WO2018014074A1

WO2018014074A1 - A mounting device

Info

Publication number: WO2018014074A1
Application number: PCT/AU2017/050726
Authority: WO
Inventors: David King
Original assignee: King Furniture Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-22
Filing date: 2017-07-13
Publication date: 2018-01-25

Abstract

A mounting device (10) for use with an article of furniture (12) of the type having a frame (14) supporting a suspension system (20), the frame (14) having a pair of opposed side members (16) and a pair of opposed end members (18). The mounting device includes an elongate body member (30) defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced engaging formations and being configured to distribute a load over the suspension system (20), each engaging formation being shaped to engage a component (24) of the suspension system (20). A mounting member (40) extends from the body member (30) to interconnect the body member (30) and one of the end members of the frame (14).

Description

"A mounting device"

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent

Application No 2016902888 filed on 22 July 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates, generally, to an article of furniture and, more particularly, to a mounting device for use in the article of furniture. The disclosure extends also to a suspension system and to an article of furniture incorporating a suspension system.

Background

[0003] Some articles of furniture incorporate a frame on which a suspension system is mounted to facilitate flexing of particular zones of the article of furniture. The suspension system may be mounted in one or both of a seat base and a backrest of the article of furniture.

[0004] A problem occurs between an end frame member and a side of the suspension system where a gap is created. At times, the gap may be sufficiently large so that, when an occupant is seated above the gap, the occupant is at least partially unsupported on the article of furniture. This can create discomfort due to the sag of the suspension system relative to the end frame member.

[0005] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. Summary

[0006] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a mounting device for use with an article of furniture of the type having a frame supporting a suspension system, the frame having a pair of opposed side members and a pair of opposed end members, the mounting device including

an elongate body member defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced engaging formations and being configured to distribute a load over the suspension system, each engaging formation being shaped to engage a component of the suspension system; and

a mounting member extending from the body member to interconnect the body member and one of the end members of the frame.

[0007] Each engaging formation may be in the form of a transversely extending slot defined in the body member. Each slot may be substantially arcuate, when viewed from below the body member, to facilitate retention of the component of the suspension system in the slot.

[0008] A land may be formed between adjacent slots to impart rigidity to the body member. At least one void may be defined in each land to reduce material usage.

[0009] An operatively upper surface of the body member may be substantially planar to minimise the extent to which the body member projects above the suspension system.

[0010] The body member may be a moulding of a suitable synthetic plastics material.

[0011] The mounting member may be a resiliently flexible element. In an embodiment, the mounting member may be in the form of a coil spring. The coil spring may have a spring constant which is substantially the same as that of each coil spring of the suspension system, the coil springs of the suspension system extending from the side members of the frame to suspend the suspension system from the frame.

[0012] The disclosure extends also to a suspension system for an article of furniture, the suspension system including

a frame comprising a pair of spaced side members and a pair of spaced end members; a suspension assembly suspended between the side members of the frame; and at least one mounting device, as described above, interconnecting the suspension assembly and at least one of the end members of the frame.

[0013] The suspension system may include a plurality of mounting devices arranged in spaced relationship with their body members extending substantially parallel to each other and to the side members of the frame.

[0014] The disclosure extends still further to an article of furniture which includes a suspension system as described above.

[0015] The suspension system may form part of at least one of a seat base and a backrest of the article of furniture.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0016] An embodiment of the disclosure is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view, from above, of a part of a furniture frame with an embodiment of a mounting device mounted in position, two such mounting devices being illustrated;

[0018] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a part of the mounting device; [0019] Fig. 3 shows a bottom view of the part of the mounting device; and [0020] Fig. 4 shows a side view of the part of the mounting device. Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

[0021] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates an embodiment of a mounting device. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, two such mounting devices 10 are shown in use mounted to a part 12 of an article of furniture. [0022] The part 12 of the article of furniture is part of either a seat base or a backrest of the article of furniture and comprises a frame 14 having a pair of opposed side members 16 and a pair of opposed end members 18, only one being shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, interconnecting the side members 16. The frame 14 is thus a box frame. The part 12 further includes a suspension system 20 suspended between the side members 16 of the frame 14.

[0023] The suspension system 20 is of the type having a plurality of spaced carrier struts 22 extending parallel to the side members 16 of the frame 14. The struts 22 support a plurality of orthogonally extending suspension components in the form of wires 24. The struts 22 and wires 24 form an assembly 26 which is mounted to the side members 16 of the frame 14 by a plurality of resiliently flexible components, each component being in the form of a coil spring 28.

[0024] An example of the type of suspension system 20 used in the article of furniture is that known as Pullmaflex^®. Pullmaflex is a registered trade mark of Pullmaflex Ltd, of Ffordd Y Rhyd Pare Amanwy, Ammanford SA18 3ER, United Kingdom.

[0025] As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a gap 29 is created between an end of the assembly 26 of the suspension system 20 and the end member 18 of the frame 14 of the article of furniture. This gap 29 may be sufficiently large that, when a person is seated proximate an end of the article of furniture, the suspension system 20 may sag relative to the end member 18. The person may thus be partially unsupported by the suspension system 20 which may result in discomfort to the occupant.

[0026] Accordingly, to alleviate this problem, the Applicant has developed the mounting device 10, a plurality of which is used to span the gap 29. As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, two mounting devices 10 are shown in use. However, it will be appreciated that a greater or fewer number of mounting devices 10 may be used to span the gap 29.

[0027] The mounting device 10 includes an elongate body member 30 (as shown in greater detail in Figs. 2-4 of the drawings) in the form of a batten-like strip. In an embodiment, the body member 30 is a moulding of a suitable synthetic plastics material. The synthetic plastics material used may be an engineering plastics material such as a polyamide. An example of the polyamide used may be a PA66 Nylon material. [0028] The body member 30 defines a plurality of longitudinally spaced engaging formations 32. Each engaging formation 32 is in the form of a transversely extending groove or slot which is shaped to engage one of the wires 24 of the suspension system 20. More particularly, each slot 32 is substantially arcuate, when viewed from below the body member 30, to facilitate clipping engagement and retention of the associated wire 24 in the slot 32. The retention of the wire 24 within the slot 32 is further facilitated by a profile of the slot 32. As illustrated most clearly in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, each slot 32 has a substantially reshaped profile, with an included angle between limbs of the 'L' being an obtuse angle, when viewed from a side of the body member 30. In this way, a secure mounting of the body member 30 to the suspension assembly 26 of the suspension system 20 is achieved.

[0029] With the provision of the plurality of slots 32, each of which engages one of the wires 24 of the suspension system 20, spaced along the body member 30, a load is distributed by the body member 30 over the suspension assembly 26 of the suspension system 20, obviating excessive loading of each of the wires 24 of the suspension system 20.

[0030] An upper surface 34 of the body member 30 is substantially planar so that, when the, or each, mounting device 10 is mounted to the suspension system 20, there is minimal elevation of the body member 30 above a plane of the suspension assembly 26 of the suspension system 20.

[0031] A land 36 is defined between adjacent slots 32 of the body member 30 to impart rigidity to the body member 30. One or more voids 38 (Fig. 3) is defined in each land 36 to reduce material usage in the moulding of the body member 30.

[0032] The mounting device 10 includes a mounting member 40 (Fig. 1) extending from an end of the body member 30 to interconnect the body member 30 and the end frame 18 of the frame 14 of the article of furniture. The mounting member 40 is resiliently flexible to minimise any adverse impact on the desired functioning of the suspension system 20. In an embodiment, the mounting member 40 is in the form of a coil spring. The coil spring 40 has the same, or a similar, spring constant to that of the springs 28 of the suspension system 20.

[0033] The body member 30 includes a mounting formation in the form of an opening 42 at one end. An end 44 (Fig. 1) of the coil spring 40 is received in the opening 42. A complementary opening 46 is defined in the end member 18 of the frame 14 and an opposed end 48 of the coil spring 40 is received in the opening 46 to interconnect the body member 30 of the mounting device 10 and the end member 18 of the frame 14.

[0034] In use, at least one mounting device 10 is used to span, or bridge, the gap 29 between the suspension system 20 and the end member 18 of the frame 14 of the article of furniture. The body member 30 is attached to the suspension assembly 26 of the suspension system 20. More particularly, a wire 24 of the suspension assembly 26 is inserted, or clipped, into each groove 32 of the body member 30 so that, in use, a load imparted by an occupant seated above the mounting device 10 is distributed over the suspension assembly 26 of the suspension system 20.

[0035] The coil spring 40 of each mounting device 10 is then attached to the frame 18. In so doing, an end of the suspension assembly 26 of the suspension system 20 is, effectively, attached to the end frame 18 of the frame 14. As a result, when an occupant occupies the article of furniture incorporating the suspension system 20, as supported by the one or more mounting devices 10, sag between the end of the suspension system 20 and the end frame 18 is reduced. This reduces discomfort which may be experienced by the occupant being seated on an end of the suspension system 20 of the article of furniture.

[0036] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mounting device for use with an article of furniture of the type having a frame supporting a suspension system, the frame having a pair of opposed side members and a pair of opposed end members, the mounting device including

2. The mounting device of claim 1 in which each engaging formation is in the form of a transversely extending slot defined in the body member.

3. The mounting device of claim 2 in which each slot is substantially arcuate, when viewed from below the body member to facilitate retention of the component of the suspension system in the slot.

4. The mounting device of claim 2 or claim 3 in which a land is formed between adjacent slots to impart rigidity to the body member.

5. The mounting device of any one of the preceding claims in which an operatively upper surface of the body member is substantially planar to minimise the extent to which the body member projects above the suspension system.

6. The mounting device of any one of the preceding claims in which the body member is a moulding of a suitable synthetic plastics material.

7. The mounting device of any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting member is a resiliently flexible element.

8. The mounting device of any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting member is in the form of a coil spring.

9. The mounting device of claim 8 in which the coil spring has a spring constant which is substantially the same as that of each coil spring of the suspension system, the coil springs of the suspension system extending from the side members of the frame to suspend the suspension system from the frame.

10. A suspension system for an article of furniture, the suspension system including a frame comprising a pair of spaced side members and a pair of spaced end members; a suspension assembly suspended between the side members of the frame; and at least one mounting device, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, interconnecting the suspension assembly and at least one of the end members of the frame.

11. The suspension assembly of claim 10 which includes a plurality of mounting devices arranged in spaced relationship with their body members extending substantially parallel to each other and to the side members of the frame.

12. An article of furniture which includes a suspension system as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11.

13. The article of furniture of claim 12 in which the suspension system forms part of at least one of a seat base and a backrest of the article of furniture.