WO2009127493A1

WO2009127493A1 - Space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, particularly for supporting objects and people

Info

Publication number: WO2009127493A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/053289
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam Goodrum
Original assignee: Cap Design S.P.A.
Priority date: 2008-04-16
Filing date: 2009-03-20
Publication date: 2009-10-22
Also published as: ITMI20080700A1

Abstract

A space-saving collapsible piece of furniture (1), particularly for supporting objects and people, comprising a supporting structure (2) provided with a plurality of supporting legs (3), which are hinged to a supporting surface (4) at two opposite lateral portions thereof (4a) in order to close the piece of furniture on a plane of symmetry thereof that is perpendicular to the supporting surface (4) and is substantially parallel to the hinge axes (8) of the lateral portions (4a), the supporting surface (4) comprising at least two rigid half-surfaces (5, 6) which are mutually hinged at the plane of symmetry; during the closing motion the legs (3) move in the direction of the plane of symmetry, moving mutually closer and remaining substantially parallel to each other throughout the closing motion with the hinge axis (10) defined between the two half-surfaces that can move on the plane of symmetry for the book-like closure of the two half-surfaces (5, 6).

Description

SPACE-SAVING COLLAPSIBLE PIECE OF FURNITURE, PARTICULARLY FOR SUPPORTING OBJECTS AND PEOPLE Technical Field

The present invention relates to a space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, particularly for supporting objects and people.

Background Art

Among furniture in general, chairs, stools, tables and the like are known which are constituted by a number of elements that are hinged one another so as to be able to convert the initial piece of furniture into a body of extremely reduced size, which therefore can be stored in small spaces when it is not being used.

Most of these known chairs, stools, tables and the like are used substantially as outdoor furniture, since it is extremely convenient to transport them from one place to another, such as for example in the case of picnics and the like.

These known pieces of furniture are not devoid of drawbacks, which include the fact that the supporting surface, in the case of a table, or the sitting surface, in the case of chairs and stools, is provided by a flexible surface, such as for example a sheet of canvas that is particularly adapted to accommodate a person but is not rigid enough to rest thereon objects in a stable manner and in any case is not such as to be able to constitute a comfortable and durable sitting surface.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a space-saving collapsible piece of furniture that allows to use it both for seating people and for supporting objects, ensuring in any case a stable balance of the object or of the person that rests or sits thereon.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a piece of furniture that uses, for its transformation, simple mechanisms that can be actuated without any effort by the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a piece of furniture that is particularly practical and comfortable.

This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, particularly for supporting objects and people, comprising a supporting structure provided with a plurality of supporting legs, which are hinged to a supporting surface at two opposite lateral portions thereof in order to close the piece of furniture on a plane of symmetry thereof that is perpendicular to said supporting surface and is substantially parallel to the hinge axes of said lateral portions, said supporting surface comprising at least two rigid half-surfaces which are hinged to each other at said plane of symmetry, characterized in that during the closing motion said legs can move in the direction of said plane of symmetry, moving mutually closer and remaining substantially parallel to each other throughout said closing motion with the hinge axis defined between said two half-surfaces that can move on said plane of symmetry for the book-like closure of said two half- surfaces. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but. not exclusive embodiment of a space-saving collapsible piece of furniture particularly for supporting objects and people, according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, according to the present invention, in the open configuration;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the space-saving collapsible piece of furniture according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the space-saving collapsible piece of furniture according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, according to the present invention, in the closed configuration;

Figure 5 is a front elevation view of the space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, according to the present invention, in the closed configuration; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, according to the present invention, in the closed configuration. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, particularly for supporting objects and people, is exemplified in a chair, generally designated by the reference numeral 1.

The chair 1 comprises a supporting structure 2, provided with a plurality of supporting legs 3, which are hinged to a supporting surface 4 at two opposite lateral portions thereof 4a.

