GB2179247A

GB2179247A - Frame for a seat

Info

Publication number: GB2179247A
Application number: GB08620248A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Long
Original assignee: Nottingham County Council
Current assignee: Nottingham County Council
Priority date: 1985-08-20
Filing date: 1986-08-20
Publication date: 1987-03-04
Also published as: GB8520812D0; GB8620248D0

Abstract

A frame for a seat comprising a back portion (3) and a seat portion (2). Spring elements (15) are provided on the back portion at the intersections of the longitudinal and transverse elements 13 and 12. The back portion 12 is (3) may be pivotable with respect to the seat portion (2) and the seat is held in a selected adjusted position by engagement of a bar (27) with a selected one of recesses 34, 35 and 36. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Frame for a seat This invention relates to a frame for a seat.

Reference is made to our copending U.K. Patent Application No. 8513888 entitled "Flame Retardant Cushion and Seat". In this application there is described a seat comprising a frame having a plurality of cushions, the cushions being provided with internal springs.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame for a seat comprising a seat portion and a back portion, wherein at least one spring element is provided on the back portion.

The back portion desirably comprises two opposed substantially parallel side members having an upper member extending between one end of the side members. The upper member may be integral with the side members and preferably extends substantially transverse thereto.

The seat portion may also comprise two opposed substantially parallel side members having a front member extending between one end of the side members. The front member may be integral with the side members and preferably extends substantially transverse thereto.

The back portion is conveniently pivotable with respect to the seat portion. To this end the side members of the back portion may be pivotally secured to the side members of the seat portion.

Advantageously a plurality of said spring elements are provided on the back portion.

In a preferred embodiment a plurality of transverse elements extend between the opposed side members of the back portion. Desirably the transverse elements are disposed substantially transverse to the opposed side members of the back portion. It is also preferred that a plurality of longitudinal elements are provided which extend substantially perpendicularly to the transverse elements. This provides a plurality of points of intersection where the transverse elements and the longitudinal elements cross over one another.

The longitudinal elements may be secured to the transverse elements and to the upper member.

Preferably the spring elements are secured to the longitudinal elements and to the transverse elements. It is especially preferred that one of said elements is secured to the longitudinal elements or the transverse elements at least at some of the points of intersection. Preferably one of said spring elements is secured to the longitudinal elements or the transverse elements at all the points of intersection.

Desirably the transverse elements and the longitudinal elements are made of rigid material, such as metal tubing.

Cover material is preferably provided on the back portion, and may be arranged so that the or each spring element is disposed between the cover material and the back portion. The cover material conveniently includes a padding layer which is disposed between an outer surface of the cover material and the or each spring element.

The seat portion may also include a plurality of transverse and longitudinal elements similar two the transverse and longitudinal elements provided on the back portion. However, it is preferred that the transverse and longitudinal elements of the seat portion are made of a resiliently deformable material.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a seat including a frame comprising a seat portion and a back portion; wherein at least one spring element is provided on the back portion.

The frame may include one or more of the features defined above.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame for a seat according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the frame shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the frame shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of seat incorporating a frame according to the invention; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of seat incorporating a frame according to the invention.

Figures 1 to 3 show a frame 1 according to the invention. The frame 1 includes a seat portion 2 and a back portion 3.

The back portion 3 comprises two opposed substantially parallel side members 4 and 5, and an upper member 6 extends between one end of the side members 4 and 5 substantially transverse thereto. The upper member 6 is integral with the side members 4 and 5.

The seat portion 2 comprises two opposed substantially parallel side members 7 and 8. A front member 9 extends between one end of the side members 7 and 8 substantially transverse thereto.

The front member 9 is integral with the side members 7 and 8.

The side member 5 is pivotally secured to the side member 8 by means of a pivotal connection 10, and the side member 4 is pivotally secured to the side member 7 by means of a pivotal connection 11. The pivotal connections 10 and 11 enable the back portion 3 to pivot with respect to the seat portion 2.

A plurality of transverse elements 12 extend between the opposed side members 4 and 5, substantially transverse thereto. Two longitudinal elements 13 extend substantially perpendicularly to the transverse elements 12. The longitudinal elements 13 are secured to the transverse elements 12 and to the upper member 6.

The transverse elements 12 cross over the longitudinal elements 13 to create a plurality of points of intersection designated 14.

A plurality of spring elements 15 are secured to the back portion 3 of the frame 1. The spring elements 15 are secured to either the transverse elements 12 or the longitudinal elements 13. One of the spring elements 15 is secured to the longitudinal elements 13 at each of the points of intersection 14.

A cover material 16 is arranged on the spring elements 15, so that the spring elements 15 are disposed between the cover material 16 and the back portion 3. In Figures 1 and 3 the cover material 16 has been shown only in outline, for the purposes of clarity. The cover material 16 can include a padding layer (not shown).

The seat portion 2 includes a plurality of transverse elements 17 and longitudinal elements 18 similar to the transverse elements 12 and longitudinal elements 13 of the back portion 3.

However, the transverse elements 17 and the longitudinal elements 18 are made of a resiliently deformable material, such as elastic.

Figure 4 shows the frame 1 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 disposed on a seat generally designated 20.

On each side of the frame 1 there is disposed a support structure 37 comprising two legs 21 and 22 which are connected by a cross member 23. An arm rest 24 extends between the upper ends of the legs 21 and 22. The legs 22 disposed on opposite sides of the frame 1 are connected by a rear support bar 25, a dowel 26 and a screw (not shown) connects the legs 22 to the bar 25.

The legs 21 disposed on opposite sides of the frame 1 are connected by a front support bar 27. A screw or nail 28 extends through an aperture 29 in each of the legs 21 and into an aperture 30 of the bar 27, in order to secure the bar 27 to the legs 21.

An arcuate rail 31 is secured to the underside of both the side member 7 and the side member 8 by means of screws 32. A recessed member 33 is also secured to each of the side members 7 and 8. In Figure 4 only the rail 31 and recessed member 33 secured to the side member 8 is shown. The recessed member 33 is provided with three recesses 34,35 and 36, and the bar 27 can be releasably retained in a selected one of these recesses. In Figure 4 the bar 27 is shown retained in the recess 36.

The front bar 27 is held in the selected recess 34, 35 or 36 by the force exerted by the seat portion 2 on the bar 27, so that the bar 27 is held in rigid engagement with the surface of the selected recess.

The bar 27 may be released from the recess 34,35 or 36 by lifting the seat portion 2. This removes the force exerted by the seat portion 2, and releases the bar 27 from rigid engagement with the recess 34,35 or 36 so that the bar 27 can slide out of the recess 34, 35 or36 and can slide along the rail 31. This relative movement can be contined until the bar 27 is moved into alignment with a selected one of the recesses 34,35 and 36, when the seat portion 2 can be moved downwardly to force the bar 27 into rigid engagement with the selected recess. This arrangement is described in U.K. Patent Application No. 851388.

A cushion 38 is disposed upon the seat portion 2.

The cushion may be the same as the cushion described in ourcopending U.K. Patent Application No.8513888.

The legs 21,22, the cross member 23 and the arm rest 24 are conveniently made of wood.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a seat, which is generally designated 40. Many of the parts of the seat 40 are similar to the seat 20 shown in Figure 4, and like parts have been designated with like reference numerals.

A support structure 47 is provided on opposite sides of the frame 1 for supporting the frame above the ground. Each support structure 47 comprises two upwardly extending portions 42a and 42b which are connected to a ground engaging portion 43. A cross member 44 extends between the portions 42a and 42b and is secured to an apertured lug 42c provided on each of the portions 42a and 42b. A back support bar 46 extends between the portions 42b on opposite sides of the frame 1. An arm rest 44 is secured to an upper end of the portions 42a and 42b.

The frame portions 42a, 42b, 43 and the bar 46 conveniently comprise metal tubing, while the cross member 44 and the arm rest 45 may be made of wood.

Claims

1. A frame for a seat comprising a seat portion and a back portion wherein at least one spring element is provided on the back portion.

2. Aframe according to Claim 1 wherein a plurality of spring elements are provided on the back portion.

3. A frame according to Claim 1 or 2 whereby the back portion is pivotable with respect to the seat portion.

4. Aframe according to any preceding claim wherein the back portion comprises two opposed substantially parallel side members.

5. A frame according to Claim 4 wherein a plurality of transverse elements extend between the opposed side members of the back portion.

6. A frame according to Claim 5 wherein the transverse elements are disposed substantially transverse to the opposed side members of the back portion.

7. A frame according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein a plurality of longitudinal elements extend substantially perpendicular to the transverse elements whereby a plurality of points of intersection are provided where the transverse elements and the longitudinal elements intersect each other.

8. Aframe according to Claim 7 wherein the longitudinal elements are secured to the tranverse elements.

9. A frame according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein the longitudinal elements are secured to an upper member exending between one end of the side members.

10. A frame according to Claim 9 wherein the upper member is integral with the side members.

11. A frame according to Claim 9 or 10 wherein the upper member extends substantially transverse to the side members.

12. A frame according to any of Claims 5 to 11 wherein the spring elements are attached to the transverse elements.

13. A frame according to any of Claims 7 to 11 wherein the spring elements are attached to the longitudinal elements.

14. A frame according to Claim 13 wherein the spring elements are secured to the longitudinal elements or the transverse elements at the points of intersection.

15. Aframe according to any of Claims 5to 14 wherein the transverse elements are made of a rigid material.

16. A frame according to any of Claims 7 to 14 wherein the longitudinal elements are made of a rigid material.

17. A frame according to Claim 15 or 16 wherein the rigid material is metal tubing.

18. Aframe according to any preceding Claim wherein the seat portion comprises two opposed substantially parallel side members.

19. A frame according to Claim 18 wherein the seat portion comprises a front member extending between one end of the side members.

20. A frame according to Claim 19 wherein the front member is integral with the side members.

21. A frame according to Claim 19 or 20 wherein the front member extends substantially transverse to the side members.

22. A frame according to any of Claims 18 to 21 wherein the side members of the back portion are pivotally secured to the side members of the seat portion.

23. A frame according to any preceding claim wherein a cover material is provided on the back portion such that the or each spring element is disposed between the cover material and the back portion.

24. A frame according to Claim 23 wherein the cover material includes a padding layer between an outer surface of the cover material and the or each spring element.

25. A frame according to any preceding claim wherein the seat portion comprises a plurality of transverse and longitudinal elements, whereby said elements are made of a resiliently deformable material.

26. A frame substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.