U.S. patent application number 11/177988 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-11 for furniture kit with prefabricated foldable seat and back assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to JACK-POST CORPORATION. Invention is credited to John T. Bycraft, Charles Pomeroy.
Application Number | 20070007813 11/177988 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37617649 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070007813 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pomeroy; Charles ; et
al. |
January 11, 2007 |
Furniture kit with prefabricated foldable seat and back
assembly
Abstract
A prefabricated seat and back assembly is provided for a kit of
components to be assembled to form an item of furniture. The
prefabricated seat and back assembly includes a pair of frame
elements and multiple slats each of which is attached at opposite
ends to the frame elements so that the slats are interconnected by
the frame elements to collectively form an upwardly extending back
portion adjoined to a generally horizontal seat portion. Each of
the frame elements includes at least two components connected to
each other by a hinge that is located at the base of the back
portion, so that the seat and back portions may be folded over each
other for compact packing. The remainder of the kit includes at
least a pair of end frames adapted to be attached to the frame
elements of the prefabricated seat and back assembly, and multiple
fastening elements to attach the end frames to the frame elements
of the seat and back assembly.
Inventors: |
Pomeroy; Charles; (South
Bend, IN) ; Bycraft; John T.; (South Bend,
IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JENKENS & GILCHRIST, P.C.
225 WEST WASHINGTON
SUITE 2600
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
JACK-POST CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
37617649 |
Appl. No.: |
11/177988 |
Filed: |
July 8, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/440.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 3/0255
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/440.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/00 20060101
A47C007/00 |
Claims
1. A kit of components to be assembled to form an item of
furniture, comprising a prefabricated seat and back assembly
including a pair of frame elements and multiple slats each of which
is attached at opposite ends to said frame elements so that said
slats are interconnected by said frame elements, said slats
collectively forming an upwardly extending back portion and a
generally horizontal seat portion, each of said frame elements
including at least two components connected to each other by a
hinge that is located at the base of said back portion when said
frame elements and said slats are fastened together, so that said
seat and back portions may be folded over each other for compact
packing, a pair of end frames adapted to be attached to said frame
elements of said seat and back assembly, at least one stretcher for
connecting said end frames to each other, and multiple fastening
elements to attach said end frames to said frame elements of said
seat and back assembly.
2. The furniture kit of claim 1 wherein said slats are fastened to
said frame elements of said seat and back assembly by rivets.
3. The furniture kit of claim 1 wherein said item of furniture is a
glider, and said multiple fastening elements include a pair of
straps for attaching each of said end frames to said seat and back
assembly, the ends of said straps being adapted for pivoting
movement relative to both journaled to both said end frames and
said seat and back assembly to allow rocking movement of said seat
and back assembly relative to said end frames.
4. The furniture kit of claim 1 wherein said frame elements of said
seat and back assembly are made of tubular metal.
5. A prefabricated seat and back assembly for an item of kit
furniture, comprising a pair of frame elements and multiple slats
each of which is attached at opposite ends to said frame elements
so that said slats are interconnected by said frame elements, said
slats collectively forming an upwardly extending back portion
adjoined to a generally horizontal seat portion, each of said frame
elements including at least two components connected to each other
by a hinge that is located at the base of said back portion when
said frame elements and said slats are fastened together, so that
said seat and back portions may be folded over each other for
compact packing.
6. The prefabricated seat and back assembly of claim 5 wherein said
slats are fastened to said frame elements of said seat and back
assembly by rivets.
7. The prefabricated seat and back assembly of claim 5 wherein said
frame elements are made of tubular metal.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to kit furniture
that is typically manufactured, packaged, shipped and sold as
collections of components that are assembled by the end user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
a prefabricated seat and back assembly is provided for a kit of
components to be assembled to form an item of furniture. The
prefabricated seat and back assembly includes a pair of frame
elements and multiple slats each of which is attached at opposite
ends to the frame elements so that the slats are interconnected by
the frame elements to collectively form an upwardly extending back
portion adjoined to a generally horizontal seat portion. Each of
the frame elements includes at least two components connected to
each other by a hinge that is located at the base of the back
portion, so that the seat and back portions may be folded over each
other for compact packing. The remainder of the kit includes at
least a pair of end frames adapted to be attached to the frame
elements of the prefabricated seat and back assembly, and multiple
fastening elements to attach the end frames to the frame elements
of the seat and back assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a glider chair
embodying the present invention;
[0004] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the prefabricated
seat-and-back assembly that forms part of the glider chair shown in
FIG. 1, in its folded condition in which it is packaged;
[0005] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the prefabricated
seat-and-back assembly shown in FIG. 2, but in its unfolded
condition in which it is used when the glider chair is
assembled;
[0006] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a kit containing
all the components needed to assemble the glider chair shown in
FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the hinges
in the prefabricated seat and back assembly of FIGS. 14; and
[0008] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the prefabricated
seat and back assembly, one of the end frames and the back brace of
the glider chair of FIGS. 1-4, along with the fastening components
sued to assemble these components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
[0009] Although the invention will be described in connection with
a certain preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the
invention is not limited to that particular embodiment. On the
contrary, the invention is intended to cover all alternatives,
modifications, and equivalent arrangements as may be included
within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims.
[0010] Turning now to the drawings, a glider chair 10 has been
assembled from a kit of components that can be compactly packaged,
shipped and stored to reduce distribution costs. The glider chair
10 includes a seat-and-back assembly 11 pivotally mounted for
rocking movement on a stationary base frame formed by a pair of
base frame members 12 and 13 that are connected to each other by a
pair of stretchers 14 and 15. Each of the base frame members 12 and
13 forms a pair of legs 12a, 12b or 13a, 13b that rest on the
ground, and an elevated cross member 12c or 13c that is an integral
part of the legs. A stop protrudes laterally from the outboard side
of the cross member 13c to limit pivoting movement of the
seat-and-back assembly 11 relative to the base frame.
[0011] The seat-and-back assembly 11 includes a pair of frame
elements 16 and 17 which are rigidly attached to a corresponding
pair of end frames 18 and 19, respectively. The end frames 18 and
19 also carry respective arms 20 and 21 which move with the end
frames, to provide supports for the arms of the during use of the
glider chair. In the illustrative embodiment, the arms 20 and 21
are attached to the respective end frames 18 and 19 by welding at
the lower front ends of the arms, and by screws at the upper rear
ends of the arms 20 and 21.
[0012] Two pairs of suspension straps 22, 23 and 24, 25 connect the
end frames 18 and 19 to the respective base frame members 12 and
13. Each of the suspension straps 22-25 carries a pair of bearings
at opposite ends thereof, such as 22a and 22b in the strap 22 (see
FIG. 4), to allow relative pivoting or rocking movement of the end
frames 18 and 19, and thus the seat-and-back assembly 11, relative
to the stationary base frame, as is typical of glider chairs. A
bolt 26 is passed through each bearing, and then on through the
adjacent frame member to which the strap is attached, and is held
in place by a nut threaded onto the bolt and against the inner
surface of the frame member. Plastic spacers 27 carried by the
bolts 26 are located between each strap bearing and the adjacent
frame member to which the strap is attached, to allow smooth
relative movement between the straps and the frame members with
binding or abrasion.
[0013] In the illustrative embodiment, the base frame, the end
frames and the frame elements of the seat-and-back assembly are all
made of hollow metal tubing, which has the advantage of a high
strength/weight ratio. The arms on the end frames are made of
relatively wide metal, to provide comfortable support for the
user's arms. It will be understood, however, that alternative
materials may be employed, such as using solid metal bar stock for
the frame elements 16 and 17, or plastic or wood for the arms 20
and 21.
[0014] The seat-and-back assembly 11 is prefabricated by attaching
multiple slats 30 to the frame elements 16 and 17. The slats 30 are
preferably attached to the frame elements 16 and 17 by rivets,
although other fastening elements such as screws or bolts and nuts
may be used if desired. The slats 30 are preferably made of wood,
although slats made of plastic, metal or fabric may be used if
desired. When the glider chair is assembled, the entire
seat-and-back assembly 11 is rigidly attached to the two end frames
18 and 19. A back brace 31 is also attached to the two end frames
18 and 19, and extends across the back portion of the assembly 11,
as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 6. Both the seat-and-back assembly 11
and the brace 31 are attached to the end frames 18 and 19 by
multiple bolts 32 and mating nuts (see FIG. 6), with plastic
spacers 34 fitted over the bolts that attach the assembly 11 to the
end frames. To permit the seat-and-back assembly 11 to be folded
flat for compact packaging of the kit, each of the frame elements
16 and 17 is formed of two parts, such as parts 16a and 16b of
element 16, which are hinged together at the base of the back
portion, i.e., at the rear edge of the seat portion. Thus, parts
16a and 17a form frame elements for the back portion of the
assembly, and parts 16b and 17b form frame element for the seat
portion. In the illustrative embodiment, the hinge for each of the
frame elements 16 and 17 is formed by two metal links 35 and 36,
which are welded at their lower ends to the seat part 16b or 17b of
their respective frame element. The upper ends of each pair of
links 35 and 36 are journaled to the back part 16a or 17a of their
frame element by a rivet 37 that passes through both links 35 and
36 and the frame part 16a or 17a, thus forming an axis of rotation
X-X illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, any other type of hinge
may be used. The hinge is used primarily during packing and
unpacking of the kit, and perhaps during seasonal storage of the
glider, and thus is not typically subjected to frequent use.
[0015] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the hinged frame elements
16 and 17 permit the prefabricated seat-and-back assembly to be
folded flat for insertion into a box 40 in which the entire glider
chair kit is packaged, shipped, stored and displayed in a retail
store. All the other components of the kit are also relatively flat
when disassembled from each other, and thus the box for the entire
kit can be relatively thin. And yet, the prefabrication of the
seat-and-back assembly saves the vast majority of the time required
for a consumer to assemble the glider chair when the seat and back
are sold as disassembled slats and frame elements.
[0016] To assemble the glider chair kit, the base frame is
assembled by attaching each of the two stretchers 14 and 15 to both
base frame end members 12 and 13 by two pairs of bolts 41 and
mating nuts for the rear stretcher 14, and a single pair of bolts
41 and mating nuts for the front stretcher 15. Bolts 26 are used to
attach both the front stretcher 15 and the front suspension straps
22 and 24 to the base frame members 12 and 13, and each bolt is
secured by a mating nut threaded onto the inner end of the bolt.
The two rear suspension straps 23 and 25 are secured to the base
frame members 12 and 13 in the same manner, but without passing
through a stretcher. Two pairs of the plastic spacers 27 are
carried by the bolts 26 and positioned between the end members 12,
13 and the suspension straps 22-25.
[0017] Each of the end frames 18 and 19, including the arm 20 or
21, is attached to the unfolded seat-and-back assembly 11 by four
bolts 32, two of which are passed through the vertical rear
portions of the end frame 18 or 19 and then the back frame part 16a
or 17a. The other two bolts 32 are passed through the arm 20 or 21
and then the frame parts 16a, 16b or 17a, 17b, respectively. All
the bolts 32 are secured by mating nuts threaded onto the exposed
inner ends of the bolts. Plastic spacers 34 are carried by the
bolts 32 and positioned between the end frames 18, 19 and the frame
elements 16 and 17. A back brace 31 is also attached to the two end
frames 18 and 19 by means of two pairs of bolts 46 secured by
mating nuts. This back brace 31 extends across the rear side of the
back portion of the back portion of the seat-and-back assembly 11,
bearing against the two upper parts 16a and 17a of the frame
elements 16 and 17.
[0018] After the seat-and-back assembly 11, the brace 45 and the
two end frames 18 and 19 have been assembled, this entire
sub-assembly is placed over the base frame sub-assembly, and the
lower ends of the suspension straps 22-25 are attached to the
horizontal lower portions of the end frames 18 and 19 with four
bolts 26, spacers 27 and mating nuts. The glider chair is then
complete and ready for use.
[0019] While particular embodiments and applications of the present
invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited to the precise
construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various
modifications, changes, and variations may be apparent from the
foregoing descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *