US2876828A

US2876828A - Knock down chair and stool assemblies

Info

Publication number: US2876828A
Application number: US493277A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mayer Nathan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-03-09
Filing date: 1955-03-09
Publication date: 1959-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-10

Description

N. MAYER KNOCK DOWN CHAIR AND STOOL ASSEMBLIES Filed March 9, 1955 Marchv 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 444%52 BY z 5 I 4770241;

March 10, 1959 KNOCK DOWN CHAIR AND STOOL ASSEMBLIES Filed March 9,1955

2: Shgt-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 4422/4 /1/47E/.

Arra 6 1167 5 MAYER I 2,876,828

2,876,828 KNOCK DOWN CHAIR AND STOOL ASSEMBLIES Nathan Mayer, New York, N. Y. Application March 9, 1955, Serial No. 493,277 Claims. (Cl. 155-196) The present invention relates to, the manufacture of prefabricated furniture, and in particular to knock down or collapsible units which may be assembled into chairs, benches, stools and similar articles of furniture. This is a continuation-in-part of my earlier filed application Serial No. 464,749, filed October 26, 1954.

Many advantages may be attributed to the use of prefabricating techniques in the manufacture of various articles of furniture. For example, in the construction of a stool, it is known to assemble a stool or body with legs and a back by the use of nuts and bolts, and similar attachment fixtures. To facilitate such assembly, manufacturers frequently package appropriate tools with the prefabricated parts, which tools are employed in making the required mechanical connections. Whether supplied by the manufacturer or not, the need for such tools, and/or the need for separate fixtures in achieving assembly, generally detracts from saleability. It is not infrequent that the assembly fixtures and parts get lost or the consumer experiences difliculty in effecting even the most simple mechanical assembly operation. Thus, as a practical matter, the use of separate fixtures or tools detracts from saleability, and utter simplicity must be the keynote for widespread consumer acceptance.

It is broadly an object of the present invention to provide a prefabricated furniture assembly technique particularly suitable for the assembly of stools, chairs and the like. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to providea knockdown stool assembly which is integrally constructed and arranged such that assembly is achieved simply, with ordinary skill, and without the need for separate attachment fixtures and assembly tools.

1 It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a knockdown stool construction which, when as sembled, exhibits mechanical strength and rigidity and is compatible with ornamental and aesthetic requirements.

It is a still further object of the present invention toprovide assembly techniques suitable for the prefabricationof stools with or without a back rest. To advantage, a back rest may be unit, and as desired by the consumer, either assembled to provide a stool with a back, or left out of the assembly to provide a backless stool.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the present invention as applied to the manufacture of a prefabricated stool, there is provided a stool top, a pair of attachment brackets secured to or integral with the undersurfaceof the stool top, a back section including arms received within respective channels of the attachment brackets, a pair of leg sections, and cooperating means on the attachment bracket and on each of theleg sections for releasably securing the leg sections to the stool in an assembled position. The leg sections in the assembled position are arranged to confine the supporting arms of the back section in the channels. such that the back section is fixed in relation provided with the prefabricated leg section 14 is engagedpver andabout thekeeper bar or withoutthe back section,

2,876,828 Patented Mar. 112,195?

sections are provided with to the stool top. The leg means which are operative to lock the cooperating means against release and to secure the leg sections in the desired assembled position.

To advantage, the stool top and the leg sections, with may be packaged as a unit for shipment in knockdown condition. The unit may then be assembled by the consumer by comparatively simple manual manipulation, not involving the use of separate fixtures or tools.

The above brief description, features and advantages of the present invention will be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative form of the invention, when taken in con: junction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a knock down stool assembly demonstrating features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stool top and leg sections of Fig. 1, when assembled, the optional back rest being shown by dot-dash lines;

Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective view showing the leg sections partially assembled with the stool top;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the stool, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing the cooperation be. tween the attachment brackets or channels on the undersurface of the stool top, the leg sections, and the supporting arms of the back section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view with parts broken away and sectioned, showing the cooperation between the brackets or channels on the undersurface of the stool with the respective leg sections when the back section is removed; and,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

as well as further objects,

Referring now specifically to Fig. 1, there is shown in exploded perspective view,

a multiple-part stool assembly 10 which includes a top or seat section 12,

leg sections

14, 16, a back section'w18, and attachment brackets or

channel members

20, 22. The individual components of the stool assembly may be fabricated of any appropriate materials. For example,'the stool seat or top 12 may be made of wood or metal, with or without a padded cover; the leg and

back sections

14, 16, 18 may be made of wrought iron with appropriate welds; and the channel members may be made of bent sheet metal.

