US20140284970A1 - Chair - Google Patents
Chair Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140284970A1 US20140284970A1 US14/350,237 US201214350237A US2014284970A1 US 20140284970 A1 US20140284970 A1 US 20140284970A1 US 201214350237 A US201214350237 A US 201214350237A US 2014284970 A1 US2014284970 A1 US 2014284970A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- seat
- back rest
- chair
- chair according
- rail
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000036544 posture Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 210000001747 pupil Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 210000000988 bone and bone Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
- A47C1/03294—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
- A47C1/03205—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest having adjustable and lockable inclination
- A47C1/03238—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest having adjustable and lockable inclination by means of peg-and-notch or pawl-and-ratchet mechanism
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
- A47C1/03205—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest having adjustable and lockable inclination
- A47C1/0325—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest having adjustable and lockable inclination by means of clamps or friction locking members
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C3/00—Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats
- A47C3/20—Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C3/00—Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats
- A47C3/20—Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats
- A47C3/34—Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats with pins coacting with holes or bolt-and-nut adjustment
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/36—Support for the head or the back
- A47C7/40—Support for the head or the back for the back
- A47C7/402—Support for the head or the back for the back adjustable in height
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/36—Support for the head or the back
- A47C7/40—Support for the head or the back for the back
- A47C7/405—Support for the head or the back for the back with double backrests
Definitions
- the frame includes a pair of legs, each leg being pivotally connected to a side rail such that the chair can move between an open position and a folded position through the pivotal movement between the legs and the side rails. In the folding position, the seat is folded flat with the rest of the chair and/or the seat back.
- a foldable chair comprises a seat; and a frame for supporting the seat, having a side rail and a leg carried by the side rail, wherein the chair can change between an open position in which the leg is extended and a folded position in which the leg is moved into a retracted position which causes the seat to be moved so as to be substantially flat with the rest of the chair.
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the chair of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the chair of FIG. 1 showing a seat locking device underneath the seat;
- FIG. 4 is a sectional view of part of the locking device in an unlocked position
- FIG. 6 is a front view of the chair of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 7 is a side view of the chair of FIG. 1 in a folded position.
- FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the chair of FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 8 with the seat and the back rest at the highest position.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 8 with the seat and the back rest at the lowest position.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 8 in a folded position.
- the side rails 30 , 40 of opposite side frames are connected by a plurality of support rods 7 , and the base supports 5 are connected by a base rod 8 so as to form the frame which supports the seat 11 and back rest 10 .
- the frame is a rigid structure.
- the seat 11 is linked to the back rest 10 by two runners 17 , one on each side of the chair to form a seat assembly.
- the runners 17 are arranged to be moveable along the first and second side rails 30 , 40 within the channel referred to above.
- the back rest 10 and the seat 11 move accordingly. Since the side rails are inclined with respect to the ground on which the chair stands, the height of the seat 11 changes as the runners move. Owing to the curved shape of the side rails, the horizontal position of the back rest 10 relative to the seat 11 varies as the height of the seat 11 is adjusted.
- the back rest 10 becomes positioned towards the back of the seat 11 .
- the back rest 10 becomes positioned towards the front of the seat 11 .
- This feature accommodates users of different sizes, adapting the relative positions of the seat 11 and back rest according to the user's size.
- the seat 11 is placed in a low position and the back rest 10 is automatically positioned forward to shorten the effective depth of the seat 11 to take account of the user's relatively short upper leg length.
- the seat 11 is raised into a higher position, and the back rest 10 moves back to lengthen the effective seat depth and to allow for the user's longer upper leg length.
- the back rest 10 is connected to the runners 17 via a pivotable connection 23 .
- the seat 11 is arranged so as to be generally level, although it does not have to be parallel with the ground. It does need to be held in its generally level position, and the chair must be arranged to allow for height adjustment. The features which permit this will now be described, primarily with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 .
- the side rail 30 includes a series of fixing elements defining a range of heights of the seat 11 .
- Each fixing element 31 consists of a pair of front and rear fixing points 32 , 34 , as can be seen in FIG. 2 .
- the fixing points are holes having generally horizontal axes oriented transversely of the chair.
- Each pair of fixing points 32 , 34 defines a particular height and angle of the seat 11 .
- the two fixing points in each pair are generally horizontally aligned.
- the underside of the seat 11 carries a locking device 50 comprising a lock housing 12 and a handle 18 .
- the locking device 50 is shown more clearly in FIG. 3 .
- the lock housing 12 contains two sets of link plates, front link plates 19 and rear link plates 22 , fixed on two sets of pivots, respectively. Two sets of bolts are connected to the link plates.
- the front bolts 15 are connected to the front link plates 19 and extend between the front fixing points 32 on the first and second side rails 30 and 40 .
