US3884524A

US3884524A - Cantilevered seating means

Info

Publication number: US3884524A
Application number: US437527A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gunter F Eberle
Original assignee: VECTA GROUP Inc
Current assignee: Steelcase Inc
Priority date: 1974-01-28
Filing date: 1974-01-28
Publication date: 1975-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-20
Also published as: CA1029646A

Abstract

A seat frame having a seating web or sling attached thereto is mounted on a substantially horizontal base beam in an elevated position above the base beam and extends forwardly therefrom. In a cantilevered seating system comprising a plurality of seat frames cantilevered forwardly from the base beam, the seat frames can be arranged in a single row or in a double row.

Description

0 United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,884,524

Eberle 1 May 20, 1975 CANTILEVERED SEATING MEANS 2,897,880 8/1959 Panicci 297/446 3,194,601 7 1965 H 297 248 [75] Inventor: Gunter F. Eberle, Dallas, Tex. 3,375,038 351968 gl z n 2971445 3: [73] Assignee: The Vecta Group, lnc., Dallas, Tex. 314711200 0/1969 Momso 297/457 X 3,494,662 2/1970 Schaefer 297/232 [22] Med: 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS MP 437,527 776,948 2/1935 France 297/295 52 US. Cl. 297/160; 297/244; 297/232; Primary Examiner-Francis Zugel 297/457 511 1111.0. A47c 1/12 [571 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 297/232, 446, 445, 457, A Seat frame having a seating web or sling attached 297/248, 160-162, 294, 295, 244, 441, 287; thereto is mounted on a substantially horizontal base 136/45 59, 60 beam in an elevated position above the base beam and extends forwardly therefrom. In a cantilevered seating [56] References Cited system comprising a plurality of seat frames cantilev- UNITED STATES PATENTS ered forwardly from the base beam, the seat frames 2 509 451 5/1950 Reinholz 297/287 can be arranged in a single row or in a dmble 2,755,841 7/1956 Reinholz 297/446 X 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENEEDHAYZQIQYE 3,884,524.

SHEET 10? 2 CANTILEVERED SEATING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to public seating means. More particularly, this invention relates to seating units cantilevered forwardly from a single substantially horizontal base beam.

Floor supports for chairs and similar seating units in public places take up a considerable amount of floor area and interfere with the use of cleaning devices on the floor, thereby increasing labor costs. Moreover, public seating is subject to severe use and occasional abuse which necessitates expensive repair and/or replacement.

It is an object of this invention to minimize the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide seating units which take up a minimum of floor space for support.

Another object of this invention is to provide a seating system wherein individual modules or parts thereof can be readily replaced when necessary and without materially disturbing the remainder of the system.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a seating system having accessory tables or the like interspersed between seating modules or units.

Still further objects of this invention will present themselves to the skilled artisan upon reference to the ensuing specification, the drawings and the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a forwardly cantilevered seating system providing a substantially horizontal base beam means supported on transverse floor runners or anchored to the floor and one or more seating units mounted on and extending away from the base beam means. Each cantilevered seating unit includes a seat frame above and extending away from the base beam means and comprises an elevated central bight portion defining seat back and arm supports and a pair of legs joined to the bight portion and secured to the base beam means. A seating web means is suspended from the bight portion of the seat frame.

Preferably, each cantilevered seating unit is mounted on the base beam means utilizing a pair of elongated mounting adapter means each having a flat side and an opposed concave side. Said adapter means is situated between end portions of the legs and the base beam means. The end portion of each leg is received in the concavity of the adapter means, and the flat side of the adapter means is contiguous with a flat surface of the base beam means. The end portion of each leg, and the adapter means, are then secured to the base beam means by suitable attachment means such as screws, bolts, or the like. When the seat frame is tubular, a solid, elongated connector insert means having longitudinally-spaced threaded openings is situated within the end portion of each leg, and the seat frame is secured to the base beam means using attachment means which pass from below the base'beam means through holes in the base beam means, through holes in the adapter means, and through holes in the end portions of the legs, all in substantial registry with the spaced openings in the connector insert means, and which attachment means threadedly engage the connector insert means in the spaced openings thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cantilevered seating system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded fragmentary view of an embodiment of this invention with the seating web removed to show frame details;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a cantilevered seating system of this invention and provided with an ashtray-table combination;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing mounting details of the seat frame and an accessory table or the like;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing attachment of seating web to seat frame; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a seating web suitable for use with seating systems embodying the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of seating modules or units such as

