WO1999034706A1

WO1999034706A1 - Arrangement in a furniture seat, especially a school desk

Info

Publication number: WO1999034706A1
Application number: PCT/NO1998/000349
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Opsvik
Original assignee: Peter Opsvik
Priority date: 1997-12-01
Filing date: 1998-11-26
Publication date: 1999-07-15
Also published as: NO308152B1; NO975521L; NO975521D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sitting or work device, in particular a school desk (1), where a chair part (2) and a table part (3) can be put together in a user position or is combined in one unit, and for the purpose of providing a school desk or the like which is easily adjustable, is constructed from simple elements, and to a greater degree satisfies the ergonomic objects, there is according to the invention proposed that the chair part (2) comprises a mainly stationary backrest (4) and an adjustable seat (5), and at the front of table part (3) is arranged an adjustable support means (6) for a footrest (7), both seat (5) and footrest (6) in position for use is arranged mainly symmetric around the middle plane of the desk (1). The invention also relates to a footrest designed with at least to height for foot placement.

Description

ARRANGE ENT IN A FURNITURE SEAT, ESPECIALLY A SCHOOL DESK

Technical field

The present invention relates to an arrangement in a sitting or work device, in particular a school desk, in which a chair part and a table part may be assembled into an user position or is joined together as one unit.

Prior art

From NO 142,558 (Peter Opsvik) there is previously known an arrangement of the type discussed initially. Similar arrangements are mentioned in the same patent publication.

Furthermore, there is known a similar furniture from SE 93 000 991 (Lindstrøm) .

Object of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a school desk, or similar which is easily adjustable, is constructed from simple elements, and to a greater degree satisfies the ergonomic aims.

Summary of the invention

This object is obtained with a school desk in which the chair and table are joined together in one unit, characterised in that the desk in its rear part has a fixed backrest and adjustable seat and in the front has fastening means for adjustable footrest which both are fastened symmetrically around the centre of the desk. The invention can also be defined in that the chair part comprises a mainly stationary backrest and an adjustable seat, and in that at the front of the table part there is provided an adjustable support means for a footrest, both seat and footrest are arranged mainly symmetrically around the middle plane of the desk.

Another characteristic of the invention pertains to a footboard which is adjustable in height, characterised in that it is provided with arrangements at different heights for placing the users feet.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following disclosure taken together with the appended figures, and the appended patent claims .

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1 and 2 are perspective sketches viewed diagonally from the front and diagonally from the rear, respectively, of a first embodiment of a school desk according to the invention.

Fig. 3 and 4, and fig. 5 and 6, respectively, show sketches similar to fig. 1 and 2, but with main parts of the school desk separated.

Fig. 7 and 8 show an alternative school desk according to the invention, seen diagonally from the front and diagonally from the rear, respectively.

Fig. 9 show two desks arranged side-by-side.

Fig. 10 show four desks combined to form one set. Fig. 11 is a perspective sketch of one more alternative for a school desk according to the invention.

Fig. 12 is a perspective sketch of yet another variety of a school desk according to the invention.

Fig. 13 show several school desks arranged in, e.g. a classroom.

Fig. 14A-14C show the usage of a school desk according to the invention, e.g. in 1. form.

Fig. 15A-15C show the usage of a school desk according to the invention, e.g. in 5. form.

Fig. 16A-16C show the usage of a school desk according to the invention, e.g. in 10. form.

Fig. 17A-17C show top view, frontal view and side view, respectively, of yet another variety of a school desk according to the present invention.

Fig. 18 show in perspective still another alternatively school desk according to the invention.

Disclosure of embodiments

The furnishing of a school class should satisfy a multitude of prerequisites. In what follows there is a list of objectives the present invention can fulfil.

Advantages connected to the product:

Organisation : 1. Purchase of one single type and size for the whole school .

2. Pupils can move and be moved, within classrooms and between classrooms without resulting in wrong measures of chairs and tables .

3. All tables are of the same height when are arranged into groups .

4. Noises arising when chairs are moved in and out are avoided, here the tabletop will glide forward and back.

5. The classroom is more organised when table and chair hang together.

6. All classrooms are suited for adult education, parent- teacher meetings, etc.

Ergonomics:

The same station must be possible to adapt to pupils from 1. to 10. form.

Four functional measures must be correct:

1. Difference between seat height and table height

2. Height of seat above "flooring"

3. Depth of seat (from front end of seat to the vertical line from backrest)

4. Height of back over seat Only two parts are moved for theses 4 measures to be correct :

1. The seat has a push button below and is pushed along the diagonal guide until the elbow is at the height of the tabletop. The seat moves along such an angle that both measures 3 and 4 becomes correct with an adjustment Interval marked with numbers.

2. The footboard is raised and lowered with a grip around the traverse tube in front. The footboard is adjusted in such a height that the pupil obtains the traditional horizontal angle of the thigh when he is sitting with his feet on the middle part of the footboard. Each notch is marked with a letter.

The pupil learns his code each six months, e.g. C4 or E7 and one objective of the concept was that each pupil should be able to adjust his desk to correct functional measures in 10 seconds.

Exact functional measures :

More exact adjustment can be obtained than on sets with fixed sizes.

Variation :

Besides correct functional measures, the most important ergonomic objective is to give the user the possibility of variation in sitting posture.

At a stooping active sitting posture the pupil should have the opportunity of a downward sloping angle of the thigh to avoid unnecessary curvature in the small of the back. This can be done in two ways, either by pulling the feet back under the seat, or by placing the feet on a lower level and in this way obtain greater height of the seat. The station provides for both possibilities. The footboard has two elevations for varied foot placement. At a stooping sitting posture the lowest level on the footboard will be used because this is the most natural position and gives an open angle in the hip joint. In order to make "sitting at an open angle" comfortable the front edge of the seat has a stooping plane.

At a raised or back leant sitting posture the user will tend to place his feet more elevated and place them on the middle console or on traverse tubes in front of him.

To obtain maximum movement and variation for the user, it is important that the feet has alternatives of placement in a big area with many elevations .

Angular adjustment and tilting of backrest can occur by resilience in the material or by hinging if this gives justifiable costs.

Communication :

1. Short pupils are sitting on a higher seat than tall pupils, with the psychical and communicative impact this has.

2. All tables are of the same height when arranged in groups.

3. As the table height is 81 cm it is easier for the teacher to get attention from a standing position and the teacher avoid excess bending when he is assisting the pupil by his desk.

Production :

Epoxyclad steel tubes and steel wire, seat and back, and tabletop are moulded in polyprop that can be recycled. It has been emphasised to use as few types of material as possible in order to simplify the sorting for recycling.

Both material costs and working hours in production will be reduced when chair and table are combined to form one unit instead of being produced separately.

Additional prerequisites that are to be met in the present school desk

"The work station should contain room for keeping various material and means of instruction."

The most important aim of the work station is to give the user many possibilities of variation in body posture. The room under the tabletop or the area around the pupils legs and knees should therefore not be used as a depository.

The depository is placed under the seat. A steel wire basket can be given different forms and functions. It can also be equipped with a lid and be made lockable. A hook for hanging the bag is also placed in the rear.

"The station should be mobile and have room for a PC."

The station is easy to push on plastic sliding means, and there is only one unit to move compared to traditional chair/table solutions. Stations that are to have PCs are intended to have pull out guide rails under the tabletop to make this sufficiently deep.

"Several stations should be possible to put together to solutions that encourage communication and groupwork."

When stations are to be put together, it is a great advantage that all tables are of the same height. If a pupil are to join a group placed in the other end of the room other than where he has his usual place, it is easier to adjust his seat and station trough the whole room.

"It must be possible to hang the pupils chair on the work station. It must be easy to clean under the station."

The chair is hanging on the table continuously. The station touches the floor with four plastic sliding means which are of sufficient height that mops come underneath. Another way is to slide the station sideways when cleaning. The plastic sliding means are of a especially slippery material.

Figures 1-6 show an embodiment of an arrangement of a sitting device or a work device which fulfils the prerequisites mentioned above.

On said figures there are shown a school desk 1, where a chair part 2 and a table part 3 are combined in one unit, as the chair part 2 includes a mainly stationary backrest 4 and an adjustable seat 5, while at the front of the table part 3 there is arranged an adjustable supporting means 6 for a footrest 7. Thus, in a position for use both the seat 5 and the footrest 6 are arranged mainly symmetrical around the middle plane of the desk 1.

From the figures it appears that the seat 5 is mounted adjustable on a doubly curved seat supporting means 8, which is curved backwards in a first curve 9 in the area around the backrest 4, and via a mainly oblique, straight part 10 where the seat 5 is placed, is bent forward in another curve 11 which is terminating in mainly straight backward oblique parts 12.

The seat supporting means 8 is in the area of the backrest 4 and seat 5 designed with two mainly parallel pillars 8a, 8b with a narrow slot 8c therebetween, while the seat supporting means 8 in the area of the other forward bent curve 11 splits more and more and continue obliquely 12 down towards the outer edge of the projection of the table part, for there, in the present embodiment, to join the rest of the construction 13a, 13b of the table part 3.

The seat 5 might be adjusted by the means of a push button 14 that releases a locking device under the seat.

At the forward edge of the seat 5 this is arranged with a forward sloping plane part 5a.

The footrest 7 is arranged with in the least two heights for foot placement. Further the footrest 7 is formed with two mainly parallel side parts 7a, 7b and a parallel middle part 7c which is placed in a higher position than the side parts 7a, 7b.

Advantageously the footrest 7 is arranged on a supporting device 16 in the form of a initially square frame which is bent 90° around a crossing axis, the vertical frame part may be hooked onto the table part construction flush with the forward edge of the table part 3, and the horizontal part project below the tabletop 3a and support the named footrest 7.

In figures 7 and 8 there is shown a variety of a school desk according to the invention, here with reference numerals in the hundreds series.

Figure 9 show two school desks arranged side-by-side, while figure 10 show four desks arranged to a set.

The figures 11 and 12 shows additional alternatives of a school desk according to the invention, and figure 13 show more school desks put up in a classroom.

The figures 14a-14c shows a school desk according to the invention employed in for instance 1. form, while figures 15A-15C shows a school desk employed in for instance 5. form, and figures 16A-16C shows a school desk according to the invention employed in for instance 10. form.

Figures 17A-17C show one more variety of a school desk according to the present invention.

In figure 18 there is shown in perspective still another alternatively school desk according to the invention, where in particular the school desk 201 itself include a chair part 202 and a table part 203 which can be combined in a user position, that is the chair part 202 and table part 203 are arranged as releasable units.

However, this embodiment also include the same features as named earlier, that the chair part 202 includes a mainly stationary backrest 204 and an adjustable seat 205, an adjustable supporting means 206 for a footrest 207 is arranged at a forward part of the table part 203, while the seat 205 and footrest 206 in position for use, are arranged mainly symmetrical around the middle plane of the desk itself or the work station 201.

Claims

1. Arrangement in a sitting or work device, in particular a school desk, where a chair part (2) and a table part

(3) may be assembled into a user position or is combined in one unit, characterised in that the chair part (2) includes a mainly stationary backrest (4) and an adjustable seat (5) , and at the front of the table part (3) is arranged an adjustable supporting means (6) for a footrest (7), where both seat (5) and footrest (6) in a position for use are arranged mainly symmetrical around the middle plane of the desk (1) .

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the seat is mounted adjustable on a doubly curved seat supporting means (8), which seat supporting means (8) is bent backwards in a first curve (9) in the area below the backrest (4), and via a mainly oblique, straight part (10) where the seat is situated, is bent forward in a second curve (11) which is terminated in mainly straight backward inclined parts (12).

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the seat supporting means (8) in the area of backrest (4) and seat (5) includes two mainly parallel pillars (8a, 8b) with optionally a narrow slot (8c) therebetween, and the seat supporting means (8) in the area of the second forward bent curve (11) diverge and continue oblique (12) down towards the outer edge of the projection of the table part, for there to join the remaining of the construction of the table part (13a, 13b) .

4. Arrangement according to claims 1-3, characterised in that the seat (5) is adjustable with the means of a push button (14) which releases a locking device below the seat .

5. Arrangement according to claims 1-4, characterised in that the forward edge of the seat includes a forward sloping plane part (5a) .

6. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the footrest (7) is designed with at least two heights for foot placement.

7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterised in that the footrest (7) is in the form of two mainly parallel side parts (7a, 7b) and a parallel middle part (7c) which is placed more elevated than the side parts (7a, 7b) .

8. Arrangement according to claims 6 or 7 , characterised in that the footrest (7) is arranged on a supporting device (16) designed as an initially square frame bent 90┬░ around a cross axis, the vertical frame part can be hooked onto the table part construction flush with the forward end of the table part (3), and the horizontal part is protruding below the tabletop (3a) and supports the footrest (7 ) .