Detachable Components For A Chair

Abstract

A chair which includes a base having guide pins extending upwardly. A seat includes apertures therein which slip over the guiding pins in the base so as to position the seat on the base. A backrest is provided which has a ratchet projection for engaging a releasable latch in the seat. Arms for the chair are hollowed to contain clamping devices for clamping the armrest to the seat. Assembly and disassembly of the aforementioned components can be performed manually, without the aid of tools.

Description

The present invention relates to knockdown seating furniture.

The prior art includes a wide variety of knockdown furniture which include component parts that can be assembled by placing the components together and fastening them together by means of hardware. However, in order to assemble such furniture, special tools are necessary and the process is time consuming. Also, a certain amount of skill is required.

Certain of the prior art devices utilize the knockdown feature to disassemble covered components when reupholstery is necessary. Generally, hooks and other mechanical fasteners retain the covering material around the components so that opening of sewn seams and resewing are unnecessary. However, it has been found that use of mechanical fasteners such as hooks causes an uneven stretching of the fabric which makes it obvious that the reupholstering job is other than professionally done.

The present invention is a true knockdown furniture unit. The armrests, backrest, seat base and leg base come completely apart. Means for clamping the component parts of the furniture together are enclosed within the hollowed armrests and are completely hidden when the furniture is assembled. The outer upholstery material is retained in place by utilization of "Velcro" strips which are completely hidden when the furniture is assembled.

The present invention can be completely upholstered by practically anyone within 30 minutes without the use of any particular skills or tools of any kind. The disclosed chair comes apart by simply pushing a spring-loaded device at the back of the seat base. This instantly releases the backrest, the armrests, and the seat from the leg base. By lifting the backrest up, the armrests are free to be removed. The seat base is then lifted from the leg base. If reupholstering is required, the old covering material is removed by simply pulling on the "Velcro" fastening strips and replacing the upholstering material with new covers also provided with the "Velcro" strips. After reupholstering, a professional clean appearance is realized.

The armrests, seat base and the backrest are prepadded in foam rubber or other padding material. The padding is then covered in white muslin or other suitable covering. This covering is treated with silicone spray so as to reduce friction when removing or replacing new upholstery covers.

Accordingly, the present invention offers the consumer the advantage of being able to reupholster his own furniture, quickly, efficiently, in a minimum amount of time, and without the use of tools.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the components of an assembled chair.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the clamping mechanism of the present invention in an open condition to allow removal or disassembly of the chair components.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating in detail a portion of the clamping mechanism utilized in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 5--5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a latching mechanism employed to retain the backrest of the chair into engagement with the seat.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane passing through section line 7--7 of FIG. 6 illustrating the latching action of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of upholstery material covering an armrest.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, reference numeral 10 generally denotes the seating furniture of the present invention, illustrated in the Figure as a chair. However, it will be appreciated that the construction of this furniture can be in the form of a sofa. The components of the chair include a polygonal leg assembly 12 having a solid leg base 14 connected to upper portions of the leg assembly 12 by means of suitable fastener pins 16 and 17 which also serve as guiding means for the seat and armrests as hereinafter explained. Viewing FIG. 1, 16 denotes the forward pin while reference numeral 17 denotes the rearwardly disposed pins. A covered seat 18 having a peripheral frame 20 is adapted to be placed upon the leg base 14. The lateral sides of the seat frame 20 extend outward to serve as flanges in which two spaced apertures 22 are formed in registry with associated pins 16 and 17 so that the seat may be lowered onto the leg base 14 while the pins retain the seat in position as the pins pass through the apertures.

The chair is provided with a backrest 24 which is upholstered and includes a projecting rod 26 from the lower edge thereof which engages the seat 18 and is connected thereto by latching means to be discussed hereinafter. Two laterally spaced and parallel upholstered armrests 28 include a hollow interior which houses a clamping device for forcing the armrests into clamping engagement with the seat 18 which in turn causes clamping engagement between the seat and the leg base 14 to form a tightly connected unit.

The reader's attention is directed to FIG. 7 which particularly illustrates the rod 26 which projects outward from the chair backrest. In the ensuing discussion, the construction of the present chair will be explained and illustrated without reference to the upholstery material so that the mechanical feature can become more apparent and readily understood. Thus, in FIG. 7 the backrest frame 30 mounts the projecting rod 26 through a mounting plate 33. The rear portion of the overlying seat frame 20 and leg base 14 have an angularly formed bore 32 therein to permit receiving passage of the projecting rod 26.