- the rear bolts 14 are connected to the back link plates 22 and extend between the corresponding rear fixing points 34 on the first and second side rails 30 and 40 .
- the two sets of link plates 19 and 22 are linked together by a location bolt 13 which is in turn connected to the handle 18 .
- FIGS. 4 and 5 show the way in which the bolts 14 , 15 engage with the fixing points 32 , 34 .
- the bolts 14 , 15 are tapered at their ends to form a tapered section 35 with a flat end 36 . Where the tapered section meets the full diameter thickness of the bolt, there is a lip.
- the fixing points 32 , 34 are formed by tapered holes with the taper of the same angle as the angle of the tapered section 35 of the bolt.
- the seat guide clamp 37 includes a hole 38 within which the bolt 14 , 15 is moveable, and a slot 39 allowing movement of the seat guide clamp 37 along the side rail 30 .
- the seat guide clamp 37 may form part of the runner 17 .
- the bolt 14 , 15 is moved in the hole 38 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5 in which the tapered section 35 of the bolt 14 , 15 engages with the tapered hole 32 , 34 such that, there is not only a snug fit between the two tapered surfaces, but the flat end 36 of the bolt presses against the opposing face of the slot 39 .
- the fixing elements are in the form of holes and the locking device comprises cylindrical bolts that extend into the holes.
- the fixing elements can take any form as long as the seat can be maintained at an appropriate angle with the ground. Suitable fixing elements are known to those skilled in the art.
- the fixing elements could be in the form of slots and the bolts of the locking device may have a rectangular instead of a cylindrical shape.
- each fixing element of the present invention may consist of any number of fixing points.
- each fixing element may consist of only one fixing point, e.g. in the form of a wide slot that is inclined horizontally such that the seat forms an angle with the ground.
- each fixing element may consist of 3, 4 or more fixing points.
- the front of the seat 11 is lower than the back to form a slight angle with the ground.
- This is achieved by arranging the rear fixing points 34 at a slightly higher position than the corresponding front fixing points 32 .
- the arrangement of the front and rear fixing points may vary depending on the size of the desirable angle of the seat 11 with the ground.
- it may be possible to arrange the seat 11 such that the rear of the seat 11 is lower than the front. This might be achieved by arranging the rear fixing points 34 at a slightly lower position than the corresponding front fixing points 32 .
- the side rails 230 , 240 of opposite side frames are connected by two support rods 207 , and the legs 250 and 260 are connected by a base rod 208 so as to form the frame which supports the seat 211 and back rest 210 .
- the frame is a rigid structure.
- the back rest 210 is connected to the runners 217 via a pair of cam arms 220 , one on each side of the back rest 210 .
- the cam arms 220 are pivotally attached to both the runners 217 (at 221 ) and the back rest 210 (at 222 ).
- the cam arms 220 where they connect to the runners 217 , include a connection point 221 . They also include a cam follower 223 such that, as the cam follower is twisted, the cam arm 220 is angularly moved so as to reposition the back rest 210 .
- Each of the side rails 230 and 240 has a cam guide slot 224 .
- the cam follower 223 is moveable along the cam guide slot 224 .
- the bottom ends of the cam guide slot 224 is shaped such that the cam arm points rearwards and downwards, as is shown in FIG. 11 .
- the top of the cam guide slot is shaped so that the cam arm 220 points generally upwards and rearwards, as shown in FIG. 10 .
- the movement of the cam follower 223 along the cam guide slot 224 causes the cam arm 220 to pivot about the pivot point 221 .
- the pivotal movement between the cam arm 220 and the runner 217 changes the orientation of the cam arm 220 .
- This in turn moves the back rest 210 towards the back or the front of the seat 211 , and changes its height.
- the back rest 210 can freely pivot about the pivot points 222 , it typically adopts a substantially vertical position since its axis of pivot is above its centre of mass
- the seat 211 is arranged so as to be generally level, although it does not have to be parallel with the ground.
- the features that permit the seat 211 to be held in its generally level position, whilst allowing height adjustment, are similar to those described in the first embodiment.
- the front and rear fixing points 232 are positioned on the side rails 230 and 240
- the rear fixing points 234 are positioned on the rear support plates 270 , as can be seen in FIG. 9 .
- the front and rear fixing points 232 and 234 together define a range of heights of the seat 211 and each pair of fixing points 232 , 234 defines a particular height of the seat 211 .
- the two fixing points in each pair are either horizontally aligned or are of similar heights so that the seat is positioned horizontally, or slightly inclined or reclined. Similar to the previous embodiments, the front of the seat 211 is lower than the back thereof to form a slight angle with the ground.
- the chairs 100 and 200 can be made of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic and aluminium.
