Chair, and chair transportation method

Abstract

To provide a chair which can be assembled and can be folded compactly by reducing a volume in comparison with conventional wooden chairs when disassembled and when not used during transportation or storage, and a chair transportation method.SOLUTION: A chair 1 includes: a seat surface 2 with wood as a main constituent material; a backrest part 3 which is removably provided on the seat surface 2 and has wood as a main constituent material; a rotary structure part 4 which is removably provided on a lower surface of the seat surface 2 in an assembled state and can rotate the fitted seat surface 2 in the horizontal direction; a leg 5 removably provided to the rotary structure part 4, composed at a prescribed height by assembling a plurality of leg constituent members 51, 52 separate in a pre-assembled state, and having wood as a main constituent material; and a reinforcement part 6 removably provided to the leg 5 and having wood as a main constituent material. The chair 1 is disassembled into the seat surface 2, the backrest part 3, a rotary structure part 4, the leg 5, and the reinforcement part 6 when disassembled and unused during transportation and storage, and is stored in a container 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a chair and a method for transporting the chair, and more particularly to a chair that can be assembled and can be folded up to a smaller volume than conventional wooden chairs when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage, and to a method for transporting the chair. [Background technology]

[0002] Chairs made primarily of wood (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "wooden chairs") have been manufactured and sold on the market for some time, and one such wooden chair has been proposed by the inventor, for example, as shown in the following Non-Patent Document 1. This wooden chair makes use of the texture of wood and adds a soothing natural feel to a room. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Armless Chair 190 King (Tamo) 6-Piece Set Product Information Kotatsu and other furniture wholesaler Uekyu Shoten Co., Ltd. Internet<URL:https: / / www.uekyu.jp / product / 2956.html> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the Work Style Reform Act will limit the annual overtime work limit for driver's work to 960 hours from April 1, 2024, which will cause problems (hereinafter referred to as the "2024 problem") and is expected to result in increased transportation costs and delays that will have an impact on shipping schedules.

[0005] Typically, wooden chairs like those mentioned above are either assembled at the time of shipment or shipped in two or so separate pieces, but because they are bulky when loaded onto transport vehicles, there is a limit to the amount of load that can be transported in one vehicle, and due to the impact of the 2024 problem mentioned above, there is a risk that this will lead to delivery delays and increased sales costs.

[0006] The present invention was devised in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a chair that can be assembled and can be folded up to a smaller volume than conventional wooden chairs when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage, and a method for transporting the chair. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the chair of the present invention comprises a seat portion whose main constituent material is wood, a backrest portion which is detachably attached to the seat portion and which is also made of wood as a main constituent material, and legs which are detachably attached to what will become the underside of the seat portion when assembled and which are constructed to a predetermined height by assembling a plurality of leg components which are separated before assembly and which are also made of wood as a main constituent material.

[0008] The chair of the present invention is configured as described above, so that it can be assembled easily. This allows the chair to be smaller in volume (in other words, less bulky) than conventional wooden chairs when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage.

[0009] As mentioned above, wooden chairs are usually shipped assembled or in two or so separate pieces when they are shipped from the factory, but the chair of this embodiment does not take up much space when transported, so more chairs (before assembly) can be loaded in the same space compared to conventional wooden chairs, thereby reducing the transportation cost per product.

[0010] The expression "wood is the main component" for the seat, backrest and legs is used to mean both a configuration in which wood is at least the frame and the only component is wood, and a configuration in which wood is the main component in combination with other materials such as cushioning material.

[0011] In addition, the functions of the parts constituting the chair of the present invention are as follows.

[0012] The seating surface will become the seat of the chair after assembly. By using wood as the main component of the seating surface, the chair will have an impressive wooden texture.

[0013] The backrest becomes the back of the chair after assembly. By using wood as the main component of the backrest, the chair has an impressive wooden texture. The detachable structure for the seat can be achieved by forming a connecting hole at the contact point between the seat and the lower part of the backrest when assembled, and by using a combination of bolts and nuts applied through the connecting hole, but is not limited to this. For example, other known detachable connecting structures may be used.

[0014] The legs are made by assembling multiple separate leg components before assembly to form the legs of the chair at a predetermined height from the floor. By using wood as the main structural material for the legs, the chair has an impressive wooden texture.

[0015] Incidentally, the inseparable, one-piece legs of conventional wooden chairs were bulky parts (especially in the height direction), but the legs of the chair of the present invention have a structure in which multiple leg components are separated before assembly, and compared to conventional wooden chairs, the volume of the legs can be made smaller (in other words, the legs are not bulky) when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage.

[0016] The "predetermined height" in the description of the legs is, in consideration of the height of the average Japanese person, preferably in the range of 30 cm to 60 cm, and more preferably in the range of 40 cm to 50 cm, in accordance with the design concept of the present invention.

[0017] Furthermore, the chair described above may further include a reinforcing portion that is detachably attached to the leg portion and is primarily made of wood, and the reinforcing portion may have a structure that spans each of the leg components in the assembled state.

[0018] According to the chair of this aspect, the provision of the reinforcing portion having the above-described structure prevents or suppresses separation of the leg components, thereby contributing to improving the rigidity of the legs. Furthermore, by using wood as the main component of the reinforcing portion, the chair has an impressive wooden texture. Note that the structure of the reinforcing portion that can be attached to the legs and detached may be a re-disassembled connection structure using bolts and nuts, similar to the backrest portion and the like described above.

[0019] Furthermore, the chair described above may further include a rotating structure that is detachably attached to a location between the seat and the legs when assembled, and that is configured to rotate the attached seat horizontally.

[0020] According to the chair of this aspect, by providing the rotating structure part with the above-mentioned structure, the seat of the chair can be rotated horizontally after assembly, which makes it easy to sit down or get up without having to pull the chair, making it a convenient chair. Note that in the rotating structure part, the detachable structure for either or both of the seat part and the legs may be a re-disassembled connecting structure using bolts and nuts, similar to the backrest part described above.

[0021] The chair described above also has a first leg component having legs including a rod-shaped first horizontal section, a rod-shaped first leg section extending from one end of the first horizontal section, and a rod-shaped second leg section provided at the other end of the first horizontal section to be paired with the first leg section, with a first engagement recess formed in the longitudinal center of the first horizontal section; and a second leg component having a rod-shaped second horizontal section, a rod-shaped third leg section provided at one end of the second horizontal section, and a rod-shaped fourth leg section provided at the other end of the second horizontal section to be paired with the third leg section, with a second engagement recess formed in the longitudinal center of the second horizontal section that can engage with the first horizontal section, with the first engagement recess and the second engagement recess being notched in a cross-shaped joint when assembled. The reinforcement part may be a plate body having at least four joints to the first and second cross-bridge parts, and the joints may be such that a first joint is provided at a predetermined position on the reinforcement part and is joined to a position on the first cross-bridge part closer to the first leg part, a second joint is provided at a position on the first cross-bridge part closer to the second leg part, and is arranged in the opposite direction to the first joint, with the center of the reinforcement part in between, a third joint is provided at a predetermined position on the reinforcement part and is joined to a position on the second cross-bridge part closer to the third leg part, and a fourth joint is provided at a position on the second cross-bridge part closer to the fourth leg part, and is arranged in the opposite direction to the third joint, with the center of the reinforcement part in between.

[0022] In the leg section of this aspect, the first leg component and the second leg component can be separated when not assembled. The first leg component comprises a first horizontal section, a first leg section, and a second leg section that are rod-shaped, and the second leg component comprises a second horizontal section, a third leg section, and a fourth leg section that are rod-shaped, so the separated first leg component and second leg component can be made even smaller (in other words, even less bulky).

[0023] As a result, the legs, which tended to be particularly bulky in conventional wooden chairs, can be made even smaller (in other words, even less bulky), and ultimately, with this aspect of the invention, the chair as a whole can be made even smaller in volume (in other words, even less bulky) than conventional wooden chairs when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage.

[0024] The leg portion of this embodiment has a cross-phase notched joint structure that can be easily assembled simply by engaging the first engaging recess with the second engaging recess, which makes assembly easy, and the structure is not complicated even during processing, resulting in good production efficiency.

[0025] The leg portion of this embodiment has a four-leg structure consisting of the first to fourth leg portions, which is well-balanced, resulting in a good appearance when assembled and good stability when in use (when the user is seated).

[0026] The cross-shaped notched joint structure is somewhat vulnerable to loads applied in a direction perpendicular to the joint, and in the chair of this embodiment, the cross-shaped notched joint structure is located below the center of the seat. However, in this embodiment, the reinforcing member is attached in the manner described above, so that the cross-shaped notched joint structure is located at the center of the reinforcing member, providing reinforcement and sufficient strength against loads applied in a vertical direction.

[0027] Furthermore, in this aspect of the invention, by attaching the reinforcing part in the manner described above, the connection between the first leg component and the second leg component is strong and difficult to come loose, and has sufficient strength to withstand loads from the horizontal direction.

[0028] The number of joints provided in the reinforcing part of this embodiment is at least four, but is not limited to this and may be, for example, five or more. Furthermore, the reinforcing part of this embodiment is a plate, and for example, its shape in plan view is rectangular, but is not particularly limited to this and may be circular, etc.

[0029] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the method of transporting a chair of the present invention comprises the steps of: creating a package in which the chair, which has a seat portion, a backrest portion detachably attached to the seat portion, a rotating structure portion detachably attached to what will be the underside of the seat portion when assembled and which has a structure that allows the attached seat portion to rotate horizontally; and legs detachably attached to the rotating structure portion and constructed to a predetermined height by assembling a plurality of leg components that are separated in a pre-assembly state, and in which the seat portion, the backrest portion and the legs are made primarily of wood, is packaged as a whole so that it can be stored as small as possible when the individual portions are disassembled; and loading the package onto a means of transportation for transport.

