US2893469A

US2893469A - Nesting chair

Info

Publication number: US2893469A
Application number: US569424A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eames Charles; Albinson Don; Dale W Bauer
Original assignee: HERMAN MILLER FURNITURE COMPAN
Current assignee: HERMAN MILLER FURNITURE Co; HERMAN MILLER FURNITURE COMPAN
Priority date: 1956-03-05
Filing date: 1956-03-05
Publication date: 1959-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1976-07-07
Also published as: CA576293A; GB855593A; GB855594A; CA615150A; US2956618A

Description

y 1959 c. EAMES ET AL 2,893,469 NESTING CHAIR Filed March 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fly. 6

INVENTORS, CHARLES EAMES, DON ALBINSON, DALE w. BAUER A TTbR/VE' Y July 7, 1959 c. EAMES ET AL NESTING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1956 INVENTORS, CHARLES EAMES, DON ALBINSON, DALE W. BAUER A 7- %omws Y Uni ed 5W Patent nsert- 9 'NESTING harl s Eam ,ani D0 A bin pn, en and P BauerfLos Angeles, Calif.,-assignors toHermanMiller Fiirnitlire cbmpany, Z'e'fland Mich a corporation of Application March .15, 19156,, e so 569,424 i111 9 3 t l-5 This invention relates jtp furniture construction and more particularly to an improved chair. This invention also .a p pl ies to improved chairs capable of being vertically stacked one on another for storage purposes and which can be joined together in orderly "rows when in use.

The chair of t his'finverition .isfsuitable for public seatfi ng use, such as auditoriums, schools, meeting houses, and churches. ,In such institutional applications it is desirable'to use a large group of chairs Whichcan be temporarily placed and then removed for compact storage. .Chairs suitabletor this use are of numerous types and desi ns. One type :is the folding chair. Another-is adapted to being stacked one on another in vertical columns lwithoutufolding. The stacking type ofchair is preferable overlth'effolding type because, or its comfort.

However stacking chairsh'avenot found ready-acceptance because they lack certain essential features.

One disadvantage lof stacking chairs .is that they are usually heavier than folding chairs because of the structure required to stack themtone:011 another. If the ,strl t1cvture for supporting the chairs "in a vertical stack .is not "sufficientl -y,strongitgwill not; bear the'load of the chairs either too heavy, too cumbersome for stacking vertically,

,1011jIIQLSUfilQiQHtIyjStEQQg for malcing a high vertical stack. *This invention s -rdirected 'torprovidirrg ,a chair whichis compa ativ ly 1 fl h a ad te ;-b i strerigthland stability :forrSI-aCking purposes.

Another object :of this invention is toprovide chairs which can'be'easil-yand temporarily joined together, thus,

v;automatically-.Controlling their alignment and I spacing.

mhai'r havingi a suppqrtingirame constructed of ,a minimn m number of parts, thus being c'apable, of easy vfabrication, eassembly, handling, and replacement of parts.

Still another objectof ,tl-jislinvention fis to'provide a tgconstrution'for chairs permitting the chairs to be loom.-

pact'ly stacked one upon another. The stacks formed by .th ese chairs arerelativelystable, thus reducing the danger 1 o estack s col laps'ingortipping "over.

Answer object o'f this -inve 'n'tio n is to provide chairs having a simple r'riearis' for locking them-together without the use of tools. I

0ther objects of our invention will 'become obvious --u on 1 reading -.the following specification in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l isa n oblique side :elevationabview of the :chair.

Fig. i2 is "a partial, s'side elevational view. of the chair showing the supportingand r locling 'Jstructure.

--Fig. 3 is a 'fragmentary, front, .elevational, sectional view of-zaliooktaken along the plane lII-III of Fig. '2.

Eig. is 'a fragmentary, afront ielevational zsectional viewer "a loop taken along .the zplane iIV-.:I'V of Fig. 6.

v gether at the'top by a crossp'ieice. 'Th eseat of the .the legs are permitted itolpass oneacli' side of the mar The rear leg structure 22 consists of the'two re" 2,893,469 re es ed JR? 7 51959 chairs stacked one upon another. v

Briefly, this inventionconeerris 'chair construet construction is simple including identical ofit leg structures, each having la' p'a irffo'f legs jcoiin is'supported by these cross pieces. grace secured to each side between Ithie jrontfland fie The side braces are securedito the "1 outwardly from the marginal iside fedg edges of the seat; The leg braces extend outwardlyfr the outer'sides or the legs to provide a'supporting urface on which corresponding leg braces can r e'st. Thusithe seats can be stacked, one upon another, to form 1a corn- .pact and stable stack of chairs.

