Patent Publication Number: US-2002003371-A1

Title: Back of a chair

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates generally to backs for chairs. More particularly, it relates to a back which is composed of a frame with a field enclosed by a material or a material piece.  
       [0002] Chairs, in particular, tubular chairs such as for example steel pipe chairs are provided with a frame in the region of the back. In some embodiments a piece of a material surrounds the back and is held on the back. The material piece forms the self-supporting element of the back.  
       [0003] For mounting of the material piece on the back, various methods are known. For example, it is possible to make openings on edges of the material piece and to connect it with the back by bands which are inserted through the openings. Another possibility is that, the material piece can be formed as a pocket or can be provided with tubular pockets on its edges, and then pulled over the frame of the back, so that the frame is inserted in the pocket of the material piece.  
       [0004] In all proposed solutions there is a problem that the frame and the material piece are produced separately and thereafter must be connected in a simple manner. The connection moreover must be designed so that, the material piece is held reliably on the frame and does not slide. Furthermore, it is desirable that the material piece can be again removed from the frame later on, after the assembly of the chair, in particular the back of the chair. This is desirable for example to exchange a worn material piece for a new material piece.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a back of a chair, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.  
       [0006] More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a back of a chair, which is composed of a frame and a material piece which is held with a frame, and which is formed so that the material piece can be connected in a simple manner with the frame, is held reliably on the frame in its position, and then subsequently can be again released from the frame, for example for replacing with a new material piece.  
       [0007] In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated, in a back of chair, which is composed of a frame and a material piece held by the frame, wherein in accordance with the present invention, the frame is composed of at least two frame pieces which are connectable with one another.  
       [0008] In the inventive back of a chair, the frame is assembled of two frame pieces or two frame halves. The material piece which is supported on the back has for example a circumferential tube-shaped pocket, which preferably is provided with openings at its lower region. The both frame pieces are inserted through the openings in the tube-shaped pocket of the material piece and then connected with one another. The connection of the both frame pieces with one another and/or to the remaining chair can be performed for example via a separate connection piece, through plug connections and the like. When the material piece is stretchable, its size can be designed so that, it applies a pressure on the both frame pieces in the assembled condition on the back and the frame pieces are reliably held with one another. In this case, it suffices to join the frame pieces in form of a plug connection.  
       [0009] The material piece of the back can be composed of different materials, such as for example synthetic plastic, cotton and the like. Moreover, it can be performed by different processes, such as for example knitting, weaving, etc. It is especially advantageous for the use with the inventive frame to provide a material piece in form of a knitted mesh. 
     
    
    
     [0010] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a view showing a frame of a back for a chair, in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a view showing a material piece in form of a mesh for the use with a frame in accordance with the present invention shown in FIG. 1.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0013] A frame of a back for a chair in accordance with the present invention is shown as an example in FIG. 1. The frame  10  has two frame pieces, namely a left frame piece  12  and a right frame piece  14 . The frame pieces for a user are inserted into the material piece which they held, for example the material piece shown in FIG. 2 as will be described hereinbelow, are connected with one another at the connecting locations  16  and  18 .  
     [0014] The connection of the both frame pieces  12  and  14  can be performed in different ways. In the shown embodiment the connection at the upper connection location  16  is performed as a purely plug connection. A pin  20  is provided in the frame piece  12  and is inserted into the corresponding opening  22  provided in the other frame piece  14 . The connection at the lower connecting point  18  is also formed as a plug connection piece. Here two pins  24  engage in two corresponding openings  26 . This connection is secured additionally by a connecting piece  28  which is connected with both frame pieces  12  and  14 , for example by screws.  
     [0015] The frame pieces  12  and  14  can different profiles and forms. It is important that a frame must be formed which is comfortable for a user, has a fine shape, and is stable. Preferably, both frame pieces  12  and  14  have an approximately oval cross-section. The frame pieces  12  and  14  can be produced of various materials, such as for example metal or synthetic plastic.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a material piece  40 , which can be used advantageously with the embodiment of the frame shown in FIG. 2. It is composed of a central part  42  which is supported on the back and formed as a net, and an edge region which is formed as a tube-shaped pocket  44 . The frame pieces  12  and  14  must be inserted into the pin-shaped edge region  44 , before they are connected with one another. The shape and dimensions of the pocket must therefore be adapted to the corresponding shape and dimension of the frame pieces.  
     [0017] The material piece can be composed of various materials, such as synthetic plastic, synthetic fibers or natural fibers. It can be produced with various manufacturing processes, such as for example knitting or weaving. If the material of the material piece is an elastic material, then the material piece in addition serves for compressing the frame parts  12  and  14  in the assembled condition and holding them reliably together.  
     [0018] When the back of the chair is designed in accordance with the present invention, with the frame of the back and the material piece which forms the supporting region for the back, the parts can be connected with one another in a simple and elegant way, fast and reliable, and so that they can be disconnected later on when needed.  
     [0019] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.  
     [0020] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in back of a chair, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.  
     [0021] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.