GB2465035A

GB2465035A - Fold flat seat formed from a blank of polypropylene sheet

Info

Publication number: GB2465035A
Application number: GB0903267A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Brett Woolfson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-04
Filing date: 2009-02-26
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Also published as: GB0903267D0; GB0820115D0

Abstract

A single blank of polypropylene plastic sheet comprises side panels A,B,C and a seat panel D that can be folded into a seat in a first configuration, and folded and locked into a flat transportation state in a second configuration. In the first configuration, the side panels A,B,C are folded together to form a triangular shaped pillar for the seat panel D. The seat panel D has a handle D4 to allow the seat or folded blank to be carried. A locking flap D3 is used to secure the seat panel D and seat panels A,B,C in the folded flat configuration [see page 2 of Figures]. The panels are joined by living hinges formed by U-shaped channels pressed into the surface of the blank. The panels are secured together in the seat configuration by semi-circular tabs and slots A1-A3, C1-C3.

Description

Page 1

Description

A single body of 2.5mm thick 100% recycled polypropylene sheet designed to be folded into a seat as shown in:-Fig.! in its flat form Fig.2 in its packed form Fig.3 in its constructed form The body of the seat is divided into four folding sections; A,B,C and D as annotated in Fig.!. The folds that have been developed into the body of the seat create a living hinge that enables the stool to be folded into its packed form or constructed form. The living hinge is formed out of a unique U-channel mold pressed into the surface of the body in order to compress a narrow section of the plastic to a thickness designed to enable sections to be folded with ease.

The packed state Section A is folded into the face of Section B, Section C is folded into the face of Section A and Section D is folded down into the face of Section C. Slot D3 out of Section D is the locking flap that can be pushed under tension over the top of Section C and released in order to keep the entire body from releasing itself from its Packed State. Slot D4 is the handle used to carry the body.

The fully constructed form Section A folds and locks into Section C to create the base of the seat and Section D folds and locks into Section A and D in order to create the seat surface.

Section A has been developed with two large partially slotted semi-circular tabs facing down (Al) and one small partially slotted tab facing up(A2) which are designed to push and lock into the slots(C1 and C2) developed out of section C and thereby preventing Section A and C from unlocking and detaching whilst body is folded into its constructed form.

Section A and Section C both have one semi-circular partially slotted tab (A3 and C3) designed to lock into the two slots shown in Section D (Dl and D2). When slot Dl is pushed over tab A3 and when slot D2 is pushed over tab C3 then section D will remain locked in position when body is in its constructed form slot D4 is the handle used to carry the stool.

Claims

Page 2 Claim: 1. A single form cut from a sheet of 100% recycled polypropylene that can be folded into the form of a seat.
2. A series of U-shape channels pressed into the material to create a living hinge enabling the body to be folded.
3. A series of tabs and slots cut into the material enabling the body to remain locked together in its constructed form.
4. A locking mechanism in the form of a shape cut into the material enabling the body to remain locked in its packed form.
5. A slot in the form of a shape cut into the material to create a handle that enables the body to be carried in its packed form and constructed form.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows -SEATCLAI MS1. A seat comprising a plurality of panels, said panels being foldable relative to one another and comprising a seat panel and two or more side panels; wherein the seat further comprises one or more locking formations formed on or in at least one of the seat or side panels for securing the two or more side panels in a constructed position in which the side panels are positioned relative to one another so as to form a base for supporting the seat panel.2. A seat according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of panels are integrally formed.3. A seat according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said two or more side panels comprise a left side panel, a right side panel and a link panel connecting between the left and right side panels and the seat panel; and wherein, when the left and right side panels and the link panel are positioned and secured in their constructed position, they form a triangular base over which said seat panel is foldable into a constructed position for being supported thereby.I * S I * S.4. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more locking formations comprise base locking formations for connecting two of the two or more side panels together for forming the base.5. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more locking formations comprise seat locking formations for connecting the seat panel to one or more of the side panels for securing the seat panel in its constructed position over the base.
6. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein living hinges are provided between adjacent panels of said plurality of panels, the living hinges for permitting said plurality of panels to be foldable between a folded position and the constructed position.
7. A seat according to claim 6, wherein the living hinges are provided as a U-shaped channels for promoting folding there along.
8. A seat according to claim 6, further comprising a folded position locking formation formed in at least one of the seat or side panels for holding the panels in the folded position.
9. A seat according to claim 8, wherein said folded position locking formation comprises a flap cut into one of the seat or side panels, said flap being bendable away from the normal surface of its respective seat or side panel for forming a locking channel, wherein the others of the seat or side panels are positionable inside said locking channel when they are in the folded position and said flap is biassed for retaining the others of the seat or side panels therein. S. * * * S S 5510. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein said one or more locking formations comprise tabs and slots formed in opposing panels, said tabs and slots for locking engagement with one another for connecting opposing panels together when in the constructed position.11. A seat according to claim 10, wherein said tabs comprise slots for inter-engagement with the opposing panel.12. A seat according to any preceding claim, further comprising a handle formed on or in one of the seat or side panels.13. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the two or more side panels are wider along their bottom edges than their top edges.14. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels retains a substantially planar shape when in the constructed position.15. A seat according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat is formed from a plastics material.16. A seat according to claim 15, wherein the seat is formed from polypropylene.17. A seat according to claim 16, wherein the polypropylene is *:: 100% recycled.18. A blank for forming a foldable seat, said blank comprising * a sheet of material divided by fold lines into a plurality of panels, said panels being foldable relative to one another along said fold lines; wherein said plurality of panels comprise a seat panel and two or more side panels, and the blank further comprises one or more locking formations formed on or in at least one of the seat or side panels; and wherein the bank is foldable into a constructed position in which the two or more side panels are positioned relative to one another so as to form a base for supporting the seat panel and are secured by said locking formations. -619. A blank according to claim 19, wherein said fold lines are living hinges.20. A seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.21. A blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * * . I* I * )** * * * I* *. * * S ** S * S..S . I * -. * -.*SS..* *