The present invention relates to a chair which comprises left and right couplings to interlink with other chairs in order to form a row of chairs. The present invention further relates to a row of chairs and to a method of interlinking said chairs. Background of the invention

Chairs with interlinking capability are widely used. Especially in conference centres, theatres, multi-purpose halls, cinemas and schools where a certain hall or room needs to be configured to host an audience of a substantial size, it is very practical to have chairs which can be interlinked into rows, and which can be uncoupled once the event is over. In this way the hall can be quickly converted for other use. It is also possible to adjust the number of chairs to the number of people.

US2015196124A1 discloses such a chair with interlinking capability. Figures 6 - 15 of this document disclose a chair having a right coupling on a tubular section which

interconnects the right front leg and right rear leg and a left coupling on a tubular section which interconnects the left front leg and the left rear leg.

A disadvantage of the chair of US2015196124A1 is that the footing sections are non- aligned with the left and right leg. This makes the chair asymmetrical. Furthermore, this solution requires and uses prominent and protruding glides.

Other chairs are known with interlinking couplings at the level of the arm rests or seat. These have a different starting point and considered less relevant for the present invention. Object of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a chair having interlinking functionality, wherein said chair is more symmetrical than chairs of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chair having interlinking functionality which looks simple and elegant, but is actually a highly technical solution to the interlinking functionality. It is another object of the invention to provide a chair having interlinking functionality which does not require the presence of couplings at the level of the arm rests or at the level of the seats. It is an object of the invention to provide a chair having interlinking functionality which allows easy interlinking and uncoupling into separate chairs.

It is an object of the invention to provide a chair having interlinking functionality wherein the interlink is sturdy and can withstand pushing and shoving by members of an audience.

It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative solution for the interlinking functionality of such a chair. It is an object of the present invention to provide a chair having interlinking

functionality which is also configured for stacking.

Summary of the invention

In order to achieve at least one object, the present invention provides a chair comprising a seat element, a right leg element and a left leg element,

wherein the right leg element comprises a right front leg and a right rear leg interconnected by a right interconnecting section,

wherein the left leg element comprises a left front leg and a left rear leg

interconnected by a left interconnecting section,

wherein the right leg element comprises a right coupling and the left leg element comprises a left coupling, wherein the right coupling comprises two curved sections and the left coupling comprises two curved sections, and wherein the right and left coupling are configured to traverse one another at each curved section,

a) wherein each curved section of the right coupling comprises three curves, a first curve which curves upward, a second curve which curves outward and a third curve which curves toward the other curved section of the right coupling, and wherein each curved section of the left coupling also comprises three curves, a first curve which curves outward, a second curve which curves upward and a third curve which curves toward the other curved section of the left coupling, or

b) wherein in a mirrored configuration each curved section of the right coupling comprises three curves, a first curve which curves outward, a second curve which curves upward and a third curve which curves toward the other curved section of the right coupling, and wherein each curved section of the left coupling also comprises three curves, a first curve which curves upward, a second curve which curves outward and a third curve which curves toward the other curved section of the left coupling,

wherein the right coupling is configured to mate with a left coupling of an adjoining chair and the left coupling is configured to mate with a right coupling of an adjoining chair, wherein the right and left coupling of adjoining chairs are configured to deform one another into a first temporary deformed state during the coupling movement and to subsequently transition from the deformed state into a linked state in which the two adjoining chairs are interlinked,

wherein the right coupling comprises right tension members which protrude outwardly from a part of the right leg element and wherein the left coupling comprises left tension members which protrude outwardly from a part of the left leg element, wherein the right and left tension members are configured to abut against mating tension members of an adjoining chair during the coupling movement and to create tension in the coupling in the deformed state, and

wherein the right coupling or left coupling comprises a locking member which is configured to snap in the locked position during the transition in order to keep the right and left coupling in the interlinked position.

