GB2187086A - Chair with tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A chair, particularly suitable for infirm or semi-invalid persons, is fitted with a tray movable between an extended and a retracted or stowed position, the tray in its extended position being suitably located to support articles within easy reach of the occupant of the seat. The tray may be arranged to be folded flat and subsequently slid under the chair seat to its stowed position, or simply to be slid out and in at the level of the chair seat, or may be incorporated in an arm of the chair for sliding or pivoting, or combined sliding and pivoting, between its retracted and extended positions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Chair with Tray This invention relates to chairs. A need exists for means whereby items such as a cup and saucer or small personal items such as spectacle cases, etc.

may be supported reliably and yet conveniently close to hand for the occupant of a chair. Such need is particularly pronounced in cases where the occupant of the chair is infirm or semi-invalid and thus, if not actually confined to the chair, would be likely to find considerable inconvenience in having to rise from or reach over from the chair to retrieve such items from adjoining tables or other supporting surfaces.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a chair having support means for supporting small items conveniently within the grasp of the occupant of a chair and which means may be stowed away in a compact and unobtrusive manner when not required.

According to the invention there is provided a chair having a tray fitted thereto, the tray being movable between an extended and a retracted or stowed position, such that in its extended position the tray is in a convenient position for supporting articles placed thereon orto be lifted therefrom, by the occupant of the seat.

Preferably, in its extended position, the tray is disposed to one side or the other of the chair.

In a preferred embodiment, the tray is supported from the seat base of the chair and is slidable transversely between a stowed position beneath the seat and a position to one side of the seat.

Additionally, from the last-noted position to one side of the seat, the tray may be raised to a desired or predetermined level relative to the seat so as to be, for example, substantially at the waist level of the occupant of the seat.

Embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A is a perspective view illustrating a chair, with an associated tray, embodying the invention, Figure 1 B is a perspective view of the tray and a support slide therefor, forming part of the chair of Figure 1A, with the tray proper in a lowered position, Figure 1C is a view similar to Figure 1 B but showing the tray proper in a raised position, Figure 2A is a perspective view showing another chair with an associated tray embodying the invention, Figure 2B is a schematic sectional view showing part of the chair of Figure 2A, Figure 2C is a corresponding sectional view of a variant, Figure 3A is a perspective view of a yet further form of chair with an associated tray, embodying the invention, Figure 3B is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing part of the chair of Figure 3A, Figure 3C is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of a variant, Figure 4A is a perspective view of a yet further form of chair with associated tray, embodying the invention, and Figure 4B is a fragmentary sectional view showing part of the chair of Figure 4A.

Referring to Figures 1 A to 1 C, the chair illustrated is a light armchair having front and rear legs 30, 32 respectively, arms 20 and a seat 22 including a rectangular wooden seat frame 24 fixed to legs 30, 32 and carrying a resilient support (known perse and not shown) such as a series of rubber straps, a network of metal springs or the like, for supporting a cushion 26. The frame 24 also carries a traysupporting member in the form of an open rectangular frame or drawer 28 which isslidable transversely (horizontally), from a stowed position entirely below the seat 22 and frame 24, to an extended position shown in Figure 1A. The drawer 28 comprises two parallel side members or runners 34 connected by an inner end member 36 and an outer end member 38 respectively (see Figure 1B).

The runners 34 are provided with longitudinal rebates along their outer sides in which engage ribs, tongues or the like guide members (not shown) carried by the seat frame 24, whereby the support member 28 can be slid in and out as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 1A, through the space between the front and rear legs 30 and 32 on the respective side of the chair.

Mounted in the frame 28 is a rectangular tray 36 which, as shown in Figure 1C, is connected with the frame 28 by a scissors linkage 40, 42 whereby the tray 36 may be moved between a lowered position, illustrated in Figure 1 B, in which the tray 36, along three sides, fits snugly between the runners 34 and against the outer end member 38, and a raised position, shown in Figure 1C. In the lowered position a gap is left between the inner end member 36 and the adjacent edge of the tray 36.Stop means (not shown) is provided to limit the outerward sliding movement of the drawer 28 and because, as will appearfrom whatfollows,the drawer 28, in use, acts as a cantilever supporting the tray 36 and any articles thereon, it is necessary for a substantial part of the length of the drawer 28 to remain within the confines of the frame 24 if the arrangement utilised for supporting the drawer 28 is not to be unduly stressed.The illustrated gap between the inner end member 36 and the adjacent edge of the tray 36 corresponds with the part of the drawer 28 which remains within the confines of the frame 24 in the fully extended position of a drawer, such gap being necessary to allow the tray to clear the adjacent side of the frame 24 and the side of the cushion 26, when the tray 36 is raised upwardly from the drawer 28 once the drawer 28 has been fully extended.

The scissors linkage supporting the tray 36 from the drawer 28 comprises a first pair of parallel spars 40 connected with the underside of the tray 36, adjacent hhe inner edge thereof, for pivoting about a common axis parallel with said inner edge and with the member 38, the spars 40, at their other ends, extending adjacent the inner sides of the respective runners 34 and being pivoted to the runners 34 adjacent the outer end member 38, for pivoting about a common axis also parallel with end member 38. The scissors linkage further includes a second pair of spars 42 which at their one ends are pivoted to the underside of the chair 26, adjacent the outer edge of the tray, for pivoting about a common axis also parallel with member 38. Spars 42 are pivoted, intermediate their ends, to the respective spars 40 for pivoting about a common axis also parallel with the member 38.At their other ends, the spars 42 are corrected by a spar 44 also parallel with member 38 and passing through the spars 42 to project somewhat on the outer sides of the spars 42 whereby the projecting ends of the spar 44 can be engaged in selected notches 46 formed in longitudinal ledges 48 which are provided along the inner sides of the respective runners 34. In the lowered position of the tray, the spars 40,42 lie beneath the tray 36 along the inner sides of the runners 34 so as to present no impediment to the sliding in and out of the tray 28. In use, once the drawer 28 has been pulled out fully, the tray 36 is raised and the ends of the spar 44 located in the selected notches 46 appropriate to set the tray 36 at the desired height.

Referring to Figures 2A and 2B, in a variant, in its stowed position, the tray is accommodated in the space defined below the armrest 20 and between the front and rear legs 30, 32. To this end, the armrest 20 is provided with a longitudinal slot 50 extending through the armrest at an angle as viewed in cross section (see Figure 2B). The tray principally comprises a substantially planar slab 52.

To stow the tray away, it is moved to a position in which the slab 52 is aligned with the slot 50 and is slid downwardly so that the slab 52 passes downwardly through the slot 50, being guided in its passage by channel-section guide members 54, for example, of plastics, fixedly mounted with respect to the armrest 20 and the legs 30,32 of the chair. In its fully stowed position, the upper surface of the armrest 20 is engaged by the undersurface of a cap 56 secured along the edge of the slab 52 which is uppermost in this position, the cap 56 being so formed and dimensioned that, in this stowed position it merges neatly with the armrest 20 and, in effect, provides the upper surface of the armrest.

The edge of the slab 52 opposite that to which the cap 56 is secured is pivotally connected with a bar 58 which extends entirely along said opposite edge of the slab 52 and is of the same thickness as slab 52 but is relatively short in the direction of sliding of the slab 52 through the slot 50. The bar 58 is likewise slidably accommodated between the guides 54 but it is provided with stop means (not shown) preventing its complete upward withdrawal through the slot 50. In the extended position of the tray, as shown in figure 2B, the bar 58 is arrested in a position in which the pivotal axis between the slab 52 and the bar 58 lies substantially in the plane of the upper surface of the armrest 20, (this pivotal axis also lying in the plane of the face of slab 52 which is its lower face in the position of use).Accordingly, once the tray has been slid upwardly as far as possible out of the slot 50, it can be swung downwardly into the position shown in which said iower face of the slab 52 engages the upper surface of the armrest 20, thereby supporting the slab 52 in a horizontal position (see Figure 2A).

The arrangement described with reference to Figures 2A and 2B is suitable for a chair in which the space between the legs 30,32 and between the armrest 20 and the seat frame 24 is enclosed in a furnishing fabric. In a variant chair, illustrated in Figure 2C, in which the corresponding space is open, the slot 50 extends substantially vertically and the cap 56 is substantially flat and is arranged to fit within a rebate 60 in the armrest 20, in the stowed position of the tray, the slab 52, in this position, simply hanging down, exposed to view, below the arm rest.

In the embodiments of Figures 2A and 2C, a corresponding tray may be provided associated with each of the armrests 20.

In the arrangements shown in Figures 3A to 3C, the tray 36 is simply supported directly for transverse horizontal sliding movement between the front and rear legs 30, 32 of the chair, the opposing edges of the tray 36 being accommodated in grooves formed along the inner sides of runners 70 (see Figure 3B) secured to the underside of the frame 24. As indicated in Figure 3C, two such trays may be provided, each extendible on the respective side of the chair, the runners 70 being common to the two trays. Each tray 36 in this case is provided with an outer edge strip 72 which facilitates grasping of the tray, retains objects placed thereon and provides a finished appearance to the side of the tray when the trays are in the stowed position.

Referring to Figures 4A and 4B, in a further variant, the tray 36 is simply pivotally connected with the chair, for example, as indicated at 36b, being hingedly connected with the outer side of the side member of the seat frame 24, for pivoting between a lowered, outwardiy extending horizontal position and a raised position in which extends vertically upwardly from the side of the frame 24 and is accommodated below the armrest 20.

Alternatively, as indicated at 36A, the tray may be hingedly connected with the underside of the armrest 20 for pivoting between a stowed position in which it hangs vertically below the armrest 20 and an upwardly and outwardly swung position in which it lies horizontally from the armrest 20 as shown in dotted lines. Retaining means (not shown) such as a strut, is provided to support the tray in this extended position.

Claims (11)

1. A chair having a tray fitted thereto, the tray being movable between an extended and a retracted or stowed position, such that in its extended position the tray is in a convenient position for supporting articles placed thereon, or to be lifted therefrom, by the occupant of the seat.

2. A chair according to claim 1 wherein, in its extended position, the tray is disposed to one side ofthe chair.

3. A chair according to claim 2 which is provided with an armrest and wherein the tray is supported by the arm rest.

4. A chair according to claims 1 or claim 2 wherein the tray is supported from the seat base of the chair and is slidable transversely between a stowed position beneath the seat and a position to one side of the seat.

5. A chair according to claim 4 wherein the tray is carried by a support member which is in turn mounted for transverse sliding movement between a position beneath the chair seat and a position to one side of the seat, and wherein the tray is movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the supporting member, and wherein, in the stowed position of the tray, the tray is in its lowered position relative to the supporting member and the supporting member is in its position beneath the chair seat.

6. A chair according to claim 5 wherein the tray is supported from the supporting member by way of a scissors linkage.

7. A chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1A and 1C of the accompanying drawings.

8. A chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 2Ato 2C of the accompanying drawings.

9. A chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 3A to 3C of the accompanying drawings.

10. A chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 4A and 4B of the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.