Chair

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to chairs, and, more particularly, to stackable, connectable chairs with hooks or protrusions.

BACKGROUND

Chairs are useful for seating and comfort of people in a variety of environments for working, learning, entertaining, socializing, etc. Chairs can be arranged, rearranged, sorted, stored, moved, and the like. However, chairs can often be difficult to arrange, rearrange, sort, store, move, etc., causing hardship to those tasked to do so. As such, there is a need for improved chair arrangeability and configurability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-9 illustrate example views of an example chair.

The figures are not to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples that may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the subject matter, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, provided to describe an example implementation and not to be taken as limiting on the scope of the subject matter described in this disclosure. Certain features from different aspects of the following description may be combined to form yet new aspects of the subject matter discussed below.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

As the terms “connected to,” “coupled to,” etc. are used herein, one object (e.g., a material, element, structure, member, etc.) can be connected to or coupled to another object regardless of whether the one object is directly connected or coupled to the other object or whether there are one or more intervening objects between the one object and the other object. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and/or in fixed relation to each other. As used herein, stating that any part is in “contact” with another part is defined to mean that there is no intermediate part between the two parts.

As used in this patent, stating that any part (e.g., a layer, film, area, region, or plate) is in any way on (e.g., positioned on, located on, disposed on, or formed on, etc.) another part, indicates that the referenced part is either in contact with the other part, or that the referenced part is above the other part with one or more intermediate part(s) located therebetween.

As used herein, singular references (e.g., “a”, “an”, “first”, “second”, etc.) do not exclude a plurality. The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity. The terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more”, and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method actions may be implemented by, e.g., a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different examples or claims, these may possibly be combined, and the inclusion in different examples or claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous.

The term “and/or” when used, for example, in a form such as A, B, and/or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as (1) A alone, (2) B alone, (3) C alone, (4) A with B, (5) A with C, (6) B with C, and (7) A with B and with C. As used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects, and/or things, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, the phrase “at least one of A or B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. As used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities and/or steps, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities, and/or steps, the phrase “at least one of A or B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, and (3) at least one A and at least one B.

As used herein, “approximately” and “about” modify their subjects/values to recognize the potential presence of variations that occur in real world applications. For example, “approximately” and “about” may modify dimensions that may not be exact due to manufacturing tolerances and/or other real-world imperfections as will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. For example, “approximately” and “about” may indicate such dimensions may be within a tolerance range of +/−10% unless otherwise specified in the below description.

In some examples used herein, the term “substantially” is used to describe a relationship between two parts that is within three degrees of the stated relationship (e.g., a substantially colinear relationship is within three degrees of being linear, a substantially perpendicular relationship is within three degrees of being perpendicular, a substantially parallel relationship is within three degrees of being parallel, etc.).

In addition, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

Certain examples provide a chair, stool, bench, and/or other seat (hereinafter referred to as a “chair”) that includes a hook or protrusion, such as for hanging a purse, bag, umbrella, etc. In certain examples, the hook/protrusion is implemented as part of an aluminum- and/or other metal-protected large pass-through with an integrated handle and a non-retractable hook. The handle can be used to maneuver the chair, and the hook can be used to hang or otherwise position a purse, bag, etc. In some alternative examples, the hook may be retractable.

The chair can also include a titanium alloy L-shaped flex bracket, which allows the back of the chair to flex. The frame of the chair can be an aluminum argon welded frame, for example. A waterfall seat cushion can be included to provide comfort in the legs of a user when that user is sitting in the chair.

The chair can include one or more retractable ganging plates, which allow chairs to be attached theater-style in rows. In certain examples, when not in use, the plate can be retracted underneath or inside the chair body so as to be inconspicuous when not in use. Additionally or alternatively, the chair can be stacked with other like chairs (e.g., up to 10-12 chairs high).

The chair includes a chair seat portion, a chair back portion attached to an end of the chair seat portion, and a base (e.g., a set of 3 or more legs, etc.) attached at a first end to an underside of the chair seat portion. A handle is also attached to a top of the chair back portion. The handle allows the chair to be manipulated to move with respect to the floor, ground, etc., stack with respect to another chair, unstack from on top of another chair, otherwise lift and/or slide the chair, etc. The area formed by the handle at the top of the chair back can also include a post, hook, or other protrusion. This protrusion can be used to hang an object such as a bag, purse, umbrella, cane, etc. The chair also includes a retractable ganging plate to allow the chair to be interconnected with other similar chairs.

