US3441310A - Seating structure - Google Patents

Description

Apr-i129, 1969 I .1; A. GALE SEATING STRUCTURE Filed March 27.

Sheet I of v fivwwrok JOHN 4. 6445 v MKMFJi .1. A. GALE I [SEATING STRUCTURE April 29; 1969' Sheet Filed March 27, 1 65 J. A, GALE SEATING STRUQTURE April 29; 1969 Filed March 27, 1963 Arrow/5Y5 United States Patent US. Cl. 297-294 3 Claims This invention relates to seating structures and more particularly to a seating structure uniquely designed and constructed to permit a major portion thereof to be formed of a yieldable somewhat resilient plastic material without requiring the inclusion of additional structural elements.

While seating structures formed from plastic material have been produced in the past, these prior art plastic seating structures necessitated the use of plastics that were inherently rigid, some being provided with strength imparting fibers (fiber glass) while others have been provided with molded-in structural features such as ribbing or the like. Heretofore, no method or process has been developed to permit the construction of a seating structure which has at least a major portion thereof formed from a yieldable somewhat resilient plastic material, preferably through a blow molding operation, and which is designed to obviate the necessity of using additional supporting members or features.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a seating structure having at least a major portion thereof formed of a yieldable resilient plastic material and which is so uniquely designed that the inclusion of additional structural features is made unnecessary.

A more specific object of this invention is the provision of a laminated seating structure formed of a yieldable resilient, preferably blow moldable or rotation moldable plastic material, such as linear polyethylene or the l ke, and including an occupant-supporting panel or lamlna, and a support panel or lamina integrally formed with the occupant-supporting panel spaced therefrom, and supporting the occupant-supporting panel and an occupant seated thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel seating structure such as a chair including upper and lower chair sections formed of a yieldable, resilient preferably blow moldable plastic material, the upper and lower chair sections being uniquely interconnected together to permit revolving movement of the upper chair structure about a substantially vertical axis and also permitting limited tilting movement of the upper chair structure.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel seat base structure comprised of a plurality of similar leg-forming segments each being cut from extruded aluminum form, and which are capable of ready assembly for supporting the upper portion of a seat and wh1ch are nestible when disassembled into a package of relatively small compass.

Another object of this invention is the provision for a chair base structure, of a novel supporting spheroid roller device comprised of an inner member of generally capstan configuration and an outer member of generally torus-ring configuration mounted on the outer member for movement relative thereto to thereby minimize the tendency of the roller device to bind with respect to its associated chair base socket during traversing movement of the roller along a surface.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like character references refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment 3,441,310 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 ice of my novel seating structure and with certain portions thereof broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 with certain parts thereof broken away for clarity and with certain concealed parts thereof indicated by dotted line configuration;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of my novel chair structure;

FIG. 4 is a front view partly in elevation and partly in section of another modified form of my novel chair;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view on an enlarged scale of the upper chair section supporting bearings;

BIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a further modification of my novel chair and with certain parts thereof broken away for clarity;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view illustrating the structural relation between the upper and lower chair sections of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7; an

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a still further embodiment of my novel chair.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that one embodiment of my novel seating structure or chair designated generally by the reference numeral 10 is there shown. It is pointed out that wherein the expression chair is used herein, it is intended to include chairs for accommodating a single occupant but also gang type seating structure or chairs as well as seating structures such as sofas which accom modate a plurality of occupants. In this embodiment, the chair 10 includes an upper chair section 11 and a lower chair section or base 12. The upper chair section 11 and the lower chair section 12 are each separately formed through a blow molding or rotational molding operation from a thermoplastic material such as cellulosics, polyamides, polyacetals, polycarbonates, polyethylenes, polypropylenes or vinyls. Since it is preferred that applicants chair be formed of a yieldable resilient material, it is therefore preferred that the plastic material such as polyethylene have either a low or medium density or whatever density is necessary in order to produce the yieldable resilient characteristics.

