US3495874A - Sea urchin chair - Google Patents

Sea urchin chair Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3495874A
US3495874A US704762A US3495874DA US3495874A US 3495874 A US3495874 A US 3495874A US 704762 A US704762 A US 704762A US 3495874D A US3495874D A US 3495874DA US 3495874 A US3495874 A US 3495874A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
chair
shell
spheroidal
spheroid
base
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US704762A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
William Roger Dean
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Royal College of Art
Original Assignee
Royal College of Art
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Royal College of Art filed Critical Royal College of Art
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3495874A publication Critical patent/US3495874A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C5/00—Chairs of special materials
    • A47C5/12—Chairs of special materials of plastics, with or without reinforcement
    • A47C5/125—Chairs of special materials of plastics, with or without reinforcement completely made of foam material
    • 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
    • A47C3/12—Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats with shell-shape seat and back-rest unit, e.g. having arm rests
    • 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
    • A47C3/16—Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats of legless type, e.g. with seat directly resting on the floor; Hassocks; Pouffes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S297/00—Chairs and seats
    • Y10S297/08—Inflatable bellows

Definitions

  • the invention resides in a chair in the form of a ball like or spheroidal structure formed of deformable material having a resiliance such that when it rests it is selfsupporting but will deform under load, as when a person sits thereon, to provide the seat and back portion, the wall formation of the structure having lower and upper areas of relative weakness extending substantially in horizontal planes, the lower one being at the point of maximum width or at or adjacent the junction with a ground base so that in whatever angle or position load is applied to the structure it will yield and accommodate the load in a position of equilibrium.
  • This invention comprises a chair device of novel construction.
  • Conventional chairs or seats are normally based upon a substantially rigid framework comprising legs and means of support for the seat, back and possibly arms of the occupant, the framework being, if desired, suitably upholstered to provide the requisite degree of comfort in relation to the functional requirements of the chair or seat.
  • a chair of unusual but pleasing appearance may be constructed without resort to a substantially rigid framework if the chair is formed in the shape of a self-supporting, hollow spheroid which is deformable under load.
  • a chair device comprises a ground locating base portion and a seat and back portion in which the seat and back portion comprises the major segment of a hollow ball-like or spheroidal structure, the seat and back portion at least being formed of deformable material having a resilience such that when at rest it is self-supporting, but under load Will deform, as when a person sits thereon, the structure having a wall formation which has lower and upper areas of relative weakness extending in substantially horizontal planes, the lower of which is at or adjacent its junction with the ground base so that in whatever angular position load is applied to the structure it will yield and accommodate the load in a position of equilibrium.
  • the spheroidal structure is mounted on a substantially rigid base which is preferably circular in shape and adapted to provide a suitable anchorage for the spheroidal shell.
  • the base is preferably fabricated from wood or rigid plastics material but it is also contemplated to employ a metallic structure, a foam structure or an inflatable base, adequate stability of the chair being ensured if the maximum diameters of the base and spheroid are approximately in the ratio of :6.
  • the chair comprises a spheroid from the bottom of which a segment has been removed along a horizontal plane of diameter approximately 0.8 times that of the spheroid, the
  • Attachment of the major spheroidal segment to the base may be achieved by any convenient means.
  • the spheroidal segment may be directly moulded on to the base or the upper surface of the latter may be provided with a rigid, stabilizing ring of wood, metal or plastics etc., the ring having an external diameter slightly less than that of the base at its greatest diameter and being of substantially V-section whereby the basal edge of the spheroidal segment is located and secured within the arms of the V.
  • Thespheroidal shell may be moulded or formed as a single unit or may, if desired, be fabricated from a number of separate panels zipped or otherwise joined together.
  • Such panels may be substantially petal shaped. That is, if the major segment of a spheroid is placed upon its basal plane and circumferential lines are drawn upon its surface in vertical planes passing through the centre of the spheroid, that portion of the surface enclosed within any two adjacent circumferential lines will constitute a panel of the type hereinafter referred to as a petal shaped panel.
  • a spheroidal surface embodying twelve such petal shaped panels has been found to be readily manufactured and of pleasing appearance, although any convenient number of appropriately dimensioned panels may be employed.
  • a chair according to the invention may be formed from a shell comprising an oblate spheroid, i.e. a spheroid which is substantially flattened at the poles by removal of a spheroidal segment on a horizontal plane at either extremity of the vertical axis of the spheroid.
  • the spheroidal shell is then completed by attachment to the uppermost planar section of a domelike segment and the complete shell is secured to a sub stantially rigid base in the normal way.
  • the shell is conveniently fabricated from plastics foam or like material which is sufiiciently rigid to be self-supporting when not in use, yet is readily deformable about the pivot areas when a person sits upon the chair and is sufficiently resilient to regain its spheroidal shape when the deforming load is removed.
  • the chair may be provided with a central, vertical core of flexible foam or like material which collapses when the chair is sat upon but aids the return to sphericity on removal of the load.
  • a chair according to the invention being symmetrical about the vertical axis may, of course, be approached and sat upon from any direction and may, if required, accommodate more than one occupant simultaneously.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a chair device according to one embodiment of the invention and illustrating the arrangement of the dome and panel sections.
  • FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the chair of FIGURE 1 when at rest.
  • FIGURE 3 is a vertical section corresponding to FIG- URE 2 but partly in perspective, of the chair in use and showing the relative positions adopted by the shell.
  • FIGURES 4 and 5 are vertical, sectional views of a chair device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention consisting of a spheroid in which the dome section is of a thickness approximately equal to that of the pivot area of relative weakness at or adjacent the base and showing the chair at rest and in use positions.
  • FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic, perspective representa- 3 tion illustrating the principle on which the chair device shown in FIGURES 4 and operates.
  • FIGURES 7 and 8 are vertical sectional views of a chair in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention consisting of a spheroid provided with an internal, flexible core and showing the chair at rest and in use positions.
  • FIGURE 9 is a vertical section, partly in perspective, through the centre of a spheroidal chair device having a modified, central, flexible core.
  • FIGURE is a half vertical section of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • a chair device comprises a shell indicated generally at .1 made up of panels 2 and a dome section 3, the shell being attached to a relatively rigid base 4.
  • a rigid stabilising ring 6 of V-section which locates the shell on the base and provides a convenient anchorage for the shell, The latter is profiled, as shown in FIGURE 2, leaving relatively thin areas located on two horizontal planes 7, 7 and 8, 8', these relatively weak areas of the shell constituting hinge or pivot areas about which the shell is deformable as when sat upon.
  • the shell may be of substantially the same thickness throughout if appropriate stilfening means are employed therein or thereon, but in a preferred embodiment the shell is thickened to a profile within the spheroid such that two areas 8.3 of increased thickness are formed, one area S encircling the shell on a horizontal plane passing approximately through the virtual centre of the spheroid and the other area B in the uppermost segment or dome region of the spheroid on a vertical plane passing through the virtual centre of the spheroid.
  • the shell is relatively thin in the region of two horizontal planes, one at or slightly above the base of the chair and the other in the uppermost section of the spheroid but below the dome-like segment, the shell thickness being progressively increased from these thin regions to the aforementioned regions of maximum thickness.
  • This arrangement gives rise to a spheroidal shell possessing two areas of relative weakness as described above lying on horizontal planes, (one) area 7-7' in the uppermost and (one) area 8-8' in the lowermost region of the shell, the areas of relative weakness being designated as hinge or pivot areas about which the shell tends to deform when sat upon by one or more persons.
  • the region of the shell surface lying between the two pivot areas acts as the seat portion of the chair and the dome region of the shell surface above the uppermost pivot area serves as the back of the chair. Consequently, the vertical separation between the two pivot areas must be adequate to provide a satisfactory relationship between the seat and back portions of the chair.
  • the vertical separation between the pivot areas is conveniently 0.5 times the diameter of the spheroid, the vertical distance from the uppermost pivot area to the dome of the spheroid being approximately 0.21 times the diameter and the vertical separation between the lowermost pivot area and ground or floor level being approximately 0.27 times the diameter of the spheroid.
  • FIGURE 3 The position into which the shell is deformed when used by one occupant is shown in FIGURE 3, the thicker wall portion of the shell folding inwardly about the lower hinge axis to form a seat portion 9 while the dome section 3 similarly folds about the upper hinge axis to form a back rest portion 10 for the occupant.
  • Support for the arms and sides of the occupant is provided by those portions 11 of the shell located on opposite sides of the seat portion 9 which will also fold inwardly under the weight of the occupant, these inwardly folded portions 11, being under tension, also providing resilient supports for the seat 9.
  • the dome-section 3 of the shell need not be thickened but may be of dimensions similar to that of the shell at pivot areas 7, 7, this arrangement resulting in a relative increase in seating area of the same or a smaller size of spheroid
  • the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 enables the volume of material within the shell to be reduced, thereby providing approximately the same seating capacity in a chair of somewhat smaller dimensions.
  • the chair comprises a shell provided with a central, vertical, resilient core 12.
  • the shell When occupied, i.e. under load, the shell deforms about pivot areas 13, 13 and 14, 14, to the position shown in FIGURE 8, thereby providing a seat portion 15 and a back rest portion 16 for the occupant, the core 12 being stretched and distorted.
  • Any support provided by core 12 is incidental to its main purpose which is to aid the return of the chair to its spheroidal shape (FIG- URE 7) when the load is removed.
  • FIG- URE 9 A slightly modified core 17 by which the thrust action to return the deformed shell to its spheroidal shape is distributed more evenly on the base is shown in FIG- URE 9.
  • the chair comprises a base 24 of rigid polyurethane having on its underside an annular inset 25 of plywood surmounting a base plate 26.
  • the upper face of the base is domed to receive the body part 27 of flexible polyurethane having lower and upper zones of relative weakness as indicated 28 and 29, the lower zone 28 as shown coinciding with the position of maximum width or diameter.
  • the upper part of the body is provided with an interior hollow 30.
  • the chair may be upholstered as indicated at 31 by a cover of stretch fabric or by a fitted cover secured in position by a zip type fastener.
  • a chair in accordance with the invention constitute an article of furniture of unusual and interesting appearance, but it provides for the occupant or occupants a high degree of comfort and support in a variety of reclining positions.
  • a chair device having a ground locating base portion and a seat and back portion the improvement in which the seat and back portion comprises the major segment of a hollow spheroidal structure formed of deformable material having a resilience such that, when at rest, it is self-supporting and shape returning but capable when under load of deforming, said structure having a wall formation which varies in thickness to provide isolated lower and upper areas of relative weakness which extend in substantially horizontal planes, so that in whatever angular position load is applied to the structure it will yield and accommodatae such load in a position of equilibrium.
  • the seat and back portion comprises the major segment of a hollow spheroidal structure formed of deformable material having a resilience such that, when at rest, it is self-supporting but capable when under load of deforming, said structure having a wall formation which varies in thickness to provide lower and upper areas of relative weakness which extend in substantially horizontal planes, so that in whatever angular position load is applied to the structure it will yield and accommodate such load in a position of equilibrium, the spheroidal structure having a wall formation, portions of which wall on the inside are of increased thickness, one such portion encircling the shell in a horizontal plane passing approximately through the vertical center of the spheroid and the other portion which is in the uppermost segment, lying on a vertical plane passing through said center thereby forming two relatively thin pivot centers.
  • a chair device comprising a spheroidal structure wherein the lower zone of relative weakness is arranged to coincide substantially with the point of maximum width.
  • a chair device comprising a ground base formed of rigid material onto which the spheroidal structure is moulded directly.
  • a chair device comprising a spheroidal structure wherein a void is formed in the upper wall part to increase softness.
  • a chair device comprising a spheroidal structure having a resilient vertical core part interconnecting the base and upper portion of the structure.
  • a chair device comprising a ground locating base portion and a seat and back portion in which the seat and back portion comprises the major portion of a hollow spheroidal structure formed of deformable material having a resilience such that, when at rest, it is self supporting but capable, when under load, of deforming the structure having a wall formation, portions of which wall on the inside are of increased thickness, at least one such portion encircling the shell in a horizontal plane passing through the virtual center of the spheroidal structure so that in whatever angular position load is applied to the structure it will yield and accommodate such load in a position of equilibrium.
  • a chair device comprising a ground locating portion and a seat and back portion in which the seat and back portion comprises the major segment of a spheroidal structure formed of deformable material having a resilience such that, when at rest, it is self supporting but capable, under load of deforming, said structure having a wall formation, portions of which on the inside are of increased thickness, one such portion encircling the shell in a horizontal plane passing approximately through the virtual center of the spheroidal structure and another portion which is in the uppermost segment, lying on a vertical plane passing through said center thereby providing two relatively thin pivot centers and so that in whatever angular position load is applied to the structure it will yield and accommodate the load in a position of equilibrium.

