Patent Description:
In particular, the present invention relates to a seat of the kind intended for collective spaces, i.e. a kind of seats which are intended to be used all together in large numbers, are preferably inexpensive, are preferably also light if not fixed in place, take up little space and are typically easy to stack.

Within this sector, there is a need to be able to ensure a particular level of comfort for the user, both in a standard sitting condition for frontal viewing and, for example, when viewing a raised screen or actors on a raised stage.

A number of solutions to this need have been developed that are intended to make the seats adaptable so as to allow the user to maintain support for their spine and in particular the lumbar region, even when said user assumes positions that require the back and the neck to be inclined, for example in order to be able to follow a film, a debate or a show.

One example of this type of collective seat is described in British patent application <CIT>, which relates to a chair composed solely of the seat member, the backrest member and the mechanism for the mobility of the chair which we will call seat), as well as the various types of frame to which the seat may be secured. Furthermore, the seat represents the framework of the chair and may be covered according to need.

The chair comprises a series of mechanisms that allow it to be adapted to the seating requirements of the user. Disadvantageously, these mechanisms make the design of the seat particularly complex, which makes it unsuitable for use as a collective seat, especially if not fixed in place. Moreover, the chair is not optimised in terms of lightness, stackability and compactness.

A further example of this type of collective seat is described in the European patent application <CIT>, which relates to a seat having a resilient connection between the backrest member and the seat member that allows the backrest member to flex when subjected to the force exerted by a load (the seated person). Even though the seat is a collective seat which has simple lines and is light and compact, it does not comprise any mechanism for sliding the seat member, let alone any mechanism that allows the seat member to slide simultaneously with the inclination of the backrest member.

Further examples of seats comprising inclinable backrest members are described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Therefore, the problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a collective seat that may be adapted to the comfort and sitting conditions of the user and that overcomes one or more of the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art.

One aim of the present invention is that of providing an adaptable seat comprising a seat member and a backrest member which allow the inclination of the backrest member to be adapted in a simultaneous and coordinated manner with the horizontal sliding action of the seat member.

Another aim of the invention is that of providing an adaptable seat that achieves the above aim of being simple, light, stackable, easy to construct and inexpensive.

A further aim is that of providing an adaptable seat wherein the seat member and the backrest member may be adjusted in a coordinated manner without using complex mechanisms or mechanical elements. This problem is solved and these aims are achieved by an adaptable seat as described above which comprises a frame, a backrest member and a seat member. Said backrest member is preferably rotatably connected to the frame about a rotation axis x. Said seat member preferably comprises a sliding mechanism comprising at least one linear guide which connects the seat member to the frame and allows the movement thereof along a sliding axis defined by said linear guide.

Said adaptable seat also comprises a connection mechanism which connects said backrest member to said seat member. Said connection mechanism comprises according to the invention a male element and a female element which are formed on said seat member and said backrest member, respectively, or vice versa, and which are capable of mutual engagement in such a manner as to convert a rotation of the backrest member about the rotation axis into a sliding of the seat member along the sliding axis x, and vice versa.

The main advantage of the invention is that the connection mechanism between the seat member and the backrest member makes it possible to simultaneously move the seat member and the backrest member simply by moving the weight of the user.

A further advantage of the invention is the simplicity of design of the connection mechanism comprising a male element and a female element that are fixedly joined, for example, to said seat member and to said backrest member, which are secured to one another via a simple joining mechanism that allows for backlash between the elements. Said backlash advantageously allows the backrest member to be inclined during the step in which the seat member slides.

In addition to the advantages listed, it is possible to appreciate how the simplicity of the connection mechanism makes it possible to obtain an adaptable collective seat that has a simple design and all of the characteristics required of collective seats: simple, light, compact, stackable, and inexpensive.

Lastly, said adaptable seat has the lower end of the backrest member in contact with the seat member. This configuration ensures that the lumbar region of the spine is supported, thus ensuring the user's comfort. Preferably, the seat member and the backrest member are made of plastics material, whereas the frame of the seat, of metal material.

As a result of the sliding mechanism, the adaptable seat is capable of assuming two configurations: the rest configuration, in which the end of the seat member proximal to the backrest member abuts against the frame at the rear legs of the seat; and the activation configuration, in which the seat member slides along the axis y.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sliding mechanism comprises at least one resilient element which is suitable for moving the seat member back into its rest position without the intervention of external forces.

Said resilient element is preferably a spring.

The presence of the resilient element advantageously makes it possible to have a plurality of adaptable seats always in their rest configuration and ready to be stacked, when not in use. This prevents an operator from having to manually put the adaptable seats back into their rest condition in order to stack them, and gives a room in which a plurality of adaptable seats are used an uncluttered appearance.

These features and the advantages associated therewith will become more apparent from the detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, which will be illustrated, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

With reference to the figures, a preferred embodiment of an adaptable seat is shown, which seat is indicated as a whole by reference sign <NUM>. The adaptable seat <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM>, a backrest member <NUM> and a seat member <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, according to preferred embodiments, the frame <NUM> comprises two shaped portions <NUM> which define a front leg <NUM>, a longitudinal element <NUM> and two vertical uprights <NUM> which define rear legs <NUM> of the seat <NUM>.

The shaped portions <NUM>, preferably at their longitudinal element <NUM>, are preferably connected to one another by at least two transverse elements <NUM> on which the seat member <NUM> bears, in ways which will be described in greater detail in the following. The backrest member <NUM> is preferably hinged to the vertical uprights <NUM>, in order to define a transverse element <NUM> which connects the two portions <NUM>.

In some embodiments, said frame <NUM> consists of tubular elements.

The seat member <NUM> and the backrest member <NUM> are preferably made of plastics material and the frame is preferably made of metal material.

With reference again to <FIG>, the backrest member <NUM> is rotatably connected to the frame <NUM> about a rotation axis x.

In some embodiments, the connection may be provided by a hinge joint between the backrest member <NUM> and the two vertical uprights <NUM>. In this way, the backrest member <NUM>, together with the relative joints, defines the further transverse element <NUM>, thereby connecting the two vertical uprights <NUM>.

However, it will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, an additional connection element may be present, which element is rotatable with respect to the uprights <NUM> and to which element the backrest member <NUM> is secured.

As may be seen in <FIG>, the rotation axis x is preferably positioned in a region approximately equal to half the vertical extent of the backrest member <NUM>. In other words, the rotation axis x is positioned in a vertically central region of the backrest member.

In this way, it is possible to achieve an inclination of the backrest member that is suitable for allowing the user to lean backwards for the vast majority of hypothetical situations, thus ensuring a high degree of flexibility of use.

With reference now also to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the seat member comprises a sliding mechanism <NUM> which includes at least one linear guide <NUM>, the latter shown in <FIG>, which connects the seat member <NUM> to the frame <NUM> and allows the movement thereof along a sliding axis y defined by the same linear guide <NUM>.

Again with reference to <FIG>, the linear guide <NUM> may be secured to the frame <NUM> at the longitudinal element <NUM>.

The linear guide <NUM> comprises a sliding element 20A, preferably two sliding elements, which is/are snap-fixed in a slidable manner on the seat member <NUM>.

For this purpose, according to one aspect of the invention, a plurality of deformable coupling teeth <NUM> which are aligned along the sliding axis y may be provided in the seat member <NUM>.

Each sliding element 20A may therefore have a contact surface which rests against a corresponding surface of the teeth <NUM>, allowing the seat member <NUM> to slide along the axis y and, at the same time, keep it supported on the frame <NUM>.

This solution advantageously allows the seat member to slide by means of a robust and easily implementable solution.

With particular reference now to <FIG>, according to preferred embodiments, the sliding mechanism <NUM>, in addition to the at least one linear guide <NUM>, comprises at least one fixed track <NUM>, preferably two, that is/are fixedly joined to the at least two transverse elements <NUM> of the frame <NUM> and positioned below the seat member <NUM>.

The track <NUM> defines a sliding surface for the seat member <NUM> and, in preferred embodiments, comprises a cavity 19A in which a resilient element <NUM> is received.

The resilient element <NUM> may be oriented in the direction of the sliding axis y and may be positioned in a distal region with respect to the backrest member <NUM>, as may be seen in the example shown in <FIG>.

