FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to furniture seating of the bean-bag variety. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A type of furniture seating is commonly referred to as a "bean-bag". Bean-bag assemblies are typically formed from a loose and fully enclosed bag or liner that is partially filled with a fill material, such as polystyrene pellets, beads, beans or similar. The liner is often sewn together from a number of fabric pieces and is provided with a sealable opening, for example a zipper, to enable access into the enclosure for the purpose of filling the liner. The liner is generally made large enough to enable one or more people to sit on the bean-bag for seating and the bean-bag assembly may often also comprise an outer cover that surrounds the surface of liner and on may be formed from various fabrics or materials in different colours or provided with patterns to change the aesthetic appearance of the bean-bag. As a person sits on the bean-bag, the fill material within the liner moves fluidly and redistributes within the internal volume of the liner so as to surround and support the body of the person sitting. The flow and redistribution of the fill material enables the bean-bag to conform to the contours of the user's body.

The bean-bags described above tend to be light-weight and cheap relative to wooden furniture but tend to take the form of an amorphous blob. While the light-weight aspect is advantageous in many applications, the amorphous look can often be considered as having an untidy appearance and may not be considered suitable for use in certain settings, such as in the hospitality industry, in restaurants arid bars, or in any other domestic or commercial environment in which the user requires a more defined furniture seating shape for aesthetic reasons. In view of the above, bean-bag chair design has evolved in an attempt to provide a more rigid and structured shape to the bean-bags, but maintain their light-weight and cost benefits relative to solid wooden furniture. Such bean-bag chairs typically comprise multiple adjoined chambers and each chamber is individually fillable via its own opening, for example a zipper. The use _^ of multiple, independently fillable chambers supports a more structured shape and form. Most designs having a horizontal seat portion and an upwardly extending back and shoulder rest portion. Such bean-bag chairs are often filled to a higher level than amorphous bean-bags to assist in maintaining the desired shape.

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In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved furniture seating of the bean- bay variety, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO

In a first aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a furniture seat assembly, comprising:

a fillable liner comprising two or more adjoined and reticulated chambers that collectively define a predetermined exterior seat shape when filled, and a liner opening provided in the liner to enable filling of the chambers; and

fill material substantially filling the chambers of the liner to form the liner into the exterior seat shape ready for use.

Preferably, each chamber may define an interior space for receiving fill material and may be connected to adjacent chamber(s) by one or more interior ports or openings within the liner. In one form, the interior spaces of each pair of adjoined chambers of the liner may be connected by two interior ports.

Preferably, the liner may comprise multiple external walls, each comprising an inner and outer surface, and which collectively define the predetermined exterior seat shape when the chambers are filled. Additionally, the liner may comprise one or more internal walls, each internal wall extending between the inner surfaces of the external walls to divide the total liner interior volume of space into the one or more chambers. In one form, the chambers are reticulated with each other in that one or more ports or openings are provided in each internal wall that separates adjoining or adjacent chambers.

Preferably, the or each internal wall is joined or connected to the inner surface of the external walls about their entire periphery such that there are no gaps or spaces through which fill material may flow at the boundaries between the internal and external walls.

Preferably, the one or more ports or openings of each internal wall are displaced from the peripheral edge of the wall. In one form, a single opening or port is centrally located in the internal wall. In other forms, two or more openings or ports are provided in the internal wall and the openings or ports are equi-spaced relative to the edges of the internal wall and each other.

Preferably, the liner opening is provided in one of the external walls of the liner.

More preferably, the liner opening is selectively closeable or sealable by a closing arrangement. By way of example, the closing arrangement may be in the form of a zipper, hook and loop fastener, lacing, mating seal members or any other suitable closing structure or mechanism.

Preferably, the liner opening is an elongate slit in the liner, and may be straight or any other shape. In one form, the liner opening may be shaped to define an access panel in the liner that is movable between an open position that exposes an access space into the interior of the liner and a closed position which closes the access space. In one form, the liner opening may further comprise an associated hollow funnel for guiding fill material during filling of interior of the liner. Preferably, the funnel of the liner opening may be formed from the same material as the liner. Preferably, the funnel may be moveable between a concealable position within the interior of the liner and an exposed operative position protruding outwardly from the liner opening.

The fill material may be any form of natural or synthetic beads, balls, beans, pellets or the like. The fill material may have a spherical, square or arbitrary geometry, or comprise a mixture of these. In one form, the fill material comprises polystyrene or plastic beads.

Preferably, the external and internal walls of the liner are formed from one or more pieces of material that are stitched, sewed, adhered or otherwise attached or connected to each other. The material may be any form of suitable fabric or mesh material , and the pieces of the liner may be formed from two or more different types of material. Preferably, the material is flexible, and may be elastic or non-elastic, but alternatively may be semi-rigid in other forms if desired. Additionally, the furniture seat assembly may optionally comprise a cover that is arranged to conform and extend over the entire exterior surface of the liner. Preferably, the cover is provided with a cover opening to enable it to be fitted over the liner and removed from the liner when necessary. In one form, the cover opening is closeable or sealable by a closing arrangement, which may be of the same type provided for closing the liner opening. The cover is may be formed from one or multiple pieces of material that are connected to each other and may have a shape that corresponds to the external walls or surfaces of the liner. The cover may in some forms be formed of material that is waterproof for protection, but in other forms the cover may be water permeable. In a second aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a fillable furniture seat liner for forming a furniture seat having a predetermined exterior seat shape, comprising:

material that is configured to form an enclosure having two or more adjoined and reticulated chambers for receiving fill material; and an opening in the material providing access to the enclosure for filling of the chambers with fill material.

The fillable furniture seat liner may comprise any one or more of the features mentioned in respect of the fillable liner of the first aspect of the invention.

In a third aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a furniture seat system comprising two or more furniture seat assemblies of the first aspect of the invention that are connected or coupled together in an arrangement to provide an overall furniture seat.

The furniture seat assemblies of the furniture seat system may comprise any one or more features mentioned in respect of the first aspect of the invention.

In a, fourth aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a fillable liner for a bean- bag, or alternatively a furniture seat assembly of the first aspect of the invention, the liner comprising a liner opening having a hollow funnel for guiding fill material during filling of the interior of the liner.

Preferably, the liner opening an elongate slit in the liner. In one form the slit may be straight but in alternative forms the slit may be shaped to define an access panel in the liner that is movable between an open position that exposes an access space into the interior of the liner and a closed position which closes the access space.

Preferably, the funnel of the liner opening may be formed from the same material as the liner. Preferably, the funnel may be moveable between a concealable position within the interior of the liner and an exposed operative position protruding outwardly from the liner opening.

Preferably, the liner opening may be selectively closeable by an operable closing arrangement. By way of example, the closing arrangement may be selected from any one or more of the following: zipper, hook and loop fastener, lacing, or mating seal members. The flllable liner may form a bean-bag of the blob-type, a bean-bag chair, or any other furniture type seat.

The fillable liner may have any one or more features defined in relation to the flllable liner of the first aspect of the invention.

The term "reticulated" as used in this specification and indicative claims, unless the context suggests otherwise, is intended to mean any internal network or arrangement of openings, porting, or other type of connection configuration that operatively connects the interior spaces of the chambers of the liner to each other to enable fill material to flow or move between the chambers.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification and claims means "consisting at least in part of'. When interpreting each statement in this specification and claims that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an isometric transparent wire-frame view of a furniture seat assembly in the form of a bean-bag chair in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a right-side elevation view of the bean-bag chair of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a top-plan view of the bean-bag chair of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a front-end elevation view of the bean-bag chair of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 A shows a perspective view of a furniture seat assembly having an alternative liner opening compared to that of Figure 1 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the liner opening being shown in the closed configuration; and

Figure 5B shows a perspective view of the alternative liner opening of Figure 5 A in an open configuration with an inbuilt funnel exposed for the fill material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Overview

The present invention relates to furniture seating, and preferably lightweight furniture of the bean-bag type which comprises a liner that may be filled with a fill material to form a predetermined furniture external seat shape or profile. The furniture seat assembly of is scalable in size and may be arranged as a single-seater or to seat two or more people depending on requirements. The overall exterior seat shape is configurable to suit aesthetic requirements and the furniture seat assembly may be configured or shaped to provide a chair, armchair, sofa or couch, chaise or any other type of furniture seating.

The desired furniture seat is formed from a fillable material liner that forms an enclosure for receiving fill material and is configured to provide two or more adjoined and reticulated hollow chambers. The chambers of the liner are, for example, reticulated to each other by a network of ports or openings such that their interior spaces are interconnected at the adjoined boundary between the or each pair of adjacent chambers. A liner opening is also provided for accessing the interior of one of the chambers and fill material, such as polystyrene beans or the like, may be introduced through the liner opening to fill the chambers of the liner enclosure. As the fill material is introduced into the liner, and particularly the chamber associated with the liner opening, the fill material filters through into the other adjacent adjoining chamber or chambers via the network of ports or openings, usually with the assistance of manipulation of the orientation of the liner to assist the fill material to filter, flow or fall through to the remaining chamber or chambers under gravity.

This furniture seat assembly arrangement enables bean-bag type furniture seating to be provided with a predetermined exterior shape with the use of multiple adjoined chambers configured in the desired shape, and a time efficient method of installation of the fill material via a single opening of one of the chambers through which the fill material may enter the liner and filter through to the other remaining chambers via the network of ports. More detailed examples of the furniture seat assembly will now be described.

Bean-bag chair embodiment

With reference to Figures 1 -4, a bean-bag chair in accordance with an embodiment of the furniture seat assembly will be explained by way of example only. It will be appreciated that the shape and size of the chair may be modified to suit the other design requirements.

Referring to Figures 1 , the external and internal configuration of the bean-bag chair 10 is shown in its assembled, filled and ready-to-use form, although only a portion of the fill material 18 is shown to enable the remaining configuration and structure of the assembly to be described more clearly.

The bean-bag chair 10 comprises a liner 12 that is preferably formed from flexible material such as a woven fabric, mesh or other mesh material. In other forms, the liner may be formed from semi-rigid material if desired. By way of example, the liner 12 is typically formed from one or more pieces of material that are sewn, stitched or otherwise connected together to form two or more adjoined fillable hollow chambers. When filled, the chambers collectively define the predetermined exterior seat shape and profile desired. In this embodiment, the bean-bag chair 10 comprises five adjoined chambers 14a-14e, but it will be appreciated that any number of two or more chambers may be utilised in other furniture seat designs. Each of the chambers 14a- 14e may have a particular shape, size and orientation relative to the other chambers, depending on the furniture seat shape required.

The liner material 12 forms the external walls of the chambers 14a-14e and the outer surface of the external walls of the chambers 14a-14e defines the overall exterior seat shape, which can be configured to suit design and aesthetic requirements. The inner surfaces of the . external walls of the liner material 12 define the liner enclosure, which has a volume of space for receiving and retaining a fill material, a portion of which is shown generally at arrow 18 in chamber 14e. The liner material 12 is also provided with one or more internal walls 20a-20d that extend between the inner surfaces of the external walls within the enclosure to thereby divide the volume of space into the , separate chambers 14a-14e. In this embodiment, the internal walls 20a-20d are joined or connected to the inner surfaces of their respective external walls about their entire periphery such that there are no gaps or spaces through which fill material may flow at the boundaries between the internal and external walls.

Reverting to Figures 2-4, the exterior seat shape or profile of the bean-bag chair 10 will be explained in further detail. In the bean-bag chair 10 shown, the arrangement of the chambers 14a- 14e forms an armless reclining chair for a single person. The bean-bag chair 10 is substantially L-shaped extending between a head-end surface 22 and foot- end surface 24. The upper outer surface of chambers 14c-14e provides a seating surface 16 upon which the user may sit and the forward facing outer surfaces of chambers 14a and 14b provide a back and shoulder rest surface 17 for the user. The lower outer surfaces of chambers 14c-14e collectively provide a floor engagement or base surface 26 which rests or contacts with the underfloor upon which the bean-bag chair is placed for use. The left and right side outer surfaces of chambers 14a-14e collectively provide the left and right side surfaces of the chair. The rearwardly facing outer surfaces of chambers 14a- 14c collectively provide a substantially upright support surface 27, which may abut or contact a wall or other vertical structure when the bean- bag chair is placed for use to prevent it from slipping backward on the underfloor in use, although it will be appreciated that the bean-bag chair need not necessarily be placed up against a wall in use. In the bean-bag chair 10 shown, the back and shoulder rest surface 17 is reclined relative to the vertical while the seat rest surface 16 is slightly inclined toward the front end 24 relative to the horizontal for comfort.

Reverting to Figure 1 , each of the internal walls 20a-20d is arranged to extend between the left and right side inner surfaces of the liner 12 and between either the back and shoulder rest surface 17 and rear support surface 27 or the seat rest surface 16 and floor engagement surface 26 to form the multiple chambers 14a- 14e. The internal walls 20a- 20d effectively represent a boundary or partition wall between adjacent chambers.

