GB2553177A

GB2553177A - Chairs

Info

Publication number: GB2553177A
Application number: GB1708046.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John McDonald Nicholas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-19
Filing date: 2017-05-19
Publication date: 2018-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-19
Also published as: GB201708046D0; GB201608813D0; GB2553177B

Abstract

A folding chair comprises first and second hubs a first set of arms 12 pivotally connected to the first hub 10, a second set of arms 12 pivotally connected to the second hub and a flexible membrane 13 connected to some of the arms 12. The membrane 13 may have a configuration where it is a hyperbolic paraboloid and the chair may collapse to a transport configuration where the two sets of arms 12 are parallel to each other. The first set of arms 12 may form a base in an open configuration and some of the arms 12 may be connected by flexible cables which act in tension. The arms may also be connected by metal stays 15 and the device can be deployed by applying force to a hub to cause movement relative to the other hub.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Chairs

Abstract Title: A folding chair with arms mounted on a pair of hubs (57) A folding chair comprises first and second hubs a first set of arms 12 pivotally connected to the first hub 10, a second set of arms 12 pivotally connected to the second hub and a flexible membrane 13 connected to some of the arms 12. The membrane 13 may have a configuration where it is a hyperbolic paraboloid and the chair may collapse to a transport configuration where the two sets of arms 12 are parallel to each other. The first set of arms 12 may form a base in an open configuration and some of the arms 12 may be connected by flexible cables which act in tension. The arms may also be connected by metal stays 15 and the device can be deployed by applying force to a hub to cause movement relative to the other hub.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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FRONT SIDE TOP PERSPECTIVE

CHAIRS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to chairs and, in particular, to folding chairs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of folding chair.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a folding chair comprising first and second hubs, a first set of arms pivotally connected to the first hub, a second set of arms pivotally connected to the second hub and a flexible membrane connected to some of the arms.

The flexible membrane preferably has a configuration corresponding to a hyperbolic paraboloid.

The arrangement is preferably such that, in the collapsed (transport) condition of the chair, the two sets of arms all extend substantially parallel to one another.

The arrangement is also preferably such that, in the opened (in use) condition of the chair, the first set of arms form the base of the chair and the flexible membrane is connected to the ends of the arms of the second set remote from the second hub.

Some of the arms are preferably interconnected by ropes (or like flexible elements) which act in tension in the opened condition of the chair, and some of the arms are preferably connected by metal stays which act in compression.

The first and second hubs are preferably circular and are preferably not connected together. The arrangement is preferably such that, in the collapsed condition of the chair, a force can be applied to one of the hubs, causing relative movement of the hubs and causing the arms to deploy into their in use or opened positions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a rear view of the chair in its upright condition

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the chair, and

Figure 3 shows the various possible figures of the frame members of the chair.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

As shown in the drawings, the chair includes two separate circular hubs 10 and 11, typically of steel, and four rigid, for example, wooden, arms 12 radiating outwardly from each hub 10, 11. There is thus a total of eight arms 12.

There is also a tensioned fabric membrane 13 on which the user of the chair can sit when it is in its open or in use condition. One set of arms 12 forms the base structure of the chair and these arms 12 can be provided with rollers 14 at their outer ends to facilitate movement of the chair, while the fabric membrane 13 is connected to the outer ends of the other set of arms 12. As can be seen from the drawings, the fabric membrane 13 has a hyperbolic paraboloid configuration.

The arms 12 are arranged for pivotal movement relative to the circular hubs 10, 11 and are interconnected by ropes or like flexible elements 14 which act in tension when the chair is in its open or in use condition. The arms 12 can also be interconnected by metal stays which act in compression when the chair is in its open or in use condition.

The two circular hubs 10 and 11 are not connected directly to one another but are caused to conform to the required geometry, as shown in the drawings, by the ropes 14 and metal stays.

In the closed or retracted position, as shown in one set of illustrations in Figure 3, all the arms 12 extend substantially vertically with the hubs 10 and 11 positioned one above the other but with a spacing between them. When a downward force is applied to the uppermost hub 11, this brings the two hubs 10 and 11 closer together and, at the same time, causes the legs of the chair to deploy and, at the same time, the arms that carry the fabric membrane are also forced into the required positions by the constraint of the tension stays and the tension in the fabric membrane 13.

The chair can thus be converted quite easily from its collapsed, retracted or transport condition, it which it occupies a relatively small amount of space, via its half-deployed condition into is open or in use condition in which it provides a very attractive form of seating.

The different conditions are shown in Figure 3.

Claims

Claims:1. A folding chair comprising first and second hubs, a first set of arms pivotally connected to the first hub, a second set of arms pivotally connected to the second hub and a flexible membrane connected to some of the arms.
2. A folding chair as claimed in Claim 1, in which the flexible membrane has a configuration corresponding to a hyperbolic paraboloid.
3. A folding chair as claimed in Claim 1, in which the arrangement is such that, in the collapsed or transport condition of the chair, the two sets of arms all extend substantially parallel to one another.
4. A folding chair as claimed in Claim 3, in which the arrangement is such that, in the opened (in use) condition of the chair, the first set of arms form the base of the chair and the flexible membrane is connected to the ends of the arms of the second set remote from the second hub.
5. A folding chair as claimed in Claim 1, in which some of the arms are interconnected by flexible elements which act in tension in the opened condition of the chair.
6. A folding chair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the arrangement is such that, in the collapsed condition of the chair, a force can be applied to one of the hubs, causing relative movement of the hubs and causing the arms to deploy into their in use or opened positions.

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Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1708046.6

6. A folding chair as claimed in Claim 4, in which some of the arms are connected by metal stays which act in compression.

7. A folding chair as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the arrangement is such that, in the collapsed condition of the chair, a force can be applied to one of the hubs, causing relative movement of the hubs and causing the arms to deploy into their in use or opened positions.

Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows:

Claims:• · • 9 • 9··

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1. A folding chair comprising first and second hubs, a first set of four arms pivotally connected to the first hub, a second set of four arms pivotally connected to the second hub and a flexible membrane, with the arrangement such that, in the opened, i.e. in use, condition of the chair, the first set of arms form the base of the chair, and the flexible membrane being connected to the ends of the arms of the second set remote from the second hub.

2. A folding chair as claimed in Claim 1, in which the flexible membrane has a configuration corresponding to a hyperbolic paraboloid.

3. A folding chair as claimed in Claim 1, in which the arrangement is such that, in the collapsed, i.e. transport condition, of the chair, the two sets of arms all extend substantially parallel to one another.

4. A folding chair as claimed in Claim 1, in which some of the arms are interconnected by flexible elements which act in tension in the opened condition of the chair.

5. A folding chair as claimed in Claim 1, in which some of the arms are connected by metal stays which act in compression.