WO2013144859A1

WO2013144859A1 - Integrated desk-and-chair unit

Info

Publication number: WO2013144859A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/052430
Authority: WO
Inventors: J Morley
Original assignee: Krause L C
Current assignee: Krause L C
Priority date: 2012-03-28
Filing date: 2013-03-27
Publication date: 2013-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-28
Also published as: IN2014DN08050A; ZA201406931B

Description

INTEGRATED DESK-AND-CHAIR UNIT

INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to furniture, and specifically to furniture that can be assembled and disassembled for portability and storage thereof when not in use. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable and integrated desk-and-chair unit that can easily be assembled by a non-technical person and finds particular application as a school or study desk and chair.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It will be appreciated that many third world countries struggle financially to provide sufficient funds for addressing schooling and educational demands and shortfalls on a national level. One of the many needs is providing adequate desks and chairs for students to sit and write on. It is common knowledge that in many rural communities, including many of those in South Africa and other developing countries, school going children have no school furniture and consequently no other option but to sit and write on the ground while undergoing education.

Collapsible and portable desks and chairs are well-known in the prior art, but most of them suffer from one or more limitations when it comes to schooling needs, especially in third- world countries and rural communities. One disadvantage is that such prior art furniture often have a considerable number of parts that require assembly to make up the desk and/or chair. This increases manufacturing costs and weight, and often requires special tools and/or a level of skill to assemble the furniture that is beyond that of a school-going child. Other prior art solutions offer furniture of fewer parts, but such furniture are often not strong and durable and tend to fail under frequent and heavy use, especially in the harsh environments in which such furniture is often used.

One of the significant problems associated with providing furniture to rural communities is transport of such furniture to often remote and rugged locations, limiting the ability of heavy duty vehicles, such as transport trucks, to reach such areas in order to deliver the furniture.

A demand exists for safe, sturdy, collapsible desks and chairs, which are manufactured from lightweight, inexpensive materials, but without compromising on durability and strength. The desks and chairs need to be truly portable and transportable in a disassembled state by smaller vehicles, which are better able to negotiate rugged terrain in order to transport the desks and chairs to often remote, rural communities. In addition, a demand exists for each school going child to have his or her own desk and chair so as to improve education in general.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a collapsible integrated desk-and-chair unit that is collapsible into a substantially flat-pack configuration for portability and storage when the unit is not in use, the integrated desk-and-chair unit comprising - a truncated, substantially bow tie shaped column comprising two opposing end walls, two articulated sidewalls extending between the end walls, and six corners, each sidewall including two conjoined sidewall panels that are pivotally linked to each other and to the opposing end walls so as to form an outer corner between each sidewall panel and an end wall, and an intermediate corner between the conjoined sidewall panels where they join; a seat panel that is pivotally linked to one end wall; and

a desk panel that is pivotally linked to the opposing end wall, the seat panel and the desk panel being foldable towards each other such that they interlock approximate the intermediate corners and both rest on the column to form the integrated desk-and-chair unit.

The column may be truncated to form a desk pillar for supporting the desk panel, and a shorter chair pillar for supporting the seat panel. In particular, the desk pillar may be formed by one end wall and the two sidewall panels that are pivotally linked to that end wall; while the chair pillar may be formed by the opposing end wall and the two sidewall panels that are pivotally linked to that end wall. The end wall and two sidewall panels that form the chair pillar may be shorter than the end wall and two sidewall panels that form the desk pillar. The shorter chair pillar may join the desk pillar at the intermediate corners.

The two intermediate corners may be inwardly displaceable towards each other to form a partially triangulated desk pillar and a partially triangulated chair pillar facing each other, with an elongate pillar slot defined between the sidewall panels of the desk pillar where the sidewall panels of the desk pillar and the sidewall panels of the chair pillar join each other at the intermediate corners.

