COUPLING OF A CHAIR"

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

In its most general aspect, the present invention concerns the home and office furnishing sector.

In particular, the invention concerns a rotating fastening assembly for the seat-pedestal coupling of a chair and a chair comprising the aforesaid rotating fastening assembly.

State of the art

As is known in the home and office furnishing sector, the known art provides chairs comprising a seat and a pedestal combined with each other, wherein the seat is movable with respect to the pedestal.

In particular, in the chairs of the aforesaid type, the seat can rotate with respect to the pedestal and possibly also goes up and down.

The rotating movement of the seat with respect to the pedestal is achieved thanks to the use of a rotating fastening assembly, comprising a bushing and a pivot inserted in the bushing, wherein the bushing is generally intended to be directly or indirectly combined with the pedestal and the pivot is intended to be directly or indirectly combined with the seat.

In detail, the pivot, which is usually made of a metal material, and the bushing, which is usually made of a plastic material, are combined with each other free to rotate, thus the pivot is coupled with the bushing without interference, while a screw with a washer or Seeger which axially constrains the pivot and bushing to each other is used to prevent the pivot from slipping out from the bushing.

Although advantageous, the solutions such as the one considered above are not devoid of drawbacks, including a poor sealing action of the rotating fastening assembly which can easily cause the pivot and bushing to decouple.

Thus, disadvantageously, the seat can come off the pedestal whenever the pivot and bushing are decoupled.

Moreover, the coupling with screws, washers or Seegers is complicated and uncomfortable, thus making the mounting steps of the chair laborious and intricate.

Summary of the Invention

The technical problem underlying the present invention was to provide a rotating fastening assembly for a chair, in particular for coupling a seat of a chair with a pedestal of a chair, having structural and functional characteristics so as to overcome one or more of the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the known art.

According to the invention, the aforesaid problem is overcome with a rotating fastening assembly for the seat-pedestal coupling of a chair, comprising a bushing having a hole extended from a mouth of the aforesaid bushing, and a pivot partly intended to engage the aforesaid hole, wherein the aforesaid bushing comprises a side wall having a flexible portion exposed in the aforesaid hole, wherein, at the aforesaid flexible portion, the aforesaid hole has a smaller extent with respect to its extent at the aforesaid mouth, and wherein the aforesaid pivot is provided with at least one recess intended to be engaged by the aforesaid flexible portion for locking the aforesaid pivot in the aforesaid hole. In practice, according to the invention, the aforesaid flexible portion of the aforesaid bushing and the aforesaid recess of the aforesaid pivot form a press- fit mechanical interlocking, i.e. achievable by forcing the pivot into the bushing, which advantageously constitutes a solid and tight sealed constraint.

According to the above, the rotating fastening assembly according to the present invention is advantageously devoid of any screws, washers or Seegers for the coupling of the aforesaid bushing with the aforesaid pivot, thus with consequent simplifications for the mounting operations of the present rotating fastening assembly and for the coupling thereof with a pedestal and a seat of a chair, the aforesaid rotating fastening assembly preferably only being formed by the aforesaid bushing and the aforesaid pivot.

Preferably, the aforesaid flexible portion is a ring-shaped portion and preferably the aforesaid recess is a ring-shaped recess.

Preferably, the aforesaid hole extends between the aforesaid mouth and an end portion of the aforesaid bushing, the aforesaid hole more preferably being a through-hole.

Preferably, the aforesaid flexible portion coincides with one end portion of the aforesaid side wall opposite the aforesaid mouth.

Preferably, the aforesaid flexible portion is provided with at least one notch.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one notch extends from an end edge of the aforesaid side wall of the aforesaid bushing opposite said mouth.

Preferably, the aforesaid flexible portion comprises a plurality of flexible elements, each having a respective free end, wherein a notch is provided between two consecutive flexible elements of each couple of consecutive flexible elements of the aforesaid plurality of flexible elements.

Thus, according to the present invention, the aforesaid flexible elements at the aforesaid end portion of the bushing opposite the aforesaid mouth, constitute a sort of slightly flexible wings which open under pressure and close after the insertion of the aforesaid pivot, thus going in abutment and being fixed onto the aforesaid recess of the pivot.

Preferably, the aforesaid side wall, at the aforesaid flexible portion, has a lower outer edge, wherein the aforesaid lower outer edge is preferably a ring- shaped edge.

In practice, according to the above, the thickness of the aforesaid side wall, at the aforesaid flexible portion, is less than the thickness of the remaining portion of the aforesaid side wall or at least of a portion of the aforesaid side wall proximal to the aforesaid flexible portion.

Thus, substantially, the aforesaid lower outer edge constitutes a sort of step exposed to the aforesaid end portion of the aforesaid bushing.

Preferably, the aforesaid side wall, at the aforesaid mouth, has an inner stepped edge, wherein the aforesaid inner stepped edge is preferably a ring- shaped edge.

Preferably, the aforesaid pivot has a radial protrusion comprised between opposite ends thereof, wherein the aforesaid radial protrusion more preferably is a ring-shaped protrusion.

Preferably, the aforesaid radial protrusion is intended to go in abutment against the aforesaid inner stepped edge of the aforesaid side wall.

Preferably, the aforesaid side wall, at a portion proximal to the aforesaid mouth, has an upper outer edge, wherein the aforesaid upper outer edge is preferably a ring-shaped edge.

Substantially, the aforesaid upper outer edge constitutes a sort of step exposed to the aforesaid end portion of the aforesaid bushing.

Preferably, the aforesaid hole and the aforesaid pivot have respective lengths with corresponding tapered profiles.

Preferably, the aforesaid bushing is made of a plastic material.

Preferably, the aforesaid pivot is made of a metal material.

Preferably, the aforesaid bushing is made in one piece.

Preferably, the aforesaid pivot is made in one piece.

In practice, according to the above and to the present invention, the insertion of the aforesaid pivot in the aforesaid bushing creates a "bulging" which allows the seal of the aforesaid bushing on any standard pedestal having a cone with diameter equal to 50 mm.

According to the invention, the aforesaid problem is further overcome by a chair comprising a pedestal, a seat and the aforesaid rotating fastening assembly, wherein the aforesaid rotating fastening assembly is interposed between the aforesaid pedestal and the aforesaid seat, and is directly or indirectly combined therewith.

Preferably, the aforesaid pedestal is provided with a cone having an upper opening engaged by the aforesaid bushing, wherein the aforesaid upper opening has a diameter equal to about 50 mm.

Brief description of the figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better highlighted in the following detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment illustrated by way of example, and without limitations, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a perspective view of a rotating fastening assembly for the seat-pedestal coupling of a chair, comprising a bushing and a pivot housed in the bushing, according to the present invention;

- figure 2 is a side view of the rotating fastening assembly of figure 1 ;

- figure 3 shows the rotating fastening assembly of figure 1 in separate parts;

- figure 4 shows a side view of the rotating fastening assembly of figure 1 in separate parts;

- figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotating fastening assembly of figure 1 , in separate parts, according to the arrows A-A of figure 4;

- figure 6 is an upper plan view of the rotating fastening assembly of figure 1 ;

- figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotating fastening assembly of figure 1 , according to the arrows C-C of figure 6.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to the aforesaid figures, 1 generally denotes a rotating fastening assembly for the seat-pedestal coupling of a chair.

The rotating fastening assembly 1 comprises a bushing 2 having a hole 3, and a pivot 4 which, in the use of the present rotating fastening assembly, is partly intended to engage the hole 3.

In detail, according to the examples of the figures, the hole 3 is a through-hole extending from a mouth 5 of the bushing 2 until an end portion thereof, the possibility to provide a blind hole not however being excluded.

According to the present invention, the bushing 2 comprises a side wall 6 which comprises a flexible portion 7 exposed in the hole 3, wherein, at the flexible portion 7, the hole 3 has a smaller extent with respect to its extent at the mouth 5 and, still according to the present invention, the pivot 4 is provided with at least one recess 8 which, in the use of the present rotating fastening assembly, is intended to be engaged by the flexible portion 7, for locking the pivot 4 in the hole 3 of the bushing 2.

In practice, according to the present invention, the flexible portion 7 of the bushing 2 and the recess 8 of the pivot 4 form a press-fit mechanical interlocking, i.e. achievable by forcing the pivot 4 into the bushing 2, which advantageously constitutes a solid and very tight sealed constraint.

According to the examples of the figures, the flexible portion 7 is a ring- shaped portion, i.e. substantially extending along the whole side wall 6 of the bushing 2, the possibility to provide a flexible portion extending only on a part of the side wall not however being excluded.

Similarly, according to the examples of the figures, also the recess 8 is a ring-shaped recess, the possibility to provide a recess extending only on a part of a side wall of the pivot not however being excluded.

In detail, as shown in the examples of the figures, the flexible portion 7 coincides with one end portion of the side wall 6 opposite the mouth 5 of the bushing 2, the possibility to provide a flexible portion in a length of the side wall comprised between the mouth and the end portion of the bushing not however being excluded.

As far as the flexible portion 7 is still concerned, it should be said that it is provided with at least one notch 9 and, according to the examples of the figures, preferably comprises a plurality of notches 9. The notches 9 extend from an end edge 10 of the side wall 6 of the bushing 2 opposite the mouth 5.

In practice, according to the examples of the figures, the flexible portion 7 comprises a plurality of flexible elements 11 , each having a respective free end, wherein a notch 9 is provided between two consecutive flexible elements 11 of each couple of consecutive flexible elements of the plurality of flexible elements

11

In practice, according to the present invention and to the examples of the figures, the flexible elements 11 at the end portion of the bushing 2 opposite the mouth 5 constitute a sort of slightly flexible wings that open under pressure and close after the insertion of the pivot 4, thus going in abutment and being fixed on the recess 8 of the pivot 4 which, according to the examples of the figures, goes beyond the end edge 10 of the side wall 6 of the bushing 2, the possibility to provide a pivot that does not go beyond the end edge of the side wall of the bushing, when combined with the bushing, not however being excluded.

As far as the bushing 2 is still concerned, it should be said that, at the flexible portion 7, the side wall 6 has a lower outer edge 12 which, according to the above, is preferably a ring-shaped edge.

In practice, according to the examples of the figures, the thickness of the side wall 6, at the flexible portion 7, is less than the thickness of the remaining portion of the side wall 6 or at least of a portion of the side wall 6 proximal to the flexible portion 7.

This way, the ability of the flexible elements 11 (wings) to open when the pivot 4 is inserted in the hole 3 is improved without stressing the side wall 6 of the bushing 2. Thus, substantially, the lower outer edge 12 constitutes a sort of step exposed to, i.e. facing, the end portion of the bushing 2 opposite the mouth 5.

Moreover, the side wall 6, at the mouth 5, has an inner stepped edge 13 which, similarly to the above, is preferably a ring-shaped edge.

Moreover, the side wall 6, at a portion proximal to the mouth 5, has an upper outer edge 14 which, similarly to the above, is preferably a ring-shaped edge.

Substantially, the upper outer edge 14 forms a sort of step exposed to the aforesaid end portion of the bushing 2.

Moreover, the pivot 4 has a radial protrusion 15 comprised between opposite ends of the pivot, and which, according to the above, is preferably a ring-shaped protrusion.

The radial protrusion 15, in the use of the present rotating fastening assembly, is intended to go in abutment against the inner stepped edge 13 of the side wall 6 of the bushing 2.

Thus, according to the invention, the radial protrusion 15 divides the pivot 4 into two portions, a first portion 16 intended to engage the hole 3 of the bushing 2, and a second portion 17 intended to be directly or indirectly combined with a seat of a chair, while the bushing 2 is intended to be directly or indirectly combined with a pedestal of the same chair.

Moreover, the first portion 16 of the pivot 4 and the hole 3 of the bushing 2 can have respective lengths with corresponding tapered profiles, such as shown in the example of the figures.

Moreover, it should be added that the bushing 2 is advantageously made in one piece and of a plastic material, while the pivot 4 is advantageously made in one piece and of a metal material.

According to the invention and to the examples of the figures, the present rotating fastening assembly is thus devoid of screws, washers or Seegers for the coupling of the bushing with the pivot.

In practice, according to the above and to the present invention, the insertion of the pivot 4 in the bushing 2 creates a "bulging" which allows the seal of the bushing 2 on any standard pedestal having a cone with diameter equal to 50 mm.

The advantages of the present invention, which were clear throughout the description set forth above, can be summarized by remarking that a structurally particularly robust and functionally particularly simple rotating fastening assembly, which allows to achieve a particularly stable coupling between the pedestal and the seat of a chair in a particularly easy way, is provided.