Abstract:
A knockdown furniture, such as a chair, comprises a series of elongated tubular members adapted to be interconnected with quick release automatically locking couplings to form a frame of the furniture. A canvas panel having end sleeves can be mounted to the frame to provide a support surface, such as a seat panel, of the furniture. Pockets are provided on one side of the support panel, such as the underside of the seat panel, in order to receive the individual tubular members when the furniture is disassembled. A zipper which is provided at opposed end edges of the support panel is used to form a sleeve therewith which contains the pockets and thus the tubular members, thereby resulting in a compact storage of the dismantled furniture.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to knockdown furniture and, more particularly, to improvements in the assembly and storage thereof. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Knockdown furniture articles such as chairs are well known in the art. Indeed, various constructions have been proposed to form a chair from elongated tubular members which are joined together by coupling devices such as elbows and T&#39;s to form the frame of the chair, with one or more canvas panels having end sleeves being engaged to the frame to provide a seat and a back rest. When dismantled, the knockdown furniture constitutes a large number of separate parts which are cumbersome to carry and to store. Some solutions have been proposed to regroup those loose parts in a single container in view of overcoming the above problem. 
     For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,742,956, issued on Apr. 24, 1956 to Cannata, discloses a knockdown chair including a series of tubular members of different diameters which form the frame of the chair. A hollow head is provided at the top end of the largest tubular member through which the remaining tubular members can be slidably inserted one inside the other. The flexible seat and back rest are rolled and disposed within the smallest tubular member. The fittings, which include elbows and T&#39;s, and the mounting pins therefor are placed in bulk in the hollow head. A closure is threadably engaged at the top of the hollow head to close the formed container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,436, issued on Nov. 15, 1988 to Sutherland, discloses a knockdown chair and a cylindrical bag for storing the dismantled chair. The cylindrical bag has no function when the chair is in use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,564,915, issued on Aug. 21, 1951 to Nelson discloses various couplings for joining telescoping male and female portions of the tubular members which form the knockdown chair. Proposed are spring mounted pins and balls which are adapted to engage registered bores. Friction rings are also disclosed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a knockdown furniture which, when dismantled, is easy to carry and store. 
     It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a knockdown furniture in which a flexible support panel, such as a seat or a back rest, of the assembled furniture is also used to carry the various parts thereof, when dismantled. 
     It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a knockdown furniture having improved quick release couplings for mounting the various parts thereof one to the other. 
     A construction in accordance with the present invention comprises a knockdown furniture including a series of elongated members adapted to be slidably interconnected for forming a frame of the furniture. A flexible panel means is adapted to be mounted to the frame in order to form a support means of the furniture. The flexible panel means is adapted to be joined at two opposed end sections thereof for forming a sleeve. The sleeve forms a pocket means which is adapted to receive the elongated members. 
     In another construction in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a knockdown furniture which comprises a series of elongated members adapted to be interconnected in order to form a frame of the furniture. A flexible panel means is adapted to be mounted to the frame for forming a support means of the furniture. Connecting means are provided at two opposed end sections of the flexible panel means. Therefore, in a storage position, the end sections are joined one to the other by the connecting means to form a pouch means for receiving the elongated members. 
     In a more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, a pocket means provided on a side of the flexible panel means between the end sections is adapted in the storage position to be located within the pouch means for receiving at least some of the elongated members. 
     In a more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, at least some of the elongated members, in the storage position, are disposed in the pocket means with a remainder thereof, if any, being maintained in the pouch means by pressure exerted by the flexible panel means. 
     In a still more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, the connecting means comprises a zipper. 
     In a still more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, the pocket means comprises a plurality of similar parallel pockets positioned side by side on the side of the flexible panel means. In a particular construction, the pockets are detachably mounted to the flexible panel means by way, for instance, of &#34;Velcro&#34; type connectors. 
     In a still further construction in accordance with the present invention, the flexible panel means forms parallel sleeves along two opposed ends thereof. The sleeves are slidable over a pair of elongated members in order to mount the flexible panel means to the frame. 
     In a still more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, the elongated members and the flexible panel means are respectively made of a plastics and a canvas-like material. 
     In a more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, the elongated members are cylindrical. Some of the cylindrical members include projecting male terminal portions adapted to engage quick release coupling devices provided at ends of cooperating cylindrical members for slidably assembling the frame. 
     In a still more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, the male terminal portions are provided with a circumferential radially extending annular rib. The ends of the cooperating cylindrical members comprise female terminal portions slidable over the male terminal portions. The coupling devices include spring biased locking sleeves disposed around the female terminal portions, resilient means provided between the locking sleeves and the female terminal portions with the resilient means engaging slot means defined in the female terminal portions. The locking sleeves are displaceable between disengagement and locking positions. In the locking position, the locking sleeve prevents an outward radial displacement of the resilient means with the resilient means extending through the slot means towards the male terminal portion in order to cooperate with the rib to prevent the male and female terminal portions from being disengaged. In the disengagement position, the locking sleeve is retracted to permit a radial outward displacement of the resilient means away from the male terminal portion thereby providing clearance for the rib and thus allowing the male and female terminal portions to be slidably disengaged. 
     In a still more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, the frame is adapted to form a chair with the flexible panel means forming a seat thereof. A further flexible panel means being adapted to be mounted to the frame for forming a back rest of the chair. 
     Another construction in accordance with the present invention provides a knockdown furniture, wherein the assembly includes the package in the form of a flexible container means forming a pouch means. A series of elongated members within the container means are adapted to be interconnected for forming a frame. The container means is adapted to be mounted to the frame for forming a support means of the furniture. 
     In a more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, the pouch means is formed from a flexible panel means which, in a storage position, is joined at two opposed end sections thereof with disengageable cooperating connecting means being provided thereat. The flexible panel means is adapted to be mounted to the frame when the end sections are disengaged. 
     In a still more specific construction in accordance with the present invention, at least one pocket means is provided on a side of the flexible panel means within the pouch means for receiving at least some of the elongated members with a remainder, if any, of the elongated members being disposed in the pouch means exteriorly of the pocket means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings showing by way of illustration only a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a knockdown chair in an assembled state thereof in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2a is a plan view showing the underside of the seat panel of the chair of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmented plan view similar to FIG. 2a but showing the frame sections of the dismantled chair inserted in the pockets of the seat panel, and showing the back panel overlying the seat panel; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevation of the dismantled chair of FIG. 2 in a storage position; 
     FIG. 4 is an axial cross-section of a coupling in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4 of the coupling; and 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 1 of a lower leg of the chair. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a knockdown chair C in its assembled state in accordance with the present invention. The assembled chair C includes a frame F and fabric seat and back panels S and B, respectively, which are mounted thereto. 
     Generally, the frame F is made up of a series of elongated tubular members which are interconnectable by way of quick release couplings which will be described in details hereinafter. 
     More particularly, the frame F includes two identical vertical front tubular members 10a and 10b and two identical vertical rear tubular members 12a and 12b. The front and rear tubular members 10a, 10b, 12a and 12b are joined at first, second and third horizontal levels 14, 16 and 18, respectively, by identical tubular members, as described hereinbelow. 
     The first and second horizontal levels 14 and 16 each includes four tubular members 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d, and 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d, respectively. The third horizontal level 18 includes three tubular members 18a, 18b and 18c. The horizontal tubular members having the suffix &#34;a&#34; or &#34;c&#34; are side members, whereas the horizontal tubular members having the suffix &#34;b&#34; and &#34;d&#34; are respectively rear and front members, as best seen in FIG. 1. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the front vertical tubular members 10a and 10b each includes a respective upper elbow 20a and 20b, a respective pair of horizontal perpendicular middle side arms 22a and 24a and 22b and 24b, and a respective pair of horizontal perpendicular lower side arms 26a and 28a and 26b and 28b. 
     The rear vertical tubular members 12a and 12b each include a respective pair of horizontal perpendicular upper side arms 30a and 32a and 30b and 32b, a respective pair of horizontal perpendicular middle side arms 34a and 36a and 34b and 36b, and a respective pair of horizontal perpendicular lower side arms 38a and 40a and 38b and 40b. 
     Each of the above upper front elbows 20a and 20b, upper rear side arms 30a, 30b, 32a and 32b, middle front side arms 22a, 22b, 24a and 24b, middle rear side arms 34a, 34b, 36a and 36b, lower front side arms 26a, 26b, 28a and 28b, and lower rear side arms 38a, 38b, 40a and 40b each project an identical tubular male terminal portion 42, as described in details hereinafter. 
     Identical tubular male terminal portions 42 also project vertically upwards from the top ends of the rear vertical tubular members 12a and 12b, as seen in FIG. 2, and downwards from the lower ends of the front and rear vertical tubular members 10a, 10b, 12a and 12b. 
     As best seen in FIG. 1, the frame F is completed with two upper vertical tubular members 44a and 44b which basically constitute upward extensions of the rear vertical tubular members 12a and 12b, respectively. Also, four lower vertical tubular members 46a, 46b, 48a and 48b extend respectively downwards from the front and rear vertical tubular members 10a, 10b, 12a and 12b. 
     These upper and lower vertical tubular members 44a, 44b, 46a, 46b, 48a and 48b are of equal length and each include at one end a tapered tubular female terminal portion slidable over a respective one of the male terminal portions 42. The horizontal tubular members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 18a, 18b and 18c are also of equal length but are twice as long as the previous upper and lower tubular members 44a, 44b, 46a, 46b, 48a and 48b. The horizontal tubular members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 18a, 18b and 18c are each provided at both their ends with a tubular tapered female terminal portion slidable over the male terminal portions 42. Each of the female terminal portions of the tubular members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 18a, 18b, 18c, 44a, 44b, 46a, 46b, 48a and 48b includes a retractable locking sleeve 66 which constitutes a coupling between each corresponding male and female terminal portions, and which will be described in details hereinbelow. 
     The back panel B defines a pair of sewn end sleeves 50a and 50b which, in the assembled state of the chair C of FIG. 1, are slidably engaged over the upper vertical tubular members 44a and 44b. Similarly, the seat panel S also defines a pair of sewn end sleeves 52a and 52b which are slidably engaged on the horizontal tubular members 16b and 16d of the third horizontal level 16 of the frame F. 
     FIGS. 2a, 2 and 3 illustrate various stages of the chair C in its dismantled state. FIG. 2a shows an underside 54 of the seat panel S provided with four similar pockets 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d which are disposed side by side and which extend between the seat sleeves 52a and 52b at right angles thereto. Side edges 58a and 58b of the seat panel S which are parallel to the pockets 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d are provided with complementary cooperating zipper portions 60a and 60b for forming a zipper 60. 
     Now referring to FIG. 2, each one of the four pockets 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d can accommodate a respective one of the front and rear vertical tubular members 10a, 10b, 12a and 12b. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, each one of the pockets 56b, 56c and 56d accommodates three tubular members of the eleven horizontal tubular members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 18a, 18b and 18c, whereas the pocket 56a receives the remaining two horizontal members and also the two upper vertical tubular members 44a and 44b which are disposed coaxially therein. The back panel B is positioned to overlie the seat panel S. 
     As seen in FIG. 3, the seat panel S can be wrapped to form a sleeve or a pouch enclosing the pockets 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d and their respective tubular members and secured in that position by way of the zipper 60. The remaining four members, that is the four lower vertical tubular members 46a, 46b,  48a and 48b, are aligned two by two and maintained in the middle of the formed sleeve and, more particularly, in the cavity 62 formed between the pockets. The back panel B is also to be contained in the cavity 62. 
     The pockets 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d although they can be sewn or mounted with buttons or snaps to the seat panel S are detachably mounted thereto in the illustrated embodiment by way of a fastening material 64 such as &#34;VELCRO&#34;] (Registered Trademark). 
     As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, both ends of the horizontal tubular members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 18a, 18b and 18c and appropriate single ends of short vertical upper and lower tubular members 44a, 44b, 46a, 46b, 48a and 48b define female terminal portions provided with the aforementioned identical disengageable locking sleeves 66. Other ends of the tubular members 44a, 44b, 46a, 46b, 48a and 48b are provided with end caps 68 (see FIGS. 1 and 6). 
     Each combination of a male terminal portion 42 and a locking sleeve 66 constitutes a quick release coupling for detachably securing the various above tubular members one to the other to form the assembled chair C of FIG. 1. A typical connection of the male and female terminal portions with a sleeve 66 of, for example, the middle side arm 24b of the front vertical tubular member 10b with the middle horizontal tubular member 16c is illustrated in details in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     The male terminal portion 42 defines an annular rib 70. The locking sleeve 66 is disposed around the end of the tubular member 16c which defines a circumferential recess 72 having a radial wall 74 and a sloped wall 76. The tubular member 16c includes a flange 78 near its end. 
     The locking sleeve 66 includes four identical nose portions 80 which project radially inwardly therefrom. Each nose portion 80 has a (sloped wall 82 and a radial wall 84. A washer 86 projects radially inwards from the locking sleeve 66. A coil spring 88 is disposed transversely between the tubular member 16c and the locking sleeve 66, and longitudinally between the flange 78 and the washer 86. 
     Four identical spring clips 90 are disposed in respective slots 92 defined in the end of the tubular member 16c. Each spring clip 90 which has an outward plane surface in abutment with the plane surface of the nose portion 80 is held laterally in place by pairs of spaced apart parallel flanges 94 disposed on each side thereof, as best seen in FIG. 5. 
     Therefore, when the locking sleeve 66 is in its position shown in full lines on FIG. 4, the spring clips 90 remain engaged in the slots 92 by way of the nose portions 80 which prevent any outward movement thereof, whereby the spring clips 90 contact the male terminal portion 42 with the rib 70 thereof preventing the male and female terminal portions from being slidably disengaged. The coil spring 88 biases the locking sleeve 66 in its longitudinally forward locking position. 
     To separate the male and female terminal portions and thus the tubular members 16c and 10b, the locking sleeve 66 is displaced rearward along arrows 96 against the coil spring 88, thereby allowing the spring clips 90 to displace radially outwards as they slide along the sloped walls 82 of the locking sleeve 66 as shown by arrows 98 and the phantom lines of FIG. 4. Upon reaching the surfaces 100 of the locking sleeve 66, the spring clips 90 cease to prevent the sliding movement of the rib 70 of the male terminal portion 42 along the inside of the end of the tubular member 16c, whereby the male and female terminal portions can be separated (see arrow 102). 
     It is easily understood from the above that quick release couplings allow for easy assembly and dismantling of the present knockdown chair C. All of the elbows, side arms and couplings are integral to a main tubular member, thereby eliminating any small loose parts. The tubular members can all be enclosed in the pouch or sleeve formed by the seat panel S (see FIG. 3) and in the pockets 66a, 66b, 66c and 66d provided therein. Therefore, when the chair C is assembled, there is no separate storage bag to put aside. The above construction provides for a quick assembly, compact and easy storage of a knockdown furniture. This construction is very useful for articles which are not always in use and need to be stored or transported (e.g. camping furniture, summer furniture). 
     In a further construction embodying the present invention, but which is not herein illustrated, one of the flexible seat or back panels forms a pouch closed along three of its sides. The pouch can be slid over the appropriate elongated members of the frame which results in the supporting panel having two spaced apart plies. In the dismantled state of the furniture, all of the elongated members and the remaining flexible support panel can be introduced in the flexible panel forming this pouch. 
     Other than a chair C, the present invention can be used to produce beds, lawn chairs, wheel chairs, cribs, emergency beds, tables (in which case the extended fabric panel can be used as a support surface), etc.