US3847433A

US3847433A - Stacking chair

Info

Publication number: US3847433A
Application number: US00378688A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ryn A Van; K Hozeski; H Acton; R Knapp
Original assignee: American Seating Co
Current assignee: American Seating Co
Priority date: 1973-07-12
Filing date: 1973-07-12
Publication date: 1974-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-12
Also published as: JPS5027655A; CA1006429A; IT1013244B; JPS554404B2; DE2432542A1; GB1427472A

Abstract

A chair includes a one-piece tubular member forming a wraparound back frame and delta-shaped side leg supports. A contoured back is secured to the back frame, and a separate contoured seat is attached to the delta leg supports. In one embodiment, the seat is pivotally attached to the leg supports to enable the seat to be raised to permit a person to pass through a row of such chairs.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Acton et al.

[ 51 Nov. 12, 1974 l l STACKING CHAIR [75] Inventors: Hugh C. Acton, Augusta; Robert L. Knapp; Arthur L. Van Ryn, both of Grand Rapids; Kenneth W. Hozeski, Grandville, all of Mich.

[73] Assignee: American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

[22] Filed: July 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 378,688

[52] US. Cl 297/239, 297/248, 297/418 [51] Int. Cl A47c 3/04 [58] Field of Search 297/239, 248, 331, 335,

297/445, 448, DIG. 2, 294, 295, 418

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D147,935 11/1947 Sundberg 297/295 X 2,085,804 7/1937 Heimann 297/418 X 3,173,723. 3/1965 Hoven et al. 297/445 X 3,446,530 5/1969 Rowland 297/239 3,338,591 8/1967 Rowland 297/239 X 3,612,565 10/1971 Zimmerman 297/239 X 3,614,157 10/1971 Hendrickson 297/248 3,708,202 1/1973 Barecki et a1... 297/239 3,724,897 4/1973 Faiks et a1. 297/239 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 88,452 0/1937 Sweden 297/239 367,948 0/1963 Switzerland 297/331 1,337,392 O/1962 France 297/248 Primary ExaminerFrancis K, Zugel Assistant Examiner-William E. Lyddane Attorney, Agent, or FirmDawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus [57] ABSTRACT A chair includes a one-piece tubular member forming a wrap-around back frame and delta-shaped side leg supports. A contoured back is secured to the back frame, and a separate contoured seat is attached to the delta leg supports. in one embodiment, the seat is pivotally attached to the leg supports to enable the seat to be raised to permit a person to pass through a row of such chairs.

' 11 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDnuv 12 I974 sum 1 or 3 PATENTEDHUV 12 1914 saw 3 BF 3 STACKING CHAIR BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The present invention relates to a chair; and more particularly, to a type of chair which may be used in meeting rooms, auditoriums or the like wherein rows of chairs are set up at certain times, but atother times, it is desired to remove the chairs to a storage location. One of the requirements of such chairs is that they be capable of being stacked, one on another for storage.

In the past, the structure of stacked chairs has been such as to prevent the close formation of rows for seating because room had to be allowed for a person to pass down the row while others are seated. Considerable space is lost due to this disadvantage, and the present invention, therefore, includes one embodiment wherein the seat may be raised independently by the occupant. This permits the occupant to step back into the chair to permit a person to pass down the row. One independent seat rise chair with this feature is disclosed in the co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,202 of Barecki, et al. The patented chair did not receive commercial acceptance, however, and it was never put into production.

In this embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a stack chair with an independent seat rise having a one-piece tubular member forming a wraparound back frame and delta shaped side leg supports. The wrap-around back frame continues forwardly to provide full arm runners, and the tubular member is then curved to form a downwardly and rearwardly extending straight portion forming at the same time an arm rest support and a rear leg. At the bottom of the rear leg, the tubular member is bent forwardly to form a horizontal runner, at the front endof which the tubular member is curved to extend upwardly and rearwardly to form a forward leg. The upper end'of the forward leg turns backward to form a horizontal member which is welded to the intersection between the arm rest support and the rear leg at seat level.

A pair of tubes are secured between the two horizontal members at the upper portions of the forward legs for serving the dual function of securing the side delta leg supports together and bracing the seat when it is in its lowered position and occupied.

The seat is a deeply contoured plastic shell, rather like a tractor seat, rising upwardly at the rear toward the back of the chair, and it is provided with a tubular frame which is pivotally secured to the one-piece tubular member, thereby permitting it to be raised.

The back of the seat is also a plastic shell, and it is contoured and secured to' the wrap-around back frame formed from one-piece tubular member. The rear surface of the back is formed into achannel for, receiving the wrap-around back support and it is secured to it by means of tee nuts and bolts.

The contoured back and seat cooperate to provide a comfortable support for a person, giving the impression of a deeply contoured bucket seat. Yet the back and seat are separate members, and this permits the seat to be raised while at the same time, permitting slight flexure of the back as an occupant shifts his weight; and this has been found to contribute to the comfort of the occupant. The space between the upper rear portion of the seat and the back permit breathing of the occupants back during an extended period of seating; and the wrap-around rear portion of the seat protects the occupant from accidental kicking when the chairs are arranged in tiered rows. The floor runners are parallel from rear to front, but there is an offset at the front whereby the front legs are located closer together than rear legs. This permits stacking of the chairs by placing the rear legs of an upper chair outside of the forward legs of the lower chair, and the seat of an upper chair superimposed on the seat of a lower chair in the stack.

Interlocking ganging devices are secured to the rear legs of each chair in an out-oft-he-way location, permitting adjacent chairs to be interlocked to form a ganged row. The structure of the chairs permits them to be ganged side-by-side in contacting relation so that no additional row space is lostwhen they are connected together. The floor runners, being parallel, contact the floor runners of adjacent chairs when thus arranged; and this assists in aligning the chairs in a straight row during set-up.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed descriptionof a preferred embodiment accompanied by the attached drawing wherein identical reference numerals will refer to like parts in the various views.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a threequarter frontal perspective view of a chair constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but from the other side and with the seatraised; 7

FIG. 3 is a three-quarter rear perspective view of the inventive chair;

FIG. 4 shows one method of stacking the chairs;

FIG. 5 shows how the inventive chairs may be stacked on a' dolly for transportingand storing them;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of several chairs in a row, illustrating how they are connected together;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a fragmentary back of a chair;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the back support removed;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through the sight line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a tee nut used to hold the back panel to the back support;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the seat pan with the front toward the top of the drawing and with a portion of the tubular seat support frame removed;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the seat pan as shown in FIG. 1 1;

FIG. 13 is a partially broken away bottom view of the seat support frame and itsv connection to the one-piece tubular chair frame member;

FIG. 14 is 'a fragmentary cross sectional'view of a portion of the seat and its rear mounting, taken through the sight line 14-14 of FIG. 11;

' FIG. 15 is a fragmentary close-up view of the seat hinge connection; v

FIGS. 16 and 17 are plan and front elevational views respectively of a chair constructed according to the present invention without a rising seat;

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view showing the attach ment of the arm rest of the chair of FIG. 16, taken through the sight line 18-18 therein;

FIG. 19 is an upper perspective view, taken from the side and front, of the frame of the chair of FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the rear portion of the seat; and

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through the sight line 2121 of FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawing, FIGS. 1-15 depict a stacking chair with independent seat rise; and FIGS. 16-19 depict a similar chair, except that the seat does not rise.

Referring now to FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 generally designates a chair, and it includes a one-piece tubular frame member 21 with a curved cross brace 22 (FIG. 2), a back panel shell 23, and a seat panel 24 secured to a tubular seat frame support 25. The seat support frame 25 is pivotally secured to the one-piece tu bular frame 21, in a manner disclosed more fully below, so that the seat panel 24 may be selectively placed in either the lowered, occupied position of FIG. 1 or the raised position of FIG. 2 which permits an occupant to step backwardly into the chair to facilitate the passage of another person down a row when the chairs are so arranged.

