U.S. patent number 3,656,808 [Application Number 05/044,699] was granted by the patent office on 1972-04-18 for chair.
Invention is credited to Ching-Yu Chang.
United States Patent |
3,656,808 |
Chang |
April 18, 1972 |
CHAIR
Abstract
A chair characterized by a frame structure formed by a single
frame member having a continuously curved shape. The frame member
includes an arcuate planar floor engaging portion, an arcuate
inclined riser portion, and an inclined arcuate seat support
portion. A seat is suspended from the frame seat support portion
and may be fabricated of flexible material such as fabric, or may
be of a rigid material such as molded plastic.
Inventors: |
Chang; Ching-Yu (Havertown,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
21933839 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/044,699 |
Filed: |
June 9, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/451.4;
D6/375; 297/DIG.11; 297/285; 297/451.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
5/06 (20130101); Y10S 297/11 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
5/00 (20060101); A47C 5/06 (20060101); A47c
001/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/445,294,295,307,285,457 ;D15/1,1.2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gay; Bobby R.
Assistant Examiner: Moore; Garry
Claims
I claim:
1. A chair frame, comprising a generally helical single
continuously curved rod-like member having a planar lowermost
arcuate portion having a uniform radius of curvature adapted to
rest upon a floor to support said member, and having an uppermost
planar arcuate seat support portion having a uniform radius of
curvature inclined to the plane of said lowermost arcuate
portion.
2. A chair comprising a frame, and a seat, said frame comprising a
single continuously curved rod-like frame member, said frame member
including a horizontal arcuate planar floor engaging portion having
a uniform radius of curvature, a planar arcuate riser portion
having a uniform radius of curvature extending from one end of said
floor engaging portion, the plane of said riser portion being
inclined at an acute angle to that of said floor engaging portion,
and a planar arcuate seat support portion having a uniform radius
of curvature extending from the upper end of said riser portion,
the plane of said seat support portion being inclined at an acute
angle with respect to that of said floor engaging portion, the
transitions between said adjoining frame portions comprising
smoothly curved continuations of the arcs of said respective
portions, said seat being peripherally supported by said arcuate
seat support portion.
3. A chair frame comprising a single continuously curved rod-like
frame member, said frame member including a horizontal arcuate
planar floor engaging portion having a uniform radius of curvature,
a planar arcuate riser portion having a uniform radius of curvature
extending from one end of said floor engaging portion, the plane of
said riser portion being inclined at an acute angle to that of said
floor engaging portion, and a planar arcuate seat support portion
having a uniform radius of curvature extending from the upper end
of said riser portion, the plane of said seat support portion being
inclined at an acute angle to that of said floor engaging portion,
the transitions between said adjoining frame portions comprising
smoothly curved continuations of the arcs of said respective
portions.
4. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transition
between said riser portion and said seat support portion is
centered at the front of the chair.
5. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the planes of each
of said planar floor engaging, riser and seat support portions are
perpendicular to a reference plane passing vertically through the
chair frame along the front-to-rear axis thereof.
6. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the radii of the
arcuate frame portions are substantially equal.
7. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein said frame member is
formed of a single metal rod.
8. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein said frame member is
formed of a metal tube.
9. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the arcuate extent
of said floor engaging portion comprises approximately 215.degree.
, the arcuate extent of said riser portion comprises approximately
180.degree. , and the arcuate extent of said seat supporting
portion comprises approximately 325.degree. .
10. A chair frame as claimed in claim 6, the transition between
said floor engaging portion and said riser portion being centered
at the rear of the chair.
11. A chair frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein said floor engaging
portion extends beneath the front edge of said seat support
portion.
Description
The present invention relates generally to chairs and more
particularly to a novel chair structure comprising a frame formed
by a single rod-like frame member.
Chairs have in the past been constructed of rods or tubes which are
bent and joined in various configurations to provide leg, seat and
back elements. Such arrangements have, however, for the most part
been relatively complex structures which are difficult and
expensive to fabricate and which require the welding or other
connection of joints during assembly. In addition, many designs of
this type are strictly utilitarian in concept and lack aesthetic
appeal.
In the present invention, the chair structure is characterized by a
frame which is formed of a single rod-like element having a
continuously curved configuration. The chair frame has no joints
and thus requires no assembly steps. The frame can be made without
the usual large investment in jigs, dies and related rools. While
functional in concept, the chair frame nevertheless produces an
attractive, graceful, free-flowing appearance in view of its
continuously curved single frame member.
In brief, the present chair includes a frame comprising a single
continuously curved rod-like frame member which is formed to
provide an arcuate planar floor engaging portion, an arcuate
ascending riser portion, and an inclined arcuate seat support
portion. A chair seat is suspended from the seat support portion.
The several frame portions have substantially similar radii and are
joined in smoothly curved transitions.
It is accordingly a first object of the present invention to
provide a chair structure having a chair frame formed of a single
continuously curved rod-like frame member.
A further object of the invention is to provide a chair structure
as described wherein the frame thereof is free of joints or
connectors and may be readily and inexpensively fabricated.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a chair
structure having a novel chair frame which provides a resilient
support of the chair seat.
