U.S. patent number 3,847,433 [Application Number 05/378,688] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-12 for stacking chair.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Seating Company. Invention is credited to Hugh C. Acton, Kenneth W. Hozeski, Robert L. Knapp, Arthur L. Van Ryn.
United States Patent |
3,847,433 |
Acton , et al. |
November 12, 1974 |
STACKING CHAIR
Abstract
A chair includes a one-piece tubular member forming a
wrap-around back frame and delta-shaped side leg supports. A
contoured back is secured to the back frame, and a separate
contoured seat is attached to the delta leg supports. In one
embodiment, the seat is pivotally attached to the leg supports to
enable the seat to be raised to permit a person to pass through a
row of such chairs.
Inventors: |
Acton; Hugh C. (Augusta,
MI), Knapp; Robert L. (Grand Rapids, MI), Van Ryn; Arthur
L. (Grand Rapids, MI), Hozeski; Kenneth W. (Grandville,
MI) |
Assignee: |
American Seating Company (Grand
Rapids, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
23494138 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/378,688 |
Filed: |
July 12, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/239; D6/373;
297/248; 297/411.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
1/124 (20130101); A47C 3/04 (20130101); A47C
5/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
3/04 (20060101); A47C 5/00 (20060101); A47C
3/00 (20060101); A47C 5/04 (20060101); A47c
003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/239,248,331,335,445,448,DIG.2,294,295,418 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88,452 |
|
1937 |
|
SW |
|
367,948 |
|
1963 |
|
CH |
|
1,337,392 |
|
1962 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Assistant Examiner: Lyddane; William E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dawson, Tilton, Fallon &
Lungmus
Claims
We claim:
1. A chair comprising: a frame formed from a continuous piece of
tubing and including a horizontal curved portion forming a
wrap-around back panel support, said tubing extending horizontally
forwardly of said wrap-around portion to provide arm rests, thence
extending downwardly and rearwardly to provide inclined arm rest
supports and rear leg portions, thence forwardly to provide
horizontal floor runners, thence upwardly and rearwardly to provide
forward legs and connected at the upper portion of said forward
legs to the juncture between said arm rest support and the
associated rear leg; a curved, contoured back panel secured to the
wrap-around portion of said frame; a seat panel; tubular seat frame
means connected to said seat panel for supporting the same; a brace
connected to said tubular frame at the upper portion of said
forward legs to stabilize said frame and to support said seat when
it is in a lowered, occupied position; and means for pivotally
connecting said seat frame to said frame whereby said seat panel
may be selectively lowered to an occupied position wherein said
seat panel is supported by said brace, or raised, thereby
permitting an occupant to step between said runners to permit
passage of another person down a row.
2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said floor runners are
parallel, and wherein each of said front legs is offset inwardly of
its associated runner and rear leg to permit one of said chairs to
be assembled in stacked relation with a similar chair by placing
the rear legs of an upper chair over the forward legs of a lower
chair until the arm rests and rear legs of the stacked chairs are
in close proximal relation.
3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first mentioned frame
further includes a horizontal portion extending from the top of
each of said forward legs rearwardly for connection to the junction
between the associated arm rest and rear leg portion, and wherein
said brace comprises a concave portion rigidly secured at either
side to said horizontal portions extending rearwardly from the
upper parts of said front legs and adapted to receive and support
said seat panel in an occupied position.
4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said seat panel comprises a
tractor-type contoured plastic shell providing a lowered bucket
seat portion and extending upwardly around the rear spinal area of
an occupant, and wherein said seat frame includes a generally
U-shaped forward tubular frame portion extending about the sides
and front of said seat shell and beneath it; a rear tubular frame
portion; and first and second side brackets connecting said
U-shaped forward seat portion with said curved seat frame portion
at either side with the rear curved portion extending outwardly of
said U-frame portion and providing a continuous line with the
horizontal frame portion of said main frame extending rearwardly of
an associated forward leg thereof, each of said brackets further
providing an apertured portion pivotally connecting said seat frame
to said main frame at the rear extension of said horizontally
extending portions extending rearwardly of said forward legs.
