MEANS FOR CONNECTING FURNITURE COMPONENTS

Abstract: Means for connecting separate components, particularly furniture components, comprising at least one fitting (A), attached to a first component, and formed with a circular recess (201) having a slit shaped opening (202) with a width converging in a direction away from the circular recess (201). Moreover, the means comprises a flexible liner piece (C) having a central part (208) with an external shape corresponding to the internal shape of the recess and opening (201, 202). The liner piece (C) has a recess (205, 206) that on both sides is provided with small projections (204a, 204b), and the liner piece (C) is located in engagement in recess (201, 202) of the fitting (A). A corresponding counterpart fitting (B), having a circular cross-section, attached to a second component. During the connection procedure the liner piece (C) in fitting (A) with its slit shaped recess (206) can be guided over the circular fitting (B) to establish a releasably locking engagement with same.

Description: Means for connecting furniture components. The present invention concerns means for connecting separate components, particularly furniture components such as the seat and back in chairs, drop-leaf tables and the like, as stated in the introductory of patent claim 1. Assembly of furniture components is for the moment usually carried out in the factory because the connecting means, usually bolts or screws with nuts, causes difficulties for the customer when assembling at home. As a consequence, the chair occupies an unneccesarily large volume during transportation from the factory to the customer, with accompanying transportation costs compared with transportation and storage of individual components in a compressed transportation unit. The main object of the present invention is thus to provide a connecting means that makes it possible to deliver the individual components of chairs and tables separately, and arranges a simple mounting of the components by the customer. Moreover, another object is to provide a universal connecting means for connecting separate components that provides a proper locking effect. These objects are fulfilled as stated in the characterizing part of patent claim 1. Further details appear from the independent claims 2-8. In the following, the invention is described for connecting chair backs and chair seats, but a person skilled in the art would readily be able to apply the principle to e.g. drop-leaf tables for wall mounting, common tables with attached drop-leaf, or for attaching for example the interior in automobiles. The basic principle of the present invention is that the first component, e.g. a chair back, is provided with fittings in the area where the back mounts with the seat, said fittings extending substantially parallel with the main plane of the back. The fitting is provided with a circular recess having a substantially slit shaped opening converging in a direction away from the circular recess. In this recess, a resilient liner is located, the external shape of which corresponds to the shape of the recess and the opening in the fitting. Further, the liner is formed with a circular recess and a slit shaped opening that generally merges with the recess and the opening in the fitting. Ribs or projections are provided, preferably integrally with both sides of the slit shaped opening in the liner in a position adjacent to the circular recess. Likewise, the seat is provided with oppositely arranged fittings located at its rearward edge adjacent the chair back, e.g. hoop shaped fittings. The seat fitting has a substantially circular cross section. During mounting, the liner pieces of the back's fittings are guided, with its substantially slit shaped opening downwards over the opposed seat fittings, so that when the circular recesses in the liner pieces are in engagement with the seat fittings, the back can be pivoted around the seat fittings to the desired position. Because of the ribs or the projections, the seat and the back are in engagement since the circular hoop in the seat is fixedly locked or in engagement in the circular recess in the chair seat fittings (liner piece) and locked by the externally located opposite projections. In this way, the chair back can be pivoted freely relative to the seat but the same time as the chair seat and chair back are arranged in a locking engagement. If one tries to pull the seat fittings out of the engagement with the liner piece, the projections in the liner piece will simultaneously cause the liner piece to be pulled a certain distance out of the circular shaped recess in the chair back fittings, but due to the converging opening in the chair back fittings the liner piece will be prevented from disengagement. To permit the different components to be separated, the components must either be mututally twisted or the liner piece must be pressed into the circular shaped recess of the back fittings simultaneously with pulling the chair seat fittings out of the liner piece. The invention is in the following described in further detail with reference to drawings. In the drawings, identical numeral references have been used as far as possible to identify identical components, in which Figure 1 illustrates a chair in cross section in side view, Figure lb illustrates one example of the present invention where the chair back and chair seat are in engagement with each other, whereby the respective components can be pivoted around the longitudinal extension of the conneting zone ( (dotted line), Figure 2a illustrates the back fittings in side view, Figure 2b illustrates a section of the liner piece for mounting in the back fittings, taken on the line π-H in Figure 2c, Figure 2c illustrates the liner piece in side view, Figure 2d is an enlarged illustration of a detail from Figure 2b, Figure 3a is a cross section of the seat fittings, and Figure 3b illustrates the seat fittings from above. Figure la illustrates in side view an ordinary chair 100 comprising a seat 101 and 5 back 102. Figure lb is a perspective illustration of a section of the chair 100 comprising the rearward supporting structure of seat 101 and lower supporting construction of back 102. As illustrated, the back 102 is provided with two fittings 103a and 103b (hereinafter also denoted as type A), in engagement with respective oppositely located fittings 104a and 104b (hereinafter also denoted as type B) located 10 at the rear end of the seat 101. As illustrated in Figure 1, the position of the back after connection, is shown with dotted lines. Figure 2a shows the back fittings 203a/203b alternatively A, which has at its distal end a circular recess 201 having a diameter b l5 from which extends in a substantially slit shaped opening 202 that converges in a direction away from the circular recess 15 201. The back fittings 203a/203b can in its longitudinal extension exhibit a circular cross section or a substantially square cross section. In a preferred embodiment, fitting A is plate shaped. However, for connection with the mounting of the seat and back in a chair, it is preferred that the sideways extension of the fittings, viewed in a side section of the back's main plane, is as short as possible; i.e. that the fittings is 0 formed as a plate, which main plane is oriented perpendicular to the back's main plane. Figure 2b, 2c and 2d illustrate a resilient liner piece C comprising a central part or zone 208 having an external shape that is complementary to the shape of recess 201 and the accompanying opening 202. The central part 208 of the liner piece C has a 5 radial dimension (at the circular segment shaped section) bj that is greater than the smallest width of opening 202. Accordingly, liner piece C must be pressed somewhat together to place it in the recess 201/202. The resilient liner piece C thus loc ngly engages in recess 201/202 of fitting A. The liner piece C is further formed with a circular shaped recess 205 with a slit 0 shaped opening 206 which after mounting in fitting A substantially merges with the opening 202 in the latter. By the term "substantially merges with" it is meant that the respective recesses and openings have a major direction that coalesce, and does not mean that they are of corresponding shape. Moreover, the slit shaped opening 206 is at each side adjacent to the circular recess 205 provided with small projections 204a/204b. In Figure 2b, side surfaces of the liner piece C which form the slit shaped opening 206 are shown as parallel. In a preferred embodiment, the ends of the liner piece, these ends forming this slit shaped opening, are formed mutually divergent in a direction away from the circular recess 205, so that the width of the slit shaped opening 206 increases outwardly from the recess 205. Moreover, the surfaces defining the slit shaped opening 206 are preferably terminated flush with the peripheral end of the projections 204a/204b as viewed toward the center of the opening 206. As illustrated in the enlarged section of the ribs/projections 204a/204b, they preferably tapers in a direction away from the center of the circular recess 205 in the liner piece C, so that the angle between this part of the projections and the surface of the slit shaped opening 206 become as small as possible. On the other hand, the opposite side of the projection is preferably formed with a blunt or steep edge relative to the surface of the slit shaped opening. In this way, the circular shaped fittings B, described in further detail below, can be guided more conveniently over the ribs or projections until the fitting B is in engagement with the liner piece C and is engaged against the blunt or steep edge of the projections. Figure 2c illustrates the liner piece C in a side view and shows the central part 208 having at each side supporting surfaces or flanges 207 extending in an upwards direction from the slit shaped opening and beyond the upper edge of the liner piece C. In this way, the liner piece C is prevented from being pushed sideways and out of engagement with the recess 201 and the opening 202 in the fitting A. However, it is sufficient that the liner piece on each side surface is formed with stops or like projection. Li a preferred embodiment, the central part 208 of the liner piece C is formed with a width that is a little larger than the thickness of a plate shaped fitting A that will accomodate the liner piece, and flanges 207 are formed totally around the lateral surface of the liner piece on both sides of the same, thus establishing a fixture which will be prevented from being twisted out of position during use (Fig. 2c). The corresponding counterpart of the furniture is in a similar way provided with at least one corresponding fitting B having a circular cross section 301 (Fig. 2b,3a,3b), of a diameter which is the same as the inner diameter of the circular recess 205. Fittings B are attached to or are a part of the other component of the furniture which is to be connected to the first component. During mounting, fittings A with their slit shaped recesses 206 and projections 5 204a/204b are guided over the circular fittings B until fittings B are engaged within the circular recess 205 in the corresponding counterpart due to projections 204a/204b. The chair back can then be pivoted around the longitudinal axis of the fittings B, while the respective components still remain a locking engagement. The locking effect is achieved because the circular cross section 301 of fitting B 0 accomodated in the circular recess 205 in fittings C by means of the projections 204a/204b presses the ends of the liner piece C outwardly in opening 206 in fitting A which because they converge in a direction outward of the circular opening 205 results in the liner piece C with fittings B will become wedged in the opening 206 of fitting A if one attempts to pull fitting B out of the liner piece C. Thus fittings A and B can only be disengaged by pressing the liner piece C toward the bottom of the circular recess 205 in fitting A while pulling fittings B directly out and at the same time pulling fittings B directly out of the slit shaped opening 206 in the liner piece C, or alternatively twisting the longitudinal axis of fittings B out of parallelism with respect to the center axis in the circular recess 205 in the liner piece C. In chair constructions that preferably use two parallel fittings in e.g. seat/back, as illustrated in Figure lb, the latter possibility of disengagement will be very difficult, so that a connecting means in accordance with the present invention will establish a very stable locking action during the chair's intended use and which through simple grips/steps can be separated into individual parts. The fittings A and B can, in a manner known per se, be attached to their respective components by e.g. welding, bolts, screws etc., but this mounting should be effected during the construction of the furniture. The present invention can be realized in may different embodiments. For example, the chair and the back fittings may be mirror imageed; the seat fittings can be formed in the rear supporting hoop of the seat, preferably if the latter has a small diameter. The slit shaped opening in the chair back can face in the opposite direction to or e.g. in parallel with the main surface of the seat. Likewise, the respective components in chairs/tables can be provided with more than two fittings to each component, should this be required because of the size or weight of the chair/table. Moreover, the back fittings and liner piece can be formed in one piece, but if so, the fittings must be constructed of a flexible material.

Claims: Claims. 1. Means for providing a locking connection of separate components, particularly furniture components, such as connection of seat and back in chairs, e.g. arm chairs, drop-leaf and tabletop in drop-leaf tables; or hoop to be attached to a wall for mounting of a drop-leaf, comprising at least one element on a first component in engagement with a corresponding element on a second component, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in at least one fitting (A), attached to a first component, formed with an open recess (201,202) converging in a direction outwards, and having a largest width ύ a flexible liner piece (C) having a central part (208) with an external shape being complementary to the circular recess (201) and its opening (202), where the largest width b, of the liner piece (C) is the same as or a little smaller than the width b-. of the circular recess (201), the liner piece (C) being locatable in recess (201,202) and being formed with a circular recess (205) having a slit shaped opening (206) that substantially merges with opening (202) in fitting (A), the slit shaped opening (206) at each side adjacent to the circular recess (205) being provided with small projections (204a,204b); at least one fitting (B) having a circular cross section, which in diameter is the same as or a little smaller than the internal diameter of the recess (205), attached to or provided as a part of a second component to be connected with the first component, the fitting (B) being arranged to be guided into a locking engagement with fitting (A) and the liner piece (C), the locking effect being achieved because the circular cross section (301) of fitting B when accomodated in the circular recess (205) in fitting (A) will by me^s of the projections (204a/204b) press the ends of the liner piece (C) towards the opening (206) which are convergent in a direction outwards from the circular reces*. (205) in fittings (A), so that the fittings (B) and liner piece (C) will wedge in opening (206) in fitting (A) if one attempts to pull the fitting (B) out of the liner piece (C). 2. Means in accordance with claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that fittings (B) is U-shaped and is attached to the first component in such manner that the main plane of the fitting (B) is parallel with the main plane of the second component. 3. Means in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ribs or projections (204a/204b) taper (209) away from the center of the circular recess (205) in the liner piece (C), in such manner that the angle between this part of the projections and the surface of the slit shaped opening (206) become as small as possible. 4. Means in accordance with any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the sides of the liner piece (C) is provided with two flanges (207); one each side of a central part (208). 5. Means in accordance with any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the fittings (A) extend in parallel to the main plane of the component. 6. Means in accordance with any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the slit shaped opening (206) in fitting (A) is directed away from the circular recess (205) perpendicular to the main plane of its accompanying component. 7. Means in accordance with any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the slit shaped opening (206) in the liner piece (C) diverges in a direction away from the circular recess (205) in the liner piece. 8. Means in accordance with any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the fitting (A) and liner piece (C) are formed in one piece.

Inventors: SOENDERLAND LEIF, SOENDERLAND, LEIF
Applicants: SOEDA GALVANO AS
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A47B5
IPC codes: A47B1, A47B5, A47C3, F16B12