Furniture element for home use with angled back and seat portions

United States Patent Application 20020175552

Furniture element in the form of seat element (10) comprising a seat portion (10b) and a back portion (10a), said seat and back portions (10a, 10b) integrally connected with each other. Back portion (10a) comprises a pair of back panels (11, 11a) connected with each other at a predetermined angle (15a) along a center line (22); seat portion (10b) comprises a pair of seat panels (12, 12a) connected with each other at said same predetermined angle (15a) along a center line (22a). Back portion (10a) is integrally connected with seat portion (10b) at a predetermined angle (15) along a base line (23, 23a).

Laros, Peter (Berlin, DE)

09/864998

11/28/2002

05/24/2001

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297/452.140

(IPC1-7): A47C007/02

JENNER & BLOCK,PATENT DOCKET CLERK (ONE IBM PLAZA, CHICAGO, IL, 60611, US)

What is claimed is:

1. A furniture element comprising: a seat portion; and a back portion; wherein said back portion comprises a pair of back panels connected to each other at a first angle along a center line; said seat portion comprises a pair of seat panels connected to each other at said first angle along a center line; and said back portion and said seat portion are connected to each other at a second angle along a base line.

2. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein said back panels and said seat panels are connected to each other along center lines thereof.

3. A furniture element as in claim 1 wherein said first angle is a right angle.

4. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein said back panels and said seat panels are integrally connected to each other.

5. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein said back panels are the same length.

6. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein said seat panels are the same length.

7. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein said base line of said seat portion and said base line of said back portion are each sloped at a third angle relative to horizontal at a common resting point.

8. A furniture element as in claim 7, wherein said third angle is 45°.

9. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein said back portion is longer than said seat portion.

10. A furniture element as in claim 9, wherein said back portion is twice the length of said seat portion.

11. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein said center line sections and said base line sections meet at a resting point to form an inverted four-sided pyramid; said pyramid being supported by members; and the sides of said pyramid being sloped at equal angles relative to horizontal.

12. A furniture element as in claim 11, wherein said center line sections and said base line sections are held at said resting point to slope at angles of 45° each relative to horizontal.

13. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein a head support element is placed within said back portion.

14. A furniture element as in claim 13, wherein said head support element is height-adjustable along said center line of said back panels.

15. A furniture element as in claim 13, wherein said head support element comprises side members; said side members having a tapered thickness increasing form the top to the bottom thereof; and said side member being placed at a right angle relative to each other.

16. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein said back panels form a continuous surface and said seat panels form a continuous surface.

17. A furniture element as in claim 1, wherein said seat portion has a foot support associated therewith.

18. A furniture element as in claim 17, wherein said foot support comprises: a pair of base members; and a pair of support members; wherein said base members of said foot support are connected at right angles to each other; said support members of said foot support are connected at right angles to each other; and said base members of said foot support and said support members of said foot support meet at a common resting point to form an inverted pyramid.

19. A furniture element as in claim 17, wherein said foot support comprises a longitudinal rib; said longitudinal rib extending along a center line of said foot support, thereby symmetrically dividing said foot support into two sections.

20. A furniture element as in claim 17, wherein the height of said foot support is variable between a resting point and horizontal.

21. A furniture element as in claim 17, wherein the distance between said foot support and said seat portion is variable.

22. A furniture element as in claim 17, wherein the height of said foot support is adjusted by height-adjustable supporting members.

23. A furniture element as in claim 17, wherein said base members of said foot support are shorter than said support members of said foot support.

24. A furniture element as in claim 17, wherein said base members of said foot support are twice the length of said support members of said foot support.

25. A furniture element as in claim 17, wherein said base members of said foot support are sloped at a 45° angle, and said support members of said foot support are sloped at a 45° angle relative to a foot support holder extending in parallel with horizontal.

26. A furniture element in the form of a couch comprising: a first longitudinally elongated lying panel; and a second longitudinally elongated lying panel; said first longitudinally elongated lying panel and said second longitudinally elongated lying panel connected to each other and disposed at a lying panel angle.

