SEATING FURNITURE, ESPECIALLY CHAIR, AND COMBINATION OF SUCH SEATING FURNITURE WITH A STOOL

Description

[0001] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a piece of seating furniture according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Seating furniture in which the seat and backrest are formed as a single piece is well-known in the art. They are used, for example, in gardens or lounges. The base assembly of this type of seating usually consists of a metal frame that is firmly screwed to the seat assembly. When sitting on such a piece and leaning back, the connection between the seat and backrest sections, which form an L-shape, is subjected to stress. Frequent deformation leads to the formation of microcracks, which, in extreme cases, can lead to the tearing or even breakage of the backrest section.

[0003] A generic piece of seating furniture is known from US 4,027,843 A. For further prior art, reference is made to IT-A-UB 20154742, EP-A-0388542, and WO-A-2018 / 069493.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to remedy this situation.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by a piece of seating furniture according to claim 1. When a person sits down on the seating furniture and leans backward, the compressible assembly is compressed more strongly in a portion adjacent to the backrest section than in a portion remote from the backrest section. This allows the compressible assembly to absorb part of the movement of the backrest section caused by the reclining, so that the connection between the seat section and the backrest section is deformed less and thus subjected to less stress.

[0006] At this point, it should be noted that the property "compressible" in the context of the present invention is considered to be given if the thickness of the compressible assembly measured from the seat surface section to the support section decreases by more than 1% under the weight of an 80 kg person sitting on the seat.

[0007] In In a structurally simple manner, the compressible assembly can comprise a foam body, preferably a foam body made of memory foam. For example, an open-pore polyurethane foam can be used as the memory foam.

[0008] Although it is conceivable to design the compressible assembly, for example the foam body, in a wedge shape, i.e., as an assembly whose thickness is greater in a portion adjacent to the backrest section than in a portion remote from the backrest section, a further development of the invention proposes that the upper side of the compressible assembly facing the seat surface section and the underside of the compressible assembly facing the support section run essentially parallel to one another. The thickness of the compressible assembly, for example the foam body, can be between approximately 40 mm and approximately 60 mm, preferably approximately 50 mm.

[0009] Furthermore, in the case of a cuboid-shaped compressible assembly, the length measured in the direction from the partial area adjacent to the backrest section to the partial area remote from the backrest section and the width measured orthogonally thereto of the compressible assembly can be dimensioned and / or the compressible assembly can be arranged in such a way that the front edge of the compressible assembly sets back by a maximum of 10 cm from the front edge of the seat surface section, while the lateral edges of the compressible assembly are substantially flush with the lateral edges of the seat surface section.

[0010] In principle, however, it is also conceivable for the shape of the compressible assembly, for example, the foam body, to be freely selectable in length and / or width directions. This is particularly advantageous when the seat section is made of a transparent material, as the compressible assembly can then be used in a variety of ways for design purposes, as long as its actual function is not compromised.

[0011] For example, the shape of the compressible assembly, particularly its outer contour, can be designed in the form of a logo, and / or a logo can be milled into its surface facing the seat section. Furthermore, it can be single- or multi-colored. Finally, it is also possible to enclose the compressible assembly in a cover, which can be made of textile, leather, or the like, for example, to match the surfaces of other furniture, walls, or the like.

[0012] To connect the compressible assembly to the seat assembly and the foot assembly, it is proposed that at least one spring unit be provided, one end of which can be positively connected to the seat surface section of the seat assembly and the other end of which can be positively connected to the support section of the foot assembly. A screw, for example a countersunk screw, can be arranged at at least one end of the spring unit. The screw can be screwed with an external thread into a complementary thread of the seat surface section or the support section, respectively, whereby a spring of the spring unit can be positively connected to the screw.

[0013] Advantageously, at least one spring unit is arranged in at least each of the four corner regions of the seat section.

[0014] It is further proposed that at least one of the spring units passes through a through hole provided in the compressible assembly.

[0015] The spring units hold the compressible assembly in place and allow it to be replaced if necessary.

[0016] In a further development of the invention, in particular of the seat assembly of the seating furniture according to the invention, it is proposed that the seat surface section and / or the backrest section be substantially flat. However, it is also conceivable in principle for the seat surface section and / or the backrest section to be curved, with the curvature preferably being concave toward the inside of the L-shape formed by the two sections. Due to the curvature, at least one of the two sections can have the shape of a shell, i.e., a seat shell or a back shell.

[0017] Furthermore, the seat assembly can be made of a material that has a lower compressibility than the material of the compressible assembly, preferably being substantially incompressible compared to the latter. For example, the seat assembly can be made of plastic, such as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or PC (polycarbonate) or PP (polypropylene) or CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) or GFRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic), in particular of transparent plastic.

[0018] In a structurally simple manner, the seat assembly can be bent from a plate-shaped element into the L-shape comprising the seat surface section and the backrest section. For each of the aforementioned materials, relevant deformation methods are known to those skilled in the art by which this can be achieved. The thickness of the plate-shaped element can advantageously be between approximately 8 mm and approximately 15 mm, preferably approximately 12 mm.

[0019] According to the invention, the foot assembly comprises, in addition to the support section, a substantially horizontally extending base section and a connecting section that connects the base section and the support section, forming a substantially C-shape with them. Due to its substantially C-shaped configuration, the foot assembly is also capable of absorbing at least part of the tilt angle of the backrest section caused by reclining.

[0020] For design reasons, it is advantageous if the connecting section is arranged on the back of the seating furniture, i.e. on the side of the seating furniture where the seat assembly has the backrest section.

[0021] Analogous to the seat assembly, it is proposed that the support section, the connecting section and the base section of the foot assembly are also formed integrally with one another, and / or that the foot assembly is made of plastic, for example PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or PC (polycarbonate) or PP (polypropylene) or CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) or GFRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic), in particular of transparent plastic, and / or that the foot assembly is bent from a plate-shaped element into the C-shape having the support section, the connecting section and the base section.

[0022] The thickness of the plate-shaped element can be between about 10mm and about 25mm, preferably about 20mm.

[0023] Furthermore, the connecting portion and the support portion can form an angle of more than 90° between them, preferably an angle of between about 95° and about 105°, more preferably an angle of about 100°. Furthermore, the connecting portion and the base portion can form an angle of between about 90° and about 80° between them, preferably an angle of about 85°.

[0024] It should also be noted that the seat assembly and the foot assembly can be made of the same material, in particular the same plastic. When manufactured from plate-shaped elements, the material used to make the seat assembly may be thinner than the material used to make the foot assembly.

[0025] It should also be noted that, as an alternative to plastic, the seat assembly and / or the foot assembly can also be made of metal, such as steel or aluminum, or of wood, such as plywood. For these materials, too, appropriate forming processes are known to those skilled in the art to enable production from a plate-shaped element.

[0026] Depending on the material in question, at least one of the following processes can be used: thermoforming, injection moulding, deep drawing, mould bonding (particularly for wood), male mould plus female mould (particularly for plastic, wood, etc.).

[0027] Finally, it should also be noted that the seating furniture according to the invention is preferably a chair, regardless of its precise intended use. In particular, the seating furniture according to the invention can be designed as a lounge chair, a seating chair for dining tables, living room tables, desks, a meeting chair, and the like. For this purpose, only its dimensions, for example, the extension of the connecting section of the foot assembly, need to be adapted.

[0028] According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a combination of a piece of seating furniture according to the invention with a stool, wherein the stool has a foot assembly with a support section, a base section and a connecting section as well as a compressible assembly, wherein the support section, the base section and the connecting section of the foot assembly of the stool enclose the same angles with one another as the support section, the base section and the connecting section of the foot assembly of the seating furniture, and wherein the support section, the base section and the connecting section of the foot assembly of the stool and the compressible assembly of the stool are dimensioned such that the stool can be received in the recess of the C-shape of the seating furniture.

[0029] In order to be able to connect the compressible assembly of the stool to the support section of the stool, it is proposed that at least one screw, preferably a countersunk head screw, passes through an associated through-hole of the support section and engages in a threaded sleeve which is arranged in a blind hole provided in the compressible assembly, preferably glued into the blind hole.

[0030] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawing. It shows: Figure 1 shows a side view of a combination according to the invention comprising a seating furniture according to the invention and a stool designed in accordance with the shape of a foot assembly of the seating furniture; Figure 2 shows a side view of the combination of Figure 1with a stool accommodated in the foot assembly of the seating furniture; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the seating furniture according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a partially sectioned side view of a spring unit for connecting the seat assembly, foot assembly, and compressible assembly of the seating furniture according to the invention; and Figure 5 shows a partially sectioned side view of a connecting unit for connecting the foot assembly and the compressible assembly of the stool.

[0031] In Figure 1 A piece of seating furniture is generally designated 100. The seating furniture 100 comprises a seat assembly 102, a foot assembly 104, and a compressible assembly 106 arranged between the seat assembly 102 and the foot assembly 104.

[0032] The seat assembly 102 comprises a seat portion 110 and a backrest portion 112, which are formed integrally with each other, for example, from a 12 mm thick PMMA sheet material. The seat portion 110 and the backrest portion 112 together essentially form an "L" shape, with the leg of the L-shape formed by the backrest portion 112 having a bend 112a. In In the illustrated embodiment, the seat surface section 110 and the backrest section 112 are each substantially flat.

[0033] Similarly, the base assembly 104 comprises a support section 114, a base section 116, and a connecting section 118 connecting the support section 114 and the base section 116. These connecting sections are formed integrally with one another, for example, from a 20 mm thick PMMA sheet material. The support section 114, the base section 116, and the connecting section 118 together essentially form a "C" shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the support section 114, the base section 116, and the connecting section 118 are each essentially flat.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting portion 118 extends at the rear end of the foot assembly 104, preferably as an extension of the lower portion 112b of the backrest portion 112.

[0035] Furthermore, the seat surface portion 110 of the seat assembly 102 and the support portion 114 of the foot assembly 104 extend substantially parallel to one another. Therefore, the compressible assembly 106, which can easily be manufactured from a memory foam body 120, has a constant thickness of approximately 50 mm. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the compressible assembly 106 has a rectangular basic shape, so that it is overall cuboid-shaped.

[0036] As in Figure 3 As shown, the seat assembly 102, the foot assembly 104, and the compressible assembly 106 are secured together using four spring units 122. More specifically, one of the spring units 122 is disposed in each of the four corner regions of the seat portion 110.

[0037] As in Figure 4As shown, the spring unit 122 comprises a spring 124, in particular a helical spring, which can be loaded both tensile and compressive. At each end of the spring 124, a screw 126 or 128, for example a countersunk screw, is fastened, which can be screwed into a complementarily designed thread 110a of the seat section 110 or 114a of the support section 114. Both threads 110a and 114a each have a countersunk recess for receiving the countersunk head of the screws 126 or 128. In order to be able to transmit both tensile and compressive forces between the spring 124 and the screws 126 and 128, the two screws 126 and 128 can be connected to the spring 124 in a form-fitting manner.

[0038] In order to easily hold the compressible assembly 106 in place, the spring units 122 pass through through holes 106a of the compressible assembly 106.

[0039] In Figure 1Furthermore, a stool 150 is shown, which together with the seating furniture 100 forms a combination 200 according to the invention.

[0040] The stool 150 has a foot assembly 154 with a support section 164, a base section 166 and a connecting section 168 as well as a compressible assembly 156. According to the invention, the support section 164, the base section 166 and the connecting section 168 of the foot assembly 154 of the stool 150 enclose the same angles with each other as the support section 114, the base section 116 and the connecting section 118 of the foot assembly 104 of the seating furniture 100, namely an angle of approximately 100° between the support section and the connecting section and an angle of approximately 85° between the base section and the connecting section. Furthermore, the support portion 164, the base portion 166 and the connecting portion 168 of the foot assembly 154 of the stool 150 and the compressible assembly 156 of the stool 150 are dimensioned such that the stool 150 can be received in the recess of the C-shape of the seating furniture 100.

[0041] For connecting the foot assembly 154 and the compressible assembly 156 of the stool 150, as shown in Figure 5 As shown, at least one screw 176, preferably a countersunk screw, engages an associated through hole 164a of the support section 164 and engages in a threaded sleeve 180 which is arranged in a blind hole 156a provided in the compressible assembly 156, preferably glued into the blind hole 156a.

Claims

1. A seating furniture (100) comprising • a seat assembly (102) having a seat portion (110) and a backrest portion (112) integrally formed with the seat portion (110), and • a base assembly (104) supporting the seat assembly (102), wherein said seating furniture further comprises a compressible assembly (106) interposed between the seat assembly (102) and the base assembly (104), characterized in that the base assembly (104) includes a support portion (114), a generally horizontally extending bottom portion (116), and a connecting portion (118) connecting the bottom portion (116) and the support portion (114) to form a generally C-shape.

2. Seating furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the compressible assembly (106) comprises a foam body, preferably a foam body formed from a memory foam.

3. Seating furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper side of the compressible assembly (106) facing the seat portion (110) and the lower side of the compressible assembly (106) facing the support portion (114) are substantially parallel to one another.

4. Seating furniture according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one spring unit (122) is provided, one end of which can be connected in a form-fitting manner to the seat portion (110) of the seat assembly (102) and the other end of which can be connected in a form-fitting manner to the support portion (114) of the base assembly (104).

5. Seating furniture according to claim 4, characterized in that a screw (126, 128), for example a countersunk head screw, is arranged at at least one end of the spring unit (122), which screw can be screwed by means of an external thread into a complementary thread (110a) of the seat portion (110) or (114a) of the support portion (114), wherein a spring (124) of the spring unit (122) can be connected to the screw (126, 128) in a form-fitting manner.

6. Seating furniture according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that at least one of the spring units (122) passes through a through-hole (106a) provided in the compressible assembly (106).

7. Seating furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the seat portion (110) and / or the backrest portion (112) are / is essentially flat.

8. Seating furniture according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the seat assembly (102) is made of plastic, for example PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or PC (polycarbonate) or PP (polypropylene) or CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced plastic) or GFRP (glass fiber-reinforced plastic), in particular of transparent plastic.

9. Seating furniture according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the seat assembly (102) is bent from a plate-shaped element into the L-shape having the seat portion (110) and the backrest portion (112).

10. Seating furniture according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the connecting portion (118) is arranged at the rear side of the seating furniture (100), that is on that side of the seating furniture (100) where the seat assembly (102) has the backrest portion (112).

11. Seating furniture according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the support portion (114), the connecting portion (118) and the bottom portion (116) of the base assembly (104) are also formed integrally with one another,12. Seating furniture according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the base assembly (104) is made of plastic, for example PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or PC (polycarbonate) or PP (polypropylene) or CFRP (carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic) or GFRP (glass-fibre-reinforced plastic), in particular of transparent plastic.

13. Seating furniture according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the base assembly (104) is bent from a plate-shaped element into the C-shape having the support portion (114), the connecting portion (118) and the bottom portion (116).

14. Combination (200) of a seating furniture (100) of any of the preceding claims with a stool (150), said stool (150) comprising a base assembly (154) having a support portion (164), a bottom portion (166) and a connecting portion (168), and a compressible assembly (156), wherein the seating portion (164), the bottom portion (166) and the connecting portion (168) of the base assembly (154) of the stool (150) enclose the same angles with one another as the seating portion (114), the bottom portion (116) and the connecting portion (118) of the base assembly (104) of the seating furniture (100), and wherein the support portion (164), the bottom portion (166) and the connecting portion (168) of the base assembly (154) of the stool (150) and the compressible assembly (156) of the stool (150) are dimensioned in such a way that the stool (150) can be received in the recess of the C-shape of the seating furniture (100).

15. Combination according to claim 14, characterized in that at least one screw (176), preferably a countersunk head screw, passes through an associated through-hole (164a) of the support portion (164) of the stool (150) and engages in a threaded sleeve (180) which is arranged in a blind hole (156a) provided in the compressible assembly (156) of the stool (150), preferably glued into the blind hole.