A MODULAR SEATING SYSTEM AND A SEATING UNIT

Abstract

A seating unit of a modular seating system, said seating unit comprising: a first lateral member comprising a first mounting arrangement; a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member and comprising a second mounting arrangement; a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral member; and a seat articulated to said seat support member; wherein said first mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to said second mounting arrangement of a second lateral member of a neighboring identical seating unit, so as to attach said seating unit and said neighboring seating unit to each other; and wherein said seat support member has a first end associated with said first lateral member and an opposite second end associated with said second lateral member.

Claims

1-43. (canceled)

44. A seating unit for a modular seating system, said seating unit comprising: a first lateral member including a first mounting arrangement; a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member and including a second mounting arrangement; a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral member; and a seat articulated to said seat support member; wherein said first mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to said second mounting arrangement of a second lateral member of a neighboring identical seating unit, so as to attach said seating unit and said neighboring identical seating unit to each other; and wherein said seat support member has a first end associated with said first lateral member and an opposite second end associated with said second lateral member.

45. The seating unit of claim 44, wherein said first mounting arrangement includes a protruding element, and said second mounting arrangement includes a recessed element configured for linking with a protruding element of the neighboring identical seating unit.

46. The seating unit of claim 44, wherein each of the first lateral member and the second lateral member is L-shaped and includes a seat portion with a seat axis extending along a length thereof, and a back portion with a back axis extending along a length thereof and disposed at an angle with respect to said seat main axis.

47. The seating unit of claim 46, wherein the seat portion and the back portion are substantially flat and coplanar.

48. The seating unit of claim 46, further comprising: at least one back support member and a back articulated thereto; wherein said back support member extends between the back portions of the first lateral member and the second lateral member; and wherein the seat support member extends between the seat portions of the first lateral member and the second lateral member.

49. The seating unit of claim 48, wherein the back support member has two opposing back flange members disposed at ends thereof for attaching the back support member to the first lateral member and the second lateral member.

50. The seating unit of claim 44, wherein the first mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to a first vertical leg of the modular seating system, and the second mounting arrangement is configured for coupling to a second vertical leg of the modular seating system for positioning the modular seating system over a floor.

51. A modular seating system, comprising: two or more neighboring identical seating units, each of said two or more neighboring identical seating units including: a first lateral member including a first mounting arrangement; a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member and including a second mounting arrangement; a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral member; and a seat articulated to said seat support member; wherein said first mounting arrangement of one of said two or more neighboring identical seating units is configured for coupling to said second mounting arrangement of another one of said two or more neighboring identical seating units, so as to attach said two or more neighboring identical seating units to each other and cause the longitudinal support axes of the two or more neighboring identical seating units to coextend with each other; and wherein said seat support member has a first end associated with said first lateral member and an opposite second end associated with said second lateral member.

52. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein said first mounting arrangement includes a protruding element, and said second mounting arrangement includes a recessed element configured for linking with a protruding element of a neighboring seating unit of the two or more neighboring identical seating units.

53. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein both of said first mounting arrangement and said second mounting arrangement are either recessed elements or protruding elements, and configured to be linked to a corresponding mounting arrangement of a neighboring seating unit of said two or more neighboring identical seating units by a connector element.

54. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein the seat support member, the first mounting arrangement, and the second mounting arrangement coextend with each other along said longitudinal support axis.

55. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein the first mounting arrangement and the second mounting arrangement are formed at outside faces of the respective first lateral member and the second lateral member of the two or more neighboring identical seating units.

56. The modular seating system of claim 51, wherein each of the first lateral member and the second lateral member is L-shaped and includes a seat portion with a seat axis extending along a length thereof, and a back portion with a back axis extending along a length thereof and disposed at an angle with respect to said seat main axis.

57. The modular seating system of claim 56, wherein the seat portion and the back portion are substantially flat and coplanar.

