RECONFIGURABLE REST FOR AN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a reconfigurable rest for an article of furniture such as a sofa. The reconfigurable rest comprises an elongate first post for connection to a body of the article of furniture, a length of the first post defining a longitudinal first axis. The reconfigurable rest comprises an elongate second post for connection to the body of the article of furniture, the second post being spaced apart from the first post along a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. At least one articulated connector extends between and interconnects the first and second posts. A curvature of the at least one articulated connector is adjustable to adjust a curvature of the reconfigurable rest relative to the second axis. Upholstery covers at least a majority of the at least one articulated connector.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is related to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2023901898, filed 15 Jun. 2023 and entitled “A reconfigurable rest for an article of furniture”, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by way of reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure herein relates to a reconfigurable rest for a sofa. The rest has been developed primarily for use as a backrest, but may be used as an armrest or as both a backrest and an armrest.

BACKGROUND

Typically, sofa backrests and armrests have a fixed configuration. Accordingly, the rest used on one style of sofa typically cannot be used on another style of sofa due to differences in the configurations of the two styles of sofa. Similarly, the same rest cannot be used in different locations on the same sofa unless those different locations have the same configuration. For example, an angular or curved rest that extends around a correspondingly angled or curved portion of the sofa cannot be used along a straight or differently angled or curved portion of the sofa. Accordingly, a large inventory of different shaped rests is required to accommodate differently configured sofas and differently configured portions of the same sofa. Moreover, in sofas with rests that are disassembled from the sofa frame during storage or transport, rests that are angled or curved occupy a relatively large amount of space compared to a straight or relatively straight rest.

A known flexible sofa backrest comprises a sausage-like tube filled with sand or glass beads. This known backrest can be bent into the desired shape and placed on a peripheral portion of the sofa base, with the weight of the sand or glass beads being intended to retain the backrest in the desired shape and retain it in position on the sofa base. However, this known backrest is not secure and can relatively easily be pushed out of position or even completely off the sofa base, even in advertently in use when it is leant upon by a user or if it is bumped, for example by a child playing on or near the sofa. Moreover, as this known backrest is supported on a peripheral portion of the sofa base, and relies on its mass and friction between it and the sofa base to maintain it in position, it needs to have a substantial lateral thickness, which results in a corresponding reduction in the seat depth of the sofa base unless the depth of the sofa base, and thereby the overall size of the sofa, is correspondingly increased.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Throughout this specification the words “comprise” and “include”, and variations such as “comprises”, “includes”, “comprising” and “including”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a reconfigurable rest for an article of furniture such as a sofa, the reconfigurable rest comprising:

• • an elongate first post for connection to a body of the article of furniture, a length of the first post defining a longitudinal first axis;
  • an elongate second post for connection to the body of the article of furniture, the second post being spaced apart from the first post along a second axis transverse to the first axis;
  • at least one articulated connector extending between the first and second posts to interconnect the first and second posts, a curvature of the at least one articulated connector being adjustable to adjust a curvature of the reconfigurable rest relative to the second axis; and
  • upholstery covering at least a majority of the at least one articulated connector.

The at least one articulated connector may be configured to require application of a force of at least a predetermined magnitude to adjust the curvature of the at least one articulated connector. The predetermined magnitude may be greater than that generated by a person having a mass of 100 kg sitting on a seating portion of the article of furniture and leaning against the reconfigurable rest at an angle of 30 degrees from vertical. The force of at least a predetermined magnitude may be a force of a magnitude that can be generated by a typical adult human manually bending the reconfigurable rest using only their upper limbs. The force of at least a predetermined magnitude may be a bending moment of at least 10 Nm or at least 15 Nm or at least 20 Nm or at least 25 Nm or at least 30 Nm or at least 35 Nm or at least 40 Nm or at least 45 Nm or at least 50 Nm. The force of at least a predetermined magnitude may be a bending moment greater than that generated by the self-weight of the reconfigurable rest when:

• • one of the first and second posts is oriented with its longitudinal axis horizontal and is prevented from moving and rotating; and
  • a remainder of the reconfigurable rest is cantilevered, horizontally, from said one of the first and second posts.

