U.S. patent application number 16/086178 was filed with the patent office on 2020-09-24 for a modular seating system and a seating unit.
The applicant listed for this patent is LAVI FURNITURE INDUSTRIES COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY LTD. Invention is credited to Zeev GEVA.
Application Number | 20200297121 16/086178 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004916057 |
Filed Date | 2020-09-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200297121 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GEVA; Zeev |
September 24, 2020 |
A MODULAR SEATING SYSTEM AND A SEATING UNIT
Abstract
A seating unit of a modular seating system, said seating unit
comprising: a first lateral member comprising a first mounting
arrangement; a second lateral member opposing said first lateral
member and comprising a second mounting arrangement; a seat support
member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said
first lateral member and said second lateral member; and a seat
articulated to said seat support member; wherein said first
mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to said second
mounting arrangement of a second lateral member of a neighboring
identical seating unit, so as to attach said seating unit and said
neighboring seating unit to each other; and wherein said seat
support member has a first end associated with said first lateral
member and an opposite second end associated with said second
lateral member.
Inventors: |
GEVA; Zeev; (Kiryat Ata,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LAVI FURNITURE INDUSTRIES COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
LTD |
Galilee |
|
IL |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004916057 |
Appl. No.: |
16/086178 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
March 13, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IL2017/050315 |
371 Date: |
September 18, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 11/005 20130101;
A47C 7/56 20130101; A47C 7/407 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47C 11/00 20060101
A47C011/00; A47C 7/56 20060101 A47C007/56; A47C 7/40 20060101
A47C007/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 5, 2016 |
IL |
244917 |
Claims
1-43. (canceled)
44. A seating unit for a modular seating system, said seating unit
comprising: a first lateral member including a first mounting
arrangement; a second lateral member opposing said first lateral
member and including a second mounting arrangement; a seat support
member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said
first lateral member and said second lateral member; and a seat
articulated to said seat support member; wherein said first
mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to said second
mounting arrangement of a second lateral member of a neighboring
identical seating unit, so as to attach said seating unit and said
neighboring identical seating unit to each other; and wherein said
seat support member has a first end associated with said first
lateral member and an opposite second end associated with said
second lateral member.
45. The seating unit of claim 44, wherein said first mounting
arrangement includes a protruding element, and said second mounting
arrangement includes a recessed element configured for linking with
a protruding element of the neighboring identical seating unit.
46. The seating unit of claim 44, wherein each of the first lateral
member and the second lateral member is L-shaped and includes a
seat portion with a seat axis extending along a length thereof, and
a back portion with a back axis extending along a length thereof
and disposed at an angle with respect to said seat main axis.
47. The seating unit of claim 46, wherein the seat portion and the
back portion are substantially flat and coplanar.
48. The seating unit of claim 46, further comprising: at least one
back support member and a back articulated thereto; wherein said
back support member extends between the back portions of the first
lateral member and the second lateral member; and wherein the seat
support member extends between the seat portions of the first
lateral member and the second lateral member.
49. The seating unit of claim 48, wherein the back support member
has two opposing back flange members disposed at ends thereof for
attaching the back support member to the first lateral member and
the second lateral member.
50. The seating unit of claim 44, wherein the first mounting
arrangement is configured for coupling to a first vertical leg of
the modular seating system, and the second mounting arrangement is
configured for coupling to a second vertical leg of the modular
seating system for positioning the modular seating system over a
floor.
51. A modular seating system, comprising: two or more neighboring
identical seating units, each of said two or more neighboring
identical seating units including: a first lateral member including
a first mounting arrangement; a second lateral member opposing said
first lateral member and including a second mounting arrangement; a
seat support member having a longitudinal support axis extending
through said first lateral member and said second lateral member;
and a seat articulated to said seat support member; wherein said
first mounting arrangement of one of said two or more neighboring
identical seating units is configured for coupling to said second
mounting arrangement of another one of said two or more neighboring
identical seating units, so as to attach said two or more
neighboring identical seating units to each other and cause the
longitudinal support axes of the two or more neighboring identical
seating units to coextend with each other; and wherein said seat
support member has a first end associated with said first lateral
member and an opposite second end associated with said second
lateral member.
52. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein said first
mounting arrangement includes a protruding element, and said second
mounting arrangement includes a recessed element configured for
linking with a protruding element of a neighboring seating unit of
the two or more neighboring identical seating units.
53. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein both of said
first mounting arrangement and said second mounting arrangement are
either recessed elements or protruding elements, and configured to
be linked to a corresponding mounting arrangement of a neighboring
seating unit of said two or more neighboring identical seating
units by a connector element.
54. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein the seat
support member, the first mounting arrangement, and the second
mounting arrangement coextend with each other along said
longitudinal support axis.
55. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein the first
mounting arrangement and the second mounting arrangement are formed
at outside faces of the respective first lateral member and the
second lateral member of the two or more neighboring identical
seating units.
56. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein each of the
first lateral member and the second lateral member is L-shaped and
includes a seat portion with a seat axis extending along a length
thereof, and a back portion with a back axis extending along a
length thereof and disposed at an angle with respect to said seat
main axis.
57. The modular seating system of claim 56, wherein the seat
portion and the back portion are substantially flat and
coplanar.
58. The modular seating system of claim 56, further comprising: at
least one back support member and a back articulated thereto;
wherein said back support member extends between the back portions
of the first lateral member and the second lateral member; and
wherein the seat support member extends between the seat portions
of the first lateral member and the second lateral member.
59. The modular seating system of claim 58, further comprising a
back plate to which backs of the two or more neighboring identical
seating units are connectable.
60. A method for assembling a modular seating system, the method
comprising: providing two neighboring identical seating units, each
of the two neighboring identical seating units including: a first
lateral member including a first mounting arrangement; a second
lateral member opposing said first lateral member and including a
second mounting arrangement; a seat support member having a
longitudinal support axis extending through said first lateral
member and said second lateral member; and a seat articulated to
said seat support member; and coupling said first mounting
arrangement of one of the two neighboring identical seating units
to said second mounting arrangement of another one of said two
neighboring identical seating units, thereby attaching the two
neighboring identical seating units to each other and causing the
longitudinal support axes of the two neighboring identical seating
units to coextend with each other; wherein said seat support member
has a first end associated with said first lateral member and an
opposite second end associated with said second lateral member.
61. The method of claim 60, further comprising: providing said
first mounting arrangement with a protruding element and said
second mounting arrangement with a recessed element; and linking
with said protruding element of one of the two neighboring
identical seating units with said recessed element of another one
of said two neighboring identical seating units by introducing the
protruding element into the recessed element.
62. The method of claim 60, further comprising: providing a
connector element having a first connector end and a second
connector end; and introducing the first connector end into the
first mounting arrangement of one the two neighboring identical
seating units and the second connector end into the second mounting
arrangement of another one of said two neighboring identical
seating units.
63. The method of claim 60, further comprising: providing said
modular seating system with a first vertical leg and a second
vertical leg; mounting said first vertical leg to the first
mounting arrangement of one of the extreme of the two neighboring
identical seating units; and mounting said second vertical leg to
the second mounting arrangement of another one of the two
neighboring identical seating units.
Description
TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD
[0001] The presently disclosed subject matter is related to the
field of seating systems having a plurality of seating units
arranged side-by-side. In particular, the presently disclosed
subject matter is related to the field of modular seating
systems.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are many uses for seating systems in which two or more
seating units are mounted together side-by-side. Such seating
systems can be found in institutions of all kinds such as airports,
hospitals, theaters, houses of prayers (e.g., synagogues, churches,
etc.), and waiting rooms of doctors, lawyers, and other
professionals. One reason for their popularity compared to using a
plurality of single seating units is they remain arranged in a
given configuration, they tend to take up less floor space, and
they can have fewer floor supports.
[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,479 discloses a tandem
chair assembly that comprises a frame and a plurality of seating
units. The frame comprises a pair of opposed legs and a horizontal
beam extending between and attached to the end legs. The seating
units comprise a seat support section and a back support section,
positioned side-by-side between the legs with their fronts
supported on the beam. Seat connection plates secure the front of
the seat support section of each seating unit to the horizontal
beam. In addition brackets are used for rigidly connecting each leg
to the back support section of the seating unit next to the leg.
Further, the back support sections of each adjacent pair of seating
units are rigidly connected together, and the seat support section
and back support section are maintained at right angles by means of
right angle struts that double as arm rests.
[0004] According to another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,072
discloses a modular article of furniture which has a right hand
element and a left hand element, each being a rigid U-shaped arch
with a pair of downwardly-extending legs, and a bight joining the
legs. A pair of parallel shear members are integrally and rigidly
connected to each of the legs, the members of each pair being one
above the other. The shear members are joined by a splice, and an
interconnecting member joins them for in-plane stability against
tilting of the right hand element and left hand element.
