AU605395B2 - A chair and table combination - Google Patents

Description

I- PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

DRIGINAL)

6W05 FOR OFFICE USE: Application Number: Lodged: Class Int. Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: t rt Related Art: Tfhis"document contains the amendments made undcr Section 49 andi is correct for printing.J Name of Applicant(s): XcS a InetoI) t t Adrs fo Sevie ANTONIO ITAIJIANO 316 Charles Street North Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

ANTONIO ITALIANO and IA/G-AZIO CAFFARELLI Kelvin Lord Co., 4 Douro Place, WEST PERTH, Western Australia 6005.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "ACHAIR AND TAE11LE COMBINATION" PcO 133i, 2 2/ /8

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I The following statement isa f ull description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/ us 1~ -la

TITLE

"A CHAIR AND TABLE COMBINATION"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a chair and table combination of the type in which there is a first mode where the combination is a chair with a back rest and a second mode where the combination is a stool with a working surface, such as a table attached.

The invention also relates to a multiseat chair and table 10 combination comprised of a plurality of the chair and table a combinations coupled together in a modular form.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION In general when a person is seated on a chair books, or a plate of food, or the like must be held on or above the Sa". 15 persons lap in order to use same. This becomes quite inconvenient where multiples of such articles are to manipulated. Alternatively, the chair may be stationed at a table to provide a stationary surface, usually independent of the chair. Such allows ready and easy t I manipulatin of articles but tables are usually relatively t I bulky and usually relatively non portable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a chair and table combination capable of operation as a back rest chir in one mode and a backless chair and attached table in another. The result of this is a readily portable chair and table useful for both purposes and overcoming the problems off the prior art.

7 2 In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a chair and table combination comprising a seat raised above the ground on legs, a support disposed upwardly from the seat, a panel pivotally connected to the support, and a tilting mechanism connecting the panel to the support and adjustable between a first mode in which the panel serves as a back rest for the seat and a second mode in which the panel serves as a working surface.

Preferably, the support is disposed to allow the user to aa,*# 10 sit astride or adjacent it and with the working surface a, disposed in front of the user.

Preferably, the centre of area of the panel when disposed as a working surface is within or not substantially without a perimeter defined by the legs.

i *a 15 Preferably, the chair and table combination is collapsible a *to a relatively compact size for transport and storage.

Another aspect bf the present invention provides a multiple S. seat chair and table arrangement formed of a plurality of the chair and table combinations. The result of this is to provide a seating arrangement of a size variable by the addition or deletion of numbers of the chair and table combinations. Such seating arrangement can thus be suited to the number of persons requiring seating at what is effectively a single table top.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a multiple seat chair and table arrangement comprising a plurality of modules of chair and table combinations each comprising a seat raised'above the ground on legs, a supp rt disposed upwardly from the seat,

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-3and a panel connected to the support, the arrangement also comprising a plurality of connection means to connect the panels of adjacent chair and table combinations to form a single table top.

Preferably, one or more connecting panels are attached between the adjacent chair and table combinations to space same apart and increase the size of the single table top.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS S Figure 1 is a plan view of a chair and table combination in a 1, 10 accordance with the present invention shown with a panel *4 thereof in a second mode; Figure 2 is a plan view of the chair and table combination of Figure 1 shown with the panel in a first mode; Figure 3 is a plan view of the chair and table combination 15 of Figure 1 shown with in a collapsed condition with the tt panel and a support therefor removed; C G Figure 4 is a lower plan view of the chair and table combination of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a lower plan view of the chair and table combination of Figure 4 with the panel and support therefor shown also in collapsed condition; Figure 6 is a side view of the chair and table combination of Figure Figure 7 is a rear view of the chair and table combination of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a rear view of the chair and table combination of Figure 2; Figure 9 is a front view of the chair and table combination of Figure 1; Ii~ 4- 999919

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Figure 10 is a front view of the chair and table combination of Figure 2; Figure 11 is a side view of the chair and thble combination of Figure 1; Figure 12 is a side view of the chair and table combination of Figure 2; Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional side view of a height adjuster of a support of the chair and table combination of figure 12.

