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(11) | EP 1 281 335 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Articulated foldable armchair |
(57) An articulated foldable armchair having at least a main body (21), a seat (2), two
sides (1), each one connected to a respective arm (5), and a backrest (3) includes:
The articulated means first (10) and second (11) allow respectively to block the arms (5) and to move at least the portion of the backrest (3) in an operating condition (A), in which said arms (5) and said portion of the backrest (3) are respectively almost orthogonal to the sides (1) and spaced out from the seat (2). In a folded condition (B), said articulated means (10, 11) allow to fold the arms (5) and the portion of the backrest (3) respectively almost aligned to the respective sides (1) and nearly mating the seat (2), in order to allow the armchair (20) to have compact external dimensions. |
[0001] The invention relates to articulated armchairs and seats and particularly it refers to an articulated foldable armchair in a minimum encumbrance configuration.
[0002] There are several known articulated armchairs, for instance of the "relaxing" type, which have tip-up backrest and extractable footrest, both operated by a motor with related mechanics and control circuits.
[0003] The main drawback of such known armchairs consists in that they are heavy and bulky, needing at least two people for their transport, and fit to pass only through very huge doors, openings, elevators and trunks.
[0004] The main object of the present invention is to propose an articulated foldable armchair, having minimum encumbrance in a refolded condition and being easily transportable by a single person only even through small and narrow openings.
[0005] Other object is to propose an armchair, which can assume several different configurations in order to provide high comfort to the user.
[0006] Further object is to propose an armchair provided with motorizations for assume the different configurations.
[0007] The armchair object of the present invention has very thin sides or side portions, stuffed arms, which can be folded aligned to the side portions, and a reclining and tip-up backrest, which can be folded over above the seat, aligned to the arms, in order to obtain a folded configuration of said armchair. In these configuration the armchair has the shape of a very compacted parallelepiped, which can be fit into a container having small dimensions, eventually with wheels and transport handles.
[0008] The invention is now described in detail, with particular reference to the attached drawing showing by way of example one of its possible embodiments and in which:
- figure 1 shows a front view of the articulated foldable armchair in an operating condition;
- figure 2 shows a side view of the armchair of figure 1;
- figure 3 shows a top view of the armchair of figure 1;
- figure 4 shows a side view of the armchair of figure 1 with the back partially reclined and the footrest lifted in correspondence of an extended condition thereof;
- figures 5, 6 and 7 show respectively a front view, a side view and a top view of the armchair of figure 1 in correspondence of a folded condition.
[0009] With reference to figures from 1 to 7, numeral reference 20 indicates an articulated foldable armchair having a main body 21, a seat 2, two sides 1, each one connected to a respective arm 5, and a backrest 3.
[0010] The armchair 20 includes first articulated means 10 which connect each side 1 to the respective arm 5 and define a rotation axis of this latter laying on a plan defined by the respective side 1 and preferably, in the preferred embodiment, positioned on the external face of said side 1, parallel to the seat 2. Particularly, each arm 5 can be rotated of around 90° degrees between an open position in which it is approximately orthogonal to the respective side 1 and a closed position in which it is nearly aligned to said side 1.
[0011] The armchair also includes second articulated means 11, fir for rotatably connecting a portion of the backrest 3 or the whole backrest for its rotation around an axis almost parallel to the seat 2 and orthogonal to the sides 1, for allowing the user to adjust the backrest inclination according his requirements.
[0012] There are stuffed portions first 6 and second 4 removably connected, for instance by means of zippers or buttons, respectively to the arms 5 and to the backrest 3.
[0013] The armchair has a footrest 7, which is connected to the main body 21, in correspondence of its front and lower portion, by third articulated means 8, constituted by a system of poles and articulated connecting rods. The footrest 7 is mobile between a retracted condition R, in which said footrest 7 mates the main body 21 and is almost orthogonal to the seat 2, and an extended condition D, in which the footrest 7 is in high position and almost parallel to the seat 2. The third articulated means 8 are covered at the top by a canvas 9, which joins the footrest 7 to the main body 21 of the armchair.
[0014] Motorized means, for instance electric motors of known type and not shown in the figures, are provided for moving the backrest 3, the arms 5 and the footrest 7, through suitable transmission means, of known type and not shown.
[0015] The operation of the articulated folding armchair 20 provides that, in an operating condition A of the armchair 20, the first articulated means 10 allow blocking the arms 5 in a position approximately orthogonal to the sides 1, while the second articulated means 11 allow moving the portion of the backrest 3 in a spaced out position from the seat 2. In a folded condition B, the articulated means 10, 11 allow folding the arms 5 and said portion of the backrest 3 respectively nearly aligned to the respective sides 1 and nearly against the seat 2, in order to allow the armchair 20 having compact external dimensions.
[0016] It is opportune to emphasize that in the folded condition B, the compact configuration of the armchair 20 allows this latter to be easily fit in a container or enclosure, for instance provided with wheels and transport handles, and to be transported effortlessly through doors and passages, also of reduced dimensions.
[0017] The main advantage of the present invention is to provide an articulated foldable armchair, having minimum encumbrance in a refolded condition and being easily transportable by a single person only even through small and narrow openings.
1. Articulated foldable armchair having at least a main body (21), a seat (2), two sides
(1), each one connected to a respective arm (5), and a backrest (3); said armchair
(20) being characterized in that includes:
- first articulated means (10) for connecting each side (1) to the respective arm (5) and defining a rotation axis of this latter, laying on a plan defined by the respective side (1);
- second articulated means (11) for rotatably connecting at least a portion of the
backrest (3) and for rotating this latter around an axis almost parallel to the seat
(2) and orthogonal to the sides (1);
the articulated means, first (10) and second (11), allowing respectively to block
the arms (5) and to move at least the portion of the backrest (3) in an operating
condition (A), in which said arms (5) and said portion of the backrest (3) are respectively
almost orthogonal to the sides (1) and spaced out from the seat (2); in a folded condition
(B), said articulated means (10, 11) allowing to fold the arms (5) and the portion
of the backrest (3) respectively almost aligned to the respective sides (1) and nearly
mating the seat (2), in order to allow the armchair (20) to have compact external
dimensions.
2. Armchair according to claim 1 characterized in that the axis defined by the first articulated means (10) lies on the external face of
the respective sides (1), parallel to the seat (2).
3. Armchair according to claim 1 characterized in that the whole back (3) rotates around the second articulated means (11).
4. Armchair according to claim 1 characterized in that each arm (5) includes a first stuffed portion (6) removably connected to this latter.
5. Armchair according to claim 1 characterized in that the backrest (3) includes a second stuffed portion (4) removably connected to this
latter.
6. Armchair according to claim 1 characterized in that includes a footrest (7), connected to the main body (21) by third articulated means
(8) and mobile between a retracted condition (R), in which said footrest (7) mates
the main body (21) and is nearly orthogonal to the seat (2), and an extended condition
(D), in which said footrest (7) is lifted and almost parallel to the seat (2).
7. Armchair according to claim 6 characterized in that includes at least motorized means for moving at least of the backrest (3) and the
footrest (7).
8. Armchair according to claim 7 characterized in that includes transmission means for connecting the motorized means at least to the backrest
(3) and footrest (7).
9. Armchair according to claim 1 characterized in that at least in the folded condition (B) the armchair (20) is fit into a container provided
with wheels and transport handles.