[0030] According to the method for transporting a chair of the present invention, by providing the above-mentioned steps, the chair can be folded up into a smaller volume than a conventional wooden chair when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] The chair of the present invention is an assembly-type chair, and when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage, it can be folded up to a smaller volume than conventional wooden chairs. Furthermore, the chair transportation method of the present invention allows the chair to be folded up to a smaller volume than conventional wooden chairs when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B show a chair according to the present invention, in which (a) is a front perspective view in an assembled state, and (b) is a perspective explanatory view in a state disassembled into a backrest portion, a seat portion, a rotating structure portion, and legs. [Figure 2] 2 shows a partial configuration of the chair shown in FIG. 1, where (a) is an explanatory perspective view showing the combination of the backrest and seat from the rear side of the seat, (b) is an explanatory perspective view showing the configuration of the backrest in more detail, and (c) is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the seat in more detail from the front side of the seat. [Figure 3]This shows a partial configuration of the chair shown in Figure 1, where (a) is an explanatory perspective view of the combination of the seat and the rotating structure, viewed from the back of the seat, and (b) is an explanatory perspective view of the combination of the rotating structure and the legs, viewed from the upper part of the legs. [Figure 4] 2A and 2B show a partial configuration of the chair shown in FIG. 1, in which (a) is an explanatory perspective view of the state in which the legs are separated, and (b) is an explanatory perspective view of the combination of the legs and reinforcing parts as viewed from the lower part of the legs. [Figure 5] 1 shows an example of a method for transporting a chair according to the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view from above of the chair components (backrest, seat, rotating structure, legs, and reinforcing parts) in a disassembled state, which are bundled together so as to fit as compactly as possible inside a container shown by the dashed dotted line, and (b) is a perspective view from the side of the embodiment shown in (a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The following description will be given in the order of [First Embodiment], [Second Embodiment], [Modification 1], [Modification 2], [Modification 3], and [Modification 4]. Furthermore, the reference numerals in each drawing are assigned within the scope of reducing complexity and facilitating understanding, and in some cases, the same reference numerals are assigned to only some of the equivalent parts.

[0034] (Chair 1) Chair 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Chair 1 is an assembly-type chair, and when not assembled or not in use, such as during transportation or storage, it can be folded up into a smaller volume than conventional wooden chairs. Chair 1 comprises a seat portion 2, a backrest portion 3, a rotating structure portion 4, legs 5, and a reinforcing portion 6 (see Figures 1(a) and (b)). Each portion will be described in detail below.

[0035] (Seat part 2) The seat portion 2 is primarily made of wood and has a seat frame material 21 and a cushion member 22, both of which are made of wood. The cushion member 22 has elasticity (cushioning properties) and is attached to a location that will become the upper surface of the seat frame material 21 in the assembled state (see FIGS. 1(a) and (b)).

[0036] In this embodiment, the seat frame material 21 has a pair of left and right side frames 211 that form the left and right sides of the seat when assembled, and cross frames 212, 213, 214, and 215 that span four locations between the left and right side frames (see FIGS. 2(a) and 2(c)). Note that in this embodiment, the seat frame material 21 is shipped with the side frames 211 and the cross frames 212, 213, 214, and 215 already connected.

[0037] The left and right pair of side frames 211 are connected to the cross frames 212, 213, 214, and 215 by mortise and tenon joints made by combining tenons (symbol omitted) and mortise holes (symbol omitted), dowel joints made by combining dowels (symbol omitted) and dowel holes (symbol omitted), and by applying adhesive to the joint surfaces (see imaginary lines in Figure 2(c)).

[0038] The horizontal frame 212 is a part that connects to the backrest 3 during assembly, and has through holes (reference numerals omitted) formed at predetermined intervals. A pair (two) of reinforcing frames 216 are disposed in the approximate center of the seating surface 2. The reinforcing frame 216 is bridged across the horizontal frames 213 and 214 (see FIGS. 2(a) and 2(c)).

[0039] (Backrest 3) The backrest 3 is detachably attached to the seat 2 and is mainly made of wood. In this embodiment, the backrest 3 has a structure including a back pillar 31, a top board 32, a back beam 33, and a base frame 34 (see Figures 1(b), 2(a), and (b)). In this embodiment, the backrest 3 is shipped with the back pillar 31, the top board 32, the back beam 33, and the base frame 34 already connected.

[0040] In the assembled state, the spine pillars 31 stand upright above the seat surface 2, and are provided in pairs near both the left and right ends of the seat surface 2. A dowel and a connection hole 311 are formed in the base end surface of each of the spine pillars 31 (the surface that abuts against the top of the seat surface 2). A nut member (not shown) is fitted inside the connection hole 311, and the connection hole 311 has a structure in which a female thread is formed into which the connection bolt 7 can be screwed (see FIG. 2(b)).

[0041] The top board 32 is disposed above the seating surface 2 in the assembled state, spanning the left and right spine pillars 31. The back beam 33 is disposed above the seating surface 2 in the assembled state, spanning the left and right spine pillars 31, and is located at the midpoint in the height direction of the backrest 3 (see Figures 1(a) and (b)).

[0042] The base frame 34 is disposed above the seat portion 2 in the assembled state, spanning between the left and right spine columns 31, and is provided at the lower end position in the height direction of the backrest portion 3 (see FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b)). A connection hole 341 is formed in the surface of the base frame 34 that comes into contact with the upper portion of the seat portion 2 in the assembled state. A nut member (not shown) is fitted inside the connection hole 341, and the connection hole 341 has a structure in which a female thread is formed into which the connection bolt 7 can be screwed (see FIG. 2(b)).

[0043] (Rotating structure part 4) The rotating structure 4 is detachably provided on the underside of the seat 2 in the assembled state, and is structured to allow the attached seat 2 to rotate horizontally. In this embodiment, the rotating structure 4 has a structure including a first surface 41, a second surface 42, and a rotating shaft 43 (see Fig. 1(b), Fig. 3(a), (b)).

[0044] The first surface portion 41 and the second surface portion 42 are rectangular metal plates, and are connected at their respective central portions via a rotation shaft portion 43, allowing them to rotate horizontally relative to each other. A through-hole (reference numeral omitted) through which a connection bolt 7 can be inserted is formed at each corner of the first surface portion 41 and the second surface portion 42, and the first surface portion 41 is connected to the back surface of the seat portion 2 in the assembled state, and the second surface portion 42 is connected to the upper surface of the leg portion 5 in the assembled state.

[0045] (leg 5) The leg section 5 is mainly made of wood, is detachably attached to the rotating structure section 4, and is constructed to a predetermined height by assembling a plurality of leg component members that are separated before assembly.

[0046] In this embodiment, the leg 5 is a four-legged type in the assembled state, and before assembly, the leg 5 has a structure constructed by assembling two gate-shaped leg components 51 (corresponding to the first leg component described above) and leg component 52 (corresponding to the second leg component described above) in an intersecting manner (Figures 1(b), 3(b), and 4(a)).

[0047] The leg component 51 has a structure including a pair of leg members 511 (corresponding to the first leg portion described above) and 512 (corresponding to the second leg portion described above) that stand upright in the vertical direction before assembly, and a seat frame 513 (corresponding to the first horizontal portion described above) that is provided to bridge the upper parts of the leg members 511 and 512 (see FIG. 4(a)). In this embodiment, the leg component 51 is shipped with the leg members 511 and 512 and the seat frame 513 already connected.

[0048] An engagement recess 514 (corresponding to the first engagement recess described above) is formed in the center of the seat frame 513 in the direction of extension of the leg members 511, 512 (at a position that will become the bottom surface of the seat frame 513 when assembled) (see FIG. 4(a)). An attachment recess 515 is formed in the center region of the seat frame 513 in the direction opposite to the direction of extension of the leg members 511, 512 (at a position that will become the top surface of the seat frame 513 when assembled) (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0049] The mounting recess 515 is cut out to a length and a shallow depth that allows the mounting of the rotating structure 4 (the second surface 42 thereof), and is provided with a connection hole 516 that can be aligned with the through hole of the second surface 42 (see FIG. 4(a)). The connection hole 516 has a nut member (not shown) fitted inside, and is structured with a female thread into which the connection bolt 7 can be screwed.

[0050] The seat frame 513 is formed with a through hole (reference numeral omitted) that opens at one end to the longitudinal center of the mounting recess 515 and at the other end to the longitudinal center of the engagement recess 514 (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0051] The leg component 52 has a structure including a pair of leg members 521 (corresponding to the third leg portion described above) and 522 (corresponding to the fourth leg portion described above) that stand upright in the vertical direction before assembly, and a seat frame 523 (corresponding to the second horizontal portion described above) that is provided so as to bridge the upper parts of the leg members 521 and 522 (see FIG. 4(a)). In this embodiment, the leg component 52 is shipped with the leg members 521 and 522 and the seat frame 523 already connected.

[0052] An engagement recess 524 (corresponding to the second engagement recess described above) is formed in the center of the longitudinal direction of seat frame 523 on the surface opposite to the extending direction of leg members 521, 522 (at a position that will become the upper surface of seat frame 523 when assembled). An attachment recess 525 is formed in the center region of the longitudinal direction of seat frame 523 on the surface that will become the upper surface of seat frame 523 when assembled (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0053] The mounting recess 525 is cut out to a length and a shallow depth that allows the mounting of the rotating structure 4 (the second surface 42 thereof), and is provided with a connection hole 526 that can be aligned with the through hole of the second surface 42 (see FIG. 4(a)). The connection hole 526 has a nut member (not shown) fitted inside, and is structured with a female thread into which the connection bolt 7 can be screwed.

[0054] The seat frame 523 is formed with a through hole (reference numeral omitted) that opens at one end to the longitudinal center of the engagement recess 524 and at the other end to the longitudinal center of the lower surface of the seat frame 523 (see FIG. 4(a)). A nut member (not shown) is fitted into the through hole.

[0055] (Reinforcement part 6) The reinforcing part 6 is detachably attached to the leg part 5. In this embodiment, the reinforcing part 6 is a wooden plate that is rectangular in plan view, and each corner is formed with a through-hole (reference numeral omitted) through which a connection bolt 7 can be inserted. The reinforcing part 6 is attached to the center of the rear surface of the leg part 5 in an assembled state (the seat frame 513 and the seat frame 523 in an assembled state) (see FIGS. 4(a) and (b)).

[0056] In this embodiment, the nut member arranged in the connection hole is a countersunk nut in consideration of its combination with the constituent material (wood), but this is not limited to this and may be a known nut member such as a long nut (tall nut) or a general nut.

[0057] In this embodiment, the connection between the side frame 211 of the seat frame material 21 and the cross frames 212, 213, 214, 215 is made by mortise and tenon joints, dowel joints, and application of adhesive to the joint surfaces, but this is not limited to this and may be, for example, mortise and tenon joints, dowel joints, or application of adhesive, and other known means are not excluded.

[0058] In this embodiment, the connection between the back pillar 31 and the fascia 32, back beam 33, and foundation frame 34 is made by mortise and tenon joints and application of adhesive to the joint surfaces, but this is not limited to this and may be, for example, mortise and tenon joints, dowel joints, or application of adhesive, and other known means are not excluded.

[0059] (effect) The effects of the chair 1 and the method for transporting the chair according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0060] <Before assembly> Please refer to Figure 5. Chair 1 can be assembled due to the above-described configuration, and when it is not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage, it can be disassembled into its constituent parts (seat portion 2, backrest portion 3, rotating structure portion 4, legs 5, and reinforcing portion 6 (connecting bolts 7 are not shown in Figure 5)) as shown in Figure 5, and stored in a container 8 (in this embodiment, a box such as a cardboard box).

[0061] This allows the chair 1 to be folded up into a smaller volume (in other words, less bulky) when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage, compared to conventional wooden chairs.

[0062] Furthermore, compared to conventional wooden chairs, more chairs (before assembly) can be stored in the same space with chair 1. This "space" includes storage facilities such as warehouses as well as loading spaces such as the trunks of trucks, and chairs 1 (in containers 8) that are less bulky than conventional chairs can be loaded into the loading spaces of transportation means such as trucks, thereby reducing the transportation cost per product.

[0063] <How to transport a chair> Based on the above reasons and effects, (1) creating a package in which the chair 1 having the seat portion 2, the backrest portion 3, the rotating structure portion 4, the legs 5 (including the leg components 51 and 52) and the reinforcing portion 6 is packaged as a whole so that it can be stored as small as possible in a disassembled state; (2) loading the package onto a means of transportation; This makes it possible to carry the chair 1 of the present invention.

[0064] <After assembly> The functions and effects of the chair 1 and its components during and after assembly are as follows.

[0065] The seat portion 2 becomes the seat portion of the chair after assembly. The use of wood as the main component material (seat frame material 21) of the seat portion 2 results in an impressive chair with an emphasis on the texture of wood. In addition, the seat portion 2 has a cushion member 22, which makes it comfortable to sit on.

[0066] The seat frame material 21 has the above-mentioned side frames 211 and cross frames 212, 213, 214, and 215, and because these are connected together, it has sufficient load-bearing capacity and durability even though it is made of wood.

[0067] The backrest 3 becomes the back of the chair after assembly. The backrest 3 is made of wood as its main components (back pillar 31, headboard 32, back beam 33, and base frame 34), making it an impressive chair with an appealing wooden texture. The backrest 3 described above has the back pillar 31, headboard 32, back beam 33, and base frame 34, and because these are connected together, it has sufficient load-bearing capacity and durability even though it is made of wood.

[0068] During assembly, the seat 2 is connected to the backrest 3 via the side frames 211 and the horizontal frame 212. More specifically, first, the upper surface of the horizontal frame 212 of the seat 2 and the lower surface of the base frame 34 of the backrest 3 are brought into contact so that they overlap, and then dowels (reference numerals omitted) provided on the lower surface of the spine 31 are inserted into dowel holes (reference numerals omitted) formed on the upper surface of the horizontal frame 212 (see FIGS. 2(b) and 2(c)).

[0069] Next, the connection bolts 7 are inserted into the through holes formed in the bottom surfaces of each side frame 211 and the cross frame 212, and finally, the tips of the connection bolts 7 are screwed into the nut members inside the connection holes 311 of the back column 31 and the connection holes 341 of the foundation frame 34, and tightened (see Figure 2(a)).

[0070] This firmly connects the seat 2 and the backrest 3. Since the connection structure between the seat 2 and the backrest 3 is as described above, unlike when adhesive is used, they can be easily re-disassembled by loosening the connecting bolts 7 and removing them.

[0071] Furthermore, the first surface 41 of the rotating structure 4 is connected to the reinforcing frame 216 using a connection bolt 7 (see FIG. 3(a)). More specifically, first, the upper surface of the first surface 41 of the rotating structure 4 and the lower surface of the reinforcing frame 216 are brought into contact so that they overlap, then the connection bolts 7 are inserted through the through holes formed in each corner of the first surface 41, and finally the tip of the connection bolt 7 is screwed into a nut member inside a connection hole (not shown, which has a nut member inside) of the reinforcing frame 216 to fasten them together (see FIG. 3(a)).

[0072] This firmly connects the rotating structure 4 to the bottom surface of the seating surface 2. Since the connection structure between the seating surface 2 and the rotating structure 4 is as described above, unlike when adhesive is used, they can be easily re-disassembled by loosening the connecting bolts 7 and removing them.

[0073] The leg 5 becomes the leg portion of the chair, constructed at a predetermined height from the floor, by assembling a plurality of leg constituent members 51, 52 that are separated before assembly. By using wood as the main constituent material of the leg 5, the chair has an impressive wooden texture.

[0074] The leg 5 is joined by a cross notched joint by engaging the engaging recess 514 of the leg constituent member 51 with the engaging recess 524 of the leg constituent member 52. The leg 5 has a simple structure that can be assembled with a cross notched joint structure simply by engaging the engaging recess 514 with the engaging recess 524, which makes assembly easy, and the structure is not complicated even during processing, which results in good production efficiency.

[0075] In addition, when the engaging recess 524 of the leg constituent member 52 and the engaging recess 514 of the leg constituent member 51 are engaged, the through holes formed in the center of the engaging recess 524 and the engaging recess 514 communicate with each other. The tip of the connecting bolt 7 is inserted through this communicating through hole from the opening on the mounting recess 515 side and screwed into the nut member inside the through hole on the engaging recess 524 side, and then tightened (FIG. 3(b)). This firmly connects the leg constituent member 51 and the leg constituent member 52.

[0076] Furthermore, the second surface 42 of the rotating structure 4 is connected to the leg 5 using the connecting bolt 7 (see FIG. 3(b)). More specifically, first, the lower surface of the second surface 42 is brought into contact with the mounting recess 515 of the leg constituent member 51 and the mounting recess 525 of the leg constituent member 52 so that they are aligned, and then alignment is performed so that the connection hole 516 of the mounting recess 515 and the connection hole 526 of the mounting recess 525 are aligned with the through holes provided in the corners of the second surface 42.

[0077] Then, the connection bolts 7 are inserted into the through holes formed in each corner of the second surface portion 42, and finally, the tips of the connection bolts 7 are screwed into the nut members inside the connection holes 516 and 526 to fasten them together (see FIG. 3(b)). This firmly connects the rotating structure 4 to the top surface of the leg 5. Note that because the connection structure between the leg 5 and the rotating structure 4 is as described above, unlike when adhesive is used, the connection bolts 7 can be loosened and removed, allowing for easy re-disassembly.

[0078] The leg portion 5 can be separated into leg constituent members 51 and 52 when not assembled, and since each component part of the leg constituent members 51 and 52 is rod-shaped, the leg constituent members 51 and 52 in the separated state can be made even smaller (in other words, even less bulky) (see Figures 5(a) and (b)).

[0079] As a result, the legs, which tended to be particularly bulky in conventional wooden chairs, can be made even smaller (in other words, even less bulky), and ultimately, with this aspect of the invention, the chair as a whole can be made even smaller in volume (in other words, even less bulky) than conventional wooden chairs when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage.

[0080] Furthermore, the leg section 5 has a structure with four legs, which is well-balanced and looks good when assembled, and is stable when in use (when the user is seated).

[0081] Furthermore, by attaching the metal second surface 42 to the upper surface of the leg 5 in the manner described above, a cross notched joint structure is positioned in the center of the second surface 42, providing reinforcement and sufficient strength against vertical loads. Furthermore, by attaching the second surface 42 to the leg 5 in the manner described above, the connection between the leg constituent member 51 and the leg constituent member 52 is strong and difficult to come apart, providing sufficient strength against horizontal loads.

[0082] As mentioned above, the rotating structure 4 has the first surface 41 connected to the underside of the seat 2 in the assembled state, and the second surface 42 connected to the upper surface of the leg 5 in the assembled state, so that the seat of the chair 1 can be rotated horizontally after assembly, making it a convenient chair that makes it easy to sit down or get up without having to pull the chair 1.

[0083] The reinforcing part 6 has the effect of reinforcing the leg part 5 after assembly. During assembly, the reinforcing part 6 is attached to the center of the underside of the leg part 5 (the seat frame 513 and the seat frame 523 in an assembled state). More specifically, first, the center of the upper surface of the reinforcing part 6 is brought into contact with the center of the underside of the seat frame 513 and the seat frame 523 (the intersection of the seat frame 513 and the seat frame 523) so that they overlap.

[0084] Next, two connection holes (not shown; equipped with nut members inside) formed in seat frame 513 and two in seat frame 523 are aligned so that they communicate with the through holes formed in each corner of reinforcing part 6. Finally, connecting bolts 7 are inserted into the through holes of reinforcing part 6 and screwed into the nut members inside the connection holes formed in seat frame 513 and seat frame 523, and fastened (see FIG. 4(b)). In other words, reinforcing part 6 is a "structure that is spanned across each leg component member in the assembled state."

[0085] As a result, the reinforcing part 6 is firmly connected to the leg 5, the connection between the leg constituent member 51 and the leg constituent member 52 is strong and difficult to come loose, and the reinforcing part 6 has sufficient strength to withstand loads from the horizontal direction. In addition, since the reinforcing part 6 is attached in the above-mentioned manner, a cross-shaped notched joint structure portion is located in the center of the reinforcing part 6, providing reinforcement, and the reinforcing part 6 has sufficient strength to withstand loads from the vertical direction. In other words, the reinforcing part 6 contributes to improving the rigidity of the leg 5.

[0086] Because the reinforcing part 6 is made of wood, it does not impair the wooden texture of the other components of the chair 1 when attached to the leg part 5. Since the connection structure between the reinforcing part 6 and the leg 5 is as described above, unlike when adhesive is used, it can be easily disassembled again by loosening the connecting bolt 7 and removing it.

[0087] In addition, by being attached to the upper surface of the leg 5 in the manner described above, the second surface 42 exhibits an effect that can be considered as another reinforcing part (second reinforcing part). Therefore, the intersection part of the seat frame 513 and the seat frame 523 is sandwiched and reinforced by both the second surface 42 arranged on the upper surface and the reinforcing part 6 arranged on the lower surface.

[0088] The inventor then conducted strength and durability tests based on JIS standards and found that the chair 1 having the legs 5 has sufficient rigidity. This result also shows that the structure in which the second surface portion 42 and the reinforcing portion 6 work together contributes to improved rigidity.

[0089] However, ordinary end users (hereinafter referred to as "ordinary end users") who have little knowledge about woodworking assembly, etc., may break tenons or dowels when forcibly attaching or detaching parts due to their inexperience with the work, or may apply too much adhesive to the joining surface, causing the adhesive to overflow and make the area around the joining surface dirty.

[0090] However, chair 1 has a structure that minimizes the need for mortise and tenon joints, dowel joints, and adhesive applications, so even an ordinary end user can easily assemble it and disassemble it again. Furthermore, chair 1 can be folded up to a smaller volume than conventional wooden chairs when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage. Furthermore, according to the above-described method of transporting chair 1, chair 1 can be folded up to a smaller volume than conventional wooden chairs when not assembled or in use, such as during transportation or storage.

[0091] Second Embodiment A description will now be given (not shown) of another embodiment (second embodiment) of the chair 1. The chair 1 of the second embodiment comprises a seat portion 2, a backrest portion 3, legs 5, and a reinforcing portion 6, i.e., does not comprise a rotating structure portion 4, and the legs 5 are attached to the underside of the seat portion 3 in an assembled state.

[0092] In the second embodiment, the chair 1 is abutted against the reinforcing frame 216 so that the mounting recesses 515 and 525 provided on the upper surface of the leg 5 overlap, and is aligned so that the connection holes 516 and 526 of the leg 5 overlap (are connected) with the connection holes of the reinforcing frame 216.

[0093] 3 is inserted through the hole that connects the connection hole 516 and the connection hole 526 to the connection hole of the reinforcing frame 216, and finally, the tip of the connection bolt 7 is screwed into the nut member inside the connection hole of the reinforcing frame 216 for fastening. This firmly connects the seat surface 34 to the upper surface of the leg 5.

[0094] Since the connection structure between the legs 5 and the seat 3 is as described above, unlike when adhesive is used, the legs 5 and the seat 3 can be easily disassembled again by loosening the connecting bolts 7 and removing them.

[0095] The chair 1 of the second embodiment does not have a rotating structure 4, and therefore has a stable seat portion 2 (in other words, it does not rotate), which prevents accidents such as falls or pinching of fingers due to the rotation of the seat portion 2 when the user is a small child or elderly person.

[0096] Except for the points mentioned above, the chair 1 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the seat portion 2, backrest portion 3, leg portion 5, and reinforcing portion 6 of the chair 1 of the first embodiment, and the functions and effects are also the same, so explanations will be omitted.

[0097] [Variation 1] We will now explain a modified example (Modified Example 1) of chair 1. In Modified Example 1, the seat frame material 21, the side frames 211, the cross frames 212, 213, 214, 215, and the reinforcing frame 216 are individually disassembled (disassembled from the connection portions of the frames shown in FIG. 2(c)) and housed in the container 8.

[0098] This allows the size of the seat portion 2 of chair 1 of this modified example to be even smaller (less bulky) when not assembled or not in use, and the entire chair 1 before assembly stored in container 8 can be even smaller in the height direction of container 8. Note that chair 1 of this modified example is more suitable for use by retailers with knowledge about woodworking assembly and special end users with knowledge about woodworking assembly than by ordinary end users.

[0099] [Variation 2] The following describes a modified example (modified example 2) of the chair 1. In modified example 2, the backrest portion 3 is housed in the container 8 in a state where the spine pillar 31, the top board 32, the back beam 33, and the base frame 34 are individually disassembled (the separated state of each component shown in FIG. 2(b)).

[0100] This allows the size of the backrest 3 of chair 1 of this modified example to be even smaller (less bulky) when not assembled or not in use, and the entire chair 1 before assembly stored in container 8 can be even smaller in the height direction of container 8. Note that chair 1 of this modified example is more suitable for use by retailers with knowledge about woodworking assembly and special end users with knowledge about woodworking assembly than by ordinary end users.

[0101] [Variation 3] A description will be given of a modified example (modified example 3) of chair 1. In modified example 3, leg constituent member 51 is configured so that leg member 511, leg member 512, and seat frame 513 are individually disassembled and housed in container 8 (disassembled from the connection portions of the members shown in FIGS. 3(b), 4(a), and (b)), and leg constituent member 52 is configured so that leg member 521, leg member 522, and seat frame 523 are individually disassembled and housed in container 8 (disassembled from the connection portions of the members shown in FIGS. 3(b), 4(a), and (b)).

[0102] As a result, the size of the leg components 51 and 52 of chair 1 of this modified example can be made even smaller (less bulky) when not assembled or not in use, and the entire chair 1 before assembly stored in container 8 can be made even smaller in the height direction of container 8. Note that chair 1 of this modified example is more suitable for use by retailers and special end users with knowledge of woodworking assembly than by ordinary end users.

[0103] [Variation 4] We will now explain a modified example (Modification 4) of chair 1. In Modification 4, all of the components described in Modifications 1 to 3 (seat portion 2, backrest portion 3, and all of leg components 51 and 52) are individually disassembled and stored in container 8.

[0104] As a result, the chair 1 of this modified example can be made even smaller (less bulky) in size when not assembled or when not in use, including the seat portion 2, backrest portion 3, and leg constituent members 51 and 52, and the unassembled chair 1 stored in the container 8 can be made even smaller in the overall dimensions (height, length, and width) of the container 8. Note that the chair 1 of this modified example is more suitable for use by retailers and special end users with knowledge of woodworking assembly than by ordinary end users.

[0105] The terms and expressions used in the present specification and claims are merely descriptive and not limiting, and are not intended to exclude terms or expressions equivalent to the features described in the present specification and claims or portions thereof. It goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., do not imply rank or importance, but are used to distinguish one element from another. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1 chair 2 Seat part 21 Seat frame material 211 Side frame 212 Horizontal Frame 213 Horizontal Frame 214 Horizontal Frame 215 Horizontal Frame 216 Reinforcement Frame 22 Cushion member 3 Backrest 31 Back Pillar 311 Connection hole 32 Kasagi 33 Transgression 34 Base Frame 341 Connection hole 4 Rotating structure 41 First side 42 Second side part 43 Rotating shaft 5 Legs 51 Leg components 511, 512 Leg members 513 Seat frame 514 Engagement recess 515 Mounting recess 516 Connection hole 52 Leg components 521, 522 Leg members 523 Seat frame 524 Engagement recess 525 Mounting recess 526 Connection hole 6 Reinforcement 7 Connection bolt 8 containers

Claims

1. A seat portion whose main component is wood; a backrest portion detachably provided on the seat portion and made primarily of wood; Legs made primarily of wood that are detachably attached to the underside of the seat when assembled and are constructed to a predetermined height by assembling a plurality of leg components that are separated before assembly; Equipped with chair.

2. Further, a reinforcing part is provided detachably on the leg part and is mainly made of wood, The reinforcing portion is a structure that is bridged across the leg components in an assembled state.

2. The chair of claim 1.

3. The seat further includes a rotation structure that is detachably provided between the seat and the legs when assembled and that can rotate the attached seat in a horizontal direction.

3. The chair according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. the leg portion includes a first leg component having a structure including a rod-shaped first horizontal portion, a rod-shaped first leg portion extending from one end of the first horizontal portion, and a rod-shaped second leg portion provided at the other end of the first horizontal portion to be paired with the first leg portion, with a first engagement recess formed in the longitudinal center of the first horizontal portion; and a second leg component having a structure including a rod-shaped second horizontal portion, a rod-shaped third leg portion provided at one end of the second horizontal portion, and a rod-shaped fourth leg portion provided at the other end of the second horizontal portion to be paired with the third leg portion, with a second engagement recess formed in the longitudinal center of the second horizontal portion, which is engageable with the first horizontal portion; and the first engagement recess and the second engagement recess are joined by a cross notched joint when assembled; The reinforcing portion is a plate body having at least four joints to the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion, and the joints are structured as follows: a first joint to be joined to a portion of the first horizontal portion closer to the first leg portion is provided at a predetermined position on the reinforcing portion; a second joint to be joined to a portion of the first horizontal portion closer to the second leg portion is provided in a direction opposite the first joint, with the center of the reinforcing portion sandwiched between them; a third joint to be joined to a portion of the second horizontal portion closer to the third leg portion is provided at a predetermined position on the reinforcing portion; and a fourth joint to be joined to a portion of the second horizontal portion closer to the fourth leg portion is provided in a direction opposite the third joint, with the center of the reinforcing portion sandwiched between them.

3. The chair of claim 2.

5. a step of packaging a chair having a seat portion, a backrest portion detachably attached to the seat portion, a rotating structure portion detachably attached to a portion that will become the underside of the seat portion when assembled and configured to rotate the attached seat portion horizontally, and legs detachably attached to the rotating structure portion and constructed to a predetermined height by assembling a plurality of leg components that are separated before assembly, the seat portion, the backrest portion and the legs being made primarily of wood, all together in a package that will fit as small as possible when disassembled; loading the package onto a means of transportation and transporting it; Equipped with How to transport a chair.

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