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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 Figures PATENTED «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, hai 3,656,! 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

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