In order to allow the seat member <NUM> to slide on the runners, the sliding mechanism <NUM> may also comprise at least one guide, advantageously defined by the same cavity 19A. It should be noted that, in the embodiment shown in the figure in which two tracks are present, two guides are correspondingly provided.

The seat member <NUM> slides as a result of the presence of at least one runner <NUM> that is fixedly joined to the side of the seat member <NUM> facing the frame <NUM>.

The guides defined by the cavities 19A are therefore advantageously suitable for receiving runners <NUM> on the portions facing the side of the seat member <NUM>.

The runner or runners <NUM> may comprise a shaped element <NUM> which is inserted into the cavity 19A between the resilient element and a first end stop <NUM> that is fixedly joined to a side of the track proximal to the backrest member.

When an external force is applied to the seat member <NUM>, the runners <NUM> may slide inside the guides of the tracks, thus creating the linear movement of the seat member along the axis y.

In so doing, it is possible to move the seat member <NUM> between two configurations: a rest configuration, in which the end of the seat member <NUM> proximal to the backrest member abuts against the frame <NUM> near the vertical uprights <NUM> of the adaptable seat <NUM>; and an activation configuration, in which the seat member slides along the axis y and is spaced apart from the vertical uprights.

In preferred embodiments, the resilient element <NUM> is in the rest condition when the seat member <NUM> is in the rest configuration, and is under compression when the seat member <NUM> is in the activation configuration; therefore, one advantage of the invention is that the resilient element <NUM> makes it possible to move the seat member <NUM> back from the activation position into the rest position without the intervention of external forces. Said resilient element <NUM> is preferably a spring <NUM>.

A second end stop <NUM> may optionally be provided, which second end stop is fixedly joined to a side of the track <NUM> distal to the backrest member <NUM>. In preferred embodiments, the spring <NUM>, or more generally the resilient element <NUM>, surrounds the second end stop <NUM>.

It should also be noted that, in the embodiments described above, the linear guide may be secured in a sliding manner to the longitudinal elements <NUM> and, as described above, also be capable of retaining the seat member <NUM> in a manner supported on the frame <NUM>. The fixed track <NUM> may instead be supported on the transverse elements <NUM>. In this way, the return action provided by the spring and the support action of the seat member may be achieved by a separate component from the component which keeps the seat member on the frame, i.e. which prevents said seat member from being able to lift in particular while moving.

With reference now to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the adaptable seat <NUM> also comprises a connection mechanism <NUM> which connects said backrest member <NUM> to said seat member <NUM>.

The connection mechanism <NUM> comprises a male element <NUM> and a female element <NUM> which are formed on the seat member <NUM> and on the backrest member <NUM>, respectively, or vice versa, and which are capable of mutual engagement. As will be better shown in the following, the connection element <NUM> is configured in such a manner as to convert the rotation of the backrest member <NUM> about the rotation axis x into the sliding action of the seat member <NUM> along the sliding axis x, and vice versa. In other words, by means of the connection element, the movements of the seat member and backrest member are coordinated, and the user is able to act on the former and/or on the latter in order to switch from the first configuration to the second configuration. This is particularly advantageous in that it allows a more or less inclined sitting position that is optimal for the contingent situation to be obtained, by acting by means of a simple and natural movement of the body.

In fact, the user may pass from a position for frontal viewing to a position for raised viewing simply by moving their centre of gravity forwards. The movement of the weight causes the seat member <NUM> to move forwards along the axis x and, by moving, drags the lower end <NUM> of the backrest member <NUM>, which, by rotating on the hinge joint, allows the user to recline the back and the neck by changing position.

In order to simplify the connection between the two male and female elements, these may advantageously engage with backlash.

For this purpose, in some embodiments, the male element <NUM> may comprise a projecting profile <NUM> which projects from the operating surface of the seat member <NUM> or said backrest member <NUM>.

The female element <NUM> in turn comprises a pocket-like element <NUM> which is formed on the other of said seat member <NUM> and said backrest member <NUM> and is configured so as to receive the projecting profile <NUM>.

