CHAIR FRAME

CADRE DE CHAISE

English Abstract

A chair, according to the present invention has an inverted pyramidal shape primarily determined by triangular side and back frames of the chair. The frames include two side frames and a back frame and preferably a smaller front frame. Each side frame is secured to a central portion of a pedestal type base and extends upwardly and outwardly from the base. Each frame adjacent an upper edge is mechanically secured to an adjacent frame with the frames cooperating to form a 'U' shape generally at the height corresponding to side arms of the chair. A support seat is provided in the frames and the side frames define arms of the chair. A back support is secured to the back frame at a position intermediate the height of the back support with a lower edge of said back support joining with a rear edge of the support seat. The side frames and back frame between said seat and an upper edge of the frames are of a triangular or truncated triangular shape.

French Abstract

Selon la présente invention, une chaise a une forme pyramidale inversée principalement déterminée par des cadres latéraux et dorsal triangulaires de la chaise. Les cadres comprennent deux cadres latéraux et un cadre dorsal et, de préférence, un cadre avant plus petit. Chaque cadre latéral est fixé à une partie centrale dune base de type piédestal et sétend vers le haut et vers lextérieur de la base. Chaque cadre adjacent à un bord supérieur est fixé mécaniquement à un cadre adjacent, les cadres coopérant pour former un U, généralement à une hauteur correspondant aux bras de la chaise. Un siège de support est fourni dans les cadres et les cadres latéraux définissent les bras de la chaise. Un support dorsal est fixé au cadre dorsal dans une position intermédiaire de la hauteur du support dorsal, un bord inférieur de ce support étant joint à un bord arrière du siège de support. Les cadres latéraux et le cadre dorsal entre le siège et un bord supérieur des cadres sont de forme triangulaire ou triangulaire tronquée.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed
are defined as follows:
1. A chair comprising a pedestal type base supporting frames comprising two
side frames
and a back frame; said pedestal type base having a central portion supporting
said two
side frames and said back frame at a raised positioned with each side frame
being
secured to said central portion of said pedestal type base and extending
upwardly and
outwardly from said central portion; each frame adjacent an upper edge being
mechanically secured to an adjacent frame with said frames cooperating to form
a ' U'
shape generally at the height corresponding to side arms of said chair;
a chair seat supported in said frames adjacent an upper edge of said base with
a
front edge of said seat located between arms of said U shape; a back support
secured to
said back frame at a position intermediate the height of said back support
with a lower
edge of said back support joining with a rear edge of said chair seat, and
wherein said
side frames and back frame between said seat and an upper edge of said frames
being
of a triangular or truncated triangular shape.
2. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein said side frames have a horizontal
upper surface
defining arms of said chair.
3. A chair as claimed in claim 2 wherein said back frame includes a horizontal
upper
surface at the same height as said upper surface of said side frames.
4. A chair as claimed in claim 3 including a triangular front frame secured to
said side
frames and said base, said front frame engaging and supporting a bottom
surface of said
chair seat.
5. A chair as claimed in claim 3 wherein one side of each side frame forms a
corner
connection with an adjacent side of said back frame.
6. A chair as claimed in claim 5 wherein each side frame and said back frame
include wall
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portions extending downwardly and inwardly towards said base at the corner
connection
of said frames.
7. A chair comprising a base supporting frames comprising two side frames and
a back
frame; each side frame being secured to a central portion of said base and
extending
upwardly and outwardly therefrom; each frame adjacent an upper edge being
mechanically secured to an adjacent frame with said frames cooperating to form
a 'U'
shape generally at the height corresponding to side arms of said chair;
a chair seat supported in said frames adjacent an upper edge of said base with
a
front edge of said seat located between arms of said U shape; a back support
secured to
said back frame at a position intermediate the height of said back support
with a lower
edge of said back support joining with a rear edge of said chair seat, and
wherein said
side frames and back frame between said seat and an upper edge of said frames
being
of a triangular or truncated triangular shape; and
wherein said frames are of a triangular shape and said base includes 4 leg
portions
defining an X configuration with said leg portions centrally secured.
8. A chair as claimed in claim 7 wherein said side frames have a horizontal
upper surface
defining arms of said chair.
9. A chair as claimed in claim 8 wherein said back frame includes a horizontal
upper
surface at the same height as said upper surface of said side frames.
10. A chair as claimed in claim 9 including a triangular front frame secured
to said side
frames and said base, said front frame engaging and supporting a bottom
surface of said
chair seat.
11. A chair as claimed in claim 9 wherein one side of each side frame forms a
connection
with an adjacent side of said back frame.
12. A chair as claimed in claim 11 wherein each side frame and said back frame
include
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wall portions extending downwardly and inwardly towards said base at the
corner
connection of said frames.

Description

01/17/2020 FRI 12: 13 FAX 416 368 1645 DENNISON ASSOCIATES CIPO .. 2476
l21003/003
=
CHAIR f.i'2AME
=
=
Field of the Invention
The present application relates to a modular chair that is easy to assemble
arid cost-
effective to manufacture.
Background of the invention
Adirondack chairs and Muskoka chairs have distinctive appearances and remain
popular with respect to recreational properties. These chairs are typically
made of
Ito wood, require significant assembly and/or are sold as an
assembled product. in
addition the frames of the chairs are prone to racking.
There remains a need for a similar type of chair that is cost-effective to
manufacture
and advantageously uses a series of modular components that cooperate to
provide
a structural durable chair.
Summary of the invention
A modular chair according to the present invention, comprises a base
supporting
WO side frames and a back frame. Each side frame is secured to a central
portion of
the base and extends upwardly and outwardly from the base. The frames,
adjacent
an upper edge are mechanically scoured to an adjacent frame with the frames
cooperating to form a U-shaped opening generally at a height corresponding to
the
height of the side arms of the chair. A chair seat is supported in the frames
adjacent
an upper edge of the base with the front edge of the seat being located
between and
below arms of the U-shaped opening. A back support is secured to the back
frame at
a position intermediate the height of the back support with the lower edge of
the track =
support joining with a rear edge of the chair seat. The side frames and back
frame
between the chair seat and an upper edge of the frames are of a triangular or
=
truncated triangular shape.
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CA 02928655 2016-04-29
According to an aspect of the invention, the frames are of a triangular shape
and the
base includes four leg portions defining an X configuration with the leg
portions
centrally secured.
According to further aspect of the invention, the side frames have a
horizontal upper
surface defining arms of the chair.
In a further aspect of the invention, the back frame includes a horizontal
upper
surface at the same height as the upper surface of the side frames.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the chair includes a
triangular front
frame secured to the two side frames and said base. The front frame engages
and
supports the bottom surface of the chair seat.
In a further aspect of the invention, each side frame forms a generally 90
corner
configuration with said back frame.
In a further aspect of the invention, each side frame and back frame include
parallel
wall portions extending downwardly and inwardly towards the base and connect
with
the base in a corner configuration.
In a further aspect of the invention, each side frame and the back frame are
of a
similar size.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the chair;
Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the chair;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the chair;
Figure 4 is a top perspective view of chair;
Figure 5 is a top view of the chair;
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken through line AA of Figure 5;
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CA 02928655 2016-04-29
Figure 7 is a front view of the front frame of the chair;
Figure 8 is a side view of the front frame of the chair shown in Figure 7;
Figure 9 is rear view of the front frame shown in Figure 7;
Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of the chair;
Figure 11 is a front perspective view showing two stacked chairs;
Figure 12 is a side perspective view showing two stacked chairs about to be
stacked
with a bottom chair;
Figure 13 is a side perspective view showing two stacked chair bases about to
be
stacked with a lower chair base;
Figure 14 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment where two
modified
support bases are stacked and these support bases are about to be stacked on a
bottom support base; and
Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the base components.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The modular chair 2, shown in figures 1 and 2, has a two piece base 4
comprising
base component 6 having a downwardly opening slot 7 that is received in an
upwardly slot 9 of the base component 12 to define a 'X' type
configuration(see
figure 15). Base component 6 includes legs 8 and 10 to either side of the
downwardly opening slot and base component 12 includes legs 14 and 16 either
side of the upwardly opening slot. The two piece base 4 forms a pedestal type
support of the chair.
The chair includes two opposed side frames 20 and 21, back frame 22 and a
front
frame 24. All of these frames are preferably of a triangular shape with each
frame
secured to and reinforcing the two piece base 4. As shown in figure 1, the
side
frames, front frame and back frame all engage a central portion of the two
piece
base 4 and provide a strong securement of the frames to the two piece base and
each other. The connected frames provide a triangulated structure that direct
forces
downwardly into the central portion of the two piece base and this structure
is not
prone to racking.
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CA 02928655 2016-04-29
The particular attachment of the frames to the two piece base 4 can be
appreciated
from the exploded perspective view of figure 3. Each of the frame members
engage
the base components 6 and 12 centrally at an intersection of the 'X'
configuration
and each of the frames is mechanically secured to the base components and to
adjacent frames. With this arrangement, the two piece base 4 and the frames
all
cooperate to provide an effective structure transferring loads through the
frames to
the central portion of the two piece base and out to the legs. The base
components 6
and 12 also include two series of vertically spaced securing ports 80 with one
series
of ports being offset from the other. These securing ports 80 allow the frames
to be
secured to the two piece base at three different heights and a user can choose
the
appropriate height when the chair is assembled. This height adjustment varies
the
height of chair seat 50.
At an upper portion between adjacent frames, a spacer 82 is positioned and in
combination with the two piece base, define a gap 70. This gap 70 between
adjacent frames, accommodates stacking of chairs that is described in later
figures.
Each of the side frames 20 and 21 and the back frame are similar in shape and
size.
Side frame 20 includes a horizontal top member 30a and two downwardly
extending
support members 32 and 34. Side frame 21 includes a horizontal top member 30b
