GB2210780A

GB2210780A - Dynamic chair

Info

Publication number: GB2210780A
Application number: GB8723943A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Sterner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-12
Filing date: 1987-10-12
Publication date: 1989-06-21
Also published as: GB8723943D0

Abstract

A dynamic chair constituted by a prop frame 3 standing upright on a horizontal base frame 1 and a pane of clothlike material 8 stretched tight between the top 6 of the prop frame 3 and the front end 7 of the base frame 1 by the traction of an elastic element 9 fastened to the top 6 of the prop frame 3 and the rear end 10 of the base frame 1. The point of contact 4 between the prop frame 3 and the base frame 1 is secured against sliding by stops 5 which serve also to change the inclination of the elastic seat. <IMAGE>

Description

DYNAMIC CHAIR This invention relates to a chair of the type called garden or deck chair.

Deck chairs are known which comprise three or more rectangular frames linked crosswise by pivots, and a pane of material fastened to and hung limp between two frames forming a static seat.

Such chairs however are inconvenient in use because the limp pane of canvas becomes unyielding when sat in and makes it difficult to get up and out of the low seat. Moreover the pivots corrode, cause the frames to break, and fingers are often pinched when the articulated frames fold like shears.

The frames standing on end dig into soft soil or lawn and are difficult to shift around.

According to the present invention the chair is composed of only two rectangular unlinked frames, one that constitutes the base which lies flat on the ground and has the front end bent up in the manner of sledge runners to a convenientheight to constitute the front edge of the seat, and the other frame placed upright on the base constituting o prop, the point of contact with the base frame forming a fulcrum which can be placed on different points of the base but is secured against accidental sliding by means of stops.The upper crossbar of the prop frame is linked to the upbent front end of the base by a pane of material stretched tight by an elastic contracting element which links under tension the same upper crossbar of the prop frame to the rear end of the base frame, which for convenient fixing of the elastic element can also be bent up.

To improve the facility of use the bend of the front end of the base frame can be continued and lengthened to form an armrest.

When sitting down, the body of a person is met by the tightly stretched pane of material at a greater height than the front edge of the seat and is accompanied downwards in a broken and less violent fall. The stretched pane of material curves in taking the shape of the body, shortens the distance between the top of the prop frame and the front end of the base frame at the same time lengthening the distance between the top of the prop frame and the rear end of the base frame thus stretching the elastic element and increasing its tension until the weight of the person is dynamically balanced because the seat remains always buoyant, whether the person is sitting upright or reclining.

When the person starts getting up, the pane of material still stretched by the elastic element exerts a gentle push upwards and assists the person to get out of the chair.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in side view the chair unoccupied with the pane of material stretched tight by the tension of the elastic element; Figure 2 shows in side view the chair with the pane of mater ial curved by the shape and weight of a person sit Lting in' it and the. elastic element tensioned to a greater length.

Referring to the drawings the chair consists of a rectangular base frame (1) lying flat on the ground with the front end (2) bent up to a height corresponding to that of a front edge, of a chair, a rectangular frame (3) posed on frame (1) with its lower end (4) secured against sliding by one or more stops (5), and its upper end (6) linked to the front end~(7) of the base frame (1) by a pane of cloth or substitute material to serve as a seat (8) stretched tight by the tension of an elastic element (9) fastened to the upper end (6) of the frame (3) which constitutes a prop, and to the rear end (10) of the base frame (1) for the convenience of fastening slightly bent up. The elastic element can be constituted by sheathed or unsheathed rubber strips, coil springs, jacks or the like.To vary the inclination of the prop frame (3) and consequently the degree of the reclining position of a person the prop frame (3) can be lifted out of and into the various stops (5). To reduce the overall height of the chair for storage the prop frame (3) can be lifted completely out of the stops (5) and laid flat on the base frame (1).

In Figure 2 the pane of material(8) is curved in by the weight and the shape of a human body indicated in dotted lines, causing the.prop frame (3) to swivel on its fulcrum(4) which has the effect of shortening the distance(ll)between (6) and (7) of Figure 1 to the distance (12) of Figure 2 while at the same time stretching the length (3) between (6) and (10) of the element (9) in Figure 1 to a greater tension and length (14) in Figure 2. In another version the bend of the front end of the base frame (1) is continued and lengthened to form an armrest (15), as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

Claims

1. A dynamic chair comprising a rectangular horizontal base frame with upbent front end, a rectangular frame placed upright on the base frame and constituting a prop, the top of which is linked to the bent up front end of the base frame by a pane of material stretched tight by an elastic element under tension that links the top of the prop frame with the rear end of the base frame.

2. A dynamic chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein the point of support of the upright prop frame on the base frame constitutes a fulcrum and is prevented from sliding by appropriate stops.

3. A dynamic chair as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the stops serve to vary the inclination of the prop frame.

4. A dynamic chair as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein the bend of the front end of the base frame is continued and lengthened to constitute an armrest.