Throughout this specification, in describing the chair the words inwardly and outwardly I are listed. Inwardly shall be taken .to mean avvaynfirom the .c titer of the seat. Front means toward the fir ontlof'the'chair or to the left as :shownliniE ig. 2. "ffl learward vthe chair means towards the baclc of.tl lelchair or to the right as shown in Fig. 2. Other terins stich as ihori'zohta and vertical. are usedaslmeanin g horizontal or vertical to the floor or surface on which .the chair rests.

Referring to the drawings reference numeral 1 indicates one of the chairsrincluding the =seat orrsliell 10 and the support structure :20.

The shell 10 is of a reinforced synthetic fitbre resin. It is molded under heat and pressure to give the desired shape. Preferably the edges are additionally reinforced tot-prevent splitting The resinsmostlconventionallyiused are polyesters of various colored pigmentation. fThelfihres most commonly used :arerfilamentary glass. .The sliell .10 :is shaped to conform to the body xcontou'r .of'ian average 'person'. The material is somewhat resilient making thechair comfortable. Q

The plastic material from which the chair is made is relatively light. It is not readily subject to damageror breakage because of its -resiliency. It has high-impact and surface abrasion resistance. Changes' in' moisture content of the air Willindt affect it. his vermin prio'of and may be readily cleaned with soapand =W'ater' 'or a The base or supporting frame {20 includes a front standard or leg structure 21 and a rear fstarldard oril'eg structure'ZZ. "Each of {thesestructuresis-identical. Ea ch isforme'd from a single piece of'tiibula'r inetal. 'The front leg structure 21 includes the twoflegs-23 and24fjoiried at the top by a cross piece consisting of the'dovvnwafdly and'inwardly extending sidep OrtionsZS and t errnediate horizontal straight 'portion26 (-Figs. '1 7'). i I legs 27 and 28 connected at their tops by the ress including the downwardly extending .end portions 29aind thehorizontal intermediate portioni30.

Mountingstraps 31 are secured by welding or any other suitable means to "the cross pieces of thei ffront and .

l eg structures

21 and 22. Themountingstraps 31 are .secured to the downwardlyfleirtending end portions2 fiid 29 immediately adjacent the point where the ten merge with the intermediatestraight portions 126 ,and 30.

(The ends .of the mounting straps are bent upwardly and and 7). -'adapted to receive a hook 42 mounted to the other brace made with a minimum number of parts.

- the front and rear legs.

welding or any other suitable means. The hook 42 and .loop 41 extend outwardly from the side braces.

-' 1 v 3 slightly twisted to provide a supporting surface conforming with the contoured bottom surface of the shell 10. Holes 32 are provided in the ends of the mounting straps through which a screw can'be inserted for securing the seat to the mounting straps and thus to the supporting frame. T-he mounting straps 31 are secured to the circular shock mounts 33 which preferably are adhesively secured to the bottom of the shell. Shock mounts 33 each have an interna lythreaded female insert adapted to receive a screw. This shock mount is of similar construction to that described and claimed in Patent No. 2,647,136.

In the preferred form ofthis invention, the front legs vZZ'rand 24 extend downwardly and forwardly. The

rear vlegs

27 and 28 extend downwardly and rearwardly. The :legs are held and supported in this'position by the leg .braces 40 secured to the outer sides of the legs and by the straps 31. .The leg braces 40 are fabricated of a heavy gauge wire formed into an elongated ring.

A loop-41 is secured to one of the braces 40 (Figs. 4 It extends outwardly from the brace and is 40 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5). The loop 41 is a U-shaped, heavy gauge wire secured to the top cross wire 43 of one of the rings 40 (Fig. 4). The hook 42 is also a heavy gauge jwire having two legs 44 parallel to each other and connected by the U-shaped hook 45. The hook 45 extends outwardly from the legs. The legs 44 are secured to the top and bottom cross wires of one of the rings 40. The

jwidth of both the loop 41 and the hook 45 is such that the hook 45 fits within the loop (Fig. 5). The loop 41 and hook 42 are secured to their respective braces 40 by a resistance weld or any other suitable means.

The entire supporting frame 20 may be of aluminum or any other material but it is more commonly of tubular steel. The side braces are usually of a steel wire however aluminum or any other suitable material can be used.

' The mounting straps can be made of any suitable material. All of these parts can be suitably plated as with chrome. The shock mounts 33 are of rubber or any other resilient material.

The assembled chair It should be evident that the chair of this invention is These include the identical front and

rear leg structures

21 and 22, the

. .shell 10, the mounting straps 31, the shock mounts 33 and the side leg braces 40 are also identical except for the means for joining two or more chairs together. The

' supporting frame 20 is preferably of an all welded. construction and it is secured to the'shell by screws 47.

The assembled supporting structure is best shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The front and

rear leg structures

21 and 22 are arranged with the

front legs

23 and 24 extending 1 downwardly and forwardly. The

rear legs

27 and 28 extend downwardly and rearwardly. The

cross pieces

26 and 30 are spaced one from another (Fig. 7) and are held in that position by the mounting straps 31 secured thereto by welding or any other suitable means. The forward and rearward positions of the legs are maintained by the side braces 40, secured at their side portions to This attachment is made by a screw passing through the hole 32 of the mounting strap to be secured in the internally threaded female insert of the shock mount. With these shock mounts 33 properly 7 located, theseat is placed on the shock mounts with the internally threaded female inserts aligned with the holes 32. The screws 47' extending through holes 33 are threaded into the inserts of the shock mounts, securing the seat to the supporting frame 20.

tioning of the side leg braces relative to the side marginal edges of the seat 10 are important. Fig. 7 illustrates this relationship. The support frame 20 is shown wider than the seat. This is necessary to permit the frame to pass over the seat or shell 10 of another seat.

The vertical spacing of the side braces 40 is important. Both the upper and lower limits of their vertical position on the legs is established at the point which provides effective cross-bracing for the legsand at the same time provides a means for supporting a chair stacked above it. The side braces index the chairs providing a vertical and stable stack in such a manner that the chair shells are spaced from one another and from the frames for protecting the shells against abrasion.

In the preferred form the angular relationship of the legs to each other and their lateral spacing is limited only by two factors. The legs must be able to pass about the shell 10 to permit stacking and the legs of one chair must not spread laterally sufficiently to interfere with the joining of one chair to another. However, where the loop and hook arrangement is not used and the chairs are not to be joined, this latter limitation does not apply.

The position and shape of the side leg braces are important. The braces are elongated and secured to the legs at approximately the same vertical position one-third down the legs. In other words the points of attachment of the leg braces to the legs lie substantially in horizontal plane. This gives symmetry to the chair and at the same time contributes to the stability of a stack formed by such chairs. The side braces, being located approximately one-third down the leg, provide a support surface on which the brace of the upper chair can rest upon the brace of the chair beneath. This support surface is long enough in a horizontal direction to prevent the stacked chairs from tipping forward or backwardly.

When the chairs are stacked one upon another as shown in Fig. 8, the bottom cross-piece of the side braces 40 of one chair rests directly on the top cross-piece of the side braces of the chair beneath it. The side braces 40 have an adequate cross-section so that they extend a sutficient distance outwardly from the leg to' provide an adequate supporting surface.

A plurality of these chairs may be joined together, while in use, depending upon the wishes of the user. If they are to be joined, the user simply lifts one chair a short distance and engages the hook 45 into the loop 41 of the adjacent chair. Any number of chairs can be hooked together in this fashion. When joined together, the spacing and alignment of the chairs is automatically determined. This has several obvious advantages. On the other hand, the chairs can be used individually and despite the joining feature, have a pleasing appearance.

It is significant that the braces on the side of the legs serve several functions while at the same time giving a good and pleasing appearance to the chair. The braces provide means for joining several chairs together in orderly manageable rows. They serve as braces for the legs. They index, support, and provide clearance for the various components of the chair when stacked in vertical rows.

The plastic seat of this chair is more attractive than conventional chairs designed for temporary use and stored.

- It requires no maintenance such as re-upholstering or The width of the supporting frame, that is the width I of th e'front and rear leg structures, and the lateral posispring replacement.

After the chairs have been used and it is desired to store them in a compact storage area, the chairs are quickly separated simply by lifting and stacking one on another in a manner shown in Fig. 8. The leg braces rest on each other, maintaining positive spacing between the shells and preventing any scratching or marring of the shells. At the same time, a compact stack of chairs is obtained since the side. braces, collectively, forma supporting column on each side of the stack. Because of the strength of the chair and theteatures previously described, the stack is stable allowing the stack to he i'nade relatively high withoutdanger of tipping or collapsing.

ii'no'ther advantage of this invention is the structural jdisassociation of the 'leg structure or base from the seat structure. Shou'ld either be damaged, it alone may be replaced without the expense. of purchasing the other component. The substitution is both quick and simple "since only =t-he four screws 47 are involved.

Having described our invention, it should be realized that there is provided a simple, strong and lightweight chair made with a minimum of parts adapted to quick and inexpensive mass assembly methods. The chair'can be used with "other chairs and locked thereto for forming straight rows of chairs and forp'reventing the chairs from being dispersed throughout the'ehtire hall in which they are being used.

It should be understood that in describing this invention certain features have been described which do not neces'sarily constitute a part of this invention. Further, various other 'ei'n'bodim'ents can be made of this inven- Etion which will be entirely within the spirit of this invention. These embodiments and modifications are covered by this invention unless the appended claims expressly state otherwise.

Weclaiin:

1. A chair construction'conrprising: a seat; a front leg structure including a pair of legs connected together at the top by a cross piece; a rear leg structure identical to said front le'g s't-ructur'e; said front and rear leg structures being operatively secured at said -.cross pieces to the under side of said seat for supporting said seat; and a pair of substantially identical braces fixedly secured toand extending between said front and rear legs, said braces forming vertically spaced upper and lower bearing surfaces extending laterally outwardly from said legs, said upper bearing surfaces forming supports on which the lower bearing surfaces of .the leg braces of an identical 'chair seat :when .two .of the :chairs are stacked with the legs and feet of thechairs slightly aspaced vertically.

chair constructioncomprising: a.seat; a front leg structure including a one piece tube bent to form a pair of legs connected together at the top by a cross piece; a rear leg structure identical to said front leg structure; said front and rear leg structure being operatively secured to the under side of said seat at said cross pieces for supporting said seat; and a pair of substantially identical ring-shaped, elongated, wire braces fixedly secured to and between said front and rear legs, said ring shaped braces having spaced upper and lower sections forming vertically spaced upper and lower bearing surfaces extending laterally outwardly from said legs, said upper bearing surfaces of said upper sections forming supports on which the lower bearing surfaces of said lower sections of the leg braces of an identical chair seat when two of the chairs are stacked with the legs and feet of the chairs slightly spaced vertically.

3. A chair construction comprising: a seat having marginal side edges; a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs secured to and supporting said seat; a pair of side braces; said front legs being disposed at an angle to said rear legs whereby the legs of said chair may be vertically telescoped over the legs of an identical chair; said braces being secured to said inclined legs forming an A-shaped support on each side of said chair; said A-shaped support being offset laterally outwardly of said marginal side edges of said seat; said braces being extended outwardly of said legs and vertically positioned on said legs between the upper and lower portions of said legs; said braces forming vertically spaced upper and lower bearing surfaces extending laterally outwardly from said legs; said upper bearing surfaces forming supports on which the lower bearing surfaces of the leg braces of an identical chair seat when two of the chairs are stacked with the legs and seat of the chairs slightly spaced vertically,

6 4. in a furniture tbase lconstrnction adapted to :be stacked one upon another in columns, said :base comprising: :four leg elements inclined from .each anther whereby the-legs of said base may :he vertically telescoped over the legs of an identical :base; lmeans rigidly-securing said leg elements together at the upper end of said base;

said leg elements being :grouped into two pairs, one v on each side of said base; said legs having inner and :outer sides; a brace member extending between and rigidly secured to each leg of each of said pairs between the vertically.

5. In a furniture base construction adapted to The stacked one upon another in columns, said base :compri'sing: a pair of inverted U-shaped standards, the sides of said standards forming legs; said standards converging at their upper ends and means rigidly securing said standards together at said upper ends; a brace member extending-between said standards one on each-side thereof; said braces being external of said base and parallel to the plane of the lower ends of said legs; Esaid braces forming vertically spaced upper and lower bearing surfaces extending laterally outwardly from saidlegs, said upper bearing surfaces forming supports on :which the lower bearing surfaces of the leg braces of an identical chair seat when two of the chairs are stacked with the legs and feet of the chairs slightly spaced vertically.

6. In a furniture base construction adapted to be stacked one upon another-in columns, said base comprising: a front leg structure bent'into an inverted generally U-shape to form a laterally extending top cross member and .a pair of legs; a rear leg structure identical to said front leg structure; said front and rear leg structures converging upwardly and means connecting said cross members of said front and rear leg structures; a pair of side braces, each extending between and secured to a front and a rear one of said legs and spaced from both the upper and lower ends of said legs; said side braces forming vertically spaced upper and lower bearing surfaces extending outwardly from said legs, said upper bearing surfaces forming supports on which the lower bearing surfaces of the leg braces of an identical base seat when two of the bases are stacked with the corresponding legs of the bases vertically spaced.

7. In a furniture base construction adapted to be stacked one upon another in columns, said base comprising: a front leg structure bent into an inverted generally U-shape to form a laterally extending top cross member and a pair of parallel legs; a rear leg structure identical to said front leg structure; said front and rear leg structures converging upwardly and means connecting said cross members of said front and rear leg structures; a pair of side braces, each extending between and secured to a front and a rear one of said legs and spaced from both the upper and lower ends of said legs; said braces forming vertically spaced upper and lower bearing surfaces extending outwardly from said legs, said bearing surfaces forming supports on which the lower bearing surfaces of the leg braces of an identical base seat when two of the bases are stacked with the corresponding legs of the bases vertically spaced.

8. In a furniture base construction adapted to be stacked one upon another in columns, said base comprising: a front leg structure bent into an inverted generally U-shape to form a laterally extending top cross member and a pair of parallel legs; a rear leg structure identical to said front leg structure; said front and rear leg structures converging upwardly and means connecting said cross membersof said front and rear leg structures; said legs each having inner and outer surfaces; a pair of side braces, each extending between and secured to a front and a rear one of said legs and vertically spaced from both the upper and lower ends of said legs; said side braces forming vertically spaced upper and lower bearing surfaces extending outwardly from said legs; said braces having inner surfaces spaced laterally of said base a distance equal to the lateral spacing of said outer surfaces of said legs; said upper bearing surfaces of said braces forming supports on which the lower bearing surfaces of the leg braces of an identical base seat when .two of the bases are stacked with the corresponding legs of the bases spaced vertically and the inner surfaces of the braces of the identical base being cooperative with .the outer surfaces of the legs of said base for limiting relative lateral movement of the bases with respect to each other.

9. A chair base construction adapted to be stacked one upon another in columns, said base comprising: a front leg structure bent into an inverted generally U-shape to form a laterally extending top cross member and a pair of parallel legs; a rear leg structure identical to said front leg structure; said front and rear leg structures converging upwardly and means connecting said cross members of said front and rear leg structures; a seat secured to said connecting means, the side margins of said seat being spaced inwardly from said legs; a pair "of side braces, each extending between and secured to a front and a rear one of said legs and spaced from both the upper and lower ends of said legs; said side braces forming vertically spaced upper and lower bearing surfaces forming supports on which the lower bearing surfaces of the leg braces of an identical chair base seat when two of the bases are stacked with the corresponding legs and seats of the chairs vertically spaced.

10. A chair construction comprising: a seat having a pair of legs on each side thereof extending therefrom to support said seat; said legs in a front and back direction converging toward said seat and laterally of said seat being parallel; said legs having outer and inner sides; a pair of leg braces, one of said braces extending between and secured to both legs of each of said pairs of legs between said seat and the lower ends of said legs; said leg braces having vertically spaced upper and lower bearing surfaces extending outwardly beyond said outer sides of said legs, said upper bearing surfaces forming supports on which the lower bearing surfaces of leg braces of an identical chair seat when two of the chairs are stacked with the legs and seats of the chairs slightly spaced vertically.

11. A chair construction comprising: a seat having a pair of legs on each side thereof extending therefrom to support said seat, said legs being inclined from each other whereby the legs of said chair may be vertically telescoped over the legs of an identical chair; said legs having inner and outer sides; a pair of leg braces, one of said braces extending between and secured to both legs of each of said pairs of legs and vertically spaced from both said seat and the lower ends of said legs; said leg braces having upper and lower bearing surfaces extending outwardly from the outer sides of said legs, said upper bearing surfaces forming supports on which the lower bearing surfaces of leg braces of an identical chair seat when two of the chairs are stacked with the legs and seats of the chairs slightly spaced vertically.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,694 White Ian. 24, 1905 2,098,888 Schadler Nov. 9, 1937 2,362,426 Wyatt Nov. 7, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 135,980 Austria Dec. 27, 1933 601,889 Great Britain May 13, 1948 605,035 Great Britain July 14, 1948 705,185 France Mar. 3, 1931