WO2002039851A1

WO2002039851A1 - Seat

Info

Publication number: WO2002039851A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/001498
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daryl Geoffrey Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-20
Filing date: 2001-11-20
Publication date: 2002-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2003-05-20
Also published as: AU2002214839A1; AU7165800A

Abstract

A seat, the seat being made from a cardboard blank including: a first panel section (14); a second panel section (18), said first and second panel section being connected by a first fold line (16); wing panels (24) on either side of second panel section (18), said wing panels being connected to the second panel section by wing panel fold lines (22) arranged transverse to the first fold line, each wing panel having associated therewith connection means (32) adapted to form a connection between said wing panel section (24) and said first panel section (14); whereby said first (14) and second panel sections (18) are able to be folded around the first fold line (16) the connection means (32) serving to secure the wing panels to the first panel sections (14) to thereby form a seat.

Description

Seat

Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to a lightweight disposable seat.

Background Of The Invention

The incidence of major outdoor public events is a feature of modern life. Most people would be accustomed to attending cultural events such as music and drama festivals held in open air venues. Similarly, there are many other outdoor entertainments and sporting events held in the open air. At such events, which might be held in private land, or in public spaces such as parks there is often little by way of formal seating provided. Indeed, for many events the provision of arranged seating would be impractical or undesirable. For example, where events are held in sloping or undulating ground it would be difficult to arrange and secure banks of seating for large numbers. Also, in the case of many events the spontaneous character or quality of the event would be seriously eroded by the use of bulky seating structures that prescribe the places in which people are required to sit. Further, pre-constructed seating is not always conducive to use by family groups which may prefer more informal arrangement that allow all members to interact easily and to accommodate the needs of children both in terms of size but also to allow more freedom of movement.

It has therefore become a feature of open air events that those participating will provide their own seating. Thus a deck chair or other folding chair may often be taken to an event. There is however room for alternative seating arrangements. Many portable chairs are heavy items difficult to carry and are not always suited to the terrain.

The present invention provides an alternative form of seating that is adapted for use in a range of environments.

Summary Of The Invention

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat, the seat being made from a cardboard blank including: - a first panel section; - a second panel section, said first and second panel section being connected by a first fold line;

- wing panels on either side of second panel section, said wing panels being connected to the second panel section by wing panel fold lines arranged transverse to the first fold line, each wing panel having associated therewith connection means adapted to form a connection between said wing panel section and said first panel section;

- whereby said first and second panel sections are able to be folded around the first fold line the connection means serving to secure the wing panels to the first panel sections to thereby form a seat.

The seat of the invention is therefore conveniently assembled by folding the first and second panel sections together to form a seat base and back support respectively and then securing the connection means to the first panel sections to stabilise the structure. A simple cardboard seat is therefore formed to allow the user to sit in relative comfort in any selected environment. Additionally, being cardboard, the seat of the invention is a low cost lightweight product suited to rugged use in variety of testing environments.

Preferably, the connection means takes the form of a flap extending from each wing panel, said flap being foldable about a line defining a boundary between the respective wing panel and the flap. In use, the flap forms a side panel providing enhanced stability and comfort for users.

Preferably, the wing panel is triangular in outline having a first side defined by the fold line being a boundary between the wing panel and the second panel section, a second side being defined by the fold line being a boundary between the wing panel and the connecting flap and a third, hypotenuse side extending there between.

Preferably, the connecting flap is foldable about the fold line being between the wing panel and the connecting flap and is securable below the first panel section to form the seat.

Preferably, the wing panel includes a further fold line dividing the wing panel to allow inward collapsing of the wing panel to thereby collapse the seat from an open position to a closed position. The wing panel can thus act as a means to assist the closing of the seat from an open position for use to a closed position for transporting.

Preferably, the first and second panel sections are the same size. Preferably, the first and second panel sections each contain a handle cut out, the handle cut outs being aligned when the seat is in a folded and collapsed condition.

Preferably, the cardboard is a waxed or otherwise waterproofed cardboard.

In some forms of the invention an outer surface of the seat is adapted to receive printed indicia thereon. Thus the use of the seat of the invention as a promotional tool is effected.

Description Of Drawings

The present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG 1 illustrates a seat blank in accordance with a first aspect of the invention;

FIG 2 illustrates the seat blank of figure 1 in a partially assembled form;

FIG 3 illustrates the seat blank of Figure 1in an assembled and partially closed position;

FIG 4 illustrates the seat blank of figure 3 in a fully closed position;

FIG 5 illustrates the blank of figure 1 in an assembled and open position;

FIGs 6 and 7 demonstrate the blank of figure 1 as used;

FIG 8 is a cross-sectional view of the blank of figure 1 in the closed position;

FIG 9 is a cross-sectional view of the blank in the open position; and

FIG 10 illustrates a seat blank formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. Description Of The Preferred Embodiment

The drawings illustrate seat blanks 10,100 in accordance with the invention. The seat blanks 10 are shown in figures 5 and 10 in the assembled position as they would be used. As shown in figures 6 and 7 the seat 10, includes a base portion, a back support and two side sections.

A common blank 12 can be used to form the seats 10, and this is illustrated most clearly in figures 1-4. In the drawings the blank 12 is shown laid flat and partially assembled. It can be anticipated that during manufacture and transport the blank 12 may be maintained in a flat condition. It will also be apparent from a consideration of the drawings that the blank is adapted to be cut and assembled in a single sheet.

The blank 12 includes a first panel section 14. The first panel section 14 is generally square in outline. There is however, no requirement for a specific shape for the panel 14 and many panel geometries would be appropriate. The panel 14 includes 3 outer cut edges indicated generally at 16. A fourth side of the panel 14 is defined by a fold line 16 which fold line 16 also defines a boundary between the first panel section 14 and an adjoining second panel section 18. The second panel section 18 is, in the example under consideration a mirror image of the first panel section 14. It is not essential to the performance of the invention that the first and second panel sections should be of mirror image sizes and indeed embodiments of the invention having variations in the size of the two panels are within the scope of the invention. Nevertheless, the use of equal sized panels is a convenient from an aesthetic point of view and provides a number of practical advantages to the user.

The panels 14 and 18 form a base and back support respectively for the seat 10 as shown in figures 6 and 7. The seat 10 can be provided in a number of sizes, for example child and adult. In order to accommodate a person comfortably it can easily be recognized that the width of the panels 14,18, that is, as measured along the fold line 16 should be sufficient to allow the frame of a person to rest comfortably therein.

The second panel section 18 has only one cut outer edge 20 opposing the fold line 16. In use the outer edge 20 forms the upper edge of the back support of the seat. The two remaining fold edges, that is those extending between the fold line 16 and the outer edge 20, are each defined by fold lines 22 which in turn define a boundary between the second panel section 18 and side wing panels 24. The wing panels 24 provide a means of fixing a position of the first and second panels relative to one another around the fold line 16. As depicted in the drawings the wing panels comprise a continuous sheet that extends between the first and second panels. However, in alternative forms of the invention the first and second panels can be fixed by other means that do not form a sold wall, such as by strapping. In further alternatives the wing panels may include cut out sections.

The wing panel sections 24 are illustrated in detail in figures 2 and 9. As can be seen clearly in figure 9 the wing panel sections 24 are generally triangular in outline, having a first edge defined by the fold line 22, a second edge defined by the fold line defined by a further fold line 26 and a hypotenuse edge 28. A further, interior fold line 30 bisects the wing panels 24. Each of the fold lines 16, 22, 28 and 30 on each side of the second panel section 18 meet at a common points 32. The common points 32 form the rear most corners of the seat 10 in use.

The two sides of the wing panel sections defined by the fold lines 22 and 26 are each the same length as the sides of the first and second panel sections 14, 18. Indeed one side 22 is in fact common to the wing panel and the second panel section 18. The wing panels therefore form a neat closing side piece to the seat in use.

The wing panel sections 24 are secured to the first panel sections 14 by means of flaps 32 which extend from the fold line 26. The flaps 32 are sized so that they can be located underneath the first panel section 16 meeting in the centre thereof and forming a double layer in the base of the seat as illustrated in figures 6 and 7. In use the double layer provides added support and strengthening for the user. It is convenient if, once the seat has been assembled the flaps 32 are secured to the underside of the first panel sections by any known means, for example, by gluing.

The construction of the seat is illustrated in figures 1 and 2 showing how the seat back support and base are formed by folding along the fold line approximately at right angles. The wing flaps 24 are the folded inwardly around the fold lines 22 to form the enclosing side portions. The wing flaps 24 are then folded beneath the first panel 16 to form the seat structure as shown in figures 5 and 10. In this position the seat is available for use. However, should there be a need to transport the seat inwardly pressure on the fold lines 30 causes the seat to collapse as shown in figure 3 and ultimately, the seat can be collapsed to a flat state as shown in figures 4 and 8. Close to the outer edge of the seat the first and second panels 14,18 have handle cut outs 34 therein to facilitate carrying of the device. Further, although not shown in the drawings it is also possible to include an outer pocket on the back support portion of the seat that can be used for holding small items, booklets, programmes and so on.

Figure 10 also illustrates a useful addition to the seat of the invention in the form of side clips 36 which are placed over the edge 28 of the wing portions 24 at the position of the fold line 30. The clips 36 serve to reinforce the stability of the sides of the seat and prevent any unwanted collapsing of the seat.

The seat of the present invention is conveniently manufactured of a reinforced recycled cardboard material. For increased waterproofing it is convenient if the cardboard has a waxed or other waterproofing coating thereon. It is also possible for the seat to be provided with printed advertising material on the outside. For example, the seat of the invention is a relatively low cost item and could easily be provided as a part of a product promotion exercise. Alternatively, the seat could well be purchased independently by those needing to use the device.

The invention has been described by way of example. The examples are not, however, to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Modifications and variations of the invention such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A seat, the seat being made from a cardboard blank including:

- a first panel section;

- a second panel section, said first and second panel section being connected by a first fold line;

- wing panels on either side of second panel section, said wing panels being connected to the second panel section by wing panel fold lines arranged transverse to the first fold line, each wing panel having associated therewith connection means adapted to form a connection between said wing panel section and said first panel section; - whereby said first and second panel sections are able to be folded around the first fold line the connection means serving to secure the wing panels to the first panel sections to thereby form a seat.

2. A seat being made from a cardboard blank according to claim 1 , in which the connection means takes the form of a flap extending from each wing panel, said flap being foldable about a line defining a boundary between the respective wing panel and the flap.

3. A seat being made from a cardboard blank according to claim 2, in which the wing panel is triangular in outline having a first side defined by the fold line being a boundary between the wing panel and the second panel section, a second side being defined by the fold line being a boundary between the wing panel and the connecting flap and a third, hypotenuse side extending there between.

4. A seat being made from a cardboard blank according to claim 3, in which the connecting flap is foldable about the fold line being between the wing panel and the connecting flap and is securable below the first panel section to form the seat.

5. A seat being made from a cardboard blank according to any one of claims 2-

4 in which the wing panel includes a further fold line dividing the wing panel to allow inward collapsing of the wing panel to thereby collapse the seat from an open position to a closed position.

6. A seat being made from a cardboard blank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second panel sections are the same size.

7. A seat being made from a cardboard blank according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first and second panel sections each contain a handle cut out, the handle cut outs being aligned when the seat is in a folded and collapsed condition.

8. A seat being made from a cardboard blank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cardboard is a waxed or otherwise waterproofed cardboard.

9. A seat being made from a cardboard blank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an outer surface of the seat is adapted to receive printed indicia thereon.

10. A seat being made from a cardboard blank according to claim 1 substantially as heireinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings