Chair

Abstract

To provide a chair capable of preventing a seat face and a backrest from being soiled with dust and maintaining a clean state even when installed outdoors.SOLUTION: A chair of the present invention includes: a seat plate having a seat face extending in a first direction; first and second side wall parts provided in the two end parts in the first direction of the seat plate, which have a plate-like shape; and a cover for covering the seat face, which is provided so as to be opened and closed by moving to the front and back. Each of the first and second side wall parts extends in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and has an edge surface of a shape curved in the extension direction. The cover is configured so as to be supported by the edge surface of the first side wall part and the second side wall part and be slidable. Each of slats constituting the cover is fitted to each other by a curved part in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and has a structure to prevent water immersion by reversing the direction of the curve. Grooves are formed on the edge surfaces of the first and second side wall parts so that rainwater falling on both sides of the cover is drained.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a chair, and more particularly to a chair for outdoor use. [Background technology]

[0002] There are many benches installed outdoors in parks, public facilities, large private facilities, etc. However, if the seat of an outdoor bench is dirty or wet after rain, you cannot sit on it. Patent Document 1 describes a bench in which the upper seat board is attached so that it can be raised and lowered freely, with its rear end as the center of rotation, between a reclined position in which it covers the top surface of the lower seat board and an upright position in which it rests against the front of the backrest, so that even if the seat of the bench is wet after it has rained, a dry seat can be revealed where the person sitting on the bench can be made to sit simply by changing the position of the upper seat board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-250654 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the chair described in Patent Document 1, simply lifting the upper seat board is problematic because wind allows rain and dust to get in through the gap between the upper and lower seat boards, making it insufficient for sitting on. Furthermore, when sitting down, the upper seat board is raised onto the back of the bench, but the upper seat board gets in the way and the underside of the upper seat board is not sufficiently clean. Generally, outdoor chairs and benches (long benches) are not provided with covers, and the seat and back become soiled by exposure to wind and rain. For this reason, when using the chair, people sometimes lay or cover the chair with paper or cloth, which is time-consuming. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to wind and rain can cause the chair itself to deteriorate and even become damaged. What is needed is a chair that can prevent the seat and back from getting dirty and can be kept clean even when placed outdoors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The chair of the present invention comprises a seat plate having a seat surface and extending in a first direction, first and second side walls provided at both ends of the seat plate in the first direction and having a plate-like shape, and a cover that covers the seat surface and can be opened and closed by moving back and forth. Each of the first and second side walls extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction and has an edge surface that is curved in the extension direction, and the cover is slidably supported on the edge surfaces of the first and second side walls. In the chair of the present invention, the seat is covered with a cover that can be opened and closed, preventing the seat from getting dirty or deteriorating. Furthermore, the cover is slidably supported on the edges of the first and second side walls at both ends of the seat, allowing it to be opened and closed smoothly along the edges. Furthermore, when the cover is closed, the seat, back panel, and the inner surfaces of the first and second side walls are prevented from being exposed to the elements, keeping them clean.

[0006] The chair according to the present invention may further include first and second guide rails joined and fixed to the first and second side wall portions, respectively, and having a generally L-shape. Ceiling portions of the first and second guide rails cover a portion of the edge surfaces of the first and second side wall portions, respectively, and gaps for guiding the cover may be formed between the edge surface of the first side wall portion and the first guide rail, and between the edge surface of the second side wall portion and the second guide rail. In the chair of the present invention, a cover is placed in the gap formed between the edge surface of the first side wall portion and the first guide rail, and between the edge surface of the second side wall portion and the second guide rail, and the cover is guided between these gaps, allowing it to move smoothly.

[0007] In addition, in the chair of the present invention, the cover may include a first slat and a second slat extending in the first direction and connected to each other in the second direction, the first slat having a first curved portion at one end in the second direction that curves in the extension direction and a second curved portion at the other end in the second direction that curves in the extension direction, the second slat having a third curved portion at one end in the second direction that curves in the extension direction and a fourth curved portion at the other end in the second direction that curves in the extension direction, the second curved portion being curved in the opposite direction to the curved direction of the first curved portion, and the fourth curved portion being curved in the opposite direction to the curved direction of the third curved portion, and the second slat being connected to the first slat at a fitting portion where the first slat and the second slat are fitted together, by the third curved portion of the second slat hanging down so as to cover the outer edge side of the second curved portion of the first slat. In the chair of the present invention, the second curved portion curves toward the inside of the chair, so that the joint portion avoids a position where it is subjected to the flow of rainwater, and the rainwater jumps over the connection portion, thereby preventing water from seeping in through the connection portion.

[0008] In addition, in the chair of the present invention, the first slat may have a bottom protrusion having a curved surface on the bottom side of the end in the first direction, and an end protrusion having a convex shape on the side side of the end of the first slat, and when the cover is opened or closed, the bottom protrusion of the first slat abuts against the edge surface of the first side wall portion or the second side wall portion, and the end protrusion abuts against the inner wall surface of the first guide rail or the second guide rail, and the cover moves while being guided. In the chair of the present invention, the bottom projections support the weight of each slat and reduce friction when the cover is opened or closed, while the end projections prevent the slats from shifting horizontally when the cover is opened or closed and reduce friction when the cover is opened or closed.

[0009] Furthermore, the chair of the present invention may be characterized in that the edge surface of the first side wall portion or the second side wall portion has a groove portion for draining rainwater from the cover, and the bottom surface of the groove portion is inclined from the top to the bottom of the chair. Rainwater flowing in from both ends of the slats is dropped into the grooves provided on the edge surface of the first side wall or the second side wall and discharged to the outside, thereby preventing rainwater from flowing into the interior of the chair.

[0010] In addition, in the chair of the present invention, the cover may be formed by connecting a plurality of slats, each of which has a curved portion that curves in the extension direction at both ends in the second direction, and the curved portions are connected to each other by fitting together, and the plurality of slats may include a top slat that is arranged to be located near the top of the cover when the cover is closed, and the curved portions provided at both ends in the second direction of the top slat are curved in the same downward direction. Since the curved portions provided on both ends of the top slat are curved in the same downward direction, rainwater flows over the joints at both the front and rear, making it easier to prevent water from seeping in. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The chair of the present invention has a cover that covers the seat and is openable and closable, preventing the seat from getting dirty or deteriorating. The cover is slidably supported on the edge surfaces of the first and second side walls provided at both ends of the seat, allowing it to be opened and closed smoothly along the edge surfaces. Furthermore, when the cover is closed, it prevents the seat, back panel, and the inner surfaces of the first and second side walls from being exposed to the elements, keeping the entire interior of the chair clean, even when the chair is installed outdoors. This prevents the seat and back from getting wet or dirty, making it possible to provide a chair that is always clean. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a perspective view of a chair according to this embodiment as viewed from the front side. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a perspective view of the chair according to this embodiment as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 3] Fig. 3(a) is a diagram schematically showing the chair according to this embodiment as seen from the right side, and Fig. 3(b) is an enlarged view of part A at the bottom end of the storage section in Fig. 3(a). [Figure 4] Fig. 4(a) is a diagram showing the internal structure of the right side of the chair according to this embodiment. The diagram is partially cut away to show the cover attachment structure. Fig. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb in Fig. 4(a). [Figure 5] Fig. 5 is a diagram that schematically shows the internal structure of the left side of the chair 1. In Fig. 5, a part of the diagram is cut away so that the attachment structure of the cover can be seen. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining the slats that constitute the cover. Figure 6(a) is a schematic diagram of the slats. Figure 6(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIb-VIb in Figure 6(a). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the cover as seen from diagonally below. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIb-VIIIb in FIG. [Figure 9] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the slat near the top of the cover. Note that Fig. 9 shows only the slat to be described. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Chairs according to some embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same elements in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted. In the description, terms indicating directions such as "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "front," and "rear" are convenient terms based on the state shown in the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a chair according to this embodiment. The chair 1 according to this embodiment may have a plate-shaped seat panel 2 having a seat surface. The seat panel 2 extends in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the left-right direction corresponds to the first direction. The chair 1 may also have a first side wall 3 attached to the right end of the seat panel 2 and a second side wall 4 attached to the left end of the seat panel 2, facing the first side wall. As shown in FIG. 1, the first side wall 3 has a plate-like shape, and the first edge surface 3k of the first side wall 3 may have a shape that curves upward in the extension direction. Similarly, the second side wall 4 has a plate-like shape, and the second edge surface 4k of the second side wall 4 may have a shape that curves upward in the extension direction. The rear side of the first edge surface 3k may have a shape that extends approximately perpendicular to the ground surface. 1. The seat panel 2, the back panel 5, the first side wall 3, and the second side wall 4 are components of the sealed space, and can be made of a single plate or a composite material with no gaps.

