US3650563A

US3650563A - Take apart multiple position chair

Info

Publication number: US3650563A
Application number: US15492A
Authority: US
Inventors: Margaret S Hansson; Leonard S Matejcic
Original assignee: GERICO Inc
Current assignee: GERICO Inc
Priority date: 1970-03-02
Filing date: 1970-03-02
Publication date: 1972-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-21
Also published as: GB1335448A; NL7102093A; BE763557A; FR2084050A5; DE2110127A1; SE366472B; CA939603A; AU2591771A

Abstract

A multiple position chair comprises a pair of rigid side walls of triangular or other configuration providing a plurality of stable resting positions and three or more dowels holding the walls in spaced relationship. A flexible band or belt of canvas or other suitably strong material is arranged about the dowels and provides a seat in two or more of the stable positions of the chair. One of the positions may have curved floor engaging edges to provide a rocking chair. The entire assembly may be taken apart readily by removal of locking pins in the ends of the dowels.

Description

United States Patent Hansson et al.

TAKE APART MULTIPLE POSITION CHAIR Inventors: Margaret S. Hansson; Leonard S. Matejcic, both of Boulder, Colo.

Gerico, Inc., Boulder, Colo.

Mar. 2, 1970 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.1

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS Rubenstein ..297/442 UX 3,121,587 2/l964 Bavaro ..297/457 X 3,455,604 7/1969 Turcksin. ..297/44l 3,460,866 8/1969 Kessel..... ....297/442 X 229,233 6/1880 Behr ..297/l Primwy Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Att0rney-McGrew and Edwards 5 7] ABSTRACT A multiple position chair comprises a pair of rigid side walls of triangular or other configuration providing a plurality of stable resting positions and three or more dowels holding the walls in spaced relationship. A flexible band or belt of canvas or other suitably strong material is arranged about the dowels and provides a seat in two or more of the stable positions of the chair. One of the positions may have curved floor engaging edges to provide a rocking chair. The entire assembly may be taken apart readily by removal of locking pins in the ends of the dowels.

7 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Patented Marh 21,1972

2 Shuts-Shut 1 INVENTORS MARGARET S. HANSSON LEONARD S. MATEJCIC Patent ed March 21, 1912 3,650,563

' 2 sham-sum INVENTORS MARGARET S. HANSSON 55 BY LEONARD S. MATEJClC ATTORNEYS TAKE APART MULTIPLE POSITION CHAIR This invention relates to multiple position chairs and particularly to an improved arrangement employing flexible material to provide seats in each of a plurality of positions of the chair together with ready disassembly of the chair.

Various forms of chairs have been provided heretofore which have two or more stable positions for support on a floor or other surface, and in which seats or step members have been provided for different uses of the chair. Such chairs have, for example, been intended for children to provide a wide range of uses for play. It is desirable that such chairs for children be rugged and yet easily handled during play and that the multiple seat positions be easily selectable and the chair stable in all positions. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved chair of the multiple position type.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved multiple position chair which is readily taken apart for packing or storage and may be readily assembled.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved and light weight multiple position chair which is of sturdy construction and readily disassembled.

Briefly, in carrying out the object of this invention, in one embodiment thereof, a chair is constructed to comprise two rigid spaced side walls of generally triangular configuration and constructed of suitable material which, for example, may be plywood. The side walls are provided with three matching pairs of holes through which reduced ends of spacing dowels project and are locked by wedging means to hold the side walls securely against shoulders formed by the reduction in diameter of the dowel ends. The dowels are spaced in triangular arrangement and a belt of canvas surrounds the dowels in slack relationship. The chair may rest on any one of the three edges of the triangular side walls and a seat is formed by the portion of the flexible belt lying between the top dowel and one of the dowels near the resting or supporting side of the triangle. In other embodiments, additional dowels are provided and are used both for particular seat positions and as hand supports for the person sitting in the chair.

The features of novelty which characterize this invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood upon reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple position chair embodying the invention;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are somewhat diagrammatic side elevation views of the chair of FIG. 1 each in respective one of its three stable resting positions, with the position of the seat member indicated by dotted lines;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with the near side of the chair removed to show the interior arrangement;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view of a detail of construction of the chair of FIG. 1;,

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the detail illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG, 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a still further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 shown in its second position as a rocking chair;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a still further embodiment similar to that of FIGS. 10 and 1 1;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a flexible seat member employable with the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another seat element employable with the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 12; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a still further embodiment of the invention.

The chair illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises two triangularly shaped side walls 10 and 11 having rounded corners held in spaced securely assembled relationship by three dowels having ends of reduced cross section and indicated at 12', a belt of canvas or other suitable strong flexible material extends about the dowels and is of a length such that it is somewhat greater than the sum of the distances between the pairs of dowels. Thus, when a person sits in the chair, the upper portion of the flexible member, as viewed in FIG. 1, is bowed downwardly in a curve while the portions between the other pairs of dowels 12 are held straight and taut. The dowels are locked in place by suitable wedging means such as tapered pins, indicated at 14. The configuration of the belt when in use as in FIG. 1, is clearly shown in the side view FIG. 2 in which the belt I3 is shown in dotted lines, the reduced ends 12 and the wedges 14 having been omitted and the dowels shown in full size for purposes of illustration.

In FIG. 3, the chair of FIG. 1 is shown resting on its shortest side which provides an upright chair configuration; and in FIG. 4, the chair is shown resting on its longest side which provides a seat similar in configuration to that of FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 5, the side 11 has been removed and the wedges 14 have been shown adjacent and spaced from their wedging positions. The other ends of the dowels may be released readily so that the entire chair assembly may be packed in a compact volume and may be assembled readily when desired. During the assembly, the dowels are first secured in one end of the side walls by insertion and locking of the wedges l4 and the belt 13 placed about the dowels; thereafter the other side is attached by inserting the dowels through the corresponding holes provided in this side and locking them in place with the wedges 14.

The construction of the locking mechanism including the wedges 14 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, FIG. 7 being illustrated with the wedge 14 removed. The reduced portion 12 of the dowel is formed by any suitable method to provide a flat shoulder on the end of the dowel adjacent the wall 10, the dowel is securely clamped against the shoulder by driving the wedge 14 into a hole in the extension 12 indicated at 16 in FIG. 7, and, when driven into place, the wedge 14 fits in line engagement with the wall 10 as shown in FIG. 6. The wedging action of the members 14 provides secure attachment of the dowels to the side walls and is capable of withstanding extensive use without loosening. The wedges 14, although providing a firm clamp may readily be removed by a sharp blow against the smaller end of the wedge to drive it. out of the holes 16.

The chair construction as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 provides a light and sturdy chair particularly suited for use by children and the variety of different seat positions made possible by the flexible seat belt member 13 assures a comfortable seating support in any of the three positions, the belt accommodating itself to the position selected and moving over the dowels to the extent necessary for the adjustment to that position.

The chair illustrated in FIG. 8 is similar to that of FIG. 1, except that it employs four dowels indicated at 17, these dowels being mounted between spaced

side walls

18 and 19 in the same manner as employed in FIG. 1 between the side walls 10 and 1 l. The additional dowel 17 near the more pointed end of the seat provides a somewhat higher seating position at the forward end when positioned as shown in FIG. 8. This chair is also usable in the other positions as illustrated for the chair 1 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the invention wherein one side of the chair is of rounded configuration to provide a rocker. This chair comprises two

side walls

21 and 22, each having two flat wall edges substantially at right angles to one another and respective curved top edges indicated at 23 and 24, respectively. When the seat is turned over from the position shown in FIG. 9, the curved edges provide a rocking chair. In the chair of FIG. 9, four dowels 25 are employed, these being of the same construction as the dowels in the previous embodiments and the clamping or wedging means at the ends of the dowels having been omitted for purposes of diagrammatic illustration. This seat may be employed when resting on either of its straight edges or on the curved edges and thus provides three stable and usable positions.

In FIGS. and 11, there is illustrated a chair embodying the invention which comprises side walls of generally trapezoidal configuration, one of the walls being shown in the side elevation at 26, the wall 26 is connected in parallel relationship to another wall of the same configuration (not shown) and the assembly includes three dowels 27 of the same configuration and mounting as the dowels of the previous embodiments. The chair of FIGS. 10 and 11 is a two-position chair, FIG. 10 showing the stationary position and FIG. 11 a rocking chair position wherein the chair is supported on a curved edge 30 of the wall 26.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, the seat has been indicated as comprising two intersecting

straight portions

31 and 32, the portion 32 being securely sewed to the portion 31 near its middle, and the ends of the portions being looped about the dowels to attach them thereto.

Another embodiment similar to that of FIGS. 10 and 11 is shown in FIG. 12 wherein the outline of the side wall of a chair indicated at 33 is similar to that of an animal and the seat is supported between three dowels 34 arranged in a triangle similar to that of the dowels 27 in FIGS. 10 and 1 1. The seat in this embodiment is provided by a belt 35 extending around the three dowels 34 and across the space between the two side walls of the chair in the same manner as employed in the previous embodiments. The configuration of the seat members for the modification of FIGS. 10 and 12 is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively, FIG. 13 comprising a flexible seat member made up of the

walls

31 and 32 and these

walls having loops

36, 37 and 38 formed at their outer ends and arranged to be placed over the dowels 27 of FIG. 10. This same seat member may be employed in the modification of FIG. 12, the

loops

36, 37 and 38 being placed over the dowels 34. FIG. 14 illustrates the belt member 35 of FIG. 12 and this member is also suitable for use about the dowels 27 of FIGS. 10 and 1 1.

For some applications which employ the belt type seat member it may be desirable to provide a loop or pocket in the belt member for attaching the belt to one of the dowels so that the seat member does not rotate freely entirely around the three dowels but rather moves over the other two dowels depending upon the change from one seat position to another.

A still further form of the chair embodying this invention is illustrated in FIG. wherein the chair comprises a side wall 40 and a similar wall (not shown) which are spaced from one another and secured together by a plurality of dowels 41 and an additional dowel 42 of the same construction. A flexible belt member 43 has been illustrated as passing over or around four of the dowels 41 to provide a seat 44 and a footrest portion 45. The wall 40 and its complementary wall are shaped to provide a rocking chair in the position illustrated and when in this position a person sitting on the seat 44 and rocking may hold the dowel 42 to brace himself. An additional pair of holes is provided in the side walls and another position of the belt 43 is indicated in dotted lines, one of the dowels 41 having been moved and placed in an end position so that the belt is stretched between the two lower most dowels and forms a platform on which a child can stand while rocking. The dowel 42 may be left in place as a hand hold when theother dowels are in this position and the additional dowels 41, which are not necessary for use, are removed. This arrangement of the chair provides a highly flexible construction capable of multiple arrangements facilitated by the ready detachability and reassembly of the parts of the chair. The chair may be turned over from the positions shown in FIG. 15 to a stable stationary position and the belt employed in a manner similar to that of the other embodiments to provide a seat.

The multiple position chair of this invention provides a wide range of seating positions and configurations. The chair is of sturdy construction but may readily be taken apart for packing or storage or for replacement of parts or repair of the assembly. The arrangement of the flexible belt member for providing the seat assures a comfortable and flexible seat in any position of the chair, at the same time, the seat is securely held on the dowels and readily adapts itself to a wide range of selection of dowel positions.

We claim:

1. A readily disassembled and portable chair adapted for use in a plurality of different resting positions comprising a pair of spaced wall members having configurations providing a plurality of different stable resting positions, as least three pairs of opposed aligned openings extending through said members, a plurality of spacing dowels each mounted with its respective ends closely fitted in a respective pair of said openings, said three pairs defining a generally triangular configuration, readily releasable attaching means adjacent the ends of said dowels for holding said ends in tight fitting engagement with said members, and a flexible seat member supported on said dowels and providing a respective different supporting surface including an upwardly facing flexible seating portion in each of said resting positions of the chair, each of said seating portions comprising a part of said flexible seat member extending between a pair of said dowels and providing a respective different supporting surface and seat configuration.

2. A readily disassembled and portable chair as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible seat forming member comprises a continuous belt of material loosely surrounding at least three of said dowels whereby a person sitting on said member in each respective position of said chair stretches the member taut across the spaces between the other supporting dowels.

3. A readily disassembled and portable chair as set forth in claim 2 wherein said belt includes a loop attaching it to one of said dowels for preventing rotation of the belt bodily around said dowels.

4. A readily disassembled and portable chair adapted for use in a plurality of different resting positions comprising a pair of spaced wall members having configurations providing a plurality of different stable resting positions, at least three pairs of opposed aligned openings extending through said members, a plurality of spacing dowels each mounted with its respective ends closely fitted in a respective pair of said openings, readily releasable attaching means adjacent the ends of said dowels for holding said ends in tight fitting engagement with said members, a flexible seat member supported on said dowels and providing a respective different upwardly facing flexible seating portion in each of said resting positions of the chair, each of said seating portions comprising a part ofsaid flexible seat member extending between a pair of said dowels and providing a respective different seat configuration, said seat forming member comprising a first flexible panel extending between two of said dowels and having loops surrounding said two dowels for attachment thereto, and a second flexible panel secured to said first panel intermediate the ends thereof and having a loop extendingabout a third dowel for attachment thereto, said second panel extending between said first panel and said third dowel.