The tubular frame member 21 is formed into a single piece by joining together at the center of the chair back two complementary side members forming mirror images. Starting from a location behind the chair back 23, the tubular frame member 21 includes a curved horizontal back portion 33 forming a wrap-around back support.

The wrap-around back support then leads into a horizontal right arm rest 32 (FIG. 1) which extends forwardly for a substantial distance to provide an ex tended arm rest for comfort. An arm rest pad 113 may be attached, as will be more fully discussed below. The tubular frame member is then curved at the forward portion of the arm rest 32 and extends in a straight line downwardly and rearwardly to provide an arm rest support 31 and a rear leg 30. The tube is thence curved forwardly to provide a continuous floor runner 29. The runner 29 extends directly forward, as best seen in FIG. 6. Returning to FIG. 1, the forward portion of the runner 29 is curved inwardly at 290 in an offset or S curve and thence upwardly and rearwardly to provide an inclined front leg 28 which is spaced inwardly of the plane formed by the rear leg 30 and runner 29 to facilitate stacking as will be discussed. The upper portion of the front leg 28 is then curved to provide a horizontal portion 27, to which the right side (from the viewpoint of an occupant) of the concave brace 22 is secured, as seen in FIG. 2. The back end of the horizontal portion 27 is provided with a seat hinge, generally designated 26.

The left side of the tubular frame member 21. is formed, as mentioned, in complementary fashion to provide a left arm rest 35, an arm rest support 36 and rear leg 37, a horizontal floor runner 38 (parallel with the runner 29), a left front leg 39, and a horizontal portion 40 corresponding to the previously defined horizontal portion 27 for securing the other end of the cross brace 22. The cross brace 22, comprising

tubes

22a and 22b, serves not only to connect the two side portions of the tubular frame member 21 together to form a rigid structure, but it also acts asa supporting brace for the seat 24 when it is lowered as shown in FIG. 1.

The back end of the horizontal portion 40 of the tubular frame member 21 terminates at 41 (FIG. 3) where a left side hinge pin 42 is located for the pivotal mounting of the seat.

Turning now to FIGS. lit-13, the seat support frame 25 comprises a tubular member 43 of square cross section and formed in the general shape of a U with the lower, straightened portion 44 of the U extending along and bracing the forward portion of the seat shell 24. The side portions of the U-shaped tubular seat frame member 43 are designated 45 and 46 respectively; and their distal ends are welded to inwardly extending flanges 480 of Z-shaped

hinge plates

47, 48 which are apertured (as at 48a in FIGS. 11 and 15) to receive the seat hinge pins (see reference numeral 42 in FIG. 15). A curved rear tube 49 is welded at its forward ends 51 to the outwardly extending rear flange 48b of the plate. In other words, the rear support 49 of the seat frame 25 is offset outwardly relative to the forward side portion 46 of the U-shaped tubular member 44; and this provides the dual functions of attachment to the pivotal connection on the main chair frame, and of giving a visual continuity between the visible curved member 49 and the

horizontal portions

27, 40 of the chair frame 21 when the seat is lowered (see FIG. 2). It will be observed that the

brackets

47, 48 are hidden from view except for the small edge of the flange 48b and the corresponding flange on the bracket 47.

The pivotal attachment of the seat to the frame includes a pivot plug 41 having a reduced section 41b which fits into the open end of the horizontal tubular portion 40 of the frame. The head portion 41a of the plug 41 has an aperture for the hinge pin 42, and the pin 42 also extends through an aperture in the center portion 48a of the hinge plate 48. The hinge pin 42 is held in place by a push-on nut cap 42b which has spurs on the inner surface to prevent dislodgement.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 11, the bottom side of the plastic shell seat panel 24 includes a channel-like structure 52 which is molded at the same time the seat panel is formed; and it is located toward the front of the seat panel and receives the straight connecting portion 44 of the U-shaped frame 43. That is, the forward seat frame 43 fits into the side pocket formed by the channel member 52.