- the various components of the chairs may be made of the same material, which enables ease of manufacture.
- the various components may be made of different materials.
- the frame components e.g. the side rails, upright support, base support, legs and rear support plates
- the seat and the back rest may be made of plastics material, or upholstered with fabrics for comfort.
- the chairs are entirely made of plastics such that they are light in weight and cheap and easy to manufacture to allow mass production.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Dentistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chairs For Special Purposes, Such As Reclining Chairs (AREA)
- Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
- Chairs Characterized By Structure (AREA)
Abstract
A chair includes a seat, a back rest, a frame having a curved rail, and a runner moveable along the rail. The seat and back rest are carried by the runner such that the seat and back rest can be moved together along the rail, and the position of the back rest relative to the seat changes in a horizontal direction as the seat and the back rest move along the rail. Additionally, the height-adjustable seat can be folded.
Description
- The present invention relates to a chair in which the height of the seat is adjustable.
- Chairs used by pupils and students in schools usually consist of a metal frame having a fixed size with no adjustability. Since such chairs are used by pupils/students of various statures and sometimes very different bodily characteristics, such chairs will support the optimal posture of only a few individual users. Such chairs will be incorrectly sized for many, if not most, of them. This problem is more prominent in primary schools since a substantial amount of growth occurs between ages of 5 and 11. At primary schools, the pupils will be at different stages of growth and have very different physiques to one another. During the physical development of a child, incorrect postures can have serious consequences on bone structure and body development.
- The present invention seeks to overcome such problems by providing a chair which can easily be adapted to the physique of the users, whilst improving the posture of each user.
- According to a first aspect of the present invention, a chair comprises a seat, a back rest and a frame having a curved rail; and a runner moveable along the rail; wherein the seat and back rest are carried by the runner such that the seat and the back rest can be moved together along the rail, and the position of the back rest relative to the seat changes in a horizontal direction as the seat and the back rest move along the rail. Raising and lowering the seat in this case has the effect of automatically adjusting the position of the back rest to take account of the body size of the person using the chair.
- Preferably, the rail is constituted by a pair of convex side rails. This permits the seat and the back rest to be supported on two sides.
- Preferably, the back rest is moveable along a track defined in the rail, and it is further advantageous for the track to be shaped such that the bottom of the track is positioned towards the front of the chair, and the top of the track is positioned towards the back of the chair, thus making the automatic adjustment of the relative positions of the seat and the back rest, depending on the size of the person using the chair.
- Preferably the back rest is pivotally attached to a connecting means, and the connecting means is moveable along the track in the rail. This gives a convenient and efficient structure to the chair. The connecting means may be angularly moveable to change the position of the back rest relative to the seat in a horizontal direction as the seat and back rest move along the rail. This might be achieved by shaping the tracks so as to cause the connecting means to move angularly as it travels along the rails to give additional adjustment of the position of the seat back relative to the seat.
- The chair may include a set of fixing elements defining a range of heights at which the seat may be fixed, and a locking device may be included which engages with the set of fixing elements to lock the seat in any one of a plurality of positions along the rail. The locking device preferably includes a tapered bolt, and the fixing elements include tapered holes into which the bolt fits. This permits a very rigid and secure locking of the seat which not only reduces the possibility of the seat twisting, but also rigidifies the entire chair. The locking device may include a locking body which houses the locking device and the fixing element at the point at which they engage.
- It is also advantageous for the chair to be able to fold for storage, and so it is preferred that the frame further comprises a pair of legs, each leg being pivotally connected to one side rail such that the chair can move between an open position and a folded position through pivotal movement between the legs and the side rails. Advantageously it is arranged such that, moving the chair into the folded position brings the seat into a position where it is generally flat with respect to the back rest and/or with respect to the rest of the chair.
- The chair may further comprise upright supports and base supports arranged such that each side rail is connected to both an upright support and a base support. Each side rail and its associated upright support and base support may form a substantially triangular shape when the chair is in an open position, the upright supports may include a track, and the base supports may include a guide moveable along the track such that the chair can move between the open position and the folded position through the movement of the guides along the tracks.
- According to a second aspect of the invention, a chair comprises a seat a frame having a pair of side rails between which the seat is supported, and a series of fixing elements on each side of the frame defining a range of heights of the seat; and a locking device mounted on the seat and arranged to engage with the fixing elements to lock the seat at any one of a number of heights corresponding to the position of the fixing elements on each side of the frames. The adjustability of the height of the chair is important since it must be easy for a person to adjust the height of the seat that he is sitting on to optimise the person's posture.
- Preferably, each fixing element includes a fixing point. The locking device preferably includes a tapered bolt, and the fixing elements include tapered holes into which the bolt fits. This permits a very rigid and secure locking of the seat which not only reduces the possibility of the seat twisting, but also rigidifies the entire chair. The locking device may include a locking body which houses the locking device and the fixing element at the point at which they engage.
