Chair

Abstract

A chair comprises a seat portion for enabling a user to sit on the chair and support means for supporting the seat portion. The seat portion is movable between a plurality of different height positions on the support means, and includes locking means adapted for engagement with and disengagement from the support means at each height position, by rocking the seat portion relative to the support means, wherein the seat portion is locked relative to the support means when the locking means is in the engaged position and free to move relative to the support means between different height positions when the locking means is disengaged.

Description

The present invention relates to a chair or other such object for supporting a user in a seated position.

In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis placed on the ergonomics of furniture, in particular for use in office and school environments. For example, it is common for office furniture such as chairs to be adapted for users having different height requirements.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved chair, which can be adapted for users having different height requirements.

According to the present invention, there is provided a chair comprising a seat portion for enabling a user to sit on the chair; support means for supporting the seat portion; characterised in that the seat portion is movable between a plurality of different height positions on the support means, and in which the seat portion includes locking means adapted for engagement with and disengagement from the support means at each height position, by rocking the seat portion relative to the support means, wherein the seat portion is locked relative to the support means when the locking means is in the engaged position and free to move relative to the support means between different height positions when the locking means is disengaged.

Preferably, the support means includes a plurality of locating formations spaced apart from one another, the locating formations corresponding generally to the different height positions for the seat portion on the support means and being adapted to co-operate with the locking means for locking the seat portion at a selected height position.

Preferably, in which the seat portion includes sleeve means adapted for receiving a portion of the support means for enabling the seat portion to be raised or lowered on said portion of the support means.

Conveniently, the sleeve means are configured for rocking movement relative to said portion of the support means.

Preferably, the locking means are provided on the sleeve means, and may be arranged for movement with the sleeve means.

Preferably, the locking means comprises pin means.

In a preferred embodiment, the support means defines a pair of legs, each leg including a plurality of spaced apart apertures along apportion of the leg, the position of the apertures generally corresponding to the different height positions for the seat portion on the support means and being adapted to co-operate with the locking means for locking the seat portion at a selected height position.

Conveniently, a pair of sleeve formations is provided spaced apart from one another on the seat portion, with the legs of the support means arranged to extend through the respective sleeve formations.

Preferably, the seat portion is arranged between the sleeve formations.

Preferably, the support means is generally S-shaped when viewed from the side, and may be adapted for nestling with a plurality of said support means.

Other preferred features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description and the dependent claims.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of chair in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a chair similar to the chair shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded part cross-sectional view of the are encircled in FIG. 3, showing the seat portion in an engaged condition; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the seat portion in a disengaged condition.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a chair according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at 10. The chair 10 includes a seat portion 12 for supporting a user (not shown) in a seated position, the seat portion 12 being received on a support means in the form of tubular frame, indicated at 14.

Sleeve-type formations 16 are provided on either side of the seat portion 12, as can be seen in FIG. 2, either formed integrally with the remainder of the seat portion 12 or attached thereto. The tubular frame 14 defines a base 17 and a pair of legs 18. The chair 10 is configured such that the seat portion 12 can be received on the frame 14, with the upper ends of the legs 18 extending up through the sleeve formations 16. In this embodiment, stabiliser means 19 are provided at the base 17 of the frame 14, which add stability to the chair 10 when placed on a planar surface such as a floor or the like.

As can be seen clearly in FIG. 2, with the seat portion 12 in place on the frame 14, the seat portion is effectively suspended between the legs 18 via the sleeve formations 16.

Looking now at FIG. 3, a chair virtually identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but differing slightly in relatively immaterial aspects of the aesthetic appearance of the seat portion, is also indicated at 10. Other similar components are also given the same reference numerals used with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As with the chair shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tubular frame 14 is curved so as to be of generally S-shaped when viewed from the side. Together with the positioning of the seat portion 12 between the legs 18, the curved configuration of the legs 18 enables the chair 10 to be easily nestled with correspondingly shaped articles, for example with a plurality of identical chairs 10.

As will be described in more detail below, the seat portion 12 is movable between different height positions relative to the frame 14.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the internal configuration of one of the sleeve formations 16 and its relationship with one of the frame legs 18 is clearly illustrated.

The sleeve formation 16 includes a substantially conical shaft having a bore 20 defining an effective front surface 22 and an effective rear surface 24. A locking pin 26 is provided adjacent the lower end of the front surface 22. The locking pin 26 is rigidly connected to the sleeve formation 16 for movement therewith.

As can be seen, apertures 28 are provided in a spaced apart relationship along an upper portion of each leg 18, four of which are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each aperture 28 is configured for receiving the locking pin 26 on the sleeve formation 16. Each aperture 28 is aligned with a similarly positioned aperture on the other leg 18, so as to define a plurality of different height positions on the frame 14, wherein the position of seat portion 12 can be raised or lowered on the frame 14.

In FIG. 4, the locking pin 26 is shown in engagement with the lowermost aperture 28A in the leg 18, so that the seat portion 12 is securely held under the action of the locking pins 26 on the sleeve formations 16 on either side of the seat portion 12 a that height on the frame 14. As can be seen, the front of the leg 16 is generally in abutment with the front surface 22 of the bore 20. The upper region of the rear surface 24 also includes an inclined portion, indicated at 30, and the rear leg 16 is generally in abutment with the transition between the rear surface 24 and the inclined surface 30.

In this engaged position, a user can sit on the seat portion 12 of the chair 10. The sleeve formations 16 and seat portion 12 are arranged so that, with a user sat on the seat portion 12, the direction of the load on the chair 10 acts to impart a rotational force on the lower end of the sleeve formation 16, anti-clockwise as shown in FIG. 4, thereby biasing the locking pin 26 into the aperture 28A. It will be appreciated that this action transmits a similar rotational force to the upper portion of the leg 18, bringing it further into contact with front surface 22 of the sleeve bore 20. This rotational effect acts to securably hold the seat portion 12 in the chosen height position on the frame 14.

If a user wishes to raise the seat portion 12 to a different height position, the user must first lift the front end of the seat portion 12, indicated at 32 in FIG. 3, thereby rotating the seat portion 12 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, until the locking pins 26 are disengaged from the apertures 28A, as shown in FIG. 5. The seat portion 12 can then be moved upwards along the upper portion of the legs 18.

To re-locate the seat portion 12 in a locked position on the frame 14, the front 32 of the seat portion 12 is rotated anti-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, towards the legs 18, to engage the locking pins 26 in the apertures 28 at the desired height position, substantially as described above with respect to FIG. 4.

The above described forward and backward rotational movement of the front portion of the chair 10 essentially causes a rocking movement of the lower end of the sleeve formations 16 and the locking pins 26. Hence, it will be understood that the seat portion 12 is arranged for rocking engagement with the frame 14, via the locking pins 26, at each height position, for selectively locking the seat portion 12 at a desired height position.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A chair which comprises: a seat portion for enabling a user to sit on the chair;support means having a plurality of locating formations spaced apart from one another for supporting the seat portion;in which the seat portion is movable between a plurality of different height positions corresponding to the locating means on the support means; the seat portion includes locking means adapted for engagement with and disengagement from the locating means of the support means by rocking the seat portion relative to the support means, wherein the locating means and locking means co-operate to locate the seat portion at a selected height position and the seat portion is locked relative to the support means when the locking means is in the engaged position and free to move relative to the support means between different height positions when the locking means is disengaged.

15. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the seat portion includes sleeve means adapted for receiving a portion of the support means for enabling the seat portion to be raised or lowered on said portion of the support means.

16. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the sleeve means are configured for rocking movement relative to said portion of the support means.

17. A chair as claimed in claim 15, in which the locking means are provided on the sleeve means.

18. A chair as claimed in claim 4, in which the locking means are arranged for movement with the sleeve means.

19. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the locking means comprises pin means.

20. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the support means defines a pair of legs, each leg including a plurality of spaced apart apertures along a portion of the leg, the position of the apertures generally corresponding to the different height positions for the seat portion on the support means and being adapted to co-operate with the locking means for locking the seat portion at a selected height portion.

21. A chair as claimed in claim 20, in which a pair of sleeve formations is provided spaced apart from one another on the seat portion, with the legs of the support means arranged to extend through the respective sleeve formations.

22. A chair as claimed in claim 21, in which the seat portion is arranged between the sleeve formations.

23. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the support means is generally S-shaped when viewed from the side.

24. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the support means is adapted for nestling with a plurality of said support means.