The at least one articulated connector may be a linkage comprising at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links. An interference fit may exist between the links. The at least one articulated connector may be configured, via the interference fit between the links, to require application of a force of at least a predetermined magnitude to adjust the curvature of the at least one articulated connector. A magnitude of interference provided by the interference fit may be selected to achieve a desired minimum magnitude of the force required to adjust the curvature of the at least one articulated connector. Each of the links may comprise a cog, the cog of each of the links being engaged with the cog of the or each longitudinally adjoining said link to control adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector. Engagement of the cogs may provide or contribute to the interference fit and/or the magnitude of interference. Friction between the links may provide or contribute to the interference fit and/or the magnitude of interference. Material properties of the links and/or bearing force between the links may contribute to the interference fit and/or the magnitude of interference. Each of the links may comprise an abutment surface, the abutment surface of each of the links being engageable with the abutment surface of the or each adjoining said at least one link to limit a range of adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector. The abutment surface may limit the range of adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector to between zero (i.e., a straight configuration) and a curvature of one sign or the other. The at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links may comprise at least a second plurality of hingedly connected links, the links of the second plurality being hingedly connected to the links of the first plurality. The links of the second plurality may be longitudinally misaligned with those of the first plurality. The links of the second plurality may frictionally interfere with those of the first plurality. The frictional interference between the links of the first plurality and those of the second plurality may provide or contribute to the interference fit and/or the magnitude of interference. The at least one articulated connector may comprise at least a first said articulated connector and a second said articulated connector, the first and second articulated connectors being substantially parallel with one another, and optionally spaced apart from one another.

The upholstery may cover substantially the whole of the at least one articulated connector. The upholstery may cover at least a majority of portions of the first and second posts that extend from the body of the article of furniture, in use. The upholstery may cover substantially the whole of the portions of the first and second posts that extend from the body of the article of furniture, in use.

Also disclosed herein is an article of furniture such as a sofa, comprising:

• • a body; and
  • the reconfigurable rest defined in paragraph above connected to the body, the reconfigurable rest optionally comprising any one or more of the features defined in paragraphs and above.

The reconfigurable rest may be removably connected to the body, for example by ends of the first and second posts being engaged in corresponding first and second sockets in or on the body or by being fixedly connected to the body by fasteners such as screws, bolts and/or pins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic, underside perspective view of a reconfigurable rest; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame of the reconfigurable rest of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the frame of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged view of regions C and D of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the frame of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4a is an enlarged view of region E of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a link of the reconfigurable rest of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 shows the frame of FIG. 2 connected to a frame of a body of a sofa.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a reconfigurable rest 100 for an article of furniture such as a sofa. The reconfigurable rest comprises an elongate first post 110 for connection to a body of the article of furniture, a length of the first post defining a longitudinal first axis A. The reconfigurable rest comprises an elongate second post 120 for connection to the body of the article of furniture, the second post being spaced apart from the first post 110 along a second axis B that is transverse to the first axis A. At least one articulated connector, in the form of a linkage 130, extends between and interconnects the first and second posts 110, 120. A curvature of each linkage 130 is adjustable to adjust a curvature of the reconfigurable rest 100 relative to the second axis B. Upholstery 140 covers a majority of, and in some embodiments the whole of, each linkage 130. In some embodiments, the upholstery 140 also covers the portion of the posts 110, 120 that extends from the body of the article of furniture, in use.

The linkages 130 are configured to require application of a force of at least a predetermined magnitude to adjust the curvature of the reconfigurable rest 100 relative to the second axis B. The predetermined magnitude may be greater than that generated by a person having a mass of 100 kg sitting on a seating portion of the article of furniture and leaning against the reconfigurable rest at an angle of 30 degrees from vertical. The force of at least a predetermined magnitude may instead or also be a force of a magnitude that can be generated by a typical adult human manually bending the reconfigurable rest using only their upper limbs. The force of at least a predetermined magnitude may instead or also be a bending moment of at least 10 Nm or at least 15 Nm or at least 20 Nm or at least 25 Nm or at least 30 Nm or at least 35 Nm or at least 40 Nm or at least 45 Nm or at least 50 Nm. The force of at least a predetermined magnitude may instead or also be a bending moment greater than that generated by the self-weight of the reconfigurable rest 100 when:

• • one of the first and second posts 110, 120 is oriented with its longitudinal axis horizontal and is prevented from moving and rotating; and
  • a remainder of the reconfigurable rest 10 is cantilevered, horizontally, from said one of the first and second posts 110, 120.

Each linkage 130 comprises at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links 132. An interference fit exists between the links 132. The at least one articulated connector is configured, via the interference fit between the links 132, to require the application of the force of at least the predetermined magnitude to adjust the curvature of the reconfigurable rest 100 relative to the second axis B. A magnitude of interference provided by the interference fit is selected to achieve the desired minimum magnitude of the force required to adjust the curvature of the reconfigurable rest 100. Each of the links 132 comprise at least one cog 132a. The cog(s) 132a of each link 132 is engaged with a cog 132a of the or each longitudinally adjoining link 132 to control adjustment of the curvature of the reconfigurable rest 100. In some embodiments, engagement of the cogs 132a provides or contributes to the interference fit and/or the magnitude of interference. Friction between the links 132 may provide or contribute to the interference fit and/or the magnitude of interference. Material properties of the links 132 and/or bearing force between the links 132 may contribute to the interference fit and/or the magnitude of interference.

Each of the links 132 comprises an abutment surface 132b engaging the abutment surface 132b of the or each adjoining link 132 to limit a range of adjustment of the curvature of the reconfigurable rest 100. In the illustrated embodiment, engagement of the abutment surfaces 132b limits the range of adjustment of the curvature of the reconfigurable rest 100 to between zero (i.e., a straight configuration) and a curvature of one sign or the other.

In the illustrated embodiment, each linkage 130 comprises at least a first and second plurality of hingedly connected links 132, the links of the second plurality being hingedly connected to the links of the first plurality. The links 132 of the second plurality are longitudinally misaligned with those of the first plurality. In the illustrated embodiment, the links 132 of the second plurality frictionally interfere with those of the first plurality. In the illustrated embodiment, frictional interference between the links 132 of the first plurality and those of the second plurality provides or contributes to the interference fit and/or the magnitude of interference.

In the illustrated embodiment, two of the linkages 130 are provided, the linkages being substantially parallel with and spaced apart from one another.

FIG. 6 shows a frame of the reconfigurable rest 100 connected to a frame 200 of a body of an article of furniture such as a sofa. In the illustrated embodiment, the reconfigurable rest 100 is removably connected to the frame 200 by ends of the first and second posts 110, 120 being engaged in corresponding first and second sockets 210, 220 in or on the body. In other embodiments, ends of the first and second posts 110, 120 may be removably connected to the body of the article of furniture by fasteners such as screws, bolts and/or pins, or may be permanently connected to the body of the article of furniture, for example by welding.

It will be appreciated that the frame of the illustrated reconfigurable rest 100 provides numerous advantages, including resistance to usual forces that are applied to armrests and backrests of articles of furniture, in use, whilst also permitting reconfiguration of the armrest/backrest between a straight and an angled or curved configuration, which in turn allows:

• • the reconfigurable rest 100 to be shipped flat, saving on shipping making it more economical; and
  • reduced inventory, as rests 100 of the same type can be used on sofas of differing configurations and in locations of differing configuration on the same sofa (e.g., as an angular or curved rest that extends around a correspondingly angled or curved portion of the sofa and also along a straight or differently angled or curved portion of the sofa.

It will also be appreciated that the provision of the at least two spaced apart linkages 130 enhances the strength of the reconfigurable rest 100.

It will also be appreciated that the reconfigurable rest 100 provides the abovementioned advantages without requiring a reduction in the seating area of the article of furniture, such as the reduction that occurs with known sausage-like flexible backrests.

It will also be appreciated that the frame of the reconfigurable rest 100 has a configuration that is well suited to being upholstered and even completely hidden by the upholstery, and that facilitates the forming of rests of a wide variety of shapes and configurations, including slim configurations. Despite being compact, it will be appreciated that the reconfigurable rest 100 is robust.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable rest for an article of furniture such as a sofa, the reconfigurable rest comprising: an elongate first post for connection to a body of the article of furniture, a length of the first post defining a longitudinal first axis;an elongate second post for connection to the body of the article of furniture, the second post being spaced apart from the first post along a second axis transverse to the first axis;at least one articulated connector extending between the first and second posts to interconnect the first and second posts, a curvature of the at least one articulated connector being adjustable to adjust a curvature of the reconfigurable rest relative to the second axis; andupholstery covering at least a majority of the at least one articulated connector.

2. The reconfigurable rest of claim 1, wherein the at least one articulated connector is configured to require application of a force of at least a predetermined magnitude to adjust the curvature of the at least one articulated connector.

3. The reconfigurable rest of claim 2, wherein the predetermined magnitude is greater than that generated by a person having a mass of 100 kg sitting on a seating portion of the article of furniture and leaning against the reconfigurable rest at an angle of 30 degrees from vertical.

4. The reconfigurable rest of claim 2, wherein the force of at least a predetermined magnitude is a bending moment of at least 10 Nm or at least 15 Nm or at least 20 Nm or at least 25 Nm or at least 30 Nm or at least 35 Nm or at least 40 Nm or at least 45 Nm or at least 50 Nm.

5. The reconfigurable rest of claim 2, wherein the force of at least a predetermined magnitude is a bending moment greater than that generated by the self-weight of the reconfigurable rest when: one of the first and second posts is oriented with its longitudinal axis horizontal and is prevented from moving and rotating; anda remainder of the reconfigurable rest is cantilevered, horizontally, from said one of the first and second posts.

6. The reconfigurable rest of claim 1, wherein the at least one articulated connector is a linkage comprising at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links.

7. The reconfigurable rest of claim 6, wherein an interference fit exists between the links.

8. The reconfigurable rest of claim 2, wherein: the at least one articulated connector is a linkage comprising at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links;an interference fit exists between the links; andthe at least one articulated connector is configured, via the interference fit between the links, to require application of the force of at least a predetermined magnitude to adjust the curvature of the at least one articulated connector.

9. The reconfigurable rest of claim 6, wherein each of the links comprises a cog, the cog of each of the links being engaged with the cog of the or each longitudinally adjoining said link to control adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector.

10. The reconfigurable rest of claim 1, wherein: the at least one articulated connector is a linkage comprising at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links;an interference fit exists between the links;each of the links comprises a cog, the cog of each of the links being engaged with the cog of the or each longitudinally adjoining said link to control adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector; anda magnitude of interference provided by the interference fit is provided or contributed to by one or more of: engagement of the cogs;friction between the links;material properties of the links; andbearing force between the links.

11. The reconfigurable rest of claim 6, wherein each of the links comprises an abutment surface, the abutment surface of each of the links being configured to engage with the abutment surface of the or each adjoining said at least one link to limit a range of adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector.

12. The reconfigurable rest of claim 11, wherein the range of adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector bay be from to zero to a curvature of one sign or the other.

13. The reconfigurable rest of claim 6, wherein the at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links further comprises at least a second plurality of hingedly connected links, the links of the second plurality being hingedly connected to the links of the first plurality.

14. The reconfigurable rest of claim 13, wherein the links of the second plurality are longitudinally misaligned with those of the first plurality.

15. The reconfigurable rest of claim 13, wherein the links of the second plurality frictionally interfere with those of the first plurality.

16. The reconfigurable rest of claim 15, wherein: the at least one articulated connector is a linkage comprising at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links;an interference fit exists between the links; andthe frictional interference of the links of the second plurality with those of the first plurality contribute to a magnitude of interference provided by the interference fit.

17. The reconfigurable rest of claim 1, wherein the at least one articulated connector comprises at least a first said articulated connector and a second said articulated connector, the first and second articulated connectors being substantially parallel with one another.

18. The reconfigurable rest of claim 1, wherein the upholstery covers substantially the whole of the at least one articulated connector.

19. The reconfigurable rest of claim 18, wherein the upholstery covers at least a majority of portions of the first and second posts that extend from the body of the article of furniture, in use.

20. An article of furniture such as a sofa, comprising: a body; andthe reconfigurable rest of claim 1, the reconfigurable rest being connected to the body.