Separate mold designs will be used in the formation of the upper and lower chair sections and the particular molds employed may be incorporated in the blow moldlng machines now available for blow molding operations. To this end it is pointed out that the blow molding machine used may be a fixed mold intermittant and continuous extrusion type, vertical extrusion-rising table type, vertical extrusion-sliding mold type, injection-molding parison type or any other conventional machine. In these types of machines, the parison is first extruded to the desired length and diameter, the mold is then closed and air under pressure is then introduced into the mold and into the open part of the parison thus causing the flowable plastic material to adhere to the inner surface of the mold. The air may be evacuated prior to opening of the mold and the product is thereafter ejected.

If my novel chair structure is made through a rotational molding process, the plastic material will be fed into the molds and these molds will then be tightly closed and the mold unit will be simultaneously revolved about two or more axes. As the mold unit is rotated, the fluid plastic material will flow over the inner surfaces of the mold unit so that the finished object will be of hollow construction and will have an external configuration corresponding to the inner surface configuration of the mold unit. The particular plastic material used may be selected from those having the desired physical and chemical characteristics but is preferred a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene, polyvinyl plastisol or polyurethane be used. Of these groups of materials, the one most preferred is powdered polyethylene having a low or medium density and which may be fed into a mold unit, the mold unit being heated during the rotational molding operation. The mold unit may be preheated if it is so desired but at the end of the rotational cycle, the mold unit will be suitably cooled before the molded parts are stripped out of the mold.

'It is pointed out that the particular rotational molding machines may be of the type which include turntables on which the mold plates are rotated in the rotational molding oven. The ovens themselves may be suitably heated by gas burners or the like and the turntable will revolve the molds simultaneously on a plurality of axes. The machines as pointed out above may also include cooling mechanisms which permit immersion of the mold plates or spraying of the same with a suitable coolant.

It will be seen that the upper chair section 11 is comprised of an occupant-supporting panel or lamina 13 which is shaped and contoured to define a seat portion 14 and a back rest portion 15. It will also be noted that the continuous integral upper supporting panel 13 also includes a side portion 16 so that this occupant-supporting panel has a configuration of the chair structure generally known in the trade as contoured type seats.

The upper chair section 11 also includes a continuous support panel or a lamina 17 including a seat support portion 18, a back rest support portion 1% and a side support portion 20 each resectively underlying the seat, back rest and side portions of the occupant-supporting panel 13. It will also be noted that the occupant-supporting panel 13 is integrally formed throughout the extent of its peripheral edges to the peripheral edges of the support panel '17. It will also be seen that the occupantsupporting panel 13 is spaced from the support panel 17 to define a cavity 21 therebetween.

The seat supporting portion 18 of the support panel 17 is shaped to define a front and rear bellows elements 22 which are molded in and which permit limited tilting of the upper chair structure about an axis extending horizontally and substantially transversely therethrough. It will be seen that rearward tilting of the upper chair sec tion may be accomplished when the occupant shifts his weight to cause contractive flexing of the rear bellows element 22 and during which the front bellows element is expanded or extended. The seat support portion 18 of the support panel 17 also has molded thereinto a pair of vertically extending lateral web elements 23 each of which extends between the front and rear bellows elements 22 and which serve to impart lateral stability to the chair section 11.

It will be seen that the seat support portion 18 of the lower support panel 17 tapers downwardly as at 24 and terminates in an inverted domeshaped base engaging member 25. Thus it will be seen that the tapered part 24 and the dome-shaped base engaging member 25 present a downwardly facing convex base engaging surface for complementary cooperative engagement with a corresponding shaped upper facing convex surface of the lower chair section or base 12.