units

10 and 11 are cantilevered from central bar 12 adjacent to each other. If desired, the seating units can also be cantilevered in a single row along one side of bar 12.

Each seating unit, such as unit 11 for example, comprises tubular seat frame 13 attached to bar 12 using adapter means 14 and 15 as will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow. Seating web or sling 16 is attached to seat frame 13.

The substantially horizontal base beam means comprises bar 12 provided with a flat upper surface and elevated above floor level by means of

downwardlydepending support members

17 and 18 attached to bar 12 and also to floor runners l9 and 20 which extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of main bar 12. If desired, support

members

17 and 18 can be omitted, in which event main bar 12 is the substantially horizontal base beam means for the cantilevered seating units. For a permanent installation the substantially horizontal base beam means can be bolted to suitable studs or the like embedded in the floor, thereby obviating the need for floor runners. Support members such as 17 and 18 may or may not be needed in such a case depending on the size of the base beam means and the seat frame configuration.

The mounting for

seat units

10 and 11 on the base beam means is shown in FIG. 2. Tubular seat frame 21 extends away from main bar 12 and comprises a central bight portion 29 defining seat back and arm supports, elevated relative to the base beam means, and joined to downwardly-depending

legs

30 and 31 terminating in

end portions

25 and 26, respectively, which are provided with

respective holes

43 and 78 in the underside thereof. Central bight portion 29 is positioned above but not necessarily over main bar 12 and projects rearwardly from

legs

30 and 31. Similarly, tubular seat frame 13 extends away from main bar 12 on the opposite side from tubular seat frame 21 and comprises similar elevated central bight portion 32 and integral downwardly-depending

legs

33 and 34 which terminate in

respective end portions

27 and 28 provided with

holes

44 and 79.

Adapters

22 and 23, situated across main bar 12, are provided with a flat underside which is contiguous with flat upper surface 24 of main bar 12 and with a concave top side.

End portions

25 and 27 are received within concavity 32 in adapter 22, and

end portions

26 and 28 are received within concavity 36 within end portions and 27, and connector insert 38 is slidably received within

end portions

26 and 28.

Connector inserts

37 and 38 are solid rods provided with longitudinallyspaced threaded openings and serve to align the tubular frames and to

anchor frames

13 and 21 to the substantially horizontal base beam.

Connector inserts

37 and 38 also provide a very effective means for affixing

tubular seat frames

13 and 21 to the base beam means because the attachment means passing through the holes in

end portions

25, 26, 27 and 28 and engaging the longitudinally spaced threaded openings in

inserts

37 and 38

secure inserts

37 and 38 within the respective end portions of

seat frames

13 and 21, and pull the resulting assembly against main bar 12, thereby forming a rigid connection therewith. Through holes in registry with the threaded openings of connector insert 37 are provided in main bar 12, in adapter 22 and in the underside of

tubular end portions

25 and 27. Legs and 33 extend upwardly and away from the base beam and are rigidly secured to the base beam by attachment means such as

screws

39 and 40, provided with

suitable lock washers

41 and 42, which screws pass through the aforementioned through holes and engage the spaced, threaded openings in connector insert 37.

