WO2002052991A1

WO2002052991A1 - Assembly of balls as an element of deck-chair, chair, back of a chair and arm-rest, and the process of assembling thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2002052991A1
Application number: PCT/HR2001/000037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vladimir Indic; Milan Muth
Original assignee: Vladimir Indic; Milan Muth
Priority date: 2000-12-29
Filing date: 2001-07-20
Publication date: 2002-07-11
Also published as: EP1345512A1; DE60126331D1; HRP20000915A2; EP1345512B1; HRP20000915B1; DE60126331T2; ATE352232T1

Abstract

The design solution of supporting surface of deck-chair, seat, back and arm-rest, summarises on the line of hard balls of various sizes, that are elastically linked together with stainless wires of ropes (inox-wire cables) inside hard supporting frame, to which they are fixed. The special arrangement of balls of various sizes on riding saddle principle enables an anatomic adjustment for more comfortable sitting. The assembly of balls elasticity is achieved by special way of linking balls, without using other elements with elastic qualities (for example, spring, lines, balls, and shock-absorbers). By design, this invention consists of three basic elements, where on the example of chair, seat (1), back (2) and arm-rest (3) are put together: (A) supporting frame (with the possible use of different profiles, with regard to material, dimensions and shape, mainly depending upon chosen design for aesthetic reason, and with holes that are put transversally in the direction of sitting/lying), (B) ball (of different diameter and material with a hole pierced through the middle of the ball), (C) connecting element (inox-wire cable with fixing device D).

Description

ASSEMBLY OF BALLS AS AN ELEMENT OF DECK-CHAIR,

CHAIR, BACK OF A CHAIR AND ARM-REST,

AND THE PROCESS OF ASSEMBLING THEREOF

1. TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention is related to household sitting and lying furniture, that according to the International Patent Classification can be classified in A 47 C - chairs, sofas and beds. Regarding its use the invention relates to the parts of the seat, back of chairs and arm-rests of adjustable shape, elastically built in as elements of chairs, armchairs and deck-chairs, and therefore could be classified into A 47 C 17/14.

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The problem to be solved by this invention is how to design the construction and to assemble manually that should form the surface for leaning body against the seat, back of a chair and armrest, which main function is to accept static and dynamic loading (i.e. direct bearing power). The primary objective, consequently, is to design a solution of the given function, without using protective coating or filling, but with formed surface aesthetically appealing to its user.

Secondary objective is to achieve by selection and arrangement of elements in contact with the body an anatomic adjustment of leaning surface, and an additional effect of acupressure and massage in contact of the body with the balls. An additional condition is that the process off assembly and connecting elements to form body supporting surface should be intended primarily for manual assembly, without using mechanical force and tools.

3. STATE OF THE ART

Contemporary solutions have used balls mainly as parts of car upholstered seats and their coverings, which design doesn't comprise a direct bearing power, and the same are put into covering industrially, using machines and mechanical devices. An usual constructions of the seat and its elastically built in back of an adjustable shape, have mesh-like structure or are stuffed, and according to the International Patent Classification Patents (IPC) belongs to A 47C 27/00. The document EP 1 033 098 Al shows an example of a net-like supporting within the frame base. The document JP 08196389 A shows a tube shaped spaces filled with balls between two mutually interwoven supporting bases, with the aim to perform massage and acupressure effect on such formed base. However, so far, out of patent documentation and out of available examples on the market of deck-chairs, chairs, armchairs and similar products and their additional outfit, direct use of balls in such products by their manual twisting in, with objective to perform basic carrying capacity function, is not known.

4. ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

Design solution of supporting surface of a deck-chair, seat, back and arm-rest is reduced to a line assembly of specially arranged balls of different sizes. They are elastically linked together with corrosion-resistant wires or ropes made of steel (hereinafter inox-wire cable) within hard, supportive frame to which the balls are fixed. The special arrangement of balls of different sizes, on riding saddle principle, is chosen to enable anatomic adaptation, for comfortable sitting. The elasticity of the assembly itself is achieved by special linking of the balls, without using any element having elastic quality (such as springs, threads, balls, and shock absorbers). By its construction, the invention consists of three basic elements (A, B, and C), where on the chair example, seat (1), back of seat (2) and arm-rest (3) are put together:

A. supporting frame (with the possible use of various profiles, with regard to material, dimensions and shape, mainly depending on chosen material for aesthetic reason, and with holes transversally placed in sitting/lying direction)

B. balls (of various diameter and material, with a hole pierced or bored exactly through their middle) C. connecting element (inox-wire cable with D fixing element)

The procedure of linking all three elements (A, B, C) that form the assembly of different balls of matrix arrangement (per rows and columns) anticipates two phases and these are: Phase I: forming assembly of balls by stringing up balls on the first inox-wire cable, and their connecting between two opposite sides of the frame Phase II: forming columns of balls and their linking by pulling through the other inox-wire cable

As a rule, such an arrangement of balls that have a single, double or multiple symmetry should be formed, with regard to longitudinal, transversal or diagonal direction. This is in order to perform symmetric tension of inox-wire cables, as in figure 2, with one symmetry axis for seven shown lines and columns of balls.

5. BRIEF DRAWING DESCRIPTION

Accompanying drawings that are enclosed with a detailed invention description illustrate the best way for realisation of the same.

Figure 1. -three-dimensional display of the chair (built in assembly of balls in seat, back and arm-rest)

Figure 2. - ground-plan of the bottom of the chair (basic elements of the assembly are marked)

Figure 3. - ground-plan of the bottom of the chair (forming the assembly of balls in the frame - the first and the second phase)

Figure 4. - line forming composition forming scheme (linking of balls - the same procedure for back of the chair and arm-rest)

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The assembly described in item 4 (the invention essence display) that is formed of various sizes of balls, according to the arrangement showed in figure 2, should be linked with two inox-wire cable. In the first phase the balls are strung up on the first inox-wire cable in order to form lines of balls between the frame, and then in the second phase the same balls are linked by pulling another inox-wire cable through them, in direction of so formed columns. The first phase

Forming lines of balls by stringing up balls on the first inox-wire cable and their linking between two opposite sides of the frame.

The first inox-wire cable (CI) is led through transversal hole (AO) of the frame (A) in figure 3 beginning from the right side of the frame, with set fixing device (D) at its end in order to prevent pulling out the wire out of the frame (A).

What follows is the simple stringing up of balls on the inox-wire cable (CI) by leading inox-wire cable through central holes (BO) which thus strung up forming the first line according to the following order (arrangement): B1-B2-B3-B1-B3-B2-B1. Starting from the right to the left, the wire is leading through the hole (AO) coming out on the opposite side of the frame (A).

Afterwards, inox-wire cable (CI) from the outer side of the frame (A) is led into the first transversal hole (AO) in the frame, and is pulled through starting from the left side to the right side through the central holes of all balls (BO), and by stringing balls on the wire cable forming the second line of balls of the following order: B1-B2-B3-B3-B3-B2-B1, and then wire is going out through the hole (AO) on the opposite side of the frame (A).

This procedure of pulling inox-wire cable through (CI) and stringing up balls on it, goes on to the last line of the balls. There the inox-wire cable goes out through the last hole (AO) placed on the left side of the frame, where it must be fixed with fixing element (D). For more close observation, the arrangement of balls in 7 lines and 7columns is shown, and it corresponds to those on fig. 2:

B1-B2-B3-B3-B3-B2-B1

B1-B2-B3-B1-B3-B2-B1

B1-B2-B3-B1-B3-B2-B1 B1-B2-B3-B3-B3-B2-B1

B1-B2-B3-B3-B3-B2-B1

With this procedure in this first phase, all lines of such strung balls are linked with inox-wire cable (CI) by leading it alternately right - left - right - left. The second phase

Forming ball columns and their linking by leading into another inox-wire cable. Another inox-wire cable (C2) is led into, starting through the first transversal hole (AO) showed on figure 3, from the left side of the frame (A) with obligatory fixing (D). Therefore, leading into another inox-wire cable starts on the same left side of the frame where leading in of the first wire ends, at the end of the first phase, but on its opposite end.

Inox-wire cable (C2) is led through the central hole (BO) of the first little ball (Bl) in the first longitudinal line of balls and is led forward through all first balls (Bl) in next lines, thus forming a column in the following order:

Bl - beginning from the left side, going out and turning towards (lower) next line B2 - beginning from the right side, going out and turning towards (lower) line

This procedure goes on to the last line where it ends equally as it starts, in the first line (lines of balls must be odd) with (Bl) - beginning from the left side, going out and on along the first wire in the same line towards first neighbouring ball (B2), and then linking of all balls (B2) in next lines follows, thus forming the column according to the following order: B2 - beginning from the left side, going out and turning towards (upper) neighbouring line B2 - beginning from the right side, going out and turning towards (upper) neighbouring line

The same procedure goes on up to the ball of the first line (B2) where linking of the second column ends by going out on the right side from the ball (B2) and going on in direction of the first wire cable towards the neighbouring ball (B3).

Entering the first ball by (B3) linking of all balls starts (B3) according to the following order:

B3 - beginning from the left side, going out and turning towards (lower) neighbouring line

B3 - beginning from the right side, going out and turning towards (lower) neighbouring line

The same procedure goes on to the last line, where it ends by going out on the right side of the ball (B3) and continues in the direction of the wire cable towards the neighbouring ball (in fig. 3 that is ball B3 - of the same size). With regard to the equal odd number of balls in all lines, leading of the second wire cable ends on the lower side of the right frame after going through last ball ( Bl) in a lower line, and going out through last transversal hole of the frame, where inox- wire cable should be fixed.

With the procedure described above in this second phase, all columns formed of strung balls are linked with the other inox-wire cable by leading it alternately left - right - left - right.

In only two phases this procedure enables simple installation of balls assembly. Without using additional mechanical force, but using minimal manual force for the leading wire cable without stretching, in this way achieving the distance among various balls in the frame with adequate solidity and elasticity of so formed level surface, is having required sitting/lying function.

An additional advantage of the invention, that's not object of solving given technical problem, that it's about special design solution for manual instalment that offers production possibility, in the first place, in the cottage industry. Here it's about simple handwork design without using additional tools and force for connecting seats, backs and arm-rests elements, as an intermediate phase in completing products for wider use such as chairs, armchairs and deck-chairs. The manual instalment of the line of balls on home working principle with personal organisation advantage of spatial work conditions and arbitrary working hours, enables people an additional source of income and giving all capable members of the family a chance to participate. In this way the social-economic dimension is achieved, promising to this today' s neglected kind of technology, in combination with multi-serial industrial production of elements for instalment (small balls, frames and inox-cable wires) exceptional results.

Anyway, thanks to this simple way of designing line of balls, the development of the variant of the same invention is anticipated, without necessary constructional changes, but with the change of installation procedure in terms of semi-automation or even automation. A new variant could find its use in multi- serial production of those products for which an increased need on the market is shown, like various types of deckchairs, armchairs and chairs for passive massage and acupressure. 7. HOW TO USE THE INVENTION

No technical skill or knowledge is needed for manufacturing this assembly of balls according to this invention, and used materials are standardised and are not dangerous for natural environment. Only an exact ball arrangement in the frame is needed, and to follow given phases of installation. It is possible to use such formed assembly of balls in the frame without limitation, as unit components of various deckchairs, chairs, backs and armrests. It is about design, which has load- bearing function, and not about additional slipcover or filling with balls that is obligatory for some supporting construction. The tautness of bearing surface made of strung balls is achieved by installing the fixing element- wire cable ends to the frame, and pulling out of wire is prevented by its fixing. Owing to such construction and assembly of balls installation procedure, the use of this invention is possible without using additional slipcovers, and aesthetic impression is achieved by various material and colour combination of chosen balls and frames. By this, basic and additional functions of the invention remain unchanged.

Besides the basic function of the invention (acceptance of load on the surface formed of balls) that has its use with standard products for sitting and lying, additional use is possible (massage and acupressure) by building in balls into products for standard and special use.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Assembly of balls as an element of deck-chair, seat (1), back (2) and arm-rest (3) presented on the figure 1 and 2 is characterised by the fact, that it consists of one frame (A) with transversally pierced holes (AO), and two linking elements in the form of a wire or a line (C), with fixing elements (D) on both their ends in order to link with the frame, and on which balls (B) with central holes (BO) are strung.

2. Assembly of balls as an element of deck-chair, seat (1), back (2) and arm-rest (3) according to the claim 1, is characterised by the fact that the hard frame (A) is made of solid or hollow material - metal recommendable, that balls are of various sizes (Bl, B2, B3) made of hard material - wood with smooth surface recommendable, and that linking element (C) has wire or line shape - inox-wire cable recommendable, and that it is fixed by separable fixing element (D) - standard tightening element recommendable.

3. The procedure for linking assembly of balls as an element of deck-chair, seat (1), back of the chair (2) and arm-rest (3) presented on the fig. 3 and fig. 4 according to the claim 1 and 2, is characterised by the fact that forming assembly of balls is done in two phases: Phase 1: forming line made of balls by stringing balls (B) on first inox-wire cable (CI) and their linking between opposite sides of the frame (A). Phase 2: forming column made of balls (B) and their linking by leading another inox-wire cable (C2) through balls (B) and the frame (A).

4. The procedure for installing assembly of balls as deck-chair, seat (1), back (2) and arm-rest element (3) according to claim 3, that is presented in fig. 3 and fig. 4 in phase 1, is characterised by the following steps: a) the first inox-wire cable (CI) is lead through transversal hole (AO) on the frame (A) beginning on the right side of the frame and fixing its end (D) so as to prevent its pulling out of the frame A, b) the balls are strung on inox-wire cable (CI) so that cable is lead through central ball holes (BO) that strung in such a way form a line of the following order : B1-B2-B3-B1-B3-B2- Bl starting from right to left, and then the wire cable is pulled through the hole (AO) and goes out on the opposite left side of the frame (A), c) the inox-wire cable (CI) is lead through the outer side of the frame (A) into the first transversal hole (AO) in the frame and by leading it through, starting on the left side to the right through central holes of the balls (BO) and by stringing balls on the wire cable the second line of balls is formed of the following order : B1-B2-B3-B3-B3-B2-B1 and the wire cable going out through the hole (AO) on the right, opposite side of the frame (A), d) the procedure of leading through the inox-wire cable (C 1) through the frame (A), and stringing balls on it, goes on till the final line of balls, and at the end of the procedure by leading wire cable through last hole (AO) on the left side of the frame, with obligatory putting of the fixing element (D) so on the example of 7 lines and 7 columns you get the following order :

B1-B2-B3-B3-B3-B2-B1

B1-B2-B3-B1-B3-B2-B1

B1-B2-B3-B1-B3-B2-B1 B1-B2-B3-B3-B3-B2-B1

B1-B2-B3-B3-B3-B2-B1

5. The procedure of installing assembly of balls as an element of deck-chair, seat (1), back (2) and arm-rest (3), according to the claim 3, which is, showed in figures 3 and 4 in the second phase, is characterised by the following steps: a) the second inox-wire cable (C2) is lead through the frame starting through the first transversal hole (AO) from the left side of the frame (A) with an obligatory fixing device (D) on the same side of the frame where leading through of the first wire stops at the end of the first phase, but on its opposite end, b) the inox-wire cable (C2) is lead through the central hole B0) of the first little ball (B 1) in the first longitudinal line of balls, and is lead forward through all first balls (Bl) one after another, from left or right side on going into every next line, thus forming and linking first column with balls (Bl), c) after going through the last hole (Bl) - going into on the left side, and going out on the right (line of balls are obligatory odd), you continue by first wire cable in the same line, towards the first neighbouring ball (B2), d) what follows is linking of all balls (B2) from neighbouring lines going through the hole of the ball first from the left side and then from the right side, and turning towards upper neighbouring line, when going into every line, thus forming and linking the second column with balls (B), e) after going through last ball (B2) by going into the hole from the left side and going out on the right (because the number of balls are obligatory odd), the procedure of pulling through the wire cable continues (C2)along the first wire cable (CI) in the same line towards the first neighbouring ball (B3), f) linking of all balls (B3) in neighbouring lines by leading wire, by turns, from the left side or the right side, and turning towards lower neighbouring line on going to every next line, thus forming and linking the third column of balls (B3), g) the procedure of linking of all balls that form next column continues with the same leading of the wire through the hole, by turns, from the left side or from the right side of next ball, where in the middle column, as distinguished from all others, there are balls of various sizes, in case of odd number of lines or columns, h) the end of leading through the second wire cable (C2) will be on the lower right side of the right side of the frame, after going through last ball (Bl) in lower line, and going out through transversal hole (A0) of the frame (A), where fixing device must be put (D).

6. Line of balls as an element of deck-chair, seat (1), back (2) and arm-rest (3) according to claim 1, is characterised by the fact that it is used as a basic or component element of the products for body massage or acupressure.