GB2144980A - Swivel chair - Google Patents

Abstract

A swivel chair having a detachable leg assembly 20 includes a plurality of leg members 21 which have bowed coupling heads 23 respectively, each of bowed coupling heads 23 has barb surfaces 24, 25 for engaging with others to cooperatively bound a bore so as to receive the tappered end 11 of a column 10 which movable supports a seat. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Swivel chair This invention relates to a swivel chair, particularly to a swivel chair having a seat support column and a detachable leg assembly.

It is known in the art to provide a swivel chair with a detachable leg assembly for compactness of packages during transportation.

One form of such chair includes, as shown in Fig. 1, a leg assembly having leg members provided with curved plates which are fastened together around an inner sleeve by outer clamping rings, the sleeve being threadedly sleeved onto a column which movably supports the seat of the chair. There is a drawback in such construction that the attachment of leg members to the column are not tight and rigid, thereby effecting the stability of the chair.

The object of the invention is to provide a swivel chair which has detachable legs that can be assembled with the seat support column into a construction of excellent rigidity and stability.

The object of the invention is achieved by an improved swivel chair which includes, a seat, a column for movably supporting the seat, a radially extending leg assembly detachably connected to the column, the assembly comprising, a plurality of leg members respectively having bowed coupling heads of segmented annulus shape. Each of the bowed coupling heads having barb surfaces for engaging with the other to cooperatively bound a bore so as to receive the tappered end in a tight fit. There is further provided a means for locking the tappered end against the releasing movement from the bore.

According to the invention the barb surface may includes a projection extended from a surface of the bowed head in an angular direction and then backwardly turned to some extent, wherein the swivel chair may further includes a ring member for locking the heads against movement relative to one another in axial directions.

Advantageously, the tappered lower end of the column may extends beyond the bore and be provided with an annular groove at the lower side thereof, wherein a locking ring member can be provided in the annular groove.

This and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is an exploded view of a portion of a swivel chair in the art; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a swivel chair constructed according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a sectioned view of a portion of a swivel chair constructed according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a portion of a swivel chair which features the invention. A cylindrical column 10 for supporting the seat (not shown) of the chair is coupled with a radially extended legs assembly 20 which includes four leg members 21, each of legs 21 having a swivel roller 22 attached to one end thereof and a bowed coupling head 22 of segmented annulus shape. Each coupling head 22 has two barbed members 24 and 25 respectively extended in opposite angular directions from two edge surfaces thereof. Four coupling heads 23 of leg members 21 are fastended together by the interengagement of barbed members 24 and 25 and confines a bore 26 for receiving the lower end portion 11 of the column 10 which is slightly tappered.When the lower end portion 11 of the column 10 is press fitted in the bore 26, barbed members 24 and 25 will receive a pressure which can cause them to tightly interengage, achieving a rigid and stable attachment of the leg assembly.

The lower side of the column 10 is slightly extended beyond the bore 26 and is provided with an annular groove 1 2 in which a locking ring 40 is positioned for locking the tappered end portion 11 of the column 10 against the releasing movement from the bore 26 after the end portion 11 is fitted in the bore 26.

As shown in Fig. 3, there are further provided stepped portions 27 respectively at the lower sides of the heads 23 and recesses 28 respectively at the stepped portions 27. These stepped portions 27 mutualiy form a ring shaped member and the recesses 28 form an annular recess to receive a locking ring 30 which can lock the coupling heads 23 against movement relative to each other.

It can be appreciated that the assembly according to the invention will not become loose when subjected to the pressure of a load on the seat, unlike the conventional swivel chair. The coupling of the leg assembly and the column will become more rigid when there is a pressure on the seat. Additionally, individual parts are more easily assemblied when compared with the conventional assembly.

The manner in which the above and related objects are accomplished together with the attending advantages and features of the invention appear more fully from the following detailed description and drawings.

1. A swivel chair including, a seat, a column for movably supporting said seat having a tappered lower end, a radially extending leg assembly detachably connected to said column, characterized in that said assembly comprises, a plurality of leg members respectively having bowed coupling heads of segmented

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Swivel chair This invention relates to a swivel chair, particularly to a swivel chair having a seat support column and a detachable leg assembly. It is known in the art to provide a swivel chair with a detachable leg assembly for compactness of packages during transportation. One form of such chair includes, as shown in Fig. 1, a leg assembly having leg members provided with curved plates which are fastened together around an inner sleeve by outer clamping rings, the sleeve being threadedly sleeved onto a column which movably supports the seat of the chair. There is a drawback in such construction that the attachment of leg members to the column are not tight and rigid, thereby effecting the stability of the chair. The object of the invention is to provide a swivel chair which has detachable legs that can be assembled with the seat support column into a construction of excellent rigidity and stability. The object of the invention is achieved by an improved swivel chair which includes, a seat, a column for movably supporting the seat, a radially extending leg assembly detachably connected to the column, the assembly comprising, a plurality of leg members respectively having bowed coupling heads of segmented annulus shape. Each of the bowed coupling heads having barb surfaces for engaging with the other to cooperatively bound a bore so as to receive the tappered end in a tight fit. There is further provided a means for locking the tappered end against the releasing movement from the bore. According to the invention the barb surface may includes a projection extended from a surface of the bowed head in an angular direction and then backwardly turned to some extent, wherein the swivel chair may further includes a ring member for locking the heads against movement relative to one another in axial directions. Advantageously, the tappered lower end of the column may extends beyond the bore and be provided with an annular groove at the lower side thereof, wherein a locking ring member can be provided in the annular groove. This and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is an exploded view of a portion of a swivel chair in the art; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a swivel chair constructed according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a sectioned view of a portion of a swivel chair constructed according to the invention. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a portion of a swivel chair which features the invention. A cylindrical column 10 for supporting the seat (not shown) of the chair is coupled with a radially extended legs assembly 20 which includes four leg members 21, each of legs 21 having a swivel roller 22 attached to one end thereof and a bowed coupling head 22 of segmented annulus shape. Each coupling head 22 has two barbed members 24 and 25 respectively extended in opposite angular directions from two edge surfaces thereof. Four coupling heads 23 of leg members 21 are fastended together by the interengagement of barbed members 24 and 25 and confines a bore 26 for receiving the lower end portion 11 of the column 10 which is slightly tappered.When the lower end portion 11 of the column 10 is press fitted in the bore 26, barbed members 24 and 25 will receive a pressure which can cause them to tightly interengage, achieving a rigid and stable attachment of the leg assembly. The lower side of the column 10 is slightly extended beyond the bore 26 and is provided with an annular groove 1 2 in which a locking ring 40 is positioned for locking the tappered end portion 11 of the column 10 against the releasing movement from the bore 26 after the end portion 11 is fitted in the bore 26. As shown in Fig. 3, there are further provided stepped portions 27 respectively at the lower sides of the heads 23 and recesses 28 respectively at the stepped portions 27. These stepped portions 27 mutualiy form a ring shaped member and the recesses 28 form an annular recess to receive a locking ring 30 which can lock the coupling heads 23 against movement relative to each other. It can be appreciated that the assembly according to the invention will not become loose when subjected to the pressure of a load on the seat, unlike the conventional swivel chair. The coupling of the leg assembly and the column will become more rigid when there is a pressure on the seat. Additionally, individual parts are more easily assemblied when compared with the conventional assembly. The manner in which the above and related objects are accomplished together with the attending advantages and features of the invention appear more fully from the following detailed description and drawings. CLAIMS

1. A swivel chair including, a seat, a column for movably supporting said seat having a tappered lower end, a radially extending leg assembly detachably connected to said column, characterized in that said assembly comprises, a plurality of leg members respectively having bowed coupling heads of segmented annulus shaped, each of said bowed coupling heads having barb surfaces for engaging with the other to cooperatively bound a bore so as to receive said tappered end in a tight fit, and means for locking said tappered end against releasing movement from said bore.

2. A swivel chair as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said barb surface including a projection extended from a surface of said bowed head in an angular direction and then backwardly turned to some extent, and in which said swivel chair further includes a first ring member for locking said heads against movement relative to one another in axial directions.

3. A swivel chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tappered lower end of said column extends beyond said bore and is provided with an annular groove at the lower side thereof, and in which said locking means is a second ring member.

4. A swivel chair as substantially described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.