- The locking device may include a handle and a set of bolts extending between a fixing point on the first side rail and a corresponding fixing point on the second side rail, wherein the handle allows the bolts to be extended into or retracted from the fixing points. In this way, secure locking is achieved. The bolts may be connected to the handle via linking plates.
- Preferably, the frame includes a pair of legs, each leg being pivotally connected to a side rail such that the chair can move between an open position and a folded position through the pivotal movement between the legs and the side rails. In the folding position, the seat is folded flat with the rest of the chair and/or the seat back.
- The fixing element and the locking device may be arranged to fix the angle of the seat relative to the ground, either horizontally or at a predetermined angle with respect to the ground. Advantageously, the fixing elements are provided on the side rail, although in another embodiment, one is positioned on the side rail, and the other on a support attached to the legs.
- Preferably, the chair includes a back rest, and in one embodiment, runners are included which connect the seat to the back rest and are moveable along the side rails. In such a case, the horizontal position of the back rest relative to the seat may change as the height of the seat is adjusted. This is achieved in the embodiments of this invention by having first and second side rails which are curved.
- According to a third aspect of the present invention, a foldable chair comprises a seat; and a frame for supporting the seat, having a side rail and a leg carried by the side rail, wherein the chair can change between an open position in which the leg is extended and a folded position in which the leg is moved into a retracted position which causes the seat to be moved so as to be substantially flat with the rest of the chair.
- The side rail and the leg may constitute a side frame, and the frame may include two side frames between which the seat and the back rest are supported. Advantageously, the height of the seat is adjustable, and the seat will fold flat regardless of the height at which the seat is locked.
- As with earlier embodiments, the frame may include a series of fixing elements on each side of the frame defining a range of heights of the seat.
- According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a chair comprises a back rest; a seat; and a frame having a pair of side rails between which the seat and the back rest is supported, wherein the back rest is pivotally attached to the frame by a back rest support member, which is moveable along the side rails, such that the back rest support member is arranged to change the position of the back rest relative to the seat in a horizontal direction. This permits adjustment of the back rest with respect to the seat as the seat is raised and lowered. This feature may be included in addition to the adjustment of the back rest set out in the first, second and third aspects of the present invention.
- The back rest support member may be angularly moveable so that, as the position of the seat is changed, the back rest support member angularly moves to change the position of the back rest relative to the seat in a horizontal direction. The side rails may further include tracks along which the back rest support member is moveable, the tracks being shaped so as to cause the back rest support member to move angularly as it travels along the rails.
- The invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the following Figures.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair according to a first embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a side view of the chair ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the chair ofFIG. 1 showing a seat locking device underneath the seat; -
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of part of the locking device in an unlocked position; -
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the part of the locking device shown inFIG. 4 , but in a locked position; -
FIG. 6 is a front view of the chair ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 7 is a side view of the chair ofFIG. 1 in a folded position. -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a chair according to a second embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the chair ofFIG. 8 . -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the chair ofFIG. 8 with the seat and the back rest at the highest position. -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the chair ofFIG. 8 with the seat and the back rest at the lowest position. -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the chair ofFIG. 8 in a folded position. -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of part of the chair ofFIG. 8 . - A first illustrative embodiment of a
chair 100 is shown inFIGS. 1 to 7 and comprises aback rest 10, aseat 11 and a frame which carries theseat 11 and theback rest 10. - The frame includes a
first side rail 30, asecond side rail 40, a pair of upright supports 4 and a pair of base supports 5. The side rails 30, 40 are convexly curved and include a channel along a substantial part of its length. Each of the side rails 30, 40 is connected to one of the upright supports 4 and to one of the base supports 5 to form harp-shaped side frames that are substantially triangular. The connection between the side rails 30, 40 and the correspondingupright support 4, and between the side rails 30,40 and thecorresponding base support 5 are pivotable connections, and the connection between the upright and base supports 4, 5 is releasable so that the side frames can be folded as is shown inFIG. 7 . - The