A ratchet surface 34 is formed in the projecting rod 26 and serves to engage a latch as hereinafter explained. A rectangular recess 36 is formed in the frame 20 for accommodating a metal plate 38 therein. The plate includes a horizontally formed bore 40 communicating at an intersection with the previously mentioned bore 32. The bore 40 accommodates a wedge-shaped latch 42 which is disposed so that it engages the ratchet surface 34 of the projecting rod 26. A second bore 44 is formed in parallel spaced relation to the aforementioned bore 40 and still another bore 46 is formed perpendicularly to the bores 40 and 44 so as to cause communication therebetween. The latter mentioned bore 46 receives a setscrew 48 or similar projecting member which is attached at an opposite end thereof to the latch 42. A coil spring 50 is positioned in the bore 44, rearward of the projecting member 48. The rearward disposed opening to bore 44 threadingly receives a setscrew 52 which retains the coil spring 50 is biasing position against the projecting member 48 so as to normally cause the latch 42 in engagement with the ratchet surface 34 of the projecting rod 26. The engagement between the latch and the rod maintains the backrest frame 30 in connected relation to the seat frame, as seen in FIG. 7.

In order to release this engagement, a lever handle 54 is flush mounted within recess 56 formed along the rearward edge of the seat frame 20. One end of the lever arm 54 is pivotally mounted to the latch 42 at a pivot connection 58. An intermediate portion of the lever arm 54 includes a cam projection 60 which abuts against the confronting surface of the previously mentioned metal plate 38. Thus, by manually pushing the lever arm 64 inwardly into the slot, the cam 60 engages the metal plate 38 and forces the latch 42 outwardly via the pivoted connection 58. Once this occurs, the latch 42 is free from the projecting rod 26 thereby allowing the lifting of the backrest frame 30. It should be mentioned that in the finished chair, the seat is completely covered so that the lever arm 54 is hidden from view. The connected relationship between the backrest frame 30 and the seat frame 20 will be appreciated by viewing FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the removal of projecting rod 26 from the seat frame is generally indicated by reference numeral 64.

Referring to FIG. 2, an armrest frame 68 is illustrated in the assembled position. This frame supports the upholstered covering for the armrest 28 as seen in FIG. 1. Within the frame, a clamp device generally denoted by 66 is seen in its operative position connecting the backrest frame 30 to the armrest frame 68. The clamping device further causes clamping action between the armrest frame 68 and the seat frame 20 which in turn transmits the clamping action to the leg base 14 thereby maintaining the components of the chair in tight contact. The clamping device 66 includes a bracket 78 in the form of an inverted U-shaped plate which is secured to the lateral edge of the backrest frame 30. An elongated bar 82 is normally disposed in angularly inclining relation between the backrest frame 30 and the forward portion of the armrest frame. The back end of the bar 82 mounts a roller suitably connected thereto and indicated by 80 which normally engages an inverted U-shaped notch in bracket 78. The roller includes a peripheral groove which engages the edge of the U-shaped plate to form a wheel-track relation. The connection of the opposite bar end is seen with particularity in FIG. 4 to articulate to a bifurcated element 84 connected in an offset fashion. The lower end portion of bar 84 is connected through a pivot mount 86 to a sliding bar 88 which is in turn received within a journal block 90. The journal block is fitted to an angle bracket 92, the latter being attached to the armrest frame 68. Apertures 94 are formed in the angle iron 92 so that attachment to the armrest frame can be effected.

Referring to FIG. 5, the interior of the sliding bar 88 is seen to house an elongated bar 87 having a right-angle opening or slot communicating with an intermediate portion of the elongated bore 87. This opening communicates with a bore 89 formed in the journal block 90 which communicates in a perpendicular manner with the elongated bore 87. A setscrew 91 is threadingly received within bore 89 and serves as a limit stop for one end of a coil spring 93 disposed in the rearward section of the bore 87. A setscrew 95 is threadingly inserted in the outward end of the bore 87 to form a limit stop for the oppositely disposed end of the coil spring 93. Thus, the coil spring 93 normally biases the sliding member 88 away from pin 16 so that when bar 82 is freed, the bifurcated element 84 automatically frees itself from engagement with the pin 16, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The means for freeing the arm 82 will be explained hereinafter.

The structure of the guide pins 16 and 17 is clearly shown in FIG. 5 to include a hemispherical head 96 extending to a stepdown cylindrical neck portion 98, which in turn extends downwardly to a frustoconical shoulder 100, which in turn extends to a cylindrical main body portion 102. The lower end of the pin is threaded, as indicated by 104 in FIG. 2, to permit anchoring of the pin in the leg assembly 12. A collar 106 having a downwardly tapering interior surface is disposed in concentric relation with the cylindrical section 102 of the pins. The collar 106 is fastened to the upper surface of angle iron 92. The collar 106 serves to aid placement of the armrests onto the seat frame during assembly of the unit.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the elongated bar 82 is shown in the operative position. In order to maintain engagement of the bar ends with the bracket 78 and the guide pin 16, a torsion spring 108 is connected between an intermediate point on bar 82 and an oppositely disposed portion of the angle iron 92. Also, the spring serves to clamp the armrest in abutment with the seat frame 20 which in turn transfers this clamping action to the leg base 14.