Inclined ribs

53, 54 extend outwardly from the outer edges of the channel member 52; and they are straight members, not forming a corresponding enclosing pocket. Spaced inwardly from the

inclined ribs

53, 54 are corresponding ribs 55,.

56 respectively. The rear edges of these two latter inclined ribs are integrally formed with parallel

straight members

57, 58. Another set of

parallel ribs

59, 60 are spaced outwardly respectively from the

rib portions

57, 58. There are thus formed two side slots for conforming to and receiving the portions 45, 46 of the U-shaped seat frame member 43, as best seen in FIG. 11.

Across the back of the seat panel 24, there is a continuous, long curved rib 61 (FIGS. 11-14) that conforms to the shape of the rear seat frame member 49 and rests on top of it. Located in front of the curved rib 61 is a shorter, similarly curved rib 62 that engages the forward surface of the tubular member 49.

FIG. 14 illustrates the manner in which the rear curved tube supports the plastic seat panel 24. When the seat is raised, the rib 61,rests against the side of the tube 49 while the rib 62 rests on top of it, as seen in FIG. 14. When the seat is lowered for an occupant, the

rib 61 rests on top of the tube 49 while the forward rib 62 is located in front of the tube, thereby preventing rearward movement of the seat panel 24.

Adjacent either end of the curved rib 62 are bosses 63, 64 which are provided with internal bores. Two small channel-shaped plates 65, 66 are welded to the side of the rear seat tube 49 adjacent the shell, and each is provided with an aperture for receiving selfthreading sheet metal screws 67 which are threaded into the bosses 63, 64 for securing the rear portion of the seat panel to its frame 25. Cup-shaped collars 63a (FIGS. 20-21) are placed over the ends of the bosses to prevent splitting of the bosses when the parts are assembled.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-3 and 6,

coupling devices

68 and 69 are attached respectively to the

rear legs

30 and 37 of the chair at a relatively high location, just beneath the seat frame when it is lowered.

The clip-like connector 68 on the right rear leg 30 is placed at a location 45 outwardly from the direct rearward position; and it includes a hook portion 70 spaced outwardly from the leg for receiving a similarly formed clip 69 on the leg 37. The clip-69 is also located at a position of 45 outwardly from a direct rearward line, but it turns out and forms a downwardly extending finger 71 spaced outwardly from the leg 37 which locks into the upwardly extending corresponding hook of an adjacent chair.

As best seen in FIG. 6, from the rear, the chairs are ganged together by lifting slightly, placing one chair along-side of another to align the hook 68 with the finger 71 on the clip 69 and then moving it downwardly into contacting, locking engagement, as indicated by the arrow. That is to say, a chair 72 is connected to the row of chairs 73 by elevating it, moving it to the left until it contacts the adjacent chair 73, and then moving it down so that the downwardly projecting finger 71 of clip 69 locks into the upwardly projecting book 70 of the next adjacent chair.

When the chairs are fully down, the

adjacent runners

29, 38 engage and straighten the row. Disassembly is accomplished by reversing the motions just described;

and it will be observed that when the chairs are thus ganged in a row, there is no additional space between adjacent chairs. Rather, the chairs are in actual physical engagement along the rear legs, runners and arm rests. This is important, for example, in that an auditorium manager knows that the length of a row of connected chairs is simply a multiple of the width of a single chair-mo additional length is added to the row.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, the curved plastic back panel is provided on its rear surface with two horizontal ribs designated 75 and 76, spaced vertically apart to form a recess or channel 77 for snugly receiving the wrap-around back

support

33, 34. Two sets of nibs 79 (FIG. 8) are located along the inside of this channel, including nibs 80 extending downwardly from the upper rib 75 and upwardly extending nibs 81 located on the lower rib 75. These nibs are spaced away from the rear surface of the back panel to provide

slots

85, 86 to slidably receive end plates 83 of Tee-nuts 84. When the nuts are thus received in the

slots

85, 86, the nibs fit tightly against the barrel 87 of the Tee-nuts to prevent any vertical motion of the Tee-nuts. The distal end of the barrel 87 is received in a hole 88 in the wraparound back portion 34 of the chair frame. The tube is pressed tightly against the outside seating surfaces 88, 89 of the nibs 80, 81 respectively which are curved to conform to the outer surface of the wrap-around tube 34. An oval head machine screw 91 holds the tube 34 against the

walls

89, 90 of the nibs 80, 81 and between the

ribs

75, 76 of the back panel 23. The Tee-nuts are free to slide sideways, as needed, to align with the screws 91 as the screws are tightened to fasten the back panel to the chair frame 21. It will be observed, and it is considered an important feature of the present invention that after a back panel is assembled to the

wraparound frame portions

33, 34 of the frame 21, a shearing force cannot be exerted on the fastening bolts 91 because of the curvature of the wrap-around

portions

33, 34 and the corresponding curvature of the back panel. In other words, if one were to place one hand at the top of the back panel and another hand at the bottom and try to wiggle it back and forth to disengage it from the seat frame 21, the resulting forces would be borne by the seat frame 21, with a minimum amount of shear induced on the fastening bolts 91.

Two ways of stacking the inventive chairs are shown respectively in FIGS. 4 and 5. If it is desired to stack only a few chairs, they may be superimposed as shown in FIG. 4 with the runners parallel to the floor. It will be observed that the seat is in a lowered position for stacking.

If it is desired to stack a larger number of chairs, for example for transporting and storing them, a special stacking dolly generally designated by reference numeral 92 in FIG. 5 is used to form a vertical stack. In a preferred embodiment, the floor runners form an angle of about 41 when forming this type of stack. A stack of the type shown in FIG. 5 will permit as many as 20 chairs with independent seat rise (25 chairs without the rising seats) to be placed in a stable, vertical stack, while still permitting the dolly and chairs to be wheeled through a normal door (that is, the stack will be about 65 inches tall).

In either type of stacking, it will be observed that the upper chair being stacked, designated 94, is placed onto a lower chair from the front, by holding the chair at the forward curved portion joining the arm rest with the arm rest support, as illustrated at 95 of FIG. 4. The upper chair is then nested with the lower chair so that the rear legs and floor runners of an upper chair pass outside the forward legs of all lower chairs in the stack. During stacking, the rear legs 96 of an upper chair 94 are placed against and slid downwardly along the stationary rear legs 97 of the lower chair 98; and when two chairs are fully assembled together in a stack, their associated rear legs and arm rest supports are normally contacting each other.

The stacking dolly 92 includes a rectangular platform 99 formed of angle iron, supported by four swivel casters 100. Two upright posts 101 support the chairs at the junction 102 of their arm rests 103 and arm rest supports 104. Curved pockets 105 are provided on the outside of the angle irons forming the side of the frame 99, for receiving the curved junction between the runners and the rear legs of the chairs. A cross tube, shown in phantom at 107, is connected between the uprights 101 for stability and strength.

Referring again to FIG. 3, one of the advantages 0 having a back panel 111 separate from the seat panel 112 is that when an occupant shifts his weight or is seated, a slight flexing of the back panel is permitted without movement of the associated seat panel 112, as illustrated by the dashed lines showing the back panel 111 bending at the curve 109 between the arm rest 108 and the arm rest support. It will also be observed that the tractor-seat shape of the seat panel 112, wrapping around the seat of an occupant and extending substantially up the spinal region, affords protection of an occupant from accidental kicks by a person sitting in a row behind him, particularly when the chairs are arranged in tiered rows.

The chair 20 may be fitted with

arm rest pads

113, 114, which are designed so that their sides 115 do not protrude beyond the frame 21 to avoid interference with the ganging of adjacent chairsv The

pads

113, 114 project inwardly as at 116 only a short distance so that they are not in the way when the seat 24 is raised (for the embodiment of FIGS. 1'15). They terminate in the rear denoted 117 in a curved taper behind the chair back panel 23, again, to avoid interference with ganging or stacking.

It will be observed, that it is considered an important feature of the invention, that the design of the frame provides arm rests 32, 35 while not adding to the width of the chair. Further, the provision of the

pads

113, 114 do not add to the width of the chair. Thus, the chairs may be ganged side-by-side without adding to the length of the aisle, see FIGS. 6, 16 and 17.

Two or more Tee-nuts 118 are molded in the plastic arm rest pads which fit into holes 119 in the upper surface of the chair frame tubular arm rests designated 120 in FIG. 18; and they are held in place by an oval head screw 121, for each Tee-nut, inserted through a hole 122 in the lower surface of the tube 120 and threaded securely into the Tee-nut 118.

FIG. 19 shows a chair frame 123 for a chair with a rigid seat. The frame is made in three parts, the right half 124, left half 125 and the seat frame 126, which is welded in place.

Each frame half is bent from the center of the back panel support 127 similar to the previously described frame to the middle of the rear seat support 128. First the curve of the back is made 129R and 12.9L, then the straight portion for the arm rest 130R and 1301s, a

sharp curve

131R and 131L at the front, a long straight length for the rear leg and arm rest support 132R and 132L, another sharp curve at the floor 133R and 1331s, a flat straight portion along the floor 134R and 134L, a sharp offset curve (an S curve) 135R and 135L, another sharp curve at the front 135R and 136L, a shorter straight length for the front leg 137R and 137L, a wraparound curve at the seat height 138R and 1381s; a very short straight portion along the side of the seat 139R and 139L, and finally a curved portion for the rear seat support 140R and 140L, ending at 128. A short plug is inserted into the tube ends before the two holes are welded together.

The seat frame 126 consists of a U-shaped piece of round tubing 141 and a cross tube of square tubing 142 that is concave to fitunder the bucket portion of the plastic seat panel 24, forming a large A-shaped frame (when viewed from above and behind the chair). This frame is welded rigidly onto the chair frame on both sides 143R and 143L.

There are two short channels 144 welded to the underside of the rear seat support frame 140R and 140L so screws 67 may be inserted through holes and tightened into bosses 63 on thelower surface of the seat panel 24.

The seat panels 24, the back panels 23, and the arm rests 113 and 114 are the same for both types of chairs, i.e., the rising seat type and the rigid seat type.

Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiment of the inventive chair, it will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art will be able to modify certain of the structure which has been illustrated and to substitute equivalent elements for those disclosed while continuing to practice the principle of the invention, and it is, therefore, intended that all such modifications and substitutions be covered as they are embraced within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A chair comprising: a frame formed from a continuous piece of tubing and including a horizontal curved portion forming a wrap-around back panel support, said tubing extending horizontally forwardly of said wrap-around portion to provide ann rests, thence extending downwardly and rearwardly to provide inclined arm rest supports and rear leg portions, thence forwardly to provide horizontal floor runners, thence upwardly and rearwardly to provide forward legs and connected at the upper portion of said forward legs to the juncture between said arm rest support and the associated rear leg; a curved, contoured back panel secured to the wraparound portion of said frame; a seat panel; tubular seat frame means connected to said seat panel for supporting the same; a brace connected to said tubular frame at the upper portion of said forward legs to stabilize said frame and to support said seat when it is in a lowered, occupied position; and means for pivotally connecting said seat frame to said frame whereby said seat panel may be selectively lowered to an occupied position wherein said seat panel is supported by said brace, or raised, thereby permitting an occupant to step between said runners to permit passage of another person down a row.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said floor runners are parallel, and wherein each of said front legs is offset inwardly of its associated runner and rear leg to permit one of said chairs to be assembled in stacked relation with a similar chair by placing the rear legs of an upper chair over the forward legs of a lower chair until the arm rests and rear legs of the stacked chairs are in close proximal relation.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first mentioned frame further includes a horizontal portion extending from the top of each of said forward legs rearwardly for connection to the junction between the associated arm rest and rear leg portion, and wherein said brace comprises a concave portion rigidly secured at either side to said horizontal portions extending rearwardly from the upper parts of said front legs and adapted to receive and support said seat panel in an occupied position.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said seat panel comprises a tractor-type contoured plastic shell provid ing a lowered bucket seat portion and extending upwardly around the rear spinal area of an occupant, and