Integrally formed with the base engaging member 25 and projecting downwardly therefrom is a male poppet fastening element 26 which as best seen in FIG. 1 is of disc-shaped configuration presenting substantially fiat front and rear surfaces. This male poppet element is adapted to be inserted into the cooperating female aperture formed in the lower chair section 12. The male poppet fastening element 26 will cause the female poppet aperture to elongate when the chair sections are interconnected whereby the male poppet element 26 will pop through the aperture with a snap coupling effect.

The lower chair section 12 is also formed in a blow molding or rotational molding operation. If the chair sections are formed through a blow molding ope-ration, the single extruded plastic parison formed from polyethylene will be used and if the section is formed through a rotational molding operation, it is preferred that powder polyethylene be used. This section also includes an upper panel or lamina 27 which is of generally frusto-conical configuration and a lower panel or lamina 28 which is of substantially conical configuration. It will be noted that the marginal areas of the lower panel 28 are flared outwardly to define an annular substantially horizontal-1y oriented surface engaging portion 29 which is adapted to engage the fioor or other supporting surface upon which the chair 10 is disposed. The peripheral edge of the upper and lower panels 27 and 28 are integrally formed and it will be seen that the panels are spaced from each other to define a cavity 30 therebetween.

The upper panel 27 is shaped at the upper central part thereof to define a recess or socket including a frustoconical portion 31 which has a shape corresponding generally to the shape of a tapered portion 24 of the upper chair section 11. This recess or socket in the upper panel 27 also includes an inverted dome-shaped concave portion 32 which has a shape corresponding to and receiving the base engaging dome-shaped member 25. Thus it will be seen that the socket or recess in the lower chair section 12 actually presents an upwardly facing concave surface for cooperative engagement with the convex surface presented by the upper chair section 11.

A centrally located vertically extending generally circular poppet aperture 33 is formed in the lower chair section 12 and extends through the respective upper and lower panels thereof. This poppet aperture 33 receives the male poppet element 26 therethrough, the diameter of the aperture being slightly smaller than the diameter of the disc-shaped poppet element 26. Thus when the male poppet element 26 is forced through the female poppet aperture 33, the aperture 33 will elongate to permit the male poppet element to pop therethrough. This elongation of the female poppet aperture 33 is made possible because of the resilient yieldable characteristics of the material from which the lower chair section is formed. It will therefore be seen that when the male poppet element 26 is forced through the female poppet aperture 33, a frictional or snap type connect-ion is thereby produced.

This poppet connection also permits revolving movement of the upper chair section relative to the lower chair section about a substantially vertical axis whereby the chair 10 is capable of rotation as well as fore-and-aft limited tilting. It will therefore be seen that the chair 10 has inherent resilient and yieldable qualities so that the occupant-supporting panel will very comfortably accommodate a user. In this unique design the supporting panel 17 of the upper chair section supports the occupantsupporting panel thereby obviating the need of additional support members and permitting the use of resilient yieldable plastic material.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 where a different embodiment of my chair structure is there illustrated. This chair 10a illustrated in FIG. 3 also includes an upper chair section 11a constructed of a yieldable resilient plastic material, preferably polyethylene, through a blow molding or rotational molding operation. The lower chair section or base 12a comprises a plurality of conventinal, preferably tubular metal legs 27a of generally conventional construction.

The upper chair section 11a is comprised of an upper occupant-supporting panel or lamina 13a which includes a seat portion 144;, a back rest portion 15a and side portions 16a. The upper chair section also includes a lower support panel 17a integrally formed at its peripheral edges with the peripheral edges of the upper panel 13a. This support panel 17a also includes a seat support portion 18a, a back rest support portion 19a and side support portions 20a. It is pointed out that the occupant-supporting panel and the support panels are spaced from each other to define a cavity therebetween and it will be seen that the chair a is very similar in design and construc tion to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The seat support portion 18 of the support panel 17 is provided with downwardly facing generally channelshaped recesses 25a for receiving therein the transverse or bight portions of the U-shaped legs 27a. The transverse or bight of the legs 27a are actually received in snug fitting gripped relation within the recesses 25a so that a very effective frictional connection is produced. This frictional engagement between the recesses 25a and the transverse portions of the U-shaped legs 27a is not only attributable to the respective shapes and configuration of the transverse portion of the legs 27a and the recesses 25a but also to the yieldable and resilient nature of the materials from which the upper chair section 11a is formed. When the upper chair section is so connected to the lower chair section or base 12a, a very comfortable contoured type chair is presented. Again it will be noted that by utilizing the blow molding or rotational molding technique in addition to applicants novel design the upper chair section may be constructed entirely of yieldable resilient plastic material without the inclusion of additional reinforcing elements or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6 it will be seen that another embodiment of my novel chair structure is thereillustrated. This chair structure designated generally by the reference numeral 10b includes an upper chair section 11b and a lower chair section 12b, the latter being adapted for movement along the surface upon which the chair structure is supported. The upper chair section 11b is formed through a blow molding or rotational molding operation from a yieldable resilient material such as low density or medium density polyethylene or the like. This single piece upper chair section 11b is of generally laminate construction in the manner of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 and is comprised of an occupant-supporting panel or lamina 13b which is also shaped and contoured to define a seat portion 14b, a back rest portion 15b and side portions 16b.

This upper chair section 11b also is comprised of a continuous support panel or lamina 17b including a seat support portion 18b, a back rest suport portion 19b and side support portions 20b each respectively disposed in close cooperative relation with the seat, back rest and side portions of the occupant-supporting panel 13b. This support panel 17b is integrally formed throughout the extent of its peripheral edges with the peripheral edges of the occupant-supporting panel 13b and is spaced from the occupant-supporting panel 13b to define a cavity 21b therebetween. It will also be noted that the side portions 16b and the side support portions 20b cooperate with each other at their peripheral edges to define arm rests in the manner of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

Referring now to FIG. 5 it will be seen that the seat supporting portion 18b is provided with front and rear bellows elements 22b which are integrally formed therewith and which permit limited tilting of the upper chair structure 11b in a fore-and-aft direction. The seat portion 18b is also provided with vertically extending lateral rib elements 23b at each side thereof and each of which extends between the front and rear bellows elements 22b and which serve to impart lateral stability to the chair section 11b.

The seat support portion 19b of the lower support panel 17 also presents a downwardly facing generally convex space engaging surface for ready engagement with the lower chair section or base 12b. To this end, it will be seen that the seat support portion 18b is tapered slightly downwardly as at 24b terminating in an inverted domeshaped base engaging member 25b as best seen in FIG. 4. Integrally formed with the base engaging member 25b and projecting downwardly therefrom is a male fastening element 26b which is of hollow construction and which is releasably and cooperatively engageable with the lower chair section 12b.

The lower chair section 12b is formed of a rigid metallic material and includes a plurality of leg segments or members 12.1b detachably connected together so that this lower chair section 12b actually constitutes a knockdown type chair base. Each of the leg segments 12.1b is of identical integral construction and it will be seen that each includes an upper strap 27b and a lower strap 28b.