10 Figure 14 is an enlarged section side view of a tilting mechanism of the chair and table combination of Figure 11; Figure 15 is a front view of the tilting mechanism of Figure 14; figure 16 is a plan view of four exemplary connection 15 panels for the chair and table combination of Figure 17 Figure 17 is a sectional view of a connection means shown connecting the two panels for connecting panels together; Figure 18 is a plane view of a multiple seat chair and table arrangement in accordance with another aspect of the 20 present invention comprising a plurality of the chair and table combinations of Figure 1 and the connecting panels of Figure 16; Figure 19 is a plan view of another multiple seat chair and table arrangement similar to that of Figure 18 but employing different ones of the connecting panels of Figure 18; Figure 20 is an enlarged sectional side view of another embodiment of a height adjuster of the support of Figure 13; and 1 S I a a 9 4 44 a. *r a. a a a *l I S1 1 t *C 5 Figure 21 is an enlarged sectional view of a push rod of another embodiment of the height adjuster of Figure DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Figures 1 to 12 and 18 and 19 there is shown a chair and table combination 10 comprising a seat 12 raised above the ground on legs 14, a support 16 disposed upwardly from the seat 12 and pivotally attached to which is a panel 18.

Particularly as shown in Figures 4 and 7 to 12 the legs 14 typically comprise two rearward legs 20 pivotally coupled to the seat 12 by a pivot 22 and two forward legs 24 pivotally coupled to the rearward legs 20 by a pivot 26.

One or more rails 28 are provided between the two rearward legs 20 and the two forward legs 24, respectively, to form same into two frames pivotable relative to each other and the seat 12.

The forward legs 24 each comprise a recess or groove (not shown) adjacent an end 30, in use, in contact or adjacent the seat 12 and intermediate the length of each of the rearward legs 24. Such recess or groove is disposed to be 20 engaged by a butterfly clip 32 as shown in Figures 4 and to lock the legs 14 against the seat 12 in a collapsed condition for storage or transport and to lock the end against the seat 12 in an erected condition for use. In such erected condition the end 30 butts against a frame 34 of the seat 12 shown in Figure 13 hence the butterfly clips 32 do not have to beat all of the force of weight imparted from the seat 12 to the forward legs 24.

It is envisaged that the recess or grooves run the length of the forward le\s 24.

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ti 6 o *b 0 6 *r 6* 6 0l 6 64 Sii Preferably, the lower ends of the legs 14 contact the ground further out than a perimeter of the seat 12, particularly as shown in Figures 2, 11 and 12. In such manner the chair and table combination 10 is less likely to topple in use than than would otherwise be the case. In particular, the rearward legs 20 are preferably disposed outside the perimeter of the seat 12 and the forward legs.

Typically, the pivot 26 is disposed to lay approximately under a transverse centre line of the area of the seat 12 to achieve good stability for the seat 12 when in use.

6 It is envisaged that other forms of collapsible legs ;ould be used in place of those described hereinabove, provided lower ends of the legs extend out passed the perimeter of the seat 12.

15 The support 16 comprises a height adjuster 36 fixed to the seat 12 particularly as shown in Figures 8, 11, 12 and 13.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings the height adjuster 36 comprises a base sleeve 38 fixed to the frame 34 of the seat 12, The sleeive 38 has a threaded hole 40 receiving a 20 threaded bolt 42 as shown in Figure 13.

The support 16 also comprises an arm 44 dimensioned in cross section to fit inside the sleeve 38 and free to move longitudinally therein. The arm 44 has a plurality of indentations 46 spaced along its length, as shown in Figures 8 and 13. The indentations 46 may typically be at centres and are dimensioned to-receive an end of the bolt 42 to lock the arm 44 into the sleeve 38 and hence to the seat 12.

r' In the exemplary embodiment the arm 44 may pass into and r t p 7 through the sleeve 38 toward the ground to allow greater lowering of the panel 18.

It is envisaged that the indentations 46 could be formed into holes by extending through a wall of the arm 44.

It is also envisaged that other height adjustment means 36 could be used, such as, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism with a handle to wind the arm 44 up and down.

Preferably, the arm 44 is confined to relative immobility S transversely to attain good stability of the panel 18.

10 The height adjuster 36 could comp-'se a motion dampner 48 coupled to the arm 44 to limit the maximum free fall speed of the panel in the event that the bolt 42 is released from the relevant indentation 46 and the panel 18 and arm 44 are allowed to fall under action of the force of gravity. The 15 motion dampner 48 typically comprises a spring 50 confined in a further sleeve 52 having its lower end 53 sealed off.

The further sleeve 52 is constructed similarly to the .ittei, sleeve 38 and had a threaded hole 54 and a threaded bolt t V St 56, to achieve height adjustment. The further sleeve 52 is OE: 20 dimensioned in cross section to fit into the sleeve 38 and has indentations 58 to achieve height adjustment with respect to the sleeve 38 by the bolt 42. Downward motion of the arm 44 is thus resisted by the spring 50 and larger height adjustment may still be achieved with the sleeve 38 and bolt 42.

The motion dampner 48 may, instead of the spring comprise a push rod 60 with a resilient boot 62, as shown in Figure 21, to depend upwardly from the lower end 53 of the firthersleeve 52. The boot 62 seals against an K4; 9 9st 9 9Z *o 94 9a *99 .4 .9 *99 99 9 9c 9 09 *9 4f 9 91 e &r I 8 interior of the arm 44 to create a substantially air tight seal. In this embodiment the arm 44 must be substantially air tight so as to allow creation of a high pressure region therein and above the boot 62 by lowering of the arm 44 and the panel 18. Such, may also comprise an air relief means, or otherwise allow a relatively slow rate of air leakage around the boot 62 to relieve the arm 44 of the pressure build up.

It is envisaged that the boot 62 could be disposed in a sealed fluid or liquid reservoir in the arm 44 to operate substantially as a mechanical shock absorber.

The support 16 also comprises a tilting mechanism 64 pivotally attaching the panel 12 to the arm 44. The tilting mechanism particularly as shown in Figure 15 comprises two threaded bolts 66 disposed in holes 68 and in an upper end of the arm 44 and a flange 72 fixed to an underside of the panel 18. The tilting mechanism 64 also comprises two locking levers 74 internally threaded to threadedly engage with the bolts 66. Tightening of the levers 74 results in clamping of the flange 72 to the arm 44.

The bolts 66 also provide a pivot axis for the panel 18 with respect to the arm 44.

It is envisaged that other tilting mechanisms 64 could be used such as for example, a tilting mechanism having a pivot axis and an apertured plate fixed to the panel 18 and moveable to match with an aperture in or fixed to the arm 44 so that a pin may bei passed through the matching apertures to achieve locking of the panel 18 relative to 3

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4 C' 4T -9the arm 44.

The lower ends of the legs 14 are disposed outside the perimeter of the seat 12, as previously stated, and the rearward legs 20 are disposed so that the centre of area of the panel when disposed horizontally is inside or only slightly outside a -ertical line drawn up from the ground through the rearward legs 20 at their meeting therewith so as to reduce the chances of toppling of the chair and table combination when in use.

As previously stated the chair and table combination 10 is collapsible and for this reason the upper most one of the rails 28 comprises two or more locking clips 76 to respectively engage two locking bolts 78 to stare the arm 44 in a loop 80 attached to the lower one of the rails 28 as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figures 10 and 16 to 19 show a chair and table combination adapted to another aspect of the present invention comprising a plurality of connection means 82 particularly as shown in Figure 17. The connection means 82 may be in the form of a conventional cam lock furniture connector having an cam end 84 stationed in the panel. 18 and a bolt end stationed 86 in a connection panel 88 (see Figure 16).

The connection means 82 is preferably located endwise in the panels 18 and 88, contrary to conventional use thereof to achieve endwise clamping connection of the panels 18 and 88. In such manner a plurality of chair and table combinations and connecting panels 88 ay be coupled together to construct a single table top 90 with a plurality of chairs thereabouts as shown in Figures 18 and A O I ij ii ;i ii L rd 19.

It is to be understood that adjacent chair and table combinations 10 could be connected together by their panels 18 without the need for connecting panels 88.

It is envisaged that other forms of connection means 82 could also be used.

It is envisaged that padding may be removably coupled to the seat 12 and/or the panel 18.

It is envisaged that the chair and table combination could V 10 be made in differing sizes to suit children, adults and the C C like.

pa In use, the chair and table combination 10 is transported in the collapsed arrangement shown in Figure 6. To erect the locking clips 76 ate rotated to disengage from the 15 locking bolts and the panel 18 and arm 44 are raised to remove the arm 44 from the loop 80. The arm 44 and attached panel 18 are then set aside.

Next, the butterfly clips 32 (see Figure 4) are rotated to o r disengage with the recesses or slots in the forward legs 24 t t 0 20 to unlock the legs 14 so that they may be pivoted about the pivots 22 and 26 to achieve the arrangement of Figures 11 and 12. The butterfly clips 32 are then rotated to engage with the recesses or slots in the ends 30 of the forward legs 24 to lock same to the seat 12 so that lifting of the chair and table combination 10 does not result in collapsing of the legs 14. In this portion the ends bear against the frame 34 of the seat 12 to resist the force of weight applied to the forward legs 24.

The chair and table combination is now in a second mode of .i 11 operation with the panel 18 substantially upright as shown in figures 2, 8, 10 and 12. In the second mode the panel 18 serves as a beck rest for a person sitting on the seat 12.

The angle of tilt of the back rest may be altered by loosening of the locking levers 74, and pivoting of the panel 18 about the arm 44 and retightening of the locking levers 74.

.c The tilting mechanism 64 may be operated as described to i ,,to 10 set the panel 18 substantially horizontal or at an angle 4 4* thereto, whereat the panel 18 may serve as a working surface such as a table or easel or the like in a first S4" mode of operation of the chair and table combination In the first mode a user may sit astride the arm 44 or side 15 saddle with one of his/her legs adjacent the arm 44 and another leg on the next adjacent side of the seat 12.

A plurality of the chair and table combinations 10 may be connected to form a single table top 90. Such is achieved I by locking the cam ends 84 of one panel 18 or 88 with the bolt ends 86 if an adjacent panel 18 or 88 as shown in Figures 18 and 19.

By the modular nature of such more chair and table combinations 10 may be added to cater for more people or alternatively some may be removed to cater for less people.

It is envisaged that connecting panels 88 having shapes other than those shown in Figure 16 could be used, such as otriangular or polygonal.

By the use of the present invention a person may carry in a conventional collapsed form a chair and table in :Ii 12 combination ready for erection at a desired location. In the first mode the person has a bo kless chair and attached table top for use by sitting astride the arm 44 or side saddle and in the second mode the person has a chair with an adjustable tilt backrest. The construction on the first mode is advantageous since mounting and dismounting the chair and table combination with a single arm 44 is relatively easy. Use of two arms in spaced relation is to be avoided since it makes mounting and dismounting between 10 the arms 44 quite difficult and prone to toppling.

6 e~ a By the use of the connection means 82 a table of such size 4 0 U ,to suit the number of people present may be constructed.

S° Alternatively, each person may bring their own chair and table combination 10 and a connecting panel 88 where appropriate to joint other such chair and table t I C combinations 10 to provide a table of suitable size for the number of people present.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled address are deemed within the scops of thA present invention. For example, the chair and table 4,owbination could be made of wood or fibre glass or plastics materialsor metal materials or a combination thereof.

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Claims (14)

1. A chair and table combination comprising a seat raised above the ground on legs, a support disposed upwardly from the seat, a panel pivotally connected to the support, and a tilting mechanism connecting the panel to the support and adjustable between a first mode in which the panel serves as a back rest for the seat and a second mode in which the panel serves as a working surface, the chair and table combination further comprising at least one connection S 10 means disposed to connect the panel of one chair and table j combination to that of one or more others and/or to one or more connecting panels connected to further chair and table combinations to form a single back rest or working surface having a plurality of seats.

2. A chair and table combination according to claim 1, in which the support comprises a height adjuster disposed to 0 alter the height of the panel above the seat.

3. A chair and table combination according to claim 2, in "which the height adjuster comprises a sleeve recei''l an arm of the support upon which the panel is located and S means to fix the arm to the sleeve.

4. A chair and te.le combination according to claim 3, in which the height adjuster comprises a motion damper to inhibit the speed of the fall of the arm and panel with respect to the sleeve.

A chair and table combination according to claim 4, in i f 1 Lu rl ~-4 14 t: 0 *i 4 C 0 *40 4* 4 4* 0 *i 4 44 S. which the motion damper comprises a spring disposed to resist downward motion of the arm.

6. A chair and table combination according to claim 4, in whi-h the motion damper comprises a push rod and boot disposed to resist movement in the arm by compression of fluid.

7. A chair and table combination according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the legs have lower ends disposed outside a perimeter of the seat. 10

8. A chair and table combination according to claim 7, in which the rearward legs are further disposed so that a centre of area of the panel when disposed substantially horizontally is inside or not substantially outside the rearward legs.

9. A chair and table combination according to any one the preceding claims comprising pivots to pivotally conn%,r.r the legs to each other and the seat to allow for collaps of the chair and table combination.

A multiple seat chair and table arrangement comprising a plurality of chair and table combinations in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, each comprising a seat raised above the ground on legs, a support disposed upwardly from the seat, and a panel connected to the support, the arrangement also comprising at least one connection disposed to coniiect the panels of adjacent chair and table combinations to form a single back rest or working surfice having a plural.cy of seats.

11. A chair and table combination according to claim comprising connecting panels disposed to be fixed by the j I 15 connection means between panels of adjacent chair and table combinations.

12. A chair and table combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 and 11 to

13. A chair and table combination substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 16 and 17.

14. Multiple seat chair and table arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 10 and 16 to 19. rtt t S tr DATED SEPTEMBER 28 1990 ANTONIO ITALIANO By his Patent Attorneys KELVIN LORD AND COMPANY t^ PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA r 1 J fi U~I