wherein said seat frame includes a generally U-shaped forward tubular frame portion extending about the sides and front of said seat shell and beneath it; a rear tubular frame portion; and first and second side brackets connecting said U-shaped forward seat portion with said curved seat frame portion at either side with the rear curved portion extending outwardly of said U- frame portion and providing a continuous line with the horizontal frame portion of said main frame extending rearwardly of an associated forward leg thereof, each of said brackets further providing an apertured portion pivotally connecting said seat frame to said main frame at the rear extension of said horizontally extending portions extending rearwardly of said forward legs.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said seat panel is molded and further defines spaced rib means for providing channels for receiving said U-shaped forward seat frame portion and a forward pocket for receiving the forward portion of said U-shaped seat frame portion.

6. The structure of claim 5 further comprising additional rib means on the lower portion of said seat panel, both forward and aft of said curved portion and conforming to the curve thereof for holding the same; and further including bracket means for securing said seat panel to said rear curved portion of said seat frame.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said back panel is inclined upwardly and rearwardly in cross section from a location above the termination of said seat panel and is further curved to wrap around the back of an occupant, the rear surface of said back panel providing vertically spaced rearwardly extending ribs defining a channel for receiving the wrap-around portion of said main frame; and threaded fastener means for securing said back panel to said wrap-around portion of said main frame.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein each of said ribs of said back panel are further provided with opposing nibs extending inwardly of said channel and spaced apart from each other and from the rear surface of said back panel to provide a horizontal slot means to'slidably receive a threaded Tee-nut; and wherein said threaded fastener means includes a Tee-nut slidably received in an associated slot of said channel; and a machine screw extending through said wrap-around portion of said main frame and threadedly engaging an associated Tee-nut.

9. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a first coupling element on the left rear leg of said chair and a second complementary coupling element on the right rear leg of said chair, one of said coupling elements including an upwardly-extending hook member spaced 0 thus stacked such that said floor runners form an angle stacked relation, said dolly comprising upwardly extending brace members adapted to receive a lowermost chair and to support said chair by engaging said main frame at the juncture between an arm rest and and an arm rest support on either side thereof; and a lower platform including side pockets for receiving said main frame at the juncture between said floor runner and said associated rear legs, said chairs being tilted when of approximately 41 with the horizontal.

11. A chair comprising: a supporting frame formed from a continuous piece of tubing and including a horizontal curved portion forming a wrap-around back support panel, said tubing extending horizontal forwardly of said wrap-around portion to provide arm rests, thence extending downwardly and rearwardly to provide inclined arm rest supports and rear leg portions, thence forwardly to provide horizontal floor runners, thence inwardly and thence upwardly and rearwardly to provide inwardly ofiset forward legs and connected at the upper portion of said forward legs to the juncture between said arm rest support and the associated rear leg, and thence smoothly curved in a seat wrap-around curve; a forward seat panel comprising a generally U- shaped forwardly extending tubular member connected at either side to said main supporting frame adjacent the portions thereof where said seat wrap-around curve begins, and a transverse concave brace member interconnecting the distal ends of said U-shaped seat support; a curved, contoured back panel secured to the wrap-around back portion of said frame; and a separate seat panel secured to the seat frame and to the seat wrap-around portion of said main frame.

Claims

1. A chair comprising: a frame formed from a continuous piece of tubing and including a horizontal curved portion forming a wraparound back panel support, said tubing extending horizontally forwardly of said wrap-around portion to provide arm rests, thence extending downwardly and rearwardly to provide inclined arm rest supports and rear leg portions, thence forwardly to provide horizontal floor runners, thence upwardly and rearwardly to provide forward legs and connected at the upper portion of said forward legs to the juncture between said arm rest support and the associated rear leg; a curved, contoured back panel secured to the wrap-around portion of said frame; a seat panel; tubular seat frame means connected to said seat panel for supporting the same; a brace connected to said tubular frame at the upper portion of said forward legs to stabilize said frame and to support said seat when it is in a lowered, occupied position; and means for pivotally connecting said seat frame to said frame whereby said seat panel may be selectively lowered to an occupied position wherein said seat panel is supported by said brace, or raised, thereby permitting an occupant to step between said runners to permit passage of another person down a row.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said seat panel comprises a tractor-type contoured plastic shell providing a lowered bucket seat portion and extending upwardly around the rear spinal area of an occupant, and wherein said seat frame includes a generally U-shaped forward tubular frame portion extending about the sides and front of said seat shell and beneath it; a rear tubular frame portion; and first and second side brackets connecting said U-shaped forward seat portion with said curved seat frame portion at either side with the rear curved portion extending outwardly of said U-frame portion and providing a continuous line with the horizontal frame portion of said main frame extending rearwardly of an associated forward leg thereof, each of said brackets further providing an apertured portion pivotally connecting said seat frame to said main frame at the rear extension of said horizontally extending portions extending rearwardly of said forward legs.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein each of said ribs of said back panel are further provided with opposing nibs extending inwardly of said channel and spaced apart from each other and from the rear surface of said back panel to provide a horizontal slot means to slidably receive a threaded Tee-nut; and wherein said threaded fastener means includes a Tee-nut slidably received in an associated slot of said channel; and a machine screw extending through said wrap-around portion of said main frame and threadedly engaging an associated Tee-nut.

9. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a first coupling element on the left rear leg of said chair and a second complementary coupling element on the right rear leg of said chair, one of said coupling elements including an upwardly-extending hook member spaced outwardly from its associated rear leg and the other coupling element including a downwardly extending finger spaced outwardly of its associated leg, said coupling elements being arranged to connect with the complementary element of an adjacent chair spaced beside it to hold the adjacent rear legs of said adjacent chairs in contacting relation, whereby when a row of said chairs is assembled, the length of the row is a multiple of the width of an individual chair.

10. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a mobile dolly for transporting a plurality of said chairs in stacked relation, said dolly comprising upwardly extending brace members adapted to receive a lowermost chair and to support said chair by engaging said main frame at the juncture between an arm rest and and an arm rest support on either side thereof; and a lower platform including side pockets for receiving said main frame at the junCture between said floor runner and said associated rear legs, said chairs being tilted when thus stacked such that said floor runners form an angle of approximately 41* with the horizontal.

11. A chair comprising: a supporting frame formed from a continuous piece of tubing and including a horizontal curved portion forming a wrap-around back support panel, said tubing extending horizontal forwardly of said wrap-around portion to provide arm rests, thence extending downwardly and rearwardly to provide inclined arm rest supports and rear leg portions, thence forwardly to provide horizontal floor runners, thence inwardly and thence upwardly and rearwardly to provide inwardly offset forward legs and connected at the upper portion of said forward legs to the juncture between said arm rest support and the associated rear leg, and thence smoothly curved in a seat wrap-around curve; a forward seat panel comprising a generally U-shaped forwardly extending tubular member connected at either side to said main supporting frame adjacent the portions thereof where said seat wrap-around curve begins, and a transverse concave brace member interconnecting the distal ends of said U-shaped seat support; a curved, contoured back panel secured to the wrap-around back portion of said frame; and a separate seat panel secured to the seat frame and to the seat wrap-around portion of said main frame.