58. The modular seating system of claim 56, further comprising: at least one back support member and a back articulated thereto; wherein said back support member extends between the back portions of the first lateral member and the second lateral member; and wherein the seat support member extends between the seat portions of the first lateral member and the second lateral member.

59. The modular seating system of claim 58, further comprising a back plate to which backs of the two or more neighboring identical seating units are connectable.

60. A method for assembling a modular seating system, the method comprising: providing two neighboring identical seating units, each of the two neighboring identical seating units including: a first lateral member including a first mounting arrangement; a second lateral member opposing said first lateral member and including a second mounting arrangement; a seat support member having a longitudinal support axis extending through said first lateral member and said second lateral member; and a seat articulated to said seat support member; and coupling said first mounting arrangement of one of the two neighboring identical seating units to said second mounting arrangement of another one of said two neighboring identical seating units, thereby attaching the two neighboring identical seating units to each other and causing the longitudinal support axes of the two neighboring identical seating units to coextend with each other; wherein said seat support member has a first end associated with said first lateral member and an opposite second end associated with said second lateral member.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising: providing said first mounting arrangement with a protruding element and said second mounting arrangement with a recessed element; and linking with said protruding element of one of the two neighboring identical seating units with said recessed element of another one of said two neighboring identical seating units by introducing the protruding element into the recessed element.

62. The method of claim 60, further comprising: providing a connector element having a first connector end and a second connector end; and introducing the first connector end into the first mounting arrangement of one the two neighboring identical seating units and the second connector end into the second mounting arrangement of another one of said two neighboring identical seating units.

63. The method of claim 60, further comprising: providing said modular seating system with a first vertical leg and a second vertical leg; mounting said first vertical leg to the first mounting arrangement of one of the extreme of the two neighboring identical seating units; and mounting said second vertical leg to the second mounting arrangement of another one of the two neighboring identical seating units.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0069] FIG. 1A is a front isometric view of a modular seating system according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

[0070] FIG. 1B is a rear isometric view of the modular seating system of FIG. 1A;

[0071] FIG. 2A is an isometric view of one seating unit of the modular seating system of FIG. 1A;

[0072] FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the seating unit of FIG. 2A;

[0073] FIG. 2C is another isometric view of a frame structure of the seating unit of FIG. 2B;

[0074] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 1A;

[0075] FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of section A1 of FIG. 3A;

[0076] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 1A;

[0077] FIG. 3D is an enlarged view of section A2 of FIG. 3C;

[0078] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a right vertical leg of the modular seating system of FIG. 1A;

[0079] FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a modular seat of the seating unit of FIG. 2B, in accordance with an example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

[0080] FIG. 5B is the seat of FIG. 5A in its disassembled form, shown from another point of view;

[0081] FIG. 5C is an exploded view of the seat of FIG. 5A;

[0082] FIG. 5D is a bottom isometric view of the seat of FIG. 5C;

[0083] FIG. 6A is a seating unit of the modular seating system of FIG. 1A with a hand rest attached thereto, shown without a back pad thereof;

[0084] FIG. 6B is a left isometric view of the seating unit of FIG. 6A; and

[0085] FIG. 6C is a right isometric view of the seating unit of FIG. 6B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0086] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A-B, 2A-C, 3A-D and 4 in which a modular seating system 1 is shown, in accordance with one example of the first, second and third aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0087] The modular seating system 1 is structured of four neighboring identical seating units 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d, attached to each other side-by-side in such a manner that their seat support members 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are forming together a rigid longitudinal structure 20 extending along a longitudinal support axis X (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A).

[0088] The modular seating system 1 further has two system support members in the form of a right vertical leg 2 and a left vertical leg 6. The right vertical leg 2 is connected to the seating unit 20a disposed at one end of the seating system 1 and the left vertical leg 6 is connected to the seating unit 20d, disposed at another end of the seating system 1. The right and left vertical legs 2 and 6 are disposed over a floor 100.