A unique process is provided for constructing the leg segments 12.1b which permits a great saving in both time, labor and equipment so that the leg segments may be very inexpensively produced. This unique process includes extruding an elongate beam of metallic shape, preferably from aluminum, which has a cross sectional configuration corresponding to the shape of each leg segment. Thus the elongated extruded beam will have a cross section or end configuration presenting an upper element corresponding to the upper strap 27b and a lower element corresponding to the lower strap 28b. The extruded beam will then be cut or sheared at equally spaced points along its length to thereby form each of the leg segments 12.1b. Thus it will be seen that the leg segments may be very economically produced through a process consisting essentially in the steps of extrusion and shearingv In the particular construction illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 it will be seen that four such leg segments are employed in each particular lower chair section and that the respective upper and lower straps are of substantially fiat cross sectional configuration. These leg segments are detachably connected together by means to be described The upper strap 27b has the lower portion thereof horizontally oriented, this horizontal portion being disposed in close proximity and in generally parallel relation with respect to the lower strap 28b. It will also be seen that each upper strap 27b includes an upwardly extending or vertical portion 34b which, as best seen in FIG. 4, converges slightly upwardly with respect to the corresponding vertical portions of the associated leg segments. This upwardly extending portion 34b of each leg segment has formed at its upper end an arcuate portion 35b which flares outwardly and has integrally formed therewith and projecting laterally therefrom a socket element 36b. The socket element 36b of each leg segment presents an upwardly facing socket, as best seen in FIG. 6, for receiving therein a ball bearing element 37b which is preferably formed of a suitable rigid plastic material and it will also be seen that each arcuate portion 35b for each leg segment has integrally formed with adjacent the upper end thereof an inwardly extending retaining lip 38b, the latter serving to engage the dome-shaped base engaging member 25b of the associated upper chair section 11b.

The leg segments 12.1b are detachably connected together by a substantially flat attachment plate 39b connected to the upper surfaces of the lower straps 28b adjacent their respective inner ends. To this end it is pointed out that bolt assemblies may be used to interconnect this attachment plate 39b to the leg segments 12.1b. An apertured annular strap 40b having a depending annular flange 41b engages the socket elements 36b and is detachably secured thereto by suitable set screws 41.15 which extend through apertures in the flange 41b and into registering threaded apertures formed in the socket elements. Thus the annular strap 40b not only serves to interconnect the upper portions of each of the leg segments but also serves as a means for retaining the ball elements 37b in their respective sockets. It will be seen that the tapered portion 24b of the upper chair section 1112 is positioned in engaging relation with respect to the ball bearing elements 37b to facilitate rotation of the upper chair section relative to the lower chair section 12b about a vertical axis. It will also be noted that the fastening element 26b is releasably secured against disengagement from the lower chair section 12b by the upper extremities of the converging upper portions 34b of the leg segments 12.1b. The inturned lips 38b also serve to prevent disengagement of the upper chair section from the lower chair section.

Referring again to FIG. 4 it will be seen that revolvably received within the sockets 29.1b of each socket member 29b is a roller member 42b of generally spheroid configuration. Although other materials may be used, it is perferred that each of the roller members 42b be con structed of a plastic material known in the trade as Delrin which is characterized by its slippery properties. To this end it is pointed out that the roller members 42b should be of rigid, stress-crack resistant construction. These roller members 42b may be formed through an injection molding operation although other molding processes may also be employed.

Each of these roller members 42b includes an inner member 43b which, as best seen in the roller member located at the right of FIG. 4, has a configuration substantially like a capstan. Actually the inner member 43b presents at its opposite ends arcuate surfaces 44b which constitute parts of the exterior surface of the spheroid shaped roller members 42b. Each of the inner members 43b also presents a warped surface 45b constituting a developable surface of revolution which geometrically described is a hyperboloid of revolution of one sheet.

Each of the roller members 42b also includes an outer member 46b presenting double curved surfaces of revolution and having the geometrical configuration of a torus or anchor ring. It will be noted that the inner surface 47b of the outer member 46b is complementary convex with respect to the warped surface 45b of the inner member. The outer surface 48b cooperates with the exterior surface 44b of the inner member to present the spherical exterior surface of the roller members 42b.

Each of the roller members 42b are retained in their respective sockets 29.1b by annular retaining rings 4% detachably secured to the associated socket member 29b by suitable setscrews or the like. It will be noted, of course, that the socket defined by the socket members 2% are not of actual hemispherical configuration so that the roller members actually cooperate with the lower annular marginal surface portions of the socket 29.1b during revolving movement of the roller members. It will also be seen that because of the spherical configuration of the roller members 42b, the rollers may revolve in any given direction. It will be appreciated that a binding effect sometimes occurs in conventional rollers which is attributable to the torque reaction between the rollers and their associated socket members, especially when it is desirably to change the direction of traversing movement over a surface. However, because of the unique construction of roller members 42b the outer member 46b and inner member 43b may be revolved relative to each other about the complementary cooperating surfaces 45b and 47b whereby the torque reaction between the roller members and the associated socket members will be overcome especially during a change in the directional movement of the roller members.