The desk panel may comprise a desk top panel and an interlinked desk side panel, the desk top panel being pivotally linked to an end wall, with the interlinked desk side panel being pivotally linked to the desk top panel. The desk side panel may terminate in a desk panel slot at its free end, and in particular in a fork-shaped desk panel slot.

The seat panel may terminate in a tab, and in particular in a tongue-shaped tab that is dimensioned to fit into the elongate pillar slot between the sidewall panels of the desk pillar. The desk panel slot is adapted to engage and secure the tab of the seat panel in the elongate pillar slot. The outer and intermediate corners may be defined by corner panels. In particular, the desk-and-chair unit may include an outer corner panel between each sidewall panel and the end wall to which it is connected, while the intermediate corners may be defined by two intermediate corner panels which are arranged between adjoining sidewall panels where they join. The desk-and-chair unit may be characterised therein that one outer corner panel of the desk pillar is broader than the other outer corner panel of the desk pillar. Similarly, one outer corner panel of the chair pillar is broader than the other outer corner panel of the chair pillar. Diagonally opposite outer corner panels of the column are the same width. Specifically, one outer corner panel of the desk pillar is the same width as the diagonally opposite outer corner panel of the chair pillar. The broader outer corner panels are about double the width of the narrower outer corner panels.

Also, the two opposing intermediate corner panels are not of equal width, with the one intermediate corner panel being about double the width of the narrower intermediate corner panel. The intermediate corner panels are flexible panels, which enables the articulated sidewall panels to be pivotable relative to each other.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembling the desk-and-chair unit from its flat-pack configuration into its assembled configuration, the method comprising the steps of - outwardly displacing the opposing end walls away from each other, allowing the articulated sidewalls to unfold into the bow tie shaped column;

pivoting the seat panel towards the intermediate corner panels so that it rests on top of the chair pillar, with the tab located in the elongate pillar slot between the sidewall panels of the desk pillar;

pivoting the desk panel towards the intermediate corner panels until the desk top panel rests on top of the desk pillar; pivoting the desk side panel down until it abuts the sidewall panels of desk pillar and covers the elongate pillar slot between the sidewall panels;

sliding the desk panel slot of the desk side panel over the tab of the seat panel and down outside surfaces of the intermediate corner panels so as to trap the tab between the sidewall panels of the desk pillar in the elongate pillar slot, while preventing outward displacement of the intermediate corner panels relative to each other.

It will be appreciated that through this arrangement the distance between the intermediate corner panels remain fixed by the interlocking arrangement between the seat panel and desk top panel.

The invention also provides a method of collapsing the desk-and-chair unit of the invention from its assembled configuration into its flat-pack configuration, the method comprising the steps of - lifting the desk panel upwards so that the desk panel slot disengages the tab of the seat panel;

pivoting the desk panel backwards until the desk top panel rests against an end wall, with the desk side panel resting either against the desk top panel or also against the end wall;

lifting the seat panel upwards to disengage the tab from elongate pillar slot;

pivoting the seat panel backwards until it rests against the opposing end wall;

sliding one sidewall panel of the chair pillar past the diagonally opposite sidewall panel of the desk pillar by pushing the two intermediate corner panels into two diagonally opposite outer corner panels, such that the intermediate corners panels are nestled against the diagonally opposite outer corner panels, the arrangement being such that the one sidewall panel of the chair pillar and the diagonally opposite sidewall panel of the desk pillar abut each other in parallel orientation, while the other sidewall panel of the chair pillar abuts the one end wall in parallel orientation, with the other sidewall panel of the desk pillar abutting the other end wall in parallel orientation; and

pushing the end walls towards each other so that the unit concertinas into a collapsed substantially flat-pack configuration in which the end walls, sidewall panels, seat panel and desk panel are arranged in abutting parallel orientation with each other.

The desk-and-chair unit may be ergonomically designed for a degree of anatomic conformity.

