WO1997039657A1 - Chaise pliante - Google Patents

Chaise pliante Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997039657A1
WO1997039657A1 PCT/US1997/006704 US9706704W WO9739657A1 WO 1997039657 A1 WO1997039657 A1 WO 1997039657A1 US 9706704 W US9706704 W US 9706704W WO 9739657 A1 WO9739657 A1 WO 9739657A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pair
seat portion
article
legs
furniture
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/006704
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Glen Kemnitz
Kristi Killen
James Machen
Brad Rakow
Jerome Grunstad
Keith Erickson
Original Assignee
Sunlite Casual Furniture, Inc.
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 Sunlite Casual Furniture, Inc. filed Critical Sunlite Casual Furniture, Inc.
Publication of WO1997039657A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997039657A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C4/00—Foldable, collapsible or dismountable chairs
    • A47C4/04—Folding chairs with inflexible seats
    • A47C4/08—Folding chairs with inflexible seats having a frame made of wood or plastics
    • A47C4/10—Folding chairs with inflexible seats having a frame made of wood or plastics with legs pivotably connected to seat or underframe
    • A47C4/14—Folding chairs with inflexible seats having a frame made of wood or plastics with legs pivotably connected to seat or underframe with cross legs

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an article of furniture, such as a chair, of the type in which the furniture is collapsible and the angular relationship between the seat portion and back portion is adjustable. More particularly, this invention concerns an article of resin furniture having a link member attached to and extending between the seat portion and the back leg which guides the seat portion into a folded position with respect to the back portion.
  • One type of conventional adjustable chair comprises a seat, a back, a pair of front legs, a pair of back legs, and a pair of armrests wherein the seat, the front legs, and the back legs are molded as a one piece member and the back is hingeably connected at the rear of the seat such that the back folds onto the seat when the chair is in a closed position.
  • the armrests are attached to the sides of the back and allow for the back to be angularly positioned with respect to the seat by manipulating the armrests. Examples of this type of conventional adjustable chair are disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,906,046 issued to Kleinklaus and United States Patent No. 4,749,232 issued to Guichon.
  • Another conventional multi-position chair comprises a seat with back legs and a back with front legs wherein the seat is molded such that it forms one piece with the back legs and the back is molded such that it forms one piece with the front legs.
  • the seat and the back are connected to one another in a criss-cross fashion using connection means which consist of a post engaging a track member and the sides of the backrest portion being provided with a plurality of notches positioned along the length thereof which engage a support member on the seat which allows for the backrest portion to be positioned in at least three seating positions.
  • connection means consist of a post engaging a track member and the sides of the backrest portion being provided with a plurality of notches positioned along the length thereof which engage a support member on the seat which allows for the backrest portion to be positioned in at least three seating positions.
  • An example of this type of adjustable chair is disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,211,443 issued to Kelly.
  • the disadvantage to using this type of adjustable chair is that although the chair does collapse upon itself and
  • the present preferred invention provides a comfortable article of furniture that easily folds into substantially one plane and has a back portion which is adjustable with respect to the seat portion.
  • the present preferred embodiment of the invention is an article of furniture substantially comprising a seat portion, a back portion, a pair of back legs, a pair of front legs, means for connecting the seat portion to the back portion such that the back portion can pivot with respect to the seat portion and means for pivoting the seat portion about the pair of back legs when the article of furniture is being transformed from an opened position to a folded position.
  • the article of furniture is made from resin material.
  • the means for pivoting the seat portion about the pair of back legs preferably takes the form of a link member having two ends, wherein the one end of the link member is attached to one of the pair of back legs and the other end of the link member is attached to the seat portion.
  • First and second stop members are positioned along the length of each of the pair of back legs in order to prevent the link member from rotating past the back legs when moving from the folded position to the opened position or when the link member is moving from the opened position to the folded position.
  • the present preferred embodiment further provides for the means for connecting the seat portion to the back portion to be hinge members which each comprise a rotating body and a housing body, wherein the rotating body has a front substantially cylindrical portion, two side portions and two ears extending therefrom, wherein the rotating body rotates within the housing body of the seat portion.
  • the present preferred embodiment further provides for the article of furniture to include a pair of armrests attached to the back portion and having means for fixedly positioning the back portion at a plurality of angular arrangements with respect to the seat portion.
  • the positioning means is a plurality of projections extending from the underside of the armrests and a protuberance on the proximate ends of each of the pair of front legs.
  • Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a chair employing the present preferred embodiment of the invention in the opened position.
  • Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the chair shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a side view of the chair of Figure 1 in a folded position.
  • Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a link member and a hinge member shown in Figure 2.
  • Figure 5 is another enlarged view of the link member and hinge member shown in Figure 2.
  • Figure 6 is a top view of the link member shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the link member shown in Figure 6 taken along line VII-VII.
  • Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the link member shown in Figure 6 taken along line VIII-VIII.
  • Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the link member shown in Figure 6 taken along line IX-IX.
  • Figure 10 is a front view of a pair of back legs of the chair shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 11 is a side view of the pair of back legs shown in Figure 10.
  • Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of one of the pair of back legs shown in Figure 10 taken along line XII-XII.
  • Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the pair of back legs shown in Figure 10 taken along line XIII-XIII.
  • Figure 14 is a top view of the seat portion of the chair shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 15 is a side view of the seat portion shown in Figure 14.
  • Figure 15A is a perspective view of a protrusion shown in Figure 15.
  • Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of the seat portion shown in Figure 14 taken along line XVI-XVI.
  • Figure 17 is a front view of a pair of front legs of the chair shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of the front legs shown in Figure 17 taken along line XVIII-XVIII.
  • Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the pair of front legs shown in Figure 17 taken along line XIX-XIX.
  • Figure 20 is a perspective view of an armrest of the chair shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest shown in Figure 20 taken along line XXI-XXI.
  • Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest shown in Figure 20 taken along line XXII-XXII.
  • Figure 23 is a front view of the back portion of the chair shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 24 is a side view of the back portion shown in Figure 23.
  • Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a chair 100 (preferably made of polypropylene or another rigid plastic material such as nylon, polyethylene, PVC, or polystyrene) having a seat portion 102, a back portion 104, a pair of front legs 106, a pair of back legs 108, a pair of armrests 110 and a link member 111 attached to and extending between the back legs 108 and the seat portion 102.
  • a chair 100 preferably made of polypropylene or another rigid plastic material such as nylon, polyethylene, PVC, or polystyrene
  • the seat portion 102 and the back portion 104 are hingeably connected such that in the folded position, shown in Figure 3, the chair 100 substantially collapses into one plane and in the completely opened position, shown in Figures 1 and 2, the back portion 104 forms an obtuse angle with the seat portion.
  • the seat portion 102 shown in greater detail in Figures 14 through 16, is substantially square having four sides 112, a top surface 114, a bottom surface (not shown), a front portion 116 and a rear portion 118.
  • a housing 120 of a hinge member 122 is positioned at each of the corners of the rear portion 118 of the seat portion 102.
  • Each of the housings 120 includes two circular end pieces 124 that extend substantially perpendicularly from the top surface 114, two horizontal openings 126 and two elongated recesses 128, both the openings 126 and recesses 128 being defined by the seat portion 102.
  • the seat portion 102 further includes protrusions 130 which extend from each of two opposing side surfaces 112 of the seat portion 102.
  • Each protrusion 130 preferably has a tear-dropped shaped cross-section 132 (Fig. 15) and a cavity 134 that partially extends around the circumference of the protrusion 130 (Figs. 14 and 15A) .
  • the seat portion 102 further defines apertures 136 having a key 138 located on each of two opposing sides of the seat portion 102 (Fig. 15) .
  • the seat portion 102 can take a variety of shapes.
  • the back portion 104 shown in greater detail in Figures 23 and 24, is substantially rectangular-shaped and has four sides 140, a top surface 142, a bottom surface 144 (Fig.
  • Two rotating bodies 150 of the hinge members 122 extend from the back portion side 140 at the proximate portion 146.
  • Each of the rotating bodies 150 includes a front substantially cylindrical portion 152, two side portions 154 and two ears 156 extending from the two side portions 154.
  • the housing 120 (shown in Fig. 4) mates with the rotating body 150 of the back portion 104, such that the back portion 104 is pivotally connected to the seat portion 102. Initially, the ears 156 are aligned with the horizontal openings 126 (shown in Fig. 16) and the rotating body 150 is fitted within the housing 120.
  • the rotating body 150 rotates within the housing 120 by the side portions 154 being aligned with the two elongated recesses 128 (Shown in Fig. 16) .
  • the back portion 104 further includes an orifice 158, located in each of two opposing sides 140 thereof.
  • the link member 111 shown in greater detail in Figures 4 through 9, is an elongated body having a first curved end 160 at one end of the link, a second curved end 162 at the other end of the link (shown in Fig. 7) , a first surface 164, a second surface 166 wherein the portion of the link member 111 extending between the first curved end 160 and the second curved end 162 is inclined relative to the ends 160 and 162 such that the ends 160 and 162 are offset from one another by a distance D illustrated in Fig. 7.
  • the link member 111 defines two holes 168 and 170 (shown in Fig. 6) extending between the first and second surfaces 164 and 166.
  • the first hole 168 is tear-drop in shape and the second hole 170 is substantially oblong; other shapes for these holes, of course, being possible.
  • the link member 111 shown in Fig. 6 defines two elongated parallel-spaced apertures 172 and 174 which extend along the longitudinal axis of the link member 111.
