US3827749A

US3827749A - Chair structure

Info

Publication number: US3827749A
Application number: US00338591A
Authority: US
Inventors: V Johnson; B Snyder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-03-06
Filing date: 1973-03-06
Publication date: 1974-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-06

Abstract

A chair structure adapted to stack vertically and to gang horizontally with a plurality of like chair structures wherein each chair structure has front and rear legs on each side with upper portions secured relative to a seat and frame spaced with said front and rear legs depending in diverging relation from said secured upper portions. The frame is mounted on the legs and has a base portion positioned between the legs and a back portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the base portion. The front leg on each side and the back portion of the frame are inclined in substantially parallel planes to permit compact vertical stacking. The legs on one side of a chair have greater spacing and are adapted to nest above and in engagement with the similar legs of an other chair structure when stacked. The legs on said one side have a keeper member mounted thereon engageable with the legs of an adjacent chair structure nested therebelow to effect and maintain ganging of a plurality of like chair structures in side-by-side relation.

Description

Johnson et al.

1111 3,827,749 Aug. 6, 1974 [5 1 CHAIR STRUCTURE [76] Inventors: Vern Johnson, Carbondale, Ill.;

Bobbie L. Snyder, Kansas City, Mo. I

22 Filed: Mar. 6, 1973 211 App]. No.: 338,591

l/l969 Netherlands 297/248 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney, Agent, or FirmClaude A. Fishburn fll'7 a? lh- [57] ABS'I RACT A chair structure adapted to stack vertically and to gang horizontally with a plurality of like chair structures wherein each chair structure has front and rear legs on each side with upper portions secured relative to a seat and frame spaced with said front and rear legs depending in diverging relation from said secured upper portions. The frame is mounted on the legs and has a base portion positioned between the legs and a back portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the base portion. The front leg on each side and the back portion of the frame are inclined in substantially parallel planes to permit compact vertical stacking. The legs on one side of a chair have greater spacing and are adapted to nest above and in engagement with i the similar legs of an other chair structure when stacked. The legs on said one side have a keeper member mounted thereon engageable with the legs of an adjacent chair structure nested therebelow to effect and maintain gauging of a plurality of like chair structures in side-by-side relation.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMJB slam SHEEI 1 0f 2 2 aka-3 CHAIR STRUCTURE The present invention relates to chair structures adapted to stack vertically and gang horizontally and more particularly to such a chair structure that is functional and has a cushioned seat and back.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a chair structure with spaced front and rear legs depending in diverging relation of relative size and spacing whereby the legs on one side of the chair will nest within the other side legs in substantially vertical alignment; to provide such a chair adapted to stack vertically and gang horizontally with like chair structures; to provide such a chair structure having a cushioned seat maintained out of engagement with an adjacent chair when a plurality of like chair structures are stacked vertically; to provide such a chair structure having a back portion with a cushioned backrest mounted on a front side and a recess in a rear side of the back portion to receive therein a cushioned member of an adjacent chair structure when like chairs are stacked vertically; to provide such a stackable chair structure wherein the front legs and a back portion are inclined downwardly and forwardly at substantially corresponding angles or selected angles if thickness or respective members require; to provide such a chair structure wherein a leg structure on one side is shaped and of a size to nest below and in engagement with a leg structure corresponding to that on the other side of said chair and thereby will mate with such other leg structure of an adjacent chair structure in ganging of the chairs in side-by-side relation; to provide such a chair structure having a keeper niember on 'one of such side leg structures adapted to engage the leg structure nested therewtih of an adjacent chair structure when ganged therewith to prevent relative horizontal movement thereof; to provide such a chair structure with a handrole in a backrest or back portion to facilitate handling; and to provide such a chair structure which is economical to manufacutre, attractive in appearance, durable in construction, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages f this invention will become apparent from the following description takin in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of of this specification and include an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features of the chair structure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair structure embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the chair structure ganged with a like chair structure and having portions broken away to illustrate component parts thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the chair structure.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the chair structure and a plurality of like chair structures stacked vertically thereon, portions being broken away to show the relative back positions.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through a backrest or back portion and taken on line 55, FIG. 2 and showing the vertical shape thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the backrest or back portion with a portion thereof broken away to show the horizontal shape thereof.

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary perspective view of gauging components of adjacent like chair structures.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a chair structure adapted to stack vertically and to gang horizontally with like chair structures. The chair structure 1 has laterally spaced combinations or

leg members

2 and 3 at sides thereof with each having a front leg portion 4 and a rear leg portion 5. The front and rear leg of each combination have upper portions in fixed relation by connection to a frame or the like and in the illustrated structure, they are connected by an upper portion 6 and depend therefrom. The frame 7 is mounted on the

leg members

2 and 3 and has a base portion 8 positioned between the

leg members

2 and 3 and a back portion 9 extending upwardly from the base portion 8. The front leg portion 4 of each of the

side leg members

2 and 3 and the back portion 9 of the frame have substantially corresponding inclination and thereby are substantially parallel to permit compact and solid vertical stacking. The

side leg members

2 and 3 are of different size whereby one side leg member will rest beneath the other side leg member of an adjacent chair. In the illustrated structure, the right side leg member 2 is adapted to nest below and in engagement with a left leg member 3 of an adjacent chair structure 1. A keeper on one nested leg structure engages the other to prevent relative horizontal movement of ganged chairs. As shown, the left leg member 3 has a keeper member 10 mounted thereon and engageable with the right leg memer 2 of an adjacent chair structure to effect and maintain gauging of a plurality of like chair structures in side-by-side relation.

The

side leg members

2 and 3 are each generally U- shaped members and preferably formed of square tubular material for appearance, strength and lightness in weight. The upper portion 6 of each of the

leg members

2 and 3 is generally horizontal and the front and

rear legs

4 and 5 respectively diverge downwardly from the ends thereof. The front leg portion 4 is inclined forward at a selected angle relative to a vertical line intersecting the upper end thereof.

The rear leg portion 5 of each of the

leg members

2 and 3 is also inclined at a selected angle relative to a vertical line intersecting an upper end thereof. The lower end of the rear leg portion 5 is positioned rearwardly of the upper end thereof thereby providing a wide support area for the chair structure whereby the chair structure 1 is stable. The

legs

4 and 5 each have suitable glides in lower ends thereof.

The front leg portion 4 of one of the leg members, for example a right leg members 2 as viewed when seated 3 in the chair structure 1 and facing forward, is parallel with and positioned rearwardly of the front leg portion 4 of the other or left leg member 3. The rear leg portion 5 of the right leg member 2 is parallel with and positioned forwardly of the rear leg portion 5 of the other leg member 3. The upper portion 6 of the right leg member 2 is parallel with and positioned below the upper portion 6 of the other or left leg member 3 whereby each of the

leg members

2 and 3 of the chair structure 1 is adapted to gang with a respective leg member of a like chair structure with the right leg member 2 of one chair structure nesting below and in close relationship with the left leg member 3 of another chair structure. The side leg members are of a shape and size that when the chairs are ganged the front surface 11 of the front leg 4, top surface 12 of the upper portion 6 and rear surface 13 of the rear leg 5 of side leg member 2 are in close relationship to the rear surface 14, bottom surface 15 and front surface 16 of the front leg 4, upper portion 6 and rear leg 5 respectively of the side leg member 3.

The ganged chair structures are maintained in a ganged position by the keeper member 10 which is mounted on an exterior side of the upper portion 6 of the left leg member 3 and has a portion depending below the upper portion 6 of the left leg member 3. The keepermember 10 is engageable with an inner side of surface 17 of the upper portion 6 of the right leg member 2 of an adjacent structure of a gang of like chair structures.

The frame 7 is illustrated as a generally L-shaped structure preferably formed of square tubular members for strength and lightness in weight. The frame 7 includes spaced right and

left side members

18 and 19 respectively suitably secured to the right and

left leg members

2 and 3 respectively and inwardly theof to provide stacking clearance, as later described. The base portion 8 of the frame 7 is formed of a lower or base portion 8 of the right and

left side members

18 and 19 and by front and rear spacer members 21 and 22 respectively which extend between and are suitably secured to the right and

left side members

18 and 19 and at relative heights for desired seat inclination.

The lower or base portion of each of the

side members

18 and 19 has upturned forward end portions 23 with the front spacer member 21 extending between said end portions and fixed thereto. Te lower or base portion 20 of the frame 7 is positioned below the upper portion 6 of the right and

left leg members

2 and 3 respectively and is suitably secured to the leg members, as by welding, said base portion 20 that is secured to the leg member 3 serving as a stop, as later described. A seat 24 is supported on the front and rear spacer members 21 and 22.

The back portion 9 of the frame 7 is defined by back or rear portion 25 of each of the right and

left side members

18 and 19 respectively extending upwardly from the respective lower or base portion 20 thereof. The rear spacer 22 extends between and is fixed to said rear portion 25. In chairs having the thickness of the leg portion 4 and the back portion, the same said back portion 9 of the frame 7 is substantially parallel with the front leg portion 4 of the

leg members

2 and 3 to permit compact and solid vertical stacking of like chair structures. Chairs having different thickness as with upholstered backs would have the relationship at selected angles for desired stacking.

The chair has a backrest 28 mounted on the

side members

18 and 19. The backrest is illustrated as an arcuate or curved member having a forwardly facing recess 28 in which a cushion or resilient member 30 is mounted and has a face 30' that forms the front side thereof. The cushion or resilient member 30 extends outwardly or forwardly of the backrest 28. The backrest 28 has a downwardly open recess 31 in a back or rear side 32 thereof to receive therein a cushion or re,- silient member 30 of an adjacent chair structure when stacked vertically therewith.

The backrest 28 is removably mounted on the

side members

18 and 19 and secured by suitable fastening members. In the structure illustrated, the lower portion of the backrest is supported on clips 29 fixed on the

side members

18 and 19 with each having a flange 29' extending inwardly therefrom. The clip flanges 29 are received in notches on recesses 28" in the lower side portions of the backrest to be hidden and are secured by suitable fastening devices such as screws or the like 29". To further secure the backrest 28 to the

side members

18 and 19, each of said side members have slots or recesses 26 in the inner wall and extending downwardly from the top thereof. The backrest has projections or pins 27 extending outwardly from sides thereof adjacent the top thereof that are received in said recesses 26. It is preferred that the pins 27 be threaded and have nuts 27 threaded thereon to clamp same to the walls of the

side members

18 and 19. The threaded pins 27 and nuts 27 cooperate with the clips 29 and screws 29" to positively hold the backrest on the side member. The upper ends of the

side members

18 and 19 are closed by suitable caps or the like 33' to provide a finished appearance.

The backrest 28 had a hand hole 33 therein positioned adjacent an upper edge of the backrest 28 to permit gripping of the backrest to handle the chair structure.

The upper end 34 of the recess 31 curves rearwardly and has a spacing from the top edge 35 of the backrest 28 less than the stacking height of the chiars to assure accommodation of the cushion 30 of the backrest of the next lower chair. The stacking height of the chairs is the vertical distance between like portions of a chair and that of the next lower chair.

The base portions 20 of the frame are secured to the front and

rear legs

4 and 5 on each side of the chair. On the side where the

legs

4 and 5 have the greater spacing for the leg member 3, the base portion 20 is below the upper portions of the legs or the portion 6 thereof in a position to be engaged by one side of the leg combination 2 of an adjacent chair nested therein. This engagement cooperates with the keeper 10 on the leg member 3 to hold the leg member 2 and the ganged chairs against relative lateral or horizontal movement.

In ganging chair structures constructed as illustrated and described, a left leg member 3 of one chair structure 38 is positioned over a right leg member 2 of an adjacent chair structure 39.

Upper surfaces

11, 12 and 13 of the front leg portion 4, rear leg portion 5 and upper portion 6 respectively of the right leg member 2 of chair 39 are in close relationship with respective

lower surfaces

14, 15 and 16 respectively of the left leg member 3 of the chair 38 and the keeper member 10 thereon is positioned in engagement with an inner face or surface 17 of the upper portion 6 of the right leg member 2 and right leg member 2 or portion 6 thereof v engages the base portion of the chair 38. This process is repeated until the desired number of chair structures are positioned in side-by-side relation. The relation of the nested leg portions and the engagement of the keeper firmly holds the chairs together with substantially no relative movement in use.

- In stacking a plurality of chair structures constructed as illustrated and described, the right and

left leg members

2 and 3 are aligned with respective right and

left leg members

2 and 3 of a lower chair. The upper chair structure is then moved downwardly with the respective leg members in engagement one with the other and the back portion 9 of the frame 7 of the upper chair structure is in engagement with the back portion 9 of the frame 7 of the lower chair structure. The outer width of the back across the

side members

18 and 19 is slightly narrower than the inside width between the

side leg members

2 and 3 providing clearance for the back legs as the chairs are moved downwardly one over the other in stacking. The cushion or resilient member of the lower chair structure is received in the respective downwardly open recess 31 in the next upper chair structure. The seat 24 is maintained out of engagement with the structure of the next upper and the next lower chair structure by means of the stacking height obtained by engagement of the leg members. The structure of the leg members and stacking relation of the parts provide an arrangement wherein the chairs are not only upholstered, but also will stack 20 chairs high with a top seat height of approximately 6 feet.

It is to be understood that while We have illustrated and described one form of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

' What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A stacking chair structure comprising:

a. a chair leg chair structure with the right leg member 2 of one chair structure nesting b. a pair of spaced front and rear legs on each side of said frame and having upper portions, said front and rear legs diverging downwardly from said upper portions, said front and rear legs having opposed inner and outer faces, said front leg of each of said pair being inclined at a selected angle relative to a vertical line;

c. said frame being mounted on said pairs of legs and having a base portion and a back portion and positioned laterally inwardly of said pairs of legs, said base portion being below said upper portion of each of said pair of legs, a backrest member secured to said back portion of the frame, said back portion being at a selected angle relative to said front leg of each of said pair of legs to provide substantially equal stacking height and permit compact vertical stacking;

d. a seat mounted on said frame and positioned above said base portion;

e. said chairs being stackable in a substantially vertical stack and said pairs of legs being sized whereby when stacked, upper chairs are supported by the outer faces of the front and rear legs of a chair being engaged by inner faces of the next upper chair and the seats and the upper portions of the 6 pairs of legs of the chair are spaced from the seat and upper portion of the pairs of legs of the next upper chair.

2. A chair structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said backrest member has a resilient cushion member mounted on a front side thereof; and

b. said backrest member has a recess in a raear side and extending to a lower edge thereof adapted to receive therein the resilient cushion member of a next lower chair structure when stacked vertically with like chair structures.

3. A stacking ganging chair structure comprising:

a. a pair of laterally spaced leg members each having an upper portion and a front and rear leg portion depending therefrom, said front and rear leg portions having opposed inner and outer faces, each of said leg members being adapted to nest in engagement with an opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure to permit ganging of a plurality of like chair structures;

b. a keeper member mounted on one leg member and adapted to engage said opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure of a gang of like chair structures;

c. a frame having side members mounted on and positioned between said pair of leg members, said frame having a base portion and a back portion, a backrest member secured to said frame back portion, said base portion being below said upper portion of each of said leg members;

d. a cushioned seat mounted on said frame and posi tioned between said frame side members and above said base portion;

e. said chairs being stackable with the outer faces of the front and rear leg portions of one chair being engaged by the inner faces of the front and rear leg portions of a next upper chair and the leg portions of said next upper chair engaging the frame side member of said one chair and the cushioned seat of said one chair being free of engagement by said next upper chair;

f. said front leg portion of each of said leg members is inclined at a selected angle relative to a vertical line; and

g. said back portion of said frame and backrest member are inclined substantially at the same selected angle as said front leg portion of each of said leg members to permit compact vertical stacking.

4. A chair structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

b. said backrest member has a recess in a rear side extending to a lower edge thereof adapted to receive therein the resilient cushion member of a next lower chair structure when stacked vertically with like chair structures.

5. A chair structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

a. said keeper member is mounted on an exterior side of the upper portion of said one leg member and depends therefrom and has a planar inner face substantially parallel with an outer face of said one leg member;

b. said keeper member is engageable with an interior side of the upper portion of said opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure of a gang of like chair structures; and

c. said opposite leg member of the adjacent chair en gaging the base portion of the frame of the chair having said one leg member whereby such engagement cooperates with the engagement of such keeper member with said opposite leg member to hold the ganged chairs against relative horizontal movement.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT N0. 3,827,749

DATED August 6, 1974 INVENTOMS) Vern Johnson and Bobbie L. Snyder It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, lines' 38 and 39, delete "leg chair structure with right leg member 2 of one chair structure nesting" and insert -frame;

Signed and Scaled this Second Day Of October 1984 [SEAL] Arrest:

GERA LD J. MOSSINGHOFF Attesting Officer Commissioner of Parents and Trademarks

Claims

1. A stacking chair structure comprising: a. a chair leg chair structure with the right leg member 2 of one chair structure nesting b. a pair of spaced front and rear legs on each side of said frame and having upper portions, said front and rear legs diverging downwardly from said upper portions, said front and rear legs having opposed inner and outer faces, said front leg of each of said pair being inclined at a selected angle relative to a vertical line; c. said frame being mounted on said pairs of legs and having a base portion and a back portion and positioned laterally inwardly of said pairs of legs, said base portion being below said upper portion of each of said pair of legs, a backrest member secured to said back portion of the frame, said back portion being at a selected angle relative to said front leg of each of said pair of legs to provide substantially equal stacking height and permit compact vertical stacking; d. a seat mounted on said frame and positioned above said base portion; e. said chairs being stackable in a substantially vertical stack and said pairs of legs being sized whereby when stacked, upper chairs are supported by the outer faces of the front and rear legs of a chair being engaged by inner faces of the next upper chair and the seats and the upper portions of the pairs of legs of the chair are spaced from the seat and upper portion of the pairs of legs of the next upper chair.

2. A chair structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said backrest member has a resilient cushion member mounted on a front side thereof; and b. said backrest member has a recess in a raear side and extending to a lower edge thereof adapted to receive therein the resilient cushion member of a next lower chair structure when stacked vertically with like chair structures.

3. A stacking ganging chair structure comprising: a. a pair of laterally spaced leg members each having an upper portion and a front and rear leg portion depending therefrom, said front and rear leg portions having opposed inner and outer faces, each of said leg members being adapted to nest in engagement with an opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure to permit ganging of a plurality of like chair structures; b. a keeper member mounted on one leg member and adapted to engage said opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure of a gang of like chair structures; c. a frame having side members mounted on and positioned between said pair of leg members, said frame having a base portion and a back portion, a backrest member secured to said frame back portion, said base portion being below said upper portion of each of said leg members; d. a cushioned seat mounted on said frame and positioned between said frame side members and above said base portion; e. said chairs being stackable with the outer faces of the front and rear leg porTions of one chair being engaged by the inner faces of the front and rear leg portions of a next upper chair and the leg portions of said next upper chair engaging the frame side member of said one chair and the cushioned seat of said one chair being free of engagement by said next upper chair; f. said front leg portion of each of said leg members is inclined at a selected angle relative to a vertical line; and g. said back portion of said frame and backrest member are inclined substantially at the same selected angle as said front leg portion of each of said leg members to permit compact vertical stacking.

4. A chair structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said backrest member has a resilient cushion member mounted on a front side thereof; and b. said backrest member has a recess in a rear side extending to a lower edge thereof adapted to receive therein the resilient cushion member of a next lower chair structure when stacked vertically with like chair structures.

5. A chair structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said keeper member is mounted on an exterior side of the upper portion of said one leg member and depends therefrom and has a planar inner face substantially parallel with an outer face of said one leg member; b. said keeper member is engageable with an interior side of the upper portion of said opposite leg member of an adjacent chair structure of a gang of like chair structures; and c. said opposite leg member of the adjacent chair engaging the base portion of the frame of the chair having said one leg member whereby such engagement cooperates with the engagement of such keeper member with said opposite leg member to hold the ganged chairs against relative horizontal movement.