5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said seat panel is molded and
further defines spaced rib means for providing channels for
receiving said U-shaped forward seat frame portion and a forward
pocket for receiving the forward portion of said U-shaped seat
frame portion.
6. The structure of claim 5 further comprising additional rib means
on the lower portion of said seat panel, both forward and aft of
said curved portion and conforming to the curve thereof for holding
the same; and further including bracket means for securing said
seat panel to said rear curved portion of said seat frame.
7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said back panel is inclined
upwardly and rearwardly in cross section from a location above the
termination of said seat panel and is further curved to wrap around
the back of an occupant, the rear surface of said back panel
providing vertically spaced rearwardly extending ribs defining a
channel for receiving the wrap-around portion of said main frame;
and threaded fastener means for securing said back panel to said
wrap-around portion of said main frame.
8. The structure of claim 7 wherein each of said ribs of said back
panel are further provided with opposing nibs extending inwardly of
said channel and spaced apart from each other and from the rear
surface of said back panel to provide a horizontal slot means to
slidably receive a threaded Tee-nut; and wherein said threaded
fastener means includes a Tee-nut slidably received in an
associated slot of said channel; and a machine screw extending
through said wrap-around portion of said main frame and threadedly
engaging an associated Tee-nut.
9. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a first coupling
element on the left rear leg of said chair and a second
complementary coupling element on the right rear leg of said chair,
one of said coupling elements including an upwardly-extending hook
member spaced outwardly from its associated rear leg and the other
coupling element including a downwardly extending finger spaced
outwardly of its associated leg, said coupling elements being
arranged to connect with the complementary element of an adjacent
chair spaced beside it to hold the adjacent rear legs of said
adjacent chairs in contacting relation, whereby when a row of said
chairs is assembled, the length of the row is a multiple of the
width of an individual chair.
10. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a mobile dolly for
transporting a plurality of said chairs in stacked relation, said
dolly comprising upwardly extending brace members adapted to
receive a lowermost chair and to support said chair by engaging
said main frame at the juncture between an arm rest and and an arm
rest support on either side thereof; and a lower platform including
side pockets for receiving said main frame at the juncture between
said floor runner and said associated rear legs, said chairs being
tilted when thus stacked such that said floor runners form an angle
of approximately 41.degree. with the horizontal.
11. A chair comprising: a supporting frame formed from a continuous
piece of tubing and including a horizontal curved portion forming a
wrap-around back support panel, said tubing extending horizontal
forwardly of said wrap-around portion to provide arm rests, thence
extending downwardly and rearwardly to provide inclined arm rest
supports and rear leg portions, thence forwardly to provide
horizontal floor runners, thence inwardly and thence upwardly and
rearwardly to provide inwardly offset forward legs and connected at
the upper portion of said forward legs to the juncture between said
arm rest support and the associated rear leg, and thence smoothly
curved in a seat wrap-around curve; a forward seat panel comprising
a generally U-shaped forwardly extending tubular member connected
at either side to said main supporting frame adjacent the portions
thereof where said seat wrap-around curve begins, and a transverse
concave brace member interconnecting the distal ends of said
U-shaped seat support; a curved, contoured back panel secured to
the wrap-around back portion of said frame; and a separate seat
panel secured to the seat frame and to the seat wrap-around portion
of said main frame.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a chair; and more particularly, to
a type of chair which may be used in meeting rooms, auditoriums or
the like wherein rows of chairs are set up at certain times, but at
other times, it is desired to remove the chairs to a storage
location. One of the requirements of such chairs is that they be
capable of being stacked, one on another for storage.
In the past, the structure of stacked chairs has been such as to
prevent the close formation of rows for seating because room had to
be allowed for a person to pass down the row while others are
seated. Considerable space is lost due to this disadvantage, and
the present invention, therefore, includes one embodiment wherein
the seat may be raised independently by the occupant. This permits
the occupant to step back into the chair to permit a person to pass
down the row. One independent seat rise chair with this feature is
disclosed in the co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,202 of Barecki, et
al. The patented chair did not receive commercial acceptance,
however, and it was never put into production.
