EP1290964A2 - Chair, armchair having easy fabric covering replacement - Google Patents

Abstract

A chair, armchair, comprising a fabric component constituted by two rod-like elements (12,13) made of plastics with a C-shaped cross-section, each of which has a wing that is larger than an opposite wing and has a thickness that allows it to be fixed to the edge of an element (17) made of fabric by stitched seams (18), the elements having a C-shaped cross-section being assembled by interlocking with opposite edges of a corresponding structural element to be covered of the chair, armchair, tensioning the element made of fabric.

Description

• The present invention relates to a chair, armchair or the like.
• The aim of the present invention is to provide a chair, armchair or the like that has a structure that allows to cover its structural components with fabric simply and rapidly.
• Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to allow easy and rapid replacement of the fabric covering.
• Another important object of the invention is to reduce the labor costs required to manufacture chairs, armchairs or the like.
• This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a chair, armchair or the like, comprising a fabric component constituted by two rod-like elements made of plastics with a C-shaped cross-section, each of said rod-like elements having a wing that is larger than an opposite wing in a transverse direction and has a thickness that allows it to be fixed to an edge of an element made of fabric by means of stitched seams, said elements having a C-shaped cross-section being assembled by interlocking with opposite edges of a corresponding structural element to be covered of the chair, armchair or the like, tensioning said element made of fabric or the like.
• Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
• Figure 1 is a view of a chair having the structure according to the invention;
• Figures 2, 3 and 4 are three different sectional views of a fabric component of the chair of Figure 1;
• Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a front view and a sectional side view of the back of the chair of Figure 1.
• With reference to the figures, a chair 10 according to the present invention comprises a fabric component 11 constituted by two rod-like elements made of plastics which have a C-shaped cross-section, designated by the reference numerals 12 and 13 respectively; each rod-like element has a wing 14 that is larger than the other wing 15 in a transverse direction and has a thickness that allows it to be fixed to an edge 16 of an element 17 made of fabric or the like by means of stitched seams 18.
• The fabric element 17 is conveniently folded around each element 12 and 13 in order to conceal them from view.
• The elements 12 and 13 having a C-shaped cross-section are then assembled by interlocking with opposite edges 19 and 20 of a corresponding structural element 21 to be covered of the chair, for example a back, a seat or a headrest, tensioning the element 17 made of fabric or the like, which has dimensions that allow to tension it.
• Conveniently, the surface of the structural element 21 is convex so that the fabric element 17 rests fully thereon.
• In practice it has been observed that the intended aim and objects of the present invention have been achieved.
• A chair, armchair or the like has in fact been provided whose structure allows to cover its structural components with fabric simply and rapidly.
• Replacement of the fabric cover in case of breakage or simply if the user intends to change the fabric has also been rendered easy and quick.
• Moreover, the labor costs required to manufacture chairs, armchairs or the like have been reduced considerably, since the costs of the fabric covering have been practically eliminated.
• In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
• The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. PD2001U000076 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
• Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims (3)

1. A chair, armchair, characterized in that it comprises a fabric component (11) constituted by two rod-like elements (12,13) made of plastics with a C-shaped cross-section, each of said rod-like elements (12,13) having a wing (14) that is larger than an opposite wing (15) in a transverse direction and has a thickness that allows said wing to be fixed to an edge (16) of an element (17) made of fabric by means of stitched seams (18), said rod-like elements (12,13) having a C-shaped cross-section being assembled by interlocking with opposite edges (19,20) of a corresponding structural element (21) to be covered of the chair, armchair or the like, tensioning said element (17) made of fabric.
2. The chair, armchair according to claim 1, characterized in that said element (17) made of fabric is folded around each rod-like element (12,13) having a C-shaped cross-section in order to hide said each rod-like element from view.
3. The chair, armchair according to claim 1, characterized in that a surface of said structural element (21) is convex, so that said element (17) made of fabric rests fully thereon.

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