GB2024614A - Furniture articles - Google Patents

Abstract

An article of furniture, such as a chair or table, which includes structural members formed from semirigid sheets 5, 7, 9, 11 or 57, 59, 61, 63 which post-formed into a non-flat condition in the assembled article. The sheets are held in position in the assembled article by edge portions thereof located in slots 23 in corner posts 3 or 51, 53, 55. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Article of furniture This invention relates to articles of furniture.

According to the present invention there is provided an article of furniture wherein the structural members include semi-rigid sheets which are postformed into a non-flat condition in the assembled article of furniture.

Accordingly the sheets are, prior to the assembly of the article of furniture, substantially flat but during assembly are flexed into a non-flat condition and are held in that condition in the assembled article.

The article may have additional rigid or semi-rigid structural members.

Preferably the sheets are held in position in the assembled article by means of corner posts. Preferably edge portions of the sheets are located in slots in the posts.

Preferably the article of furniture includes three corner posts, each post having two slots for accommodating edge portions of respective two sheets.

The three posts are additionally each provided with means for locating a further structural member of the article of furniture. For instance, the article of furniture may be a table in which case each post may be provided with a transverse slot for accommodating a portion of the edge of the table top.

Alternatively the article of furniture may be a chair in which case a single sheet of semi-rigid material may provide both the seat and the back portion of the chair. Two of the three posts may be provided with recesses for receiving the corners of the seat portion and the third portion may be provided with means for engaging the back portion once the integral seat and back member has been flexed into an appropriate non-flat condition.

Preferably one of the sheet members is, when the article of furniture is in its assembled condition, connected directly to another of the sheet members.

For instance one of the sheet members may be provided with a cut out portion extending from one edge and the other sheet member may be provided with a corresponding lateral extension, a cooperating pin and hole arrangement being provided on the respective sheet members. The arrangement is such that the sheet members can be flexed slightly so that they are interleaved with the lateral extension of one member being located largely within the cut out portion of the other member and the pin of one member being located in the hole of the other member.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a table in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a sheet from which the sheet like members of the table of Figure 1 may be obtained; Figure 3 shows a corner post of the table of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a chair in accordance with the present invention in exploded view; Figure 5 is a front view of the chair of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a sheet from which the sheet members for the chair of Figure 4 may be formed; and Figures 7 to ii illustrate the sequence of operations for assembling the chair of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a table in accordance with the present invention comprises a rigid circular table top 1, three corner posts 3 and four plywood sheets 5,7,9 and 11. The table top may be made of wood and the posts also of wood. In other embodiments different materials may be used, for instance, hardboard. Sheets 9 and 11 are shown as a single sheet in Figure 1 although it should be understood that they are really two sheets which are connected together.

As illustrated in Figure 2, table top 1 and the various sheet members can all be obtained from a single sheet of plywood 13. Sheet 11 includes lateral extension 15 provided with a hole 17. Sheet9 has a corresponding cut out portion 19 and a pin 21.

Each corner post is provided with two longitudinal slots 23 and, near one end of the post, a transverse slot 25. Edge portions of sheets 5,7,9 and 11 are glued into the slots 23 of posts 3 so as to be permanently fixed thereto.

In its assembled condition, sheets 9 and 11 are connected together by means of pin 21 being located in hole 17 and arms 27 and 29 defining cut out 19 overlapping at least a portion of the main part of sheet 11. The orientation of the slots 25 in posts 3 is such that, when sheets 9 and 11 are connected together in the above-mentioned way, each of the sheets 5,7 and the cmbination 9 and 11 are flexed in the way indicated in Figure 1, that is to say, slightly inwardly towards the centre of the table. The table top 1 is located in position with edge portions located in slots 25 of posts 3.

To disassemble the table it is merely necessary to disconnect sheets 9 and 11 and remove the table top 1. Sheets 5,7, 9 and 11 will then return to their substantially flat condition and the table may be folded by moving each of sheets 9 and 11 inwardly so that the folded table is compact and may be located within a comparatively small container for transport and storage purposes.

Referring to Figures 4to 11, a chair in accordance with the present invention comprises three corner posts 51, 53 and 55 and four plywood sheets 57,59, 61 and 63. Sheets 61 and 63 are shown as a single sheet in Figure 4 but it should be understood that they are really two sheets which are connected together.

The arrangement of the above-mentioned sheets and their connection to the corner posts is similar to that described with reference to the table shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.

The chair also includes a combined seat and back formed from a single sheet of plywood. This seat and back sheet 65 is like the sheets 57 to 63 formed from a substantially flat sheet. It is provided at the front edge of the seat portion with a permanently attached substantially circular cross-section rod member 67, the ends of which extend slightly beyond the edge of the seat portion of sheet 65. Each of posts 51 and 53 is provided with a corresponding circular recess 69 for accommodating the ends of rod 67.

Post 55 is provided with an integral upward extension 71 beyond the upper corners of sheets 57 and 59. The front face 73 of this extension is slightly inclined to the vertical as illustrated in Figure 4.

Provided in the centre of face 73 is an integral short pin or spigot 75. Sheet 65 is provided with a corresponding hole 77 in the back portion thereof.

The assembly and disassembly of the chair is similar to that of the table. Thus the assembly of the chair from its folded condition involves the connecting together of sheets 61 and 63 with the ends of rod 67 located in the recesses in posts 51 and 53. The last stage of the assembly is the flexing of sheet 65 until hole 77 can be located own pin 75. When this has been achieved the whole assembly forms a rigid structure which can easily take the weight of a person.

As previously stated, Figures 7 to 11 show stages in the assembly of the chair. Figure 7 shows the various items of the chair, Figure 8 shows the unfolding of the main body of the chair and Figure 9 shows the connection together of sheets 61 and 63.

Figure 10 shows the fitting of sheet 65. Figure 11 shows the assembled chair provided with a cushion member 79 attached to the back portion of sheet.

Figure 6 shows a single piece of plywood and indicates how the various sheets for the chair may be cut from this single piece.

Claims (9)

1. An article of furniture wherein the structural members include semi-rigid sheets which are postformed into a non-flat condition in the assembled article of furniture.

2. An article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein the sheets are held in position in the assembled article by means of corner posts.

3. An article of furniture according to claim 2 wherein edge portions of the sheets are located in slots in the posts.

4. An article of furniture according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein there are three corner posts, each post having two slots for accommodating edge portions of respective two sheets.

5. An article of furniture according to claim 4 wherein the article is in the farm of a table in which each post is provided with a transverse slot for accommodating a portion of the edge of the table top.

6. An article of furniture according to claim 4 wherein the article is in the form of a chair in which a single sheet of semi-rigid material provides both the seat and back portion of the chair.

7. An article of furniture according to claim 6 wherein two of the posts are provided with recesses for receiving the corners of the seat portion and the third post is provided with means for engaging the back portion once said single sheet has been flexed into the appropriate non-flat condition.

8. An article of furniture according to claim 1 and substantially as described herein.

9. An article of furniture substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.