27. A furniture element as in claim 26, wherein said lying panel angle between said longitudinally elongated lying panels is a right angle.

28. A furniture element as in claim 26, wherein said longitudinally elongated lying panels have an erecting member associated therewith.

29. A furniture element as in claim 28, wherein said longitudinally elongated lying panels are integrally connected to said erecting member.

30. A furniture element in the form of a stool comprising: a first stool panel; and a second stool panel; wherein said first stool panel and said second stool panel are oppositely disposed from one another; and said first stool panel and said second stool panel are connected to each other at a stool panel angle.

31. A furniture element as in claim 30, wherein said stool panels are approximately square in shape.

32. A furniture element as in claim 30, wherein said stool panels are connected with an erecting member.

33. A furniture element as in claim 32, wherein said stool panels are integrally connected to said erecting member.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a furniture element for home use comprising a seat portion and a back portion, said seat being connected with said back portion.

[0002] Many forms of seat elements of this kind are known for general use in residential quarters to answer an individual's need to rest in a pleasing and relaxing posture. The design of conventional seat elements tends to create comfort by providing body-engaging surfaces as diffuse as possible, which in the user's perception give preference to body mass over body shape—i.e. they invite sleep-like conditions. Because of this one-sided aim conventional seat elements are totally unsuited for persons desiring to maintain or restore their body shape.

[0003] It is the object of the present invention to provide a seat element which ensures constant pressure on uniformly expanding bodies and thus offers the most favorable conditions possible for regulating the tonus of the human organism.

[0004] This object is achieved by the back portion comprising a pair of black panels connected with each other at a predetermined angle along a center line, by the seat portion comprising a pair of seat panels connected with each other at said predetermined angle along a center line, and by the back and seat portions being connected with each other at a predetermined angle along a base line.

[0005] These measures result in a seat element which offers maximum support while keeping the engaged body surfaces to a minimum. This creates a uniform tension throughout the body which results in most favorable conditions for the user's space awareness, quiet and attention.

[0006] For further development, it is contemplated to connect the back panels and the seat panels at a right angle along their center lines and to connect the back and seat portions at a right angle along said base line. It is contemplated also to connected the back and seat panels in a manner such that they form an integral unit.

[0007] Such mutually perpendicular arrangement of the seat and back portions, as well as of the back and seat portions, results in an inverted pyramid having uniform 45° angles. All the angles of the seat element are right angles and thus feature a maximum distance of the legs to horizontal and vertical; they meet at a minimum/maximum to the vertical and the horizontal, respectively, thus creating a uniform weight distribution, with the pressure the body weight exerts through the body's center region. The resultant intrinsic body tension produces a minimum of locomotion and maximum of motility.

[0008] Additional advantageous measures are described in the dependent claims. The invention is illustrated in the attached drawing and is described in greater detail hereinbelow.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view partly in section of a furniture element in the form of a seat element supported on its resting point and of a foot rest associated with said seat element;

[0010] FIG. 1 a is a side view, partly in section, of a foot rest standing on its support point in association with a seat element as shown in FIG. 1 ;

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a seat element as in FIG. 1 in plan;

[0012] FIG. 2 a is a view in plan of a foot rest as shown in FIG. 1 a;

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a front view of a seat element as in FIG. 1 ;

[0014] FIG. 3 a is a front view of a foot rest as shown in FIG. 1 a;

[0015] FIG. 4 shows a view towards the back of a seat element according to FIGS. 1 to 3 ;

[0016] FIG. 4 a is a view in plan of a foot rest as shown in FIG. 1 a;

[0017] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a furniture element in the form of a couch element for home use having lying panels disposed at a predetermined angle;

[0018] FIG. 6 shows seat panels of a furniture element in the form of a stool having seat panels disposed at a predetermined angle.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 3 and 4 , an inventive furniture element for home use in the form of a seat element 10 essentially comprises a back portion 10 a integrally connected with a seat portion 10 b . By itself, back portion 10 a comprises a pair of back panels 11 , 11 a disposed at an angle 15 a relative to each other and symmetrically with respect to center line 22 , as shown in FIG. 4 . Angle 15 a preferably is a right angle. As shown in FIG. 1 , angle 15 between back portion 10 a and seat portion 10 b is a right angle as well.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3 , seat portion 10 b likewise comprises a pair of seat panels 12 , 12 a of equal length and disposed—as shown in FIG. 4 —at a predetermined angle 15 a relative to each other. Angle 15 a is a right angle.

[0021] Seat element rests on a floor 14 , which corresponds to the horizontal, in the form of an inverted four-sided pyramid supported on its resting point 30 . Support members 13 are provided to maintain seat element 10 in position, with angle 16 between horizontal floor 14 and back portion 10 a , as well as an angle 16 a between horizontal 14 and seat portion 10 b , in the ideal position being 45° each.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2 , back panels 11 , 11 a are integrally connected with each other along a common center line 22 . The same way, seat panels 12 , 12 a are integrally connected with each other along a common center line 22 a . Back panel 11 is integrally connected with seat panel 12 along a base line 23 and back panel 11 a is integrally connected with seat panel 12 a along a base line 23 a.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1 , center lines 22 , 22 a are disposed at an angle 15 relative to each other, which preferably is a right angle. Also, base line 23 and base line 23 a are disposed at an angle 15 a relative to each other, which preferably is a right angle as well. Base lines 23 and 23 a have the same length and meet center lines 22 , 22 a at a rest point 30 .

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 , back portion 10 a has a head support element 17 placed therein. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 , head support element 17 comprises a pair of integrally connected side portions 25 , 25 a of substantially the same size which are disposed at a right angle relative to each other. Side portions 25 , 25 a have a predetermined thickness increasing uniformly from top edge 26 of head support element 17 to bottom edge 27 thereof. Head support element 17 is mounted in back 10 a for height adjustment along center line 22 .

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 a , 2 a , 3 a and 4 a , seat element 10 has a foot support 18 associated therewith. Foot support 18 comprises a pair of base members 20 , 20 a disposed at a right angle relative to each other and integrally connected with support members 21 , 21 a along a base line 24 , 24 a.

[0026] Base members 20 , 20 a , as well as support members 21 , 21 a , are integrally connected with each other at a right angle along a center line 22 . A longitudinal rib 19 extends along center line 22 in foot support 18 . Longitudinal rib 19 stands substantially vertically on center line 22 .

[0027] As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 1 a , the distance 28 between foot support 18 and seat element 10 or seat portion 10 b , respectively, is provided to be adjustable. By its resting point 31 , foot support 18 is mounted in a foot support holder 33 . Height 29 of foot support holder 33 relative to the floor or to the horizontal 14 , respectively, is variable. Foot support 18 is configured to form an inverted four-sided pyramid as well, with support angles 32 , 32 a being substantially 45° between foot support holder 33 and base members 20 , 20 a or support members 21 , 21 a , respectively.

[0028] The furniture element for home use shown in FIG. 5 is a couch 34 consisting of two oppositely disposed lying panels 35 and 35 a . Lying panels 35 , 35 a meet at a predetermined angle 37 . Angle 37 preferably is a right angle.

[0029] Couch 34 may be maintained in its lying position by means of support element 36 or—as shown may be made to be integral with an erecting member 36 a . Lying panels 35 , 35 a are preferably provided with cushioning 38 .

[0030] FIG. 6 shows furniture element in the form of a stool 39 consisting of two oppositely disposed stool panels 40 and 40 a . Stool panels 40 , 40 a meet at a predetermined stool panel angle 41 . Stool panel angle 41 preferably is a right angle; its apex may be utilized as a resting or support point for stool 39 . In the embodiment shown, stool panel angle 41 is integrated in an erecting member 42 . Stool panels 40 , 40 a may be provided with cushioning 43 .

[0031] Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one of ordinary skill in the art, and it is intended that the invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims: