TECHNICAL FIELD
The following generally relates to seating and, particularly, to seating such as a chair or bench including one or more indentations for hanging items.
BACKGROUND
In various settings such as a classroom, a conference or event hall, an office, etc., chairs or other types of seating such as benches are used to accommodate students, workers, guests, delegates and other users. For example, classrooms and events halls typically accommodate dozens or even hundreds of chairs to allow people to gather and observe something taking place in that space. Users of these chairs may have belongings with them and it can be awkward to hang or rest these items on or against the chair, particularly when space is tight when many chairs are positioned near to each other and other furniture such as a table is not provided. Similar issues occur with other types of seating such as shared benches.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, there is provided seating comprising a back portion extending substantially upwardly from a seat portion, the back portion comprising at least one indentation, each indentation being positioned relative to an upper edge of the back portion to permit an elongated portion of an object to be seated within the indentation to hang against or over the back portion of the seating.
In certain example embodiments, each indentation is positioned towards a corner of the back portion.
In certain example embodiments, the indentation comprises a sloped inner portion that extends inwardly from the upper edge of the back portion towards a bottom, the bottom transitioning to an outer upwardly extending side wall.
In certain example embodiments, the side wall is substantially perpendicular relative to the upper edge.
In certain example embodiments, the sloped inner portion is concave.
In certain example embodiments, the bottom is substantially flat and parallel to the upper edge.
In certain example embodiments, the upper edge is curved.
In certain example embodiments, the seating comprises a pair of indentations, each being positioned towards an opposing corner of the back portion of the seating.
In certain example embodiments, the seating is a chair.
In certain example embodiments, the chair comprises a hand hold aperture in the back portion, the aperture being substantially centered along the back portion.
In certain example embodiments, the seating is a bench.
In certain example embodiments, the seating further comprises a set of legs, the seat portion being secured atop the set of legs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments will now be described with reference to the appended drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a chair having indentations for hanging items.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the chair shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a bench having indentations for hanging items.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an indentation as encircled in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 illustrates a backpack hanging by a pair of shoulder straps, from a pair of indentations on a chair.
FIG. 6 illustrates a backpack hanging by a central hand loop from one of a pair of indentations on a chair.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the back of a chair having indentations and additional examples of items hanging from such indentations.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the back of a chair having indentations showing a curvature of the back.
FIGS. 9 to 12 illustrate additional indentation examples applied to a back portion of a chair.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Seating such as chair can be provided with one or more indentations formed at least in part relative to an upper edge of an upstanding portion of the seating, such as the back of a chair or bench, to facilitate hanging of items while inhibiting slippage of the item off the upstanding portion.
As used herein, the term “indentation” may refer to any recess, notch or other contour that is formed into and along a portion of the edge of an object, e.g., into and along the upper edge or side edge(s) of the back of seating such as a chair or a bench.
Referring now to the figures, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a chair 10. The chair 10 includes a substantially upstanding back portion 12 extending upwardly from a substantially horizontally oriented seat 14. In this example, the seat 14 transitions into the upstanding back portion 12 through a curvature imparted to a unitary structure or shell. The seat 14 is secured atop a set of legs 16 as is generally known in the art.
The chair 10 in this example includes an aperture 18 that is generally sized and shaped to accommodate a human hand to facilitate picking up and moving the chair 10. Towards each upper corner of the back portion 12 is a respective indentation 20. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the right side of the chair 10 includes a first indentation 20a and the left side of the chair 10 includes a second indentation 20b. Further details concerning the indentations 20a, 20b are described below in relation to FIG. 4.
Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be appreciated that the chair 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is only one example type of seating. In FIG. 3, a free-standing bench 100 is shown, however, it can be appreciated that other seating types having an upstanding back portion 12, 120 may incorporate the features describe herein, for example, a bench fixed to a table or wall structure. The bench 100 includes an elongated upstanding back portion 120 that extends upwardly from an elongate seat portion 140 in a manner similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The bench 100 also includes a set of legs 160 adapted to accommodate the elongated structure. The bench 100 also includes a similar set of right and left side indentations 20a, 20b that may be utilized and provide similar functionality as when applied to the chair 10. As such, it can be appreciated that the functionality of the indentations 20a, 20b may be applied to any type of seating or structure utilized for seating.
FIG. 4 provides an enlarged view of the right side indentation 20a shown in FIG. 1 as encircled therein. The indentation 20a is formed into the back portion 12 of the chair 10 along a portion of an upper edge 22 of the back portion 12 and generally towards the righthand corner wherein the back portion 12 transitions downwardly into a right side edge 21. It can be appreciated that the exact positioning of the indentation 20a along the upper edge 22 can vary and differ from what is shown in FIG. 4.
The indentation 20a includes a generally sloped portion 24 that indents, recesses or otherwise follows a contour inwardly towards a bottom 26. The bottom 26 may be shown as being substantially horizontal and parallel to the upper edge 22, however, this is only one example providing a certain aesthetic. The bottom 26 of the indentation 20a carries along towards the corner of the back portion 12 and transitions into an upstanding and generally vertical side wall 28. The side wall 28 extends up to complete the indentation and the contour carries on towards the side edge 20 of the back portion 12.
While any contour can be applied to meet a desired aesthetic, the combination of a sloped portion 24 towards the interior of the back portion 12 and the side wall 28 that provides a sharper edge, is particularly advantageous in that a strap, string, cable or other elongated part of an item to be hung, like the strap of a backpack will tend to slide outwardly and along the slope 24 until it bears against the side wall 28 to provide a secure recess in which the strap can sit.
For example, FIG. 5 shows a backpack 30 having a pair of straps 32a, 32b that each settle into a respective one of the indentations 20a, 20b when hung as shown over the back portion 12 of the chair 10. A backpack 30 hung in this way without indentations 20a, 20b would tend to slide off the upper edge 22 of the chair back portion 12. The manner in which the backpack 30 is supported on the chair is also particularly suitable for removing items from the backpack 30 since the indentations 20a, 20b will more securely hold the backpack 30 in place relative to the chair 10.
FIG. 6 illustrates another example wherein the backpack 30 is hung by a handhold loop 34 over just one of the indentations 20b. In this position, the backpack 30 would normally be even more unstable when placed over the chair 10 and thus the side wall 28 of the indentation 20b can provide a secure surface against which the loop 34 can rest to allow other positions. This manner of hanging the backpack 30 would also be facilitated by the bench 100 embodiment shown in FIG. 3, wherein only one indentation 20 would be available to each user, assuming the bench 100 accommodates two users.
With these variations in mind, it can further be appreciated that seating such as the chair 10 and bench 100 may include only a single indentation 20 such that any one or more indentations 20 may be provided to permit a strap, loop, string, band or other elongated portion of an accessory or other object to be hung on the back portion 12, 120 of the seating structure.
Moreover, while the examples shown in FIGS. 1-3 include indentations 20a, 20b that are mirror images of each other or otherwise substantially similar, this is not a requirement in that multiple indentations 20a, 20b may be provided that look different, are shaped differently, are of different sizes or lengths, and the like. That is, asymmetrical indentations 20 are contemplated within the principles discussed herein.
FIG. 7 further illustrates the adaptability and flexibility of the indentations 20a, 20b in that several other types of objects may be hung over the back portion 12 of the chair 10. For example, to the left side of the image, a lanyard 40 and nametag 42 are fed over and rest within the indentation 20a by resting the lanyard 40 against the bottom 26. Similarly, a strap 44 of a purse or other type of bag is fed over and rests within the indentation 20b by resting the strap 44 against the bottom 26 of that indentation 26b. As such, multiple items may be hung over the back portion 12 of the chair 10 at the same time. While not shown in FIG. 7, multiple items may also be able to hang over and within the same indentation 20a, 20b and the depth of the bottom 26 relative to the edge 22 can be adjusted to permit this to occur.
The contour of the indentation 20 may also be changed to suit a desired aesthetic applied to the overall appearance of the chair 10. For example, the indentation 20 can include smoother or sharper contours accordingly.
Referring now to FIG. 8, a top view of the chair 10 is shown to illustrate a curvature imparted on the back portion 12 of the chair 10. The curvature of the upper edge 22 lends itself to urging the objects, particularly a pair of backpack straps 32a, 32b towards the indentations 20a, 20b such that as the user places the straps 32a, 32b over the back portion 12 of the chair 10, they will settle in or otherwise come to rest within the indentations 20a, 20b. As such, the back portion 12 of the chair 10 can also be adapted to synergistically work with the indentations 20a, 20b to facilitate the loading of an object onto the back portion 12 of the chair 10.
As indicated above, various other profiles can be applied to the back portion 12 of the chair 10 to create one or more indentations that can permit one or more objects to be hung from/over the chair 12. For example, FIG. 9 illustrates a chair 200 having a back portion 212 that includes indentations 220a, 220b formed into and from generally the side edges 221a, 221b of the back 212. That is, the upper edge 222 of the back portion 212 may be contoured such that the indentations 220a, 220b appear to be formed into and along the side edges 221a, 221b rather than into the upper edge 222. From another viewpoint, it can be appreciated that the upper edge 222 may be formed upwardly and above the indentations 220a, 220b such that the back portion 212 includes a headrest or other feature that extends upward and above them. That is, the indentations 220a, 220b may be considered as being formed into either or both the side edges 221a, 221b or upper edge 222 so long as downwardly extending portions of the indentations 220a, 220b provide a pocket or ledge against or into which the object such as a strap can sit.
FIG. 10 illustrates another example in which the indentations 320a, 320b are deeper and more elongated than those shown in, for example, FIG. 1. The chair 300 shown in FIG. 10 may therefore include a back portion 312 that includes a more pronounced upper edge 322 relative to the indentations 320a, 320b.
In yet another example shown in FIG. 11, a chair 400 may include projections 420a, 420b at either side of the back portion 412 to effectively create a single elongated, central indentation 422 along the bulk of the upper edge. As such, the profiles applied to the upper edges 12, 112, 312, 412 may vary to provide pockets, ledges, sidewalls, etc. against which the objects may rest in order to hang off/from the chair 10, 100, 200, 300, 400.
FIG. 12 illustrates another variation of the chair 500 having projections 520a, 520b that are formed upwardly from a curved upper edge 522 that acts as an indentation in order to provide notches into which the objects can be rested.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the examples described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the examples described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the examples described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the examples described herein.
It will be appreciated that the examples and corresponding diagrams used herein are for illustrative purposes only. Different configurations and terminology can be used without departing from the principles expressed herein. For instance, components and modules can be added, deleted, modified, or arranged with differing connections without departing from these principles.
Although the above principles have been described with reference to certain specific examples, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art as having regard to the appended claims in view of the specification as a whole.
Patent Application
20250160525
