United States Patent
us) 3,656,808
Chang (45) Apr. 18, 1972
(54) CHAIR 144,719 5/1946 King etal 297/298
{72} toventor: Ching-¥u Chang, Manoa Park Apts, - 2509451 5/1950 Reinhotz. 97/287
E113, 400 Glendale Road, Havertown, Pa, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS
Teen rise stiero) 387,884 2/1933 Great Britain, 297/294
[21] Appl.Noz 44,699
(32)
(51)
297/448, 297/285
AdTe 12
(5a) ‘297/448, 394, 393,307, 285,
297/487; DIs/i, 12
[56) Relerences Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
1,791,453 2/1931 Mies 297/294
2.975827 3/1961 Mauser. 207/485
3,069,204 12/1962 Ursterhoit et a 297/485
2325270 7/1943 Germann. 297/287
Primary Examiner—Bobby R. Gay
Assistant Examiner—Garry Moore
‘Attorney-—Howson and Howson
b7 ABSTRACT
‘A chair characterized by a frame structure formed by a single
frame member having a continuously curved shape. The frame
‘member includes an areuate planar floor engaging portion, an
arcuate inclined riser portion, and an inclined arcuate seat
support portion. A seat is suspended from the frame seat sup=
port portion and may be fabricated of flexible material such 23
fabric, ormay be ofa rigid material such as molded plastic.
11 Claims, 6 Drawing FiguresPATENTED «PR 18 1972 3,656,808
CHING-YU CHANG
euvre E
artvs.3,656,808
1
CHAR
‘The present invention relates generally to chairs and more
particularly to a novel chair structure comprising a frame
Formed by a single rod-like frame member.
CChairs have in the past been constructed of rods or tubes
which are bent and joined in various configurations to provide
leg, seat and back elements. Such arrangements have, how:
ever, for the most part been relatively complex structures
which are difficult ‘and expensive to fabrioate and which
require the welding OF other connection of joints during as.
sembly. In addition, many designs of this type are strictly
utilitarian in concept and lack aesthetic appeal
In the present invention, the chair structure is characterized
by a frame which is formed ofa single rod-like element having
2 continuously curved configuration. The chair frame has no
joints and thus requires no assembly steps, The frame can be
‘made without the usual large investment in jigs, dies and re~
lated rools. While functional in concept, the ehait frame
nevertheless produces an attractive, gracefil, free flowing sp
Bearance in ‘view of i comtinuouly curved single frame
‘in bref, the present chair includes a frame comprising a sin
fle continuously curved rod-like frame member which is
formed to provide an arcuate planar floor engaging portion,
an arcuate’ ascending riser portion, and an inclined arcuate
feat support portion. A chair seat i suspended fom the seat
‘rt portion, The several frame portions have substantially
ind are joined in smoothly curved transitions,
It is accordingly a first object of the present invention to
provide a chair structure having a chair frame formed of asin.
le continuously curved rod-like frame member.
'A further object ofthe invention is to provide a chair struc-
ture as described wherein the frame thereof i fee of joints Or
‘connectors and may be readily and inexpensively fabricated,
‘An additional object of the invention is to provide a chair
structure having a novel chair frame which provides a resilient
support of the chair seat.
‘Another object of the invention is to provide a chair struc-
ture as described which has an attractive modem appearance
and which can be decoratively and comfortably employed for
interior or exterior seating purpose.
‘Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
more readily apparent from the following detailed description
of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the ac-
‘companying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 isa side elevational view of a chair embodying the
present invention;
FIG, 21s a plan view of the chair of FIG. 1 with the seat
thereof partly broken away to show details of the frame
members
FIG. 3 isa front elevational view of the chair of FIG. 1 with
‘the seat partly broken away;
FIG. 4 isa view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 isa view taken along line 5—S of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 6 isa perspective view of the chait of FIGS. 1-8,
Referring to the drawings, the chair generally designated 10
embodying the present invention includes aframe 11 compris
ing a single continuously curving generally helical frame
member 12, and aseat 14 carried thereby. The frame member
12, which may be formed from a metal tod as illustrated or
any other suitable rod-like element, includes an arcuate planar
foor engaging portion 16, an arcuste riser portion 18 ascend
ing therefrom, and an arcuate seat suppor portion 20. The
three arcuate frame portions have a similar
‘curves smoothly into the adjacent portion.
Tin the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the frame
portions are each less than 360" in angular extent. The floor
Engaging portion 16 as seen in FIG. $ extends from the lower
frame member end 22 tthe tranion 24 with the rer por
tion 18 through approximately 215% The transition 24
preferably at the rear center ofthe frame as shown in FIGS. 3
{and 8, which places the end 22 off to one side ofthe seat, The
oor engaging portion should extend beneath the front edge
20
as
30
3s
45
50
35
6
6s
0
78
2
ithe seat support portion o provide the necessary cha ta
iy.
“The rises portion extends from the transition 24 wo a transi
‘ton, 26 with the seat support portion through approximately
180° The seat support portion 20 forms neatly a complete ci
cle, having an angular extent of approximately 325° between
the transition 26 and the upper frame end 28. The suggested
angular extent of the various frame portions describe. a
preferred embodiment of the invention und it should be um.
Alerstood tha these angles may be varied within the scope of
the invention.
“Although the ser portion 18 inthe illustrated embodiment
is shown as a planar arcuate portion of the fisine, the Meet
Portion may altematively be of a helical shape, The angle a
Shown in FIG. between the rae! portion andthe Noor nga
ing portion is preferably less than 43" and as usted i 25°
although this angle can be varied depending onthe height of
the seat desire. Similarly, she angle which te seat support
ing portion 20 makes withthe bortontal i preferably less
than 43" and nthe preferred form of the invention i 30%, The
angle is preferably grester than the angle a
"The seat 14 in the ilustrated embodiment i formed of a
molded plase and includes a generally oval shaped relatively
flat bottom portion 30 and a smoothly curved back portion 32
extending upwardly and outwardly. therefrom. A‘ U-shaped
peripheral ange 34 defines the over edge of the seat ands
formed to ft over the seat supporting porton 20 ofthe fame
12 Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the frame transition 26 andthe
upper end 28 of the fame are concealed beneath the seat
‘ge.
The seat 14 could alteraately be made ofa fabric and could
be attached tothe seat support portion ofthe frame enter by
sewing, acing, hooks, zipper or anyother suitable means ofa
tichment The shape ofthe seat andthe means of attachment
‘ofthe sett the frame can th be vared as desired:
In the illustrated embodiment, the arcuate. chai frame
curves upwardly fom the floce in 2 countercleckioe
Slirection. The frame may obviously be reversed in direction
nd curve upwardly clockwise with equally effective ests
Such a case the nse portion and tne end 22 wil be on the
Fight hand side of the chair, keeping the transition 24 at the
rar center ofthe chai.
‘The radius of the arcuate frame portions may differ
somewhat ass ilustrated in the present embodiment wherein
{he radius ofthe riser portion If ts sighy larger than that of
the floor engaging portion 16 inorder to support the front
tdge of the seat over the font ofthe Noor engaging portion It
for example, be desieable to make the radius of the
support portion smaller than that ofthe oor engaging
portion, although inte ilustated embodiment these partons
Fave the same ras.
‘Because of the configuration of the frame member, the
chair will ave a certain resilient character, the amouit of
Spring of the frame depending on the size and characteristics
of the material from which the fame is fabricated, Although a
theta rod is ilustrated in the drawings, steel pipe orexa.
le I inch OD witha wall thickness of onesitcnth inch to
‘ne-cighth inch, would alternately be a suitable material for
the frame member and can be easly formed to the necessary
shape without elaborate equipment. Conventional bending
tools and techniques may be employed to form the frame in
Single step operation. radius of appronimately 18 inches for
the arcuate frame portions and a sem height of 15-18 inches
are preferred dimensions but may of course be varied. a
desired.