The supporting surface 4 comprises at. least two rigid half-surfaces 5 and 6, which are hinged to each other at a plane of symmetry 7 of the chair 1 that is perpendicular to the supporting surface 4 and is substantially parallel to the hinge axes 8 of the lateral portions 4a.

The supporting structure 2 comprises at least two lateral bodies 9, which have a substantially U-shaped profile and each of which is hinged to one of the two half-surfaces 5 and 6 at one of the lateral portions 4a with a central portion 9a of the lateral bodies 9 that is defined on the opposite side with respect to the open side of the U-shape.

The lateral bodies 9 are symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane of symmetry 7, with the hinge axes 8 arranged parallel to the hinge axis 10 defined between the two half-surfaces 5 and 6.

The supporting structure 2 comprises at least two front bodies 1 1, which have a substantially L-shaped profile and are hinged to each other at the free end of a foot 11a of the L-shape, with a hinge axis 12 substantially parallel to a stem 1 Ib of the L-shape and arranged in the plane of symmetry 7. Each one of the two front bodies 1 1 is hinged laterally to one of the lateral bodies 9 with a hinge axis 13 substantially on the opposite side with respect to the hinge axis 12, defined between the two front bodies 1 1 , and parallel thereto with the foot 1 1 a of the L-shape that faces the supporting surface 4.

The supporting structure 2 comprises at least two rear bodies 14, which also have a substantially L-shaped profile and are hinged to each other at the free end of a foot 14a of the L-shape, with a hinge axis 15 substantially parallel to a stem 14b of the L-shape and arranged in the plane of symmetry 7.

Each one of the two rear bodies 14 is hinged laterally to one of the lateral bodies 9 on the opposite side with respect to the front bodies 1 1 , with a hinge axis 16 substantially on the opposite side with respect to the hinge axis 15, defined between the two rear bodies 14, and parallel thereto with the foot 14a of the L-shape that faces the supporting surface 4.

The chair 1 comprises at least a back 17, which is arranged on the side of the rear bodies 14 above the supporting surface 4 and is associated with the two lateral bodies 9.

The back 17 comprises two rigid half-backs 18 and 19, which are hinged to each other at the plane of symmetry 7 with a hinge axis 20 that is substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis 10 defined between the two half-surfaces 5 and 6.

Each one of the two half-backs 18 and 19 is hinged to a supporting element 21 on the opposite side with respect to the hinge defined between the two half-backs 18 and 19 and with a hinge axis 22 that is parallel to the hinge axis 20 defined between the two half-backs 18 and 19.

Each one of the two supporting elements 21 is rigidly associated with one of the lateral bodies 9 and protrudes substantially from the supporting surface 4 toward the back 17. With a structure similar to that of the chair 1 , eliminating however the back 17 and the two supporting elements 21, it is possible to provide a stool or a table.

Operation of the piece of furniture 1 according to the present invention is as follows. Considering that the supporting legs 3 of the chair 1 can move in the direction of the plane of symmetry 7, moving mutually closer and remaining substantially parallel to each other throughout the closing motion, and that during such closing motion the hinge axis 10 can move on the plane of symmetry 7, moving away from the supporting legs 3 for the book-like closure of the two half-surfaces 5 and 6, to close the chair 1 it is sufficient to move the supporting legs 3 closer to each other.

Simultaneously with the mutual approach of the supporting legs 3 and of the book-like closure of the two half-surfaces 5 and 6, the hinge axis 20 performs a translational motion in the plane of symmetry 7, moving away from the supporting elements 21 toward the front, bodies 11 , since during the closing motion it can move on the plane of symmetry 7 for the book-like closure of the two half-backs 18 and 19.

In order to allow correct closure of the chair 1, the back 17 is spaced from the supporting surface 4 by a distance that is at least equal to the distance between the hinge axis 10 and one of the hinge axes 8.

In the closed configuration, the resulting lateral space occupation is substantially the same as in the open configuration with a front space occupation that is reduced only to the thickness of the components.

In practice it has been found that the space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, particularly for supporting objects and people, according to the present invention, fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it ensures stable balance for the objects that rest thereon because the supporting surface is rigid.

Another advantage that is achieved by the present piece of furniture consists in that all the movements provided for the transition from one configuration to the other are obtained by means of simple mechanisms.

Another advantage achieved by the present piece of furniture consists in that it is particularly practical and comfortable in all of its provided configurations. All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art. The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2008A000700 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A space-saving collapsible piece of furniture, particularly for supporting objects and people, comprising a supporting structure provided with a plurality of supporting legs, which are hinged to a supporting surface at two opposite lateral portions thereof in order to close the piece of furniture on a plane of symmetry thereof that is perpendicular to said supporting surface and is substantially parallel to the hinge axes of said lateral portions, said supporting surface comprising at least two rigid half- surfaces which are hinged to each other at said plane of symmetry, characterized in that during the closing motion said legs can move in the direction of said plane of symmetry, moving mutually closer and remaining substantially parallel to each other throughout said closing motion with the hinge axis defined between said two half-surfaces that, can move on said plane of symmetry for the book-like closure of said two half-surfaces.

2. The piece of furniture according to claim 1 , characterized in that said hinge axis defined between said two half-surfaces can move on said plane of symmetry, moving away from said legs.

3. The piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting structure comprises at least two lateral bodies, which have a substantially U-shaped profile and are each hinged to one of said two half-surfaces at one of said lateral portions with a central portion of said lateral bodies that is defined on the opposite side with respect to the open side of said U-shape, said lateral bodies being mutually symmetrical with respect to said plane of symmetry with the hinge axes defined between said lateral bodies and said two half-surfaces arranged parallel to said hinge axis defined between said two half-surfaces.

4. The piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting structure comprises at least two front bodies that have a substantially L-shaped profile and are mutually hinged at the free end of the foot of said L-shape, with the hinge axis substantially parallel to the stem of said L-shape and arranged on said plane of symmetry, each one of said two front bodies being hinged laterally to one of said lateral bodies with a hinge axis that lies substantially on the opposite side with respect to said hinge axis defined between said two front bodies and parallel thereto with the foot of said L-shape that faces said supporting surface.

5. The piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said supporting structure comprises at least two rear bodies that have a substantially L-shaped profile and are mutually hinged at the free end of the foot of said L-shape, with the hinge axis substantially parallel to the stem of said L-shape and arranged on said plane of symmetry, each one of said two rear bodies being hinged laterally to one of said lateral bodies on the opposite side with respect to said front bodies with a hinge axis that lies substantially on the opposite side with respect, to said hinge axis defined between said two rear bodies and parallel thereto with the foot of said L-shape that faces said supporting surface.

6. The piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a stool.

7. The piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is a table.

8. The piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one back, which is arranged on the side of said rear bodies above said supporting surface and is associated with said two lateral bodies.

9. The piece of furniture according to claim 8, characterized in that, said back comprises two rigid half-backs, which are mutually hinged at said plane of symmetry with a hinge axis that is substantially perpendicular to said hinge axis defined between said two half-surfaces.

10. The piece of furniture according to one or more of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that it comprises two supporting elements, each rigidly associated with one of said lateral bodies and protruding substantially from said supporting surface toward said back, each one of said supporting elements being hinged to one of said two half-backs on the opposite side with respect to the hinge defined between said two half-backs and with a hinge axis that is parallel to the hinge axis defined between said two halfbacks.

1 1. The piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that during said closing motion said hinge axis defined between said two half-backs can move on said plane of symmetry for the book-like closure of said two half-backs.

12. The piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hinge axis defined between said two halfbacks can move in said plane of symmetry away from said supporting elements in the direction of said front bodies, said back being spaced from said supporting surface at a distance that is at least equal to the distance between said hinge axis defined between said two half-surfaces and said hinge axis defined between one of said two half-surfaces and one of said lateral bodies.

13. The piece of furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a chair.