According to preferred embodiments, the pocket-like element <NUM> is formed near the lower end <NUM> of the backrest <NUM>, adjacent to the end thereof that is proximal to the seat member <NUM>.

The projecting profile <NUM> may in turn be formed near the end of the seat member <NUM>, adjacent to the end proximal to the backrest member <NUM>, on the side of the seat member <NUM> facing the frame <NUM>.

As may be better seen in <FIG>, the projecting profile <NUM> is inserted into the pocket-like element <NUM>, thus securing the seat member <NUM> and the backrest member <NUM> so as to allow the inclination of the backrest <NUM> to be adapted in a simultaneous and coordinated manner with the sliding action of the seat member <NUM> along the axis y, as described above.

The projecting profile <NUM> is preferably perpendicular to the seat member <NUM>. In order to ensure the correct positioning of the projecting profile <NUM> and, at the same time, allow the required relative movement between the male element and female element, the projecting profile <NUM> may comprise thickening elements <NUM> which are also received in said pocket <NUM>. The projecting profile <NUM> is preferably received in said pocket <NUM> with greater backlash than said thickening elements <NUM>. In some embodiments, the thickening elements <NUM> are substantially in contact with walls of said pocket <NUM>.

In so doing, the engagement between the pocket <NUM> and the projecting profile <NUM> is maintained; however, at the same time, the inclination of the backrest member <NUM> in the activation configuration of the seat member <NUM> is permitted by utilising the deformation of the walls of the pocket-like element <NUM> and/or the thickening elements <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the projecting profile <NUM> and the pocket <NUM> have an elongate shape and extend at an outer edge of the seat member <NUM> and the backrest member <NUM>, respectively.

The pocket-like element <NUM> may optionally be divided internally by reinforcement baffles <NUM> between the backrest member <NUM> and the wall of the pocket-like element <NUM> that is distal to the backrest member <NUM>; therefore, in this configuration, the projecting profile <NUM> is divided vertically along its length, i.e. along its direction of longitudinal extension. In so doing, a robust connection may be provided, which at the same time guarantees the flexibility necessary for allowing the relative movement of the seat member and backrest member.

In preferred embodiments, the projecting profile <NUM> extends underneath the seat member <NUM>, and the backrest member is configured so as to extend partially beneath the seat member.

In this way, the pocket <NUM> may be formed at the lower end of the backrest member, near the lower edge of the same, so as to also be positioned beneath the seat member.

Claim 1:
An adaptable seat (<NUM>) comprising a frame (<NUM>), a backrest member (<NUM>) and a seat member (<NUM>), said backrest member (<NUM>) being rotatably connected to the frame (<NUM>) about a rotation axis (x), said seat member (<NUM>) comprising a sliding mechanism (<NUM>) which includes at least one linear guide (<NUM>) which connects the seat member (<NUM>) to the frame (<NUM>) and allows said seat member to move along a sliding axis (y) which is defined by said linear guide (<NUM>), wherein said linear guide (<NUM>) comprises a sliding element (20A) which is connected to said frame (<NUM>), said adaptable seat (<NUM>) further comprising a connection mechanism (<NUM>) which connects said backrest member (<NUM>) to said seat member (<NUM>), said connection mechanism (<NUM>) comprising a male element (<NUM>) and a female element (<NUM>) which are formed on said seat member (<NUM>) and said backrest member (<NUM>), respectively, or vice versa, and which are capable of mutual engagement in such a manner as to convert a rotation of the backrest member (<NUM>) about the rotation axis (x) into a sliding action of the seat member (<NUM>) along the sliding axis (y), and vice versa, said male element (<NUM>) and said female element (<NUM>) being elongated and extending at an outer edge of said seat member (<NUM>) and said backrest member (<NUM>), respectively, or vice versa, wherein said male element (<NUM>) comprises a profile (<NUM>) projecting from an operating surface of said seat member (<NUM>) or said backrest member (<NUM>), and said female element (<NUM>) comprising a pocket-like element (<NUM>) which is formed on the other of said seat member (<NUM>) and said backrest member (<NUM>) and is configured so as to receive said projecting profile (<NUM>), characterized in that the sliding element (20A) is snap-fixed in a slidable manner on said seat member (<NUM>).