In the illustrative embodiment, the top or seat section 12, is illustrated as a circular metal plate 24 having an integral depending annular skirt 26. bers or

attachment brackets

20, 22 undersurface of the plate in spaced rivets, screws or welds.

are secured to the parallel relation by The

leg sections

14, 16 are substantially similar in construction and are interchangeable in the assembly. Specifically, the leg section 14 includes

legs

28, 30, joined together adjacent to the upper ends by a transverse cross bar 32. The

legs

28, 30 are formed with offset secure-'

ment parts

34, 36, each of which terminates in a hooked

e'nd

34a, 36a. The lower end of the

legs

28, 30 are formed with reverse

bends providing feet

38, 40, the

feet

38, 40 being joined together by an integral locking mema hook-shape catch member 42a. The

ber 42 including leg section 16 is its locking member 42' is In the assembled position,

similar to the leg section 14, except that the catch member 42a of the The channel menu-- provided with a keeper bar 42 2'.-

42a of the locking member 42, as seen in Fig. 2. The cooperating lock members 42, 42' may serve as afoot rest when joined together and provide integral bracing portions for the leg sections. a

The channel members or securement

brackets

20, 22 are preferably fabricated of bent sheet metal and are completely similar in construction, and thus interchangeable. Accordingly, it is necessary to describe only one of the attachment brackets in detail. Specifically, the attachment bracket or channel member 20 includes opposed and

parallel side walls

44, 46 joined together by a connecting bottom wall or base 48 and formed with end walls 50, S2. The

opposite end walls

50, 52 each have a circular opening 54 serving as bearings for the hooked ends otthe

sccurernent parts

34a, 36a of the leg sections 14, 15. The side wall 46 is cut away adjacent each of the

end walls

50, 52, as indicated by the numeral 56 to provide a seating cutout which n the cross bars 32, when the

leg sections

14, 16 are assembled, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7.

The back section 18 includes a supporting frame 69 of generally L-shaped configuration which carries a back rest 62. The supporting frame includes supporting

arms

64, 66 which are adapted to extend horizontally and be neath the stool body as seen in Fig. 5. The supporting arms 64, .66, each include a shoulder 68 and an abutment part 70, terminating in an upwardly opening hooked end 72. As seen best in Fig. 5, the supporting

arms

64, 66 are proportioned in relation to the

channel members

20, 22 such that the abutment parts 70 lie within the channel member against the base 48 thereof and beneath the cross bars of the right hand leg section 12 with the hooked terminal ends extending about the cross bar of the left hand leg section 14. Thus, the supporting

arms

64, 66 are confined within the channels by the cross bar 52 of the leg section 16.

A typical assembly for joining together the stool top 12 and the

leg sections

14, 16 without the back section 18 will be described in conjunction with Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7 in order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention:

With the stool inverted, the hooked offset

terminal portions

34a, 36a of the

respective leg sections

14, 16 are engaged in the openings .54 in the end walls 52 of the brackets-20, 22, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and the leg sections swung toward each other until the cross bars 32 seat within the respective notches 56 formed on the in ner walls 46 of the

channel members

20, 22. As the assembled position of Fig. 2 is approached, the hooked catch 42a of the lock member 42 is engaged about the keeper member 42a of the lock member 42. It has been found as a practical matter that suflicient rigidity and stability is imparted to the assembly by merely engaging the hooked catch 42a over the keeper 42a due to the elasticity of the metal employed in fabricating the respective leg sections. However, in the event that such gripping and locking of the catch and keeper .is deemed insufiicient, perhaps from the standpoint of safety, it is possible to employ auxiliary locking means of a more permanent nature, for example a screw threaded through aligned holes formed in the cooperating keeper and catch.

The dismantling. operation is equally simple and merely requires the urging of the respective leg sections toward each other such that the releasable locking

parts

42, 42 may be disengaged, followed ,by the removal of the ofiset securement parts from the respective bearing openings 54.

By reference to Figs. 4 and S, a typical assembly operation in which the back section 18 is joined to the body andleg sections of the stool will be described:

a After engagement of the offset securement parts of one of the leg sections in the adjacent bearing openings of the

brackets

20, 22, for example the left hand section 14 of Fig. 3, the'leg section is swung into the final assembled position. Thereupon, the supporting

arms

64, 66 of't'he back rest frame 60'; are disposed within their respective receives end adjacent portions of Y o the pp g a ms 6 6 brackets with the hooked-ends 72 engaged over the cross bar 32 of the assembled leg section 14. Thereupon, the ofiset sccurernent parts of the other leg section 16 are inserted within the opposite end openings into the

brackets

20, 22, and the leg section 16 is swung to the assembled position. As seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the cross bar or brace of the leg section 16 bears against the abutment parts '70 h s confin g the abut ment parts within the respective channels with the shoulders 68 bearing against the end walls 52. Upon engaging the hooked catch 42a over the cooperating keeper bar 42a, the assembly is completed with the supporting

arms

64, 66 of the back section confined within the channel members 20, 22'.

By a consideration of the illustrative embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that there has been provided a knockdown stool assembly, with or without back, which may be assembled ordismantled with equal simplicity. Both the assembly and dismantling operations-do notrequire the use of tools. When once assembled, the several component parts of the stool provide a rattle-proof unit, which for all intents and purposesmay be considered unitary.

Numerous modifications are intended within the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. Accordingly the appended claims should be interpreted in a manner c0nsistent with the disclosures herein, and in certain instances certain features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features.

What I claim is:

1. A knockdown stool assembly including a stool top and leg sections, said leg sections each including offset securement parts extending in opposite directions and being dependingly supported from said stool top in an assembled position, channel members carried on the nndersurface of said stool top, said channel members having end walls formed with openings receiving said securement parts and mounting said leg sections for pivotal movement into said assembled position, said channel members having side walls formed with seating notches engaging portions of said leg sections in said assembled position, the side walls of said channel members being arranged to confine said leg sections against lateral displacement when in said assembled position, and means on said leg sections and engageable in said assembled position for locking said leg sections against movement.

2. A knockdown furniture assembly including a main body, a back section, and leg sections, said leg sections each including offset securement parts extending in opposite directions and being dependingly supported from said main body section in an assembled position, channel members carried on the undersurface of said main body section, said channel members having end walls formed with bearing means receiving said secnrement parts and mounting said leg sections for pivotal movement into said assembled position, said channel members being further formed with seating means engaging portions of said leg sections in said assembled positions, said channel members being arranged to confine said leg sections against lateral displacement when in said assembled position, said back section including supporting arms extending beneath said main body and received in said channel members, and means on said leg sections and engageable in said assembled position for locking said legsections against movement, and means on said leg sections operative in response to the locking of said leg sections against movement and serving to confine said supporting arms of said back section within said channel members.

3. A knockdown stool assembly including a stool top, a pair of channel brackets secured to the undersurface of said stool top, a back section including arms received within said channel brackets, a pair of leg sections, cm

operating means on saidchannel brackets and on each" of said leg sections for releasably securing said leg sections to said stool top in an assembled position, one of said cooperating means on one of said leg sections in said assembled position confining said supporting arms within said channels, and means on said leg sections operative to lock said cooperating means against release and to secure said leg sections in said assembled position.

4. A knockdown stool assembly including a stool top and leg sections each including offset securement parts, and a cross bar extending between said securement parts, said leg sections being dependingly supported from said stool top in an assembled position, channel members carried on the undersurface of said stool top, said channel members being formed with openings receiving said securement parts and mounting said leg sections for pivotal movement into said assembled position, said channel members having side walls formed with seating notches engaging said cross bars of said leg sections in said assembled position, the side walls or" said channel members being arranged to confine said leg sections against lateral displacement when in said assembled position, and means on said leg sections and engageable with each other in said assembled position for locking said leg sections against movement.

5. A knockdown furniture assembly including a main body, a back section, and leg sections, said leg sections each including ofiset securement parts extending in opposite directions and being dependingly supported from said main body section in an assembled position, channel members carried on the under-surface of said main body section, said channel members being formed with bearing means receiving said seeurement parts and mounting said leg sections for pivotal movement into said assembled position, said channel members being arranged to confine said leg sections against lateral displacement when in said assembled position, said back section including supporting arms extending beneath said main body and received in said channel members, and means on said leg sections and engageable in said assembled position for locking said leg sections against movement, and means on said leg sections operative in response to the locking of said leg sections against movement and serving to confine said supporting arms of said back section within said channel members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 644,506 Dromgold Feb. 27, 1900 1,300,861 Otte Apr. 15, 1919 1,480,416 Phol Jan. 8, 1924 1,864,535 Hach et al June 28, 1932 1,997,486 Hallowell Apr. 9, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 237,065 Germany July 20, 1911