In this embodiment, all the chambers 14a-14e are reticulated in that they are interconnected by a networks of openings or ports provided in the boundary internal walls 20a-20d. For example, each of the internal walls 20a-20d is provided with two openings or ports 30a-30d. The ports 30a-30d may be substantially circular or oval, but it will be appreciated that the ports may alternatively be rectangular, square or any other arbitrary shape. The port 30a-30d may simply be in the form of a cut-out in the liner material of the internal wall 20a-20d or alternatively a mechanical port or opening having a more rigid structure. In the embodiment shown, the ports 30a-30d are cut-outs and the edge or periphery of the ports may be reinforced or otherwise finished or capped to prevent deterioration of the opening over time. The number, location, size, shape and arrangement ^" of the ports between each pair of adjacent chambers may vary depending on the overall shape and size of the bean-bag chair or other furniture seat assembly design, and the type and size of fill material used. The primary requirement is that the number, location, size, shape and arrangement of the ports of each internal wall are such that the chambers and overall external shape or form of the filled liner does not substantially distort. Typically, the one or more ports or openings of each internal wall are displaced from the peripheral edge of the wall. If a single opening or port is used, it is preferably centrally located relative to the surface area of the internal wall. In other forms where two or more openings , or ports are provided in the internal walls, the openings or ports are equi-spaced relative to the edges of the internal wall and each other, for example symmetrically located relative to the center of the internal wall. For example, in the embodiment shown twin ports 30a-30d are provided for each internal wall 20a-20d, each port of each pair being centrally located within one half of the internal wall. As to the total surface area of the opening(s) relative to the total surface area of the internal wall, in most cases this will preferably be less than about 20%, such that the port openings are large enough to allow fill material to flow relatively easily between chambers during filling of the liner, but not too large such that the structural integrity of the internal walls distorts and thereby causing distortion of the overall external bean-bag chair form.

The bean-bag chair 10 is provided with a liner opening 32 in the liner 12 to enable access into one of the chambers of the liner. In the embodiment shown, the opening 32 is provided along a portion of the head-end surface 22 of the liner 12 and provides access into chamber 14a. The chamber associated with the liner opening may be referred to as the 'entry chamber' for the fill material. In this embodiment, the opening 32 is an elongate slit, although it will be appreciated that any other shape or size opening may be employed in alternative embodiments. In this embodiment, the opening 32 is preferably closable or sealable via operation of a closing arrangement. The closing arrangement may be any suitable form of arrangement or mechanism that is operable to seal or close the opening 32, including a zipper, hook and loop fastening system (Velcro ^® ), lacing, mating seal members, or the like. Referring to Figures 5 A and 5B, an alternative embodiment of the bean-bag chair 100 is shown with a liner 1 12 having an alternative form of liner opening 102. In all other respects, the liner 1 12 of the bean-bag chair 100 is the same as the previous embodiment bean-bag chair 10. Figure 5A shows the liner opening 102 in a closed configuration. The liner opening 102 is shaped to provide an access panel 104 that may hinge between open and closed positions about a bending or hinging line depicted by dotted line 106 in Figure 5 A. The access panel 104 covers a corresponding access space 105 into the interior of the bean-bag chair 100 when in the closed configuration as shown in Figure 5B. The access panel 104 has an exterior surface 104a shown in Figure 5 A and an interior surface 104b shown in Figure 5B. In this embodiment, the liner opening 102 comprises a central elongate slit portion 102a that extends at its ends into two substantially transversely extending side portions 102b, 102c to form a substantially U-shaped opening slit, although it will be appreciated that the opening may be C-shaped or any other shape that defines an access panel in the liner material. As with the liner opening 32 in the bean-bag chair 10 embodiment, the liner opening 102 of this embodiment is preferably closable or sealable via operation of a closing arrangement, such as a zipper, hook and loop fastening system (Velcro ^® ), lacing, mating seal member, or any other arrangement that is operable to releasably seal or close the opening. With reference to Figure 5B, in this embodiment, the liner opening 102 is provided with an inbuilt and integrally formed funnel 108 that may be used during installation to help guide the fill material through the opening and into the interior of the liner 1 12 when filling. In this embodiment, the hollow funnel 108 is formed by a closed loop of material that creates an elongate tube or guide with walls extending between first 108a and second 108b open ends. The material forming the funnel 108 may be the same type as that forming the liner. For example, the funnel 108 may be formed from flexible woven fabric. In this form, the first end 108a is free and the second end 108b is fixed, attached or connected, for example stitched or sewn, to the periphery of the liner opening 102 inside the liner. A portion of the wall of the funnel may also optionally be connected, for example stitched or sewn, to the interior surface 104b of the access panel 104 as shown at 1 10. When the liner opening 102 is in the closed configuration shown in Figure 5 A, the funnel 108 is folded away to extend into the interior of the liner 1 12 and concealed by the access panel 104. When the liner opening 102 is in an open configuration with the access panel 104 hinged open as shown in Figure 5B, the funnel 108 is folded or pulled out into its operative position such that it protrudes outwardly from the liner opening 102 for use in assisting the filling or emptying of the liner 1 12 of the bean bag chair 100 by acting as a guide through which fill material may be poured, whether being installed into or removed from the bean bag chair interior.- It will be appreciated that the liner opening 102 of this embodiment with the funnel 108 could be used with any type of bean-bag, whether a conventional blob-type, chair-type or otherwise. Reverting to the embodiment of Figures 1 -4, as mentioned earlier, the interior volume of space formed by the enclosure of the lining 12 is filled with fill material to a desired fill level. The fill material may be any form of natural or synthetic material having uniform or non-uniform shapes and sizes. By way of example^ the fill material may be in the form of beads, beans, or pellets, whether formed from plastic or polystyrene or any other compressible or non-compressible material. By way of example only, the bean-bag chair 10 is provided with a fill material comprising granular plastic beads having an average size of preferably 2- 10mm in diameter, more preferably 3-5mm diameter.

The fill material is preferably lightweight although heavier material may be employed in certain situations where the furniture seating requires a ballast to secure it in place. The overriding requirement of the fill material is that it needs to flow substantially like fluid within and through the liner to occupy the interior spaces of all the chambers during the filling process. As to the desired fill level, this may be modified to suit end requirements. In most situations, the fill level will occupy 90-100% of the interior volume such that the chambers are filled out to form the overall desired exterior seat shape or profile, and this level of infill generally minimises distortion and substantially preserves the form of the seat shape when the chair is being used. A softer and more deformable chair may be provided with a slightly lower level or degree of fill versus a higher and more compact level of fill, which will provide a harder and more rigid seating surface to suit the user's particular comfort requirements or preference. Optionally, the bean bag chair 10 is also provided with a removable external protection cover (not shown). The cover is preferably formed from a flexible fabric or material and in most situations, from multiple pieces or panels of material that are attached or connected together via sewing, stitching, or the like. The shape of the cover is configured to conform and substantially correspond to the exterior profile and shape of the liner 12 when filled. The cover is also provided with an opening, which may preferably be closed or sealed via a closing arrangement, such as a zipper, hook and loop fastener or any other closing arrangement or mechanism, to enable the cover to be applied over the entire exterior surface of the liner 12 and to be removed from liner when desired, for example to be washed or swapped with another cover, if desired. The cover may be provided in any desired colour, with or without patterns or other design features, to enhance or customise the bean bag chair for the user and to provide variety and aesthetic appeal. In some forms, the cover may be formed from waterproof material so as to protect the internal liner 12 and fill material 18 from moisture, for example spillages or weathering if the bean bag chair is employed in an outdoor environment.

By way of example, the typical assembly, or installation of the bean bag chair 10 will be explained. The user will typically receive the liner 12 and the optional cover in folded forms in a package. The desired volume of fill material will be provided in the package or obtained separately by the user in a separate bag or bags. Firstly, the user unfolds the liner 12 and cover, and then opens the opening 32 of the liner 12 to access the interior of the entry chamber 14a. The user then pours the fill material from the bag(s) through the opening 32 and into the chamber 14a. As the fill material flows into the liner 12, the fill material flows or falls through the ports 30a and into the next adjacent chamber 14b and so on through to the remaining chambers 14c-14e via their respective ports 30b-30d until the fill material reaches the foot end chamber 14e. The fill material flows under gravity and therefore the user may be required to manipulate and orientate the liner 12 to assist the fill material to flow through the reticulated chambers, filling each in turn. Once all the chambers have been filled to the desired fill level and the exterior shape of the chair is formed, the user may then close or seal the opening 32 so as to retain the fill material within the enclosure of the lining 12. The user then slips the optional protection cover over the liner and seals its respective opening to thereby complete assembly of the bean bag chair. The user may then locate or place the bean bag chair in a desired position, whether in an indoor or outdoor environment. This disassembly of the bean bag chair for transportation or storage is reverse of the above process.

Alternative embodiments

In other alternative embodiments, the furniture seating assembly is modular in that it may be connected to other like or different seating assemblies to form an overall seating configuration or system. For example, two bean bag chairs may be coupled or connected together via straps or some other fastening system to form a large or different seating shape to suit requirements.

An example of an armless bean bag chair has been provided above using multiple reticulated chambers that may be filled by via a single opening. It will be appreciated that this configuration may be adapted and applied to any other form of chair, sofa, or furniture seating design. Each furniture seat requires at least two joined reticulated chambers. The number, size and shape of the chambers will be dependent on the overall exterior shape and design of the furniture seating. Simple shapes may require fewer chambers than more complex and larger designs, which may require more chambers in Order to retain the seat profile when filled. It will be appreciated that other furniture seats may be provided with arm rests and that each chamber may have one or multiple adjoining chambers each with a respective connecting port or ports at the boundary of common internal walls for each adjacent pair of chambers.

The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.