It will therefore be seen that the embodiment of the chair structure illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 not only permits relative revolving movement of the upper and lower chair sections but also permits fore-and-aft tilting of the upper chair section in addition to permitting the chair structure to be readily moved along the surface upon which it is supported. It will further be noted that through the use of the blow molding and rotational molding techniques, and the unique design employed, the entire upper section of the chair 10b is integrally formed of yieldable resilient plastic material such as polyethylene or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 it will be seen that a further modification of my novel chair structure is thereshown. This modified form of the chair illustrated in FIGS. 7 and S and designated generally by the reference numeral is also comprised of an upper chair section and a lower chair section each being formed through a blow molding or rotational molding operation from a yieldable resilient material such as low or medium density polyethylene resin or the like in the manner of the previously described embodiments. It will therefore be seen that the embodiment of the chair illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is constructed entirely of a blow moldable or rotation moldable, yieldable, resilient plastic material as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The single piece upper chair section 110 is of generally laminated construction and is comprised of an occupantsupporting panel or lamina which is also shaped and contoured to define a seat portion 140, a back rest portion 15c and inwardly facing side portions disposed adjacent seat portion 140.

The upper chair section 11c is also comprised of a continuous support panel or lamina 17c including a seat support portion 180, a back rest support portion 19c and side support portions 200 each of which is disposed in close cooperative relation with the seat, back rest and side portions of the occupant-supporting panel 130. The support panel is integrally formed throughout the extent of its peripheral edges with the peripheral edges of the occupant-supporting panel 13a to the define a cavity 210 therebetween.

The seat supporting portion of the support panel 170 has a centrally located downwardly facing domeshaped recess or socket 250 having a central aperture 260 formed therein. It will also be noted that the seat support portion 180 on opposite sides of the dome-shaped recess 25c is provided with a pair of vertically extending bellows elements 220 which converge downwardly as best seen in FIG. 7. These bellows elements permit fore-and-aft tilting of the upper chair section in a manner to be more fully described hereinbelow.

The lower chair section 12c is also formed from resilient yieldable plastic material such as low or medium density polyethylene through a blow molding or rotational molding process. The lower chair section 120 is comprised of an upper panel or lamina 270 having a generally conical configuration and a lower panel 280 which as best seen in FIG. 7 is arched slightly upwardly but is provided with an annular substantially horizontally oriented surface engaging portion 290 which is engageable with the floor or other supporting surface upon which the chair 100 is disposed. The peripheral edges of the upper and lower panels 270 and 280 are integrally formed and the respective panels are spaced from each other to define a cavity 300 therebetween.

The upper panel 270 of the lower section 120 has integrally formed at its upper portion a dome-shaped socket member 320 which has a shape corresponding substantially to the shape of the dome-shaped recess or socket 250 in the upper chair section 11c. This dome-shaped socket member 320 is positioned within the recess 250, the respective concave and convex surfaces of the upper and lower chair sections respectively engaging each other.

The dome-shaped socket member 320 of the lower chair section 12c is provided with a centrally located upwardly extending male poppet fastening element 330 which as best seen in FIG. 7 is of disc-shaped construction having substantially flat front and rear surfaces as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. This male poppet fastening element 330 is adapted to be inserted forcibly through the generally circular poppet recess 26c in the upper chair section 110. Again it is pointed out that the poppet fastening element 33c causes distortion or elongation of the poppet recess 26c because of the yieldable and resilient material from which the lower chair section 12c is made. Therefore the poppet fastener when received within the poppet aperture 26c, constitutes a frictional snap type connection thereat. This connection not only permits the respective upper and lower sections to be effectively con nected together but also allows relative revolving movement of the sections about a substantially vertical axis.

