U.S. patent application number 12/558759 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-17 for stackable chair with rack attachment members.
Invention is credited to Lam Keen, Hui Matt, Robert Mills, Glass Peter.
Application Number | 20110062754 12/558759 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43729763 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110062754 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mills; Robert ; et
al. |
March 17, 2011 |
STACKABLE CHAIR WITH RACK ATTACHMENT MEMBERS
Abstract
A stackable chair has a seating surface, at least three legs and
a rack attachment member attached to each of the legs. Each rack
attachment member has a leg attachment portion attached to one of
the legs and a rack attachment portion capable of reversibly
securing a portion of a rack to one of the legs below the seating
surface. Typically, the invention further includes a rack, such as
a thick rack, disposed below the seating surface and generally
parallel thereto. The rack having a plurality of radiating prongs,
each of the prongs being attached to a rack attachment portion of
one of the rack attachment members.
Inventors: |
Mills; Robert; (Torrance,
CA) ; Peter; Glass; (Arroyo Grande, CA) ;
Matt; Hui; (Monterey Park, CA) ; Keen; Lam;
(Rowland Heights, CA) |
Family ID: |
43729763 |
Appl. No.: |
12/558759 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/188.08 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/626 20180801;
A47C 7/62 20130101; A47C 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/188.08 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/62 20060101
A47C007/62 |
Claims
1. A stackable chair comprising: (a) a seating surface; (b) at
least three legs disposed generally vertically below the seating
surface, the at least three legs being disposed at an angle
slightly less than 90.degree. with respect to the vertical, such
that the chair is capable of stacking onto an identical chair; and
(c) a rack attachment member attached to each of the at least three
legs, each rack attachment member comprising (i) a leg attachment
portion attached to one of the at least three legs, and (ii) a rack
attachment portion capable of reversibly securing a portion of a
rack to one of the at least three legs below the seating
surface.
2. The stackable chair of claim 1 further comprising a rack
attached to each of the rack attachment members.
3. The stackable chair of claim 1 wherein the rack attachment
portion defines a hollow continuous cylinder.
4. The stackable chair of claim 1 wherein the leg attachment
portion defines a clamp having a first clamp member and a spaced
apart second clamp member.
5. The stackable chair of claim 4 wherein the first clamp member
and the second clamp member are attachable to one another by a
single fastener.
6. A stackable chair comprising: (a) a seating surface; (b) four
legs disposed generally vertical below the seating surface, the
four legs being disposed at an angle slightly less than 90.degree.
with respect to the vertical, such that the chair is capable of
stacking onto an identical chair; (c) a rack attachment member
attached to each of the at least four legs, each rack attachment
member comprising (i) a leg attachment portion attached to one of
the at least four legs, and (ii) a rack attachment portion capable
of reversibly securing a portion of a rack to one of the at least
four legs below the seating surface; and (d) a rack attached to
each of the rack attachment members; wherein the rack attachment
portion defines a hollow continuous cylinder; wherein the leg
attachment portion defines a clamp having a first clamp member and
a spaced apart second clamp member; and wherein the first clamp
member and the second clamp member are attachable to one another by
a single fastener.
7. An attachment member comprising: (a) a rack attachment portion
defining a hollow continuous cylinder with a proximal end and a
distal end, the proximal end having an exterior surface; (b) a leg
attachment portion defining a clamp, the clamp having a first clamp
member and a second clamp member spaced apart from one another, the
first and second clamp members being attachable to one another by
one or more fasteners, the first clamp member having an edge sized
and dimensioned to match the exterior surface of the proximal end
of the rack attachment portion in such a way that the first clamp
member supports the rack attachment portion when the first clamp
member is attached to the second clamp member.
8. The attachment member of claim 7 wherein the second clamp member
is integral with the rack attachment portion.
9. A method for shipping a plurality of stackable chairs to a
destination, wherein each stackable chair comprises (i) a seating
surface, and (ii) at least three legs disposed generally below the
seat surface, the at least three legs being disposed at an angle
slightly less than 90.degree. with respect to the vertical, such
that the chair is capable of stacking onto an identical chair, the
method comprising: (a) stacking a plurality of the stackable
chairs; (b) shipping the plurality of stackable chairs stacked in
step (a) to the destination; (c) shipping to the destination a
plurality of rack attachment members, each rack attachment member
comprising (i) a leg attachment portion attachable to one of the at
least three legs, and (ii) a rack attachment portion capable of
reversibly securing a portion of a rack to one of the at least
three legs below the seating surface; and (d) shipping to the
destination a plurality of racks, each rack being capable of being
attached to a chair by the rack attachment members.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein each rack attachment portion
defines a hollow continuous cylinder and wherein each leg
attachment portion defines a clamp having a first clamp member and
a spaced apart second clamp member.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein each first clamp member has an
edge sized and dimensioned to match the exterior surface of the
proximal end of a rack attachment portion in such a way that each
first clamp member supports a rack attachment portion when each
first clamp member is attached to a second clamp member.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of attaching
a rack to each of the stackable chairs using rack attachment
members attached to each of the legs of each chair.
13. A kit comprising: (a) one or more racks suitable for attachment
beneath the seating surface of a stackable chair, each rack having
a center portion and at least three radiating prongs; and (b) at
least three attachment members for each rack, each attachment
member comprising: (i) a rack attachment portion defining a hollow
continuous cylinder with a proximal end and a distal end, the
proximal end having an exterior surface, the hollow continuous
cylinder being sized and dimensioned to accept one of the radiating
prongs; and (ii) a leg attachment portion defining a clamp, the
clamp having a first clamp member and a second clamp member spaced
apart from one another, the first and second clamp members being
attachable to one another by one or more fasteners, the first clamp
member having an edge sized and dimensioned to match the exterior
surface of the proximal end of the rack attachment portion in such
a way that the first clamp member supports the rack attachment
portion when the first clamp member is attached to the second clamp
member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to lightweight chairs and,
more specifically, to stackable lightweight chairs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Stackable lightweight chairs have become very popular.
Increasingly popular are stackable lightweight chairs having a
rack, such as a book rack, disposed below the seating surface of
the chair. Such a stackable chair with a rack disposed below the
seating surface is illustrated in FIG. 13.
[0003] A problem with such stackable chairs having a rack disposed
below the seating surface is that, once the rack is attached to the
chair, the chair becomes relatively "non-stackable." This is
because the racks prevent each chair from closely nesting with an
identical chair. This problem is illustrated in FIG. 14.
[0004] The relatively "non-stackable" nature of stackable chairs
having a rack disposed below the seating surface is especially
important to those responsible for shipping large quantities of
such stackable chairs in bulk. Because of the relative
"non-stackability"of such chairs, the cost of shipping large
quantities of such chairs in bulk is unduly large.
[0005] Attempts have been made to avoid the shipping difficulties
caused by the aforementioned lack of stackability by shipping
chairs separate from "slip-on" wire book racks--flexible wire book
racks which can be flexed and installed into leg holes by the end
user. However, such slip-on wire book racks are typically retained
loosely within a chair, so that the book racks tend to rattle.
Also, such slip-on wire book racks can be easily removed from
chairs by mischievous students, thereby resulting in safety
issues.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a stackable lightweight
chair designed for use with a rack disposed below the seating
surface which avoids the above-mentioned problem with the prior
art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention satisfies this need. The invention is a
stackable chair comprising (a) a seating surface, (b) at least
three legs disposed generally vertically below the seating surface,
the at least three legs being disposed at an angle slightly less
than 90.degree. with respect to the vertical, such that the chair
is capable of stacking onto an identical chair, and (c) a rack
attachment member attached to each of the at least three legs. Each
rack attachment member comprises (i) a leg attachment portion
attached to one of the at least three legs, and (ii) a rack
attachment portion capable of reversibly securing a portion of a
rack to one of the at least three legs below the seating
surface.
DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description, appended claims and accompanying
drawings where:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stackable chair having
features of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the stackable chair illustrated in
FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of the stackable chair illustrated in
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the stackable chair illustrated
in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rack attachment member
useable in the invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top view of the rack attachment member
illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a second perspective view of the rack attachment
member illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a side view of the rack attachment member
illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the rack attachment member
illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the rack attachment member
illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 11 is a detail view illustrating the attachment of a
rack to a chair leg using the rack attachment member illustrated in
FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 12 is a side view of a plurality of stackable chairs
having features of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a stackable chair of the
prior art;
[0022] FIG. 14 is a side view of a stack of stackable chairs
illustrated in FIG. 13; and
[0023] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a kit having features of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment
of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This
discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the
invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in
the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.
[0025] In one aspect of the invention, the invention is a stackable
chair 10 comprising a seating surface 12, at least three legs 14
and a rack attachment member 16 attached to each of the legs 14.
This aspect of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.
[0026] The seating surface 12 is typically disposed in an
approximately horizontal orientation. In the embodiment illustrated
in the drawings, the seating surface 12 is integral with a back
member 18. In such an embodiment, it is typical that the seating
surface 12 and the back member 18 are made from a plastic
material.
[0027] The at least three legs 14 are disposed generally vertically
below the seating surface 12. However, each of the legs 14 is
disposed at an angle slightly less than 90.degree. with respect to
the vertical, such that the chair is capable of stacking onto an
identical chair. Typically, the at least three legs 14 comprise
four legs 14, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in the
drawings. Also typically, each of the legs 14 is made from a
tubular metal material such as steel.
[0028] Each rack attachment member 16 comprises a leg attachment
portion 20 and a rack attachment portion 22 as illustrated in FIGS.
5-10. The leg attachment portion 20 of each attachment member is
attached to one of the legs 14 of the chair. The rack attachment
portion 22 is capable of reversibly securing a portion of a rack 23
to one of the chair legs 14 below the seating surface 12.
[0029] As illustrated in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the
rack attachment portion 22 of each rack attachment member 16 can
define a continuous hollow cylinder. Such continuous hollow
cylinder is sized and dimensioned to snugly attach around a portion
of the rack 23 and to thereby firmly be retained to the rack
23.
[0030] Also, as illustrated in the embodiment shown in the
drawings, the leg attachment portion 20 is adapted to attach to one
of the legs 14. As seen in the drawings, the leg attachment portion
20 can define a clamp having a first clamp member 24 and a spaced
apart second clamp member 26. The first clamp member 24 and the
second clamp member 26 are attachable to one another by one or more
fasteners 28, such as nuts and bolts. Preferably, the first clamp
member 24 and the second clamp member 26 are attachable to one
another by a single fastener.
[0031] As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, the proximal end 30 of each
rack attachment portion 22 has an exterior surface 32. Preferably,
the first clamp of the leg attachment portion 20 of each rack
attachment member 16 has an edge 34 which is sized and dimensioned
to match the exterior surface 32 of the proximal end 22 of the rack
attachment portion 22 in such a way that each first clamp member 24
supports a rack attachment portion 22 when the first clamp member
24 is attached to the second clamp member 26.
[0032] Typically, the stackable chair 10 further comprises a rack
23, such as a horizontally disposed book rack, attached to each of
the rack attachment members 16 as illustrated in FIG. 11. As
illustrated in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rack 23
can have a center portion 36 and a plurality of radiating prongs
38. Typically, each of the continuous hollow cylinders defined by
each rack attachment portion 22 is sized and dimensioned to accept
and retain one of the radiating prongs 38.
[0033] Contrary to the user of "slip-on" wire book racks, the racks
23 are securely attached to each chair 10 such that the racks 23 do
not rattle and are not easily removed from the chair 10 by
mischievous students.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 12, stackable chairs 10 of the
invention can be conveniently and efficiently shipped in bulk
because the chairs 10 can be shipped prior to the rack 23 being
attached to the chairs 10. When identical chairs 10 of the
invention are stacked upon one another, they nest in close
relationship with one another as illustrated in FIG. 12. Because of
the use in the invention of the rack attachment members 16, a rack
23 can be quickly and conveniently attached to the chair 10 by the
end user after a quantity of the chairs 10 have been shipped in
bulk.
[0035] The stackable chairs 10 illustrated in FIG. 12 are each
shown having rack attachment members 16 attached to each of the
chair legs 14. Alternatively, the chairs 10 can be stacked and
shipped without having rack attachment members 16 attached to each
leg 14. Instead, a kit 40 (described in more detail below) having
one or more racks 23 and typically four attachment members 16 for
each rack 23 can be shipped separately from the stack of chairs 10.
In this embodiment, the end user can quickly and easily attach rack
attachment members 16 to each of the legs 14 of each chair 10, and
can thereafter quickly and easily attach a rack 23 to each of the
chairs 10 using the rack attachment members 16, as described
above.
[0036] The stackable chair 10 of the invention is contrasted with
stackable chairs of the prior art 110. FIG. 13 illustrates such a
stackable chair of the prior art 110. In this prior art stackable
chair 110, a rack 123 is attached to each of the four legs 114 by
inserting one of the four rack attachment prongs 138 into a hole in
one of the chair legs 114. Alternatively, each of the four book
rack attachment prongs 138 can be welded to one of the chair legs
114. By these methods, the rack 123 is permanently and
non-reversibly attached to the chair 110. As discussed in the
Background section above, the problem with such chairs 110 of the
prior art is that they are very expensive to ship in bulk. Once the
rack 123 is permanently attached to each chair 110, the chair 110
no longer nests closely with identical chairs 110. As illustrated
in FIG. 14, identical chairs 110 of the prior art stack extremely
inefficiently.
[0037] In a second aspect, the invention is a kit 40 comprising one
or more racks 23 and at least three rack attachment members 16 for
each rack 23. One embodiment of such a kit 40 is illustrated in
FIG. 15. In this aspect of the invention, the rack 23 comprises a
center portion 36 and at least three radiating prongs 38. Each rack
attachment member 16 comprises (i) a rack attachment portion 22
defining a rack attachment portion 22 defining a hollow continuous
cylinder with a proximal end 30 and a distal end 31, the proximal
end 30 having an exterior surface 32, the hollow continuous
cylinder being sized and dimensioned to accept one of the radiating
prongs 38, and (ii) a leg attachment portion 20 defining a clamp,
the clamp having a first clamp member 24 and a second clamp member
26 spaced apart from one another. The first and second clamp
members 26 are attachable to one another by one or more fasteners
28. Preferably, the first clamp member 24 has an edge 34 sized and
dimensioned to match the exterior surface 32 of the proximal end 30
of the rack attachment portion 22 in such a way that the first
clamp member 24 supports the rack attachment portion 22 when the
first clamp member 24 is attached to the second clamp member
26.
[0038] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the kit 40 can
further comprise a plurality of fasteners 28, such as nuts and
bolts or rivots.
[0039] Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent
that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be
resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of
the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described
hereinbelow by the claims.
* * * * *