5. A readily disassembled and portable chair adapted for use in a plurality of different resting positions comprising a pair of spaced wall members having configurations providing a plurality of different stable resting positions, at least three pairs of opposed aligned openings extending through said members, a plurality of spacing dowels each mounted with its respective ends closely fitted in a respective pair of said openings, readily releasable attaching means adjacent the ends of said dowels for holding said ends in tight fitting engagement with said members, a flexible seat member supported on said dowels and providing a respective different upwardly facing flexible seating portion in each of said restingpositions of the chair, each of said seating portions comprising a part of said flexible seat member extending between a pair of said dowels and providing a respective different seat configuration, said attaching means comprising an abrupt shoulder formed near each end of each of said dowels and a reduced portion of the dowel extending beyond said shoulder and having an opening therethrough near said shoulder, and a wedge passing through the opening in each respective reduced portion and pressed into wedging engagement against the adjacent wall member to draw each shoulder securely against the adjacent wall member.

'6. A readily disassembled and portable chair as set forth in claim 1 including additional pairs of holes and dowels for providing hand holds and the like for the chair and alternative positions for supporting the flexible seat forming member.

7. A readily portable chair adapted for use in a plurality of different resting positions, comprising a pair of spaced wall members having configurations providing a plurality of different stable resting positions, at least three spacing dowels connecting said wall members in spaced relationship and being positioned parallel to one another and arranged in a generally triangular configuration, each dowel being spaced from the common plane of at least two others of said dowels; the ends of said dowels being attached to said wall members to provide a substantially rigid structure, and a flexible seat forming member comprising a continuous belt of flexible material extending loosely about at least three of said dowels whereby a person sitting on said flexible member in each respective position of said chair hows the member between two dowels and stretches the member around the outer sides of the dowels and taut across the spaces between the other pairs of supporting dowels.

Claims

4. A readily disassembled and porTable chair adapted for use in a plurality of different resting positions comprising a pair of spaced wall members having configurations providing a plurality of different stable resting positions, at least three pairs of opposed aligned openings extending through said members, a plurality of spacing dowels each mounted with its respective ends closely fitted in a respective pair of said openings, readily releasable attaching means adjacent the ends of said dowels for holding said ends in tight fitting engagement with said members, a flexible seat member supported on said dowels and providing a respective different upwardly facing flexible seating portion in each of said resting positions of the chair, each of said seating portions comprising a part of said flexible seat member extending between a pair of said dowels and providing a respective different seat configuration, said seat forming member comprising a first flexible panel extending between two of said dowels and having loops surrounding said two dowels for attachment thereto, and a second flexible panel secured to said first panel intermediate the ends thereof and having a loop extending about a third dowel for attachment thereto, said second panel extending between said first panel and said third dowel.

5. A readily disassembled and portable chair adapted for use in a plurality of different resting positions comprising a pair of spaced wall members having configurations providing a plurality of different stable resting positions, at least three pairs of opposed aligned openings extending through said members, a plurality of spacing dowels each mounted with its respective ends closely fitted in a respective pair of said openings, readily releasable attaching means adjacent the ends of said dowels for holding said ends in tight fitting engagement with said members, a flexible seat member supported on said dowels and providing a respective different upwardly facing flexible seating portion in each of said resting positions of the chair, each of said seating portions comprising a part of said flexible seat member extending between a pair of said dowels and providing a respective different seat configuration, said attaching means comprising an abrupt shoulder formed near each end of each of said dowels and a reduced portion of the dowel extending beyond said shoulder and having an opening therethrough near said shoulder, and a wedge passing through the opening in each respective reduced portion and pressed into wedging engagement against the adjacent wall member to draw each shoulder securely against the adjacent wall member.

6. A readily disassembled and portable chair as set forth in claim 1 including additional pairs of holes and dowels for providing hand holds and the like for the chair and alternative positions for supporting the flexible seat forming member.

7. A readily portable chair adapted for use in a plurality of different resting positions, comprising a pair of spaced wall members having configurations providing a plurality of different stable resting positions, at least three spacing dowels connecting said wall members in spaced relationship and being positioned parallel to one another and arranged in a generally triangular configuration, each dowel being spaced from the common plane of at least two others of said dowels; the ends of said dowels being attached to said wall members to provide a substantially rigid structure, and a flexible seat forming member comprising a continuous belt of flexible material extending loosely about at least three of said dowels whereby a person sitting on said flexible member in each respective position of said chair bows the member between two dowels and stretches the member around the outer sides of the dowels and taut across the spaces between the other pairs of supporting dowels.