Thus it will be seen that the chair c may also be revolved as well as tilted in a fore-and-aft direction. When the chair is tilted rearwardly for example, the rearmost bellows elements of each pair will be contracted while the forwardmost bellows elements will be expanded. The downwardly facing concave surface presented by the socket recess 25c will slide a limited distance over the convex surface of the socket member 32c. Conversely when the chair is tilted forwardly, the forwardmost bellows element of each pair will contract while the rearmost bellows element of each pair will expand.

Reference is now made to FIG. 9 where a still further embodiment of my novel chain structure is illustrated. It will be seen that the chair structure illustrated in FIG. 9, designated generally by the reference numeral 10d, is of one piece integral construction and constitutes a rocking chair. This chair 10d is comprised of a continuous occupant-supporting panel or lamina 13d which is shaped and contoured to define a seat portion 14d and a back rest portion 15d. Integrally formed with the seat and back rest portions are side portions 16d and a front portion 16.103. The chair 10d also includes a continuous support panel or lamina 17d which is comprised of a seat support portion 180! and a back support portion 19d each respectively disposed in close proximity to the seat and back rest portions. It will be noted that the side portions 16d and front portion 16.10? are integrally formed with the peripheral edges of the seat and back rest portions of the occupant-supporting panel and with the back rest support and seat support portions of the support panel. The chair structure 10d is hollow whereby a cavity is defined flherewithin.

It will be seen that the side portions 16d project downwardly beyond the seat supporting portion 18d and cooperate therewith to define rockers 18.1d. It is also pointed out that the back rest support portion 19d may be provided with a suitable opening therein to permit articles such as toys or the like to be stored within the interior of the chair structure 10d. The chair structure 10d is formed entirely of a resilient yieldable plastic material such as low or medium density polyethylene and because of the unique design of the chair structure, effective structure strength is obtained even though yieldable resilient material is used. Thus the necessity of either using inherently rigid material or additional structural supports is obviated through the use of the novel design and the blow molding or rotational molding techniques.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a novel chair structure in which at least a major portion thereof is constructed entirely of a yieldable pla'stic material, preferably through a blow molding or rotational molding process, and which is so uniquely designed that additional support structure is made unnecessary.

It will also be noted from the preceding paragraphs that I have provided a novel chair structure comprised of interconnected upper and lower chair sections formed of blow molded or rotational molded material which are arranged and constructed to not only permit a foreand-aft tilting action but also rotation of the upper se'ction about a substantially vertical axis.

It will also be seen that my unique chair structure includes a novel and improved chair base which may be readily assembled and disassembled and which includes floor engaging roller members arranged and constructed to permit smooth rolling traversing action over a surface. In my novel chair structure, I have also included a poppet fastening mechanism which permits highly effective connection between the respective upper and lower chair sections.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a novel and improved chair structure, which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but one having many inherent advantages and qualities not found in any comparable devices.

It will of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A chair structure comprising upper and lower chair sections each being of integral molded construction and each being formed of yieldable, resilient plastic material, said upper chair section comprising an integral, continuous, occupant-supporting panel contoured and shaped to define a seat portion and a back rest portion, a supporting panel spaced from said occupant-supporting panel to define a cavity therebetween, and being integrally formed at its peripheral edges with the peripheral edges of the seat and back rest portions of the occupant-sup porting panel, said lower clhair section having portions thereof engageable with a support structure such as a floor to support said upper chair section and an occupant supported thereon, and releasable coupling means releasably and pivotally interconnecting said chair sections and permitting relative revolving movement of said sections about a substantially vertical axis, at least one said chair section being provided with an expansible and retractable means integrally formed therewith and which during expansion and contraction thereof permits tilting of the upper chair section about a substantially horizontal axis upon an occupant weight shift.

2. A chair device comprising a unitary integral, llIOllOW, molded, resilient, plastic upper chair structure including an integral continuous upper panel shaped to define a continuous contoured seat portion and back rest portion, an integral continuous lower panel spaced from said upper panel and being integrally formed at its peripheral edges with the peripheral edges of the upper panel, a unitary integral, hollow, molded, resilient, plastic lower chair structure including a continuous lower panel and an integral continuous upper panel integrally formed at its peripheral edges with the peripheral edges of the lower panel of said lower chair structure, cooperating releasable coupling means on the lower portion of said upper chair structure and on the upper portion of said lower chair structure releasably interconnecting said chair structures together and mounting said upper chair structure for pivotal movement relative to said lower chair structure about a substantially vertical axis, said coupling means including complementary interengaging bearing surfaces formed integrally on said upper and lower chair structures respectively and being disposed substantially symmetrically about said axis of rotation, the bearing surface on said upper chair structure being supported on the bearing surface of said lower chair structure to provide the desired stability to the upper chair portion, said coupling means also including a first fastening portion formed integral with the lower portion of said upper chair structure and a second fastening portion formed integral with the upper portion of said lower chair structure, said fastening portions being operatively interengaged with one another to fasten the upper and lower chair structures together and at the same time to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said fastening portions comprises a projection and the other of said fastening portions comprises means for receiving said projection, said projection having an enlarged portion of greater cross-sectional dimension than another part thereof, said enlarged portion being of greater cross-sectional dimension than said receiving means whereby the resilient m'a'terial of the chair structure permits the projection and 1 1 receiving-means t0 'be operatively interengaged with one FOREIGN PATENTS another to fasten the chair structures together. 1 110,377 7/1961 Gfirmany References Cited 1g; g g ana 21. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 912,628 12/1962 Great Britain. 2,764,228 9/1956 Donohue 297-457X 3,111,344 11/1963 Hoven et a1. 29746OX 3,034,830 5/1962 Avedon. JAMES T. MCCALL, Plzmary Exammer. 2,350,399 6/1944 Jones 297349 2,714,269 8/1955 Charles 46-26 10 I CL 3,124,901 3/1964 Beebe 46173X 10g 15 297 349 5

Claims (1)

1. A CHAIR STRUCTURE COMPRISING UPPER AND LOWER CHAIR SECTIONS EACH BEING OF INTEGRAL MOLDED CONSTRUCTION AND EACH BEING FORMED BY YIELDABLE, RESILIENT PLASTIC MATERIAL, SAID UPPER CHAIR SECTION COMPRISING AN INTEGRAL, CONTINUOUS, OCCUPANT-SUPPORTING PANEL CONTOURED AND SHAPED TO DEFINE A SEAT PORTION AND A BACK REST PORTION, A SUPPORTING PANEL SPACED FROM SAID OCCUPANT-SUPPORTING PANEL TO DEFINE A CAVITY THEREBETWEEN, AND BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED AT ITS PERIPHERAL EDGES WITH THE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF THE SEAT AND BACK REST PORTIONS OF THE OCCUPANT-SUPPORTING PANEL, SAID LOWER CHAIR SECTION HAVING PORTIONS THEREOF ENGAGEABLE WITH A SUPPORT STRUCTURE SUCH AS A FLOOR TO SUPPORT SAID UPPER CHAIR SECTION AND AN OCCUPANT SUPPORTED THEREON, AND RELEASABLE COUPLING MEANS, RELEASABLY AND PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID CHAIR SECTIONS AND PERMITTING RELATIVE REVOLVING MOVEMENT OF SAID SECTIONS ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS, AT LEAST ONE SAID CHAIR SECTION BEING PROVIDED WITH AN EXPANSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREWITH AND WHICH DURING EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION THEREOF PERMITS TILTING OF THE UPPER CHAIR SECTION ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS UPON AN OCCUPANT WEIGHT SHIFT.

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