The invention relates to the field of seating furniture, in particular to a component for a stackable chair for multipurpose use.
In many cases, for example for providing seating in large rooms, such as conference and assembly halls, it is necessary for it to be possible for the chairs to be easily cleared away in a space-saving manner and then also set out again. Vertically or even horizontally stackable chairs are customary for this purpose.
A vertically stackable chair is known, for example, from DE 197 45 072 A1. This known chair has a leg frame which comprises V-shaped tubes as legs at the side and a transverse tube which connects the two side parts to one another at their vertices. Bearing protrusions are provided on the underside of the transverse tube, and sliding blocks are provided at the leg ends. During stacking, the upper chair rests on the lower chair by way of the bearing protrusions and the sliding blocks.
The known chair is not of particularly robust design. Furthermore, the chairs tend to jam during stacking and therefore have to be positioned very carefully one upon the other. The stacks tend to be unstable. Special features, for example armrests or elements for interlinking the chairs with other chairs, as safeguards for a panic situation, are not possible.
The object of the invention is thus to configure a stackable chair such that, on the one hand, straightforward, robust and reliable stacking is possible but, on the other hand, it is also possible to provide special features such as armrests and panic bolts, although the chair is nevertheless cost-effective to produce and straightforward to assemble.
This object is achieved by a component having the features of claim 1 and of the subclaims.
The invention is based on the idea of providing a stackable chair with two components which are connected via crossmembers and are in the form of “multifunctional joint components” which each comprise a cuboidal basic body with bevelled ends which has noses on its underside and channels on its top side. This component has stubs retaining the chair legs and the crossmembers. During stacking, the oblique basic-body ends, which have a centring effect, bring the chair into the correct position, with the result that the noses of the upper chair enter into the channels of the lower chair. This achieves stable seating for one chair on the other, even if the chairs are positioned without particular care one upon the other. The components according to the invention, that is to say the “multifunctional joint components”, may, furthermore, bear armrests, possibly with writing surfaces, or members for interlinking the chairs with other chairs, as panic bolts.
The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in drawings, in which:
Of the component on the left-hand side of the chair, it is possible to see the basic body 1 and the front and rear leg stubs 2 and 3, respectively. The basic body 1 has the ends 6 and 7, which are bevelled at the sides. It is also possible to see the noses 8 and 9 and the channels 10 and 11. The pockets 12 and 13 are also illustrated.
As can be seen, the four chair legs have been plugged into the leg stubs 2 and 3. The armrest 23 has been plugged into the front pocket (not designated) of the component on the right-hand side of the chair, this pocket corresponding to the pocket 12 of the component on the left-hand side of the chair. The other three pockets are not in use. They may be closed, for example, by dummy stoppers.
In the assembled state, the seat panel 16 is screwed to the bearing protrusions 14, 15, which consist, for example, of rubber.
The component according to the invention may consist, for example, of cast aluminium. However, it may also consist of a suitable plastic, for example glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide, with metallic inserts.
As can be seen, the chairs can be stacked without any particular care; they can be, as it were, thrown together but, as a result of the bevelled ends 6, 7 of the basic body 1, said ends having a centring action, the upper chair always ends up in the correct position, with the result that the noses 8, 9 of the upper chair engage in the corresponding channels 10, 11 of the lower chair. This produces a very stable chair stack, although the latter can also be taken apart again very easily. The components are identical for both sides of the chair, and there is thus no need for any separate production, storage and assembly for the left-hand and right-hand sides. The chairs are thus cost-effective to produce and straightforward to assemble, but, if required, can also be quickly and easily provided with extras such as armrests and interlinking elements. It is also possible, for example, for seat numbers to be inserted into the pockets.
List of Designations:
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
02 019 591.3 | Sep 2002 | EP | regional |