Chairs and seats – Plural related seats – Coupled side-by-side
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-16
2001-03-27
Barfield, Anthony D. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Plural related seats
Coupled side-by-side
C297S239000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206469
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of movable seating, and more particularly to chairs that are stackable during storage, and are connectable side-to-side during use.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In the field of movable seating, chair structures may be designed to be attached side-to-side during use, and may be stackable for storage. It is a preference in the field that the chair structures be easily connectable and disconnectable in side-by-side relationship (i.e. ganged), and the chair structures be stackable when disconnected for ease of movement from one location to another for use, and for storage.
Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. Patents. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,749, to Johnson et al., a chair structure is disclosed that may be stacked vertically, and may be connectable side-by-side, with a right-side leg member of a first chair resting below and in contact with a left-side leg member of a second chair. The same side leg of each chair includes a keeper member mounted on an exterior side of the upper portion of each left leg in the form of a vertical flange that engages the leg member of the adjacent chair to gang horizontal with a plurality of like chair structures. The ganging components of adjacent like chair structures are bulky leg members having rectangular cross-sections.
In U.S. Pat. No. Des. 279,438, to Gerner, an ornamental design is disclosed for a tubular chair having inverted U-shaped leg members and seat and back side frame members connected to the tubular chair frame. The design patent does not disclose whether the tubular chair is stackable or connectable in a gang horizontal orientation with like chair structures.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved chair structure that, when stacked vertically, forms a sturdy and easily movable stack of chairs, and when unstacked and connected to similar chair structures, forms a space-efficient assembly of chairs in ganged horizontal orientation which are easily connectable and disconnectable.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a chair that is stackable in a generally vertical direction upon other chairs with similar structure.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chair structure that is easily connectable side-by-side in a horizontal direction with other chairs with similar structure.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a ganged chair structure having a leg structure that facilitates stacking and efficient side-by-side connection of chairs in ganged configuration.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an improved chair structure is disclosed that provides a vertically stackable, and horizontally ganging chair for supporting a user seated in the chair, including an upper frame adapted to receive and support a generally planar seat and a backrest. As desired, the upper frame may include a detachable resilient seat cushion and a detachable resilient backrest. The chair further includes a lower frame comprising first and second leg members depending from a first side of the lower frame, and third and fourth leg members depending from a second side of the lower frame, each of the leg members having an upper end and a lower end adapted to engage the supporting surface for the chair.
The first and second leg members include a first connector member extending between and fixedly interconnecting the upper ends of the first and second leg members one to another. The third and fourth leg members include a second connector member extending between and fixedly interconnecting the upper ends of third and fourth leg members one to another. A front cross-member connects the front first leg member and the front third leg member at an upper portion of each front leg member, the front cross-member being recessed under the front of the upper frame. A rear cross-member connects a rear second leg member and a rear fourth leg member at an upper portion of each rear leg member.
The first and second connector members are disposed inwardly of the lower frame whereby the upper ends of each of the leg members which are connected to a respective connector member are disposed outwardly of the respective connector member. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the first connector member includes an outer first side with a first side coupling support extending outwards from the first side. The first side coupling support includes a first side extension disposed outwardly from the first side coupling support, with a coupling hook projecting outwardly from the first side extension. The second connector member includes an outer second side with a second side coupling support extending outwards from the second side. The second side coupling support includes a second side extension disposed outwardly from the second side coupling support, with a lower surface in the second side extension having an opening slot therein, the slot aligned parallel with the second connector member. The first side extension coupling hook of a first chair is insertable into the slot within the lower surface in the second side extension of a further like chair in a side-by-side relationship.
When the first chair upper frame is attached side-by-side with further like ganged chairs of similar design, the first and second leg members of the first chair fit next to, or side-by-side to the third and fourth leg members of the second chair, and provide a compact side-by-side configuration with interlocking coupling hooks inserted into adjacent slots of the further like chair. The interlocking hooks and slots allow attachment of a plurality of like chairs, providing for exact spacing and positioning of ganged chairs in a horizontal alignment. The combination of elements of the improved ganged chair structure provides a chair structure that is easily and quickly connectable and disconnectable with the connecting hooks and slots hidden from a user of each chair, occupies a compact floor space when connected side-by-side with similar chairs, and provides efficient use of seating capacity within meeting facilities of limited space.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 279438 (1985-07-01), Gerner
patent: 3018131 (1962-01-01), Krueger
patent: 3111344 (1963-11-01), Hoven et al.
patent: 3123399 (1964-03-01), Wilson
patent: 3328075 (1967-06-01), Albinson
patent: 3758155 (1973-09-01), Straits
patent: 3827749 (1974-08-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 4400031 (1983-08-01), DeDecker
patent: 5282669 (1994-02-01), Barile
Caruso Jerome C.
Caruso Steven J.
Barfield Anthony D.
Pitts & Brittian
Shelby Willliams Industries, Inc.
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