and two downwardly extending support members 33 and 35. Side frames 20 and 21
are of the same structure with the exception that the top securing port for
joining the
side frame with the back frame is in the opposite downwardly extending support
member.
Back frame 22 includes a horizontal top member 30c and two downwardly
extending
support members 37 and 39. The top members 30a, 30b and 30c are preferably at
the same height when the chair is assembled. Front frame 24 includes a
horizontal
member 36 and two downwardly and inwardly extending support members 38 and
40. The side frames and back frame at the height of the chair arms is 'U'
shaped
however each side frame converges towards the chair seat. The connected frames
preferably have an upside down pyramidal shape.
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CA 02928655 2016-04-29
Additional details of the front frame is shown in the exploded perspective
view of
figure 3. The front frame includes securing blocks 41 which are secured to the
horizontal member 36 and are used as part of the securement of the seat
portion 50
to the front frame. The chair further includes a separate back support 60
having a
stepped out lower portion 62, a reduced width portion 64, and a top portion
66. The
reduced width portion 64 exposes part of the gap 70 between connected side and
back frames. The gap 70 is used for receiving a rearward extending leg of the
base
during stacking of chairs.
In figure 5, it can be seen that the legs of the two piece base 4 are aligned
with the
gaps 70 between connected frame members. This particular alignment partially
created by the shape of the back support 60 and the securement of the frames,
is
used for stacking.
In figure 6, a sectional view through a typical mechanical connection used for
securing of the frames is shown. Each frame includes a port that receives a
threaded
cap nut 90. The spacer 82 is provided between the two frames and a threaded
rod
92 passes through the spacer and engages each of the threaded cap nuts 90. The
cap nuts can then be rotated to secure the frame members together. As can be
appreciated, other fastening arrangements can be used, however the illustrated
mechanical connection has proven to be effective.
Details of the front frame 36 are shown in figures 7 through 9 and include a
series of
ports for securing components. At the bottom of the front frame as shown in
figure 7,
two ports 96 and 98 are provided in each of the support members in the lower
corner
and are used as part of the securement to the base. The support members
include
upper securing ports 97 used to connect with the side frames and the
horizontal
member 36 includes securing ports 99 used to secure the chair seat. Figure 8
shows the pitch angle of between 50 and 60 degrees of the three sides of the
front
frame. A preferred angle is 55 degrees.
Figure 10 shows a rear view of the chair and details of the back support 60.
The
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CA 02928655 2016-04-29
back support includes the central support member 65 that joins the individual
slats
67 The central support 65 also includes a flange block 69 that is used as part
of a
mechanical securement of the back support 60 to the horizontal member of the
back
frame 22. Figure 10 also illustrates the gap 70 between the back frame 22 and
each
side frame 20 and 21. It can be appreciated that stepped-out portion 62
includes two
slats 71 and 73 that project into the slot 70. The projecting portion of slat
71
provides a stop surface for supporting of a leg of the chair when two chairs
are
stacked (see Figure 12).
Figure 11 illustrates two chairs in a stacked configuration with rear legs 10
and 14 of
the upper chair located in the slot 70 provided between the side frames and
the back
frame. The legs 10 and 14 are supported on the slats 71 of the lower chair
with legs
8 and 16 supported on the front of the seat portion 50. Figure 12 shows two
stacked
upper chairs about to be stacked on a lower chair.
Figure 13 shows three chair frames 145 without chair seats with the upper two
chair
frames being in a stacked configuration and about to be stacked on a lower
chair
frame.
Figure 14 shows a modified support base 150 that operates in a similar manner
and
can be used for supporting other objects or surfaces such as a support base
for a
planter, a table surface or a bench structure. Two support bases 150 are shown
in a
stacked configuration and are about to be stacked with a bottom support base.
In
this modified structure the front frame of the chair has been replaced with a
full-size
front frame 152. In this way a large planter or horizontal surface can be
secured to
or placed on the support base. This support base 150 allows the modular
components to be used in a different combination for forming related
structures such
as side tables, coffee tables or a bench structure (multiple support bases) as
some
examples of related products that can utilize the support base.
The connected frames form a double strut type structure at each corner.
The preferred two piece base 4 is of an 'X' shape with each triangular frame
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CA 02928655 2016-04-29
reinforcing one of the 90 degree cells of the 'X shape. The preferred
embodiment of
the chair uses the two piece base however the base need not be two pieces and
can
be made in other ways. Alternative pedestal type bases can be used
particularly if
stacking is not required. If an alternate configuration of the base is used
the frames
may be of a modified triangular structure, truncated triangular structure or
have the
lower portion modified for engagement with the base. As can be appreciated in
the
preferred chair, the rear legs extend through the slots 70 between connected
frames
when chairs are stacked to maintain a vertical orientation of the stacked
chairs.
The components of the modular chair can be made of wood or a reinforced
plastic
material. In some cases it is desirable to mold the individual components as a
single
one piece component. For example the components can be made of a molded
plastic, reinforced plastic, recycled plastic, fiberglass or epoxy component.
It is also
possible to mold the chair as a one piece component or manufacture the base
and
.. frame members as a one piece component.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail
it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto
without
departing from the claimed invention. The detailed description and various
examples
have been provided to assist in understanding the principles of the present
invention
but the applicant is not limited to the preferred embodiment or the specific
examples.
7

Representative Drawing