"Seat element"

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat element, such as for example a chair or a stool or the like, comprising a frame and a seat made separately from each other and subsequently assembled.

[0002] It is known of in the art to make seats and frames separately, preferably in different materials, to then assemble them to each other. The interconnection between the frame and the seat is usually made by riveting, bolting or by means of screws passing through the seat so as to engage in relative holes made in the frame.

[0003] Such structures have the drawback of requiring, for their assembly, the use of riveting machines or of staff specialised in assembly operations and interconnecting parts by means of the aforementioned coupling devices.

[0004] For this reason, the seat elements of the prior art are usually assembled during the production process so that the final product is for example a chair or stool already assembled and ready to use. The pre-assembled structure has the disadvantage however of proving cumbersome and inconvenient both to store and to transport.

[0005] Seat element structures are also known of in the art in two separate parts which can be attached to each other by shaped coupling means between respective counter- shaped portions of the frame and of the seat.

[0006] Such shaped coupling means do not however ensure stable and safe coupling over time. in other words with wear and on account of the inevitable production tolerances there is often annoying and unacceptable play between the seat and the frame.

[0007] In addition, the coupling means of the prior art tend to break during the assembly phase and often ruin the seat through abrasion during the assembly and/or subsequent dismantling phase.

[0008] The deterioration of the seat, even if on the under part of the seat and therefore quite remote, is not acceptable in the case in which the seat is upholstered for example in a precious, material. In addition, in the case of an upholstered seat, the abrasion and damage of the covering may lead the mechanism to jam.

[0009] The purpose of the present invention is to make a seat element which resolves the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art. Such drawbacks and limitations are resolved by a seat element according to claim 1.

[0010] Other embodiments of the seat element according to the invention are described in the . subsequent claims.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be clearly comprehensible from the description given below of its preferred embodiments, made by way of a non-limiting example, wherein:

[0012] figure 1 shows a perspective view in an assembled configuration of a seat element according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] figures 2-6 show side views, partially in cross- section, of phases of the assembly sequence of the seat element in figure 1;

[0014] figure 7 shows a cross-section view of the enlarged detail VII in figure 3;

[0015] figures 8 and 9 respectively show cross-section views of the enlarged details' VIII and IX in figure 4;

[0016] figure 10 shows a cross-section view of the enlarged detail X in figure 5;

[0017] figure 11 shows a cross-section view of the enlarged detail XI in figure 6; figures 12 and 13 show respective perspective views of the seat element in figure 1, in further angulations, in various phases of assembly.

[0018] The elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described below will be indicated using the same reference numerals.

[0019] With reference to the aforesaid drawings, reference numeral 4 globally denotes a seat element; the seat element may be of any type, such as for example a chair, a stool or even an armchair or tub chair.

[0020] The representation of a chair shown in the appended drawings should therefore be considered by way of a non- limiting example of the possible realizations of the present invention.

[0021] The seat element 4 comprises a frame 8 able to sustain an associable seat 12 and provided with at least one means of support 16, such as a leg or a foot.

[0022] The frame 8 is preferably made of metal and is of the tubular type. The means of support 16 may be of any type, such as for example a plurality of legs, a central column fitted with arms with or without castors, a tubular structure bent into a "C" and so forth.

[0023] The seat 12 may be of various shapes, materials and dimensions; the seat 12 defines a seat plane 18 for a user and may be fitted or not with a backrest 20, substantially perpendicular to the seat plane 18.

[0024] The frame 8 and the- seat 12 are made separately from each other and. are attachable and detachable from each other by the interposition of first coupling means 24.

[0025] Advantageously, the first coupling means 24 comprise at least one elastic hook 28 -and a protuberance 32, able to form a snap coupling with each other. The elastic hook 28 is positioned so as to intercept the protuberance 32 in a vertical assembly direction Y-Y, substantially perpendicular to the seat plane 18.

[0026] The elastic hook 28 has a coupling end 36 and a hook end 40, flexible in relation to the coupling end 36, so as to snap hook onto an undercut 44 of the protuberance 32 in the vertical assembly direction Y-Y.

[0027] The coupling end 36 may be blocked in position for example by the interposition of screws, clamps or slotted shaped couplings.

[0028] According to one possible embodiment, the protuberance 32 is fixed to the frame 8 and the elastic hook 28 is fixed to the seat 12 on a lower portion 48 of the seat 12 directly facing the frame 8 in an assembly configuration .

[0029] According to one embodiment, the elastic hook 28 presents a slot 52 at the hooking end 40 directly facing the protuberance 32 to facilitate snap coupling with the protuberance 32.

[0030] According to one possible embodiment, the hooking end 40 may be a "V" shape, wherein one of the sides of the "V" forms the slot 52 to facilitate snap coupling with the protuberance 32.

[0031] The elastic hooks 28 are preferably attached to the seat 12 and the protuberances 32 are attached to the frame 8.

[0032] The protuberances 32 are joined to the frame 8 and overhang the frame 8 so as to be facing the associable seat 12.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the protuberance 32 is at least partially counter-shaped to the corresponding lower portion 48 of the seat 12, on the side opposite the associable elastic hook 28, so as to form a support for the seat 12 in an assembled configuration of the seat element 4.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the seat element 4 comprises at least two elastic hooks 28 and two respective protuberances 32, preferably aligned along the same side or portion of the seat element 4.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the first coupling means 24 are aligned along a rear portion 56 of the seat element 4, at an associable backrest 20 of the seat element 4.

