WO2019021162A1

WO2019021162A1 - Base for a house, office or community seat

Info

Publication number: WO2019021162A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/055482
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo EBENESTELLI
Original assignee: Ivars S.P.A.
Priority date: 2017-07-26
Filing date: 2018-07-24
Publication date: 2019-01-31
Also published as: FR3069425A3; IT201700085458U1; FR3069425B3

Abstract

The present invention refers to a base (1) for a house, office or community seat, comprising a central body (2) having a through hole (3) with vertical axis and four spokes (4) extended from said central body (2), wherein the height of the base (1) is equal to or higher than 300 mm, the height of the central body (2) is between 57 mm and 63 mm and wherein the central body (2) and the spokes (4) are made in one piece of synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class.

Description

Base for a house, office or coiranunitY seat

***

DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In its most general aspect the present invention refers to a base for a house, office or community seat.

In particular the invention refers to a base of the aforesaid type comprising a plurality of spokes.

State of the Art

In the field of furnishings for the home, office or various communities, bases for chairs comprising five spokes, made of plastic or metal material, have been known for a long time.

In recent times, particular market and design requirements have led to the creation of bases with four spokes made of wood or metal material, such as aluminum or iron-based alloys.

Bases made of metal or wood material ensures the necessary solidity and robustness regardless of the number of spokes, while for the bases made of plastic material, adequate solidity and robustness are achieved thanks to the presence of five spokes.

In any case, the bases comprising a plurality of spokes provided in the known art are characterized as being rather flat, in other words with a particularly reduced height and, therefore, with spokes with an inclination angle, calculated with respect to a horizontal surface of the floor for which they are intended, a very small, as can be seen in the examples of figure 1.

Although advantageous, bases of the aforesaid type are not free from drawbacks.

The bases made of metal materials, for example, are expensive and heavy.

The cost of the bases made of metal material is due both to the intrinsic cost of the material and to the various manufacturing processes de facto needed to achieve the finished product, such as, for example, the polishing/grinding, painting or chrome plating.

The considerable weight of the bases made of metal material not only constitutes a drawback that weighs, so to speak, on the practicality of use of such bases, but also contributes to further increasing the cost of the bases made of metal material, since it affects the transport costs of the same.

The bases made of plastic material provided in the known art suffer from the drawback of having a design bound to the five spokes instead, thus from being excluded from a large part of the market sector.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a base for a house, office or community seat having structural and functional characteristics such as to overcome one or more of the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the known art and, in particular, a base for a seat of the aforesaid type able to provide greater convenience and more efficiency of use compared to the bases for the seats provided in the known art.

According to the invention, the aforesaid object is achieved with a base for a house office or community seat comprising a central body having a through hole with vertical axis and four spokes extended from the aforesaid central body, characterized in that its height is equal to or higher than 300 mm, in that the height of the aforesaid central body is between 57 mm and 63 mm and in that the aforesaid central body and the aforesaid spokes are made in one piece of synthetic polymeric material, wherein the aforesaid synthetic polymeric material belongs to the polyamide class.

In practice the base according to the present invention comprises spokes having a pronounced inclination with respect to an horizontal surface of a floor for which it is intended to be leant, and a central body from which the spokes extend outwards that, in addition to be integral with the same spokes and to be made of the same material as the one used for the spokes, it is particularly high compared to the aforesaid horizontal surface, but in any case with limited vertical extent.

In this way, the present base is given the necessary resistance and robustness even with only four spokes of plastic material, therefore overcoming a sort of technical prejudice, or in any case a prejudice of the sector, according to which the bases for a house, office or community seat with four spokes of plastic materials usually used in the sector would not be sufficiently safe and robust enough to withstand axial loads exceeding 700 kg, as is usually required by the market for quality products .

According to the invention, a particularly cheap, practical, convenient and light base, also commonly known as pedestal, is obtained, while providing a high level of robustness and the performance and safety of either the four-spoke bases made of metal or wood or the five-spoke bases made of plastic material.

Advantageously, in fact, the base according to the present invention is achieved by means of an injection molding process and does not require further processing, such as polishing, grinding, painting or chrome plating, which are instead required for the bases made of metal material .

Preferably, the aforesaid synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class is nylon 6 (PA6) .

Advantageously, nylon 6, which is naturally white in color, is resistant to many chemical agents, oils, greases and solvents in general and, moreover, it is easy to color by using suitable masters.

Preferably, the aforesaid synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class comprises reinforcing fillers .

Preferably, the aforesaid reinforcing fillers are made of, or comprise, glass fibers.

Preferably, the aforementioned glass fibers constitute between 30 and 40 wt% to the total weight of the aforesaid synthetic polymeric material.

Preferably, the aforesaid glass fibers constitute about 35 wt% to the total weight of the aforesaid synthetic polymeric material.

Advantageously, the glass fibers not only further improve the mechanical properties of the synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class, and therefore of the nylon 6, but also confer excellent dimensional stability.

Therefore, and preferably, the aforesaid central body and the aforesaid spokes of the present base are constituted of nylon 6 containing 35 wt% of glass fibers, according to the formula (C6HnNO)_n - polyamide 6, 35 wt% and specification PA 6, M, 14-110, GF35.

Advantageously and conveniently, the aforesaid material not only ensures high mechanical characteristics, but also makes it possible to achieve a base with aesthetic characteristics that are not inferior to those of the bases made of metal material.

Preferably, the aforesaid base comprises a ring constrained to the aforesaid central body, wherein the aforesaid ring is made of a different material than the aforesaid synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class.

Preferably, the aforesaid ring is facing the aforesaid through hole, having a diameter essentially corresponding to the diameter of the aforesaid through hole.

Preferably, the aforesaid ring is made of a metal material .

Preferably, the height of the aforesaid ring is lower than the vertical extent of the aforesaid through hole of the aforesaid central body, more preferably a height equal to or lower than 5 mm, still more preferably a height equal to about 3 mm.

Advantageously, the ring further increases resistance to axial loads at the inner portion of the central body of the base, where they are heavier, and also constitutes a mechanical stop or break for a rotating column or gas pump that must be housed in the through hole of the central body to make it possible to adjust the chair achieved when the base of the present invention is combined with a seat.

In this way, a constant coupling is achieved between the present base and the aforesaid rotating column, the latter is always at the same height since the rotating column being prevented from sliding in the central body of the base, as well as an anti-breakthrough reinforcement for the wall delineating the through hole of the same central body is further conferred.

Preferably, the aforesaid central body has a height greater than the width of the aforesaid through hole.

Preferably, the aforesaid central body has a height comprised between 58 mm and 62 mm, more preferably between 59 mm and 61.5 mm, and still more preferably equal to about 60.5 mm.

Preferably, the aforesaid central body has four lateral "unloading portions", wherein each of the aforesaid lateral unloading portions is essentially aligned with a respective spoke.

Preferably, the aforesaid lateral unloading portions are blind holes.

Preferably, the aforesaid lateral unloading portions are arranged on a lower side of the aforesaid central body.

Advantageously, the aforesaid lateral unloading portions make it possible to significantly limit the post- shrinkage deformations of the synthetic polymeric material that could lead to a loss of symmetry in the central body of the present base.

Preferably, the aforesaid central body has an upper edge and a lower edge surrounding the aforesaid through hole, wherein the thickness of the aforesaid upper edge is greater than the thickness of the aforesaid lower edge.

In practice, the side of the aforesaid central body is substantially shaped like a truncated cone, while the connection area between two spokes adjacent to one another, in the upper portion of the central body, have a curvature radius between 34.5 mm and 37.5 mm, preferably equal to about 36 mm.

The aforesaid truncated cone shape increases the robustness of the present base.

Moreover, and preferably, the aforesaid through hole has a diameter comprised between 48 mm and 52 mm, more preferably between 49 mm and 51 mm, still more preferably equal to about 50 mm.

Preferably, also the aforesaid through hole is truncated-cone shaped, having, at an upper end of the aforesaid central body, a diameter greater than the diameter measured at a lower end of the same central body.

Preferably, the taper of the through hole is equal to

1° 26' .

Preferably, each of the aforesaid spokes comprises a first length proximal to the aforesaid central body, and a second length distal from the aforesaid central body, wherein the aforesaid first length and the aforesaid second length form an angle between 138° and 139° between one another and wherein the aforesaid first length has a greater extent than that of the aforesaid second length.

Preferably, each of the aforesaid spokes has a tapered profile higher near the aforesaid central body and lower at the aforesaid second length distal from the central body.

Preferably each of the aforesaid spokes has a tapered shape, being wider at the back or upper portion and narrower at the belly or lower portion.

Preferably, the aforementioned base has a maximum outer diameter comprised between 661.5 mm and 688.5 mm, more preferably comprised between 668 mm and 681 mm, still more preferably equal to about 675 mm.

Preferably the aforesaid base has a height comprised between 306 mm and 324 mm, more preferably comprised between 309 mm and 321 mm, still more preferably comprised between 312 mm and 318 mm, and still more preferably comprised between 313 mm and 315 mm.

Brief description of the figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more evident by the review of the following detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments illustrated by way of example, but not limited to, with the aid of the attached drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 is an top perspective view of two examples of a base for a seat according to the known art, respectively with five spokes of plastic material and with four spokes of metal material;

- figure 2 is an upper plan view of a base for a house, office or community seat, according to the present invention;

- figure 3 is a side view of the base in figure 2;

- figures 4 and 5 are bottom views of the base in figure 2 and of a respective enlarged detail (detail D) ; figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the base according to the present invention, according to the F-F arrows of figure 2 ;

- figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the base according to the present invention, according to the

C-C arrows of figure 3;

- figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the base according to the present invention, according to the B-B arrows of figure 2;

- figures 9 and 10 are respectively side and bottom perspective views of the base of figure 2.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to figures 2-10, by 1 a base for a seat intended to create a chair or small armchair for the home, office or community is overall denoted, in accordance with the present invention.

The base 1 essentially comprises a central body 2 having a through hole 3 with vertical axis and four spokes extended from the central body 2, wherein each spoke is denoted with 4.

According to the present invention the base 1 has a height equal to or higher than 300 mm, the central body 2 has a height comprised between 57 mm and 63 mm and, moreover, the central body 2 and the spokes 4 are made in one piece of a synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class.

In detail, the base 1 has a height preferably comprised between 306 mm and 324 mm, more preferably comprised between 309 mm and 321 mm, still more preferably comprised between 312 mm and 318 mm, and still more preferably between 313 mm and 315 mm.

As far as the synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class is concerned and with which the central body 2 and spokes 4 were made, there is to be said that, according to the invention, it preferably consists of nylon 6, commonly also denoted with the acronym PA6.

Moreover, and preferably, the synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class comprises reinforcement fillers, which are advantageously constituted of, or may comprise, glass fibers.

In particular, and preferably, the base 1 comprises a quantity of glass fibers comprised between 30 and 40 wt% to the total weight of the synthetic polymeric material.

A greater preferred quantity of glass fibers constitutes about 35 wt% to the total weight of the synthetic polymeric material.

Therefore, according to the invention, the aforesaid synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class is preferably constituted of (C6HnNO)_n - polyamide 6, 35% - specification: PA 6, M, 14-110, GF35.

According to the examples of the figures, the base 1 comprises a ring 5 constrained to the central body 2 , wherein the ring 5 is made of a different material than the synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class, such as, for example, a different plastic or metal material .

In particular, the ring 5 may have a slightly greater diameter than that of the through hole 3 and therefore it may surround the through hole 3 , otherwise it can face the through hole 3 , as illustrated in the examples of the figures, having in this case a diameter essentially corresponding to the diameter of the through hole 3 .

As far as the ring 5 is concerned, there is to be said that it is preferably made of a metal material, advantageously iron or iron-based alloys.

The ring 5 has a height lower than the vertical extent of the through hole 3 of the central body 2 , and preferably has a height equal to or lower than 5 mm, more preferably equal to about 3 mm.

As far as the central body 2 of the base 1 is concerned, there is to be said that it has a height greater than the width of the through hole 3 .

In particular, the central body 2 has a height comprised between 58 mm and 62 mm, preferably comprised between 59 mm and 61.5 mm, more preferably equal to about 60.5 mm.

Moreover, the central body 2 has an upper edge 6 and a lower edge 7 surrounding the through hole 3 , wherein the thickness of the upper edge 6 is greater than the thickness of the lower edge 7 .

In practice, according to a side view and according to the present invention, the central body 2 substantially appears like a truncated cone body, while the connection area between two spokes 4 adjacent to one another, in the upper portion of the central body 2 , has a curvature radius comprised between 34.5 mm and 37.5 mm, preferably equal to about 36 mm.

Still according to the invention, the central body 2 has four lateral unloading portions 8 , wherein each of the lateral unloading portions 8 is essentially aligned to a respective spoke 4 .

In accordance with the examples of the figures, the lateral unloading portions 8 are blind holes with an essentially triangular contour and are arranged on a lower side of the central body 2 , however, the possibility of providing through lateral unloading portions is not excluded .

As far as the aforementioned through hole 3 is concerned, that is arranged centrally in the central body 2 , there is to be said that it has a diameter comprised between 48 mm and 52 mm, preferably comprised between 49 mm and 51 mm, more preferably equal to about 50 mm.

Moreover, the through hole 3 , as illustrated in the examples of the figures, is truncated-cone shaped, with a diameter measured at an upper end of the central body 2 greater than a diameter measured at a lower end of the same central body 2 . The taper of the through hole 3 is preferably equal to 1° 26'.

With reference to the spokes 4 , there is to be said that each spoke 4 comprises a first length 9 proximal to the central body 2 , and a second length 10 distal from the central body 2 , which form an angle comprised between 138° and 139° between one another, and wherein the first length 9 has greater extent than that of the second length 10 .

Each spoke 4 then has a tapered profile with higher height near the central body 2 and lower height at the second length 10 distal from the central body 2 .

Also in the cross-sectional section, each spoke 4 has a so to speak tapered shape, being wider at the back or upper portion and narrower at the belly or lower portion. In accordance with the above and according to the invention, the base 1 has a maximum outer diameter comprised between 661.5 mm and 688.5 mm, preferably comprised between 668 mm and 681 mm, more preferably equal to about 675 mm.

The base 1 is also provided with a housing seat 11 in each of the spokes 4 , in particular arranged at the second length 10 for respective wheeled bearing or supporting feet .

The extent of the second length 10 , jointly with the angle it forms with the first length 9 , advantageously makes it possible to combine bearing feet or wheeled supports with the base 1 by only modifying the size of the housing seats 11 .

Still according to the invention, the base 1 is achieved by means of an injection molding process.

The advantages of the present invention already apparent in the description above can be summarized by pointing out that it provides a particularly cheap, practical, convenient and light base for a seat for the home, office or community, while offering a high level of robustness .

The base according to the present invention, in fact, is resistant to axial loads of up to 900 kg and beyond.

In order to meet incidental and specific requirements, several variations and modifications could be made by a field technician to the illustrated and described embodiments of present invention, provided that all are included in the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Base (1) for a house, office or community seat, comprising a central body (2) having a through hole (3) with vertical axis and four spokes (4) extended from said central body (2), characterized in that it has height equal to or higher than 300 mm, in that the height of said central body (2) is between 57 mm and 63 mm and in that said central body (2) and said spokes (4) are made in one piece of synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class.

2. Base according to claim 1, wherein said synthetic polymeric material is nylon 6 (PA6) .

3. Base according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said synthetic polymeric material comprises reinforcing fillers, preferably wherein said reinforcing fillers are constituted by, or comprise, glass fibers.

4. Base according to claim 3, wherein said glass fibers are between 30 wt% and 40 wt%, preferably about 35 wt%, by the total weight of said synthetic polymeric material.

5. Base according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a ring (5) constrained to said central body (2), wherein said ring (5) is made of a material different from said synthetic polymeric material belonging to the polyamide class, and wherein said ring (5) gives onto said through hole.

6. Base according to claim 5, wherein said ring (5) is made of a metal material, and wherein preferably the height of said ring (5) is equal to, or lower than, 5 mm, more preferably equal to about 3 mm.

7. Base according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height of said central body (2) is between 58 mm and 62 mm, preferably between 59 mm and 61.5 mm, more preferably equal to about 60.5 mm.

8. Base according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said central body (2) is equipped with four lateral unloading portions (8), wherein each lateral unloading portion (8) is arranged essentially aligned with a respective spoke (4), wherein said lateral unloading portions (8) are blind holes.

9. Base according to claim 8, wherein said lateral unloading portions are arranged on a lower side of said central body (2) .

10. Base according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said central body (2) has an upper edge (6) and a lower edge (7) which surround said through hole (3), wherein the thickness of said upper edge (6) is greater than the thickness of said lower edge (7) .

11. Base according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of said through hole (3) is between 48 and 52 mm, preferably between 49 mm and 51 mm, more preferably equal to about 50 mm.

12 . Base according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said through hole is truncated-cone shaped and has taper preferably equal to 1° 26'.

13. Base according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said spokes (4) comprises a first length

(9) proximal to said central body (2) and a second length

(10) distal from said central body (2), wherein said first length (9) and said second length (10) form between themselves an angle from 138° to 139°.

14. Base according to any one of the preceding claims, having maximum outer diameter between 661.5 and 688.5 mm, preferably between 668 mm and 681 mm, more preferably equal to about 675 mm.

15. Base according to any one of the preceding claims, having height between 306 mm and 324 mm, preferably between 309 mm and 321 mm, more preferably between 312 mm and 318 mm, still more preferably between about 313 mm and about 315 mm.

16. Base according to any one of the preceding claims, obtained by an injection molding process.