In this embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
stack chair with an independent seat rise having a one-piece
tubular member forming a wrap-around back frame and delta shaped
side leg supports. The wrap-around back frame continues forwardly
to provide full arm runners, and the tubular member is then curved
to form a downwardly and rearwardly extending straight portion
forming at the same time an arm rest support and a rear leg. At the
bottom of the rear leg, the tubular member is bent forwardly to
form a horizontal runner, at the front end of which the tubular
member is curved to extend upwardly and rearwardly to form a
forward leg. The upper end of the forward leg turns backward to
form a horizontal member which is welded to the intersection
between the arm rest support and the rear leg at seat level.
A pair of tubes are secured between the two horizontal members at
the upper portions of the forward legs for serving the dual
function of securing the side delta leg supports together and
bracing the seat when it is in its lowered position and
occupied.
The seat is a deeply contoured plastic shell, rather like a tractor
seat, rising upwardly at the rear toward the back of the chair, and
it is provided with a tubular frame which is pivotally secured to
the one-piece tubular member, thereby permitting it to be
raised.
The back of the seat is also a plastic shell, and it is contoured
and secured to the wrap-around back frame formed from one-piece
tubular member. The rear surface of the back is formed into a
channel for receiving the wrap-around back support and it is
secured to it by means of tee nuts and bolts.
The contoured back and seat cooperate to provide a comfortable
support for a person, giving the impression of a deeply contoured
bucket seat. Yet the back and seat are separate members, and this
permits the seat to be raised while at the same time, permitting
slight flexure of the back as an occupant shifts his weight; and
this has been found to contribute to the comfort of the occupant.
The space between the upper rear portion of the seat and the back
permit "breathing" of the occupant's back during an extended period
of seating; and the wrap-around rear portion of the seat protects
the occupant from accidental kicking when the chairs are arranged
in tiered rows.
The floor runners are parallel from rear to front, but there is an
offset at the front whereby the front legs are located closer
together than rear legs. This permits stacking of the chairs by
placing the rear legs of an upper chair outside of the forward legs
of the lower chair, and the seat of an upper chair superimposed on
the seat of a lower chair in the stack.
Interlocking ganging devices are secured to the rear legs of each
chair in an out-of-the-way location, permitting adjacent chairs to
be interlocked to form a ganged row. The structure of the chairs
permits them to be ganged side-by-side in contacting relation so
that no additional row space is lost when they are connected
together. The floor runners, being parallel, contact the floor
runners of adjacent chairs when thus arranged; and this assists in
aligning the chairs in a straight row during set-up.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following detailed
description of a preferred embodiment accompanied by the attached
drawing wherein identical reference numerals will refer to like
parts in the various views.
THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a three-quarter frontal perspective view of a chair
constructed according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but from the other side and
with the seat raised;
FIG. 3 is a three-quarter rear perspective view of the inventive
chair;
FIG. 4 shows one method of stacking the chairs;
FIG. 5 shows how the inventive chairs may be stacked on a dolly for
transporting and storing them;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of several chairs in a row, illustrating how
they are connected together;
FIG. 7 is a rear view of a fragmentary back of a chair;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the back support
removed;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through the
sight line 9--9 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a tee nut used to hold the back
panel to the back support;
FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the seat pan with the front toward the
top of the drawing and with a portion of the tubular seat support
frame removed;
FIG. 12 is a side view of the seat pan as shown in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a partially broken away bottom view of the seat support
frame and its connection to the one-piece tubular chair frame
member;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of the
seat and its rear mounting, taken through the sight line 14--14 of
FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 is a fragmentary close-up view of the seat hinge
connection;
FIGS. 16 and 17 are plan and front elevational views respectively
of a chair constructed according to the present invention without a
rising seat;
FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view showing the attachment of the arm
rest of the chair of FIG. 16, taken through the sight line 18--18
therein;
FIG. 19 is an upper perspective view, taken from the side and
front, of the frame of the chair of FIG. 16;
FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the rear portion
of the seat; and
FIG. 21 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through the
sight line 21--21 of FIG. 20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the drawing, FIGS. 1-15 depict a stacking chair with independent
seat rise; and FIGS. 16-19 depict a similar chair, except that the
seat does not rise.
