Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02853855 2014-06-10
STACKABLE CHAIR WITH CUPHOLDER AND FOLDING TABLE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] This invention relates to the art of seating, and in particular to
stackable chairs.
BACKGROUND ART
[002] Stackable chairs are known. In some instances the chairs are provided
with
accessories that are above the seat or back portions of the chair. Thus, such
an
accessory poses a problem when stacking the chairs because it may prevent
placement
of the seat or back portion of an upper chair closely adjacent a corresponding
portion of
a lower chair. In one example, such an accessory is a writing table or tablet.
In another
example, the accessory is a cup holder that is mounted near the writing table.
A
particular problem has been to provide a stackable chair with accessories of
different
types, such as a writing table and a cup holder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTINON
[003] In accordance with the invention, a stackable chair is provided with a
writing table
as an accessory that is mounted to the remainder of the chair whereby it can
be moved
to a position that allows the chair to be stacked with one or more similar
chairs. In one
embodiment the writing table is mounted to a frame member of a first chair
such that it
can be moved from an operational orientation usable by an occupant of the
chair to a
storage orientation that will allow a writing table of a second chair, which
has been
moved to a similar orientation with respect to the second chair, to be placed
vertically
adjacent to the first writing table when the second chair is stacked on the
first chair. In
this way, several chairs can be stacked.
[004] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, an embodiment of a
chair
according to the invention is provided with a separate type of accessory, such
as a cup
holder, as well as an accessory such as a writing table. To facilitate
stacking of chairs
with both a writing table and a cup holder, a stackable chair in accordance
with the
invention is configured such that the cup holder is placed near the writing
table to be
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convenient to the user but is arranged with respect to the writing table such
that it
nevertheless allows the chairs to be stacked.
[005] In an embodiment, a stackable chair includes a foldable writing table
that can be
moved from a somewhat horizontal orientation when functioning as a writing
table to a
somewhat vertical orientation to allow one chair to be stacked on another
without the
interference of a horizontal writing table. The cup holder, however, is
mounted to the
frame of the chair so that it does not change positions when the writing table
is moved
whereby the cup holder portion of one chair receives the cup holder portion of
an upper
chair when a second chair is stacked on a first chair.
[006] In an embodiment, the writing table is mounted to a frame member that
extends
forward of the seating portion of the chair for pivotal movement about an axis
formed by
the frame member, and the cup holder is mounted to a forward portion of the
frame
member. By this construction, the cup holder is easily accessed by the user by
being
adjacent the writing table, and the writing table can be rotated to a
stackable orientation
without changing the orientation of the cup holder. Moreover, the cup holder
is easily
assembled and can be an add-on feature, if desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stackable chair in accordance with
the
invention.
[008] Figure 2 shows several chairs in accordance with the invention stacked.
[009] Figure 3 is a partial view of the stacked chairs of figure 2 showing the
writing
tables and cup holders.
[0010] Figure 4 is an assembly view of a preferred embodiment of the chair
according to
the invention showing assembly of the cup holder to the chair frame.
[0011] Figure 5 is a view of the chair of figure 4 showing the cup holder
attached.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In accordance with the invention a stackable chair is provided with a
writing table
that is capable of moving from a first position where it is horizontal and
available for use
by a person seated in the chair and a second position where it allows several
chairs to
be stacked. In an embodiment, the writing table moves to the second position
by
pivoting upward about an axis formed by a bracket that supports the table in
the first
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position. The cup holder remains in a single position with respect to the
chair frame and
in the preferred embodiment extends forwardly from the bracket on which the
writing
table is mounted to permit easy access by the user when seated but
facilitating stacking
during periods of non-use.
[0013] Figure 1 shows a stacking chair 2 of a general construction known in
the art. The
chair, however, includes a writing table 4, and a cup holder 6. The cup holder
extends
forward of the writing table to provide ready access by a user seated in the
chair and yet
allow stacking as will be explained below.
[0014] Figure 2 illustrates several chairs of the invention stacked, for
example, for
storage. In order to place a chair in the configuration that allows stacking,
the table 4 is
first pivoted upward to an orientation just past vertical so that the flat
upper surface of
the table of an upper chair will lie adjacent the bottom surface of a lower
chair. The cup
holder, however, remains upright so it can engage a lower cup holder when
stacked.
Preferably the sides of the cup holders are tapered so the upper cup holder is
easily
received in the lower cup holder.
[0015] Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the stacked cup holders shown in
figure 2.
[0016] With reference to figures 4 and 5, a preferred embodiment of a chair in
accordance with the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the table 4
is pivotally
mounted to a horizontal portion 8 of a support tube 10 that is attached to the
frame of
the chair 2. The pivotal mount comprises a hinge having a stationary part 12,
a
movable part 14, and a hinge pin 16. The movable part 14 is secured to the
table by
screws or other fastening means. As noted earlier, the hinge allows the table
to pivot to
an orientation past the vertical to allow several chairs to be stacked.
[0017] The end of the horizontal part of the support tube 10 is provided with
a nut 18,
and the cup holder 6 is secured to the support tube by a bolt 20 that passes
through an
opening in the end of the cup holder and is received in the nut 18. Other
methods of
attaching the cup holder to the bracket are possible. For example, the end of
the cup
holder can be elongated and received in a sleeve in the bracket. It will be
appreciated
that the end of the cup holder is configured to cooperate with the stationary
part of the
hinge to provide a simple but sturdy connection.
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[0018] Modifications within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent
to those
of skill in the art.
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