WO2016036263A1

WO2016036263A1 - A hanging set of a foldable seat

Info

Publication number: WO2016036263A1
Application number: PCT/PL2015/000140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Krystian DUŁAWA
Original assignee: Duława Krystian
Priority date: 2014-09-01
Filing date: 2015-08-26
Publication date: 2016-03-10
Also published as: PL409380A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hanging set of a foldable seat (1a) mounted on a support element, in particular a door leaf (5), comprising a longitudinal hooking set (3a) that is mounted directly on the support element (5) and to which is mounted a foldable seat module (2a), characterized in that the foldable seat module (2a) comprises transverse stabilizing elements (4a) which engage with the side edges (52) of the support element (5).

Description

A HANGING SET OF A FOLDABLE SEAT

The present invention relates to a hanging set of a foldable seat mounted on support element, in particular a door leaf, comprising a longitudinal hooking set that is mounted directly on a support element and to which is mounted a foldable seat module. The entire hanging set of the present invention is installed directly on the support element in the state of a substantial adherence to a support element surface.

State of the art

An exemplary embodiment of the described above hanging seat set type is disclosed in the patent application US 8,651 ,571 , which describes a sitting device intended for mounting on a door, for example a bathroom or bedroom door. The described seat assembly contains column supports, to which are pushed inserts mounted on the upper edge of the door, and optionally additional inserts engaged with the lower edge of the door. The depth of an insertion of the inserts into the column supports is adjustable to allow for adjustment of the seat assembly to an individual dimension of a door leaf. Attaching the seat assembly also on the lower edge of the door increases its stability.

A similar solution of a foldable baby-changing table for hanging up on a door leaf is disclosed in the patent application US 2010/0138995. The described table is installed on belts with hooks designed to be caught on the top and bottom edges of a door leaf.

Other similar solution lacking its engagement with the lower edge of the door is disclosed in the patent application US 5,310,242.

From the prior art seating devices as described at the outset are known, which however all have a limitation to the supported weight capacity, that is predefining the use of those inventions substantially only for small children, especially infants.

An essential feature of such foldable seats is an installation that does not damage the structure of a support element. This is particularly important when a support element is a door leaf. Further relevant requirement of this type of foldable seats is the size and thickness of elements caught on the edges of a door, which must ensure free closing of a door leaf, and at the same time not damaging a door structure, nor the seal around a door leaf.

To meet those requirements, the known hooking elements of seats of this type, are made of thin flat metal bars having relatively small length of hooks engaging the edges of a door leaf.

The backrest of such a foldable seat set when loaded tends to diverge from the surface of a door leaf around the axis of rotation of the seat, with a small shift toward the upper edge of a door leaf.

This is due to the fact that the seat is only hanged on the upper edges of a door leaf by means of relatively rigid hooking elements. Those hooking elements gradually deform and/or rotate, what may result in jumping out of the hooks from the original fixed position on the edge of a door leaf, thus uncoupling of the entire seat structure from the door leaf, and thus resulting in a fall of a person sitting. This effect occurs even if the seat is hanged on a rigid structure, for example such as the structure described in US 8,651 ,571.

Furthermore such an overload of the hooking elements of the foldable seats known from the prior art of the type described above may occur during an uneven application of weight on the seat surface.

Object of the invention

The above described foldable seat sets could be very useful in all sorts of small rooms, such as entry corridors of flats, where the scale or nature of the available space limits a usage of a standard chair or a stool or other such seats. However, in order to have for those foldable seating sets a proper practical application they must be suited for adult persons.

Therefore the object of the prsent invention is to provide a hanging set of a foldable seat as described at the outset, which would be featured by a significantly greater maximum load capacity, to allow its use for adults. Summarv of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a hanging set of a foldable seat mounted on a support element, in particular a door leaf, as described at the outset, comprising a longitudinal hooking set that is mounted directly on the support element and to which is mounted a foldable seat module, characterized in that the foldable seat module comprises transverse stabilizing elements which engage with the side edges of the support element

The entire hanging set is installed directly on a support element using vertical and horizontal fasteners, providing that the seat module adheres to the surface of the support element. Those horizontal fasteners, together with the coupling elements on the upper edge of a door leaf are building a frame for the set of the foldable seat. The fixing to the side edges of a door leaf is responsible for the additional stability of the entire hanging folding seat set.

