IMPROVED CHAIR WITH HEADREST

Description

[0001] The invention regards an improved chair provided with headrest.

[0002] Chairs provided with headrest in which the presence of the headrest makes sitting particularly comfortable and relaxing are known and widely available in the market. For instance, a chair of this type is known from GB2132479 A. This is the reason why chairs with headrest are most commonly used in the outdoor furnishing industry, particularly gardens, swimming pools, cafeterias and the like.

[0003] The headrest is usually stably fixed to the upper part of the backrest and this constitutes a limitation to the use of the chair in all cases where the user intends to use it without the headrest.

[0004] Thus, chairs in which the headrest is fixed to the backrest through removable connection means that make it detachable are available in the market.

[0005] Thus, the user may apply or remove the headrest from the chair at will. However, the chairs provided with removable headrest reveal the known drawback lying in that, when the headrest is demounted from the respective chair, it should be kept so as to be immediately available when needed.

[0006] In addition, another drawback lies in the fact that, when the headrest is demounted, it may be easily lost.

[0007] Last but not least, another drawback lies in the fact that, in case of loss of the headrest, the respective chair remains incomplete and disjointed with respect to any other chairs.

[0008] The present invention aims at overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0009] In particular one of the objects of the invention is to provide a chair that can be transformed from a chair with headrest to a chair without headrest and vice versa, without having to install and remove the headrest from the chair. Another object of the invention lies in the transformation of the chair that can be carried out in a quick manner with respect to the known chairs provided with removable headrest.

[0010] Last but not least, another object of the invention lies in reducing the possibility that the headrest be lost.

[0011] The objects above are attained by a chair having the characteristics described in the main claim to which reference shall be made.

[0012] Other characteristics of the chair of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0013] Advantageously the chair of the invention is more functional with respect to chairs of the known type equivalent thereto.

[0014] The aforementioned objects shall be more apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment of the chair of the invention outlined hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

• figs. 1 and 2 represent two different axonometric views of the chair of the invention;
• figs. 3 to 12 represent details of figs. 1 and 2 in different operating positions and in different views.

[0015] The chair of the invention is represented in two axonometric views in figs. 1 and 2 where it is indicated in its entirety with 1.

[0016] It should be observed that it comprises a framework 2 supporting a seating plane 3 and a backrest 4 which are configured to define a seating area 5. According to the invention, the chair 1 comprises a headrest 6 associated to the backrest 4 through at least one hinge unit 20 configured to allow the rotation of the headrest 6 with respect to the backrest 4.

[0017] Regarding the headrest 6 the following configurations are defined:

• an operating configuration A visible in figs. 1 and 2 and in detail in fig. 3 in which the headrest 6 is arranged projecting from the upper part of the backrest 4 with respect to which it is arranged - resting thereon - and with respect to which it is aligned and substantially coplanar;
• an inoperative configuration B visible in particular in the detail figures 6 and 7 in which the headrest 6 is arranged substantially parallel to and facing the backrest 4 on the opposite side of the seating area 5.

According to the invention, the chair 1 comprises two hinge units 20, each of which comprises a cylindrical bushing 10 rotatably associated to the upper part of the frame 4a which delimits the backrest 4 and a projecting rod 9 belonging to the headrest 6, configured to be slidably inserted in a through opening 10a present in the cylindrical bushing 10.

[0018] It should be observed, in particular in fig. 9 and in fig. 10, that each cylindrical bushing 10 is provided with end pins 10b which are configured to rotatably connect it to the frame 4c of the backrest 4.

[0019] The chair 1 also comprises means for constraining the headrest 6 to the backrest 4 in both configurations A and B, respectively operative and inoperative, described previously.

[0020] In particular there are identified first means, indicated in their entirety with 7, for constraining the headrest 6 to the backrest 4 in the operating configuration A and second means, indicated in their entirety with 8, for constraining the headrest 6 to the backrest 4 in the inoperative configuration B.

[0021] The first constraint means 7 are particularly observed in figs. 4, 5 and 10 and comprise two abutment reliefs 7a spaced from each other and projecting from the backrest 4 on the opposite side of the seating area 5, which are configured to receive - resting thereon - the two rods 9 projecting from the headrest 6, as observed in figures 1 to 3 and 9.

[0022] In addition, each projecting rod 9 is provided with a recess 9a visible in figs. 3, 9, 10 and 11, which is configured to receive a corresponding one of the aforementioned abutment reliefs 7a when the headrest 6 is arranged in the inoperative configuration B visible in figs. 6 and 7.

[0023] As regards the second constraint means 8, figs. 5, 7 and 8 show that they comprise a projecting relief 8a belonging to the framework 2 and arranged on the opposite side with respect to the seating area 5 and a shaped seat 8b which is obtained in the headrest 6.

[0024] The projecting relief 8a and the shaped seat 8b are configured to be mutually snap-coupled.

[0025] In addition, the presence of a safety cap 12 which can be removably associated to each projecting rod 9 at the end thereof through joining means 13 is observed, in particular in figures 9 to 12.

[0026] In particular, figs. 3 and 12 show that the safety cap 12 has a perimeter extension greater than that of the perimeter edge of the end of the respective projecting rod 9 so that the perimeter edge 12a thereof perimetrally projects from the end of the projecting rod 9 when the safety cap 12 and the projecting rod 9 are coupled to each other.

[0027] Thus, the perimeter edge 12a which projects from the perimeter edge of the end of the projecting rod 9 hinders the slipping off of the projecting rod 9 from the through opening 10a of the cylindrical bushing 10 and hinders the separation of the headrest 6 from the backrest 4, as better clarified hereinafter. As regards the means 13 for joining each safety cap 12 to the projecting rod 9, they comprise a male body 14 belonging to the safety cap 12 and a female seat 15 belonging to the end of the projecting rod 9, which have sections that can be joined to each other and shaped according to a configuration essentially similar to the shape of a locking hole 16 observable in figs. 11 and 12.

[0028] Operatively, the headrest 6 is coupled to the backrest 4 by inserting the projecting rods 9 it is provided with through the through openings 10a present in each respective cylindrical bushing 10.

[0029] After the insertion, a respective safety cap 12 is coupled to the end of each projecting rod 9 mutually joining them through the joining means 13.

[0030] This allows obtaining the configuration observable in figures 1 to 3.

[0031] It should be observed that the locking hole 16 configuration of the joining means 13 allows coupling and decoupling thereof only through the translation movement according to a direction X orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Y of each projecting rod 9, as observable in figs. 9 and 10.

[0032] The removal of the cap 12 may thus only be carried out intentionally by the operator and thus avoiding the danger of inadvertent separation of the safety cap 12 from the respective projecting rod 9.

[0033] After the coupling of the safety caps 12, the headrest 6 is arranged in the operating position A represented in figs. 1 and 2 and in fig. 3, resting on the frame 4a of the backrest 4 and the projecting rods 9 being arranged opposed against the abutment reliefs 7a which represent the first constraint means 7.

[0034] In this position, the headrest serves the function of supporting the head of a seated person.

[0035] Should the user not wish to use the headrest, it is sufficient that the latter be lifted from the frame 4a of the backrest 4, as observable in fig. 4, and be rotated clockwise as observable in fig. 5, up to arranging it in the configuration of fig. 6.

[0036] It should be observed that the rotation of the headrest 6 shown in fig. 5 is allowed by the presence of the cylindrical bushings 10 which rotate with respect to the frame 4a of the backrest through the end pins 10b.

[0037] In addition, during the lifting of the headrest 6, observable in fig. 4, and its subsequent arrangement in the configuration observable in fig. 6, the presence of the safety caps 12 prevents the projecting rods 9 from slipping off from the through openings 10a of the respective cylindrical bushings 10 due to an excessive inadvertent lifting of the headrest 6 with respect to the backrest 4 by the user, or due to gravity when the headrest is arranged in the inoperative configuration B.

[0038] In addition, in the inoperative configuration B represented in fig. 6, the headrest is constrained to the backrest 4 by the second constraint means 8 which are observed in the detail of figs. 7 and 8 and which, as mentioned, comprise the projecting relief 8a belonging to the framework 2 which is snap-coupled in a shaped seat 8b obtained in the headrest 6.

[0039] Obviously if the user intends to arrange the headrest 6 in the operating position A represented in figs. 1 and 2 again, it is sufficient to lift the headrest 6 from the inoperative configuration B represented in figs. 7 and 8 so as to release the shaped seat 8b of the headrest 6 from the projecting relief 8a of the framework 2 and then rotate it in the anticlockwise direction, opposite to the direction represented in fig. 5.

[0040] When the headrest 6 is in vertical position, it is arranged in the operating configuration represented in fig. 3 resting on the frame 4a of the backrest 4, with the projecting rods 9 resting on the abutment reliefs 7a which constitute the previously mentioned first constraint means 7.

[0041] According to the information above, it is clear that the chair of the invention attains all objects of the patent.

[0042] In particular, the invention allows attaining a chair in which the headrest may be arranged in raised operating position and parallel to the backrest or folded in an inoperative position at the user's will, so as to allow the use of the chair without the headrest.

[0043] The headrest is thus always associated to the chair and this hinders the headrest from being lost as it occurs in chairs of the known type provided with removable headrest which is more subject to being lost.

[0044] Lastly, the transformation of the chair with headrest from the operating position to the inoperative position and vice versa may be carried out in a few seconds and with extremely simple manoeuvres that can be carried out by any one. During construction, the improved chair of the invention may be subjected to modifications and/or variants not represented in the attached drawings and not described in the text.

[0045] It should be observed that should these variants and/or modifications fall within the scope of protection of the claims that follow, they shall be deemed protected by the present patent.

[0046] Should the technical characteristics indicated in the claims be followed by reference signs, the latter are present solely with the aim of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and, thus, these reference signs have no limiting effect on the scope of protection of the element subject of identification by way of example.

Claims

1. Chair (1) comprising:

- a framework (2) supporting a seating plane (3) and a backrest (4) configured to define a seating area (5);

- a headrest (6) associated to said backrest (4) through at least one hinge unit (20) configured to allow the rotation of said headrest (6) with respect to said backrest (4) and to define:

- an operating configuration (A) wherein said headrest (6) is arranged projecting from the upper part of said backrest (4) with respect to which it is arranged resting and with respect to which it is aligned and substantially coplanar;

- an inoperative configuration (B) wherein said headrest (6) is arranged substantially parallel to and facing said backrest (4) on the opposite side of said seating area (5),

characterised in that said hinge unit (20) comprises at least one cylindrical bushing (10) rotatably associated to the upper part of the frame (4a) which delimits said backrest (4) and at least one projecting rod (9) belonging to said headrest (6) configured to be slidably inserted in a through opening (10a) present in a corresponding cylindrical bushing (10).

2. Chair (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises:

- first constraint means (7) of said headrest (6) with respect to said backrest (4) in said operating configuration (A);

- second constraint means (8) of said headrest (6) with respect to said backrest (4) in said inoperative configuration (B).

3. Chair (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that said first constraint means (7) comprise two abutment reliefs (7a) spaced from each other and projecting from said backrest (4) on the opposite side of said seating area (5), configured to receive - resting thereon - two projecting rods (9) of said headrest (6).

4. Chair (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that each of said projecting rods (9) is provided with a recess (9a) configured to receive a corresponding one of said abutment reliefs (7a) when said headrest (6) is arranged in said inoperative configuration (B).

5. Chair (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that said second constraint means (8) comprise a projecting relief (8a) belonging to said framework (2) and arranged on the opposite side with respect to said seating area (5) and a shaped seat (8b) obtained in said headrest (6), said projecting relief (8a) and said shaped seat (8b) being configured to be mutually snap-coupled.

6. Chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said at least one cylindrical bushing (10) belongs to the frame (4a) which delimits the perimeter of said backrest (4) and it is provided with end pins (10b) configured to rotatably connect said cylindrical bushing (10) to said frame (4a).

7. Chair (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it comprises a safety cap (12) which can be removably associated to the end of each of said projecting rods (9) through joining means (13).

8. Chair (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that said safety cap (12) has the perimeter edge (12a) projecting from the end of said projecting rod (9) and configured to hinder the slipping off of said projecting rod (9) from said through opening (10a) of said cylindrical bushing (10).

9. Chair (1) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that said joining means (13) comprise a male body (14) belonging to said safety cap (12) and a female seat (15) belonging to the end of said projecting rod (9) having sections that can be joined to each other and shaped to form a locking hole (16).