The chair according to the invention provides interlinking functionality which is inconspicuous and allows easy interlinking and uncoupling into separate chairs. The chair according to the invention looks quite symmetric. The right and left couplings do not require the presence of couplings at the level of the arm rests or at the level of the seats. Due to the snapping of the locking member, the interlink is sturdy and can withstand pushing and shoving by members of an audience. The chair according to the invention also provides an alternative solution for the interlinking functionality of a chair. The three curves of each curved section may adjoin one another and go over into one another. This forms a simple and elegant configuration.

In an embodiment, the right interconnecting section comprises a right front footing section, a right rear footing section, a right bridging section, a right front curved section and a right rear curved section,

wherein the right bridging section is provided between the right front footing section and the right rear footing section, wherein the right front curved section forms a transition between the right front footing section and the right bridging section, and wherein the right rear curved section forms a transition between the right rear footing section and the right bridging section

wherein the left interconnecting section comprises a left front footing section, a left rear footing section), a left bridging section, a left front curved section and a left rear curved section,

wherein the left bridging section is provided between the left front footing section and the left rear footing section, wherein the left front curved section forms a transition between the left front footing section and the left bridging section, and wherein the left rear curved section forms a transition between the left rear footing section and the left bridging section,

wherein the right bridging section, the right front curved section and the right rear curved section form a part of the right coupling, wherein the left bridging section, the left front curved section and the left rear curved section form a part of) the left coupling.

This embodiment was found to be very effective.

The right coupling may be configured to traverse over the left coupling at the front curved section and the rear curved section, or the left coupling may be configured to traverse over the right coupling at the front curved section and rear curved section.

Each footing section may be located between a curved section and a leg.

The chair may have four glides, via which the chair rests on the ground, wherein each footing section has a glide. Each glide may be integrated with a tension member into a glide-tension element. It was found that this glide-tension element having a dual function was a very effective solution. The chair may comprise an anti-rotation device for each glide- tension element for preventing rotation of the glide-tension elements about the footing sections.

The chair may have two tension elements per coupling.

In an embodiment, each tension member may have a stop surface which faces outwardly and is vertically oriented.

Each tension member may be connected to a footing section. The tension members, in particular the glide-tension elements, can be made from a synthetic material. Other materials are also possible.

In an embodiment, a first distance between an innermost part of each bridging section of a right coupling or left coupling and a longitudinal midplane of the chair is smaller than a second distance between the stop surfaces of the tension members which are part of said right or left coupling and the longitudinal midplane. This effectively creates the temporary deformation during the coupling movement. In an embodiment, a front horizontal distance between the front legs is smaller than a rear horizontal distance between the rear legs. This is done to achieve stackability. To this end, the front legs may comprise a bend at a relatively short distance from the ground and an angled leg section which extends at an angle to a main section of the front legs, and wherein the rear legs do not comprise a same bend and angled section. This effectively ensures the smaller distance.

In an embodiment, a locking member is connected to the bridging section of the coupling which curves upwardly and subsequently outwardly, wherein said locking member extends inwardly toward the longitudinal midplane of the chair and downwardly from said bridging section. The locking member advantageously allows a good locking of the couplings

The locking member may be formed by one or more rods or tubes which extend parallel to the bridging section to which the locking member is connected. The left bridging section may extends parallel to the ground and parallel to the longitudinal midplane and the right bridging section may extends parallel to the ground and parallel to the longitudinal midplane.

Each interconnecting section may be positioned close to the ground, in particular at less than 10 cm from the ground. Each interconnecting section may span a horizontal distance between the front leg and rear leg of at least 20 cm.

In an embodiment, each interconnecting section connects a front leg and a rear leg together at a lower end thereof.

In an embodiment, the footing sections may have a length of between 1 and 15 cm. In an embodiment, wherein the right leg element and left leg element are essentially made of an ongoing rod or tube.

The legs of the chair may be inclined.

In an embodiment, the chair does not have any couplings with interlinking function other than the left and right coupling, and in particular does not have any couplings with interlinking function at the level of the seat or arm rests.

The present invention further relates to a row of chairs comprising a plurality of chairs according to the present invention, wherein the chairs are interlinked via the left and right couplings.

The present invention further relates to method of forming a row of chairs, the method comprising placing a number of chairs according to the invention in a row and interlinking the chairs via the left and right couplings.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a chair according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a possible frame of a chair according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the leg elements of the chair according to the invention.

Figure 4A shows a front view of leg elements of neighbouring chairs according to the invention in an uncoupled state.

Figure 4B shows a front view of two chairs in a row in an uncoupled state.

Figure 5 shows an isometric view of leg elements of neighbouring chairs according to the invention in an coupled state.

Figure 6 shows an isometric view of a leg elements having a locking member.

Figure 7 shows a sectional view of neighbouring bridging sections.

Figure 8 shows another sectional view of neighbouring bridging sections.

Detailed description of the drawings Turning to figures 1 , 2 and 3, a chair 10 according to the invention is shown. The chair comprises a frame 1 1 , a seat element 12 and a back rest 13. The chair comprises a right leg element 14 and a left leg element 15. The chair according to the invention can be configured with or without arms. The chair may also have different shapes of the frame, such as a "U- shape" or a "triangle-shape".

The right leg element 14 comprises a right front leg 18 and a right rear leg 19 interconnected by a right interconnecting section 20. The left leg element 15 comprises a left front leg 22 and a left rear leg 23 interconnected by a left interconnecting section 21. Each interconnecting section 20, 21 connects a front leg and a right leg together at a lower end thereof. The left and right leg elements are essentially made of one or more tubes or rods, in particular one or more metal tubes or rods. The legs of the chair can be inclined as shown in the drawings or have different shapes/forms. The right leg element comprises a right coupling 30A and the left leg element comprises a left coupling 30B. The right coupling comprises two curved sections 27A, 28A and the left coupling comprises two curved sections 27B, 28B. The right and left coupling are configured to traverse one another at each curved section. The right coupling is configured to mate with a left coupling of an adjoining chair and the left coupling is configured to mate with a right coupling of an adjoining chair. During the coupling movement the right and left coupling of adjoining chairs are configured to deform one another into a first temporary deformed state and to deform from the deformed state into a linked state in which the two adjoining chairs are interlinked.

The right coupling 30A comprises right tension members 36A, 37A which protrude outwardly from a part of the right leg element and the left coupling comprises left tension members 36B, 37B which protrude outwardly from a part of the left leg element. The right and left tension members are configured to abut against mating tension members of an adjoining chair during the coupling movement and to create tension in the coupling in the deformed state.

The right coupling or left coupling comprises a locking member 32 which is configured to snap in the locked position during the transition to keep the right and left coupling in the linked state.

The right interconnecting section 20 comprises a right front footing section 24A, a right rear footing section 25A, a right bridging section 26A, a right front curved section 27A and a right rear curved section 28A. The right bridging section 26A is provided between the right front footing section 24A and the right rear footing section 25A. The footing sections 24A, 25A, 24B, 25B have a length of between 1 and 15 cm. The right front curved section 27A forms a transition between the right front footing section 24A and the right bridging section 26A. The right rear curved section 28A forms a transition between the right rear footing section 25A and the right bridging section 26A.

The left interconnecting section 21 comprises a left front footing section 24B, a left rear footing section 25B, a left bridging section 26B, a left front curved section 27B and a left rear curved section 28B. The left bridging section 26B is provided between the left front footing section 24B and the left rear footing section 25B. The left front curved section 27B forms a transition between the left front footing section 24B and the left bridging section 26B, and the left rear curved section 28B forms a transition between the left rear footing section 25B and the left bridging section 26B.

The right bridging section 26A, the right front curved section 27A and the right rear curved section 28A form a right coupling 30A. The left bridging section 26B, the left front curved section 27B and the left rear curved section 28B form a left coupling 30B. The right coupling 30A and the left coupling 30B are configured to interlink with a left or right coupling of an adjacent chair.

The right and left interconnecting section 20, 21 are positioned close to the ground, in particular at less than 10 cm from the ground. The interconnecting sections 20, 21 extend over a horizontal distance and are parallel to the longitudinal midplane 33 (shown in figure 4B).

Turning to figures 4A and 4B, two chairs 10 are shown side by side and in an uncoupled state. One of the right coupling 30A or left coupling 30B, starting from the left footing sections 24A, 25A, 24B, 25B curves outwardly and subsequently upwardly. In this case it is the left coupling 30B. The other of the right coupling or left coupling curves upwardly and subsequently outwardly. In this case it is the right coupling 30A, but this may be obviously be mirrored as the skilled person will directly understand. The configuration provides an asymmetrical shape, but looks symmetrical and elegant. Turning in particular to figure 4B, the left bridging section 26B extends parallel to the ground and parallel to the longitudinal midplane, and the right bridging section 26A extends parallel to the ground and parallel to the longitudinal midplane. Turning to figure 5, the right coupling 30A is configured to traverse over the left coupling 30B at the front curved section 27A and the rear curved section 28A. Alternatively, but not shown, the left coupling 30B is configured to traverse over the right coupling 30A at the front curved section 27B and rear curved section 28B. Each footing section 24A, 24B, 25A, 25B is located between a curved section 27A,

28A, 27B, 28B and a leg 18, 19, 22, 23, more in particular a corner 31 of the leg.

The right front footing section 24A extends from the right front leg 18 toward the right rear leg 19 and a right rear footing section 25A extends from the right rear leg 19 toward the right front leg 18. A left front footing section 24B extends from the left front leg 22 toward the left rear leg 23 and a left rear footing section 25B extends from the left rear leg 23 toward the left front leg 22.

A horizontal distance between the front legs 18,22 is smaller than a horizontal distance between the rear legs. This is done to achieve stackability. The smaller horizontal distance may be created by a bend 40 in the front leg at a relatively short distance from the ground and an angled leg section 41 which extends at an angle to a main section 42 of the front legs. In this embodiment, the rear legs do not comprise a same bend and angled section.

Turning to figures 5 and 8, the right coupling comprises two curved sections 27A, 28A. Each curved section of the right coupling comprises three curves, a first curve 70 which curves upward, a second curve 71 which curves outward and a third curve 72 which curves toward the other curved section of the right coupling.

The left coupling also comprises two curved sections 27B, 28B. Each curved section of the left coupling also comprises three curves, a first curve 73 which curves outward, a second curve 74 which curves upward and a third curve 75 which curves toward the other curved section of the left coupling.

In the mirrored version (not shown) the right coupling comprises two curved sections 27A, 28A, wherein each curved section of the right coupling comprises three curves, a first curve which curves outward, a second curve which curves upward and a third curve which curves toward the other curved section of the right coupling. The left coupling comprises two curved sections 27B, 28B, wherein each curved section of the left coupling also comprises three curves, a first curve which curves upward, a second curve which curves outward and a third curve which curves toward the other curved section of the left coupling.

The three curves of each curved section adjoin one another and go over into one another. The leg elements have glides 80 via which the chair rests on the ground. In particular each leg element 14, 15 has two glides 80, totalling four glides 80. Each glide is connected to a footing section. Each glide may be integrated with a tension member into a single glide-tension element, also indicated with reference numeral 80. The glide-tension elements 80 can be made from a synthetic material, but can also be made from other material(s). In another embodiment, the glides and the tension members may be separate elements.

Each footing section 24A, 24B, 25A, 25B has a glide 80 connected to it. The glides 80 have ground surfaces 38 on the lower side thereof. The ground surfaces are indicated in figure 4A and figure 8.

The glide-tension elements 80 have a dual function of letting the chair contact the ground and tensioning the right and left couplings in the deformed state. For this purpose each glide-tension element 80 comprises a stop surface 39A (or 39B) configured to engage stop surface 39B (or 39A) of an adjoining glide-tension element of an adjacent chair.

The stop surfaces 39A, 39B face outwardly and are vertically oriented.

Turning to figures 6, 7 and 8, a locking member 32 is connected to the bridging section 26A of the coupling 30A which curves upwardly and subsequently outwardly. Said locking member extends inwardly toward a longitudinal midplane 33 (shown in fig. 4B) of the chair and downwardly from said bridging section 26A.

The locking member 32 can have a lot of different shapes/forms (such as a rod, tube or ball or multiple rods or tubes or balls). The locking member may extend parallel to the bridging section 26A to which it is connected. Turning in particular to figure 8, the right and left coupling 30A, 30B are configured to be tensioned when interlinked with an adjoining chair. Each bridging section 26A, 26B is configured to bend under the force of engagement against a neighbouring bridging section, wherein the bending of the bridging section creates a force which strengthens the interlinking of the chairs.

This is shown in figure 8 by the areas 35A, 35B of interference. The first area of interference 35 shows that the two bridging sections 26A, 26B interfere if they do not temporarily deform in the coupled state. Consequently, they must deform. The deformation creates a force which folds the chairs together. The second area of interference 35B shows that the locking member 32 interferes with the bridging section 26B of the left coupling of the neighbouring chair if there would be no deformation. The forced temporary deformation leads to the force which holds the chairs together. Each bridging section 26A, 26B is oriented parallel to a vertical longitudinal midplane

33 of the chair. An innermost part 45A, 45B of each bridging section 26A, 26B is closer to a midplane 33 of the chair than the stop surfaces 39A, 39B which are associated with said bridging section. In other words, a first distance 92 between an innermost part 45A respectively 45B of each bridging section 26A, 26B of a right coupling or left coupling and a longitudinal midplane 33 of the chair is smaller than a second distance 93 between the stop surfaces 39A respectively 39B of the tension members which are part of said right or left coupling and the longitudinal midplane 33. The distances 92, 93 are indicated in figure 8.

This difference in distance creates the tension in the couplings when the chairs are in the temporary deformed state. The tension in the temporary deformed state can be increased by increasing this difference, i.e. by increasing distance 93 or by decreasing distance 92. The tension members 36 or the glide-tension elements 80 may be adjustable in order to adjust this distance. The glide-tension elements 80 have a recess which fits around the footing sections

24A, 24B, 25A, 25B. Each footing section 24A, 24B, 25A, 25B has a flat portion 81 and the recess of each glide-tension element 80 also has a flat portion 82 which mates with the flat portion 81 of the footing sections 24A, 24B, 25A, 25B. The flat portions ensure that the glide- tension elements 80 do not rotate about the footing section and form an anti-rotation device 83. It will be understood by the skilled person that the anti-rotation device 83 for preventing rotation of the glide-tension elements 80 about the footing sections 24A, 24B, 25A, 25B may also have a different form, such as a pin which is driven through each glide-tension element 80 and each associated footing section.

The chair does not have any couplings with interlinking function other than the left and right coupling 30A, 30B, and in particular does not have any couplings with interlinking function at the level of the seat or at the level of the arm rests. The chair may have armrests or may not have armrests.

The chairs according to the invention are capable of forming a row which is sturdy. The chairs do not come loose from one another by a shove or push from a user. In some countries, safety regulations are in force which require this safety feature and this

embodiment complies with these safety regulations.

The chair according to the invention complies with general requirements of chairs including longevity and is relatively easy to manufacture. The chairs according to the present invention are not only technically innovative, but are also very elegant.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. It is in particular noted that in the interlinked state, there will generally also be some tension in the couplings in order to avoid play between the chairs. However, a variant without tension in the linked state and with play between the chairs in the linked state also falls within the scope of the invention. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language, not excluding other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the device and method without departing from the scope as defined in the claims.