  • apertures 172 and 174 are preferably included in order to increase the strength of the link member 111.
  • the pair of back legs 108 each have a proximate end 176 and a distal end 178 and are joined to each other at the distal ends 178 by a cross bar 180.
  • the back legs 108 have a plurality of sides 182.
  • a protrusion 184 and two stop members 186 and 188 extend from two opposite facing sides 182 of the pair of back legs 108.
  • Each protrusion 184 is positioned between, preferably at the midpoint between, the two stop members 186 and 188 along the length of each of the back legs 108.
  • a rod member 190 extends between the two parallel sides 182 of each of the back legs 108 at their proximate ends 176.
  • the link member 111 extends between and is attached to the back legs 108 and the seat portion 102. Specifically, each link member 111 is pivotally connected at the first curved end 160 thereof to one side of the seat portion 102 and also pivotally connected at the second curved end 162 to one of the back legs 108.
  • the protrusion 130 of the seat portion 102 extends through the first hole 168 of the link 111 and the protrusion 184 of the back legs 108 extends through the second hole 170 of the link 111.
  • the pair of front legs 106 Similar to the pair of back legs 108, the pair of front legs 106, shown in detail in Figures 17 through 19, each have a plurality of sides 192, a proximate end 194 and a distal end 196 wherein each of the distal ends 196 are preferably joined by a cross bar 198.
  • a channel member 200 defining a preferably tapered opening 202 is located at each of the proximate ends 194 and has a protuberance 203 extending therefrom.
  • the channel member 200 of each front leg 106 extends around the rod member 190, shown in Fig. 10, such that the front legs 106 and the back legs 108 are able to pivot relative to one another.
  • extensions 204 are located on the interior and opposite facing sides 192 of each of the front legs 106.
  • the extensions 204 fit within the aperture 136 of the seat portion 102 (Fig. 15) and are locked into position by the key 138 (also shown in Fig. 15) .
  • the pairs of back legs 108 and the front legs 106 are described as each being connected at distal ends 178 and 196 with a cross bar 180 and 198, respectively, the pairs of back legs 108 and the front legs 106 do not necessarily have to be a unitary member.
  • the armrests 110 are each elongated members with a proximate end 206 and a distal end 208 wherein the proximate end 206 comprises a bayonet connector 210 which engages the back portion orifice 158 (shown in Fig. 24) and is rotatably connected thereto.
  • the armrests 110 further include a top surface 212 and two side surfaces 214 which define an opening 216.
  • a plurality of projections 218 are positioned on the underside of the top surface 212. The plurality of projections 218 are sized and proportioned one from the other such that they engage the protuberances 203 positioned on each of the pair of front legs 106.
  • the chair 100 can be transformed from an opened position, shown in Figures 1 and 2, to a folded position, illustrated in Figure 3.
  • the back legs 108 are spaced away from the front legs 106 and the back portion 104 is positioned at an obtuse angle with respect to the seat portion 102.
  • the seat portion 102 and the back portion 104 collapse on one another such that the chair 100 folds substantially into one plane and can be stored in a relatively small space.
  • the user grasps the chair 100 at the front portion 116 of the seat portion 102 and also at the distal end 148 of the back portion 104 and pulls the back portion 104 and the seat portion 102 together.
  • Link members 111 and the rear portion 118 of the seat portion 102 pivot clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) around the protrusions 184, the initial movement of the rear portion 118 being substantially horizontal, and are prevented from rotating past the back legs 108 by the stop members 188.
  • front portion 116 of seat portion 102 rotates clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) around the holes 168 of link members 111.
  • Link members ill and the rear portion 118 of the seat portion 102 rotate in a counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) direction around the protrusions 184 and are prevented from rotating past the opened position by the stop members 186.
  • front portion 116 of seat portion 102 rotates counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) around the holes 168 of link members 111.
  • the back portion 104 can be fixedly positioned at a plurality of obtuse angles with respect to the seat portion 102 by lifting the distal ends 208 of the armrests 110 and either pulling 110 the armrest in a forward direction or in a backward direction and then engaging the plurality of projections 218 on the underside of the armrests 110 with the protuberances 203 extending from the front legs 106. Once the projections 218 and the protuberances 203 are in engagement one with another, the back portion 104 will be locked into the desired position relative to the seat portion 102. While the present preferred embodiment has been described herein, it is distinctively understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims and any equivalents thereof.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Special Chairs (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un meuble tel qu'une chaise (100), facile à plier et à ranger dans un espace relativement petit et constituant un siège confortable. Ledit meuble présente une partie siège (102), une partie dossier (104) reliée pivotante à l'arrière de la partie siège, une paire de pieds avant (106), une paire de pieds arrière (108) et un élément de liaison (111) fixé à la partie siège et aux pieds arrière et s'étendant entre eux, ce qui permet à la partie siège de pivoter par rapport à la paire de pieds arrière lorsque l'on veut faire passer ledit meuble de la position ouverte à une position repliée.
PCT/US1997/006704 1996-04-24 1997-04-23 Chaise pliante WO1997039657A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US63730896A 1996-04-24 1996-04-24
US08/637,308 1996-04-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997039657A1 true WO1997039657A1 (fr) 1997-10-30