The integrated desk-and-chair unit may be foldable from a single sheet of material. The material may be a robust and lightweight cellular or honeycomb construction. The material may be manufactured from a plastics moulding, cardboard, wood, composite material, solid board, or the like.

The desk-and-chair unit may be foldable between an assembled, free-standing configuration and a collapsed, compact and substantially flat-pack configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the desk-and-chair unit may be portable on a user's back.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now further be described by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the following figures in which -

FIGURE 1 is an assembled, free-standing configuration of a desk-and-chair unit according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a collapsed, compact and substantially flat-pack configuration of the desk-and-chair unit for portability and storage thereof when not in use; FIGURES 3 - 6 illustrate step-by-step assembly of the desk-and-chair unit from the collapsed, flat-pack configuration of Figure 2, to the assembled freestanding configuration of Figure 1 ; and

FIGURE 7 illustrates the assembled, free-standing configuration of the desk-and- chair unit from a different angle of rotation.

The collapsible, portable and integrated desk-and-chair unit according to the invention is designated by reference numeral [10]. The desk-and-chair unit [10] find particular application as a school or study desk and chair, but it will of course be appreciated that it is not limited to that application. The desk-and-chair unit [10] of the invention may find advantageous application in any situation where space is limited, or where portability and transport is a concern.

The desk-and-chair unit [10] comprises a truncated, substantially bow tie shaped column [12]. The column [12] comprises two opposing end walls [14] and [16], two articulated sidewalls [18] and [20] extending between the end walls [14, 16], and six corners [22a, 22b], [24a, 24b] and [26a, 26b]. Each sidewall includes two conjoined sidewall panels [18a, 18b] and [20a, 20b] that are pivotally linked to each other and to the opposing end walls [14, 16]. This forms two corners [22a, 22b] between sidewall panels [18a] and [20a] and end wall [14] where they respectively join end wall [14]; and two corners [24a, 24b] between sidewall panels [18b] and [20b] and end wall [16], where they respectively join end wall [16]. In addition, two intermediate corners [26a] and [26b] are formed between the conjoined sidewall panels [18a, 18b] and [20a, 20b] respectively where they join each other. In particular, intermediate corner [26a] is formed between sidewall panels [18a] and [18b], while intermediate corner [26b] is formed between sidewall panels [20a] and [20b].

The desk-and-chair unit [10] further comprises a seat panel [28], which is pivotally linked to one end wall [14]; and a desk panel [30] which is pivotally linked to the opposing end wall [16]. The seat panel [28] and the desk panel [30] are foldable towards each other such that they interlock approximate the intermediate corners [26a, 26b] and both rest on the column [12] to form the integrated desk-and-chair unit [10].

The column [12] is truncated to form a desk pillar [34] for supporting the desk panel [30], and a shorter chair pillar [32] for supporting the seat panel [28]. In particular, the desk pillar [34] is formed by one end wall [16] and the two sidewall panels [18b] and [20b] that are pivotally linked end wall [16]. Chair pillar [32] is formed by the opposing end wall [14] and the two sidewall panels [18a] and [20a] that are pivotally linked to end wall [14]. The end wall [14] and two sidewall panels [18a] and [20a] that form the chair pillar [32] are shorter than the end wall [16] and two sidewall panels [18b] and [20b] that form the desk pillar [34].

All the corners are defined by corner panels. The desk-and-chair unit [10] is characterised therein that one outer corner panel [24a] of the desk pillar [34] is broader than the other outer corner panel [24b] of the desk pillar [34]. Similarly, one outer corner panel [22a] of the chair pillar [32] is broader than the other outer corner panel [22b] of the chair pillar [32]. Diagonally opposite outer corner panels [22a, 24a] and [22b, 24b] respectively of the column [12] are the same width. The broader outer corner panels [22a, 24a] are approximately double the width of the narrower outer corner panels [22b, 24b].