[0015] Referring to Figure 1, the cover 6 is provided with a first guide rail 15 and a second guide rail 16, which are joined and fixed to the first side wall portion 3 and the second side wall portion 4, respectively, and each of the ceiling portions covers a part of the first edge surface 3k and the second edge surface 4k of the side wall portion, and gaps are formed between the first edge surface 3k and the first guide rail 15, and between the second edge surface 4k and the second guide rail 16, for guiding the cover 6. The cover 6 can be opened and closed by moving it along this gap. When the chair 1 is in use, the cover 6 can be moved to an open position. On the other hand, when the chair 1 is not in use, the cover 6 can be moved to a closed position to cover the seat panel 2, back panel 5, etc. A handle 7 can be provided on the cover 6 to make it easier to open and close the cover 6.

[0016] The cover 6 is provided to cover the inner surfaces of the seat panel 2, back panel 5, first side wall portion 3, and second side wall portion 4 when the chair 1 is not in use. In particular, when the chair 1 is set up outdoors, the cover 6 can prevent the surfaces of the seat panel 2, back panel 5, etc. from getting wet with rain or getting dirty with dirt and dust. Furthermore, the cover 6 can prevent the chair 1 from being exposed to wind and rain and from deteriorating, thereby increasing the durability of the chair 1.

[0017] Furthermore, legs 8 are formed at the lower ends of the first side wall portion 3 and the second side wall portion 4. Two legs may be provided on each of the first side wall portion 3 and the second side wall portion 4.

[0018] 2 is a schematic perspective view of the chair according to this embodiment as seen from the rear side. A storage compartment 10 can be provided behind the back panel 5. When the cover 6 is moved to the rear side of the back panel 5, it can be stored in the storage compartment 10 by moving the cover 6 into the storage compartment 10 through an opening 11 provided at the top of the storage compartment 10.

[0019] Next, the storage compartment 10 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the chair 1 as viewed from the right side. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage compartment 10 comprises a first back panel 10a, a second back panel 10b facing the inside of 10a, storage compartment side panels 10c (both left and right) constituting the left and right sides, and a storage compartment bottom panel 10d constituting the bottom. A gap for storing the cover 6 is formed inside the storage compartment 10. An opening 11 for storing the cover 6 is provided at the upper side of the storage compartment 10. In this embodiment, the size of the opening 11 is designed to be slightly larger than the thickness of the cover 6. This allows the gap between the opening 11 and the cover 6 to be minimized when storing the cover 6 in the storage compartment 10. Furthermore, the height of the storage compartment can be adjusted to approximately the upper end of the back panel. As a result, dust, rain, and the like can be prevented from entering through the gap between the opening 11 and the cover 6.

[0020] To create an airtight space inside the bench, the back panel 5 and the second back panel 10b are joined at their tops, and the seat panel 2 extends rearward and joins with the second back panel 10b. This prevents wind, rain, and dust from blowing up from underneath the chair 1 from entering the bench. As a result, the surfaces of the seat panel 2 and back panel 5 can be prevented from getting wet or dirty with rainwater and dust.

[0021] 3(b), a storage section bottom plate 10d provided at the bottom of the storage section 10 can be provided with a plurality of storage section through-holes 10e for draining rainwater and the like that has entered the storage section 10. This prevents rainwater and the like from accumulating inside the storage section 10.

[0022] Next, the attachment structure of the cover 6 will be described. Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of the attachment structure of the cover 6 of the chair 1. Figure 4 shows the internal structure of the right side of the chair 1. Figure 4(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb in Figure 4(a). Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the left side of the chair 1. Note that for ease of understanding, Figures 4 and 5 show parts of the cover 6 and the first and second guide rails 15, 16 cut away.

[0023] 4(a), the first edge surface 3k is composed of a first outer edge surface 3a, a first inner edge surface 3b, and a first edge surface groove 3c. A cover is disposed in the gap formed between the first inner edge surface 3b and the first guide rail 15. Similarly, on the left side of the chair, as shown in Figure 5, the second edge surface 4k consists of a second outer edge surface 4a, a second inner edge surface 4b and a second edge surface groove 4c, and a cover is placed in the gap formed between the second inner edge surface 4b and the second guide rail 16. The cover is guided between the left and right gaps, allowing the cover to move smoothly. Additionally, the first and second guide rails 15, 16 restrict the cover's upward movement, preventing it from peeling off or being stolen. If the cover were to float upward and bend excessively outward, the fitting could come loose, but the guide rails restrict its upward movement, preventing this. Furthermore, the protrusions on the ends of the slats abut against the inner wall of the guardrail, eliminating horizontal displacement of the cover and preventing rainwater and dust from entering the chair from both ends.

[0024] The first edge groove 3c in FIG. 4(a) functions to allow rainwater to fall and be discharged to the outside. The width of the first edge groove 3c can be approximately 20 mm to 50 mm, and the depth of the groove can be approximately 20 mm to 60 mm. The bottom of this groove is inclined from the top to the bottom of the chair, allowing rainwater flowing in from the slats to fall and be discharged to the outside. The width of the first outer edge surface 3a and the first inner edge surface 3b on both sides of the groove can be, for example, approximately 10 mm to 40 mm. The first outer edge surface 3a and the first inner edge surface 3b can also be configured as plates. FIG. 5 shows the structure of the left side wall, which has the same structure as the right side wall described above.

[0025] Additionally, rail-shaped thin metal plates 12 are embedded in the first inner edge surface 3b to guide and support the bottom projections 17 attached to each slat. The bottom projections 17 and the metal plates 12 that support them reduce friction in the direction of gravity, allowing the cover 6 to move smoothly when opening and closing.

[0026] Next, we will explain the detailed structure of the individual metal plates and slats that make up the cover 6. The cover has a flexible structure in which multiple slats are connected in the second direction. The slats can be made of, for example, a metal material. 6 is a bottom view of one of the slats, showing that it has bottom projections 17 on the bottom side of the end. In addition, necks protrude from the center of both ends to form end projections 13. When the cover is opened or closed, the bottom projections 17 come into contact with the first inner edge surface 3b and the second inner edge surface 4b, and the end projections 13 come into contact with the inner wall surfaces of the first guide rail 15 and the second guide rail 16, and the cover 6 moves while being guided. The bottom projections 17 can be positioned a few centimeters inward from both ends of each slat 14. The contacting tips of the bottom projections 17 can have a curved surface with a predetermined curvature. In this embodiment, they have a hemispherical shape. The bottom projections 17 can be made of a metal such as stainless steel. The bottom projections 17 support the weight of each slat and reduce friction when the cover is opened or closed. The end projections 13 prevent the slats from shifting horizontally when the cover is opened or closed, and also reduce friction when the cover is opened or closed.

[0027] In Figure 6(a), when the cover 6 is closed, the upper curved portion 50 of the slat faces upward and the lower curved portion 60 of the slat faces downward. The upper curved portion 50 of the slat rolls backward, and the lower curved portion 60 of the slat rolls forward. Figure 6(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIb-VIb in Figure 6(a).

[0028] Next, the structure of the cover will be explained. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the cover 6 as seen from diagonally below (inside the chair). The center of each end of the slat is protruded, allowing rainwater to run off from both sides of the end protrusions 13. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIb-VIIb in Figure 7. Bottom protrusions 17, which support the slats in the direction of gravity, can be installed at the end directly below the upper curved part of each slat.

[0029] The cover is composed of multiple slats arranged in the second direction. All slats can be of the same structure, but as described below, the slats near the top of the cover when closed can have a different structure. Here, we will describe the structure of a typical slat. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIb-VIIb in Figure 7. The second slat 14b, a typical slat, consists of a straight section and curved sections at both ends. It curves upward in the second direction (the second direction) and downward in the opposite direction. At the first joint 20, the upper curved section 50b of the second slat 14b can bend to enclose the lower curved section 60a of the first slat 14a from the outside, changing the direction of extension by approximately 180 degrees. At the second joint 30, the lower curved section 60b of the second slat 14b can bend to enter the upper curved section 50c of the third slat 14c, changing the direction of extension by approximately 360 degrees. In both the first joint 20 and the second joint 30, the curvatures of the curved sections of adjacent slats can be made closer to each other, resulting in surface contact. Surface contact can better prevent rainwater from entering.

[0030] 8, the lower curved portion 60a of the first slat is curved toward the inside of the chair to form a joint, which prevents the joint from being exposed to rainwater, allowing rainwater to jump over the joint and reducing water seepage through the joint. Furthermore, the cover 6, which fits multiple slats 14, has a simple structure with only the minimum number of curved and straight sections required to connect the slats, and compared to commercially available shutters, it can be designed with fewer bends in the second direction (vertical direction). This results in a structure with fewer irregularities that hinder the flow of rainwater, and the vertical flow of rainwater is forced to flow horizontally after encountering resistance at the bent sections, reducing the amount of water that falls on both ends of the cover 6. As a result, the chair can be designed to be water-resistant, and the interior of the chair can be kept clean.

[0031] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the slats near the top when the cover 6 is closed. For illustrative purposes, Figure 9 shows only the slats near the top. When the cover 6 is closed, it must cover the front of the chair 1 and extend from the top to just below the top edge of the back panel 5, protecting the interior of the chair from wind, rain, and dust. While the structure of all slats on the cover 6 can be unified, as shown in Figure 9, the fourth slat 14d and the fifth slat 14e can also be suspended from the top slat 14f near the top. In this structure, the curved portions of the top slat 14f at both ends in the second direction are curved in the same direction toward the interior of the chair. The curved portions at both ends of the top slat 14f are curved in a different direction from, for example, the second slat 14b shown in Figure 8. Furthermore, the curved portions at both ends are designed to enclose the curved portions of the adjacent fourth slat 14d and fifth slat 14e from the outside.

[0032] If only the slats 14f near the top are wound inward at both the front and rear as shown in Figure 9, rainwater will flow over the joints at both the front and rear, making it easier to prevent water from seeping in. In addition, the inclination of the front and rear slats near the top becomes greater, and the greater the inclination of the connection, the deeper the fit. This makes it possible to better prevent water from seeping into the interior of chair 1 through the slat joint near the top.

[0033] When the top slat is used, the curved direction of the joint of the rear slat of the top slat will be reversed in the left-right direction in Figure 8. The direction of the inside and outside of the chair is the same.

[0034] To make it easier to open and close, a separation board can be placed in the center of the bench to separate it into two shutters. Depending on the length of the bench, it is also possible to have a structure with three or more shutters. The separator may have a structure including grooves or the like, similar to the first side wall 3 and the second side wall 4.

[0035] While the principles of the present invention have been illustrated and described in preferred embodiments, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. The present invention is not limited to the particular constructions disclosed herein. We therefore claim all modifications and variations that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 chair 2 Seat board 3 First side wall 3k First edge 3a First outer edge 3b First inner edge 3c First edge groove 4 Second side wall 4k Second edge 4a Second outer edge 4b Second inner edge 4c Second edge groove 5 Back plate 6 Cover 7. Toride 8 legs 10 Storage area 10a 1st back plate 10b 2nd back plate 10c Storage compartment side panel 10d Storage compartment bottom plate 10e Storage section through hole 11 Opening 12 metal plate 13 End protrusion 14 slats 14a First slat 14b Second slat 14c 3rd slat 14d 4th slat 14e 5th slat 14f Top slat 15 First guide rail 16 Second guide rail 17 Bottom protrusion 20 First mating part 30 Second mating part 50 Upper curved part of slat 50a Upper curved portion of first slat 50b Upper curved portion of second slat 50c Upper curve of third slat 60 Lower curved part of slat 60a Lower curved part of first slat 60b Lower curved portion of second slat

Claims

1. a seat plate having a seat surface and extending in a first direction; First and second side wall portions each having a plate shape and provided at both ends of the seat plate in the first direction; a cover that covers the seat surface and can be opened and closed by moving back and forth; Equipped with each of the first and second sidewall portions extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction and has an edge surface having a shape curved in the extension direction; The chair is characterized in that the cover is slidably supported on the edge surfaces of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion.

2. The device further includes first and second guide rails joined and fixed to the first and second side wall portions, respectively, and each guide rail has a substantially L-shape, The chair described in claim 1, characterized in that the ceiling portions of the first and second guide rails cover a portion of the edge surfaces of the first and second side wall portions, respectively, and gaps for guiding the cover are formed between the edge surface of the first side wall portion and the first guide rail, and between the edge surface of the second side wall portion and the second guide rail.

3. the cover includes first and second slats extending in the first direction and connected to each other in the second direction; The first slat has a first slat upper curved portion curved in the extension direction at one end side in the second direction, and a first slat lower curved portion curved in the extension direction at the other end side in the second direction, The second slat has a second slat upper curved portion curved in the extension direction at one end side in the second direction, and a second slat lower curved portion curved in the extension direction at the other end side in the second direction, the first slat lower curved portion is curved in a direction opposite to the curved direction of the first slat upper curved portion, the second slat lower curved portion is curved in a direction opposite to the curved direction of the second slat upper curved portion, The chair described in claim 1, characterized in that at the fitting portion where the first slat and the second slat are fitted together, the second slat is connected to the first slat by hanging down so that the second slat upper curved portion of the second slat overlaps the outer edge side of the first slat lower curved portion of the first slat.

4. The first slat has a bottom protrusion having a curved surface on a bottom side of an end portion in the first direction, and an end protrusion having a convex shape on a side surface side of the end portion of the first slat, The chair described in claim 3, characterized in that when the cover is opened or closed, the bottom protrusion of the first slat abuts against the edge surface of the first side wall portion or the second side wall portion, and the end protrusion abuts against the inner wall surface of the first guide rail or the second guide rail and is guided while the cover moves.

5. a groove portion for draining rainwater from the cover is provided on an edge surface of the first side wall portion or the second side wall portion; 2. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the groove is inclined from the top to the bottom of the chair.

6. The cover is formed by connecting a plurality of slats, Each of the plurality of slats has a curved portion curved in the extension direction on both end sides in the second direction, and the curved portions are fitted and connected to each other, the plurality of slats include a top slat arranged to be located near a top of the cover when the cover is closed; 2. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the curved portions provided on both ends of the top slat in the second direction are curved in the same direction.

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