat 10 is to be used at a particular outdoor concert, such indicia may comprise an advertising logo of a sponsor of the concert and/or a list of events or people or groups performing in particular events to be held at the concert. Other indicia may include instructions for using the seat 10.

As will be understood, the seat is sized to accommodate a person in a sitting position when the seat is in the deployed configuration. The seat 10 may be made available in more than one size, for example to suit children and adults.

The seat 10 is constructed by known cutting or punching methods, where the novel shape of the seat, or a plurality of seats, is cut as a blank from a sheet of cardboard. The fold lines are punched or formed or pressed into the blank either at the same time or after the blank has been cut form the cardboard sheet. As will be understood, the manufacture of the seat is not limited to such a method, but may be manufactured by other suitable known methods.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the seat, in a predeployed configuration, where like reference numerals denote like parts. In this embodiment, the back support 14' is part-hexagonal on its outer edge 34'. Also in this embodiment, the seat portion 12' has a nonsymmetrical fold line 50 for folding the seat 10' into a storage and transportable configuration. The seat 10' further comprises handle portions 52 to facilitate carrying the seat when in the storage and transportable configuration, and a hole 54 to improve the folding of the foldable portions 16' and 18' at their apexes 37' and 39'. As will be understood, a variation of the first described embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, may also comprise such a hole and/or handle portions.

Figure 5 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the invention where like reference numerals denote like parts. In this embodiment, foldable portions 16' and 18' have straight edges 36' and 38' respectively and include holes in the form of handle portions 52'. The seat 10" illustrated in Figure 5 further comprises an additional fold line 56 which is a continuation of fold line 32. This allows for the seat to have an additional fold for folding into a smaller transportable configuration. In this embodiment, the seat is folded into the transportable configuration by folding the back support 14 on fold line 20 and the distal end 44 on fold line 40 such that the back support and distal end are folded onto the seat portion 24. The seat 10" is then further folded on fold line 56 to bring handle portions 52' together for manual carrying of the seat.

In an alternative embodiment, the seat of any of the above described embodiments may further comprise complementary tongue and slit portions for releasable - 10 - connection with each other when the seat is in the seating configuration to aid in maintaining the seat in the deployed configuration when in use. For example, the tongue portions may extend from the edge portions shown in dotted outline at 58 on Figure 5, and the slit may comprise the handle portions 52'. In another alternative embodiment, illustrated in Figure 6 where like reference numerals denote like parts, a tongue 60 and a slit, or hole 62 are provided on respective arms 64. The arms 64 are joined to the back support 14 at fold lines 66, and are separate from the seat partial 2 along cut lines 68. When the seat 10" is folded into the deployed configuration, equivalent to the illustration of Figure 2 and its corresponding description, the arms 64 are passed under the seat portion 12, and the tongue 60 inserted into the hole 62 for releasable interlocking engagement. This engagement aids in maintaining the seat 10" in the deployed position.

The above described preferred embodiments of the invention are made from cardboard. Cardboard is preferred since it is cheap, readily available and recyclable after use. This is particularly useful when the seat is used in an outdoor concert environment. However, as will be apparent to the skilled addressee, the seat may be made from other suitable materials, for example neoprene, laminated fabric, fabric with one or more reinforcing elements, and/or plastic. For instance, more durable materials may be desired in embodiments where the seat is designed for multiple re-use, for example as a beach seat. The seat may comprise reinforcing, such as tape or laminate, for example, adjacent the fold lines.

Furthermore, the seat may comprise only one foldable portion.

While the invention has been described in reference to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description rather than limitation and that changes may be made to the invention without departing from its scope as defined by the appended claims. -11 -

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A foldable seat comprising: a seat portion; a back support; and

at least one foldable portion joining at least a portion of the back support to at least a portion of the seat portion, wherein the seat is configurable between a pre-deployed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the back support provides support for a back of a seated user, the foldable portion being configured to fold upon itself to retain the back support in the deployed configuration.
2. The foldable seat of claim I wherein the at least one foldable portion is contiguous and unitary with both the seat portion and the back support.
3. The foldable seat of claim I or 2 comprising a first fold line connecting the back support and the at least one foldable portion, a second fold line connecting the at least one foldable portion and the seat portion and a third fold line on the at least one foldable portion between the first and second fold lines.
4. The foldable seat of claim 3 comprising a fourth fold line on the back support between the first and second fold lines.
5. The foldable seat of claim 3 or 4 wherein the fold lines are prepunched.
6. The foldable seat of claim 3 or 4 wherein the fold lines comprise perforations.
7. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein the at least one foldable portion is adapted such that when the seat is configured in the deployed configuration the foldable portion is folded against, preferably underneath, the seat portion.

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8. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein when the seat is in the deployed configuration, a back support edge contiguous with the folding portion is adjacent a seat portion edge contiguous with the folding portion.
9. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein in use, the at least one foldable portion is adapted such that when the seat is configured in the deployed configuration upon a ground surface and the foldable portion is folded against the seat portion, the foldable portion is held in place between the ground surface and the seat portion by the weight of a user seated upon a section of the seat portion adjacent the foldable portion.
10. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein the back support has a curved outer edge.
11. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein in the pre-deployed configuration, the seat is unfolded and planar.
12. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein in the pre-deployed configuration the at least one foldable portion is triangular.
13. The foldable seat of claim 12 wherein one edge of the at least one foldable portion is curved.
14. The foldable seat of claim 12 or 13 wherein in the pre-deployed configuration the at least one foldable portion is defined by two substantially straight edges converging towards an apex, and wherein the two straight edges form an angle at the apex of between 15 and 60 .
15. The foldable seat of claim 14 wherein the angle is between 200 and 50 .
16. The foldable seat of claim 14 wherein the angle is 45 . - 13-
17. The foldable seat of any preceding claim comprising two said foldable portions, wherein in the pre-deployed configuration the foldable portions are between the seat portion and the back support.
18. The foldable seat of claim 17 when dependent on any of claims 14 to 16 wherein in the pre-deployed configuration the foldable portions are adjacent one another at their respective apexes.
19. The foldable seat of claim 18 wherein in the pre-deployed configuration the adjacent foldable portions form an angle therebetween of between 600 and 1800.
20. The foldable seat of claim 18 wherein in the pre-deployed configuration wherein the adjacent foldable portions form an angle therebetween of between 70 and 120 .
21. The foldable seat of claim 18 wherein in the pre-deployed configuration the adjacent foldable portions form an angle therebetween of 90 .
22. The foldable seat of any of claims 14 to 16 or 18 to 21 comprising a hole at the adjacent said apexes for facilitating folding of the foldable portions.
23. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein the seat is collapsible in a storage and transportable configuration.
24. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein the seat portion comprises a lateral fold line for folding the seat portion upon itself.
25. The foldable seat of claim 24 wherein the seat portion is configured for folding upon itself when in the storage and transportable configuration and/or the deployed configuration.
26. The foldable seat of claim 24 or 25 wherein the seat portion is symmetrical about its lateral fold line.
27. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein the seat portion is elongate.
28. The foldable seat of any preceding claim comprising a handle device attached thereto for facilitating manual carrying of the seat when in the pre- deployed configuration.
29. The foldable seat of any preceding claim comprising attachment means for attaching the foldable portion to the seat portion to retain the back support in the deployed configuration.
30. The foldable seat of any preceding claim comprising an attachment device for supporting the seat in the deployed configuration.
31. The foldable seat of claim 30 wherein the device comprises a pair of arms configured to be passed under the seat portion when in the deployed configuration.
32. The foldable seat of claim 31 wherein the device comprises a tongue and a slit, or hole, on respective said arms for mutual releasable engagement when the seat is in the deployed configuration.
33. The foldable seat of c'aim 32 wherein the tongue and slit, or hole, are configured for mutual releasable interlocking engagement.
34. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein the seat comprises cardboard or paperboard.
35. The foldable seat of any of claims I to 33 wherein the seat comprises one or more of neoprene, laminated fabric, fabric with one or more reinforcing elements, and/or plastic.
36. The foldable seat of any preceding claim wherein the seat portion and/or the back support and/or the at least one foldable portion is adapted for receiving indicia.
37. A method of manufacturing a foldable seat having a back support, a seat portion and at least one foldable portion between the back support and the seat portion, the method comprising the steps of: a) cutting a seat blank from a sheet of seat material; b) forming a plurality of fold lines in the seat, wherein at least some of the fold lines define the back support, the seat portion and the at least one foldable portion; and c) printing indicia upon at least one of the back support, the seat portion or the foldable portion.
38. The method of claim 3wherein the step of cutting is preceded by a step of storing a template of the seat in a memory means and using the template for cutting the seat blank.
39. A foldable seat substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.