chair

Abstract

In a chair where the armrests, which function as elbow rests, are integrated into the backrest, the backrest and armrests are made of wood while ensuring both strength and a high level of design aesthetics. [Solution] The backrest 2 and the armrest 5 are made of wood and are integrated into one unit. The front end of the armrest 5 is fixed to the front leg 3 by a front connecting member 35, and the rear end of the armrest 5 is rotatably connected to the rear leg 4 via a rear connecting member 46. The front connecting member 35 has a tapered intermediate section 39 exposed on top of the front leg 3, and the front end of the front leg 3 is a bow shape that widens upwards and smoothly continues from the intermediate section 39. The slender pipe front leg 3 and the armrest 5, which is wide enough to function as an elbow rest, are smoothly connected, resulting in a good appearance. The front end of the armrest 5 is bow-shaped, making it easy to grasp with your hand when sitting down or getting up.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a chair having a backrest made of wood and can be preferably developed for a folding chair.

Background Art

[0002] There are various types of chairs and various materials. In a chair with a simple structure of four legs, the whole is often made of wood, or the legs are made of metal and the backrest and seat are made of wood. Making the whole or part of the chair members wooden has a traditional meaning, but basically, it can be said that it is because the texture of wood and the warm touch match human sensibility. That is, it can be said that people instinctively have a favorable feeling towards wooden furniture, not limited to chairs.

[0003] In recent trends, from the perspective of reducing environmental impact by reducing the use of oil and the perspective of sustainability by using renewable materials to improve the global environment, the backrest and seat are also made of wood, but this is also basically because people have a favorable impression of wood.

[0004] On the other hand, the inventor of the present application disclosed in Patent Document 1 a chair in which arm portions at a height where a seated person can rest their elbows extend forward from both left and right ends of the backrest. The chair of this Patent Document 1 is a pipe chair having a leg device made of metal pipes. In the embodiment, the backrest and arm portions are made of synthetic resin, but if the backrest and arm portions are made of wood, it can be said that a high-class feeling of wood can be created while being a pipe chair, improving user satisfaction and enhancing the commercial value.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0006] While wood is widely used in chairs, it is less strong than synthetic resins or metals and is difficult to process in complex ways. Therefore, when replacing synthetic resin components with wood, some ingenuity is expected to be required to ensure strength and ease of processing. Furthermore, wood has a unique texture and feel, and efforts are needed to enhance the product's value by utilizing these characteristics.

[0007] The present invention was made against this backdrop, and aims to achieve high quality with superior design and usability in relation to a chair with a wooden backrest and armrests. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention includes various configurations, and typical examples are specified in each claim. Of these, the invention of claim 1 constitutes a broader concept. "It comprises a backrest, a seat, a leg device that directly or indirectly supports the backrest and the seat, and front-to-back long left and right arm sections positioned higher than the seat and with their rear ends connected to both the left and right ends of the backrest, The leg device has left and right front leg portions whose upper ends are connected to the front end of the arm portion." This is the basic structure.

[0009] And in the above basic configuration, "The backrest and armrests are made of wood, and the front legs are made of a non-wood material." The front end surface of the aforementioned arm portion has a bow-like shape that extends forward as it goes upwards in a side view. The outer surface of the front of the arm and the outer surface of the upper end of the front leg are connected via a connecting section so as to be smoothly continuous. The relay section is configured as a connecting member separate from the arm section and the front leg section, or it is integrally formed with either the front leg section or the arm section. This is the structure.

[0010] The invention of claim 2 is an extension of claim 1, "The arm portion and the relay portion are configured to have a shape that tapers downward when viewed from the front." This is the structure.

[0011] The invention of claim 3 is an extension of claim 1 or 2, "The front leg portion is made of metal pipe, and the front portion of the arm portion and the front leg portion are fixed together via the connecting member." The connecting member has a downward-facing boss that protrudes downward from the intermediate portion and is fitted and fixed to the front leg portion from above, and an upward-facing boss that is formed concentrically with the downward-facing boss and is fitted from below into an engagement hole formed in the arm portion." This is the structure.

[0012] Furthermore, a slight gap may exist between the front end of the arm and the intermediate section. In other words, the outer surface of the intermediate section and the outer surface of the arm do not need to be in a completely gapless state; a slight gap is acceptable. Providing a small gap is actually preferable in that it absorbs machining errors between the intermediate section and the arm.

[0013] The invention of claim 4 is an extension of claim 3, "The connecting member has a support plate that is connected to the upper end of the intermediate section and extends backward, and the support plate is fixed to the arm section with screws while fitted into a recess formed in the arm section." This is the structure.

[0014] The invention of claim 5 is an extension of claim 3, "The outer surface of the aforementioned relay portion is curved so as to be recessed toward the axis side, The front end surface and left and right sides of the arm portion are curved to be smoothly continuous with the relay portion. This is the structure.

[0015] The invention of claim 6 is also a development example of claim 1 or 2, "The leg device has a rear leg portion connected to the rear portion of the arm portion via a bracket." It has such a configuration.

[0016] The invention of claim 7 is a development example of claim 6, "The rear leg portion is made of a metal pipe, The bracket includes a lower bracket fitted to the rear leg portion and an upper bracket fixed to the arm portion, The upper bracket is fitted into a downward recess formed in the arm portion, The upper end portion of the lower bracket is connected to the upper bracket by a horizontally longitudinal pin, and is configured as a folding chair as a whole." It has such a configuration.

[0017] The invention of claim 8 is a development example of claim 7, "The lower bracket has an upward protruding portion that enters the inside of the arm portion, The upper bracket has a bearing portion to which an upward bracket of the lower bracket is connected by the pin, and a support plate that projects in both the front and rear directions from the bearing portion, The support plate is fixed to the arm portion by screws, and the pin is prevented from coming off by a recess in the arm portion." It has such a configuration.

[0018] The invention of claim 9 is a development example of claim 8, "The rear portions of the left and right arm portions are inclined or curved in plan view so that the distance between them narrows as they go backward, and the left and right upper brackets are also inclined so as to form a V-shaped posture with each other in plan view, The upward protruding portion of the lower bracket and the receiving portion of the upper bracket are in a longitudinally front-rear posture in plan view, The upper bracket has a rib that protrudes upward from the outside, covering the thinned portion of the arm that receives the receiving portion of the upper bracket." This is the structure.

[0019] In the invention of claim 10, the seat is also made of wood in claim 1 or 2. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] In the invention of claim 1, the backrest and armrest are made of wood and are connected as a single unit. Because the backrest and armrest, which are the parts that people see, are made of wood, the texture and warmth of the wood are evident in the appearance, resulting in a high level of design appeal. As a result, it can create a favorable impression on people and enhance the value of the product.

[0021] Furthermore, the bow-like shape that forms the front end of the arm is unique yet unobtrusive, resulting in a highly attractive design that is both visually appealing and comfortable to grip when sitting down or getting up. Consequently, people can sit down or get up while holding the front end of the arm without any discomfort, making it very user-friendly. Moreover, the smooth continuity between the front end of the arm and the connecting section contributes to its aesthetic appeal.

[0022] As described in claim 2, by forming the arm portion and the intermediate portion in a shape that tapers downward even when viewed from the front, it is possible to slim down the arm portion while providing a width on the upper surface of the arm portion that functions as an elbow rest, thereby achieving a high level of design. In other words, by making the front leg portion a slim form made of metal such as a steel pipe or aluminum pipe, the leg device can be given a clean appearance, and the arm portion can be smoothly widened from the front leg portion, and a clean appearance can be achieved by providing a smooth continuity between the slim front leg portion (leg device) and the wooden arm portion which has a corresponding width on the upper surface.

[0023] In claim 2, the arm portion has an inverted trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front in a longitudinal section, but because of its simple shape, it is easy to machine. Furthermore, there is no reduction in strength.

[0024] Since the front leg and arm sections are made of different materials, a connecting member is required to link them. However, by providing an intermediate section in the connecting member as described in claim 3, the connecting member can be made of a molded product of metal or synthetic resin, making it easy to form the intermediate section. Therefore, there is no need to process the arm section into a complex shape, which offers excellent practical adaptability.

[0025] As described in claim 4, by providing a support plate to the connecting member, high strength can be ensured even if the arm portion is made of wood. In other words, when a downward load is applied to the arm portion, the load can be distributed and applied to the arm portion, so even if the arm portion is made of wood, which has lower strength compared to metal or resin, high support strength can be ensured.

[0026] By adopting the configuration of claim 5, the outer surface of the front end of the arm and the outer surface of the intermediate part become curved surfaces. This not only ensures a higher aesthetic appeal compared to a simple tapered shape, but also provides a better fit with the fingers (or palm) when a person grasps it, making it easier to grasp when sitting down or getting up.

[0027] Providing rear legs as in claim 6 is preferable as it allows for stable support of the armrests and backrest. Furthermore, connecting the rear legs to the armrests so as to be rotatable relative to them, as in claim 7, allows the chair to be folded in the same manner as in Patent Document 1.

[0028] As an example of the development of claim 6, adopting the configuration of claim 7, the upper bracket firmly fixed to the arm and the lower bracket attached to the rear leg are connected, thus preventing localized loads from being placed on the arm. Therefore, the arm can maintain high strength despite being made of wood.

[0029] In particular, by providing a support plate on the upper bracket as in claim 8, the support stability of the arm portion by the upper bracket is significantly increased, so the necessary strength can be secured without making the arm portion excessively thick. Also, since it is only necessary to form a recess in the arm portion into which the upper bracket fits, the effort required to process the arm portion can be reduced. Furthermore, when assembling the chair, it is sufficient to connect the upper and lower brackets in advance and then fix the upper bracket to the arm portion with screws, thus simplifying the assembly of the chair. In addition, since the connecting pin can be prevented from coming out by the arm portion, there is also the advantage of simplifying the structure.

[0030] Now, since the armrests are positioned on both the left and right sides of the seated person, the armrests and backrest surround the seated person's torso. In this case, since a person's torso is rounded, it is preferable to curve the rear of the left and right armrests in a plan view so that the distance between them narrows towards the backrest, conforming to the curvature of a person's torso.

[0031] On the other hand, when a chair is designed to be foldable, the left and right rear legs must be positioned further inward than the front legs. Therefore, the rear legs must be connected to the rear part of the arm, which is curved in plan view. However, since the axis of the pin that serves as the pivot point faces left to right, the recess into which the bearing fits must be formed in a long, front-to-back orientation. As a result, the plan view orientation of the rear part of the arm differs from the plan view orientation of the recess for the bearing, creating a thin-walled section on the outer side of the recess in the arm. This thin-walled section may be prone to damage if something strikes it.

[0032] In this regard, by adopting the configuration of claim 9, the thin-walled portion resulting from the mismatch between the plan view shape of the arm portion and the shape of the recess for the bearing portion can be protected by the cover portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the thin-walled portion from being struck by an object. If the seat is also made of wood as in claim 10, the texture of the backrest, arm portion and seat will be unified, resulting in a better appearance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0033] [Figure 1]The diagrams illustrating the embodiment show (A) a perspective view from above, (B) a front view, (C) a right side view, and (D) a perspective view from below. [Figure 2] (A) is a plan view, (B) is a partially separated plan view showing the relationship between the arm section and the front and rear leg sections, and (C) is a right side view in the folded state. [Figure 3] The diagram shows the relationship between the front and rear legs and the arm section. (A) is a separated perspective view with the arm section in a sideways position, (B) is a separated perspective view showing the relationship between the rear bracket and the arm section, (C) is a separated perspective view of the upper and lower brackets, and (D) is a separated perspective view seen from below. [Figure 4] (A) is a right side view, (B) is a partial front view, (C) is a separated view from below, and (D) is a perspective view of the rear connecting member. [Figure 5] (A) is a perspective view from the front and below, (B) is a partial front view, and (C) is a partial side view. [Figure 6] (A) is a separated perspective view of the chair seen from the front and below, (B) is a partial separated perspective view seen from the rear and below, and (C) is a separated perspective view of the clamp-type bearing body. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] Next, an embodiment (specific example) of the chair disclosed in this application will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the terms front / back and left / right will be used to specify directions, but these directions are based on the orientation of a person sitting normally in the chair. The front view direction is the direction opposite to the seated person.

[0035] (1) Overview First, the chair's outline will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The chair in this embodiment is a foldable type often used in conference rooms and auditoriums, and as shown in Figure 1, it comprises a seat 1, a backrest 2, and slender, rod-shaped (straight) front legs 3 and rear legs 4 that support them. The upper ends of the front legs 3 and rear legs 4 are positioned above the seat 1. The legs 3 and 4 are made of metal pipes such as steel pipes.

[0036] The seat 1 is made of wood and has a roughly trapezoidal shape, narrowing from side to side towards the back when viewed from above. On the other hand, the backrest 2 is also made of wood and has a straight bottom surface and a gently curved mountain shape when viewed from the front, with a small vertical width. It is gently curved inward when viewed from above to fit the user's back, and is slightly tilted backward when viewed from the side in a longitudinal section.

[0037] As can be seen from Figure 1, the seat 1 is in the form of a plate. That is, it has a single structure of one seat board. However, the seat 1 can also be made of a laminated structure with cushioning material attached to the seat board (inner shell), or a type with mesh material attached to a frame with openings at the top and bottom. The backrest 2 and seat 1 can also be made of solid wood, but it is preferable to make them of laminated wood in terms of preventing variations in appearance, dimensional stability, and ease of processing.

[0038] Arm sections 5 are integrally formed on both the left and right ends of the backrest 2, extending from front to back. The arm sections 5 have a width that allows them to function as elbow rests. Therefore, it is possible to consider the arm sections 5 as elbow rests and view the elbow rests and backrest 2 as being integrated. As shown in Figure 1, the backrest 2 is smoothly continuous with the arm sections 5 by decreasing in height towards both the left and right sides.

[0039] As shown in Figure 1(D), the thickness of the backrest 2 is smaller than the width of the armrest 5, so the lower surface of the armrest 5 continues to the lower surface of the backrest 2, while narrowing in width at its rear. The lower surface of the backrest 2 and the lower surface of the armrest 5 are continuous in a state that forms a single plane. The frame consisting of the backrest 2 and the armrest 5 is slim, resulting in an overall clean and streamlined design.