Referring now to FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 generally designates
a chair, and it includes a one-piece tubular frame member 21 with a
curved cross brace 22 (FIG. 2), a back panel shell 23, and a seat
panel 24 secured to a tubular seat frame support 25. The seat
support frame 25 is pivotally secured to the one-piece tubular
frame 21, in a manner disclosed more fully below, so that the seat
panel 24 may be selectively placed in either the lowered, occupied
position of FIG. 1 or the raised position of FIG. 2 which permits
an occupant to step backwardly into the chair to facilitate the
passage of another person down a row when the chairs are so
arranged.
The tubular frame member 21 is formed into a single piece by
joining together at the center of the chair back two complementary
side members forming mirror images. Starting from a location behind
the chair back 23, the tubular frame member 21 includes a curved
horizontal back portion 33 forming a wrap-around back support.
The wrap-around back support then leads into a horizontal right arm
rest 32 (FIG. 1) which extends forwardly for a substantial distance
to provide an extended arm rest for comfort. An arm rest pad 113
may be attached, as will be more fully discussed below. The tubular
frame member is then curved at the forward portion of the arm rest
32 and extends in a straight line downwardly and rearwardly to
provide an arm rest support 31 and a rear leg 30. The tube is
thence curved forwardly to provide a continuous floor runner 29.
The runner 29 extends directly forward, as best seen in FIG. 6.
Returning to FIG. 1, the forward portion of the runner 29 is curved
inwardly at 29a in an offset or S curve and thence upwardly and
rearwardly to provide an inclined front leg 28 which is spaced
inwardly of the plane formed by the rear leg 30 and runner 29 to
facilitate stacking as will be discussed. The upper portion of the
front leg 28 is then curved to provide a horizontal portion 27, to
which the right side (from the viewpoint of an occupant) of the
concave brace 22 is secured, as seen in FIG. 2. The back end of the
horizontal portion 27 is provided with a seat hinge, generally
designated 26.
The left side of the tubular frame member 21 is formed, as
mentioned, in complementary fashion to provide a left arm rest 35,
an arm rest support 36 and rear leg 37, a horizontal floor runner
38 (parallel with the runner 29), a left front leg 39, and a
horizontal portion 40 corresponding to the previously defined
horizontal portion 27 for securing the other end of the cross brace
22. The cross brace 22, comprising tubes 22a and 22b, serves not
only to connect the two side portions of the tubular frame member
21 together to form a rigid structure, but it also acts as a
supporting brace for the seat 24 when it is lowered as shown in
FIG. 1.
The back end of the horizontal portion 40 of the tubular frame
member 21 terminates at 41 (FIG. 3) where a left side hinge pin 42
is located for the pivotal mounting of the seat.
Turning now to FIGS. 11-13, the seat support frame 25 comprises a
tubular member 43 of square cross section and formed in the general
shape of a U with the lower, straightened portion 44 of the U
extending along and bracing the forward portion of the seat shell
24. The side portions of the U-shaped tubular seat frame member 43
are designated 45 and 46 respectively; and their distal ends are
welded to inwardly extending flanges 48c of Z-shaped hinge plates
47, 48 which are apertured (as at 48a in FIGS. 11 and 15) to
receive the seat hinge pins (see reference numeral 42 in FIG. 15).
A curved rear tube 49 is welded at its forward ends 51 to the
outwardly extending rear flange 48b of the plate. In other words,
the rear support 49 of the seat frame 25 is offset outwardly
relative to the forward side portion 46 of the U-shaped tubular
member 44; and this provides the dual functions of attachment to
the pivotal connection on the main chair frame, and of giving a
visual continuity between the visible curved member 49 and the
horizontal portions 27, 40 of the chair frame 21 when the seat is
lowered (see FIG. 2). It will be observed that the brackets 47, 48
are hidden from view except for the small edge of the flange 48b
and the corresponding flange on the bracket 47.
The pivotal attachment of the seat to the frame includes a pivot
plug 41 having a reduced section 41b which fits into the open end
of the horizontal tubular portion 40 of the frame. The head portion
41a of the plug 41 has an aperture for the hinge pin 42, and the
pin 42 also extends through an aperture in the center portion 48a
of the hinge plate 48. The hinge pin 42 is held in place by a
push-on nut cap 42b which has spurs on the inner surface to prevent
dislodgement.
Referring now particularly to FIG. 11, the bottom side of the
plastic shell seat panel 24 includes a channel-like structure 52
which is molded at the same time the seat panel is formed; and it
is located toward the front of the seat panel and receives the
straight connecting portion 44 of the U-shaped frame 43. That is,
the forward seat frame 43 fits into the side pocket formed by the
channel member 52. Inclined ribs 53, 54 extend outwardly from the
outer edges of the channel member 52; and they are straight
members, not forming a corresponding enclosing pocket. Spaced
inwardly from the inclined ribs 53, 54 are corresponding ribs 55,
56 respectively. The rear edges of these two latter inclined ribs
are integrally formed with parallel straight members 57, 58.
Another set of parallel ribs 59, 60 are spaced outwardly
respectively from the rib portions 57, 58. There are thus formed
two side slots for conforming to and receiving the portions 45, 46
of the U-shaped seat frame member 43, as best seen in FIG. 11.
Across the back of the seat panel 24, there is a continuous, long
curved rib 61 (FIGS. 11-14) that conforms to the shape of the rear
seat frame member 49 and rests on top of it. Located in front of
the curved rib 61 is a shorter, similarly curved rib 62 that
engages the forward surface of the tubular member 49.
FIG. 14 illustrates the manner in which the rear curved tube
supports the plastic seat panel 24. When the seat is raised, the
rib 61 rests against the side of the tube 49 while the rib 62 rests
on top of it, as seen in FIG. 14. When the seat is lowered for an
occupant, the rib 61 rests on top of the tube 49 while the forward
rib 62 is located in front of the tube, thereby preventing rearward
movement of the seat panel 24.
Adjacent either end of the curved rib 62 are bosses 63, 64 which
are provided with internal bores. Two small channel-shaped plates
65, 66 are welded to the side of the rear seat tube 49 adjacent the
shell, and each is provided with an aperture for receiving
self-threading sheet metal screws 67 which are threaded into the
bosses 63, 64 for securing the rear portion of the seat panel to
its frame 25. Cup-shaped collars 63a (FIGS. 20-21) are placed over
the ends of the bosses to prevent splitting of the bosses when the
parts are assembled.
As best seen in FIGS. 1-3 and 6, coupling devices 68 and 69 are
attached respectively to the rear legs 30 and 37 of the chair at a
relatively high location, just beneath the seat frame when it is
lowered.
The clip-like connector 68 on the right rear leg 30 is placed at a
location 45.degree. outwardly from the direct rearward position;
and it includes a hook portion 70 spaced outwardly from the leg for
receiving a similarly formed clip 69 on the leg 37. The clip 69 is
also located at a position of 45.degree. outwardly from a direct
rearward line, but it turns out and forms a downwardly extending
finger 71 spaced outwardly from the leg 37 which locks into the
upwardly extending corresponding hook of an adjacent chair.
As best seen in FIG. 6, from the rear, the chairs are ganged
together by lifting slightly, placing one chair along-side of
another to align the hook 68 with the finger 71 on the clip 69 and
then moving it downwardly into contacting, locking engagement, as
indicated by the arrow. That is to say, a chair 72 is connected to
the row of chairs 73 by elevating it, moving it to the left until
it contacts the adjacent chair 73, and then moving it down so that
the downwardly projecting finger 71 of clip 69 locks into the
upwardly projecting hook 70 of the next adjacent chair.
When the chairs are fully down, the adjacent runners 29, 38 engage
and straighten the row. Disassembly is accomplished by reversing
the motions just described; and it will be observed that when the
chairs are thus ganged in a row, there is no additional space
between adjacent chairs. Rather, the chairs are in actual physical
engagement along the rear legs, runners and arm rests. This is
important, for example, in that an auditorium manager knows that
the length of a row of connected chairs is simply a multiple of the
width of a single chair--no additional length is added to the
row.
Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, the curved plastic back panel is
provided on its rear surface with two horizontal ribs designated 75
and 76, spaced vertically apart to form a recess or channel 77 for
snugly receiving the wrap-around back support 33, 34. Two sets of
nibs 79 (FIG. 8) are located along the inside of this channel,
including nibs 80 extending downwardly from the upper rib 75 and
upwardly extending nibs 81 located on the lower rib 75. These nibs
are spaced away from the rear surface of the back panel to provide
slots 85, 86 to slidably receive end plates 83 of Tee-nuts 84. When
the nuts are thus received in the slots 85, 86, the nibs fit
tightly against the barrel 87 of the Tee-nuts to prevent any
vertical motion of the Tee-nuts. The distal end of the barrel 87 is
received in a hole 88 in the wrap-around back portion 34 of the
chair frame. The tube is pressed tightly against the outside
seating surfaces 88, 89 of the nibs 80, 81 respectively which are
curved to conform to the outer surface of the wrap-around tube 34.
An oval head machine screw 91 holds the tube 34 against the walls
89, 90 of the nibs 80, 81 and between the ribs 75, 76 of the back
panel 23. The Tee-nuts are free to slide sideways, as needed, to
align with the screws 91 as the screws are tightened to fasten the
back panel to the chair frame 21. It will be observed, and it is
considered an important feature of the present invention that after
a back panel is assembled to the wrap-around frame portions 33, 34
of the frame 21, a shearing force cannot be exerted on the
fastening bolts 91 because of the curvature of the wrap-around
portions 33, 34 and the corresponding curvature of the back panel.
In other words, if one were to place one hand at the top of the
back panel and another hand at the bottom and try to wiggle it back
and forth to disengage it from the seat frame 21, the resulting
forces would be borne by the seat frame 21, with a minimum amount
of shear induced on the fastening bolts 91.
Two ways of stacking the inventive chairs are shown respectively in
FIGS. 4 and 5. If it is desired to stack only a few chairs, they
may be superimposed as shown in FIG. 4 with the runners parallel to
the floor. It will be observed that the seat is in a lowered
position for stacking.
If it is desired to stack a larger number of chairs, for example
for transporting and storing them, a special stacking dolly
generally designated by reference numeral 92 in FIG. 5 is used to
form a vertical stack. In a preferred embodiment, the floor runners
form an angle of about 41.degree. when forming this type of stack.
A stack of the type shown in FIG. 5 will permit as many as 20
chairs with independent seat rise (25 chairs without the rising
seats) to be placed in a stable, vertical stack, while still
permitting the dolly and chairs to be wheeled through a normal door
(that is, the stack will be about 65 inches tall).
In either type of stacking, it will be observed that the upper
chair being stacked, designated 94, is placed onto a lower chair
from the front, by holding the chair at the forward curved portion
joining the arm rest with the arm rest support, as illustrated at
95 of FIG. 4. The upper chair is then nested with the lower chair
so that the rear legs and floor runners of an upper chair pass
outside the forward legs of all lower chairs in the stack. During
stacking, the rear legs 96 of an upper chair 94 are placed against
and slid downwardly along the stationary rear legs 97 of the lower
chair 98; and when two chairs are fully assembled together in a
stack, their associated rear legs and arm rest supports are
normally contacting each other.
The stacking dolly 92 includes a rectangular platform 99 formed of
angle iron, supported by four swivel casters 100. Two upright posts
101 support the chairs at the junction 102 of their arm rests 103
and arm rest supports 104. Curved pockets 105 are provided on the
outside of the angle irons forming the side of the frame 99, for
receiving the curved junction between the runners and the rear legs
of the chairs. A cross tube, shown in phantom at 107, is connected
between the uprights 101 for stability and strength.
Referring again to FIG. 3, one of the advantages of having a back
panel 111 separate from the seat panel 112 is that when an occupant
shifts his weight or is seated, a slight flexing of the back panel
is permitted without movement of the associated seat panel 112, as
illustrated by the dashed lines showing the back panel 111 bending
at the curve 109 between the arm rest 108 and the arm rest support.
It will also be observed that the tractor-seat shape of the seat
panel 112, wrapping around the seat of an occupant and extending
substantially up the spinal region, affords protection of an
occupant from accidental kicks by a person sitting in a row behind
him, particularly when the chairs are arranged in tiered rows.
The chair 20 may be fitted with arm rest pads 113, 114, which are
designed so that their sides 115 do not protrude beyond the frame
21 to avoid interference with the ganging of adjacent chairs. The
pads 113, 114 project inwardly as at 116 only a short distance so
that they are not in the way when the seat 24 is raised (for the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-15). They terminate in the rear denoted 117
in a curved taper behind the chair back panel 23, again, to avoid
interference with ganging or stacking.
It will be observed, that it is considered an important feature of
the invention, that the design of the frame provides arm rests 32,
35 while not adding to the width of the chair. Further, the
provision of the pads 113, 114 do not add to the width of the
chair. Thus, the chairs may be ganged side-by-side without adding
to the length of the aisle, see FIGS. 6, 16 and 17.
Two or more Tee-nuts 118 are molded in the plastic arm rest pads
which fit into holes 119 in the upper surface of the chair frame
tubular arm rests designated 120 in FIG. 18; and they are held in
place by an oval head screw 121, for each Tee-nut, inserted through
a hole 122 in the lower surface of the tube 120 and threaded
securely into the Tee-nut 118.
FIG. 19 shows a chair frame 123 for a chair with a rigid seat. The
frame is made in three parts, the right half 124, left half 125 and
the seat frame 126, which is welded in place.
Each frame half is bent from the center of the back panel support
127 similar to the previously described frame to the middle of the
rear seat support 128. First the curve of the back is made 129R and
129L, then the straight portion for the arm rest 130R and 130L, a
sharp curve 131R and 131L at the front, a long straight length for
the rear leg and arm rest support 132R and 132L, another sharp
curve at the floor 133R and 133L, a flat straight portion along the
floor 134R and 134L, a sharp offset curve (an S curve) 135R and
135L, another sharp curve at the front 135R and 136L, a shorter
straight length for the front leg 137R and 137L, a wrap-around
curve at the seat height 138R and 138L; a very short straight
portion along the side of the seat 139R and 139L, and finally a
curved portion for the rear seat support 140R and 140L, ending at
128. A short plug is inserted into the tube ends before the two
holes are welded together.
The seat frame 126 consists of a U-shaped piece of round tubing 141
and a cross tube of square tubing 142 that is concave to fit under
the bucket portion of the plastic seat panel 24, forming a large
A-shaped frame (when viewed from above and behind the chair). This
frame is welded rigidly onto the chair frame on both sides 143R and
143L.
There are two short channels 144 welded to the underside of the
rear seat support frame 140R and 140L so screws 67 may be inserted
through holes and tightened into bosses 63 on the lower surface of
the seat panel 24.
The seat panels 24, the back panels 23, and the arm rests 113 and
114 are the same for both types of chairs, i.e., the rising seat
type and the rigid seat type.
Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiment of the
inventive chair, it will be appreciated that persons skilled in the
art will be able to modify certain of the structure which has been
illustrated and to substitute equivalent elements for those
disclosed while continuing to practice the principle of the
invention, and it is, therefore, intended that all such
modifications and substitutions be covered as they are embraced
within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *