Structure for a chair

Abstract

An improved structure for a chair which allows separation of the main-body, seat portion from the base portion to facilitate long distance transportation of the chair, and to provide simple and easy joining of the two together later on through opposing socket and connector fittings at the place of intended use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This Application corresponds to one filed Jun. 14, 2006, as PCT/CN/2006/001318.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] 1. Field of the Invention

[0005] This invention relates to chair structures, in general, and to one that might be generally termed a "Barstool" as a high seat chair, in particular.

[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0007] One of the problems associated with a typical design for these types of chairs is that its volume and height make it difficult to transport over long distances. This follows from the fact that these chairs are typically manufactured as an integral, one-piece high seated structure. Separating the chair-seat portion from the base portion to facilitate transportation as separate items proves somewhat problematical as it is very troublesome to try to screw them together after delivery.

[0008] Obviously, an improved structure would be desirable so as to allow a convenience in transportation and an ease in installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] As will become clear from the following description, the barstool-type chair structure of the first two embodiments of the present invention allows for the simple fitting of one upon the other at the point of delivery, just by putting the base portion on the floor and positioning the chair-seat portion onto it in place. To facilitate the installation, a first frame manufactured in the bottom of the chair-seat portion and a second frame manufactured in the top of the base portion include correspondingly placed male-member connectors and female-member sockets between the two of them to allow the fitting of one set into the other.

[0010] The third and fourth embodiments of the present invention employ a similar connecting concept, but in an arrangement which allows the chair-seat portion of the barstool chair to rotate from side to side with respect to the base portion. With the first two embodiments, once the chair-seat portion is positioned onto the base portion, the seat-portion is fixed in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] These and other features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] FIGS. 1-3 and 4-5 are pictorial drawings helpful in an understanding of the first and second embodiments of the invention, respectively;

[0013] FIGS. 6 and 7 are pictorial drawings respectively helpful in an understanding of the third and fourth embodiments; and

[0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram, partially in sectional view helpful in an understanding of the way in which the seat and base portions of the barstool may be secured together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The barstool-type chair of FIGS. 1-5 includes a chair-seat or main-body portion 1 separated from a base portion 2, but to be connected at a point where delivery and installation are to be made. In accordance with the invention, male-member and female-member connectors are to be placed between the two portions in joining them together. Essentially, the male-member connectors consist of linearly extending petaline assemblies, the female-member connectors consist of socket receiver assemblies, and inserting joints secure the two assemblies together.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a first fixing frame 6 is secured on the base portion of the chair with upwardly extending connectors 3 integrally formed with it. A second fixing frame 7 is similarly secured on the underside of the chair-seat or main-body portion 1 (FIG. 2), with downwardly extending sockets 8 to receive the connectors 3. FIG. 3 illustrates how a petaline arrangement of connectors 3--and particularly the intersecting joint 5 molded at the top of each assembly--fits within the socket 8 in flexibly connecting with a step 9 for setting the joint 5 in place.

[0017] In accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3,--the fixing frame 6 is manufactured in the form of a large plus sign "+" at the top of the base portion 2, the fixing frame 7 is similarly manufactured in the form of a large plus sign "+", but at the bottom of the chair-seat portion 1, and the sockets 8 are fixed in opposition to the connectors 3. The barstool-type chair, or like chair designed in this manner, can be separated into its two component sections for packing in a manner to ease its shipment. The subsequent installation and setting up of the chair would be simple and convenient, by fitting the sockets 8 over the connectors 3.

[0018] The barstool-type chair of FIGS. 4 and 5 will be seen to be simply the reverse of that of FIGS. 1-3 in the placements of the sockets 8 and the inserting connectors 3 along with their fixed frames. In FIG. 4, the fixed frame 7 and sockets 8 are secured with base portion 2, while the fixed frame 6 and inserting connectors 3 extend downwardly from the underside of the chair-seat, main-body portion 1. As with the construction of FIGS. 1-3, the sockets 8 are fixed in opposition to the inserting connectors 3 for joining the seat and the base together. As will be seen, the large plus "+" fixing frames 6 and 7 are respectively positioned with the top of the base portion 2 and bottom of the chair-seat portion 1 to ensure proper alignment of the interconnect.

[0019] Whereas the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3 and 4-5 fix the chair-seat portion 1 with the base portion 2, the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 allow for a rotation of the chair-seat, main-body portion 1 with respect to the base portion 2. Referring to FIG. 6, for example, a connecting plate 10 is secured on the base portion 2 of the chair, provided with the upwardly extending connectors 3 at its four corners. A connecting plate 11, on the other hand, is secured on the underside of the chair-seat portion 1, along with a turnplate 12 secured on the bottom of the connecting plate 11. The sockets 8, here, are molded on the turnplate 12, again in opposition to the connectors 3 joining together the two plates 10 and 11. The turnplate 12 allows the chair-seat portion 1 to be rotated with respect to the base portion 2--while at the same time, offering the advantage of convenient packaging for transportation and subsequent installation, as do the first two embodiments of the invention.

[0020] With the operation of the FIG. 6 embodiment being thus understood, the embodiment of FIG. 7 will be seen to follow directly. In FIG. 7, the connecting plate 10 and the connectors 3 are secured with the underside of the chair-seat, main-body portion 1, and the connecting plate 11 and the turnplate 12 are secured at the top of the base portion 2. Again, the sockets 8 are molded on the turnplate 12 in opposition to the connectors 3 to fit the insertion of the connectors 3 with the sockets 8 and allow the chair-seat portion 1 to rotate with respect to the base portion 2.

[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates how the chair-seat portion 1 may be further secured with the base portion 2. Specifically, a keyhole 13 is shown adjacent an upper side of the main-body of the inserting connector 3, to receive a key 14 inserted through a passage of the chair-seat main-body portion 1. As will be appreciated, this can be done with any one or groups of the inserting connectors to further stabilize the barstool-type chair, and serves to further connect the chair-seat and base portions together.

[0022] While there have been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily appreciated that modifications can be made by those skilled in the art that without departing from the scope of the teachings herein of first separating the seat and base portions of a chair so as to facilitate ease of transportation, and so as to later allow a convenient joining of the two together at their destined location simply through the alignment of oppositely positioned male and female interconnecting members. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the invention.

Claims

1. An easily transportable chair having separable chair-seat main-body and base portions, and means for joining the two together at a point of delivery, said means including male and female-members respectively oppositely positioned between a top side of said base portion and an underside of said main-body portion for secure interconnection of said portions when placed one atop another.

2. The chair of claim 1 wherein said means includes a first frame on which the male-members are molded at the top side of said base portion, and a second frame on which the female-members are molded at the underside of said main-body portion.

3. The chair of claim 1 wherein said means includes a first frame on which the male-members are molded at the underside of said main-body portion, and a second frame on which the female-members are molded at the top side of said base portion.

4. The chair of claims 2 or 3 wherein said male-members comprise linear extenders and wherein said female-members comprise socket receivers.

5. The chair of claims 2 or 3 wherein said male-members comprise linear extenders and wherein said female-members comprise socket receivers, and wherein said female-member socket receivers include a step to capture and hold said male-member linear extenders at intersecting joints at the ends thereof.

6. The chair of claims 2 or 3 wherein each of said first and second frames are in the form of large plus signs (+) on which said male and female-members are molded.

7. The chair of claim 1 wherein said male-members are molded on a first plate secured to the top side of base portion, wherein said female-members are molded on a second plate, and wherein said means also includes a rotatable turning plate securing said second plate to the underside of said main-body portion.

8. The chair of claim 1 wherein said male-members are molded on a first plate secured to the underside of said main-body portion, wherein said female-members are molded on a second plate, and wherein said third means also includes a rotatable turning plate securing said second plate to the top side of said base portion.

9. The chair of claims 7 or 8 wherein said male-members comprise linear extenders and wherein said female-members comprise socket receivers.

10. The chair of claims 7 or 8 wherein said female-member socket receivers include a step to capture and hold said male-member linear extenders at intersecting joints at the ends thereof.

11. The chair of claim 1, also including a key extender through a passage in at least one of said male-members to lock with a corresponding keyhole in at least one of said female-members for securing further interconnection between said chair-seat main-body and base portions of said chair.