Another object of the invention is to provide a chair structure as
described which has an attractive modern appearance and which can
be decoratively and comfortably employed for interior or exterior
seating purposes.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be more
readily apparent from the following detailed description of an
embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a chair embodying the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the chair of FIG. 1 with the seat thereof
partly broken away to show details of the frame member;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chair of FIG. 1 with the
seat partly broken away;
FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the chair of FIGS. 1-5.
Referring to the drawings, the chair generally designated 10
embodying the present invention includes a frame 11 comprising a
single continuously curving generally helical frame member 12, and
a seat 14 carried thereby. The frame member 12, which may be formed
from a metal rod as illustrated or any other suitable rod-like
element, includes an arcuate planar floor engaging portion 16, an
arcuate riser portion 18 ascending therefrom, and an arcuate seat
support portion 20. The three arcuate frame portions have a similar
radius, and each curves smoothly into the adjacent portion.
In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the frame
portions are each less than 360.degree. in angular extent. The
floor engaging portion 16 as seen in FIG. 5 extends from the lower
frame member end 22 to the transition 24 with the riser portion 18
through approximately 215.degree.. The transition 24 is preferably
at the rear center of the frame as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, which
places the end 22 off to one side of the seat. The floor engaging
portion should extend beneath the front edge of the seat support
portion to provide the necessary chair stability.
The riser portion extends from the transition 24 to a transition 26
with the seat support portion through approximately 180.degree. .
The seat support portion 20 forms nearly a complete circle, having
an angular extent of approximately 325.degree. between the
transition 26 and the upper frame end 28. The suggested angular
extent of the various frame portions describe a preferred
embodiment of the invention and it should be understood that these
angles may be varied within the scope of the invention.
Although the riser portion 18 in the illustrated embodiment is
shown as a planar arcuate portion of the frame, the riser portion
may alternatively be of a helical shape. The angle .alpha. shown in
FIG. 1 between the riser portion and the floor engaging portion is
preferably less than 45.degree. and as illustrated is 23.degree.
although this angle can be varied depending on the height of the
seat desired. Similarly, the angle .beta. which the seat supporting
portion 20 makes with the horizontal is preferably less than
45.degree. and in the preferred form of the invention is 30.degree.
. The angle .beta. is preferably greater than the angle .alpha.
.
The seat 14 in the illustrated embodiment is formed of a molded
plastic and includes a generally oval shaped relatively flat bottom
portion 30 and a smoothly curved back portion 32 extending upwardly
and outwardly therefrom. A U-shaped peripheral flange 34 defines
the outer edge of the seat and is formed to fit over the seat
supporting portion 20 of the frame 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6,
the frame transition 26 and the upper end 28 of the frame are
concealed beneath the seat flange.
The seat 14 could alternately be made of a fabric and could be
attached to the seat support portion of the frame either by sewing,
lacing, hooks, zipper or any other suitable means of attachment.
The shape of the seat and the means of attachment of the seat to
the frame can thus be varied as desired.
In the illustrated embodiment, the arcuate chair frame curves
upwardly from the floor in a counterclockwise direction. The frame
may obviously be reversed in direction and curve upwardly clockwise
with equally effective results. In such a case, the riser portion
and the end 22 will be on the right hand side of the chair, keeping
the transition 24 at the rear center of the chair.
The radius of the arcuate frame portions may differ somewhat as is
illustrated in the present embodiment wherein the radius of the
riser portion 18 is slightly larger than that of the floor engaging
portion 16 in order to support the front edge of the seat over the
front of the floor engaging portion. It may, for example, be
desireable to make the radius of the chair support portion smaller
than that of the floor engaging portion, although in the
illustrated embodiment these portions have the same radius.
Because of the configuration of the frame member, the chair will
have a certain resilient character, the amount of spring of the
frame depending on the size and characteristics of the material
from which the frame is fabricated. Although a metal rod is
illustrated in the drawings, a steel pipe, for example 1 inch OD
with a wall thickness of one-sixteenth inch to one-eighth inch,
would alternately be a suitable material for the frame member and
can be easily formed to the necessary shape without elaborate
equipment. Conventional bending tools and techniques may be
employed to form the frame in a single step operation. A radius of
approximately 18 inches for the arcuate frame portions and a seat
height of 15-18 inches are preferred dimensions but may of course
be varied as desired.
The term "rod-like" as used in describing the frame member is
considered to include either solid or hollow elongated structural
elements which may have any desired cross sectional configuration.
While a metal rod or tube would be the most obvious choice
considering strength and cost, other materials could also be used
such as plastics.
The absence of any joints or connectors in the chair frame greatly
simplifies the expense and time required to manufacture the frame.
The present construction further assures a practically unlimited
life of the chair frame since accidental breakage, loosening of
joints, or weakening of the frame is virtually impossible.
Manifestly, changes in details of construction can be effected by
those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the
scope of the invention as defined in and limited solely by the
appended claims.
* * * * *