According to the present invention the transverse stabilizing elements preferably have an adjustable length, preferably a continuously adjustable length.

In some preferred embodiments of the present invention the transverse stabilizing elements are in the form of belts or longitudinal shapes, both forms with an adjustable length, ended with fasteners, preferably connected in a turnbuckle system, or have the form of tubular round or quadrangle shapes with a preferably continuously adjustable length. The third dimension of the horizontal transverse stabilizing elements is mainly responsible for keeping the element from bending when loaded.

Similar multidirectional forces are applied on the backrest of the foldable set and the seat itself, that are both connected with each other by menas of a hinge. In order to withhold a load also those elements should preferably have a round or quadrangle cross-section.

It may be advantageous for the longitudinal hooking set to have an adjustable length, preferably a continuously adjustable length, and comprise beits or longitudinal shapes, both forms with an adjustable length, ended with fasteners.

Alternative solution is that the set of foldable seat is preferably provided with several hooks of different dimension of the most used sizes and the correct one is mounted during the installation of the entire set on a support element. The foidable seat set weight is playing a vital role during the transport and the installation on a door leaf, therefore it is of an advantage to keep all the elements light, as flat or hollow, depending on forces applied on the given element of a specific foidable seat set.

The surface of the foidable seat that is in contact with the surface of the support element is advantageously covered with anti-slip material, preferably an elastomer, such as, for example, rubber.

The foidable seat module may preferably comprise a base element that is attached to the longitudinal hooking set and on which is releasably mounted a foidable seat.

Furthermore, it may be an advantage that the longitudinal hooking set will contain a hanger unit for clothing.

In a further preferable embodiment of the present invention the foidable seat may be preferably mounted using hinges to a backrest constituting a frame for the transverse stabilizing elements with the fasteners, wherein all these elements are connected to the elements of the longitudinal hooking set

The use of the proposed according to the present invention transverse stabilization for the foidable seat set, by means of the horizontal hooking fasteners to the side edged of a door leaf reduces the weight ballast transferred from the seat on the vertical longitudinal hooking set and so increases the permissible load of the seat. In certain embodiments, the strength of the entire foidable seat set according to the invention may be large enough that the longitudinal hooking set will support the hanger unit. The additional load of the hanger unit may be taken over by the hooking elements of the longitudinal hooking set.

Description of the drawings

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are presented below in connection with the attached drawings on which:

Figs. 1 , 2 and 3 present respectively a first, second and third embodiment of a hanging foidable seat set according to the present invention in a perspective view in a state of a fixation on a support element, that is a door leaf;

Fig. 4 presents a side view of a third embodiment;

Figs. 5 and 6 present respectively a fourth and fifth embodiment of a hanging set of a foldable seat according to the invention in a perspective view in a state of a fixation on a support element, that is a door leaf; and

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of a hanging set of a foldable seat according to the invention in a fixed state on a door leaf that is characterised by the use of the hollow quadrangle cross-section elements.

Description of Embodiments

Presented in Fig. 1 the hanging foldable seat set 1a of the present invention mounted on a door leaf 5 comprises a foldable seat module 2a having a longitudinal hooking set 3a and transverse stabilizing elements 4a.

The module 2a comprises a base element 21a in a form of a flat plate that rests on the surface of a door leaf 5 mounted on hinges 53.

The seat 22a is connected pivotally to the base plate 21a by means of mandrels 23a embedded in the side walls 211a protruding from the plate or by means of a shaft 24a extending over the entire width of the seat.

The range of a rotational movement of the seat 22a with respect to the base 21a is 90°, starting from the folded position in which the seat 22a is pushed up against the plate 2 a in a position substantially parallel to the door panel 5 surface, and ending in the unfolded position (as presented in Fig. 1) in which the seat 22a is oriented perpendicularly relative to the surface of the door leaf 5 and rested against a bearing plate 212a protruding perpendicularly from the lower edge of the base plate 21a.

