U.S. patent number 3,774,960 [Application Number 05/264,499] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-27 for stacking chair.
Invention is credited to Leif Blodee.
United States Patent |
3,774,960 |
Blodee |
November 27, 1973 |
STACKING CHAIR
Abstract
A stacking chair comprising a sheetform seat and back member in
one or more pieces, a base member comprising two leg members in the
form of a tube or rod which are substantial mirror images of each
other and each of which has an upper generally horizontal and
rearward reach, a forward generally vertical reach, and a forward
angularly outwardly extending reach terminating in a generally
horizontal rearward reach constituting a floor-engaging portion of
the leg member, a central recess being provided at the forward edge
of the seat portion of said chair having dimensions suitable to
receive the generally vertical reach of the base member of an
identical stacking chair, the stacking height of the leg members
and thickness of the seat portion of the sheetform seat and back
member enabling close vertical nesting of a plurality of identical
chairs upon stacking, at least at some point on said reaches.
Inventors: |
Blodee; Leif (Holland, MI) |
Family
ID: |
23006324 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/264,499 |
Filed: |
June 20, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/239; D6/366;
D6/372; D6/380; 297/451.7; 297/451.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
7/405 (20130101); A47C 3/04 (20130101); A47C
7/024 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
3/04 (20060101); A47C 3/00 (20060101); A47c
003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/239,294,295,445,452,447 ;108/150,91 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
503,149 |
|
May 1951 |
|
BE |
|
1,090,408 |
|
Oct 1960 |
|
DT |
|
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Claims
I claim:
1. A stacking chair comprising a sheetform seat and back member and
a base member comprising two leg members in the form of a tube or
rod, said leg members being substantial mirror images of each other
and each having an upper generally horizontal and rearward reach, a
forward generally vertical reach, and a forward angularly outwardly
extending reach terminating in a generally rearward reach
constituting the floor-engaging portion of said leg member, said
mirror image leg members being secured together at their upper
generally horizontal reaches and including a laterally extending
seat support member extending therefrom, said seat support member
being secured to a seat portion of said sheetform seat and back
member, a central recess being provided at the forward edge of the
seat portion of said chair having dimensions suitable to receive
therein the generally vertical reach of the base member of an
identical stacking chair, the generally horizontal floor-engaging
reaches of said leg members and said angularly outwardly extending
reaches of said leg members being adapted to engage and support
identical reaches of said identical stacking chair upon stacking,
at least at some point on said reaches.
2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the seat
member includes bumper means for compensation for difference
between the stacking height of said leg members and the thickness
of the seat portion of said sheetform member per se.
3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said leg members are also
secured to each other at their generally vertical reaches.
4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said sheetform seat and back
member comprises two identical members positioned at opposite sides
of the upper horizontal reach of said base member and secured to
seat support members.
5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said sheetform seat and back
members are also secured together at the back portions thereof.
6. The combination of claim 4, wherein said seat and back members
are slightly pitched inwardly toward the upper horizontal and
rearward reach of said base member and toward the space between
their respective back portions.
7. The combination of claim 4, wherein said seat and back members
are secured to said base member by seat support means extending
into apertures provided in the seat portions thereof for receiving
said seat support members.
8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said support members are
secured in said apertures by external fastening means.
9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said external fastening
means also retain bumper means at the bottom surface of the seat
portions of said seat and back members.
10. The combination of claim 1, wherein said forward outwardly
angled reaches of said leg members also include at the lower
portions thereof a generally horizontal reach which terminates in
said generally horizontal rearward floor-engaging reach to minimize
stacking height of the leg members.
11. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lateral dimension
between the two rearwardly extending floor-engaging reaches of the
base member is in excess of the maximum lateral dimension of the
seat portion of the chair.
12. A stacking chair comprising a sheetform seat and back member
and a base member comprising two leg members in the form of a tube
or rod, said leg members being substantial mirror images of each
other and each having an upper generally horizontal and rearward
reach, a forward generally vertical reach, and a forward angularly
outwardly extending reach terminating in a generally rearward reach
constituting the floor-engaging portion of said leg member, said
mirror image leg members being secured together at their upper
generally horizontal reaches and including a laterally extending
seat support member extending therefrom, said seat support member
being secured to a seat portion of said sheetform seat and back
member, a central recess being provided at the forward edge of the
seat portion of said chair having dimensions suitable to receive
therein the generally vertical reach of the base member of an
identical stacking chair, the stacking height of said leg members
corresponding to a thickness of said seat portion of said sheetform
seat and back member to enable close nesting of a plurality of
identical chairs and support thereof upon stacking.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
Seating; especially stacking chairs.
2. Prior Art
Stacking chairs in many versions are to be found in the prior art.
Many such stacking chairs are fully satisfactory for the purposes
for which intended. However, to accomplish efficient stacking,
appearance and comfort is frequently sacrificed. Conversely, when
it is attempted to retain appearance and comfort, few
satisfactorily stacking charis are available. The present invention
has as its object to provide a chair which stacks efficiently and
in sufficient numbers to be an effective stacking chair for
purposes of conserving floor space when not required for actual
use, but yet at the same time to provide adequate comfort, economy,
and an attractive appearance to the chair as a whole. In fact, the
present invention relates to an entirely new concept in stacking
chairs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stacking chair comprising a
sheetform seat and back member and a base member comprising two leg
members in the form of a tube or rod, said leg members being
substantial mirror images of each other and each having an upper
generally horizontal and rearward reach, a forward generally
vertical reach, and a forward angularly outwardly extending reach
terminating in a generally horizontal rearward reach constituting a
floor-engaging portion of said leg member. Said mirror image leg
members are secured together at their upper reaches and include
laterally extending seat support members which are secured to a
seat portion of said sheetform seat and back member. A central
recess is provided at the forward edge of the seat portion of said
chair having dimensions suitable for receiving therein the
generally vertical reach of the base member of an identical
stacking chair. The generally horizontal floor-engaging reaches of
said leg members and said angularly outwardly extending reaches of
said leg members are adapted to engage and support identical
stacking chairs upon stacking, at least at some point on said
reaches. The stacking height of the leg members corresponds to a
thickness of the seat portion of said chair to enable close nesting
of a plurality of identical chairs and support thereof upon
stacking.
In one embodiment, the thickness of the seat member includes bumper
means for compensating for difference between the stacking height
of said leg members and the thickness of the seat portion of the
sheetform seat and back member per se. In another embodiment, the
leg members are also secured to each other at their generally
vertical reaches. In a preferred embodiment, said sheetform seat
and back member comprises two identical members positioned at
opposite sides of the upper horizontal reach of said base member
and secured to seat support members. In a further embodiment, such
two identical seat and back members are also secured together at
the back portions thereof. In another embodiment, the seat and back
members are slightly pitched inwardly toward the upper horizontal
and rearward reach of the base member and toward the space between
their respective back portions. In a further preferred combination,
the outwardly angled reaches of the leg members also include at the
lower portions thereof a forward generally horizontal reach which
terminates in said generally horizontal rearward floor-engaging
reach, which embodiment has the function of minimizing stacking
height of the leg members. In additional embodiments, the seat and
back members may be secured to the base member by seat support
means extending into apertures provided in the seat portions
thereof for receiving said seat support members, which support
members may be secured in said apertures by external fastening
means, which external fastening means may also be employed to
secured bumper means at the bottom surface of the seat portions of
said seat and back members.
OBJECTS
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and
attractive stacking chair having all of the characteristics and
advantages mentioned in the foregoing. It is another object of the
invention to provide an attractive and comfortable chair which can
be stacked conveniently and which provides and entirely novel
concept in the area of stacking chairs. Additional objects will
become apparent hereinafter and still other objects will be
apparent to one skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a stacking chair according to the
invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the line B--B of the back
section of the chair of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line A--A of the seat
portion of the chair of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the base of the chair shown in FIG. 1
showing the complimentary leg members and attached seat support
members before assembly of the chair.
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the mirror-image leg
members used in constructing the base member of the chair of FIG.
1.
FIG. 6 is a detail of a seat-support member showing its attachment
to the base member of the chair of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a detail of the seat portion of the chair of FIG. 1,
partially in section, partially exploded, showing the manner of
attachment of the seat-support member to the seat portion of the
chair of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8-A is a detail view of a section through the seat portion of
a chair of FIG. 1 along the sectional line shown in FIG. 7 when a
plurality of such chairs are arranged in stacked position with
bumpers attached to the bottom surfaces of the seat portions
thereof.
FIG. 8-B is the same as FIG. 8-A but for an embodiment in which the
thickness of the seat is sufficient that bumpers are not
required.
FIG. 9 is a detail of the indicated portion E of the base member
shown in FIG. 4, when three chairs are arranged in stacked
position.
FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a
chair of the invention having a single integral sheetform seat and
back member.
FIG. 11 is a cross section taken along the line D--D of FIG. 10,
showing a detail of the seat support means on said base member.
FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the
invention, wherein the base member comprises leg members including
generally horizontal reaches at the lower forward portions
thereof.
FIG. 13 is a detail of the indicated portion F of FIG. 12
illustrating the stacking height of the chair leg members when
three chairs are vertically stacked.
In all of the drawings, the dimension "C" is used to denote the
stacking height, in FIGS. 8-A and 8-B of the chair seat, with
bumper and without bumper, in FIG. 11 of the chair seat, and in
FIGS. 9 and 13 of leg members having slightly different
configurations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a stacking chair according to the invention generally
as 1, having seat and back members generally identified as 2 and a
base member generally identified as 3. The seat and back members
comprise sheetform elements 4 and 5, having an appropriate bend
between seat portions and back portions thereof respectively at 6
and 7. The base member comprises mirror image leg members, each
having an upper generally horizontal and rearward reach 10, a
forward generally vertical reach 11, a forward angularly outwardly
extending reach 12, and a generally horizontal rearward reach 13
constituting the floor-engaging portion of said leg member. The leg
members include laterally extending seat support members 14 and 15
extending therefrom at their upper generally horizontal reaches,
and are secured together at their upper generally horizontal
reaches by passage therethrough of laterally extending seat-support
members 14 and 15. The mirror image leg members are also secured
together at their forward reaches 11 by spacer 16. Sheetform seat
and back members 4 and 5 are secured together at their back
portions by pin 20. As will be observed from FIG. 1, central recess
30 is provided at the forward edge of the seat portion of the
chair, of dimensions obviously suitable to receive therein the
generally vertical reach 11 of the base member of an identical
stacking chair. As will be apparent from FIG. 1, the generally
horizontal floor-engaging reaches 13 of the leg members and the
angularly outwardly extending reaches 12 of said leg members are
adapted to engage and at least partially support identical reaches
of an identical stacking chair upon stacking, at least at some
point on said reaches. As will be apparent from an inspection of
FIG. 1, for the chairs of the type of FIG. 1 to stack, the stacking
height of the leg members at 12 and 13 must correspond to the
stacking height of the seat portion of said sheetform back and seat
member 5, especially to enable close nesting of a plurality of
identical chairs upon stacking.
As will be seen from FIG. 2, also to facilitate better stacking as
well as comfort, the back portions of sheetform seat and back
member 4 and 5 are slightly pitched toward the central void between
them, and as will be seen from FIG. 3, for the same reason, the
seat portions of sheetform seat and back members 4 and 5 are
likewise slightly pitched toward the upper generally horizontal and
rearward reach 10 of base member 3 which lies between them.
The forward generally vertical reach 11 of the leg members, the
forward angularly outwardly extending reach of the leg members 12,
the spacer 16 between them, and the laterally extending seat
supports 14 and 15 extending therefrom and between them are all
more clearly seen in FIG. 4.
FIG. 5 again shows the forward generally vertical reach 11, the
forward angularly outwardly extending reach 12, and the generally
horizontal rearward floor-engaging reach 13, as well as the upper
generally horizontal and rearward reach 10 and the laterally
extending seat support members 14 and 15 extending therefrom. As
will be readily apparent, the other corresponding leg member is a
mirror image of the one shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 6 shows the upper generally horizontal and rearward reaches 10
of the leg members comprising base member 3, and their securement
together by means of laterally extending seat support member 15, in
this case shown as a hollow tube or rod having a threaded aperture
26 therein.
In FIG. 7 is seen a partially exploded partially section-alized
view of the seat portion of a seat and back member 5, showing
chamber 25 for insertion thereinto of laterally extending seat
support member 15, aperture 27 extending to the bottom surface of
the seat, and screw 29 which may be used as one form of external
fastener to secure laterally extending seat support member 15 in
chamber 25. If the thickness of the seat portion of the seat and
back member 5 is not of sufficient stacking height to correspond
with the stacking height of the base member employed, bumper 28
having a countersunk opening for insertion of screw 29 thereinto
may be employed and secured to the bottom of the seat by passing
the screw through the opening therein, through opening 27 in the
seat, and securing the same in threaded aperture 26 of seat-support
member 15.
FIG. 8-A shows four seat portions of the seat and back member 5 of
a chair of the invention viewed in section from the forward edge
100 of the section shown in FIG. 7, or from the forward edge of the
section shown in FIG. 3, each with its bumper 28 on its lower
surface, the stacking height of such seats having the dimension C
shown in FIG. 8-A.
FIG. 8-B shows four seat portions taken along the same
cross-section, in this case, having a greater thickness,
corresponding to the stacking height of the base element employed,
so that bumpers 28 are not required.
In FIG. 9 is seen a detail of the base member constituting the
portion of the leg member indicated as E in FIG. 4 when three
chairs are arranged in stacked relationship. Generally horizontal
rearward reaches 13 extend rearwardly, one above the other, and
forward angularly outwardly extending reaches 12 lie slightly above
and forward of each other as shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment,
the stacking height dimension C is somewhat greater than that shown
for stacking height C in FIG. 13, since there is no forward
generally horizontal portion 240 and since the forward angularly
outwardly extended reaches 12 therefore contact each other in a
different plane providing a greater dimension between points of
contact.
FIG. 10 shows another version of the stacking chair of the
invention, having a single sheetform seat and back member 104 but
having the important central recess provided at the forward edge of
the seat portion thereof identified as 130. From FIG. 11 will be
seen in cross-section a detail of the manner of mounting the
sheetform seat and back member 104 upon the base member 103. The
stacking height C, being the thickness of the seat itself, will
also be apparent. Chamber 125 provided in the bottom of the seat
portion of the seat and back member 104 receives transversely
extending seat support members 115, which are in turn secured to
the upper generally horizontal and rearward reach 110 of the leg
members which together comprise the base member 103 for the chair
of this embodiment. The cross-section of FIG. 11 is taken along the
line D--D of FIG. 10, as will be apparent.
FIG. 12 shows another version of the stacking chair of the
invention. All of the elements are the same as in FIG. 1, with the
exception that the base member comprises mirror image leg members
having an upward generally horizontal and rearward reach 210, a
forward generally vertical reach 211, and a forward angularly
outwardly extending reach 212, which includes at the lower portion
thereof a generally horizontal reach 240 which terminates in
generally horizontal rearward floor-engaging reach 213. In this
embodiment, the stacking height of the leg members is minimized, as
shown in detail in FIG. 13 which shows the detail indicated as F in
FIG. 12 for three stacked chairs. From this detail of FIG. 13, it
will be apparent that the generally rearwardly extending
floor-engaging portions of the leg member 213 extend rearwardly,
and that the portions 240 lie above each other, but that the
outwardly extending reaches 212 lie forward of each other but
vertically overlap each other partially, as indicated by overlap
lines 241. Thus, upon stacking three chairs of the version shown in
FIG. 12, the stacking height of a single leg member, and
consequently of the leg members of three chairs, will be slightly
less than that for a chair of FIG. 1, as further indicated in FIGS.
9 and 13. For the embodiment of FIG. 12, it will be apparent from
FIG. 13 that the contact between leg members will be a line contact
between members 213 lying in a horizontal plane.
It should also be apparent that the relationship of the depth of
the recess 30, 130, or 230 at the forward edge of the seat portion
of the chair according to the invention to the vertical reach 11,
111, or 211 is significant in that the greater the depth of the
recess, the more chairs can be stacked atop each other vertically,
providing the vertical reach is of sufficient length to permit the
angled reaches 12, 112, 212 of the legs to stack upon each other
below the forward edge of the seat and back members 4, 5; 104; and
204, 205. It is obvious that vertical reaches 11, 111, or 211 of
stacked chairs 1, 101, 201 lie in contact with the corresponding
reaches of the next adjacent stacked chair upon stacking.
It should also be apparent that, for maximum convenience and
safety, and especially from the standpoint of maximum stackability,
the lateral dimension between the two rearwardly extending
floor-engaging reaches (13, 113, 213) of the base member (3, 103,
203) should be in excess of the maximum lateral dimension of the
seat portion of the chair seat and back member (4 and 5; 104, 204
and 205). This enables those portions of the base member to be
located outwardly from the seat lateral edges upon stacking.
In the embodiment of FIG. 5, no glides are shown on horizontal
member (13, 113, 213). However, in other embodiments, conventional
glides may be present. In a preferred embodiment, such glides can
be contoured, e.g., concavely, to provide and maintain contact
between horizontal members (13, 113, 213) of a plurality of chairs
upon stacking.
Glides may also be used to increase the stacking height of the leg
members 3, 103, 203, if desired.
In all embodiments shown, such horizontal members (13, 113, 213)
are shown as the terminal portion of the base members (3, 103,
203). A further added vertical reach at the rear extremity thereof
may also be present, and may or may not be further attached to
chair seat and back members (4,5; 104; or 204, 205). Such added
vertical reach, if present, should have little or no effect upon
stackability and serves only for rigidization of the chair
structure. It is not an essential of the present invention.
It will be apparent that the sheetform seat and back members of the
stacking chair of the invention can be of any suitable material,
such as wood, filled plywood, plastic, molded plastic, plastic
foam, metal, or the like, and that the leg members having the form
of a tube or rod can be either solid or hollow and of any suitable
material such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, plastic, or the
like. It should also be apparent that, where metal components are
used, these can be secured or fixedly secured together, as for
example, the joints between upper generally horizontal and rearward
reaches 10 and laterally extending seat support members 14 and 15,
or between spacer plate 16 and vertical reaches 11, or even between
seat support members 15 or 115 or 214 and 215 and seat and back
member 4, 5, 104, 204, 205, may be of any suitable type, such a
soldering, welding, brazing, press-fitting, swaging, or
cementing.
It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to
the exact details of operation or the exact structure, methods, or
procedures shown and described, as all of the foregoing are subject
to numerous variations and modifications without departing from the
spirit of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents
will be apparent to one skilled in the art.
* * * * *