The term “rod-like” as used in describing the frame
member is considered to include either sold or hollow tot
fated structural elements which may have any desited cross
Sectional configuration. While a metal rod or tube would be
the most obvious choice considering strength and cost, other
‘materials could also be used such as plastica,
“The absence of any joins or connectors inthe chur frame
‘realy simplifies the expense and time required to manufac.
may,
hai3,656,!
3
ture the frame. The present construction further assures
practically unlimited life of the chair frame since accidental
breakage, loosening of joints, of weakening of the frame is vie-
‘ually impossible
‘Manifestly, changes in details of construction can be ef- 5
fected by those skilled in the art without departing from the
spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in and limited
solely by the appended claims.
‘aim:
1. A chair frame, comprising a generally helical single con- 10
tinuously curved rod-like member having a planar lowermost
arcuate portion having a uniform radius of curvature adapted
to est upon a floor to support sald member, and having an up=
‘permost planar arcuate seat support portion having a uniform
Tadius of curvature inclined to the plane of said lowermost ar-
uate portion.
2. A chair comprising a frame, and a seat, said frame com-
prising ‘continuously curved rod-like frame member,
Said frame member inclading a horizontal arcuate planar floot
‘engaging portion having a uniform radius of curvature, &
planar arcuate riser portion having a uniform radius of curvar
ture extending from one end of said floor engaging portion,
the plane of said riser portion being inclined at an acute angle
to that of said floor engaging portion, and a planar arcuate
seat support portion having a uniform radius of curvature ex. 25
tending from the upper end of said riser portion, the plane of
said seat support portion being inclined at an acute angle with
Fespect 10 that of said floor engaging portion, the transitions
between sald adjoining frame portions comprising smoothly
‘curved continuations of the ares of said respective portions,
said seat being peripherally supported by said arcuate seat
support portion,
‘3.4 chair frame comprising a single continuously curved
rod-like frame member, said frame member including a
horizontal arcuate planar floor engaging portion having a
voniform radius of curvature, a planar arcuate riser portion
1s
20
30
35
43
50
55
60
6s
0
18
808
4
having @ uniform radios of curvature extending from one end
of sid floor engaging portion, the plane of sat der por
ting inclined at an acute angie to that of sad Toor engaging
Porton, and a planar arcuate seat support portion havigg ¢
Sniform radius of curvature extending fom the upper end of
Said ser portion, the plane of aid seat support portion being
inclined at an acute ange to tat of said floor engaging pom
tion, the transitions between said sdjoning fm porfons
comprising smoothly curved continuations of the art ef sid
4A chal frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transition
bberwcen sad scr portion and sid sea support portion ice
tered atthe frontof the chai
5. A char frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the planes of
ach of sald planar floor engaging. ice and set support por:
tions are perpendicular to nveleréne plane passing rerdeally
through the chair frame slong the fronttoredc ante hereof
A chaic frame ar eained in claim 3 wherein the rail of
the arcuate frame portions are substantally equal
"A chair frame os claimed in claim 3 wien said frame
member e formed ofa single metal rod
3. A chair frame as claimed in clit 3 wherein said fame
imemiver formed ofa metal tube.
930A chai fame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the arcuate
xtgnto said floor engaging portion comprises approximately
215% the arcuate extent of fahd ter portion comprises op
proximately 180, and the arcuate extet of aid sea suppor
Ing portion comprises approximately 325%
16. A char frame ts claimed to claim 6, the transition
between sai floor engaging portion and sald rae portion
being centered a there ofthe ea
Ti chaie frame as claimed in elaim 3 wherein said Noor
engaging portion extends beneath the front edge of said sat
sappertporion