In order to restrict bar 82 within a range of displacement, a projection 110 is connected to an intermediate point along the length of the bar and an angle iron 112 is disposed vertically between oppositely disposed parallel braces above the armrest frame 68. The projection 110 is adapted to contact the angle iron 112 thereby restricting the displacement of bar 82 from the operative position shown in FIG. 2 to the unlocked or loosened position shown in FIG. 3.

At the rearward bar end, the first end of a second torsion spring 118 is disposed adjacent the roller 80. The opposite end of the torsion spring is connected to a hooklike lever 114 pivotally connected to a block 116, the latter being fastened to the angle iron 92. The hook end of the lever 114 engages the head of the rearwardly disposed guide pin 17, as seen in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3, it becomes evident that with the backrest frame 30 lifted from the unit, as hereinbefore explained, the torsion springs 108 and 118 cause upward pivotal displacement of bar 82 so that the bifurcated end of the bar 84 becomes free of its guide pin 16. At the opposite end of the bar, upward bar displacement causes the downward and outward movement of the hook end of lever 114 from its previously engaged position with associated guide pin 17. With the bar in the position shown in FIG. 3, the illustrated armrest support is simply lifted upward until free of the seat frame 20. Of course, it should be understood that a separate clamping device 66 is included within the other armrest frame so that it becomes removable in the same manner.

After removal of the backrest and armrest, as seen in FIG. 1, the frame 20 is merely lifted upward until the apertures 22 are free of the guide pins 16 and 17. With the component parts of the chair removed, the upholstery may be changed with ease. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upholstery material is placed over the respective seat components which can include foam padding covered by white muslin, or the like. Other types of padding may be used. The cover for a particular component, such as seen in FIG. 8 includes a removable panel 119 which has a peripheral "Velcro" strip 122 along the interior surface thereof which mates with an associated "Velcro" strip 120, the latter being on the main body of the upholstery cover. In order to remove the upholstering cover from a component part of the chair, the panel 119 is displaced followed by the removal of the remaining cover. Utilization of a silicone spray over the surface of the muslin will facilitate removal and recovering of an upholstery cover. After removal of the old upholstery, a new cover having the same structure as the old is simply and efficiently placed on the muslin covered component.

Referring to FIG. 2, the rearward portion of the upper armrest frame brace is angled downwardly at a 45.degree. angle as indicated by 121. An associated corner of the armrest includes a 45.degree. cutaway in the padding (not shown) to conform with this armrest frame portion. The angular armrest portion is compressible to make it easier to slip an upholstery cover onto the padded armrest frame.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with first and second structural members and a base, a clamping assembly for releasably connecting said structural members and base together, the assembly comprising a bracket attached to said first member, said second member having apertures therein, guide pins secured to said base and passing through the apertures, a bar, a first end of the bar normally engaging the bracket, a second end of the bar normally engaging a first guide pin, means pivotally mounting the bar in slidable relation to the second member to facilitate preselected disengagement between the second bar end and the first guide pin, a lever pivotally connected to said second structural member for normally engaging a second guide pin, and spring means connected between the bar and the lever for normally biasing the lever to interlocking engagement with the second guide pin and biasing the first bar end into engagement with the bracket thereby completing a releasable connection between the first and second structural members, upward displacement of the first structural member causing release of the first and second bar ends from the bracket and first guide pins, respectively, permitting upward removal of the second structural member from the guide pins.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a third member provided with apertured portions disposed between said base and second members and through which said pins also extend.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first and second members are disposed at generally right angles relative to each other, said third member being disposed at generally right angles relative to said first and second members.

4. In combination with first, second, third and fourth members, said first, second and third members being advanceable in generally the same direction toward assembly with said fourth member, said fourth member including pins projecting therefrom in the opposite direction and said second and third members including corresponding aligned apertures through which said pins are projectable upon assembly of said second and third members with said fourth member and with the apertured portions of said third member sandwiched between the apertured portions of said second member and the portions of said fourth member disposed about the base ends of said pins, said first member and third member including coacting means operative to automatically releasably secure said first member to said third member upon movement of the first member in said direction toward assembled position relative to said second, third and fourth members, and said second member including latching means actuatable to releasably engage said pins and clamp said second member, and thus said sandwiched third member, to said fourth member, said latching means including an actuator portion operable to actuate said latching means and actuatable by said first member upon movement of the latter in said direction toward a position releasably secured to said third member.