[0036] It is also possible to position the first coupling means on a front portion 57 of the seat element 4, opposite the rear portion 56, or on side portions 58,59 substantially perpendicular to said front and rear portions 57,56.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the first coupling means 24 are positioned along at least two separate portions 56, 57, 58, 59 of the seat element 4.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the elastic hooks 28 are at least partially housed inside hollows 60 made in the seat 12 at the lower portion 48 so as not to be visible on the outside, said hollows 60 being open towards the associable frame 8.

[0039] The seat element 4 comprises second coupling means 68, positioned between the frame 8 and the seat 12 and separate from the first coupling means 24.

[0040] Advantageously, the second coupling means 68 comprise a bracket 72 and a bent portion 76 able to fasten itself to the bracket 72 by means of a shaped coupling.

[0041] Preferably, the second coupling means 68 are positioned on a separate, and preferably opposite, portion 56, 57, 58, 59 of the seat to that on which the first coupling means 24 are positioned.

[0042] The second coupling means 68 form a shaped coupling of a type rotating in relation to a transversal rotation axis X-X, perpendicular to the vertical assembly direction Y-Y, so that, following the relative coupling of the second coupling means 68, it is possible to realise the snap coupling of the first coupling means 24, by rotating the frame 8 and the seat 12 in relation to each other around the transversal rotation axis X-X.

[0043] Preferably, the first and the second coupling means 24, 68 are positioned on opposite front and rear portions 56, 57 which, in an assembled configuration, form a bilateral axial constraint in a longitudinal direction Z- Z, perpendicular to said sides and to the transversal rotation axis X-X.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the seat element 4 comprises blocking means 88 able to prevent translation between the seat 12 and the frame 8 in a direction parallel to the transversal rotation axis X-X.

[0045] For example, said blocking means 88 comprise stops or rabbets to block any translation between the frame 8 and the seat 12 along the transversal rotation axis X-X. According to one embodiment, said blocking means 88 comprise pegs 90 which fit into corresponding holes 91 so as to achieve the relative blocking of the seat 12 to the frame 8 in the direction of the transversal rotation axis X-X. For example, the pegs 90 are made in the seat 12, on the lower portion 48, and the holes 91 are made on the frame 8, on the support plates 93 for the associable seat 12. The blocking means 88 also perform a centring function of the frame 8 in relation to the seat 12.

[0046] Preferably, the bent portion 76 is joined to the seat 12 and is bent towards an associable frame 8 so as to identify a seat 92 able to house and cover the bracket 72.

[0047] The bracket 72 is joined to the frame 8 and overhangs the frame 8 so as to be facing the associable seat 12.

[0048] The assembly method of a seat element according to the invention will now be described.

[0049] In particular, the first step is to couple the second coupling means, inclining the seat 12 so as to insert the bracket 72 in the seat 92 defined by the bent portion 76 of the seat 12 ( figures 3,4,7,8,12).

[0050] The seat 12 is then rotated so as to approach the frame 8 : the rotation takes place thanks to the rotary coupling of the bent portion 76 and the bracket 72 which ensures, during rotation, the coupling of the frame 8 to the seat 12.

[0051] The elastic hook 28 is then brought into contact with the protuberance 32 (figures 5, 10): the presence of the slot 52 facilitates the elastic snapping of the hook 28 which engages on the undercut 44 of the protuberance 32 ( figures 6,11,13).

[0052] Following assembly, a bilateral axial constraint is formed between the frame 8 and the seat 12 in a longitudinal direction Z-Z, in that any movements in the two directions along said longitudinal direction Z-Z are prevented on the front portion 57 by the presence of the bent portion 76 which is attached to the bracket 72, and on the rear portion 56 by the presence of the elastic hook 28 which with its coupling end 36 opposes the sliding of the protuberance 32 towards the backrest 20.

[0053] Lastly, to dismantle the seat element 4, it is sufficient to act elastically on the hooks 28, for example with the tip of a screwdriver, so as to disengage the protuberances 32, rotate the seat 12 upwards and lastly disengage the bent portion 76 from the bracket 72.

[0054] As may be appreciated from the description, the seat element according to the present invention makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks presented in the prior art .

[0055] In particular, the seat element proves particularly convenient and easy to assemble and dismantle.

[0056] The coupling and release element does not cause any abrasion of the seat or of the seat covering when present.

[0057] The coupling element is sturdy and does not break even if the assembly and dismantling steps are performed repeatedly.

[0058] The coupling element is small in size and is practically invisible in normal conditions of use of the seat element.

[0059] The cost of producing and assembling the coupling element is extremely limited and substantially does not influence the overall cost of the seat element.

[0060] Thanks to the present invention it is possible to. store and transport the seat elements in a practical and convenient manner.

[0061] Lastly, the number of machines and amount of labour used for the production of the seat elements is reduced.

[0062] A person skilled in the art may make numerous modifications and variations to the seat elements described above so as to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, all contained within the sphere of protection as defined by the appended claims.