upright support 4 has a track along a substantial part of its length, in this case formed by theupright support 4 having an I- or C-shaped cross-section, and the end of thebase support 5 is connected to theupright support 4 via aguide 6, which engages with and is movable along the track of theupright support 4. The movement of theguide 6 along therail 4 towards theside rail chair 100 adopts a substantially flat configuration (FIG. 7 ) which allows stacking of the chairs for easy storage. As will be appreciated, the substantially flat configuration may be curved owing to the curved nature of the first and second side rails 30 and 40. Nevertheless, the different components of the chair are substantially aligned in the fully folded position so that the chairs can be stacked one on top of one another. - In this embodiment, when the chair is in the open position, the
guide 6 is not locked into position because the weight of a person sitting in the chair and the concave curve to the upright support will not permit it to fold. However, a lock can be included to ensure that the chair does not fold unexpectedly. - The side rails 30, 40 of opposite side frames are connected by a plurality of
support rods 7, and the base supports 5 are connected by abase rod 8 so as to form the frame which supports theseat 11 and backrest 10. Once assembled and in the open position, the frame is a rigid structure. - The
seat 11 is linked to theback rest 10 by tworunners 17, one on each side of the chair to form a seat assembly. Therunners 17 are arranged to be moveable along the first and second side rails 30, 40 within the channel referred to above. As therunners 17 move along the first and second side rails, theback rest 10 and theseat 11 move accordingly. Since the side rails are inclined with respect to the ground on which the chair stands, the height of theseat 11 changes as the runners move. Owing to the curved shape of the side rails, the horizontal position of theback rest 10 relative to theseat 11 varies as the height of theseat 11 is adjusted. In particular, as the height of theseat 11 increases by moving therunners 17 towards the top of the side rails 30 and 40, theback rest 10 becomes positioned towards the back of theseat 11. As therunners 17 are moved towards the bottom of the side rails to lower the height of theseat 11, theback rest 10 becomes positioned towards the front of theseat 11. This feature accommodates users of different sizes, adapting the relative positions of theseat 11 and back rest according to the user's size. Thus, if a small child uses the chair, theseat 11 is placed in a low position and theback rest 10 is automatically positioned forward to shorten the effective depth of theseat 11 to take account of the user's relatively short upper leg length. When a large child subsequently uses the chair, theseat 11 is raised into a higher position, and theback rest 10 moves back to lengthen the effective seat depth and to allow for the user's longer upper leg length. - The
back rest 10 is connected to therunners 17 via apivotable connection 23. Theseat 11 is arranged so as to be generally level, although it does not have to be parallel with the ground. It does need to be held in its generally level position, and the chair must be arranged to allow for height adjustment. The features which permit this will now be described, primarily with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3 . Theside rail 30 includes a series of fixing elements defining a range of heights of theseat 11. Each fixing element 31 consists of a pair of front and rear fixing points 32, 34, as can be seen inFIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the fixing points are holes having generally horizontal axes oriented transversely of the chair. Each pair of fixingpoints seat 11. The two fixing points in each pair are generally horizontally aligned. - The underside of the
seat 11 carries alocking device 50 comprising alock housing 12 and ahandle 18. The lockingdevice 50 is shown more clearly inFIG. 3 . Thelock housing 12 contains two sets of link plates,front link plates 19 andrear link plates 22, fixed on two sets of pivots, respectively. Two sets of bolts are connected to the link plates. Thefront bolts 15 are connected to thefront link plates 19 and extend between the front fixing points 32 on the first and second side rails 30 and 40. Therear bolts 14 are connected to theback link plates 22 and extend between the corresponding rear fixing points 34 on the first and second side rails 30 and 40. The two sets oflink plates handle 18. When thehandle 18 is pulled outwardly from thelock housing 12, the location bolt 13 is pulled towards the front of theseat 11, which in turn pulls the two sets oflink plates link plates rear bolts handle 18 is pushed back, which moves the location bolt 13 and thus thelink plates link plates rear bolts seat 11 in position. -
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the way in which thebolts bolts section 35 with aflat end 36. Where the tapered section meets the full diameter thickness of the bolt, there is a lip. The fixing points 32, 34 are formed by tapered holes with the taper of the same angle as the angle of the taperedsection 35 of the bolt. - Engagement of the
bolt side rail 30 where the fixing points are located occurs within aseat guide clamp 37. Theseat guide clamp 37 includes ahole 38 within which thebolt slot 39 allowing movement of theseat guide clamp 37 along theside rail 30. Theseat guide clamp 37 may form part of therunner 17. - Once the
seat 11 has been moved into the right position thebolt hole 38 from the position shown inFIG. 4 to the position shown inFIG. 5 in which the taperedsection 35 of thebolt hole flat end 36 of the bolt presses against the opposing face of theslot 39. This effectively causes the entire structure to become locked up, not only preventing the seat from being moved up and down, but also preventing the seat from twisting. A significant amount of rigidity in the structure of the chair is achieved through this arrangement. - As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, instead of using the handle, link plates and location bolt arrangement, the locking device may use a different mechanism to move the bolts into and out of the fixing points.
- In this particular embodiment, the fixing elements are in the form of holes and the locking device comprises cylindrical bolts that extend into the holes. However, the fixing elements can take any form as long as the seat can be maintained at an appropriate angle with the ground. Suitable fixing elements are known to those skilled in the art. For example, the fixing elements could be in the form of slots and the bolts of the locking device may have a rectangular instead of a cylindrical shape. In addition, each fixing element of the present invention may consist of any number of fixing points. For example, each fixing element may consist of only one fixing point, e.g. in the form of a wide slot that is inclined horizontally such that the seat forms an angle with the ground. Alternatively, each fixing element may consist of 3, 4 or more fixing points.
- As shown in this particular embodiment, the front of the
seat 11 is lower than the back to form a slight angle with the ground. This is achieved by arranging the rear fixing points 34 at a slightly higher position than the corresponding front fixing points 32. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the arrangement of the front and rear fixing points may vary depending on the size of the desirable angle of theseat 11 with the ground. Alternatively, it may be possible to arrange theseat 11 such that the rear of theseat 11 is lower than the front. This might be achieved by arranging the rear fixing points 34 at a slightly lower position than the corresponding front fixing points 32. - When in the folded position, the
seat 11 may be disengaged from the fixing elements 31 by pulling thehandle 18 and orienting the seat to a position such that it is substantially flat with theback rest 10. - A second illustrative embodiment of a chair 200 is shown in
FIGS. 8 to 12 and comprises aback rest 210, aseat 211 and a frame which carries theseat 211 and theback rest 210. Many of the features of the second embodiment are the same as in the first embodiment, and it is to be understood that those features may be described in more detail with respect to the first embodiment than the second, but apply equally to the second embodiment. - The frame includes a
first side rail 230, asecond side rail 240 and a pair oflegs 250 and 260 pivotally connected to the first and second side rails 230 and 240, respectively. Thepivotal connections FIG. 12 , and are spaced away from the ends of the side rails (230, 240) about one third of the way from the top of them. The side rails 230, 240 are convexly curved and include channels along a substantial part of their lengths. - Each of the
legs 250 and 260 has a linkingplate rear support plate seat 211. Each of therear support plates track plates tracks - When the legs of the chair (250, 260) are in the fully open position, the linking
plates tracks legs 250 and 260 are moved towards a closed position against the side rails 230 and 240, the linkingplates tracks seat 211 such that it adopts a substantially flat configuration (FIG. 12 ). - When the chair is opened, the length of the
tracks legs 250 and 260 and the side rails 230 and 240. Further movement of thelegs 250 and 260 away from the side rails 230 and 240 is prevented by the linkingplates tracks legs 250 and 260 towards the side rails 230 and 240 (i.e. folding of the chair) is prevented by the weight of a person sitting in the chair and the spacing between the legs and the side rails. In other embodiments, a lock may be included to ensure that the chair does not fold unexpectedly. - The side rails 230, 240 of opposite side frames are connected by two
support rods 207, and thelegs 250 and 260 are connected by abase rod 208 so as to form the frame which supports theseat 211 andback rest 210. Once assembled and in the open position, the frame is a rigid structure. - The
seat 211 is linked to theback rest 210 by tworunners 217, one on each side of the chair to form a seat assembly. Therunners 217 are arranged to be moveable along the first and second side rails 230, 240 within the channel referred to above. As therunners 217 move along the first and second side rails, theback rest 210 and theseat 211 move accordingly. Owing to the curved shape of the side rails 230 and 240, as the height of theseat 211 changes, the horizontal position of theback rest 210 relative to theseat 211 varies in a similar way as explained in the previous embodiment. - Additional movement of the horizontal position of the
back rest 210 relative to theseat 211 is provided in this embodiment. Theback rest 210 is connected to therunners 217 via a pair ofcam arms 220, one on each side of theback rest 210. Thecam arms 220 are pivotally attached to both the runners 217 (at 221) and the back rest 210 (at 222). Thecam arms 220, where they connect to therunners 217, include aconnection point 221. They also include acam follower 223 such that, as the cam follower is twisted, thecam arm 220 is angularly moved so as to reposition theback rest 210. Each of the side rails 230 and 240 has acam guide slot 224. Thecam follower 223 is moveable along thecam guide slot 224. The bottom ends of thecam guide slot 224 is shaped such that the cam arm points rearwards and downwards, as is shown inFIG. 11 . The top of the cam guide slot is shaped so that thecam arm 220 points generally upwards and rearwards, as shown inFIG. 10 . The movement of thecam follower 223 along thecam guide slot 224 causes thecam arm 220 to pivot about thepivot point 221. The pivotal movement between thecam arm 220 and therunner 217 changes the orientation of thecam arm 220. This in turn moves theback rest 210 towards the back or the front of theseat 211, and changes its height. Although theback rest 210 can freely pivot about the pivot points 222, it typically adopts a substantially vertical position since its axis of pivot is above its centre of mass - The
seat 211 is arranged so as to be generally level, although it does not have to be parallel with the ground. The features that permit theseat 211 to be held in its generally level position, whilst allowing height adjustment, are similar to those described in the first embodiment. However, instead of having both the front and rear fixing points on the side rails, only the front fixing points 232 are positioned on the side rails 230 and 240, and the rear fixing points 234 are positioned on therear support plates 270, as can be seen inFIG. 9 . Nevertheless, just as in the previous embodiment, the front and rear fixing points 232 and 234 together define a range of heights of theseat 211 and each pair of fixingpoints seat 211. The two fixing points in each pair are either horizontally aligned or are of similar heights so that the seat is positioned horizontally, or slightly inclined or reclined. Similar to the previous embodiments, the front of theseat 211 is lower than the back thereof to form a slight angle with the ground. - The
locking device 250 on the underside of the chair 200 is substantially the same as the lockingdevice 50 in the previous embodiment, and is not described again here. - In this particular embodiment, owing to the presence of the linking
plates tracks rear support plates seat 211 from the fixingpoints - The
chairs 100 and 200 can be made of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic and aluminium. In addition, the various components of the chairs may be made of the same material, which enables ease of manufacture. Alternatively, the various components may be made of different materials. For example, the frame components (e.g. the side rails, upright support, base support, legs and rear support plates) may be made of one material, such as steel, and the seat and the back rest may be made of plastics material, or upholstered with fabrics for comfort. In a preferred embodiment, the chairs are entirely made of plastics such that they are light in weight and cheap and easy to manufacture to allow mass production.
Claims (30)
1. A chair comprising:
a seat;
a back rest;
a frame having a curved rail; and
a runner moveable along the rail; and
the seat and back rest arc being carried by the runner such that the seat and the back rest can be moved together along the rail, and the position of the back rest relative to the seat changes in a horizontal direction as the seat and the back rest move along the rail.
2. A chair according to claim 1 , wherein movement of the seat and back rest up the rail increases the height of the seat and changes the position of the back rest rearwardly towards the back of the seat.
3. A chair according to claim 1 , wherein the rail is a pair of convex side rails.
4. A chair according to claims 1 , wherein the back rest is moveable along a track defined in the rail.
5. A chair according to claim 4 , wherein the track is shaped such that the bottom of the track is positioned towards the front of the chair and the top of the track is positioned towards the back of the chair.
6. A chair according to claim 4 , wherein the back rest is pivotally attached to a connecting means, and wherein the connecting means is moveable along the track in the rail.
7. A chair according to claim 6 , wherein the connecting means is angularly moveable to change the position of the back rest relative to the seat in a horizontal direction as the seat and the back rest move along the rail.
8. A chair according to claim 7 , wherein the tracks are shaped so as to cause the connecting means to move angularly as it travels along the rails.
9. A chair according to claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a set of fixing elements defining a range of heights at which the seat may be fixed.
10. A chair according to claim 9 , further comprising a locking device, wherein the locking device engages with the set of fixing elements to lock the seat in any one of a plurality of positions along the rail.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. A chair according to claim 3 , wherein the frame further comprises a pair of legs, each leg being pivotally connected to one side rail, such that the chair can move between an open position and a folded position through the pivotal movement between the legs and the side rails.
14. A chair according to claim 13 , wherein moving the chair into the folded position brings the seat into a position where it is generally flat with respect to the back rest.
15-32. (canceled)
33. A foldable chair comprising
a seat;
a frame for supporting the seat, having a side rail and a leg carried by the side rail;
the chair is being arranged to change between an open position in which the leg is extended and a folded position in which the leg is moved into a retracted position which causes the seat to be moved so as to be substantially flat with the rest of the chair.
34. A foldable chair according to claim 33 , further comprising a back rest, and wherein, when the chair is moved to its folded position, the seat is moved to be substantially flat with respect to the back rest.
35. A chair according to claim 33 , wherein the side rail and the leg constitute a side frame, and the frame includes two side frames between which the seat and the back rest are supported.
36. A chair according to claim 33 , wherein the height of the seat is adjustable.
37. A chair according to claim 36 , wherein the frame includes a series of fixing elements on each side of the frame defining a range of heights of the seat.
38. A chair according to claim 34 , further comprising a locking device mounted on the seat and arranged to engage with the fixing elements to lock the seat at any one of a number of heights corresponding to the position of the fixing elements on each side of the frame.
39. A chair according to claim 34 , wherein the frame further comprises a seat support member connected to the seat and the leg.
40. A chair according to claim 39 , wherein the leg is moveable along a track defined in the seat support member.
41. A chair according to claim 37 , wherein each fixing element includes a fixing point.
42. A chair according to claim 37 , wherein the fixing elements are on located on the support means.
43. A chair according to claim 37 , wherein each fixing element includes a pair of fixing points horizontally aligned to fix the seat at a predetermined angle with the ground.
44. A chair according to claim 43 , wherein one of the pair of fixing points is located on the seat support member.
45. A chair comprising:
a back rest;
a seat;
a frame having a pair of side rails between which the seat and the back rest is supported; and
the back rest being pivotally attached to the frame by a back rest support member, which is moveable along the side rails, such that the back rest support member is arranged to change the position of the back rest relative to the seat in a horizontal direction.
46. A chair according to claim 45 , wherein the back rest support member is angularly moveable so that, as the position of the seat is changed, the back rest support member angularly moves to change the position of the back rest relative to the seat in a horizontal direction.
47. A chair according to claim 45 , wherein the side rails include tracks along which the back rest support member is moveable, the tracks being shaped so as to cause the back rest support member to move angularly as it travels along the rails.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1117357.2A GB2495488A (en) | 2011-10-07 | 2011-10-07 | Chair with seat depth and seat height adjustment |
GB1117357.2 | 2011-10-07 | ||
PCT/GB2012/052491 WO2013050789A1 (en) | 2011-10-07 | 2012-10-08 | Chair |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20140284970A1 true US20140284970A1 (en) | 2014-09-25 |
Family
ID=45091716
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/350,237 Abandoned US20140284970A1 (en) | 2011-10-07 | 2012-10-08 | Chair |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20140284970A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2763570A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2014528311A (en) |
CN (1) | CN104053381A (en) |
GB (1) | GB2495488A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013050789A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8926008B1 (en) * | 2014-08-26 | 2015-01-06 | Khaled Jafar Al-Hasan | Portable folding chair |
Family Cites Families (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE7324322U (en) * | 1975-05-22 | Schlapp F Ohg | Children's chair with adjustable seat height, seat depth and backrest | |
US2479175A (en) * | 1946-08-10 | 1949-08-16 | Reconstruction Finance Corp | Reclining chair |
JPS4995756A (en) * | 1972-11-30 | 1974-09-11 | ||
CN87207416U (en) * | 1987-08-20 | 1988-09-14 | 周道恩 | Stepless lift folding chair with self locking |
DE3844102A1 (en) * | 1988-12-28 | 1990-07-05 | Sondergeld Horst Dipl Designer | SEAT FOR AN OFFICE CHAIR OD. DGL. |
DE19502485C2 (en) * | 1995-01-27 | 1999-09-16 | Fus Rainer | chair |
DE19504542B4 (en) * | 1995-02-11 | 2006-11-02 | Moll System- und Funktions-Möbel GmbH | chair |
DE19505335C2 (en) * | 1995-02-17 | 1997-07-03 | Hohenloher Spezialmoebel | Chair, especially school chair |
FR2751186B3 (en) * | 1996-07-18 | 1998-06-12 | Marga Srl | FOLDING LOUNGE CHAIR |
JP2001046171A (en) * | 2000-01-01 | 2001-02-20 | Takano Co Ltd | Chair |
CN2437213Y (en) * | 2000-08-31 | 2001-07-04 | 侯思焓 | Adjustable table and seat |
DE10257177A1 (en) * | 2001-12-06 | 2003-06-18 | Fuss Rainer | Chair adaptable between sitting and standing positions has support part with foot, back guide curve along which runs back seat section, with link and lever |
CN201076229Y (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2008-06-25 | 李树桐 | Multifunction chair |
JP5420861B2 (en) * | 2008-06-13 | 2014-02-19 | カリモク家具株式会社 | Chair |
-
2011
- 2011-10-07 GB GB1117357.2A patent/GB2495488A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2012
- 2012-10-08 US US14/350,237 patent/US20140284970A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-10-08 WO PCT/GB2012/052491 patent/WO2013050789A1/en active Application Filing
- 2012-10-08 JP JP2014533993A patent/JP2014528311A/en active Pending
- 2012-10-08 CN CN201280060138.XA patent/CN104053381A/en active Pending
- 2012-10-08 EP EP12773359.0A patent/EP2763570A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8926008B1 (en) * | 2014-08-26 | 2015-01-06 | Khaled Jafar Al-Hasan | Portable folding chair |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2495488A (en) | 2013-04-17 |
CN104053381A (en) | 2014-09-17 |
EP2763570A1 (en) | 2014-08-13 |
JP2014528311A (en) | 2014-10-27 |
WO2013050789A1 (en) | 2013-04-11 |
GB201117357D0 (en) | 2011-11-23 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: RADCLYFFE FURNITURE LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:RADCLYFFE, SIMON;REEL/FRAME:032629/0300 Effective date: 20140407 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |