WO2005020755A1

WO2005020755A1 - Extendable chair or armchair

Info

Publication number: WO2005020755A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/002752
Authority: WO
Inventors: Werther Toffoloni
Original assignee: Peressini Bruno Srl
Priority date: 2003-08-29
Filing date: 2004-08-26
Publication date: 2005-03-10
Also published as: ITUD20030042U1

Abstract

Extendable chair (10) comprising a main frame (13, 15, 27, 31), a seat element (11) and a backrest element (12), movable with respect to the main frame (13, 15, 27, 31) between a first substantially erect configuration and a second extended configuration. The extendable chair (10) is also provided with clamping and/or stabilizing elements (46, 47) that keep the backrest element (12) and the seat element (11) in a stable position in desired positions between the two configurations. The extendable chair (10) also comprises reciprocal rolling members (30) located between the seat element (11), and/or the backrest element (12), and the main frame (13, 15, 27, 31), in order to make the seat element (11) and/or the backrest element (12) slide on the main frame (13, 15, 27, 31) and guide their movement between one configuration and the other.

Description

"EXTENDABLE CHAIR OR ARMCHAIR" * * * * * FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns an extendable chair having a backrest element and a seat element, solid with each other, which are selectively movable between a first erect configuration, for normal seating, and an extended position for partly lying down. Hereafter, in the broadest sense of the word, "chair" can be taken to mean every extendable furnishing element provided with a backrest element and a seat element, such as an armchair, a sofa, a deck chair or suchlike, also provided with a headrest or a footrest. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Extendable chairs are known, comprising as main elements a main frame, a backrest element, a seat element, movement members associated with the backrest and the seat elements in order to allow them to pass from a configuration for normal seating to a configuration for partly lying down, and clamping mechanisms which clamp the backrest and/or the seat element to the main frame in a desired position between the two limit configurations. One disadvantage, in general, of known extendable chairs is that they oblige the user to stand up in order to move the components, and they easily jam or break. In order to make the movement as easy as possible, extendable chairs have been designed with complex movement members, even motorized, which have high production costs, however, and need the intervention of specialized technicians for possible checks and repairs. Purpose of the invention is to make an extendable chair which ensures, without using complex movement mechanisms, a coordinated and easy movement of the backrest element and the seat element, which does not require great efforts, nor does it require the user to stand up, and which has a minimum risk of jamming. Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve an extendable chair of the knockdown type, so that, in its dis-assembled condition, the components can be assembled so as to form a square, stackable pack, of limited thickness. Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to obtain these and other purposes and advantages and to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea. In accordance with the aforesaid purposes, an extendable chair according to the invention comprises a main frame, a seat element and a backrest element, movable with respect to said main frame between a first, substantially erect configuration for normal seating, and a second extended configuration, and clamping and/or stabilizing means able to keep the seat element and the backrest element in a stable position in one or the other of the configurations, or in at least an intermediate position between the two limit configurations. According to the invention, the chair comprises reciprocal rolling means, such as for example rollers, balls, shoes, bushings or other element with analogous function, positioned between the seat element, and/or the backrest element, and the main frame, in order to guide and facilitate the movement of the elements between one configuration and the other. In this way we obtain a chair wherein the seat element and the backrest element run easily on the main frame with minimum friction and with reduced risk of jamming, almost sliding. In a first embodiment of the invention, the reciprocal rolling means are mounted rotatable on the main frame and are able to roll along a corresponding substantially plane surface, which is part of the seat element and/or the backrest element. The main frame advantageously comprises at least a first transverse element to support the seat element and a second transverse element to support the backrest element and, with reference to the first embodiment as above, the reciprocal rolling means are fixed on the transverse supporting elements, so that they can roll respectively along the lower side of the seat element and along the rear side of the backrest element. According to a variant, the reciprocal rolling means are mounted rotatable on said seat element and/or said backrest element and are able to roll along a corresponding plane surface which is part of the main frame. In a preferential form of embodiment, on each flank of the seat element there are sliding wheels movable inside mating sliding guides, made on a corresponding component of the main frame, to assist said reciprocal rolling means in their guide function during the passage from one configuration to the other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is an exploded view of a chair according to the invention; fig. 2is an enlarged scale section of a detail of the chair in fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With reference to the attached figures, an extendable chair 10 according to the present invention comprises a seat 11, or seating-part, and a backrest 12, each comprising a relative padded cushion 14, 16 and a peripheral secondary frame 17, 19, and two lateral supporting elements 13 and 15, with a substantially plane development. The extendable chair 10 in this case is knockdown, as will be described in more detail hereafter. Each lateral supporting element 13 or 15 comprises in this case two supporting legs 21 (fig. 1) connected to each other in the upper part by a first cross-piece 23, functioning as an armrest and, in an intermediate zone, by a second cross-piece 25, arranged substantially aligned with the corresponding flank of the seat 11. The chair 10 also comprises a first transverse bar 27 arranged vertically at the front end, in order to support the seat 11, and attached by means of a pair of pins 29 and a screw 28 to the front legs 21. A second transverse bar 31 is arranged behind the backrest 12, to support it, and is attached to the rear legs 21 by means of relative pins 33 and screws 35. The first bar 27, the second bar 31 and the lateral supporting elements 13, 15 together define the main frame of the chair 10. The seat 11 and the backrest 12 are movable with respect to the main frame, between a first erect configuration for normal seating, that is, wherein the backrest 12 is substantially erect or slightly inclined with respect to the seat 11, and at least a second extended configuration for partly lying, wherein the backrest 12 is inclined with respect to the seat 11 and the latter is in a forward position with respect to the initial position. The seat 11 is also hinged, by means of at least a hinge 20, to the lower end of the secondary frame 19 of the backrest 12, in order to allow a coordinated movement of the two between one configuration and the other. The passage between one configuration and the other is obtained by the user sitting on the chair 10 by making the seat 11 advance and, at the same time, by inclining the backrest 12. According to a characteristic of the present invention, the extendable chair 10 comprises rolling rollers 30, each of which is mounted on the pins 29, 33 respectively of the first transverse bar 27 and the second transverse bar 31. The rollers 30 are able to roll freely around their own axis along the plane surfaces respectively of the secondary frame 17 of the seat 11 and of the secondary frame 19 of the backrest 12, in order to obtain a free sliding, without jamming, of the seat 11 and the backrest 12, during the passage from the erect configuration to the extended configuration, despite the load exerted by the user sitting on the chair 10. According to a variant, the chair 10 comprises a plurality of rolling rollers 30 mounted aligned on the transverse bars 27, 31. According to another variant, the rollers 30 are mounted on the secondary frames 17, 19 of the seat 11 and the backrest 12 and the main frame of the chair 10 is provided with longitudinal bars along which the rollers 30 roll during movement. To further guide the seat 11 and the backrest 12 between one configuration and the other, controlling the advance of the seat 11, the chair 10 comprises a pair of wheels 40, of which only one is visible in the drawings, pivoted on a shaft 41, housed in a corresponding longitudinal seating of a profile 43 attached to the rear end of the secondary frame 17, in proximity with the hinge 20. The wheel 40 is able to slide in a mating guide 45 made longitudinally in the second cross-piece 25 of each transverse element 13, 15, so as to make the seat 11 advance for a corresponding segment. In this case, in order to clamp the seat 11 and the backrest 12 in one configuration or the other, the guide 45 has two housings, respectively front 46 and rear 47, made in the guide 45, lowered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the latter and connected in its rectilinear segment. The housings 46 and 47 have a diameter substantially corresponding to that of the respective wheels 40 and also function as a lead-in to the positioning of the wheels 40 in one or the other of the limit positions. In this embodiment, when the seat 11 and the backrest 12 are in one of the above configurations, the wheels 40 are positioned in the corresponding housings 46 or 47, remaining longitudinally stabilized in position. This longitudinal stabilization therefore prevents an accidental and unwanted return of the wheels 40 to the rectilinear segments of the guides 45 and consequently determines the stable positioning of the seat 11 and the backrest 12 in the desired configuration, until the user himself acts to modify the position of the seat. This action provides that the user, with a simple forward or backward movement of the pelvis, without having to stand up, makes the wheels 40 exit from the respective housings 46 or 47 and changes the configuration as desired. According to a variant, more than two housings like the housings 46 and 47 may be provided, in order to determine the clamping of the seat 11 and the backrest 12 in one or more intermediate configurations between the erect and extended configurations . In a second form of embodiment, not shown in the figures, the seat 11 is provided with a pair of plates, each one mounted vertically on a relative flank of the secondary frame 17, which are provided with a plurality of holes, into which a coupling pin is able to be inserted through clamping. A knob, able to be driven from outside, against the action of an inner spring, is associated with the coupling pin, in order to insert it in one or another of the holes and clamp the seat 11 and the backrest 12, when the chair 10 is extended, or returned to the erect position. In this way, the user sitting on the chair 10 extracts the knob and makes the seat 11 advance, and then releases the knob when the desired position is reached. According to another characteristic of the present invention, mentioned above, the chair 10 is of the knockdown type and, in the dis-assembled condition, has a very limited bulk in height, since it consists of plane and stackable elements. In order to dis-assemble and pack the chair 10, it is enough to unscrew the screws 28, 35 that connect the lateral elements 13, 15 to the transverse bars 27, 31, and rotate the backrest 12 around the hinge 20 so as to position it under the seat 11. The whole extendable chair 10 can thus be packed in a square and stackable box, extremely limited in size, by stacking the two lateral elements 13 and 15, the transverse bars 27, 31, and the compact block consisting of the seat 11 and the backrest 12. It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the extendable chair 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of extendable chair, all of which shall come within the field and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Extendable chair comprising a main frame (13, 15, 27, 31), a seat element (11) and a backrest element (12), movable with respect to said main frame (13, 15, 27, 31) between a first substantially erect configuration and a second extended configuration, and clamping and/or stabilizing means (46, 47) able to keep said backrest element (12) and said seat element (11) in a stable position in desired positions between said two configurations, characterized in that it comprises reciprocal rolling means (30) located between said seat element (11), and/or said backrest element (12), and said main frame (13, 15, 27, 31), in order to make said seat element (11) and/or said backrest element (12) slide on said main frame (13, 15, 27, 31) and guide their movement between one configuration and the other.

2. Extendable chair as in claim 1, characterized in that said reciprocal rolling means (30) are mounted rotatable on said main frame (13, 15, 27, 31) and are able to roll along a plane surface which is part of said seat element (11) and/or said backrest element (12).

3. Extendable chair as in claim 1, characterized in that said reciprocal rolling means (30) are mounted rotatable on said seat element (11) and/or said backrest element (12) and are able to roll along a plane surface which is part of said main frame (13, 15, 27, 31).

4. Extendable chair as in claim 2, characterized in that said main frame comprises at least a first transverse element (27) to support said seat element (11) and a second transverse element (31) to support said backrest element (12) and in that said rolling means (30) are arranged on said first transverse element (27) in order to roll on the lower side of said seat element (11), and/or on said second transverse element (31) in order to roll on the rear side of said backrest element (12).

5. Extendable chair as in claim 2 or 4, wherein said seat element (11) and said backrest element (12) each comprise a peripheral secondary frame (17, 19), characterized in that said reciprocal rolling means (30) are able to roll along said peripheral secondary frame (17, 19) of said seat element (11) and/or said backrest element (12).

6. Extendable chair as in claim 4 or 5, said chair being of the knockdown type, characterized in that said main frame comprises: two lateral elements (13, 15) with a plane development, each defining two legs (21) of said chair (10); said first transverse element (27) which is able to be fixed between said two lateral elements (13, 15) below said seat element (11); and said second transverse element (31) which is able to be fixed between said two lateral elements (13, 15) behind said backrest element (12).

7. Extendable chair as in claim 4, characterized in that said reciprocal rolling means (30) are each mounted at one and the other end of said first transverse element (27) and of said second transverse element (31).

8. Extendable chair as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that on each flank of said seat element (11) sliding wheels (40) are associated, movable inside mating sliding guides (45) made on a corresponding component (25) of said main frame (13, 15).

9. Extendable chair as in claims 6 and 8, characterized in that each of said lateral elements (13, 15) comprises a cross-piece (25) arranged on each flank of said seat element (11) and in that said sliding guides (45) are each made on an inner side of said cross-piece (25).

10. Extendable chair as in claim 9, characterized in that said clamping and/or stabilizing means comprise at least a housing (46, 47) made on the length of said sliding guides (45), lowered with respect to the longitudinal axis of said sliding guides (45), with a diameter substantially corresponding to that of said sliding wheels (40), and able first to lead in and then to stabilize the positioning of said sliding wheels (40), in order to prevent an unwanted return thereof along said sliding guides (45).

11. Extendable chair as in claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of housings (46, 47) each one able to determine the positioning and stabilization of said sliding wheels (40) in a corresponding desired configuration of said seat element (11) and of said backrest element (12).

12. Extendable chair as in any claim from 1 to 9 inclusive, characterized in that said clamping and/or stabilizing means comprise two actuation elements, able to be driven manually, associated with said main frame (13, 15) and each arranged on one side of said seat element (11), and provided with coupling means able to be inserted into corresponding clamping holes made on said seat element (11).

13. Extendable chair as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said seat element (11) and said backrest element (12) are hinged together in order to ensure a coordinated and continuous movement between one configuration and the other.

14. Extendable chair as in claims 6 and 13, characterized in that said backrest element (12) is able to be rotated below said seat element (11), forming a compact block, and in that said lateral elements (13, 15) and said first and second transverse elements (27, 31) are able to be stacked with said compact block.