GB2485981A

GB2485981A - Chair and table height adjustment system using dowel fittings

Info

Publication number: GB2485981A
Application number: GB1020218.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Philip Nethercleft
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-30
Filing date: 2010-11-30
Publication date: 2012-06-06
Also published as: GB201020218D0

Abstract

A frame/panel constructed table and chair with a height adjustment system based on dowel fitted components. A degree of adjustment is achieved by spacing the dowels supporting components, e.g. table top, seat pan, so that an increment of movement is the same as a distance between the dowels. Once the dowels have been fitted in their holes scan fittings or cam fittings are used to secure the components together. The spacing of the holes and dowels is determined by dimensions of the support components, a degree of adjustment required and ergonomic data relating to children between three and nine years of age or adult ergonomic data. The system may be applied to wooden or metal framed chairs or tables.

Description

A frame/panel constructed table and chair with a height adjustment system based on dowel fitted components.

This invention relates to the problem of children outgrowing the tables and chairs they were bought when they were younger or adults who want to adjust the working heights of the table and chair they work at.

The key feature of the design is the adjustment of the height of the table surface in conjunction with a similar adjustment of the height of the seat pan of the chair. These adjustments are achieved using existing technology (dowels and scan/cam fillings) but "the inventive step' lies in the application of this construction method to allow for the adjustment described above.

Ordinary scan fitted components use two or more dowels held in place by a hex headed screw and barrel. Cam fitted components work similarly. There is only one position for the components to be filled in. The scan/cam filled components that allow for height adjustment in the adjustable table and chair I wish to patent fit into one of a choice of positions facilitated by carefully calculated blind and drilled through' holes of different diameters to take both the dowels and the scan screws I cam and posts. The furniture can then be disassembled and reassembled at a new height as the child grows or as the adult requires for their particular needs.

The spacing of the holes and the degree of height adjustment is directly related to ergonomic data of children between the ages of three and nine+ years or a range of male and female adult heights. The framing used in the design could be either wood or metal tubing and the end frames for both the table and chair could be replaced with shaped, solid wooden or composite panels.

The spacing of the holes and dowels can be changed to allow for fine or course height adjustment or to take into account the cross sections of the rails used in any particular construction.

Because the table and chair is adjustable the life of the children's products are considerably extended making them more sustainable than their non -adjustable equivalents.

Tftejeometry of the h,vention.

The degree of adjustment relates to the spacing of the dowels on the supporting components (e.g. for the table top and seat pan) (See Fig 1). In the diagram the increment of movement is the same as the distance between the dowels and up to four increments of movement can be achieved in this example. The dimensions of the support member (related the loading on it, and the materials it is made from) and the design of the specific product the invention is applied to may require more than two dowels to be used. The same increments of height adjustment can be achieved providing the dowels are spaced to the required degree of height adjustment. (See Fig 2.) For support components that require an uneven number of dowels to be used, the securing screw and barrel or cam and post can be located off centre. As the main function of the screw and barrel or cam is pull the vertical and horizontal members together, the stability of the assembly should not be compromised. (See Fig 3)

Claims

Claims 1. A table and chair to accommodate the growth of a child between approximately three and nine years or the specific ergonomic needs of an adult.
2. The adjustment in claim 11$ achieved using dowels in the support components of both the seat pan and the table surface which are located in a choice of holes in the vertical members of the table and chair.
3. The components described in claim 2 are held solidly in place by scan fittings or cam fittings once the height has been decided on and the components located.
4. The spacing of the holes and dowels is determined by the dimensions of the support components, the degree of adjustment required and the ergonomic data relating to children in the age range described or adult male and female ergonomic data.
5. The height adjustment system could be applied to the wooden or metal framed chair and table designs illustrated or to similar designs using solid wooden or composite end panels.