Legs

31 and 34 are similarly positioned and are secured to the base beam in a similar manner with screws or the like which pass through corresponding holes in main bar 12, adapter 23 and the underside of

tubular end portions

26 and 28, and which,engage the spaced threaded openings in connector insert 38 in registry with the through holes. Central bight portion 29 is integrally joined with upwardly extending

legs

30 and 31 and projects rearwardly therefrom. In a like manner, central bight portion 32 is integrally joined with

legs

33 and 34 and projects rearwardly therefrom. Support members, such as member 17, are attached to main bar 12 and elevate main bar 12 to above floor level, Floor runner 19 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of main bar 12 and provides lateral stability to the seating assembly so that the seating system does not tilt when a downwardly force is applied to a seating unit, i.e., when a seat is sat in. Main beam 12 conveniently can be a steel tube of a rectangular cross-section and its end can be sealed with a metal or plastic plug such as end plug 45.

An accessory means such as a table or the like can be interspersed between two adjacent seating units in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein

adapters

46 and 47, receiving

legs

48 and 49 of two adjacent seating units in their

respective concavities

50 and 51, are provided with a longitudinal chamfer or notch at the lower edges of outboard sides of the adapters, such as square notch 52 on outboard side 54 and square notch 53 on outboard side 55. Edges of accessory plate 56 are received within

notches

52 and 53. Accessory plate 56, bearing tables 60 and 62, provided with

ashtrays

61 and 63, attafihed to support

legs

58 and 57 mounted on plate 56; is held in place between the adjacent seating units. The aforedescribed chamfers need not be square notch but can be of any convenient configuration. For example, the outboard lower longitudinal edges of the adapters can be beveled and the accessory plate edg @an be provided with a complementary bevel. As shoWfi in FIG. 3, support leg 58 for most part is substaiiiially parallel to downwardly-depending leg 59 of seat iiiiit 66 and support leg 57 for the most part is substantially parallel to downwardly-depending leg 49 of seat unit 67. Both seat unit 66 and seat unit 67 are mounted on main bar 12 in the manner hereinabove described. Main bar 12 is elevated above floor level by downwardly-depending support member 64 and transverse floor runner 65.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, seating web 68 of typical seating unit 69 having a tubular seat frame which includes central bight portion 70 and

downwardlydepending legs

71 and 72 preferably has a generally T- shaped configuration.

Extremities

73, 74 and 75 are wrapped around the seat back and arm support portions of bight portion 70 at least about oneand onehalf turns, and are removably attached thereto by means of snap fasteners having mating parts, e.g., snaps 76 in

extremities

73, 74 and 75 and mating studs 77 pop riveted or otherwise secured to bight portion 70, or other convenient fastening means. Wrapping of

extremities

73, 74 and 75 around bight portion 70 in the manner shown in FIG. 5 causes snaps 76 to be urged against studs 77 when a weight is carried by web 68. Thus, when a person sits down on web 68, the weight of that person causes the web extremities to be drawn more tightly about bight portion 70 and the web extremities, in turn, exert force against the snaps. For greater comfort, a rigid seat panel can be inserted into the central seat portion of web 68 so as to avoid squeezing the seat occupant.

If desired, seating webs such as web 68 can be made reversible by providing a row of snaps on both sides of each extremity in the manner shown on extremity 75 in FIG. 6. Additionally, instead of snap fasteners, other attachment means can be utilized. For example, the seating webs can be secured by means of opposing strips of tape having complemental parts which adhere to each other when pressed together, e.g., one tape being covered by a myriad of finelywoven nylon monofilaments formed into permanent hooks and the other tape being covered with relatively soft nylon loops which are adapted to engage the hooks when the tapes are pressed together. One such tape can be affixed to the central bight portion of a seating frame in lieu of the studs and the other complemental tape can be affixed to the seating web in lieu of the snaps. Also, strips of such complemental tapes can be affixed on both sides of each extremity of the generally T-shaped seating web positioned so that the complemental tapes engage each other as the seating web extremities are wrapped around the central bight portion in the manner hereinabove described. The seating webs or slings can be made of fabric, leather, PVC-plastics, polyurethane or similar materials, and can be upholstered using foam rubber, polyurethane foam, or the like.

The main bar and the support members for the horizontal base beam can be tubular steel and the floor runners can be steel plate. A wide variety of finishes can be provided as desired. As an example, the main bar and the support members can have a black enamel finish and the floor runners can be mirror chromed. Similarly, the tubular seat frame and the support legs for accessory tables or the like can be provided with a mirror chrome finish. 7

As pointed out hereinabove, the attachment means can be screws, bolts, or similar fasteners. Alternatively, in instances where a subsequent disassembly of the seating system is not contemplated, the attachment means can also be welds which permanently secure the seating frames to the substantially horizontal base beam.

The foregoing discussion and the accompanying drawings are intended as illustrative but are not to be taken as limiting. Still other variations and rearrangements of parts are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A forwardly cantilevered seating system which comprises a substantially horizontal base beam means;

a plurality of transverse floor runners below said base beam means and connected thereto;

a seat frame on said base beam means and comprising a pair of spaced legs extending upwardly and away from said base beam means and a central bight portion joining said upwardly extending legs, defining seat back and arm supports, and projecting rearwardly from said legs;

attachment means securing said legs to said base beam means; and

seating web means suspended from said central bight portion of said seat frame and together with said seat frame forming a seat;

said floor runners extending transversely from the longitudinal axis of said base beam means for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of the seating system when the seat is sat in,

said seating web means being of a generally T-shaped configuration, and wherein extremities of said seating web means are removably secured to said seat frame by means of snap fasteners having mating parts and are wrapped around said seat frame at least about one-and-one-half turns so that the mating parts of said snap fasteners are urged against each other when a weight is carried by said seating web means.

2. A forwardly cantilevered seating system which comprises:

a substantially horizontal base beam means;

a plurality of transverse floor runners below said base means and connected thereto;

a plurality of seat frames arranged adjacent to each other on said base means each comprising a pair of spaced legs extending upwardly and away from said base means and a central bight portion joining said upwardly extending legs, defining seat back and arm supports, and projecting rearwardly from said legs;

attachment means securing said legs to said base menas;

seating web means suspended from said central bight portion from each of said seat frames, and together with said seat frames forming said plurality of seats;

said floor runners extending transversely from the longitudinal axis of said base beam means for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of the seating system when each seat is sat in; and

an elongated mounting adapter means is provided between each end portion of each of said legs and said base beam means and having lower outboard longitudinal edges of said adapter means for adjacent seating units which are provided with a chamfer for receiving an accessory base plate therebetween.

3. The cantilevered seating system in accordance with claim 2 wherein an accessory means is mounted on an accessory base plate and said accessory base plate is received within said chamfers between adjacent seating units. 1

4. A forwardly cantilevered seating unit which comprises a substantially horizontal base beam means having a flat upper surface;

a plurality of transverse floor runners below said horizontal base beam means and connected thereto;

a pair of elongated adapter means, each having a flat side and an opposed concave side, situated in a spaced relationship relative to each other and across said base beam means so that said flat side of said adapter means is contiguous with the flat surface of said base beam means;

a tubular seat frame mounted on said base beam means and comprising a pair of spaced legs extending upwardly and away from said base beam means and having end portions received in the concavities of said adapter means and a central bight portion defining seat back and arm supports above said base beam means joining said upwardly extending legs and projecting rearwardly from said legs;

elongated connector insert means having longitudinally-spaced threaded openings and situated within the end portions of said legs;

attachment means passing from below said base beam means and through said base beam means, through said adapter means, and into the end portions of said legs, and being received in the threaded openings of said connector insert means so as to threadedly engage said connector insert means and to secure said seat frame to said base beam means; and

seating web means suspended from said bight portion of said seat frame and together with said seat frame forming a seat;

said floor runners extending transversely from the longitudinal axis of said base beam means for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of the seating unit when the seat is sat in.

5. The cantilevered seating unit in accordance with claim 4 wherein said seating web means is of a generally T-shaped configuration, and wherein extremities of said seating web means are removably secured to said tubular seat frame by means of snap fasteners having mating parts and are wrapped around said tubular seat frame at least about l /zturns so that the mating parts of said snap fasteners are urged against each other when a weight is carried by said seating web means.

Claims

1. A forwardly cantilevered seating system which comprises a substantially horizontal base beam means; a plurality of transverse floor runners below said base beam means and connected thereto; a seat frame on said base beam means and comprising a pair of spaced legs extending upwardly and away from said base beam means and a central bight portion joining said upwardly extending legs, defining seat back and arm supports, and projecting rearwardly from said legs; attachment means securing said legs to said base beam means; and seating web means suspended from said central bight portion of said seat frame and together with said seat frame forming a seat; said floor runners extending transversely from the longitudinal axis of said base beam means for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of the seating system when the seat is sat in, said seating web means being of a generally T-shaped configuration, and wherein extremities of said seating web means are removably secured to said seat frame by means of snap fasteners having mating parts and are wrapped around said seat frame at least about one-and-one-half turns so that the mating parts of said snap fasteners are urged against each other when a weighT is carried by said seating web means.

2. A forwardly cantilevered seating system which comprises: a substantially horizontal base beam means; a plurality of transverse floor runners below said base means and connected thereto; a plurality of seat frames arranged adjacent to each other on said base means each comprising a pair of spaced legs extending upwardly and away from said base means and a central bight portion joining said upwardly extending legs, defining seat back and arm supports, and projecting rearwardly from said legs; attachment means securing said legs to said base menas; seating web means suspended from said central bight portion from each of said seat frames, and together with said seat frames forming said plurality of seats; said floor runners extending transversely from the longitudinal axis of said base beam means for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of the seating system when each seat is sat in; and an elongated mounting adapter means is provided between each end portion of each of said legs and said base beam means and having lower outboard longitudinal edges of said adapter means for adjacent seating units which are provided with a chamfer for receiving an accessory base plate therebetween.

3. The cantilevered seating system in accordance with claim 2 wherein an accessory means is mounted on an accessory base plate and said accessory base plate is received within said chamfers between adjacent seating units.

4. A forwardly cantilevered seating unit which comprises a substantially horizontal base beam means having a flat upper surface; a plurality of transverse floor runners below said horizontal base beam means and connected thereto; a pair of elongated adapter means, each having a flat side and an opposed concave side, situated in a spaced relationship relative to each other and across said base beam means so that said flat side of said adapter means is contiguous with the flat surface of said base beam means; a tubular seat frame mounted on said base beam means and comprising a pair of spaced legs extending upwardly and away from said base beam means and having end portions received in the concavities of said adapter means and a central bight portion defining seat back and arm supports above said base beam means joining said upwardly extending legs and projecting rearwardly from said legs; elongated connector insert means having longitudinally-spaced threaded openings and situated within the end portions of said legs; attachment means passing from below said base beam means and through said base beam means, through said adapter means, and into the end portions of said legs, and being received in the threaded openings of said connector insert means so as to threadedly engage said connector insert means and to secure said seat frame to said base beam means; and seating web means suspended from said bight portion of said seat frame and together with said seat frame forming a seat; said floor runners extending transversely from the longitudinal axis of said base beam means for a distance sufficient to prevent tilting of the seating unit when the seat is sat in.

5. The cantilevered seating unit in accordance with claim 4 wherein said seating web means is of a generally T-shaped configuration, and wherein extremities of said seating web means are removably secured to said tubular seat frame by means of snap fasteners having mating parts and are wrapped around said tubular seat frame at least about 1 1/2 turns so that the mating parts of said snap fasteners are urged against each other when a weight is carried by said seating web means.