[0040] The armrest 5 is made of wood, and its color and texture are the same as the backrest 2. Although it is possible to create the frame consisting of the backrest 2 and the armrest 5 from a single piece of material, this would result in a lot of material waste and would be time-consuming to process. Therefore, it is preferable to manufacture the backrest 2 and the left and right armrests 5 separately and then join them together using dowels and adhesive. Using multiple dowels spaced apart vertically is preferable as it allows for accurate positioning and provides a high level of reinforcement. It is also preferable to perform finishing cuts or polishing after the joining process.

[0041] The backrest 2 has a V-shape when viewed from the front, with the left and right middle sections being its highest points. The top surface slopes gently downwards towards both the left and right sides, and the top surface of the backrest 2 and the top surface of the arm section 5 are smoothly continuous. It is difficult to clearly define where the boundary between the backrest 2 and the arm section 5 is, but the top surface of the rear of the arm section 5 gradually increases in height towards the rear end and can be said to be smoothly continuous with the top surface of the backrest 2. By setting the rear end of the arm section 5 higher than the front end in this way, when joining the arm section 5 and the backrest 2 with dowels and adhesive, the vertical width of the joining surface can be made as large as possible, and it is also possible to use multiple dowels vertically without difficulty, thus achieving high joint strength.

[0042] The upper end of the front leg 3 is fixed to the front end of the arm 5, while the rear leg 4 is connected to the arm 5 so as to pivot back and forth around its upper end. Therefore, as shown in Figure 2(C), the front leg 3 and rear leg 4 can be folded from an extended state where the distance between them widens downwards in a side view to a state where they intersect in an X shape in a side view. It is also possible to attach casters to the lower ends of the legs 3 and 4.

[0043] For example, as shown in Figure 1(D), the left and right front legs 3 are integrally fixed at the height of the underside of the seat 1 by left and right longitudinal front stays 6, and the front of the seat 1 is rotatably connected to the front stays 6. On the other hand, the left and right rear legs 4 are also fixed at the height of the underside of the seat 1 via left and right longitudinal rear stays 7, and the rear stays 7 and the seat 1 are connected to the seat 1 via trapezoidally curved interlocking members 8 so as to be able to rotate relative to each other.

[0044] In its unfolded state, the seat 1 is supported at the front and rear by stays 6 and 7. Stays 6 and 7 are made of metal pipes such as steel pipes or round bars and are welded to the legs 3 and 4. Therefore, the chair has high support strength. When the rear end of the seat 1 is lifted, the seat 1 rotates around the front stay 6 as a pivot point, and in conjunction with this, the interlocking member 8 is pulled up and rotated so that the rear end is raised. As a result, the rear leg portion 4 rotates relative to the front leg portion 3, the seat 1, and the arm portion 5, and is folded into the state shown in Figure 2(C).

[0045] For example, as shown in Figures 1(B) and 2(B), the left-right spacing of the front legs 3 is greater than the left-right spacing of the rear legs 4 in a front view and a top view. Therefore, when folded, multiple chairs can be stacked (nested) in a way that they fit together front to back. A pull handle hole 9 is provided in the middle of the left and right rear end of the seat 1 for a person to place their hands on when folding the chair. The pull handle hole 9 is long on both sides and opens only downwards, but it is also possible to form a through hole that opens on the top surface as well. The rear stay 7 has a crank-shaped curved portion 7a that protrudes forward so as not to interfere with a person placing their hands on the pull handle hole 9.

[0046] As clearly shown in Figures 2(A) and 2(B), the left and right arm sections 5 are gently curved so that the distance between them gradually narrows from front to back. Therefore, the left and right rear legs 4 are positioned inward in the lateral direction compared to the front legs 3, allowing for folding and nesting. As shown in Figures 2(B) and 2(C), the left and right sides of the seat 1 overlap with the inner sides of the arm sections 5 in a plan view.

[0047] (2) Connection structure between the seat and the front stay For example, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the front end of the seat 1 is rotatably connected to the front stay 6 by a pair of left and right front bearings 11 and a front cap 12 that completely covers them. Accordingly, semicircular bearing recesses 13 into which the front stay 6 fits are formed on the lower surface of the front bearing 11 and the upper surface of the front cap 12, and a C-shaped sleeve 14 made of resin with a low coefficient of friction is held non-rotatably on the front stay 6 via a projection 14a in order to improve sliding between the front bearing 11 and the front cap 12.

[0048] The front bearing 11 and front cap 12 are elongated oval shapes, and as shown in Figure 6, the front bearing 11 is fitted into a shallow front bearing hole 15 formed on the lower surface of the seat 1. The center of the front bearing 11 is fixed to the seat 1 by a wood screw 16. Positioning holes 17 are provided on both the left and right sides of the front bearing hole 15, flanking the wood screw 16, and the upper surface of the front bearing 11 is provided with positioning protrusions (not shown) that fit into the positioning holes 17.

[0049] Two threaded inserts 18 are fitted into the front mounting hole 15, and a front screw 19, which is inserted through the front cap 12 and the front bearing 11, is screwed into the threaded inserts 18. Thus, the front cap 12 and the front bearing 11 are fastened together to the seat 1 by the front screw 19.

[0050] As shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B) (see also Figure 1(B)), the seat 1 is gently curved so that the left and right middle sections are lower, and as clearly shown in Figure 5(C) (see also Figure 1(C)), the front end of the seat 1 is curled downward to prevent pressure on the thighs of the person sitting on it. Furthermore, in order to allow the seat 1 to rotate without twisting relative to the front stay 6, the front bearing 11 is positioned closer to the center line of the seat 1, resulting in a large gap between the left and right ends of the seat 1 and the front stay 6.

[0051] Therefore, auxiliary bearings 20, which have semicircular recesses that fit onto the front stays 6 from above, are provided projecting downward from the front end of the seat 1 and from the lower surfaces of both the left and right ends. Thus, the front part of the seat 1 is supported by the front stays 6 at four points in the left-right direction. Consequently, the load is distributed and acts over the entire length of the front stays 6. As a result, the support strength of the front stays 6 can be improved. The auxiliary bearings 20 are integrally formed with the seat 1 by machining the material.

[0052] Now, both the front bearing 11 and the auxiliary bearing 20 are located at the front end of the seat 1. However, because the front end of the seat 1 is curved downwards, the front bearing 11, which is recessed into the left and right middle sections, is difficult to see in the front view of the chair due to being hidden by the curve. In contrast, the auxiliary bearing 20 is located at both the left and right ends of the seat 1, making it easily visible in the front view of the chair. However, since the auxiliary bearing 20 is made of wood and is integrated with the seat 1, it does not look out of place even when it is visible.

[0053] The front bearing 11 is made of synthetic resin or metal, but the front cap 12 can be made of either synthetic resin or wood. When the chair is folded, the underside of the seat 1 is visible, but if the front cap 12 is made of wood, the uniformity of materials with the seat 1 is enhanced when the chair is folded, improving the aesthetic appeal. It is also possible to manufacture the front cap 12 from synthetic resin and cover the entire front bearing 11 and front cap 12 with a wooden front cover.

[0054] For example, as shown in Figure 5, cushioning material 21 is fixed to the left and right ends of the front stay 6 so that it contacts the underside of the seat 1 when folded. The cushioning material 21 is made of an elastic material such as rubber and is fixed to the front stay 6 with screws via a holder made of synthetic resin.

[0055] (3) Connection structure between the seat and the rear stay As shown in Figures 5(A) and 6(A), the interlocking member 8 comprises a long base portion 8a on the left and right sides, and long side portions 8b extending backward from both ends of the base portion 8a, and has a generally trapezoidal shape overall. The left and right intermediate portions of the base portion 8a are rotatably connected to the lower surface of the seat 1 by a rear bearing 23 and a rear cap 24, and the rear ends of the left and right side portions 8b are rotatably connected by a pair of upper and lower clamp-type bearing bodies 25.

[0056] As shown in Figure 6(A), the rear bearing 23 and rear cap 24 are formed in an elliptical shape with the front-to-back longitudinal direction, and semicircular bearing recesses 27 are formed on the lower surface of the rear bearing 23 and the upper surface of the rear cap 24, into which the base 8a of the interlocking member 8 fits. The rear bearing 23 is fitted into a rear bearing hole 26 provided on the lower surface of the seat 1, and a wood screw 28 inserted through the center is screwed into the seat 1.

[0057] Furthermore, positioning holes 29 are provided on both the left and right sides of the rear bearing 23, flanking the wood screw 28, and positioning protrusions (not shown) that fit into the positioning holes 29 are provided on the upper surface of the rear bearing 23. Therefore, the rear bearing 23 is securely fixed with a single wood screw 28.

[0058] Two threaded inserts 18 are fitted into the rear mounting hole 26, and a rear screw 30, which is inserted through the rear cap 24 and the rear bearing 23, is screwed into the threaded inserts 18. Therefore, the rear cap 24 and the rear bearing 23 are fastened together to the seat 1 by the rear screw 30. Although not shown in the illustration, a C-shaped sleeve 14 is also attached to the base 8a of the interlocking member 8.

[0059] A damper mechanism that maintains the folded state can be placed between the rear bearing 23 and the rear cap 24. Various structures can be adopted for the damper mechanism, such as one consisting of a damper pin and an elastic body as exemplified in Patent Document 1.

[0060] As shown in Figure 6(C), the upper and lower clamp-type bearing bodies 25 have a semicircular gripping portion 25a that clamps half of the rear stay 7 and a semicylindrical arm portion 25b that fits into the side portion 8b of the interlocking member 8, and a sleeve 14 with the same structure as before is interposed between the upper and lower gripping portions 25a. An upward-facing buffer projection 31 is formed on the upper gripping portion 25a, which contacts the lower surface of the seat 1.

[0061] The upper and lower arm portions 25b are inserted into the side portion 8b of the interlocking member 8 in an overlapping state and are fixed to the side portion 8b of the interlocking member 8 by screws (not shown) inserted through the side portion 8b from below. As previously described, the rear stay 7 has a crank-shaped curved portion 7a, and as shown in Figures 5(A) and 6(A), a C-shaped cushioning material 32 that the seat 1 contacts is fitted to the tip of the curved portion 7a.

[0062] The rear bearing 23 is made of synthetic resin, but the rear cap 24 can be made of either synthetic resin or wood. Using a wooden rear cap 24 can improve the aesthetics. It is also possible to manufacture the rear cap 24 from synthetic resin and cover the entire rear bearing 23 and rear cap 24 with a wooden rear cover.

[0063] (4) Arm section and the connecting structure between it and the front leg section For example, as shown in Figures 4(A) and 4(B), the arm portion 5 has a width from left to right that allows a person's elbow to rest on it, and in an upper front view (longitudinal front view), it has an inverted trapezoidal shape in which the width from left to right is greater than the width from left to right of the bottom surface. The bottom surface is flat, while the top surface is a gently curving surface that bulges upward when viewed from the front. The inner surface 5a is slightly tilted inward with respect to the vertical line, and the outer surface 5b is inclined to tilt outward as it goes upward. The arm portion 5 has a width from left to right of the top surface that is greater than its thickness (vertical width), but because it basically has an inverted trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, it has high strength even though it is made of wood.

[0064] For example, as shown in Figure 4(A), the front surface 5c of the arm section 5 is gently curved so as it extends forward as it goes upward, and the front surface 5c and the outer surface 5b are smoothly continuous. Therefore, the front end of the arm section 5 has a bow-like shape.

[0065] The front end of the arm portion 5 is connected and fixed to the front leg portion 3 via a front connecting member 35. The front connecting member 35 is made of metal or synthetic resin and comprises a lower boss body 36 that fits inside the front leg portion 3, a front support plate 38 that fits into a front-to-back longitudinal front recess 37 formed on the lower surface of the arm portion 5, an upwardly widening tapered intermediate portion 39 located between the front support plate 38 and the lower boss body 36, and an upward-facing upper boss body 40 provided on the upper surface of the front support plate 38 in a concentric position with the lower boss body 36. The front recess 37 of the arm portion 5 is provided with a boss hole 41 into which the upper boss body 40 fits, and a female screw hole (thread nut) 43 for fixing the front support plate 38 with a screw 42 (see Figure 3(D)).

[0066] A retaining washer 44 is fixed to the lower end of the lower boss body 36 by a bush 45. The washer 44 is attached to the lower end of the lower boss body 36 by screwing or forced fitting, and the washer 44 is formed into an upward-spreading petal shape by a leaf spring. When the lower boss body 36 is driven onto the front leg portion 3 from above, the washer 44 bites into the inner surface of the front leg portion 3, preventing it from coming loose. The lower boss body 36 has multiple elongated ribs formed on it to absorb dimensional errors. It is also possible to fill the grooves between the elongated ribs with adhesive.

[0067] The intermediate section 39 that constitutes the front connecting member 35 is tapered, with its lower end having the same outer diameter as the front leg portion 3, and its upper end having the same outer diameter as the left-right width of the front end of the arm portion 5. Therefore, the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate section 39 and the outer surface of the front end of the front leg portion 3 are smoothly continuous. In this embodiment, the intermediate section 39 and the arm portion 5 are gently curved in a recessed state toward the outside.

[0068] A seated person may grasp the front end of the armrest 5, in which case their fingertips will naturally touch the underside of the armrest 5. This could cause their fingertips to touch the front support plate 38 of the front connecting member 35. In this case, if the front support plate 38 is fixed to the armrest 5 using countersunk screws, there will be little discomfort even if the fingertips touch the heads of the countersunk screws. However, if a wooden or resin cover is provided to cover the front support plate 38, the discomfort can be completely eliminated. When providing a cover, it is preferable to set its underside so that it is flush with the underside of the armrest 5.

[0069] (5) Connection structure between the arm section and the rear leg section The rear of the arm portion 5 is rotatably connected to the rear leg portion 4 via a rear connecting member 46. As shown in Figures 3(A) to (C), the rear connecting member 46 consists of a lower bracket 47 fitted and fixed to the front leg portion 3, an upper bracket 49 fixed to the arm portion 5 with two screws 48 (see Figure 3(D)), and a pin 50 connecting them.

[0070] The upper bracket 49 has a rear support plate 52 that fits into a rear recess 51 formed in the arm portion 5, and a pocket-shaped bearing portion 53 with a downward opening that protrudes upward from the rear support plate 52. The rear recess 51 of the arm portion 5 has a deep groove 51a into which the pocket-shaped bearing portion 53 fits. The rear support plate 52 can be configured to extend only forward or only backward from the upper end of the rear leg portion 4, but in this embodiment, it extends on both the front and rear sides, sandwiching the pocket-shaped bearing portion 53. Therefore, the upper bracket 49 is firmly fixed to the arm portion 5 in a stable state. To put it another way, the arm portion 5 is firmly fixed to the upper bracket 49.

[0071] The lower bracket 47 has a lower boss body 36 with the same structure as the front connecting member 35, a plate-shaped bearing portion 54 that fits into the pocket-shaped bearing portion 53 of the upper bracket 49 from below, and an intermediate portion 55 located between the two, with the bearing portions 53 and 54 connected by a pin 50. It is also possible to fix the lower boss body 36 of the rear connecting member 46 with adhesive only, without providing a retaining washer 44. Since the pocket-shaped bearing portion 53 of the upper bracket 49 is tightly fitted into the deep groove portion 51a of the arm portion 5, the pin 50 is prevented from coming out by the deep groove portion 51a.

[0072] Now, for example, as shown in Figure 4(C), the rear support plate 52 of the upper bracket 49 can be formed in the same position as the lower surface of the arm portion 5, so the rear recess 51 of the arm portion 5 can also be formed in the same position as the bottom view of the arm portion 5. On the other hand, in order to allow relative rotation between the rear leg portion 4 and the arm portion 5, the pin 50 is positioned in a left-right longitudinal position, and the pin 50 is positioned in front of the pocket-shaped bearing portion 53 and the plate-shaped bearing portion 54.

[0073] Consequently, the pocket-shaped bearing portion 53 and the plate-shaped bearing portion 54 are positioned in a longitudinal orientation extending backward from the pin 50 in a plan view, and the deep groove portion 51a of the rear leg portion 4 also takes on a longitudinal orientation. However, because the arm portion 5 is curved (inclined) in a plan view so as it moves backward, shifting inward to the left and right, the deep groove portion 51a of the arm portion 5 moves closer to the outer surface 5b of the arm portion 5 as it moves backward, and as a result, a thin-walled portion 56 is formed at the lower end of the arm portion 5 near the rear end of the deep groove portion 51a. Therefore, a rib-shaped cover portion 57 is provided projecting upward from the lower bracket 47 to cover the thin-walled portion 56 of the arm portion 5 from the outside. This prevents objects from hitting and damaging the thin-walled portion 56.

[0074] (6) Summary In this embodiment, the backrest 2 and armrest 5 are important design elements that are visible to the eye. However, the frame consisting of the backrest 2 and armrest 5 is made of wood, yet it has a slim and simple form. As a result, the texture, warmth, and sense of luxury of the wood are combined with a sharp design, creating a unique aesthetic. Consequently, it gives a favorable impression to people and enhances the product's value.

[0075] In particular, in this embodiment, the seat 1 is also made of wood, which provides a consistent texture, and the combination of the slender front and rear legs 3 and 4 with the equally slender armrests 5 creates a slim and unified design. Thus, the unification of materials and form is combined, further improving the appearance.

[0076] Furthermore, users may grip the front end of the armrest 5 while seated, or when sitting down or getting up. Because the front end of the armrest 5 has a bow-like shape that extends forward and to the sides, it fits well with the fingers, allowing for a comfortable and natural grip. Therefore, it is easy to use.

[0077] Furthermore, because the arm portion 5 widens smoothly from the upper end of the slender front leg portion 3 to the upper end of the front end of the arm portion 5 via a tapered connecting portion 39, the upper surface of the arm portion 5 can be set to a width that allows a person's elbow to rest on it, while connecting the front leg portion 3 and the arm portion 5 with a natural appearance. In particular, since the connecting portion 39 is formed in the front connecting member 35, the shape of the arm portion 5 is simplified, which is advantageous in terms of processability and strength.

[0078] By forming the arm portion 5 in an inverted trapezoidal shape, it is possible to ensure sufficient thickness for securely attaching the connecting members 35 and 46 and sufficient width for resting the elbow, while maintaining the necessary strength in a slimmed-down form. In other words, it is possible to ensure the cross-sectional area necessary for the required strength while maintaining the elbow rest function and the fixing function of the connecting members 35 and 46. In this case, if the inner surface 5a of the arm portion 5 is formed in a near-vertical position, damage can be prevented even if a person's side hits the arm portion 5.

[0079] As in the embodiment, providing a front support plate 38 on the front connecting member 35 is preferable because it improves the connection strength between the arm portion 5 and the front connecting member 35. Furthermore, although a downward load also acts on the backrest 2, providing a rear support plate 52 facing forward and backward on the rear connecting member 46 as in the embodiment allows the rearward-facing portion of the rear support plate 52 to support the downward load acting on the backrest 2, so that it can firmly support the arm portion 5 even when a large moment acts on it. Therefore, the robustness of the frame consisting of the backrest 2 and the arm portion 5 can be improved.

[0080] If the rear connecting member 46 is composed of a lower bracket 47 and an upper bracket 49, then only the rear recess 51 needs to be formed in the arm portion 5, thus improving the workability of the arm portion 5. When assembling the chair, the rear connecting member 46 with the upper and lower brackets 47 and 49 connected can be attached to the rear leg portion 4 in advance, and the rear support plate 52 can be fixed to the arm portion 5 with screws, thus reducing the effort required for assembly. The significance of the cover portion 57 is as previously described.

[0081] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various other ways. For example, although the embodiments were applied to a folding chair, the present invention can also be applied to non-folding chairs. In the case of non-folding chairs, the left and right arm sections can be arranged to be parallel for almost their entire length. [Industrial applicability]

[0082] The present invention can be embodied in a chair. Therefore, it can be used industrially. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0083] 1 seat 2 Backrest 3 Front legs 4 Hind leg 5. Arm section 5a Inside surface 5b External surface 5c front 6 Front Stay 7 Rear Stay 8 Interlocking Member 35 Front connecting member 36 Lower Boss 37 Front dent 38 Front support plate 39 Relay Unit 40 Upper Boss 46 Rear connecting member 47 Lower bracket 49 Upper bracket 50 connecting pins 51 Rear dent 51a Deep groove part 52 Rear support plate 53 Pocket-shaped bearing section 54 Plate-shaped bearing section 56 Thin-walled section 57 Cover section

Claims

1. It comprises a backrest, a seat, a leg device that directly or indirectly supports the backrest and the seat, and front-to-back long left and right arm sections positioned higher than the seat and with their rear ends connected to both the left and right ends of the backrest, The leg device is a chair having left and right front legs whose upper ends are connected to the front ends of the arm portion, The aforementioned backrest and armrests are made of wood, and the aforementioned front legs are made of a non-wood material. The front end surface of the aforementioned arm portion has a bow-like shape that extends forward as it goes upwards in a side view. The outer surface of the front of the arm and the outer surface of the upper end of the front leg are connected via a connecting section so as to be smoothly continuous. The relay portion is configured as a connecting member separate from the arm portion and the front leg portion, or it is integrally formed with either the front leg portion or the arm portion. chair.

2. The arm portion and the relay portion are configured to have a shape that narrows downwards when viewed from the front. The chair described in claim 1.

3. The front leg portion is made of metal pipe, and the front part of the arm portion and the front leg portion are fixed together via the connecting member. The connecting member has a downward-facing boss that protrudes downward from the intermediate portion and is fitted and fixed to the front leg portion from above, and an upward-facing boss that is formed concentrically with the downward-facing boss and is fitted from below into an engagement hole formed in the arm portion. The chair according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The connecting member has a support plate that is connected to the upper end of the intermediate section and extends backward, and the support plate is fixed to the arm section with screws while fitted into a recess formed in the arm section. The chair described in claim 3.

5. The outer surface of the aforementioned relay portion is curved so as to be recessed toward the axis. The front end surface and left and right sides of the arm portion are curved so as to be smoothly continuous with the relay portion. The chair described in claim 3.

6. The leg device has a rear leg portion connected to the rear of the arm portion via a bracket. The chair according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The aforementioned rear leg section is made of metal pipe. The bracket includes a lower bracket fitted to the rear leg portion and an upper bracket fixed to the arm portion. The upper bracket is fitted into a downward-facing recess formed in the arm portion. The upper end of the lower bracket is connected to the upper bracket by left and right longitudinal pins. It is designed as a folding chair overall. The chair described in claim 6.

8. The lower bracket has an upward-facing projection that fits inside the arm portion, The upper bracket has a bearing portion to which the upward bracket of the lower bracket is connected by the pin, and a support plate that extends in both the front and rear directions from the bearing portion. The support plate is fixed to the arm portion by screws. The aforementioned pin is prevented from coming out by the recess in the arm portion. The chair described in claim 7.

9. The rear portions of the left and right arm sections are inclined or curved in a plan view such that the distance between them narrows as they move towards the rear, and the left and right upper brackets are also inclined so that they form a V-shape in a plan view. The upward projection of the lower bracket and the receiving portion of the upper bracket are in a longitudinal orientation when viewed from above. The upper bracket has a rib that protrudes upward from the outside, covering the thinned portion of the arm that receives the receiving portion of the upper bracket. The chair described in claim 8.

10. The aforementioned seat is also made of wood. The chair according to claim 1 or 2.

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