U.S. patent application number 10/985788 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-26 for dismantleable chair.
Invention is credited to Leong, Po Shun.
Application Number | 20050110326 10/985788 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34595094 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050110326 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leong, Po Shun |
May 26, 2005 |
Dismantleable chair
Abstract
A dismantleable chair composed of at least two panel members.
The panel members are formed from generally flat sheets of some
material such as plywood by a molding process. Each panel member
has a looped or arcuate section of such an extent and radius that
the adjacent portions of the panel member extend approximately
normal to one another. The looped portions have cross-sections that
are approximately the same so that they can be nested together in a
disassembled configuration. When assembled, the panels define
therebetween a generally four sided closed figure. The panel
members are secured together in the assembled configuration by a
minimum number of releasable mounting members at the lower front
and upper rear corners of this four sided figure. A back portion to
the chair is provided either as a separate panel or as an extension
of the front panel. The arms of the normally rear panel member can
be of different lengths so as to provide adjustability between a
normally upright and a reclined configuration.
Inventors: |
Leong, Po Shun; (Winnetka,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRUCE A. JAGGER
6100 CENTER DRIVE
SUITE 630
LOS ANGELES
CA
90045
US
|
Family ID: |
34595094 |
Appl. No.: |
10/985788 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60524192 |
Nov 21, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/440.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/025 20130101;
A47C 4/03 20130101; A63G 13/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/440.1 |
International
Class: |
A63G 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A dismantleable chair comprising: a front panel formed from a
generally monolithic sheet of material and including a leg portion
having proximal and distal ends, a seat portion having proximal and
distal ends, and a first loop portion intermediate said leg and
seat portions, said distal ends being remote from said first loop
portion, said first loop portion having a first arcuate
cross-sectional profile, said leg and seat portions extending
angularly of one another; a rear panel formed from a generally
monolithic sheet of material and including a first arm portion
having a proximal end and a distal end, a second arm portion having
a proximal end and a distal end, and a second loop portion
intermediate said arm portions, said distal ends being remote from
said second loop portion, said second loop portion having a second
arcuate cross-sectional profile, said first and second arcuate
cross-sectional profiles being generally the same, whereby said
first and second loop portions being adapted to being nestled
together when said disassemblable chair is in a disassembled
configuration; and at least one first fastening member adapted to
releasably fastening said distal end of said leg portion to a
distal end of one of said first or second arm portions, and at
least one second fastening member adapted to releasably fastening
said distal end of said seat portion to the distal end of the other
of said first or second arm portions.
2. A dismantleable chair of claim 1 wherein said first and second
arm portions are of different lengths.
3. A dismantleable chair of claim 1 wherein said front panel
includes a back portion integral with and projecting normally
upwardly from said distal end of said seat portion.
4. A dismantleable chair of claim 1 including a back panel having
proximal and distal ends, said proximal end of said back panel
being adapted to being secured to said distal end of said seat
portion.
5. A dismantleable chair of claim 1 wherein said front and rear
panels generally have no molded compound curves.
6. A dismantleable chair of claim 1 wherein said first and second
loop portions are adapted to being positioned generally diagonally
opposed to one another across a rectangle when said dismantelable
chair is in an assembled configuration.
7. A dismantleable chair of claim 1 wherein said seat and leg
portions extend approximately normal to one another when said
dismantelable chair is in an assembled configuration.
8. A dismantleable chair of claim 1 wherein said first and second
arm portions extend approximately normal to one another when said
dismantelable chair is in an assembled configuration.
9. A dismantleable chair comprising: a front support member, said
front support member being an arcuately formed generally monolithic
sheet of material having a rearward mounting end, a lower mounting
end, and a first curved section disposed intermediate said rearward
and lower mounting ends, said first curved section extending
through a first arc, said rearward mounting end being spaced from
said curved section and flared away from said first arc at a
rearward flare angle, said lower mounting end being spaced from
said first curved section and flared away from said first arc at a
lower flare angle; a rear support member, said rear support member
being an arcuately formed generally monolithic sheet of material
having a first mounting end, a second mounting end, and a second
curved section disposed intermediate said first and second mounting
ends, said second curved section extending through a second arc,
said first and second mounting ends being spaced from said second
curved section and flared away from said second arc at first and
second flare angles, respectively, said first and second curved
sections having generally the same cross-sectional profile whereby
said front and rear support members are adapted to being nested
together when said disassemblable chair is in a disassembled
configuration; and at least one front mounting member adapted to
secure said lower mounting end to one of said first or second
mounting ends, and at least one rear mounting member adapted to
secure said rearward mounting end to the other of said first and
second mounting ends.
10. A dismantleable chair of claim 9 wherein said front and rear
support members generally have no molded compound curved
surfaces.
11. A dismantleable chair of claim 9 wherein said flare angle of
said lower mounting end is approximately the same as said flair
angle of said first mounting end when said first mounting end is
secured to said lower mounting end, and said flare angle of said
rearward mounting end is approximately the same as said flair angle
of said second mounting end when said rearward mounting end is
secured to said second mounting end.
12. A dismantleable chair of claim 9 wherein said first mounting
end is adapted to being secured to said lower mounting end when
said disassemblable chair is in an assembled configuration.
13. A dismantleable chair of claim 9 wherein said first mounting
end is adapted to being secured to said rearward mounting end when
said disassemblable chair is in an assembled configuration.
14. A dismantleable chair of claim 9 wherein said first and second
arcs are of such an angular extent that said front and rear support
members form a generally four sided figure with said first and
second curved sections generally diagonally opposed to one another
when said disassemblable chair is in an assembled configuration.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent application No. 60/524,192, filed on Nov. 21, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates in general to the field of
dismantleable furniture and, in particular, to dismantleable chairs
made from generally monolithic, reversible, arcuate panels, which
panels, when disassembled, are generally nestable.
[0004] 2.Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Many take-apart or breakdown chairs have been proposed
previously. Chairs composed of monolithic arcuate panels have also
been proposed. Breakdown chairs are typically useful where
temporary seating is required, yet when they are not in use they
can be conveniently disassembled and stored in a space efficient
manner. Since such chairs are often used temporarily, it is often
required that they cost less than conventional non-break-down or
folding chairs, otherwise any additional cost could outweigh the
advantages gained from their disassembleable nature. In addition,
dismantleable chairs must be of sufficient strength and rigidity so
as to not only be safe, but also to be comfortable and sturdy
enough impart confidence in the minds of their users.
[0006] Previous attempts to create inexpensive dismantleable chairs
include those disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,922 to
Hsia, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,938 to Jones, U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,180
to Gillis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,067 to Elmer, and in U.S. Pat. No.
4,712,837 to Swilley. These proposed expedients generally suffer
from numerous shortcomings. Further, the configurations of typical
previous dismantleable chairs lacked adjustability.
[0007] Previous attempts to form arcuate chair members from
initially flat molded sheets have been less than totally
satisfactory at least in the areas of dismantleability, rigidity,
sturdiness, and the like. See, for example, 100 Masterpieces from
the Vitra Design Museum Collection, 1996, ISBN 3-9804070-3-9, and
Charlotte & Peter Fiell, 1000 Chairs, 1997, ISBN
3-8228-7965-7.
[0008] Thus, there is a need to provide at a reasonable cost a
comfortable, rigid, aesthetically pleasing, dismantleable chair
that is configurable as to form and composed of a minimum number of
arcuate panels, particularly interchangeable and/or reversible
arcuate panels, that are nestable when disassembled. Achieving an
optimized balance of these considerations has proven
problematic.
[0009] These and other difficulties of the prior art have been
overcome according to the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A preferred embodiment of the dismantleable chair according
to the present invention comprises, for example, a front panel and
a rear panel. These components are conveniently fabricated, for
example, from sheets of deformable--particularly
moldable--materials including, for instance, sheets of plywood,
plastic, laminated fiberboard, and the like. As shaped, each of the
front and rear panels is preferably monolithic and arcuately formed
so as to be composed of members that when assembled together extend
relative to one another to form a closed four sided figure. The
angularly disposed members of each preferably monolithic panel are
joined together through an arcuate or looped section. The
respective looped sections have generally the same cross-sectional
profile so that they can be nested together in the disassembled
configuration. The angular extent of the arcs through which the
loop portions extend is such that proximal ends of the portions
that join the loop portions extend approximately either
horizontally or vertically. The separate panels can be joined
together by mounting members, for example, fastening members
secured at the intersections of the panels so that the respective
looped sections are diagonally opposed to one another across a
generally four-sided assembly. The generally monolithic front panel
provides sections that serve as the seat member, front leg members,
and, optionally, a chair back member. The sections of the generally
monolithic rear panel form the rear leg members and a brace member
extending between the normally lower ends of the front and rear leg
members. The brace member is positioned close to the floor and
approximately parallel to the seat member in the assembled
configuration. The leg members extend approximately normal to the
seat member. Mounting members are provided at the lower front and
upper rear corners of the chair.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment the looped sections of both the
front and rear panel members are formed on the same or a
substantially identical mold. Preferably, the same mold also serves
to form the back portion of the front panel and the arcuate section
through which the seat portion is joined to the back portion. When
the chair back is formed separately of the front panel, the same
mold is also used, except the sheet of material that is molded is
shorter. Thus, all of the chair members are preferably made in the
same mold. This substantially reduces the cost of tooling and the
space required to use and store the tooling. A chair made in such a
single mold can be configured in several different ways. The arms
of the rear panel are preferably of slightly different lengths.
This differential length provides adjustability to the chair.
Placing the shorter arm in the generally upright position causes
the seat member to recline somewhat as compared to a configuration
where the longer arm of the rear panel is in the generally upright
position. Further, in a configuration where the back member is
separate, the front and rear panels are preferably identical or
substantially the same. The assembly of these identical panels
permits several configurations, for example, the normally generally
horizontal portions can be the same or different lengths as can the
normally upright portions.
[0012] The ends of the sections of a panel that are remote from the
loop portions serve as locations for mounting that panel to another
panel. These distal mounting ends are preferably flared through an
arc. The centers of these flare arcs at the distal mounting ends of
a panel are preferably located on the opposite side of the panel
from the center of the arc that defines the loop section. Thus, the
mounting ends preferably flare away from the loop section. The
flared mounting ends of separate panels are preferably brought
together so that the mating mounting ends of the adjacent panels
flare away from one another. These mounting ends thus present
mating surfaces to one another when separate panels are brought
together. The oppositely arced loop portions of the respective
panels are thus generally diagonally opposed to one another across
a generally four sided closed structure that is defined by the
opposed sections of the respective mating panels. The flare angles
of the mounting ends at the locations of contact are preferably
such that the mating surfaces of the respective panels meet along
at least a contact line and preferably along a contact surface.
Releasable fastening members that compressively draw the two
arcuate panels together at these contact locations serve to secure
the adjacent panels together.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the respective arcs of the
arcuate portions of the panels are smooth. The looped sections of
the panels are preferably symmetrical about a plane that includes
the center of the arc of the looped section and passes through the
looped portion at the location of the shortest radius. Other forms
where the arcs are faceted, irregular, or distorted are also
possible for use according to the present invention, as will be
understood by those skilled in the art.
[0014] A preferred material for use in constructing chairs
according to the present invention is plywood. Plywood in flat
preformed sheets is readily available, easily formed with
inexpensive tooling, safe to handle and dispose of, strong, rigid,
aesthetically pleasing, and reasonably priced. Flat plywood sheets
are readily available in different grades and with different
dimensions to provide the desired strength and rigidity. Typically,
flat plywood sheets can not be formed into compound curves without
splitting. The objectives of the present invention are fully
realized without the use of compound curves, thus making it
possible to enjoy all of the advantages of using plywood. Other
materials that are capable of being formed into compound curves can
be used if desired, as will be understood by those skilled in the
art. Typically, compound curves are formed using materials that are
either flowable, such as molding resins, or are fragmented resin
impregnated solids that are laid up in the desired shape before
being cured into a solid integral form.
[0015] The members of the chair in a preferred embodiment are
joined with a minimum number of fasteners, preferably four. The use
of two spaced apart releasable fastener members at each pair of
adjacent mounting ends provides a safe, sturdy, rigid chair
structure. Preferably, the fastening members include a threaded
fastener element and a threaded nut element for each joint. The
fastener, for example, can be a screw, and the insert can be a
specially shaped nut for the screw. The joints can be achieved, for
example, by mounting the nut element in a pocket in one mounting
end so that the screw must pass through both adjacent mounting ends
to make threaded engagement with the nut element. Tightening the
screw in the nut draws the two mounting ends together. When the
fastener is fully tightened with the insert in the pocket, the
respective panels are compressively pre-loaded against one another.
This nut and screw fastening member is preferred, as it is low in
cost and exhibits high strength characteristics that are repeatably
achieved over numerous cycles of assembly and disassembly. This
fastening member is also particularly useful when the chair is
constructed, for example, from shaped plywood sheet members,
although other fastening systems could be used, if desired, as will
be understood by those skilled in the art.
[0016] The front panel member in one preferred embodiment can
include a back support portion that projects at a comfortable angle
upwardly from the region of the seat portion. The seat portion
generally projects approximately horizontally. The upwardly
extending portions of the respective panel members that serve as
leg members generally project generally vertically between the seat
panel and the supporting substrate upon which the chair rests. The
leg members engage the supporting structure through load bearing
regions.
[0017] The panel members are preferably fabricated, for example,
from initially flat generally two-dimensional sheets such as, for
instance, plywood, plastic, laminated fiberboard, or the like, that
are shaped to the desired arcuate form by molding or other shaping
process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The present invention provides its benefits across a broad
spectrum of dismantleable furniture. While the description which
follows hereinafter is meant to be representative of a number of
such applications, it is not exhaustive. As those skilled in the
art will recognize, the basic methods and apparatus taught herein
can be readily adapted to many uses. It is applicant's intent that
this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a
breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the invention being
disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed
by the requirements of referring to the specific examples
disclosed.
[0019] Referring particularly to the drawings for the purposes of
illustration and not limitation:
[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view from the left front of
a preferred two panel embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1 with the generally monolithic panels disassembled from one
another and stacked in nested relationship for storage.
[0022] FIG. 3 is an isometric view in the assembled configuration
from the right front of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 4 is an isometric view in the assembled configuration
of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 from the left rear.
[0024] FIG. 5 is an isometric view in the assembled configuration
of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 from the left rear in the upright
configuration placed side by side with FIG. 6 for the purpose of
comparison of upright and reclined configurations.
[0025] FIG. 6 is an isometric view in the assembled configuration
of an alternative configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown
from the right rear side in the reclined seating position for
comparison with the upright position shown in FIG. 5.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the normally left side
of a back free panel positioned in an upright configuration
corresponding to FIG. 5, and positioned next to FIG. 8 for
comparison purposes.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the normally right side
of a back free panel positioned in a reclined configuration
corresponding to FIG. 6, and positioned next to FIG. 8 for
comparison purposes.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in
FIG. 3.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in
FIG. 3.
[0030] FIG. 11 is an exploded isometric view from the left front of
a preferred three panel embodiment wherein the normally front and
rear panels are substantially the same.
[0031] FIG. 12 is an assembled isometric left front view of the
embodiment of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the
several views, there is illustrated generally at 10 a dismantleable
chair of the present invention. The dismantleable chair 10
comprises a generally monolithic front panel member 12, which
serves as a normally front support member, and a generally
monolithic rear panel member 14, which serves as a normally rear
support member. Front and rear mounting members are provided, in
the form, for example, of fastening members composed, for example,
of sleeve nuts 24 and mating joint connector bolts 26 are mounted
to panel members 12 and 14 through, for example, mounting holes 28.
Other suitable releasable connector members and mounting
arrangements can be used as will be understood by those skilled in
the art. As shown, for example, in FIG. 1, a loop portion 13 is
disposed intermediate the end edges 16 and 18 of panel member 12.
Likewise, a loop portion 15 is illustrated disposed intermediate
the end edges 20 and 22 of Panel member 14. The generally upright
portion of panel member 12 between loop member 13 and lower edge 16
serves as the front legs of chair 10. Mounting holes 28 adjacent
lower edge 16 extend through the distal end of the leg portion. The
proximal end of the generally upright portion of panel member 12
merges into loop portion 13. Likewise, the proximal end of the seat
portion of panel member 12 merges into loop portion 13. The distal
end of the seat portion includes another set of mounting holes 28.
Panel member 12 differs from panel member 14 in that a generally
upright back portion extents normally upwardly from the region of
the mounting holes 28 in the distal end of the seat portion and
terminates in normally upper edge 18.
[0033] As shown, for example, in FIG. 2, when the four fastening
members are removed the two panel members 12 and 14 can be nested
together for transportation and storage. The arcuate
cross-sectional profiles of the respective loop portions or
sections are substantially the same, so they fit together as shown
in FIG. 2.
[0034] With particular reference to FIGS. 3, 9, and 10, the concave
surface 40 is provided to enhance the comfort for the user of the
chair. Surface 42 is located at the transition between the rearward
mounting end of the seat portion of Panel member 12 and the back
member. There are no compound surfaces in chair 10. The concave
surface 40 has transitioned smoothly to a flat surface at 42 before
moving into the radiused portion that forms the flair angle that is
present at the rearward mounting end of the seat section of panel
member 12.
[0035] Attention is invited to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 wherein the
inclined and upright configurations of the chair are illustrated.
The two arm portions of Panel member 14 are of different lengths,
with the longer arm portion terminating at edge 22. See
particularly FIGS. 7 and 8. In the upright configuration shown in
FIG. 5 (chair 30) the longer arm portion of panel member 14 is
positioned in the upright position so that the rear of the seat
portion of panel member 12 is elevated somewhat. In FIG. 6 chair 32
is reclined with the back not as upright as chair 30 in FIG. 5. The
differences in the back angle between the upright and reclined
configuration can range from approximately 10 to 40 or more
degrees. In a typical chair, the longer arm section of panel member
14 when positioned upright would be about 18 inches from edge 22 to
floor 38, and the shorter arm when positioned upright would be
about 17 inches from edge 20 to floor 38. In, for example,
children's furniture or in chairs designed for extremely tall
people, these lengths would be different, as will be understood by
those skilled in the art. Either arm portion can be used as the
generally upright front or rear support member.
[0036] As shown particularly in FIG. 8, the respective mounting
ends of the panel members are flaired away from the arc of the
looped portion for mounting purposes. The center of the radius of
the looped portion is on the opposite side of the panel member from
those of the flaired mounting ends. The distal mounting end
adjacent edge 20 is flaired through an arc to provide a flair angle
19. Likewise, the other distal mounting end adjacent edge 22 is
flaired to provide a flair angle 17. Flair angles 17 and 19 are
approximately the same. The mating distal mounting ends of Panel
member 12 are likewise flaired at approximately the same flair
angles so as to provide mating mounting locations. Positioning the
panel members adjacent one another with the respective flair angles
congruent permits the holes 28 to be brought into registry so that
the nuts 24 and screws 26 can be threadably engaged.
[0037] Preferably, the flair angles and the lengths of the
respective mounting ends are such that the lower front edge of the
rear panel member bears solidly on the upper surface of floor 38 or
other supporting substrate. This serves to stabilize the chair. The
loop portion of the rear panel member pears against solidly against
the substrate 38. Preferably, the lower front edge and loop portion
of the rear panel member bear against the supporting substrate at
least at the opposite sides of the panel so the contact is
separated by the full width of the panel. Typically, both the lower
front edge and the loop portion contact the supporting substrate
along a line of contact that extends substantially across the width
of the panel.
[0038] With particular reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a three panel
embodiment 34 is illustrated. Back panel member 36 is separate from
the front panel member. This provides a shorter package when the
chair 34 is disassembled. The flair angles of the respective mating
mounting ends are generally approximately the same so that only two
fastening members serve to secure the flaired proximal end adjacent
edge 44 of back panel 36 to the other two panel members. The panel
members 14 that serve as both the front and rear panel members of
chair 34 are substantially the same. As illustrated, the end edges
22 of the longer arm portions of panels 14 are joined at the upper
rear of the generally four sided figure that is formed by
assembling panel members 14 and 36 together. Other configurations
are possible. For example, both end edges 22 could be used to form
the lower end of the front upright of the chair 34, or one of the
respective end edges 22 could be placed at the upper rear and the
other at the lower front of chair 34. Different chair backs with
different back angles, heights, patterns, forms, and the like, can
be used, if desired. Different chair backs can be provided with one
set of front and rear panel members so that different functionality
or aesthetic effects can be achieved by swapping chair backs.
[0039] In the embodiments chosen for purposes of illustration the
intially flat sheets from which the respective panel members are
formed are left in their original thicknesses. Where the panel
members have some appreciable thickness they can be sculpted
somewhat by removing some of the material of the sheets. This
allows, for example, modest compound curves to be formed in
material such as plywood where it is not possible to form compound
molded curved surfaces.
[0040] What have been described are preferred embodiments in which
modifications and changes may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.
* * * * *