The longitudinal axis O-O of the foldable seat set 1a according to the present invention extends parallelly relative to the direction of the gravity force in the state of a fixation of the seat set 1a in a position for use.

Denoting the hooking set 3a as longitudinal relates to the direction of a force transmission by this set that is the same as the above defined longitudinal axis. Whereas denoting the stabilization elements 4a as a transverse relates to the direction of transmission of loads by these stabilization elements along the directions perpendicular relative to the above defined longitudinal axis.

The longitudinal hooking set 3a comprises two, parallel to each other, longitudinal shapes 31a ended with hooks 32 engaged on the upper edge 51 of a door leaf 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the shapes 31a are elements of adjustable length having the form of telescopic elements comprising tube guides 311a fixed to the base element 21a, into which in a siidable manner are inserted sliding elements 312a. The depth of insertion of sliding elements 312a to the guides 311a may be changed, wherein stiff connections of the sliding element 312a with the guide 311a are obtainable only in some specific relative positions, in which a locking hole 312a (invisible in the drawing) overlaps with the chosen locking hole 313a of the guide 311a enabling for the full insertion of the locking pin 314a.

The transverse stabilizing elements 4a of an adjustable length are attached to the base element 21a and have an identical construction as the construction of shapes 31a of the longitudinal hooking set 3a. Thus, they comprise longitudinal sections 41a ended with hooks 42a engaging on the side edges 51 of the door leaf 5. The longitudinal sections 41a comprise guides 411a fixed to the base element 21a and provided with locking holes 413a, and sliding elements 412a locked in chosen positions in the guides 411a by means of locking pins 414a.

To achieve the highest possible efficiency of stabilization of the hanging foldable seat set, the points of the attachment of the transverse stabilizing elements to the seat module should according to the present invention be distanced from the axis of rotation of the seat as far as possible in the direction of the longitudinal hooking set.

Fig. 2 presents the second embodiment of a foldable seat set 1b of the present invention, which comprises a folding seat module 2b provided with a longitudinal hooking set 3b, transverse stabilizing elements 4b and additionally with a backrest 6.

The base element of the seat module 2b has in this embodiment a form of a base plate 21 b, to which the seat 22b is pivotally mounted by means of hinges 25b, wherein the seat 22b has increased thickness in the end portion, improving the strength in the unfolded position.

The longitudinal hooking set 3b of an adjustable length comprises two, extending parallel to each other, belts 31 b ended with hooks 32 engaged on the upper edge 51 of a door leaf 5. The belts 31b are wound on rolls and arranged in containers 33b equipped with mechanisms for changing the length of the unrolled belt sections. Similarly the transverse stabilizing elements 4b are belts 41b ended with hooking elements 42 and having an adjustable length by winding them on rolls disposed in containers 43b equipped with mechanisms for changing the lengths of the unrolled belt sections.

The containers 33b and 43b for the belts 31b and 41b are mounted on the base plate 21 b.

In the figures, Fig. 3 and 4 the third embodiment of a foldab!e seat set 1c of the present invention is presented, which comprises a foldable seat module 2c provided with a longitudinal hooking set 3c, transverse stabilizing elements 4c and a backrest 6.

The foldable seat module 2a comprises a base element 2 c to which a seat 22c is attached in a detachable manner.

The base element 21c has a form of a hanger comprising a base plate 211c from which hooks 212c and ears 213c are protruded forming a symmetrical arrangement. Whereas the seat 22c is additionally provided with a perforated rack 26c with holes 261c and hooks 262c. The rack 26c is connected in a rotatable manner to the seat 22c by means of hinges 25c. The holes 261c are distributed in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the hooks 212c and the hooks 262c are distributed in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the ears 213c. The connection of the seat 22c to the base element 21c consists in hanging the rack 26c on the base plate 211 c by introducing the hooks 212c into the holes 261c and introducing the hooks 262c into the ears 213c.

The inner surface of the base element 21c constituting the surface of contact between the foldable seat module 2c and the support element 5 is covered with a layer of non-slip rubber 27. Optionally, the inner surfaces of the hooking set and stabilizing elements may also be coated with an anti-slip layer.

The longitudinal hooking set 3c of an adjustable length comprises a hanger module 34 constituting an intermediate element, to which from one side longitudinal shapes 31c of the construction analogical to the construction of the shapes 31a of Fig. 1 are attached, from the other side three hooking elements 32 are attached. The module 34 is a clothing wall hanger unit.

The transverse stabilizing elements 4c have in this embodiment construction analogical to that of stabilizing elements 4b of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 presents the fourth embodiment of a foldable seat 1d of the present invention which comprises a module foldable seat 2d provided with a longitudinal hooking set 3d and transverse stabilizing elements 4d.

The hooking set 3d has in this embodiment a form of a single, wide, longitudinal hook 32 fixed directly to the lengthened base plate 21 d of the seat module 2d. The seat 22d is itself mounted on a base plate 21 d by means of hinges.

The transverse stabilizing elements 4d are in this embodiment two rods 41 d provided with oppositely threaded internal ends coupled by means of a nut 415d thus forming a turnbuckle arrangement. To the outer ends of the rods 41 d hooks 42 are attached that are engaged on the lateral edges 51 of a door leaf 5. The use of a turnbuckle arrangement allows for a smooth continuous adjustment of the length of the transverse stabilization arrangement, making it possible to obtain a firm tension of the hooks 42.

To ensure a transverse stabilization the nut 415d is obviously attached to the base plate 21 d in a manner (not shown in the drawing) disabling for its moving in relation to the plate 21 d in the transverse direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis O-O.

The transverse stabilization arrangement is connected to the base plate 21 d by passing the rods 41 d through the ears 214d between which the nut 415d is located.

Fig. 6 shows yet another alternative embodiment of the transverse stabilizing elements 4e, which in this embodiment are flat bars 41 e overlapped with each other and passing through rectangular ears 214e and connected with each other by means of screws 416e. The section of the bar 41 e overlapping is longer than the distance between the ears 214e.

It may be obviously preferable to cover the adjustment arrangements of width of the transverse stabilizing elements shown in Figs. 5 and 6 for example by means of backrests similar to the backrest 6 of Figs. 2-4. This option is not visualized on the drawings.

The turnbuckle arrangements with the overlapping flat bars as presented in Figs. 5 and 6 featured by the possibility of a length adjustment may be obviously employed also in the longitudinal hooking set. Although the above presented embodiments illustrate hanging the foldable seat set only on a door leaf, it is obvious that the solution of the present invention enables also mounting the seat on any arbitrary support element enabling for appropriate engagement of hooking elements of the longitudinal hooking set and transverse stabilizing elements on the edges thereof.

The hooking fasteners as such may obviously have varied shapes adapted to the door leaf edges on which they are to be engaged.

it is of course possible to use a longitudinal hooking set and/or transverse stabilizing elements lacking a possibility of its length adjustment but fitted to a particular dimension of a door leaf.

A skilled technician is obviously able to easily develop a wide variety of different manners of connecting the base element to the foldable seat for the present invention variant in which the base element is connected to the seat in a detachable manner. All such connections are structurally alternative in relation to the connection presented in Fig. 3, but functionally are identical with respect to this connection, and also are within the protection scope of the present invention. It is for example possible to use solely pairs of holes and hooks or solely pairs of hooks and ears.

Although according to the present invention it is preferred that the transverse stabilizing elements are mounted directly to the foldable seat module, it is also possible to mount the transverse stabilizing elements to the longitudinal hooking set, in particular in a case of using stiff elements of the longitudinal hooking set.

Fig. 7 shows yet another embodiment of a hanging foldable seat set 1f according to the present invention that can be mounted on a support element without defecting its surface. The seat frame 22f is attached to the backrest frame 6f by means of hinges 25f on both sides of the seat frame 22f. The hinges 25f are shifted away from the surface of the door leaf (not shown in this drawing fig. 7) allowing the seat 22f to take a parallel position to a door leaf surface when not used. The seat frame 22f when opened and loaded is engaging the backrest frame 6f at the angle of 90° and blocking the upper end of the seat frame 22f behind the hinges 25f against the lower edge of the backrest frame 6f. The backrest frame 6f and also the seat frame 22f can be filled with different material in order to make the use of the set 1f comfortable. The backrest frame 6f is preferably constructed from tubular round or quadrangle shapes constituting a back frame for the horizontal fasteners 42f. The transverse stabilizing elements 41 f are located inside the backrest frame 6f. This construction provides the adjustment of the foldable seat set 1f to different door sizes. The transverse stabilizing elements 41 f can be locked at the requested position with a screw or other suitable fixing element 416f. The adjustment to the size of a door leaf should be preferably free and without any predefined steps, as this especially will allow the correct stabilization of the foldable seat set 1f relative to a support element.

The seat 22f together with the transverse stabilizing elements 41f and fasteners 42f are connected to the vertical longitudinal hooking set 31f through screws or other fixing elements 315f.

The vertical force applied by the load on the seat 22f is transferred on the door leaf mainly over the horizontal transverse fasteners 42f. The transverse stabilizing elements 41 f may be constructed from thin metal bars and then divided in smaller sections for a time of transportation, or from belts ended with appropriate fasteners, for example such as described in previous embodiments.

The transverse stabilizing elements 41f that are inserted into the backrest seat frame 6f may be ended with different types of hooking fasteners 42f suitable for the different sizes of door leaf rabbets or other support elements edge forms. The fasteners 42f can be attached permanently to those stabilizing elements 41f or can be detachable.

The hanging foldable seat set 1f is provided with an inbuilt clothing hanger unit 34f attached to the longitudinal hooking set 31 f.

The above embodiments of the present invention are merely exemplary. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized. These and other factors however should not be considered as limiting the spirit of the invention, the intended scope of protection of which is indicated in appended claims.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A hanging set of a foldable seat mounted on a support element, in particular a door leaf, comprising a longitudinal hooking set that is mounted directly on a support element and to which is mounted a foldable seat module, characterized in that the foldable seat module (2) comprises transverse stabilizing elements (4) which engage with the side edges (52) of the support element (5).

2. The hanging set of a foldable seat of Claim 1 , characterized in that the transverse stabilizing elements (4) have an adjustable length, preferably a continuously adjustable length.

3. The hanging set of a foldable seat of Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transverse stabilizing elements (4) are in the form of belts (41b, 41c) or longitudinal shapes (41a, 41 d, 41 e), both forms with an adjustable length, ended with fasteners (42), preferably connected in a turnbuckle arrangement, or have the form of tubular round or quadrangle shapes with an adjustable length (41 e).

4. The hanging set of a foldable seat of any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the longitudinal hooking set (3) has an adjustable length, preferably a continuously adjustable length, and comprises belts (31 b) or longitudinal shapes (31a, 31c), both forms with an adjustable length, ended with fasteners (32).

5. The hanging set of a foldable seat of any one of Claims 1-4, characterized in that the surface of the foldable seat (2) that is in contact with the surface of the support element (5) is covered with anti-slip material (27), preferably an elastomer, such as, for example, rubber.

6. The hanging set of a foldable seat of any one of Claims 1-5, characterized in that the foldable seat module (2) comprises a base element (21) that is attached to the longitudinal hooking set (3) and on which is releasably mounted a foldable seat (22).

7. The hanging set of a foldable seat of any one of Claims 1-6, characterized in that the longitudinal hooking set (3) comprises a hanger unit (34).

8. The hanging set of a foldable seat of any one of Claims 1-7, characterized in that the foldable seat (22f) is mounted using hinges (25f) to a backrest (6f) constituting a frame for the transverse stabilizing elements (41 f) with the fasteners (42f), wherein all these elements are connected to the elements of the longitudinal hooking set (31f).