Chair
A chair comprises a seat portion for enabling a user to sit on the chair and support means for supporting the seat portion. The seat portion is movable between a plurality of different height positions on the support means, and includes locking means adapted for engagement with and disengagement from the support means at each height position, by rocking the seat portion relative to the support means, wherein the seat portion is locked relative to the support means when the locking means is in the engaged position and free to move relative to the support means between different height positions when the locking means is disengaged.
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The present invention relates to a chair or other such object for supporting a user in a seated position.
In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis placed on the ergonomics of furniture, in particular for use in office and school environments. For example, it is common for office furniture such as chairs to be adapted for users having different height requirements.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved chair, which can be adapted for users having different height requirements.
According to the present invention, there is provided a chair comprising a seat portion for enabling a user to sit on the chair; support means for supporting the seat portion; characterised in that the seat portion is movable between a plurality of different height positions on the support means, and in which the seat portion includes locking means adapted for engagement with and disengagement from the support means at each height position, by rocking the seat portion relative to the support means, wherein the seat portion is locked relative to the support means when the locking means is in the engaged position and free to move relative to the support means between different height positions when the locking means is disengaged.
Preferably, the support means includes a plurality of locating formations spaced apart from one another, the locating formations corresponding generally to the different height positions for the seat portion on the support means and being adapted to co-operate with the locking means for locking the seat portion at a selected height position.
Preferably, in which the seat portion includes sleeve means adapted for receiving a portion of the support means for enabling the seat portion to be raised or lowered on said portion of the support means.
Conveniently, the sleeve means are configured for rocking movement relative to said portion of the support means.
Preferably, the locking means are provided on the sleeve means, and may be arranged for movement with the sleeve means.
Preferably, the locking means comprises pin means.
In a preferred embodiment, the support means defines a pair of legs, each leg including a plurality of spaced apart apertures along apportion of the leg, the position of the apertures generally corresponding to the different height positions for the seat portion on the support means and being adapted to co-operate with the locking means for locking the seat portion at a selected height position.
Conveniently, a pair of sleeve formations is provided spaced apart from one another on the seat portion, with the legs of the support means arranged to extend through the respective sleeve formations.
Preferably, the seat portion is arranged between the sleeve formations.
Preferably, the support means is generally S-shaped when viewed from the side, and may be adapted for nestling with a plurality of said support means.
Other preferred features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description and the dependent claims.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
Sleeve-type formations 16 are provided on either side of the seat portion 12, as can be seen in
As can be seen clearly in
Looking now at
As with the chair shown in
As will be described in more detail below, the seat portion 12 is movable between different height positions relative to the frame 14.
Referring to
The sleeve formation 16 includes a substantially conical shaft having a bore 20 defining an effective front surface 22 and an effective rear surface 24. A locking pin 26 is provided adjacent the lower end of the front surface 22. The locking pin 26 is rigidly connected to the sleeve formation 16 for movement therewith.
As can be seen, apertures 28 are provided in a spaced apart relationship along an upper portion of each leg 18, four of which are shown in
In
In this engaged position, a user can sit on the seat portion 12 of the chair 10. The sleeve formations 16 and seat portion 12 are arranged so that, with a user sat on the seat portion 12, the direction of the load on the chair 10 acts to impart a rotational force on the lower end of the sleeve formation 16, anti-clockwise as shown in
If a user wishes to raise the seat portion 12 to a different height position, the user must first lift the front end of the seat portion 12, indicated at 32 in
To re-locate the seat portion 12 in a locked position on the frame 14, the front 32 of the seat portion 12 is rotated anti-clockwise as viewed in
The above described forward and backward rotational movement of the front portion of the chair 10 essentially causes a rocking movement of the lower end of the sleeve formations 16 and the locking pins 26. Hence, it will be understood that the seat portion 12 is arranged for rocking engagement with the frame 14, via the locking pins 26, at each height position, for selectively locking the seat portion 12 at a desired height position.
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A chair which comprises:
- a seat portion for enabling a user to sit on the chair;
- support means having a plurality of locating formations spaced apart from one another for supporting the seat portion;
- in which the seat portion is movable between a plurality of different height positions corresponding to the locating means on the support means; the seat portion includes locking means adapted for engagement with and disengagement from the locating means of the support means by rocking the seat portion relative to the support means, wherein the locating means and locking means co-operate to locate the seat portion at a selected height position and the seat portion is locked relative to the support means when the locking means is in the engaged position and free to move relative to the support means between different height positions when the locking means is disengaged.
15. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the seat portion includes sleeve means adapted for receiving a portion of the support means for enabling the seat portion to be raised or lowered on said portion of the support means.
16. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the sleeve means are configured for rocking movement relative to said portion of the support means.
17. A chair as claimed in claim 15, in which the locking means are provided on the sleeve means.
18. A chair as claimed in claim 4, in which the locking means are arranged for movement with the sleeve means.
19. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the locking means comprises pin means.
20. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the support means defines a pair of legs, each leg including a plurality of spaced apart apertures along a portion of the leg, the position of the apertures generally corresponding to the different height positions for the seat portion on the support means and being adapted to co-operate with the locking means for locking the seat portion at a selected height portion.
21. A chair as claimed in claim 20, in which a pair of sleeve formations is provided spaced apart from one another on the seat portion, with the legs of the support means arranged to extend through the respective sleeve formations.
22. A chair as claimed in claim 21, in which the seat portion is arranged between the sleeve formations.
23. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the support means is generally S-shaped when viewed from the side.
24. A chair as claimed in claim 14, in which the support means is adapted for nestling with a plurality of said support means.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 14, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 12, 2008
Applicant: Anthony Hill Designs Limited (Leicestershire)
Inventors: Anthony Edwin Hill (Leicestershire), Kenneth Paul Poberezny (Leicestershire), Bruce Renfrew (Leicester)
Application Number: 11/632,579
International Classification: A47C 3/28 (20060101);