[0089] The rigid longitudinal structure 20 provides support for the seating system 1 and substantially prevents bending of the seating system 1 upon application of an external load L (shown in FIG. 1A) perpendicularly to the longitudinal support axis X (e.g., weight of one or more users sitting on one or more of the seating units 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d). The rigid longitudinal structure 20 provides stability to the seating system 1 when the external load L is applied thereon, without the necessity to connect or use one or more additional system support members (e.g., additional vertical legs) extending from intermediate seating units (i.e., the seating units 20b and 20c) to the floor 100.

[0090] Due to the structure of the seating units 20a-d and their connectivity to each other, which is explained in detail below, while providing the required stability and resistance to deformation of the seating system 1, the number of seating units of the seating system is flexible and can be determined in accordance with the available space or other requirements at the installation site of the seating system 1. For example, the number of the seating units can vary between two to six, seven and even more seating units in a single seating system, without using the additional system support members (i.e., in addition to the right and the left vertical legs). This flexibility is allowed, inter alia, due to the fact that each seating unit is provided with its own seat support member, which is modularly connectable to a seat support member of a neighboring seating unit forming together a continuous rigid longitudinal structure that provides support to the entire seating system.

[0091] Reference is now made specifically to FIGS. 2A-2C, in order to describe the structure of a single seating unit of the seating system 1. The description below is made with respect to the seating unit 20b, but is relevant similar to the seating units 20a, 20c and 20d.

[0092] The seating unit 20b comprises a frame structure 25, a seat 60 and a back 80. The seat 60 and the back 80 are mountable to the frame structure 25 as shown in FIG. 2B. The frame structure 25 is structured of the following components: a first lateral member 30 having a first mounting arrangement in the form of a protruding element 36 formed at an outer face 31 of the first lateral member 30; a second lateral member 40 opposing the first lateral member 30 and having a second mounting arrangement in the form of a recessed element 46 formed at an outer face 41 of the second lateral member 40; the seat support member 50b; an upper back support member 56; and a lower back support member 58. The seat support member 50b, the upper back support member 56 and the lower back support member 58 are extending between the first and the second lateral members 30 and 40 and connecting them to each other. The seat support member 50b, the protruding element 36 and the recessed element 46 coextend with each other along the longitudinal support axis X.

[0093] The seat support member 50b is bar-shaped and has a round cross-section, and the seat 60 is configured for pivotally displacing about the seat support member 50b between a normally deployed position (not shown) and an undeployed position (shown in FIG. 1A).

[0094] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the protruding element 36 is linked with a recessed element 46 of the seating unit 20a, which is identical to the recessed element 46, and the recessed element 46 is linked with a protruding element 36 of the seating unit 20c, which is identical to the protruding element 36. In addition, as shown in these figures, a protruding element 36 of the seating unit 20a is received in a respective recess 3 formed in the right vertical leg 2 to which the seating unit 20a is attached. Moreover, the left vertical leg 6 is provided with a protruding element 7 which is received within a recessed element 46 of the seating unit 20d to which the left vertical leg 6 is attached.

[0095] According to an alternative example not shown in the drawings, both the first mounting arrangement and the second mounting arrangement can be either recessed elements or protruding elements, configured to be linked to a corresponding mounting arrangement of the neighboring seating unit by a connector element (e.g., a longitudinal linking member the ends of which are linked with the protruding/recessed elements of the neighboring seating units).

[0096] In order to improve the stability of the seating system when the external load L is applied thereon, each two neighboring first and second lateral members of the seating units 20a-d are screw-coupled to each other. The right and left vertical legs 2 and 6 are also screw-coupled to their neighboring first/second lateral members. For example, in order to couple the first lateral member 30 to its neighboring second lateral member of the seating unit 20a, the holes 33 and 34 (shown in FIG. 2C), and also other holes formed therein, can be used for screws which are accordingly received therein.

[0097] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1B, the seating system 1 further comprises a back plate 15 to which the backs of the seating units 20a-d are screw-coupled. The back plate 15 provides further support to the entire seating system 1 for preventing the seating system 1 from bending upon application of the external load L. The back plate 15 also improves the stability of the seating system 1, and assists the rigid longitudinal structure 20 to withstand the external load L.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 4 in which the right vertical leg 2 is illustrated, the recess 3 can clearly be seen. In addition, the right vertical leg 2 has a longitudinal recess 4 into which a right end of the back plate 15 is to be received. The right vertical leg 2 also has a number of holes for screw-coupling the first lateral member of the seating unit 20a to the right vertical leg 2.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 2C, the first lateral member 30 is L-shaped and has a seat portion 32 with a seat axis X1 extending along its length, and a back portion 37 with a back axis X2 extending along its length and disposed at an angle 1 with respect to the seat main axis X1. The seat portion 32 and the back portion 37 are substantially flat and coplanar. The second lateral member 40 is also L-shaped and has a seat portion 42 with a seat axis X3 extending along its length, and a back portion 47 with a back axis X4 extending along its length and disposed at an angle 2 with respect to the seat main axis X3. The seat portion 42 and the back portion 47 are also substantially flat and coplanar. The angles 1 and 2 are equal.

[0100] The seat support member 50b is extending between the seat portions 32 and 42 and is configured with two opposing seat flange members 51 and 51 disposed at ends thereof, attaching the seat support member 50b to the seat portions 32 and 42, respectively.

[0101] The upper back support member 56 is extending between the back portions 37 and 47 and is configured with two opposing back flange members 57 and 57 disposed at ends thereof, attaching the upper back support member 56 to the back portions 37 and 47, respectively. The lower back support member 58 is extending between the back portions 37 and 47 and is configured with two opposing back flange members 59 and 59 disposed at ends thereof, attaching the lower back support member 58 to the back portions 37 and 47, respectively.

[0102] The modular seating system 1 is further configured with cover members, such as cover members 17 and 18 (shown in FIG. 1A), each of which covers each pair of neighboring first and second lateral members. The cover members are esthetically sealing the lateral members by entirely covering their exterior upper portions when the seating units are connected to each other and the entire seating system is assembled.

[0103] FIGS. 3C and 3D illustrate the rear portions of the second lateral member 40 and its neighboring first lateral member 30 of the seating unit 20c. In these drawings it can clearly be seen that outer faces of the second lateral member 40 and the first lateral member 30 are tightly adjacent to each.

[0104] In summary, the modular seating system 1 is structured so as to optimally transfer the external load L applied on its seating units to the right and left vertical legs, while preserving the shape of the seating system and preventing it from bending. By this manner, the number of the seating units included in the system can be changed and determined in accordance with different requirements and spacial constraints at the installation site.

[0105] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A-5D, in which a modular seat, in accordance with one example of the fourth and fifth aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, is shown. Although the modular seat according to the present example is the seat 60 of FIGS. 1-4, it is appreciated that the modular seat of the fourth and fifth aspects is not necessarily tied to the examples of FIGS. 1-4, and can thus be used in conjunction with any other seating units known in the art. In FIG. 5A, the seat 60 is shown in its assembled form, and in FIG. 5B, the seat 60 is shown in its disassembled form.

[0106] The seat 60 comprises the following: a seat flat portion 61; a seat cushion 62 mounted on the seat flat portion 61; a first bearing member in the form of two bearings 63 having a rounded internal wall 63 and a first cover member 64 having a plurality of bearing portions 64; and a second bearing member in the form of a second cover member 67 having two bearing portions 67. The seat 60 further comprises a weight member 68 mounted to an internal wall 68 of the second cover member 67.

[0107] The rounded internal wall 63 of the bearings 63, the bearing portions 64 and the bearing portions 67 all have a rounded shape being complementary to the rounded shape of the seat support member 50c for accommodating respective portions of the seat support member 50c. The manner, in which the seat support member 50c is seated on the bearings 63 and on the bearing portions 64, is shown for example in FIG. 3B.

[0108] Each of the bearings 63 is seated on a profile 66 extending along the seat flat portion 61 and mounted thereto. The bearings 63, the first cover member 64 and the second cover member 67 are configured together for embracing the seat support member 50c (not shown in FIGS. 5A-D) therebetween. By this, the bearings 63, the first cover member 64 and the second cover member 67 are forming together a bearing assembly allowing pivotal displacement of the seat 60 about to the seat support member 50c between a deployed position and an undeployed position. In the deployed position (not shown in the drawings), the seat 60 is substantially parallel to the back 80. However, when displacing the seat 60 to the undeployed position (for example, in FIGS. 1A and 1B), a user can sit thereon.

[0109] The first cover member 64 has a receiving space 65 for accommodating the second cover member 67, when received therein in the assembled form of the seat 60, as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0110] The seat 60 is configured to be modularly installed on the seat support member 50b. This modularity is provided by two parts that are forming the seat 60. As shown in FIG. 5B, the seat flat portion 61, the seat cushion 62, the bearings 63 and the first cover member 64 constitute the first part of the seat 60, and the second cover member 67 together with the weight member 68 constitute the second part of the seat 60.

[0111] When the seat 60 is disassembled, the first and second parts are provided separately from each other. During assembly of the seat 60 on the seat support member 50b, the first cover member 64 and the bearings 63 are first seated on the seat support member 50b, and then, the second cover member 67 is attached to the first support member 63, thereby embracing the seat support member 50b.

[0112] In the assembled configuration of the seat 60, the weight member 68 is configured to cause the seat 60 to normally assume its deployed position. According to this configuration, the seat 60 is thus provided without any springs or any other compression or tension elements responsible for causing the seat 60 to automatically revert to its normally deployed position. It is known that such elements experience physical deterioration over time, and that if possible, it is preferable not to use them in a mechanical system. Therefore, the configuration of the seat 60 with the weight member 68 simplifies its structure and improves its reliability over time.

[0113] Reference is now made to FIGS. 6A-D in which a seating unit, in accordance with one example of the sixth and seventh aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, is shown. Although the seating unit according to the present example is the seating unit 20c of FIGS. 1-4, it is appreciated that the seating unit of the sixth and seventh aspects is not necessarily tied to the examples of FIGS. 1-4, and can thus be used in conjunction with any other seating systems known in the art.

[0114] The seating unit 20c according to the present example allows selectively mounting a hand rest to the seating unit 20c, upon demand. For example, when there is a need to add a hand rest to the seating unit 20c, a respective side blocking element can be converted from its blocking state to its unblocking state, and a hand rest connector can be mounted to a respective hand rest receiving element. This hand rest can also be removed from the seating unit, and the respective side blocking element can afterwards be converted from its unblocking state to its blocking state. The structure of the seating unit 20c is detailed below.

[0115] The seating unit 20c comprises the first lateral member 30 and a second lateral member 40. The first lateral member 30 is configured with a first hand rest receiving element 90 and the second lateral member 40 is configured with a second hand rest receiving element 92. A seat 50 and a back 80 are extending between the first and the second lateral members 30 and 40.

[0116] The back 80 has a first side blocking element 94 disposed in front of the first hand rest receiving element 90. The blocking element 94 is selectively convertible between a blocking state (shown in FIG. 6C) in which it obstructs access of a hand rest connector (not shown) to the first hand rest receiving element 90, and an unblocking state in which said access is allowed for mounting the hand rest connector to the first hand rest receiving element. The blocking element 94 is connected to the back 80 by weakened areas 98 allowing for easy rotating and disconnecting of the blocking element 94 from the back 80 when converted to its unblocking state.

[0117] The back 80 also had a second side blocking element which was disposed in front of the second hand rest receiving element 92. However, the second side blocking element was already disconnected from the back 80 when being converted to its unblocking state, in order to allow access to the second hand rest receiving element 92 for mounting a hand rest connector 110 of a hand rest 105 to the second hand rest receiving element 92.