Ansprüche

1. Stuhl (1), umfassend:

- ein Gestell (2), das eine Sitzfläche (3) und eine Rückenlehne (4) trägt, welche derart ausgelegt sind, dass sie den Sitzbereich (5) definieren;

- eine Kopfstütze (6), die mit der besagten Rückenlehne (4) durch wenigstens eine Gelenkeinheit (20) verbunden ist, welche derart ausgelegt ist, dass die Drehung der besagten Kopfstütze (6) gegenüber der besagten Rückenlehne (4) möglich ist, und dass sie festlegt:

- eine aktive Konfiguration (A), in welcher die besagte Kopfstütze (6) derart angeordnet ist, dass sie von dem oberen Teil der besagten Rückenlehne (4) herausragt, bezüglich der sie ruhend angeordnet ist und bezüglich der sie ausgerichtet und substantiell koplanar ist;

- eine inaktive Konfiguration (B), in welcher die besagte Kopfstütze (6) derart angeordnet ist, dass sie substantiell parallel zu der Rückenlehne (4) ist und jener an der dem Sitzbereich (5) gegenüber liegenden Seite zugewandt ist,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Gelenkeinheit (20) wenigstens eine Zylinderbuchse (10) umfasst, die mit dem oberen Teil des die Rückenlehne (4) begrenzenden Rahmens (4a) drehbar verbunden ist, sowie wenigstens einen hervorstehenden Stab (9), der zu der besagten Kopfstütze (6) gehört und derart konfiguriert ist, dass er in eine Durchgangsöffnung (10a) in einer zugeordneten Zylinderbuchse (10) gleitend einschiebbar ist.

2. Stuhl (1) gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er umfasst:

- ein erstes Mittel (7) zur Verriegelung der besagten Kopfstütze (6) bezüglich der Rückenlehne (4) in der aktiven Konfiguration (A);

- ein zweites Mittel (8) zur Verriegelung der Kopfstütze (6) bezüglich der Rückenlehne (4) in der inaktiven Konfiguration (B).

3. Stuhl (1) gemäß Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das erste Verriegelungsmittel (7) zwei voneinander beabstandete Entlastungs-Widerlager (7a) aufweist, die von der besagten Rückenlehne (4) an der dem Sitzbereich (5) gegenüber liegenden Seite herausragen, und welche derart ausgelegt sind, um - daran anliegend - zwei herausragende Stäbe (9) der besagten Kopfstütze (6) aufzunehmen.

4. Stuhl (1) gemäß Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder der besagten, herausragenden Stäbe (9) mit einer Ausnehmung (9a) versehen ist, welche dazu ausgelegt ist, ein korrespondierendes Entlastungs-Widerlager (7a) aufzunehmen, wenn die besagte Kopfstütze (6) sich in der besagten inaktiven Konfiguration (B) befindet.

5. Stuhl (1) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das zweite Verriegelungsmittel (8) ein hervorstehendes Entlastungselement (8a) umfasst, das zu dem Gestell (2) gehört und an der dem Sitzbereich (5) gegenüber liegenden Seite angeordnet ist, wobei es in der Kopfstütze (6) eine geformte Aufnahme (8b) gibt, und wobei das Entlastungselement (8a) und die geformte Aufnahme (8b) derart ausgelegt sind, dass sie durch Einrasten miteinander koppelbar sind.

6. Stuhl (1) gemäß einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagte, wenigstens eine Zylinderbuchse (10) zu dem Rahmen (4a) gehört, welcher den Umfang der besagten Rückenlehne (4) begrenzt, und mit Endstiften (10b) versehen ist, welche derart konfiguriert sind, dass sie die besagte Zylinderbuchse (10) mit dem besagten Rahmen (4a) drehbar verbinden.

7. Stuhl (1) gemäß einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er eine Sicherungskappe (12) aufweist, die durch ein Verbindungsmittel (13) mit dem Ende jedes der beiden herausragenden Stäbe (9) lösbar verbunden werden kann.

8. Stuhl (1) gemäß Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Sicherungskappe (12) eine Umfangskante (12a) aufweist, die von dem Ende des besagten, herausragenden Stabs (9) wegragt und dazu ausgelegt ist, das Abrutschen des herausragenden Stabs (9) von der Durchgangsöffnung (10a) der besagten Zylinderbuchse zu verhindern.

9. Stuhl (1) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 7 oder 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verbindungsmittel (13) einen steckerförmigen Körper (14) umfasst, der zu der besagten Sicherungskappe (12) gehört, sowie einen buchsenförmigen Sitz (15), der zu dem Ende des besagten, herausragenden Stabs (9) gehört und Bereiche aufweist, welche zusammenfügbar sind sowie derart gestaltet sind, dass sie ein Verriegelungsloch (16) bilden.

Revendications

1. Chaise (1) comprenant :

une structure (2) supportant un plan d'assise (3) et un dossier (4) configuré pour définir une zone d'assise (5) ;

un appuie-tête (6) associé audit dossier (4) par le biais d'au moins une unité de charnière (20) configurée pour permettre la rotation dudit appuie-tête (6) par rapport audit dossier (4) et pour définir :

une configuration opérationnelle (A) dans laquelle ledit appuie-tête (6) est agencé en saillie à partir de la partie supérieure dudit dossier (4) par rapport à laquelle il est agencé en appui et par rapport à laquelle il est aligné et sensiblement coplanaire ;

une configuration non opérationnelle (B) dans laquelle ledit appuie-tête (6) est agencé sensiblement parallèlement à et faisant face audit dossier (4) sur le côté opposé de ladite zone d'assise (5),

caractérisé en ce que ladite unité de charnière (20) comprend au moins une bague cylindrique (10) associée en rotation à la partie supérieure du bâti (4a) qui délimite ledit dossier (4) et au moins une tige en saillie (9) appartenant audit appuie-tête (6), configurée pour être insérée de manière coulissante dans une ouverture débouchante (10a) présente dans une bague cylindrique (10) correspondante.

2. Chaise (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend :

des premiers moyens de contrainte (7) dudit appuie-tête (6) par rapport audit dossier (4) dans ladite configuration opérationnelle (A) ;

des seconds moyens de contrainte (8) dudit appuie-tête (6) par rapport audit dossier (4) dans ladite configuration non opérationnelle (B).

3. Chaise (1) selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que lesdits premiers moyens de contrainte (7) comprennent deux reliefs de butée (7a) espacés l'un de l'autre et faisant saillie dudit dossier (4) sur le côté opposé de ladite zone d'assise (5), configurés pour recevoir - s'appuyant sur ces derniers - deux tiges en saillie (9) dudit appuie-tête (6).

4. Chaise (1) selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que chacune desdites tiges en saillie (9) est prévue avec un évidement (9a) configuré pour recevoir un relief correspondant desdits reliefs de butée (7a), lorsque ledit appuie-tête (6) est agencé dans ladite configuration non opérationnelle (B).

5. Chaise (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, caractérisée en ce que lesdits seconds moyens de contrainte (8) comprennent un relief en saillie (8a) appartenant à ladite structure (2) et agencé sur le côté opposé par rapport à ladite zone d'assise (5) et un siège formé (8b) obtenu dans ledit appuie-tête (6), ledit relief en saillie (8a) et ledit siège formé (8b) étant configurés pour être mutuellement couplés par encliquetage.

6. Chaise (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que ladite au moins une bague (10) cylindrique appartient au bâti (4a) qui délimite le périmètre dudit dossier (4) et elle est prévue avec des broches d'extrémité (10b) configurées pour raccorder, en rotation, ladite bague (10) cylindrique audit bâti (4a).

7. Chaise (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend un capuchon de sécurité (12) qui peut être associé, de manière amovible, à l'extrémité de chacune desdites tiges en saillie (9) par des moyens d'assemblage (13).

8. Chaise (1) selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que ledit capuchon de sécurité (12) a un bord périmétral (12a) faisant saillie de l'extrémité de ladite tige en saillie (9) et configuré pour empêcher le glissement de ladite tige en saillie (9) de ladite ouverture débouchante (10a) de ladite bague cylindrique (10).

9. Chaise (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 ou 8, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens d'assemblage (13) comprennent un corps mâle (14) appartenant audit capuchon de sécurité (12) et un siège femelle (15) appartenant à l'extrémité de ladite tige en saillie (9) ayant des sections qui peuvent s'assembler entre elles et formées afin de former un trou de verrouillage (16).

Drawing