U.S. patent application number 11/748545 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-20 for stackable chair.
This patent application is currently assigned to NATIONAL PUBLIC SEATING CORP.. Invention is credited to Barry Stauber.
Application Number | 20080284215 11/748545 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40026785 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080284215 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stauber; Barry |
November 20, 2008 |
Stackable Chair
Abstract
A chair according to the invention is provided. The chair
preferably includes a substantially square seat. The seat includes
four walls. Each of the walls preferably projects substantially
perpendicularly downward from one side of the outer perimeter of
the upper surface. Each of the walls preferably includes an
interior surface and an exterior surface. Each of the walls
preferably includes a stability tab mounted on the interior
surface. The stability tab is adapted to engage at least a portion
of a chair that is stacked immediately beneath the folding chair.
The chair also preferably includes a first rigid portion that is
pivotably attached to the seat at a first set of two contact
points. The first rigid portion includes a backrest. The second
rigid portion is pivotably attached to the seat at a second set of
two contact points. Finally, the chair may include a pair of
connectors. Each of the pair may be pivotably attached to the first
rigid portion and pivotably attached to the second rigid
portion.
Inventors: |
Stauber; Barry; (Spring
Valley, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Weiss & Arons, LLP
1540 Route 202, Suite 8
Pomona
NY
10970
US
|
Assignee: |
NATIONAL PUBLIC SEATING
CORP.
Clifton
NJ
|
Family ID: |
40026785 |
Appl. No.: |
11/748545 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/16.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/24 20130101; A47C
3/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/16.2 |
International
Class: |
A47C 4/00 20060101
A47C004/00 |
Claims
1. A folding chair comprising: a substantially square seat, said
seat comprising four walls, each of said walls that projects
substantially perpendicularly downward from one side of the outer
perimeter of the upper surface, each of said walls that comprises
an interior surface and an exterior surface, each of said walls
that comprises a stability tab mounted on the interior surface,
each of said stability tabs that is adapted to engage at least a
portion of a chair that is stacked immediately beneath the folding
chair; a first rigid portion that is pivotably attached to said
seat at a first set of two contact points, said first rigid portion
that comprises a backrest; a second rigid portion that is pivotably
attached to said seat at a second set of two contact points; and a
pair of connectors, each of the pair that comprises a first end
pivotably attached to the first rigid portion and a second end
pivotably attached to the second rigid portion.
2. The folding chair of claim 1 wherein the stability tab traverses
a plane defined by a bottom edge of the four walls.
3. The folding chair of claim 1 said stability tab further adapted
to engage at least a seat portion of a chair that is stacked
immediately beneath the folding chair.
4. The folding chair of claim 1 said stability tab further adapted
to engage an upper surface of a chair that is stacked immediately
beneath the folding chair.
5. The folding chair of claim 1, said upper surface comprising a
recessed top layer that is set back from the perimeter of the upper
surface, said recessed top layer that is adapted to engage at least
a portion of a chair that is stacked immediately above the folding
chair.
6. The folding chair of claim 1, said walls that are joined to form
an area enclosed on four sides by the walls and on one side by an
underside of the seat.
7. A folding chair seat comprising: a substantially square upper
surface; and four walls, each of said walls that project
substantially perpendicularly downward from one side of the outer
perimeter of the upper surface, each of said walls that comprises
an interior surface and an exterior surface, each of said walls
that comprises a stability tab mounted on the interior surface,
each of said stability tabs that is adapted to engage at least a
portion of a chair that is stacked immediately beneath a chair
comprising the folding chair seat.
8. The folding chair seat of claim 7 wherein one end of each of the
stability tabs traverses a plane defined by a bottom edge of the
four walls.
9. The folding chair seat of claim 7 each of said stability tabs
further adapted to engage at least a seat portion of a chair that
is stacked immediately beneath the chair comprising the folding
chair seat.
10. The folding chair seat of claim 7 each of said stability tab
further adapted to engage an upper surface of a chair that is
stacked immediately beneath a chair comprising the folding chair
seat.
11. The folding chair seat of claim 7, said upper surface
comprising a recessed top layer that is set back from the perimeter
of the upper surface, said recessed top layer that is adapted to
engage at least a portion of a chair that is stacked immediately
above the chair comprising the folding chair seat.
12. The folding chair seat of claim 7, said walls that are joined
to form an area enclosed on four sides by the walls and on one side
by an underside of the seat.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to chairs. More specifically, this
invention relates to increasing stackability of a folding chair or
other suitable chair.
[0002] Many common, inexpensive chairs are constructed in a way
that makes the chairs stackable. Stackability is desirable in a
chair because it promotes more efficient storage and eases the
movement of multiple chairs from one place to another. More
specifically, the chairs, when stackable, may be moved en masse
with a single device such as a dolly. As such, when the chairs are
stackable on a dolly or other carrying device, a single operant can
move many more chairs than he would typically be able to.
[0003] It would be desirable to make chairs that are more
stackable--i.e., may be stacked in a more stable fashion--than
conventional chairs.
[0004] It would also be desirable to make stackable chairs that may
be stacked and moved with a dolly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of this invention to make chairs that are
more stackable--i.e., may be stacked in a more stable fashion--than
conventional chairs.
[0006] It is another object of this invention to make stackable
chairs that may be stacked and moved with a dolly.
[0007] A chair seat according to the invention preferably includes
a substantially square upper surface. The chair seat also
preferably includes four walls. Each of the walls preferably
projects substantially perpendicularly downward from one side of
the outer perimeter of the upper surface. Each of the walls may
include an interior surface and an exterior surface. Each of the
walls preferably includes at least one stability tab mounted on the
interior surface. The stability tab preferably is adapted to engage
at least a portion of a chair that is stacked immediately beneath a
chair of which the folding chair seat forms a part. Preferably, the
stability tabs increase the stability of the stack of chairs. This
increased stability allows the chairs to be moved more easily from
place to place.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent
upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a folding chair according
to the invention in a deployed position;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a back view of a folding chair according to the
invention in a stored position;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from the underneath of a
chair seat according to the invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a dolly holding multiple
chairs in a stored position;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view from the underneath of
another chair seat according to the invention; and
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view from the underneath of
another chair seat according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a folding chair 100 according to the invention.
Folding chair 100 may include a first rigid portion 102 and a
second rigid portion 104. First rigid portion 102 and second rigid
portion 104 may be pivotably attached to one another by connectors
106 and 108. Folding chair 100 may also include seat 110 and
backrest 112. Seat 110 may also include front and back tabs 111 and
side tabs 113 distributed about the interior of seat 110.
[0016] When folded for storage, chair 100 may preferably present
seat 110 to a user. Seat 110 is preferably adapted for sitting at
some predetermined height.
[0017] When stored, chair 100 may preferably be folded to form a
relatively flat apparatus 200 as shown from a back view in FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 shows a view of seat 110, backrest 112, first rigid portion
102, and second rigid portion 104. FIG. 2 also shows front and back
tabs 201 and side tabs 202. Tabs 202 preferably promote
stackability as will be shown in more detail with respect to FIGS.
3 and 4.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows seat 310. Seat 310 preferably includes side
tabs 311 and front and back tabs 312. In one embodiment of the
invention, preferably four of side tabs 311 and four of front and
back tabs 312 may be distributed around the perimeter of seat 310.
Preferably, tabs 312 may be mounted substantially internally to a
hollow formed by the walls and underside of seat 310 in order to
avoid contact with a user when the seat is deployed. While, in FIG.
3, front and back tabs 312 may be extend from seat 310 a greater
distance than side tabs 311 extend from seat 310, nevertheless,
embodiments of the invention also contemplate that side tabs 311
may extend a greater distance from seat 310 than front and back
tabs 312 extend from seat 310.
[0019] Tabs 312 may extend downwardly, and substantially
perpendicularly with respect to the top surface of seat 310. Tabs
312 preferably may be used to promote stackability as shown in more
detail in FIG. 4.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a dolly 400 for carrying a number of the chairs
en masse. Preferably, dolly 400 may move chairs 402 more
effectively when chairs 402 form a stable stack. An increase in the
stability of the stack increases the ability of the dolly 400 to
move chairs 402. An increase in the stability of the stack also
increases the speed at which dolly 400 can be used to move chairs
402.
[0021] When chairs 402 are stacked as shown in FIG. 4, tabs 302
preferably stabilize the stack of chairs 402 gripping the perimeter
of a top layer of seat 110 (shown in FIG. 1) of the chair stacked
immediately thereinbelow in the stack. Preferably, the top surface
of seat 110 may be slightly recessed or set back from the outer
perimeter of seat 110 in order to form a rim to provide a place for
tabs from the seat thereinabove in the stack. As such, each chair
in stack 402 preferably is stabilized at least by the relationship
between the chair's stability tabs and the recessed top surface of
the chair immediately below said chair in the stack. A dotted line
318 is shown in FIG. 3 to more particularly signify the recess in
the upper surface of seat 310.
[0022] It should be noted that to provide sufficient stability, it
may be preferable to mount tabs on the interior surface of all four
sides of the seat. It may be yet more preferable to mount at least
two tabs on the interior surface of each side of the under portion
of the seat, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. For maximum stability, the
two (or more) tabs on each side of the under portion of the seat
should be mounted about a midline of the side of the seat such that
one tab on a first side is mounted on one side of the line and a
second tab on the first side is mounted on the other side of the
line. Midlines 314 and 316 are shown in FIG. 3.
[0023] Alternatively, FIG. 5 shows a single wide tab 512 which can
be formed to project from the underside of each side of the seat
portion 510 of the chair. Such a wide tab may preferably be formed
such that a portion of the wide tab falls on one side of the
midline 514, 516 and a portion of the wide tab falls on the other
side of midline 514, 516. Such a tab may occupy 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%
or more of the length of the side of the chair.
[0024] FIG. 6 shows an underneath view of another embodiment of a
seat 600 according to the invention according to the invention.
Seat 600 includes front tabs 602, back tabs 604, side tabs 606,
metal stability bar and plastic seat 610. It should be noted that
front tabs 602 and back tabs 604 are of different size and
configuration. Such an embodiment is within the scope of the
invention.
[0025] In certain embodiments of the invention, metal stability bar
602 may preferably be riveted or attached in some suitable fashion
to plastic seat 610 in order to add stability to the seating
surface of seat 610.
[0026] In yet other embodiments of the invention, the chair may not
be a folding chair but may be some other suitable chair that
requires additional stability when stacked, or when place in some
other suitable configuration. In such embodiments, the principles
of the invention may remain the same--i.e., the seat may include
tabs projecting from the underside, said tabs which serve to engage
a preferably raised upper portion (or just the upper portion) of
the seat thereinbelow in the stack.
[0027] Thus, chairs that are adapted for relatively easier, and
more stable, stacking have been provided. Persons skilled in the
art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by
other than the described embodiments, which are presented for
purposes of illustration rather than of limitation, and the present
invention is limited only by the claims which follow.
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