In certain examples, the chair is foam-filled (e.g., cold-cured foam blend, other high density molded foam, etc.) for user comfort (e.g., the seat base and/or seat back of the chair can be filled with foam, etc.). In certain examples, the foam is injection molded with built-in lumbar support and other contours to fit the human form. In certain examples, the seat or chair base has a waterfall front edge to relieve stress on a user's legs. In certain examples, the wood is contoured to match the foam to help ensure that neither the wood nor the foam will break down over time. In certain examples, a frame of the chair is built with an all-welded construction and designed to stand up to the heavy demands of 24/7 casino, convention, hotel, and/or other hospitality use. In certain examples, a base of the chair is an aluminum (e.g., extruded aluminum tubing, etc.) and/or other metal base.

In certain examples, the chair is coated with a film and/or covered in a liner to provide antimicrobial, antibacterial, and/or other sanitary coating. In certain examples, upholstery of the chair inhibits microbiological growth and is also anti-fungal and anti-mildew to prevent harmful growth or spread of virus, bacteria, etc. Such upholstery can be bleach-cleanable, for example.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example chair 100 including a base 110, a seat 120, and a back 130. The chair base 110 includes 3 or more legs, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the chair base 110 includes a pedestal or column from which additional support members can extend parallel (or at least roughly parallel) to a plane of the chair seat 120. The example seat 120 is positioned on top of the base 110, and the chair back 130 is connected to the seat 120 and/or the base 110. In operation, a user sits on the seat portion 120 and can lean back to rest against the back 130. The base 110 supports the weight of the user, the seat 120, and the back 130 and contacts the floor or ground in which the chair 100 is positioned.

In certain examples, the angle of the rear pair of legs of the base 110 and a rubber-ribbed protective strip on cross-members (e.g., stretcher bards, etc.) connecting a front leg and a back leg of the base 110 in a pair for support enable the chair 100 to be glidably stacked with other chairs of the same or similar design. In certain examples, the pair of back legs forming the base 110 can also be connected with a stretcher bar or other support.

In certain examples, the width of the chair back 130 is 17-19 inches, and a height of the back 130 is 20-23 inches. In certain examples, seat 120 depth is 18-24 inches. In certain examples, seat 120 width is 16-19 inches. In certain examples, a height of the seat 120 is 18-19 inches. In certain examples, an overall depth of the chair 100 is 22-24 inches, and an overall height is 36-38 inches. Seat 120 thickness is 5-7 inches, for example. In certain examples, a set of four chairs 110 stack with their centers of mass aligned at a stack height of 42 inches. In certain examples, a stack of 10-12 chairs can be formed and balanced without topping.

In certain examples, legs forming the base 110 can include squared legs with a tapered tubing-square on top. In certain examples, the legs taper to rounded tubing at the bottom. In certain examples, the back legs angle away from the seat 120 and back 130, while the front legs are substantially perpendicular to the seat 120. Such a configuration can facilitate stacking, for example.

The example chair 100 also includes a handle 140. The example handle 140 is mounted, attached, affixed, and/or otherwise positioned on top of the back portion 130. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the handle 140 can be integrated into a frame defining the back 130 of the chair 100. The example handle 140 defines an opening between an outer portion of the handle 140 and the chair back 130 or an inner portion of the handle 140. The opening enables the handle 140 to be graspable to move, lift, position, etc., the chair 100. As such, the handle 140 can be grasped by a user to reposition the chair along the floor, stack the chair on top of another chair, remove the chair from on top of another chair, etc. In some examples, a hook, post, or other protrusion 150 is included in the upper portion of the chair back 130 below the handle 140. The protrusion 150 can be used to hang or otherwise position an object such as a bag, purse, umbrella, cane, etc.

The example chair 100 also includes one or more ganging plates or interconnection mechanisms 160 that allow the chair 100 to be removably connected to another chair, furniture, wall, etc. The example interconnection mechanism(s) 160 (e.g., one on each side of the seat 120 of the chair 100, etc.) can be retractable into the seat 120, under the seat 120, etc., when not in use, for example.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example front view of the chair 100 including the base 110, seat 120, back 130, handle 140, hook 150, and ganging plates 160, 162. As shown in the example of FIG. 2, a chair with two ganging plates 160, 162 can include a first type of ganging plate 160 (e.g., a female or receptacle ganging plate) and a second type of ganging plate 162 (e.g., a male or connector ganging plate). As such, the first type of ganging plate 160 on one chair 100 removably connects with the second type of ganging plate 162 on another chair 100 to removably interlock the two chairs 160. When not engaged, one or both of the ganging plates 160, 162 can be retracted such that it is no longer protruding as far from the body of the chair. One or both of the ganging plates can be formed of one or more metals and/or other materials, such as aluminum, chrome, steel, brass, bronze, nickel, stainless steel, zinc, plastic, alloy/other combination, etc.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the example chair 100. FIGS. 4-5 show example side views of the chair 100. FIG. 6 is a top view of the example chair 100. FIG. 7 is an example bottom view of the chair 100.

FIG. 8 depicts an enlarged or zoomed-in view of the example handle 140 and hook/hanger 150 in a top portion of the chair back 130. In the example of FIG. 8, the example handle 140 is integrated into an upper portion of a frame 810 defining an outer contour of the chair back 130. An inner portion 820 defines a base of the handle 140 and includes the hook/hanger/protrusion 150. The example handle 140 and/or the frame 810 can be formed of a variety of materials such as brass, bronze, nickel, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, chrome, zinc, plastic, wood, an alloy or other combination of such materials, etc. The material of the frame 810 enables the frame to be flexible (e.g., a flexback) when a user sits in the chair 100 and leans backward against the back 130.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative implementation 900 of the chair 100. In the example of FIG. 9, rather than creating an opening between the handle 140 and the protrusion 150, the protrusion or hook 150 is positioned with respect to a recess or recessed area 910 in the back 130 of the chair 900. The recessed area 910 can still be grippable to maneuver the chair 900, and the hook and/or other protrusion 150 can be used to hang a purse, other bag, umbrella, coat, etc. In certain examples, the recessed area 910 can be formed of plastic. Alternatively or additionally, the recessed area 910 can be formed of metal (e.g., aluminum, brass, bronze, nickel, steel, stainless steel, chrome, zinc, etc.), wood, etc. The solid back 130 of the example chair 900, rather than the back 130 with opening and handle 140 of the example chair 100 can provide greater comfort to a user sitting on the seat 120 and leaning against the back 130, for example.

In certain examples, the base 110 provides base means, the seat 120 provides seat means, and the back 130 provides back means. In certain examples, the protrusion 150 provides hanging means. In certain examples, the handle 140 provides handle means. In certain examples, the interconnection mechanism 160, 162 provides interconnection means. In certain examples, a flex bracket in the back 130 provides flex means. In certain examples, a waterfall cushion in the seat 120 provides seat means.

From the foregoing, it is appreciated that the above disclosed methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture have been disclosed to provide a new, improved chair apparatus including a handle feature for graspable, a hook/protrusion feature for hanging, a ganging plate for interconnecting, and a flexible back. The addition of the handle enables to chair to be moved, stacked, repositioned, and/or otherwise adjusted. For example, stacking and unstacking a plurality of chairs 100 is rendered practical and easy using the handle 140 to avoid mishap with respect to the chairs or injury to a user. The retractable ganging plate(s) 160 allow a plurality of chairs 100 to be interconnected in pairs, sets, rows, etc. The hanger 150 allows a purse, bag, umbrella, coat, and/or other accessory to be removably positioned such as while the user is sitting in the chair 100 (e.g., a user can hang her purse on the hook 150 while she sits in the chair 100, etc.), for example.

Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses.

Example 1 includes a chair apparatus including a base, a seat connected to the base, a back connected to at least one of the seat or the base, and a protrusion formed in a top portion of the back The protrusion is to hang an accessory.

Example 2 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a handle formed in the top portion of the back.

Example 3 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the protrusion is formed under the handle.

Example 4 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the protrusion is formed in a recessed area of the back.

Example 5 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the protrusion is centered along a width of the top portion of the back.

Example 6 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the protrusion is a hook, and wherein the accessory includes a bag.

Example 7 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, further including an interconnection mechanism.

Example 8 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the interconnection mechanism includes a plurality of ganging plates.

Example 9 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein at least one of the plurality of ganging plates is retractable.

Example 10 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of ganging plates includes a first ganging plate of a first type and a second ganging plate of a second type.

Example 11 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the back includes a flex bracket.

Example 12 includes the chair apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the seat includes a waterfall cushion.

Example 13 is an apparatus including: base means; seat means connected to the base means; back means connected to at least one of the seat means or the base means; and hanging means formed in a top portion of the back means.

Example 14 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including handle means formed in the top portion of the back means.

Example 15 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the hanging means is formed under the handle means.

Example 16 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the hanging means is formed in a recessed area of the back means.

Example 17 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including an interconnection means.

Example 18 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the interconnection means includes a plurality of ganging plates.

Example 19 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the back means includes flex means.

Example 20 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the seat means includes cushion means.

While the examples depicted and described herein have been illustrated using a chair with a seat and a back, the presently described technology is also applicable to seating devices having other configurations (e.g., having a different base than is shown in the figures, etc.).

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

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