GANGING DEVICE FOR CHAIR
A ganging system for a chair includes a first support interconnected with the chair adjacent the first side of the chair and a first ganging member slidably supported by the support. The first ganging member has a retracted position, a fully extended position, and at least one intermediate partially extended position. A second support is interconnected with the chair adjacent the second side of the chair and a second ganging member is supported by the second support. The ganging members have ganging features that interconnect with the ganging feature of a like chair so as to interconnect the chairs.
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This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/733,638, filed Dec. 5, 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a ganging device for chairs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBanquet halls, convention halls, and auditoriums often use individual chairs to provide seating, with the chairs being rearranged depending on the type of event. When the chairs are arranged in rows, it is sometimes desirable to interlock the chairs into rows. This may be referred to as “ganging” the chairs. For this purpose, some chairs include ganging devices or ganger brackets for interlocking each chair with its immediately adjacent neighboring chair or chairs. These ganging devices typically take the form of some type of hook that extends from one side of the chair and a corresponding engagement opening on the opposite side of the chair. When two chairs with compatible ganging devices are arranged side by side, they may be interlocked by the hook portion of one ganging device engaging the opening in the corresponding ganging device of its neighboring chair.
While ganging devices are useful when chairs are arranged into rows, it may also be desirable to use the chairs without the ganging devices. For this purpose, it is desirable to have ganging devices that may be retracted when not in use.
When chairs are ganged into rows, the ganging devices typically place the chairs at a fixed distance relative to one another. Depending on the event, it may be desirable to have the chairs interlocked or ganged very close to one another, to maximize the number of chairs in a given area. For other events, it may be desirable to interlock or gang the chairs with greater spacing, in order to increase the comfort of occupants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a ganging system for a chair of the type having a generally horizontal seat supported by four legs. The chair has a first side and a second side. The ganging system includes a first support interconnected with the chair adjacent the first side of the chair and a first ganging member slidably supported by the support. The first ganging member has a retracted position, a fully extended position, and at least one intermediate partially extended position. The first ganging member extends from the first side of the chair in the partially extended and fully extended positions. A second support is interconnected with the chair adjacent the second side of the chair. A second ganging member is supported by the second support. The first ganging member has a first ganging feature and the second ganging member has a second ganging feature. The first ganging feature is configured to engage the second ganging feature of a like chair so as to interconnect the chair and the like chair.
In certain embodiments, one of the ganging members has an opening defined therein, the opening sized to receive and hold a drinking cup. The ganging member with the opening defined therein may be the first ganging member. A bottom support may be provided, with the bottom support disposed below the opening for supporting a bottom of a drinking cup received in the opening. The bottom support may be pivotally interconnected with the ganging member.
In certain embodiments, the first ganging member has at least one detent defined therein and a spring-loaded detent element is provided that engages the detent in the first ganging member when the ganging member is in the partially extended position so as to retain the first ganging member in the partially extended position.
In certain embodiments, the second ganging member is slidably supported by the second support and has a retracted position and an extended position.
In certain embodiments, one of the ganging features is a tab and the other of the ganging features is a slot for receiving the tab of a like chair. In some versions, the slot is a generally horizontal slot and the tab extends downwardly.
The present invention also provides a ganging system that includes a ganging member interconnected with one of the sides of a chair. The ganging member has a ganging feature for engaging a ganging feature of another ganging member and the ganging member has a drink holder defined therein for receiving a drinking cup. In some versions, the drink holder includes a generally circular opening in the ganging member. A bottom support may be provided below the opening for supporting a bottom of a drinking cup received in the opening.
The present invention provides ganging devices for use with chairs wherein it is desirable to interconnect like chairs in a side-by-side row. Referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the first ganging member 14 has a plurality of positions. These include a fully retracted non-use or storage position wherein the ganging member is mostly hidden. The ganging member is placed in this fully retracted position when the chair is not ganged into a row. The ganging member 14 also has a fully extended position, as shown in
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the ganging member 14 has a pair of slots 54 and 56 extending parallel to one another and parallel to side edges 58 and 60 of the ganging member 14. The side edges 58 and 60 extend between the outer end 36 and an inner end 62 of the ganging device. Pins 62 and 64 engage the slots and act as travel limits for the ganging member 14. In some embodiments, the ganging device 14 may be slid to any position between the fully retracted and fully extended positions and used in any position. However, in preferred embodiments, a detent system is provided for retaining the ganging device in the intermediate positions. For this purpose, recesses 68 and 70 are provided in the side surfaces 58 and 60. Spring loaded detent elements 72 and 74 engage these recesses 68 and 70 when the ganging member is in the first intermediate position and second intermediate position, respectively. This feature helps a user to locate all ganging devices of a row of chairs in the same position so as to provide consistent spacing. The ganging member 14 may be moved to a different position by applying sufficient force to the ganging member to overcome the resistance of the spring loaded detent members 72 and 74.
As best shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
In this embodiment, the ganging feature of the ganging member 114 takes the form of a tab 139 that extends generally perpendicularly downwardly from the remainder of the ganging member 114.
Referring now to
Referring now to
As will be clear to those of skill in the art, the herein described embodiments of the present invention may be altered in various ways without departing from the scope or teaching of the present invention. As such, this disclosure should be interpreted broadly. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A ganging system for a chair of the type having a generally horizontal seat supported by four legs, the chair having a first side and a second side, the ganging system comprising:
- a first support interconnected with the chair adjacent the first side of the chair;
- a first ganging member slidably supported by the support, the first ganging member having a retracted position, a fully extended position and at least one intermediate partially extended position, the first ganging member extending from the first side of the chair in the partially extended and fully extended positions;
- a second support interconnected with the chair adjacent the second side of the chair; and
- a second ganging member supported by the second support;
- wherein the first ganging member has a first ganging feature and the second ganging member has a second ganging feature, the first ganging feature configured to engage the second ganging feature of a like chair so as to interconnect the chair and the like chair.
2. A ganging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
- one of the ganging members has an opening defined therein, the opening sized to receive and hold a drinking cup.
3. A ganging system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:
- the ganging member with the opening defined therein is the first ganging member.
4. A ganging system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:
- a bottom support disposed below the opening for supporting a bottom of a drinking cup received in the opening.
5. A ganging system in accordance with claim 4, wherein:
- the bottom support is pivotally interconnected with the ganging member.
6. A ganging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
- the first ganging member has at least one detent defined therein; and
- a spring loaded detent element engaging the detent in the first ganging member when the ganging member is in the partially extended position so as to retain the first ganging member in the partially extended position.
7. A ganging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
- the second ganging member is slidably supported by the second support, the second ganging member having a retracted position and an extended position.
8. A ganging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
- one of the ganging features is a tab and the other of the ganging features is a slot for receiving the tab of a like chair.
9. A ganging system in accordance with claim 8, wherein:
- the slot is a generally horizontal slot and the tab extends downwardly.
10. A ganging system for a chair of the type having a generally horizontal seat supported by four legs, the chair having a first side and a second side, the ganging device comprising:
- a ganging member interconnected with one of the sides of the chair, the ganging member having a ganging feature for engaging a ganging feature of another ganging member, the ganging member having a drink holder defined therein for receiving a drinking cup.
11. A ganging system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:
- the drink holder includes a generally circular opening in the ganging member.
12. A ganging system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:
- a bottom support disposed below the opening for supporting a bottom of a drinking cup received in the opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 5, 2013
Publication Date: Jun 5, 2014
Applicant: Michigan Tube Swagers & Fabricators, Inc. (Temperance, MI)
Inventor: Joshua Paul Swy (Lambertville, MI)
Application Number: 14/098,029
International Classification: A47C 1/124 (20060101); A47C 7/62 (20060101);