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(11) | EP 0 596 176 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Item of modular seating furniture |
| (57) An item of modular seating furniture characterised in that it consists of a basically
rectangular seat frame 1, the upper part of which is provided with specific means
of supporting the seating area, whilst the lower part is provided with two vertical
rails 6 into each of which are introduced the guides 7 of a back support 8 which is
provided with a further two guides 9 located on its sides and to each of which is
joined an arm 10 provided with a rail 11 by means of which it is joined to the guide
9 of the back support, and at the same time is provided with a threaded bridge-shaped
support 12 so that it can be fitted directly to the frame 1, to which a front piece
15 is also joined by means of two supports 16 and two screws 17. |
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The object of the present invention is an ITEM OF MODULAR SEATING FURNITURE, in particular for a sofa or three-piece suite.
[0002] Until now the most advanced furniture of this type has been produced in such a way that the different models constitute variations on a basic theme. Nevertheless, whenever a customer requests an item of furniture which differs from those listed in the catalogue it has to be custom made, which in many cases is not possible because the salesman is not the manufacturer and because in fact it implies an increase in price.
[0003] The novel item of seating furniture of the present invention is totally modular, such that starting from a base frame and by incorporating different complementary pieces it is possible to design a completely personalised sofa or three-piece suite.
[0004] In effect, starting from a common seat base of revolutionary design, the present invention makes it possible to produce an infinite number of designs by means of interchanging the arms, the front piece, the back supports and the cushions, the only common parts being the seat frame and the back support base.
[0005] Furthermore, the frame includes a novel support system by means of which the hardness of the seat in each area can be regulated upon request from the customer. This is an important point because, as is common in the home, the various members of the family will tend to acquire their own part of the sofa and want it to be hard or soft according to their own taste. This support system also has the unique characteristic of being double, which means that it guarantees an exceptional level of comfort under any circumstances and a durability which is greater than that of other known systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In order that the present invention made be better understood, there follows a series of drawings which represent in a simplified and schematic manner one possible embodiment which should be taken as a purely illustrative and non-limiting example of the practical possibilities of the invention.
[0007] In said drawings:
Figure 1 represents a view of the seat frame and back support where it can be seen how they are joined together.
Figure 2 represents a view of the arms and the way in which they are joined to the assembly of figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a view of the front piece where it can be seen how it is joined to the seat frame.
Figure 4 represents a sectional view of the seat once assembled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] According to the drawings, the novel item of seating furniture which forms the object of the present invention comprises an approximately rectangular seat frame 1 on which is situated the seat area, provided with a double support system consisting of a plurality of parallel struts 2, which are fixed to the front of the frame 3 and to a fixing bar 4, and of two rear struts 5 of greater rigidity which are fixed to the bar 4 and to the rear part of the frame, on which are located two vertical rails 6 into which two guides 7 located on a back support piece 8 can be introduced, thereby attaching the back support firmly to the seat frame.
[0009] The back support piece is at the same time provided with a further two guides 9 located at the ends thereof at a position which is slightly higher than that of the previously mentioned guides, and by means of which it is possible to join to the assembly a generally parallelepiped shaped arm 10 which is provided with a corresponding rail 11 as well as a threaded bridge-shaped support located on its interior side face and by means of which it is also attached to the seat frame with the help of a support 13 provided thereon and a screw 14 which passes through said support.
[0010] A generally rectangular shaped front piece 15 is joined with the help of two screws 17 to two supports 16 situated on the front of the frame.
[0011] To complete the assembly process there then remains only to fit an element to protect the springs of the double cushioning system 18, a full cushion which constitutes the seat base 19 and a back support cushion 20.
[0012] Both the arms and the front piece and the various cushions can adopt different configurations such that by interchanging pieces it is possible to achieve different sofa or three-piece suite designs.
[0013] All the pieces are provided with a system of covers which is easily fitted to make it easier to clean or change if necessary.
[0015] Given the above description, it is important to underline that the embodiment of the idea disclosed may be subject to small alterations in detail providing they are based on the fundamental concept of the idea, which is essentially that which is indicated in the description given. The choice of materials used to realise the present invention, the shape or dimensions thereof and any other details which may arise fall within the scope of the invention as long as they do not affect the basic concept.
1. An item of modular seating furniture characterised in that it comprises a basically
rectangular seat frame (1) the upper part of which is provided with a support system
consisting of a plurality of parallel struts (2), the front ends of which are fixed
to the front face of the frame (3) and to a fixing bar (4), and two rear struts (5)
of greater rigidity fixed to the same bar and to the rear face of the frame, on which
are located two vertical rails (6) into each of which can be introduced two guides
(7) located on a rectangular piece constituting a back support (8) provided with a
further two guides (9) situated at its ends at a position which is slightly higher
than that of the previously mentioned guides.
2. An item of seating furniture according to claim 1 characterised in that joined
to the sides of the assembly formed by the seat frame and the back support piece are
two generally parallelepiped shaped arms (10), each provided on their rear faces with
a rail (11), which can be fitted to the lateral guides (9) of the back support, and
a bridge-shaped threaded support (12) situated on the interior side face to attach
the arms to the frame by means of a support (13) provided thereon.
3. An item of seating furniture according to claims 1 and 2 characterised in that
seat frame is provided on its front face with two supports (16) into which a generally
rectangular shaped front piece (15) can be fitted by means of two screws (17).
4. An item of seating furniture according to claims 1 to 3 characterised in that it
comprises a laminar element which protects the cushioning system (18) and on which
is situated a full cushion constituting the seat base (19) and on top of this a back
support cushion (20).
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 86 (2) EPC
1. An item of modular seating furniture characterized in that it comprises a basically
rectangular seat frame (1) the upper part of which is provided with a double support
system for the seat base, the rigidity of said support system being variable by the
substitution of parts by the user, consisting primarily of a plurality of interchangeable
parallel ties such as springs - (2) whose front ends are fixed to the front face of
the frame (3) and whose rear ends are fixed to a fixing bar (4), and secondly of two
rear ties (5), also interchangeable but of greater rigidity than the previous ties,
fixed at one end to the ends of the same bar (4) and at the other end to the rear
face of the frame, on which are located two vertical rails (6) into each of which
can be introduced two guides (7) located on a rectangular piece constituting a back
support (8) provided with a further two guides (9) situated at its ends at a position
which is slightly higher than that of the previously mentioned guides.
2. An item of seating furniture according to claim 1 characterised in that joined
to the sides of the assembly formed by the seat frame and the back support piece are
two generally parallelepiped shaped arms (10), each provided on their rear faces with
a rail (11), which can be fitted to the lateral guides (9) of the back support, and
a bridge-shaped threaded support (12) situated on the interior side face to attach
the arms to the frame by means of a support or seat (13) provided thereon.
3. An item of seating furniture according to claims 1 and 2 characterised in that
seat frame is provided on its front face with two supports (16) into which a generally
rectangular shaped interchangeable front piece (15) can be fitted by means of two
round-headed screw (17).
4. An item of seating furniture according to the previous claims characterised in
that it comprises a laminar element (18) which protects the double cushioning system.