Landscapes

  • Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)
  • Chairs Characterized By Structure (AREA)
US704762A 1967-06-29 1968-02-12 Sea urchin chair Expired - Lifetime US3495874A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB30123/67A GB1189130A (en) 1967-06-29 1967-06-29 Chair

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3495874A true US3495874A (en) 1970-02-17

Family

ID=10302663

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US704762A Expired - Lifetime US3495874A (en) 1967-06-29 1968-02-12 Sea urchin chair

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3495874A (en:Method)
BE (1) BE712687A (en:Method)
FR (1) FR1556716A (en:Method)
GB (1) GB1189130A (en:Method)
NL (1) NL6804914A (en:Method)

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3642323A (en) * 1969-07-02 1972-02-15 William Paul Taylor Molded plastic furniture construction
US3655242A (en) * 1969-12-11 1972-04-11 Peter Ghyczy Chair
US3678553A (en) * 1969-03-13 1972-07-25 Marc S Hermelin Plastic foam furniture
US3713930A (en) * 1969-04-19 1973-01-30 T Levrini Process to form elements under pressure
US3840916A (en) * 1973-04-13 1974-10-15 L Jennings Infant support
USD245651S (en) 1975-11-11 1977-09-06 Ramon Rivera Albert Sea monster chair
US4052104A (en) * 1976-07-28 1977-10-04 Noss William H Seating unit
US4359245A (en) * 1980-07-02 1982-11-16 Franke Thomas A Chair-recliner
US5039162A (en) * 1990-03-07 1991-08-13 Tokuichiro Yoshida Chair serving as a safety device
US5364301A (en) * 1993-11-22 1994-11-15 Marine Machines, Inc. Processing sea urchins for extracting gonads
USD376267S (en) 1995-08-11 1996-12-10 Play seat
USD381574S (en) * 1995-11-15 1997-07-29 Kruszka Brian W Fluid cushioning device
US6070943A (en) * 1996-05-07 2000-06-06 Guery-Strahm; Ruth Ergonomic seating unit
USD428269S (en) * 1999-05-06 2000-07-18 Sportsstuff, Inc. Air-cushioned footstool
US6616238B1 (en) * 1997-11-11 2003-09-09 Ruth Guery-Strahm Ergonomic seating unit
WO2004034847A1 (en) * 2002-10-17 2004-04-29 Edwin Johannus Niekel Light weight seating furniture construction with so-called memory effect
US8585151B2 (en) * 2011-07-25 2013-11-19 Amber I. Goldman Bean bag chair with storage compartment
USD912414S1 (en) * 2019-12-05 2021-03-09 39F Usa Inc Ottoman
US11033778B2 (en) * 2018-06-13 2021-06-15 Julie Ann Wattenberg Fitness device for exercise and balance development

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2181948B (en) * 1985-10-29 1989-10-18 Hobart Rose Limited A seat
FR2773052B1 (fr) * 1997-12-30 2000-02-25 Roset Sa Siege
AT514446B1 (de) * 2013-06-28 2018-02-15 Hinterbauer Anita Polster

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3029109A (en) * 1957-07-26 1962-04-10 Walter P Nail Control of inflatable articles
US3330598A (en) * 1966-02-14 1967-07-11 Whiteside George Harold Pneumatic seat
US3408107A (en) * 1967-02-09 1968-10-29 George G Plosser Inflatable chair
US3438676A (en) * 1967-07-10 1969-04-15 Jeffrey Owen Brosk Article of furniture

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3029109A (en) * 1957-07-26 1962-04-10 Walter P Nail Control of inflatable articles
US3330598A (en) * 1966-02-14 1967-07-11 Whiteside George Harold Pneumatic seat
US3408107A (en) * 1967-02-09 1968-10-29 George G Plosser Inflatable chair
US3438676A (en) * 1967-07-10 1969-04-15 Jeffrey Owen Brosk Article of furniture

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3678553A (en) * 1969-03-13 1972-07-25 Marc S Hermelin Plastic foam furniture
US3713930A (en) * 1969-04-19 1973-01-30 T Levrini Process to form elements under pressure
US3642323A (en) * 1969-07-02 1972-02-15 William Paul Taylor Molded plastic furniture construction
US3655242A (en) * 1969-12-11 1972-04-11 Peter Ghyczy Chair
US3840916A (en) * 1973-04-13 1974-10-15 L Jennings Infant support
USD245651S (en) 1975-11-11 1977-09-06 Ramon Rivera Albert Sea monster chair
US4052104A (en) * 1976-07-28 1977-10-04 Noss William H Seating unit
US4359245A (en) * 1980-07-02 1982-11-16 Franke Thomas A Chair-recliner
US5039162A (en) * 1990-03-07 1991-08-13 Tokuichiro Yoshida Chair serving as a safety device
US5364301A (en) * 1993-11-22 1994-11-15 Marine Machines, Inc. Processing sea urchins for extracting gonads
USD376267S (en) 1995-08-11 1996-12-10 Play seat
USD381574S (en) * 1995-11-15 1997-07-29 Kruszka Brian W Fluid cushioning device
US6070943A (en) * 1996-05-07 2000-06-06 Guery-Strahm; Ruth Ergonomic seating unit
US6616238B1 (en) * 1997-11-11 2003-09-09 Ruth Guery-Strahm Ergonomic seating unit
USD428269S (en) * 1999-05-06 2000-07-18 Sportsstuff, Inc. Air-cushioned footstool
WO2004034847A1 (en) * 2002-10-17 2004-04-29 Edwin Johannus Niekel Light weight seating furniture construction with so-called memory effect
US20060145526A1 (en) * 2002-10-17 2006-07-06 Niekel Edwin J Light weight seating furniture construction with so-called memory effect
US8585151B2 (en) * 2011-07-25 2013-11-19 Amber I. Goldman Bean bag chair with storage compartment
US9603454B2 (en) 2011-07-25 2017-03-28 Amber I. Goldman Bean bag chair with storage compartment
US11033778B2 (en) * 2018-06-13 2021-06-15 Julie Ann Wattenberg Fitness device for exercise and balance development
US11648444B2 (en) 2018-06-13 2023-05-16 Julie Ann Wattenberg Fitness device for exercise and balance development
USD912414S1 (en) * 2019-12-05 2021-03-09 39F Usa Inc Ottoman

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE712687A (en:Method) 1968-09-23
FR1556716A (en:Method) 1969-02-07
NL6804914A (en:Method) 1968-12-30
GB1189130A (en) 1970-04-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3495874A (en) Sea urchin chair
US4099773A (en) Couples chair
US3964790A (en) Ball furniture
US3899210A (en) Bean-bag chair
US2350679A (en) Chair and like supporting structure
US5005902A (en) Seat for a baby
US4109960A (en) Legless rocker-recliner chair
US4484781A (en) Flotation chair
US6334227B1 (en) Seat
US3438676A (en) Article of furniture
US4213213A (en) Support device
US6823801B2 (en) Inflatable snack table
US3471199A (en) Two piece seating furniture construction
US20030164633A1 (en) Dynamic sitting device
US4359245A (en) Chair-recliner
CA1190097A (en) Floating seat
AU3515601A (en) A convertible inflatable furnishing
US11576491B2 (en) Shampoo support apparatus and method for use of same
US6478380B2 (en) Portable leg and foot rest
US3023050A (en) Stool construction
US3843197A (en) Football helmet stool
US2703135A (en) Knockdown nesting chair
KR102168626B1 (ko) 소파의 가변 방법
US3009740A (en) Chair
US20240041269A1 (en) Shampoo support apparatus and method for use of same