General Description
[0005] According to a first aspect of the presently disclosed
subject matter, there is provided a seating unit of a modular
seating system, said seating unit comprising:
[0006] a first lateral member comprising a first mounting
arrangement;
[0007] a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member
and comprising a second mounting arrangement;
[0008] a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis
extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral
member; and
[0009] a seat articulated to said seat support member;
[0010] wherein said first mounting arrangement is configured for
coupling to said second mounting arrangement of a second lateral
member of a neighboring identical seating unit, so as to attach
said seating unit and said neighboring seating unit to each
other.
[0011] According to a second aspect of the presently disclosed
subject matter, there is provided a modular seating system
comprising two or more neighboring identical seating units, each of
said seating units comprising:
[0012] a first lateral member comprising a first mounting
arrangement;
[0013] a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member
and comprising a second mounting arrangement;
[0014] a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis
extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral
member; and
[0015] a seat articulated to said seat support member;
[0016] wherein said first mounting arrangement of one of said
seating units is configured for coupling to said second mounting
arrangement of another one of said seating units, so as to attach
said seating units to each other and cause the longitudinal support
axes of the seating units to coextend with each other.
[0017] The modular seating system according to the first and the
second aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter is
structured of neighboring identical seating units, attached to each
other in such a manner that their seat support members are forming
together a rigid longitudinal structure extending along the
longitudinal support axis of the seating system. The modular
seating system can further comprise two system support members
(e.g., vertical legs), one of which is connected to a first extreme
seating unit disposed at one end of the seating system and another
one of which is connected to a second extreme seating unit,
disposed at another end of the seating system. The seating system
support members are configured to be disposed over a floor or
another surface. The rigid longitudinal structure provides support
for the seating system and substantially prevents bending of the
seating system upon application of an external load perpendicularly
to the longitudinal support axis (e.g., weight of one or more users
seating on one or more seating units of the seating system). The
rigid longitudinal structure can provide stability to the seating
system when the external load is applied thereon, without the
necessity to connect or use one or more additional system support
members (e.g., additional vertical legs) extending from
intermediate seating units (i.e., seating units other than the
extreme seating units) to the surface over which the seating system
is disposed.
[0018] Due to the structure of the seating units, and in particular
the compact structure of their seat support members and their
connectivity to each other, while providing the required stability
and resistance to deformation of the seating system, the number of
the seating units is flexible and can be determined in accordance
with the available space or other requirements at the installation
site of the seating system. For example, the number of the seating
units can vary between two to six or seven and even more seating
units in a single seating system, without using the additional
system support members. The compact structure of seat support
members, and the fact that they extend along the longitudinal
support axis, allows reducing weight of the entire support
structure disposed under the seat, while preserving its ability to
withstand the external load applied on the seating unit.
[0019] Any one or more of the following features, designs and
configurations can be incorporated in the seating system and the
seating units of the first and the second aspects of the presently
disclosed subject matter, independently or in combination
thereof:
[0020] The first mounting arrangement can comprise a protruding
element and the second mounting arrangement can comprise a recessed
element configured for linking with a protruding element of the
neighboring seating unit. Alternatively, both the first mounting
arrangement and the second mounting arrangement can be either
recessed elements or protruding elements, configured to be linked
to a corresponding mounting arrangement of the neighboring seating
unit by a connector element.
[0021] The seat support member, the first mounting arrangement and
the second mounting arrangement can coextend with each other along
the longitudinal support axis.
[0022] The first mounting arrangement and the second mounting
arrangement can be formed at outside faces of the respective first
lateral member and the second lateral member of the seating
unit.
[0023] Each of the first lateral member and the second lateral
member can be L-shaped and can comprise a seat portion with a seat
axis extending along its length, and a back portion with a back
axis extending along its length and disposed at an angle with
respect to the seat main axis.
[0024] The seat portion and the back portion can be substantially
flat and coplanar.
[0025] The seating unit can further comprise at least one back
support member and a back articulated thereto. The back support
member can extend between the back portions of the first lateral
member and the second lateral member. The seat support member can
extend between the seat portions of the first lateral member and
the second lateral member.
[0026] The back support member can have two opposing back flange
members disposed at ends thereof for attaching the back support
member to the first lateral member and the second lateral
member.
[0027] The seat support member can have two opposing seat flange
members disposed at ends thereof for attaching the seat support
member to the first lateral member and the second lateral
member.
[0028] The seat support member can be bar-shaped and the seat can
be pivotally displaceable about the seat support member between a
deployed position and an undeployed position.
[0029] The first mounting arrangement can be configured for
coupling to the first system support member, and the second
mounting arrangement can be configured for coupling to the second
system support member for positioning the seating system over a
floor or another surface.
[0030] The seating system support members can be a first vertical
leg and a second vertical leg, both configured. The first vertical
leg can be coupled to the first mounting arrangement of the first
extreme seating unit, and the second vertical leg can be coupled to
the second mounting arrangement of the second extreme seating
unit.
[0031] The seating system can comprise a back plate to which backs
of the seating units are connectable. The back plate can provide
further support to the entire seating system, for preventing the
seating system from bending upon application of an external load
perpendicularly to the longitudinal support axis. The back plate
can improve the stability of the seating system, and can assist the
rigid longitudinal structure to withstand the external load applied
perpendicularly to the longitudinal support axis.
[0032] According to a third aspect of the presently disclosed
subject matter, there is provided a method for assembling the
modular seating system of the second aspect, comprising steps
of:
[0033] a. providing two neighboring identical seating units, each
comprising: a first lateral member comprising a first mounting
arrangement; a second lateral member opposing the first lateral
member and comprising a second mounting arrangement; a seat support
member having a longitudinal support axis extending through the
first lateral member and the second lateral member; and a seat
articulated to said seat support member; and
[0034] b. coupling the first mounting arrangement of one of the
seating units to the second mounting arrangement of another one of
the seating units, thereby attaching the seating units to each
other and causing the longitudinal support axes of the seating
units to coextend with each other.
[0035] The method can further comprise steps of: providing the
first mounting arrangement with a protruding element and the second
mounting arrangement with a recessed element; and linking with the
protruding element of one of the seating units with the recessed
element of another one of the seating units by introducing the
protruding element into the recessed element.
[0036] The method can further comprise steps of: providing a
connector element having a first connector end and a second
connector end; and introducing the first connector end into the
first mounting arrangement of one the seating units and the second
connector end into the second mounting arrangement of another one
of the seating units.
[0037] The method can further comprise steps of: providing the
seating system with a first vertical leg and a second vertical leg;
and mounting the first vertical leg to the first mounting
arrangement of one of the extreme seating units, and mounting the
second vertical leg to the second mounting arrangement of another
one of the seating units.
[0038] According to a fourth aspect of the presently disclosed
subject matter, there is provided a seating unit comprising:
[0039] two opposing lateral members;
[0040] a seat support member extending between said lateral
members; and
[0041] a modular seat comprising: a seat flat portion, a first
bearing member and a second bearing member; at least one of said
first bearing member and said second bearing member being mounted
to the seat flat portion, and said first bearing member and said
second bearing member at least partially embracing said seat
support member therebetween, forming together a bearing assembly
allowing pivotal displacement of the seat about to the seat support
member between a deployed position and an undeployed position.
[0042] According to a fifth aspect of the presently disclosed
subject matter, there is provided a method for assembling the
seating unit of the fourth aspect, comprising steps of:
[0043] a. providing a seating unit comprising: two opposing lateral
members; a seat support member extending between said lateral
members; a modular seat comprising: a seat flat portion, a first
bearing member and a second bearing member; at least one of said
first bearing member and said second bearing member is mounted to
the seat flat portion; and
[0044] b. at least partially embracing said seat support member by
said first bearing member and said second bearing member, thereby
forming a bearing assembly allowing pivotal displacement of the
seat about to the seat support member between a deployed position
and an undeployed position.
[0045] The modular seat of the fourth and the fifth aspects of the
presently disclosed subject matter is configured to be modularly
installed on the seat support member. For example, in a
configuration in which the first bearing member is mounted to a
flat portion, they both (with additional elements related thereto,
if any exist) constitute a first part of the modular seat, and the
second bearing member (with additional elements related thereto, if
any exist) constitutes a second part of the modular seat. When the
modular seat is disassembled, these first and second parts are
provided separately from each other. During assembly of the modular
seat on the seat support member, the first and the second parts can
be attached to each other with the seat support member disposed
therebetween, thereby embracing the seat support member and forming
together a bearing assembly allowing pivotal displacement of the
seat about to the seat support member between a deployed position
and an undeployed position.
[0046] According to an alternative example, in a configuration in
which the second bearing member is mounted to a flat portion, they
both (with additional elements related thereto, if any exist)
constitute a first part of the modular seat, and the first bearing
member (with additional elements related thereto, if any exist)
constitutes a second part of the modular seat. When the modular
seat is disassembled, these first and second parts are provided
separately from each other. During assembly of the modular seat on
the seat support member, the first and the second parts are
attached to each other with the seat support member disposed
therebetween, thereby embracing the seat support member and forming
together a bearing assembly allowing pivotal displacement of the
seat about to the seat support member between a deployed position
and an undeployed position. At the deployed position, a user can
sit on the seating unit.
[0047] At least a portion of the second bearing member can be
disposed at the rear of the seat and can be configured with a
weight member configured to cause the seat to normally assume its
deployed position. According to this configuration, the modular
seat can thus be provided without any springs or any other
compression or tension elements responsible for causing the seat to
automatically revert to its normally deployed position. It is known
that such elements experience physical deterioration over time.
Therefore, the configuration of the modular seat with the weight
member simplifies its structure and improves its reliability over
time.
[0048] At least one of the first bearing member and the second
bearing member can have a rounded internal wall. According to a
particular example, both the first bearing member and the second
bearing member have a rounded internal wall, complementary to each
other and to a rounded wall portion of seat support member, which
they embrace.
[0049] The first bearing member can be provided with a first cover
member and the second bearing member can be provided with a second
cover member configured to be mounted to the first cover member, to
cause the first bearing member and the second bearing member to
embrace the seat support member. The step (b) of the method
according to the fifth aspect can thus be performed by mounting the
second cover member to the first cover member.
[0050] The first cover member can have a receiving space for
accommodating the second cover.
[0051] The weight member can be attached to an internal wall of the
second cover member.
[0052] The seat of the first, second and third aspects of the
presently disclosed subject matter can be the modular seat of the
fourth and fifth aspects, with some or all possible variations and
configurations thereof.
[0053] According to a sixth aspect of the presently disclosed
subject matter, there is provided a seating unit comprising:
[0054] two opposing lateral members, each configured with a hand
rest receiving element;
[0055] a seat extending between said lateral members;
[0056] a back extending between said lateral members and comprising
two opposing side blocking elements disposed at least partially in
front of said hand rest receiving elements; and
[0057] a hand rest having a hand rest connector connectable to one
of said hand rest receiving elements;
[0058] wherein said side blocking elements are selectively
convertible between a blocking state in which they obstruct access
of said hand rest connector to the respective hand rest receiving
element, and an unblocking state in which said access is allowed
for mounting said hand rest connector to the respective hand rest
receiving element.
[0059] According to a seventh aspect of the presently disclosed
subject matter, there is provided a method for mounting a hand rest
to a seating unit of the sixth aspect, comprising steps of:
[0060] a. providing a seating unit comprising: two opposing lateral
members, each configured with a hand rest receiving element; a seat
extending between said lateral members; a back extending between
said lateral members and configured with two opposing side blocking
elements disposed at least partially in front of said hand rest
receiving elements; and a hand rest having a hand rest
connector;
[0061] b. converting one of said side blocking elements from a
blocking state in access of said hand rest connector to the
respective hand rest receiving element is obstructed, to an
unblocking state in which said access is allowed; and
[0062] c. mounting said hand rest connector to the respective hand
rest receiving element.
[0063] The seating unit according to the sixth and seventh aspect
allows selectively mounting a hand rest to the seating unit, upon
demand. For example, when there is a need to add a hand rest to the
seating unit, a respective side blocking element can be converted
from its blocking state to its unblocking state, and the hand rest
connector can be mounted to the respective hand rest receiving
element. This hand rest can also be removed from the seating unit,
and the respective side blocking element can afterwards be
converted from its unblocking state to its blocking state.
[0064] The hand rest receiving elements can be formed as recesses,
and the hand rest connector can be formed as a protrusion
configured to be received in each of the recesses.
[0065] At least at their blocking state, the blocking elements can
be mounted to the back by weakened areas allowing disconnecting of
the blocking elements from the back at their unblocking state.
[0066] The step (b) can be performed by disconnecting said one of
the blocking elements from the back.
[0067] The seat unit of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth
aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter can be the seat
unit of the sixth and seventh aspects, with some or all possible
variations and configurations thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0068] In order to better understand the subject matter that is
disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in
practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting
examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0069] FIG. 1A is a front isometric view of a modular seating
system according to one example of the presently disclosed subject
matter;
[0070] FIG. 1B is a rear isometric view of the modular seating
system of FIG. 1A;
[0071] FIG. 2A is an isometric view of one seating unit of the
modular seating system of FIG. 1A;
[0072] FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the seating unit of FIG.
2A;
[0073] FIG. 2C is another isometric view of a frame structure of
the seating unit of FIG. 2B;
[0074] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in FIG.
1A;
[0075] FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of section A1 of FIG. 3A;
[0076] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view along line B-B in FIG.
1A;
[0077] FIG. 3D is an enlarged view of section A2 of FIG. 3C;
[0078] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a right vertical leg of the
modular seating system of FIG. 1A;
[0079] FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a modular seat of the seating
unit of FIG. 2B, in accordance with an example of the presently
disclosed subject matter;
[0080] FIG. 5B is the seat of FIG. 5A in its disassembled form,
shown from another point of view;
[0081] FIG. 5C is an exploded view of the seat of FIG. 5A;
[0082] FIG. 5D is a bottom isometric view of the seat of FIG.
5C;
[0083] FIG. 6A is a seating unit of the modular seating system of
FIG. 1A with a hand rest attached thereto, shown without a back pad
thereof;
[0084] FIG. 6B is a left isometric view of the seating unit of FIG.
6A; and
[0085] FIG. 6C is a right isometric view of the seating unit of
FIG. 6B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0086] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A-B, 2A-C, 3A-D and 4 in
which a modular seating system 1 is shown, in accordance with one
example of the first, second and third aspects of the presently
disclosed subject matter.
[0087] The modular seating system 1 is structured of four
neighboring identical seating units 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d, attached
to each other side-by-side in such a manner that their seat support
members 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are forming together a rigid
longitudinal structure 20 extending along a longitudinal support
axis X (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A).
[0088] The modular seating system 1 further has two system support
members in the form of a right vertical leg 2 and a left vertical
leg 6. The right vertical leg 2 is connected to the seating unit
20a disposed at one end of the seating system 1 and the left
vertical leg 6 is connected to the seating unit 20d, disposed at
another end of the seating system 1. The right and left vertical
legs 2 and 6 are disposed over a floor 100.
[0089] The rigid longitudinal structure 20 provides support for the
seating system 1 and substantially prevents bending of the seating
system 1 upon application of an external load L (shown in FIG. 1A)
perpendicularly to the longitudinal support axis X (e.g., weight of
one or more users sitting on one or more of the seating units 20a,
20b, 20c and 20d). The rigid longitudinal structure 20 provides
stability to the seating system 1 when the external load L is
applied thereon, without the necessity to connect or use one or
more additional system support members (e.g., additional vertical
legs) extending from intermediate seating units (i.e., the seating
units 20b and 20c) to the floor 100.
[0090] Due to the structure of the seating units 20a-d and their
connectivity to each other, which is explained in detail below,
while providing the required stability and resistance to
deformation of the seating system 1, the number of seating units of
the seating system is flexible and can be determined in accordance
with the available space or other requirements at the installation
site of the seating system 1. For example, the number of the
seating units can vary between two to six, seven and even more
seating units in a single seating system, without using the
additional system support members (i.e., in addition to the right
and the left vertical legs). This flexibility is allowed, inter
alia, due to the fact that each seating unit is provided with its
own seat support member, which is modularly connectable to a seat
support member of a neighboring seating unit forming together a
continuous rigid longitudinal structure that provides support to
the entire seating system.
[0091] Reference is now made specifically to FIGS. 2A-2C, in order
to describe the structure of a single seating unit of the seating
system 1. The description below is made with respect to the seating
unit 20b, but is relevant similar to the seating units 20a, 20c and
20d.
[0092] The seating unit 20b comprises a frame structure 25, a seat
60 and a back 80. The seat 60 and the back 80 are mountable to the
frame structure 25 as shown in FIG. 2B. The frame structure 25 is
structured of the following components: a first lateral member 30
having a first mounting arrangement in the form of a protruding
element 36 formed at an outer face 31 of the first lateral member
30; a second lateral member 40 opposing the first lateral member 30
and having a second mounting arrangement in the form of a recessed
element 46 formed at an outer face 41 of the second lateral member
40; the seat support member 50b; an upper back support member 56;
and a lower back support member 58. The seat support member 50b,
the upper back support member 56 and the lower back support member
58 are extending between the first and the second lateral members
30 and 40 and connecting them to each other. The seat support
member 50b, the protruding element 36 and the recessed element 46
coextend with each other along the longitudinal support axis X.
[0093] The seat support member 50b is bar-shaped and has a round
cross-section, and the seat 60 is configured for pivotally
displacing about the seat support member 50b between a normally
deployed position (not shown) and an undeployed position (shown in
FIG. 1A).
[0094] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the protruding element 36 is
linked with a recessed element 46' of the seating unit 20a, which
is identical to the recessed element 46, and the recessed element
46 is linked with a protruding element 36' of the seating unit 20c,
which is identical to the protruding element 36. In addition, as
shown in these figures, a protruding element 36' of the seating
unit 20a is received in a respective recess 3 formed in the right
vertical leg 2 to which the seating unit 20a is attached. Moreover,
the left vertical leg 6 is provided with a protruding element 7
which is received within a recessed element 46'' of the seating
unit 20d to which the left vertical leg 6 is attached.
[0095] According to an alternative example not shown in the
drawings, both the first mounting arrangement and the second
mounting arrangement can be either recessed elements or protruding
elements, configured to be linked to a corresponding mounting
arrangement of the neighboring seating unit by a connector element
(e.g., a longitudinal linking member the ends of which are linked
with the protruding/recessed elements of the neighboring seating
units).
[0096] In order to improve the stability of the seating system when
the external load L is applied thereon, each two neighboring first
and second lateral members of the seating units 20a-d are
screw-coupled to each other. The right and left vertical legs 2 and
6 are also screw-coupled to their neighboring first/second lateral
members. For example, in order to couple the first lateral member
30 to its neighboring second lateral member of the seating unit
20a, the holes 33 and 34 (shown in FIG. 2C), and also other holes
formed therein, can be used for screws which are accordingly
received therein.
[0097] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1B, the seating system 1 further
comprises a back plate 15 to which the backs of the seating units
20a-d are screw-coupled. The back plate 15 provides further support
to the entire seating system 1 for preventing the seating system 1
from bending upon application of the external load L. The back
plate 15 also improves the stability of the seating system 1, and
assists the rigid longitudinal structure 20 to withstand the
external load L.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 4 in which the right vertical leg 2 is
illustrated, the recess 3 can clearly be seen. In addition, the
right vertical leg 2 has a longitudinal recess 4 into which a right
end of the back plate 15 is to be received. The right vertical leg
2 also has a number of holes for screw-coupling the first lateral
member of the seating unit 20a to the right vertical leg 2.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 2C, the first lateral member 30 is L-shaped
and has a seat portion 32 with a seat axis X1 extending along its
length, and a back portion 37 with a back axis X2 extending along
its length and disposed at an angle .alpha.1 with respect to the
seat main axis X1. The seat portion 32 and the back portion 37 are
substantially flat and coplanar. The second lateral member 40 is
also L-shaped and has a seat portion 42 with a seat axis X3
extending along its length, and a back portion 47 with a back axis
X4 extending along its length and disposed at an angle .alpha.2
with respect to the seat main axis X3. The seat portion 42 and the
back portion 47 are also substantially flat and coplanar. The
angles .alpha.1 and .alpha.2 are equal.
[0100] The seat support member 50b is extending between the seat
portions 32 and 42 and is configured with two opposing seat flange
members 51' and 51'' disposed at ends thereof, attaching the seat
support member 50b to the seat portions 32 and 42,
respectively.
[0101] The upper back support member 56 is extending between the
back portions 37 and 47 and is configured with two opposing back
flange members 57' and 57'' disposed at ends thereof, attaching the
upper back support member 56 to the back portions 37 and 47,
respectively. The lower back support member 58 is extending between
the back portions 37 and 47 and is configured with two opposing
back flange members 59' and 59'' disposed at ends thereof,
attaching the lower back support member 58 to the back portions 37
and 47, respectively.
[0102] The modular seating system 1 is further configured with
cover members, such as cover members 17 and 18 (shown in FIG. 1A),
each of which covers each pair of neighboring first and second
lateral members. The cover members are esthetically sealing the
lateral members by entirely covering their exterior upper portions
when the seating units are connected to each other and the entire
seating system is assembled.
[0103] FIGS. 3C and 3D illustrate the rear portions of the second
lateral member 40 and its neighboring first lateral member 30' of
the seating unit 20c. In these drawings it can clearly be seen that
outer faces of the second lateral member 40 and the first lateral
member 30' are tightly adjacent to each.
[0104] In summary, the modular seating system 1 is structured so as
to optimally transfer the external load L applied on its seating
units to the right and left vertical legs, while preserving the
shape of the seating system and preventing it from bending. By this
manner, the number of the seating units included in the system can
be changed and determined in accordance with different requirements
and spacial constraints at the installation site.
[0105] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A-5D, in which a modular
seat, in accordance with one example of the fourth and fifth
aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, is shown.
Although the modular seat according to the present example is the
seat 60 of FIGS. 1-4, it is appreciated that the modular seat of
the fourth and fifth aspects is not necessarily tied to the
examples of FIGS. 1-4, and can thus be used in conjunction with any
other seating units known in the art. In FIG. 5A, the seat 60 is
shown in its assembled form, and in FIG. 5B, the seat 60 is shown
in its disassembled form.
[0106] The seat 60 comprises the following: a seat flat portion 61;
a seat cushion 62 mounted on the seat flat portion 61; a first
bearing member in the form of two bearings 63 having a rounded
internal wall 63' and a first cover member 64 having a plurality of
bearing portions 64'; and a second bearing member in the form of a
second cover member 67 having two bearing portions 67'. The seat 60
further comprises a weight member 68 mounted to an internal wall
68' of the second cover member 67.
[0107] The rounded internal wall 63' of the bearings 63, the
bearing portions 64' and the bearing portions 67' all have a
rounded shape being complementary to the rounded shape of the seat
support member 50c for accommodating respective portions of the
seat support member 50c. The manner, in which the seat support
member 50c is seated on the bearings 63 and on the bearing portions
64', is shown for example in FIG. 3B.
[0108] Each of the bearings 63 is seated on a profile 66 extending
along the seat flat portion 61 and mounted thereto. The bearings
63, the first cover member 64 and the second cover member 67 are
configured together for embracing the seat support member 50c (not
shown in FIGS. 5A-D) therebetween. By this, the bearings 63, the
first cover member 64 and the second cover member 67 are forming
together a bearing assembly allowing pivotal displacement of the
seat 60 about to the seat support member 50c between a deployed
position and an undeployed position. In the deployed position (not
shown in the drawings), the seat 60 is substantially parallel to
the back 80. However, when displacing the seat 60 to the undeployed
position (for example, in FIGS. 1A and 1B), a user can sit
thereon.
[0109] The first cover member 64 has a receiving space 65 for
accommodating the second cover member 67, when received therein in
the assembled form of the seat 60, as shown in FIG. 5A.
[0110] The seat 60 is configured to be modularly installed on the
seat support member 50b. This modularity is provided by two parts
that are forming the seat 60. As shown in FIG. 5B, the seat flat
portion 61, the seat cushion 62, the bearings 63 and the first
cover member 64 constitute the first part of the seat 60, and the
second cover member 67 together with the weight member 68
constitute the second part of the seat 60.
[0111] When the seat 60 is disassembled, the first and second parts
are provided separately from each other. During assembly of the
seat 60 on the seat support member 50b, the first cover member 64
and the bearings 63 are first seated on the seat support member
50b, and then, the second cover member 67 is attached to the first
support member 63, thereby embracing the seat support member
50b.
[0112] In the assembled configuration of the seat 60, the weight
member 68 is configured to cause the seat 60 to normally assume its
deployed position. According to this configuration, the seat 60 is
thus provided without any springs or any other compression or
tension elements responsible for causing the seat 60 to
automatically revert to its normally deployed position. It is known
that such elements experience physical deterioration over time, and
that if possible, it is preferable not to use them in a mechanical
system. Therefore, the configuration of the seat 60 with the weight
member 68 simplifies its structure and improves its reliability
over time.
[0113] Reference is now made to FIGS. 6A-D in which a seating unit,
in accordance with one example of the sixth and seventh aspects of
the presently disclosed subject matter, is shown. Although the
seating unit according to the present example is the seating unit
20c of FIGS. 1-4, it is appreciated that the seating unit of the
sixth and seventh aspects is not necessarily tied to the examples
of FIGS. 1-4, and can thus be used in conjunction with any other
seating systems known in the art.
[0114] The seating unit 20c according to the present example allows
selectively mounting a hand rest to the seating unit 20c, upon
demand. For example, when there is a need to add a hand rest to the
seating unit 20c, a respective side blocking element can be
converted from its blocking state to its unblocking state, and a
hand rest connector can be mounted to a respective hand rest
receiving element. This hand rest can also be removed from the
seating unit, and the respective side blocking element can
afterwards be converted from its unblocking state to its blocking
state. The structure of the seating unit 20c is detailed below.
[0115] The seating unit 20c comprises the first lateral member 30'
and a second lateral member 40'. The first lateral member 30' is
configured with a first hand rest receiving element 90 and the
second lateral member 40' is configured with a second hand rest
receiving element 92. A seat 50' and a back 80' are extending
between the first and the second lateral members 30' and 40'.
[0116] The back 80' has a first side blocking element 94 disposed
in front of the first hand rest receiving element 90. The blocking
element 94 is selectively convertible between a blocking state
(shown in FIG. 6C) in which it obstructs access of a hand rest
connector (not shown) to the first hand rest receiving element 90,
and an unblocking state in which said access is allowed for
mounting the hand rest connector to the first hand rest receiving
element. The blocking element 94 is connected to the back 80' by
weakened areas 98 allowing for easy rotating and disconnecting of
the blocking element 94 from the back 80' when converted to its
unblocking state.
[0117] The back 80' also had a second side blocking element which
was disposed in front of the second hand rest receiving element 92.
However, the second side blocking element was already disconnected
from the back 80' when being converted to its unblocking state, in
order to allow access to the second hand rest receiving element 92
for mounting a hand rest connector 110 of a hand rest 105 to the
second hand rest receiving element 92.
* * * * *