Stacking stool

Abstract

To enable a stool to be stably stacked though the stool cannot be stacked by slipping out in the case of an oval seat part, because the stool with the circular seat part can be stacked.SOLUTION: A stool comprises a seat part and a leg for supporting the seat part. The seat part assumes an oval shape including an ellipse. A plurality of linear projections 21, which are each approximately similar in outer shape to the seat part and which are almost concentrically arranged, are provided on the backside of the seat part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to stackable stools that can be stacked when stored, and in particular to stools whose seat (seat plate, seat cushion) is oval in shape rather than circular. [Background technology]

[0002] Stacking stools refers to stacking stools (chairs), which has the advantage of reducing the occupied area and storage space. A stool is a single-seat chair without a backrest. Stacking stools with circular seats are known. Stackable chairs and stools with roughly square seats are described in Patent Documents 1 to 3. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-346863 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-253260 [Patent Document 3] JP 2000-79033 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Stacking stools with circular seats remain stable even when multiple stools are stacked together. Because the seats are circular, they remain stable even if they are slightly misaligned (specifically, even if they are rotated around a vertical axis passing through the center of the seat), and multiple stacked stools will not collapse. Chairs and stools with roughly square seats are also stable because their legs come into contact with each other, preventing the seats from moving (Patent Documents 1 to 3).

[0005] However, if the shape of the seat is not a circle with a constant distance from the center, but an ellipse with a variable distance from the center, the stool placed on it may shift and lose stability. For this reason, it was not possible to adopt a shape other than a circle for the stool seat.

[0006] This invention has been made to solve such problems, and its object is to provide a stacking stool that can be stacked stably even when the seat of the stool is oval in shape. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides a stool comprising a seat and legs supporting the seat, The seat has an oval shape, including an ellipse, The seat has a rear surface provided with a plurality of linear protrusions that are substantially similar in shape to the seat and are arranged substantially concentrically.

[0008] A back cover may be provided that covers the back surface of the seat and houses the upper part of the leg that supports the seat, and the plurality of linear protrusions may be provided on the back cover.

[0009] Each of the plurality of linear protrusions may be cut off midway. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this invention, multiple linear protrusions are provided on the underside of the seat, so that even if the seat of the stool is oval in shape, it is possible to prevent slippage when stacked, and the stacked state can be maintained stably. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a stool according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 2(a) is a plan view of a stool according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2(b) is a bottom view of the same. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a stool according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from below. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 2A to 2C are a front view, a rear view, a right side view, and a bottom view of a rear cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6(a) is a front perspective view of a rear cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6(b) is a rear perspective view of the same. [Figure 7] FIG. 7(a) is a cross-sectional view of a stool according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7(b) is a cross-sectional view in which the legs are omitted, and FIG. 7(c) is an enlarged view of the lower left portion of FIG. 7(b). [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality (three) of stools according to an embodiment of the present invention are stacked. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A stacking stool according to an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, this stool comprises a seat 1 for sitting on and legs 3 that support the seat 1. Casters (wheels) 4 are attached to the tips (bottom ends) of the legs 3. Adjusters or plastic caps may be attached instead of the casters 4. The seat 1 is made of cushioning material or plywood. In plan view, the seat 1 has an oval shape, which differs from conventional stools with circular seats. The underside of the seat 1 has multiple linear protrusions 21 that are roughly similar in shape to the seat 1 and are arranged roughly concentrically. As can be seen in Figure 2, the legs extend outside the seat 1 in plan view, and the legs 3 are larger than the seat 1. When multiple stools are stacked, the surface of the seat 1 of the lower stool contacts the underside of the seat 1 of the upper stool.

[0014] In the example shown in the figure, the stool is equipped with a back cover 2 that covers the back surface of the seat 1 and houses the seat support portion 3a (the upper portion of the leg 3 that supports the seat) inside. A plurality of linear protrusions 21 are provided on the surface of this back cover 2 (which corresponds to the back surface of the seat 1 after installation). The pattern of the plurality of protrusions 21 shown in the figure is one example and is not limiting. Furthermore, the back cover 2 is not essential, and it is sufficient to provide a plurality of linear protrusions 21 on the portion that comes into contact with the surface of the seat 1 when multiple stools are stacked (the back surface of the seat 1).

[0015] In the example shown in the figure, leg 3 has four legs. In this example, a pipe-shaped member is bent into a U-shape to create the two legs, and these two are joined at the center to form leg 3. The joint is located roughly in the center of the back surface of seat 1. Casters 4 are fitted into the ends of the pipe-shaped members. The middle part of the U-shape forms seat support 3a that supports seat 1. Although not shown, seat support 3a has holes for passing screws to attach leg 3 to seat 1.

[0016] The rear cover 2 has four cutouts 23 for the pipe-shaped legs 3 and seat support parts 3a to escape to. The rear cover 2 and legs 3 are attached to the seat 1 by passing screws through the mounting screw holes 22 in the rear cover 2 and tightening them.

[0017] 5 to 7 show details of the rear cover 2. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 2.

[0018] As can be seen from the front view in the center of Figure 5, the outer periphery of the back cover 2 is similar to but slightly smaller than the shape of the seat portion 1, i.e., an oval shape, including an ellipse (the outer periphery of the back cover 2 may have other shapes and does not necessarily have to be similar to the shape of the seat portion 1). The surface of the back cover 2 (corresponding to the underside of the seat portion) is provided with multiple linear protrusions 21 that are roughly similar to the outer shape of the seat portion 1 and are arranged roughly concentrically. The protrusions 21 prevent the stool from slipping when stacked. In the example shown in the figure, each of the multiple linear protrusions 21 is broken in the middle (designated X). No protrusions 21 are provided at the broken Xs. In the figure, there are 10 such protrusions. The number of Xs is high (6) where the oval radius of the protrusions 21 is small, and low (4) where the radius is large. In the example shown in the figure, the length of the broken portion marked by the Xs is 3-4% of the major axis a of the oval of the outermost protrusion 21. The broken Xs further enhance the slippage prevention effect.

[0019] Each of the multiple linear protrusions 21 has a roughly concentric elliptical shape (specifically, a roughly similar, scaled-down version of the outer periphery of the seat portion 1, but it need not be an exact similarity). The example in the figure has ten linear protrusions 21. Regarding their sizes, when the major axis A of the oval of the back cover 2 is taken as 100%, the major axis a of the oval of the outermost protrusion 21 is approximately 80%, and the major axis a' of the oval of the innermost protrusion 21 is approximately 45%. When the minor axis B of the oval of the back cover 2 is taken as 100%, the minor axis b of the oval of the outermost protrusion 21 is approximately 73%, and the minor axis b' of the oval of the innermost protrusion 21 is approximately 27%, so the shapes of the innermost protrusions 21 become less similar. The spacing between the multiple linear protrusions 21 is roughly constant.

[0020] In geometry, an oval is a curve resembling an egg, ellipse, or ellipse. It also refers to the shapes of an egg, ellipse, or oval. An oval is a smooth, non-intersecting, convex, closed, planar curve that has at least one point of symmetry.

[0021] 7, the center portion of the surface of the seat 1 is slightly convex, and the center portion of the back cover 2 is slightly concave. Note that the center portion of the seat 1 may be slightly concave, and the center portion of the back cover 2 may be slightly convex.

[0022] Figure 8 shows images of three stools stacked together. Both images show a state in which the stack is maintained stably. Figure 8(a) shows the stacked state in which the stools are neatly stacked so that the long axis and the short axis are aligned, and the stool placed on top does not slide down. Figures 8(b) to 8(d) show three stools stacked in a somewhat distorted manner. Even in this state, the linear protrusions 21 prevent the stool placed on top from sliding down. In contrast, without the linear protrusions 21, the misalignment gradually increases, and the stool placed on top slides down.

[0023] According to the stools of the embodiment of the invention, even if the seat is oval, it is possible to prevent shifting when multiple stools are stacked, and the stacked state can be maintained, allowing for stable stacking. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1 Seat (seat cushion, plywood seat, domestic wood seat) 2 Back cover (bottom cover) 21 Linear protrusions 22 Mounting screw holes 23 Leg notch 3 Legs (supporting members) 3a Seat support part 4 Casters (wheels)

Claims

1. A stool comprising a seat and legs supporting the seat, The seat has an oval shape, including an ellipse, A plurality of linear protrusions are provided on the back surface of the seat portion, the protrusions being substantially similar in shape to the outer shape of the seat portion and being substantially concentric with the outer shape of the seat portion, the plurality of linear protrusions are provided inward of the leg portions, A stool characterized in that the plurality of linear protrusions each have a different major axis and minor axis, and the major axis and minor axis of the outermost protrusion are larger than the major axis and minor axis of the innermost protrusion.

2. 2. The stool according to claim 1, further comprising a back cover that covers the underside of the seat and houses the upper portion of the leg that supports the seat, and wherein the linear protrusions are provided on the back cover instead of arranging the linear protrusions on the underside.

3. 3. The stool according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of linear protrusions is terminated midway.

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