Family

ID=24555389

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1997/006704 WO1997039657A1 (fr) 1996-04-24 1997-04-23 Chaise pliante

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1997039657A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1290962A2 (fr) * 2001-09-06 2003-03-12 Borneo Tsang Furnishing SDN BHD Verrouillage automatique pour chaise multi-position

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2213590A (en) * 1937-10-27 1940-09-03 Telescope Folding Furniture Co Collapsible chair
US2638970A (en) * 1950-03-24 1953-05-19 Harber Blair Fowler Tubular chair construction
US3497908A (en) * 1968-02-16 1970-03-03 Paul A Zamarra Snap connection hinge
US4898421A (en) * 1986-03-07 1990-02-06 Oswald Brunn Folding furniture

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2213590A (en) * 1937-10-27 1940-09-03 Telescope Folding Furniture Co Collapsible chair
US2638970A (en) * 1950-03-24 1953-05-19 Harber Blair Fowler Tubular chair construction
US3497908A (en) * 1968-02-16 1970-03-03 Paul A Zamarra Snap connection hinge
US4898421A (en) * 1986-03-07 1990-02-06 Oswald Brunn Folding furniture

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1290962A2 (fr) * 2001-09-06 2003-03-12 Borneo Tsang Furnishing SDN BHD Verrouillage automatique pour chaise multi-position
EP1290962A3 (fr) * 2001-09-06 2003-12-03 Borneo Tsang Furnishing SDN BHD Verrouillage automatique pour chaise multi-position

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7628450B2 (en) Collapsible chair
US7201445B1 (en) Feeding seat
US6752091B2 (en) Folding banquet table
US4715650A (en) Fully collapsible portable chair
CA2708239C (fr) Chaise
US4826244A (en) Portable table
US5611594A (en) Portable folding chair
US4485892A (en) Platform stool
US5498054A (en) Adjustable knock down chair
US7416248B2 (en) Adjustable configuration seating
US20070235966A1 (en) Stroller with Removable Arm Bar
US20040187749A1 (en) Folding table
US20070228780A1 (en) Collapsible articles of furniture
JPH11155669A (ja) 改良された移動式座席構成
US6824208B2 (en) Single-motion collapsible quad chair with solid armrest
US6607240B2 (en) Collapsible chair with solid arm rest and tensioned seat
JPH11165642A (ja) 改良されたベビーカー構成
US20190350364A1 (en) Folding Chair, Folding Recliner and Folding Chair Frame Thereof
US5738410A (en) Collapsible three wheeled stroller with adjustable backrest
US20050236873A1 (en) Collapsing chair with solid armrest and tensioned seat
US6739669B2 (en) Foldable armrest for a seat having a collapsible back
US6715429B2 (en) Folding table
US6536079B2 (en) Folding furniture hinge/locking device
WO1997039657A1 (fr) Chaise pliante
US6666151B2 (en) Folding table

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CA CH DE GB MX

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase