GB2242123A

GB2242123A - Chairs

Info

Publication number: GB2242123A
Application number: GB9006275A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Sutton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-20
Filing date: 1990-03-20
Publication date: 1991-09-25
Also published as: GB9006275D0

Abstract

A chair is adapted to provide a work and/or display surface when required. The backrest 12 of the chair is pivotally mounted to the chair seat 10 at its lower edge and abutments 16, 17 are provided to retain the backrest in two alternative positions, in one of which the chair can be used for sitting in the normal way and in the other of which the rear of the beak rest provides a work and/or display surface sloping at an angle to the vertical. The surface is formed with a projecting ledge 15 across its lower edge and a folding extension 18 is hinged to the upper edge of the backrest. Several chairs may be combined to form a large display area (figure 3). <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or relating to Chairs The invention relates to chairs and sets out to provide a simply constructed chair which may also be readily adapted to provide a work and/or display surface when required.

In schools, offices and in the home there may be occasional requirement for a work or display surface which is inclined at a small angle to the vertical. For example, the requirement may be for an easel to support a drawing or painting for working on at a comfortable angle, and at a comfortable height. Also, particularly in schools and offices, a similar structure may be required for displaying finished artwork or written material, either as part of an exhibition or for temporary use during a talk, lecture or presentation.

Conventional easels and similar devices for this purpose have to be stored away when not in use.

Not only can this take up valuable storage space but the time and trouble involved in getting the equipment out and setting it up can be considerable. According to the present invention such equipment is incorporated in a chair which may be used as such when the work or display surface is not required, but which can be readily and quickly converted to provide the required surface when needed.

Accordingly, the invention provides a chair including a seat, a number of legs supporting the seat, and a backrest upstanding from one side edge of the seat, the backrest comprising one or more parts which are adjustable relatively to the seat to convert the backrest to a work and/or display surface.

The backrest may comprise a structure pivotally mounted on the seat, adjacent its lower edge, for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel to the general plane of the feet, means being provided for maintaining the backrest structure in at least two different angular positions relative to the seat.

Said means for maintaining the backrest structure in at least one of said angular positions may comprise an abutment surface on the backrest structure which comes into abutting engagement with an abutment surface on another part of the chair.

The backrest structure may include two side members extending downwardly at opposite sides of the lower part of the structure, said members being connected to the chair seat by pivot pins or the like.

Preferably the backrest structure is adjustable between a position where it extends at an angle of 90 or greater to the seat, so as to act as the backrest of the chair, and a position where it extends at an angle of less than 90 to the seat, so that the rear surface of the backrest can act as a work surface or display surface. The surface of the backrest facing away from the seat may be formed, adjacent its lower edge, with a projecting ledge extending across at least part of the width of the backrest. In use the ledge may support the lower edge of a sheet-like workpiece and may also provide a convenient support for pencils, brushes and similar equipment.

In any of the above arrangements the backrest may comprise an extension piece which is mounted on the backrest for adjustment between a retracted position where it lies substantially within the periphery of the backrest, and an extended position where it forms an upward extension of the work surface or display surface provided by the backrest.

Said extension piece may be hingedly connected to the upper edge of the backrest so that it may be folded from the extended position, where it extends upwardly beyond the upper edge of the backrest, to the retracted position, where it overlies one surface, preferably the rear surface, of the backrest.

Preferably retaining means are provided for retaining the extension piece in the extended and/or retracted position.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, from the rear, of a chair according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the chair with the backrest positioned and extended to provide a working/display surface; and Figure 3 shows how a number of chairs according to the invention may be used in combination to provide a large display area.

Referring to Figure 1: the chair comprises a flat generally rectangular seat 10 supported on four plain rectangular-section legs 11. A perfectly plain seat and legs assembly is shown for the purposes of illustration, but it will be appreciated that these parts of the chair may be of any required shape to meet the demands of comfort and/or decoration.

Pivotally mounted so as to be upstanding from the rear edge of the seat 10 is a backrest structure indicated generally at 12. The backrest structure 12 comprises a flat main panel 13, which is generally rectangular and has members 14 projecting downwardly from opposite sides of the lower edge thereof. Pivot pins 21 pass through the downwardly extending members 14 and pivotally attach the backrest to the sides of the seat 10 towards the rear thereof.

A horizontal ledge 15 is provided on the rear surface of the main panel 13 at about the level of its junction with the seat 10. A transverse stop bar 16 is mounted across the front surface of the main backrest panel 13 parallel to the upper surface of the seat 10 and a short distance above that surface. A further, inclined stop bar 17 is mounted below the seat 10 and extends across the width of the seat a short distance in front of the rear legs 11 of the chair.

An extension panel 18 is shaped to overlie the rear surface of the main panel 13 of the backrest, above the ledge 15, and its upper edge is connected to the upper edge of the main panel 13 by flush hinges 19.

A cross bar 20 is secured across the upper marginal portion of the extension panel 18 to increase its thickness at that point.

A suitable retaining device, such as a ball catch (not shown), holds the extension panel 18 flat against the rear surface of the main panel 13 of the backrest.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the backrest is swung rearwardly as far as it will go, its rearward pivoting movement being limited by the engagement of the front surfaces of the members 14 with the stop bar 17. An additional catch of any suitable form may be provided if required to retain the backrest in this position.

In this position, the front surface of the backrest is disposed at an angle which is slightly greater than 90 to the upper surface of the seat 10, as shown in Figure 1. The chair may then be used as a conventional chair for sitting on. When it is required to use the work/display surface the backrest structure 12 is tilted slightly forwards, as shown in Figure 2, bringing the members 14 away from the stop bar 17 and bringing the stop bar 16 down into contact with the upper surface of the seat 10. This limits the forward pivoting movement of the backrest.

In this position the backrest is inclined forwardly at an angle slightly less than 90 to the general plane of the seat 10. The rear surface of the backrest may thus be conveniently used as an easel, the work being pinned or otherwise attached to the rear surface of the backrest and/or supported on the ledge 15. The backrest may be used as an easel with the extension panel 18 in the retracted position shown in Figure 1, if required. However, in order to provide a greater working/display area, the extension panel 18 may be folded upwardly to the extended position shown in Figure 2. A suitable releasable clip 22 may be provided to retain the panel 18 in the extended position, although it will tend to remain in that position in any case under its own weight, due to the inclination of the backrest. Any suitable form of retaining device may be used, if required, positively to retain the backrest in the tilted position shown in Figure 2.

The ledge 15 may be provided with recesses to receive pens, paints etc and other receptacles may, if required, be attached to the backrest. Lights, straight edges etc, as required, can also be fitted to the drawing board provided by the surfaces of the panels 13 and 18.

Figure 3 shows how several of the chairs may be used together, side by side, in the extended position, to provide a large display area. In order to ensure that the display area is stable, clips or other retaining devices may be employed to secure the adjacent chairs and/or backrests together.

Claims

1. A chair including a seat, a number of legs supporting the sea, and a backrest upstanding -from one side edge of the seat, the backrest comprising one or more parts which are adjustable relatively to the seat to convert the backrest to a work and/or display surface.

2. A chair according to Claim 1, wherein the backrest comprises a structure pivotally mounted on the seat, adjacent its lower edge, for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel to the general plane of the seat, means being provided for maintaining the backrest structure in at least two different angular positions relative to the seat.

3. A chair according to Claim 2, wherein said means for maintaining the backrest structure in at least one of said angular positions comprise an abutment surface on the backrest structure which comes into abutting engagement with an abutment surface on another part of the chair.

4. A chair according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the backrest structure includes two side members extending downwardly at opposite sides of the lower part of the structure, said members being connected to the chair seat by pivot pins or the like.

5. A chair according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the backrest structure is adjustable between a position where it extends at an angle of 90 or greater to the seat, so as to act as the backrest of the chair, and a position where it extends at an angle of less than 90' to the seat, so that the rear surface of the backrest can act as a work surface.

6. A chair according to Claim 5, wherein the surface of the backrest facing away from the seat is formed, adjacent its lower edge, with a projecting ledge extending across at least part of the width of the backrest.

7. A chair according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the backrest comprises an extension piece which is mounted on the backrest for adjustment between a retracted position where it lies substantially within the periphery of the backrest, and an extended position where it forms an upward extension of the work surface or display surface provided by the backrest.

8. A chair according to Claim 7, wherein said extension piece is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the backrest so that it may be folded from the extended position, where it extends upwardly beyond the upper edge of the backrest, to the retracted position, where it overlies one surface, preferably the rear surface, of the backrest.

9. A chair according to Claim 8, wherein retaining means are provided for retaining the extension piece in the extended and/or retracted position.

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