The two intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] are inwardly displaceable towards each other to form a substantially triangulated desk pillar [34] and a substantially triangulated chair pillar [32], which face each other. An elongate pillar slot [36] is defined between the sidewall panels [18b] and [20b] of the desk pillar [34] where the sidewall panels [18b] and [20b] of the desk pillar [34] and the sidewall panels [18a] and [20a] of the chair pillar [32] join each other at the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b]. The desk panel [30] comprises a desk top panel [38] and an interlinked desk side panel [40], the desk top panel [38] being pivotally linked to end wall [16], with the interlinked desk side panel [40] being pivotally linked to the desk top panel [38]. The desk side panel [40] terminates in a desk panel slot [42] at its free end, and in particular in a fork-shaped desk panel slot [42].

The seat panel [28] terminates in a tab [44], and in particular in a tongue-shaped tab, that is dimensioned to fit into the elongate pillar slot [36]. The desk panel slot [42] is adapted to engage and secure the tab [44] of the seat panel [28] in the elongate pillar slot [36].

In use, the substantially bow tie shaped column [12] is folded open from the collapsed configuration illustrated in Figure 2 by pulling the end walls [14, 16] away from each other, thus allowing the articulated sidewall panels [18a, 18b] and [20a, 20b] to unfold (see Figure 3). The seat panel [28] is pivoted towards the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] until it rests on the sidewall panels [18a, 20a] of the chair pillar [32]. The tab [44] is located in the elongate pillar slot [36], thus obstructing further inward displacement of the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] towards each other.

The desk panel [30] is pivoted towards the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] until the desk top panel [38] rests on the sidewall panels [18b, 20b] of the desk pillar [34]. The desk side panel [40] is pivoted down until it abuts the sidewall panels [18b, 20b] of desk pillar [34]. The desk panel slot [42] then slides over the tab [44] and down outside surfaces of the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b], trapping the tab [44] between the sidewall panels [18b, 20b] of the desk pillar [34] and obstructing outward displacement of the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] away from each other.

To collapse the desk-and-chair unit [10], the desk panel [30] is lifted upwards so that the desk panel slot [42] disengages tab [44]. The desk panel [30] is pivoted backwards until the desk top panel [38] rests against the end wall [16], with the desk side panel [40] resting either against the desk top panel [38] or also against the end wall [16].

The seat panel [28] is lifted upwards to disengage the tab [44] from elongate pillar slot [36]. The seat panel [28] is pivoted backwards until it rests against end wall [14].

The next step provides sliding one sidewall panel [18a] of the chair pillar [32] past the opposite sidewall panel [20b] of the desk pillar [34] by pushing intermediate corner panel [26a] into diagonally opposite outer corner panel [24a], while pushing intermediate corner panel [26b] into diagonally opposite outer corner panel [22a], such that the intermediate corners panels [26a, 26b] are nestled against the diagonally opposite outer corner panels [24a] and [22a] respectively. In this arrangement sidewall panel [18a] of the chair pillar [32] and the opposite sidewall panel [20b] of the desk pillar [34] abut each other in parallel orientation. At the same time sidewall panel [20a] of the chair pillar [32] abuts end wall [14] in parallel orientation, with sidewall panel [18b] of the desk pillar [34] abutting end wall [16] in parallel orientation. The end walls [14, 16] are pushed towards each other so that the unit [10] concertinas into a collapsed substantially flat-pack configuration in which the end walls [14, 16], sidewall panels [18a, 18b, 20a, 20b], seat panel [28] and desk panel [30] are arranged in abutting parallel orientation with each other.

The applicant envisages providing a back-pack type bag (not illustrated) in which the desk- and-chair unit [10] will fit into and which a user, such as a school going child, can then carry on his / her back to and from school.

It will be appreciated that many other embodiments of the invention may be possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A collapsible integrated desk-and-chair unit [10] which is collapsible into a substantially flat-pack configuration for portability and storage when the unit is not in use, the integrated desk-and-chair unit [10] comprising - a truncated, substantially bow tie shaped column [12] comprising two opposing end walls [14, 16], two articulated sidewalls [18, 20] extending between the end walls [14, 16], and six corners [22a, 22b; 24a, 24b; 26a, 26b], each sidewall [18, 20] including two conjoined sidewall panels [18a, 18b; 20a, 20b] that are pivotally linked to each other and to the opposing end walls [14, 16] so as to form an outer corner [22a, 22b; 24a, 24b] between each sidewall panel and an end wall, and an intermediate corner [26a, 26b] between the conjoined sidewall panels [18a, 18b; 20a, 20b] where they join;

a seat panel [28] that is pivotally linked to one end wall [14]; and a desk panel [30] that is pivotally linked to the opposing end wall [16], the seat panel [28] and the desk panel [30] being foldable towards each other such that they interlock approximate the intermediate corners [26a, 26b] and both rest on the column [12] to form the integrated desk-and-chair unit [10].

2. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 1 in which the column [12] is truncated to form a desk pillar [34] for supporting the desk panel [30], and a shorter chair pillar [32] for supporting the seat panel [28].

3. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 2 in which the desk pillar [34] is formed by one end wall [16] and the two sidewall panels [18b, 20b] that are pivotally linked to that end wall [16]; while the chair pillar [32] is formed by the opposing end wall [14] and the two sidewall panels [18a, 20a] that are pivotally linked to that end wall [14].

4. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 2 in which the end wall [14] and two sidewall panels [18a, 20a] that form the chair pillar [32] are shorter than the end wall [16] and two sidewall panels [18b, 20b] that form the desk pillar [34].

5. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 2 in which the chair pillar [32] join the desk pillar [34] at the intermediate corners [26a, 26b].

6. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 2 in which the two intermediate corners [26a, 26b] are inwardly displaceable towards each other to form a partially triangulated desk pillar [34] and a partially triangulated chair pillar [32], which face each other, with an elongate pillar slot [36] defined between the sidewall panels [18b, 20b] of the desk pillar [34] where the sidewall panels [18b, 20b] of the desk pillar [34] and the sidewall panels [18a, 20a] of the chair pillar [32] join each other at the intermediate corners [26a, 26b].

7. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 1 in which the desk panel [30] comprises a desk top panel [38] and an interlinked desk side panel [40], the desk top panel [38] being pivotally linked to an end wall [16], with the interlinked desk side panel [40] being pivotally linked to the desk top panel [38].

8. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 7 in which the desk side panel [40] terminates in a desk panel slot [42] at its free end, and in particular in a fork-shaped desk panel slot [42].

9. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 6 in which the seat panel [28] terminates in a tab [44], and in particular in a tongue-shaped tab [44] that is dimensioned to fit into the elongate pillar slot [36] between the sidewall panels [18b, 20b] of the desk pillar [34].

10. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claims 8 and 9 in which the desk panel slot [42] is adapted to engage and secure the tab [44] of the seat panel [28] in the elongate pillar slot [36].

11. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 1 in which the outer and intermediate corners [22a, 22b; 24a, 24b; 26a, 26b] are defined by corner panels.

12. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 11 in which an outer corner panel

[22a, 22b; 24a, 24b] is defined between each sidewall panel and the end wall to which it is connected, while the intermediate corners [26a, 26b] are defined by two intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] which are arranged between adjoining sidewall panels [18a, 18b; 20a, 20b] where they join.

13. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claims 2 and 12 in which the one outer corner panel [24a or 24b] of the desk pillar [34] is broader than the other outer corner panel [24b or 24a] of the desk pillar [34].

14. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claims 2 and 12 in which the one outer corner panel [22a or 22b] of the chair pillar [32] is broader than the other outer corner panel [22b or 22a] of the chair pillar [32].

15. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 12 in which diagonally opposite outer corner panels [22a, 24a and 22b, 24b] of the column [12] are the same width.

16. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claims 2 and 15 in which one outer corner panel [24a] of the desk pillar [34] is the same width as the diagonally opposite outer corner panel [22a] of the chair pillar [32].

17. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 12 in which the two opposing intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] are not of equal width, with the broader intermediate corner panel being approximately double the width of the narrower intermediate corner panel.

18. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 12 in which the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] are flexible panels, which enables the articulated sidewall panels [18a, 18b; 20a, 20b] to be pivotable relative to each other.

19. A method of assembling the desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claims 1 to 18 from its flat-pack configuration into its assembled configuration, the method comprising the steps of - outwardly displacing the opposing end walls [14, 16] away from each other, allowing the articulated sidewalls [18, 20] to unfold into the bow tie shaped column [12];

pivoting the seat panel [28] towards the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] so that it rests on top of the chair pillar [32], with the tab [44] located in the elongate pillar slot [36] between the sidewall panels [18b; 20b] of the desk pillar [34];

pivoting the desk panel [30] towards the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] until the desk top panel [38] rests on top of the desk pillar [34];

pivoting the desk side panel [40] down until it abuts the sidewall panels [18b, 20b] of desk pillar [34] and covers the elongate pillar slot [36] between the sidewall panels [18b, 20b];

sliding the desk panel slot [42] of the desk side panel [40] over the tab [44] of the seat panel [28] and down outside surfaces of the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] so as to trap the tab [44] between the sidewall panels [18b, 20b] of the desk pillar [34] in the elongate pillar slot [36], while obstructing outward displacement of the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] away from each other.

20. A method of collapsing the desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claims 1 to 18 from its assembled configuration into its flat-pack configuration, the method comprising the steps of - lifting the desk panel [30] upwards so that the desk panel slot [42] disengages the tab [44] of the seat panel [28];

pivoting the desk panel [30] backwards until the desk top panel [38] rests against the end wall [16], with the desk side panel [40] resting either against the desk top panel [38] or also against the end wall [16];

lifting the seat panel [28] upwards to disengage the tab [44] from the elongate pillar slot [36];

pivoting the seat panel [28] backwards until it rests against the opposing end wall [14];

sliding one sidewall panel [18a] of the chair pillar [32] past the diagonally opposite sidewall panel [20b] of the desk pillar [34] by pushing the two intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] into two diagonally opposite outer corner panels, such that the intermediate corner panels [26a, 26b] are nestled against the diagonally opposite outer corner panels [22a, 24a],

the arrangement being such that the one sidewall panel [18a] of the chair pillar [32] and the diagonally opposite sidewall panel [20b] of the desk pillar [34] abut each other in parallel orientation, while the other sidewall panel [20a] of the chair pillar [32] abuts the one end wall [14] in parallel orientation, with the other sidewall panel [18b] of the desk pillar [34] abutting the other end wall [16] in parallel orientation; and

pushing the end walls [14, 16] towards each other so that the unit concertinas into a collapsed substantially flat-pack configuration in which the end walls [14, 16], sidewall panels [18a, 18b; 20a, 20b], seat panel [28] and desk panel [30] are arranged in abutting parallel orientation with each other.

21. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 1 in which the integrated desk-and- chair unit [10] is foldable from a single sheet of material.

22. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 21 in which the material is a robust and lightweight cellular or honeycomb construction.

23. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 21 in which the material is manufactured from a plastics moulding, cardboard, wood, composite material, solid board, or the like.

24. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 1 in which the desk-and-chair unit

[10] is foldable between an assembled, free-standing configuration and a collapsed, compact and substantially flat-pack configuration, such that in the collapsed configuration, the desk-and-chair unit [10] is portable on a user's back.

25. The desk-and-chair unit [10] according to claim 1 substantially as herein illustrated and exemplified with reference to the accompanying Figures.