Furniture base assembled from several parts

Abstract

The invention is directed to a base for pieces of furniture having at least one supporting column structure. The base comprises a central hub receiving the lower end of a column and a number of arms radiating from the hub. The object of the invention is to provide a furniture base which allows varying its height. This is accomplished by changing the angle between hub and arms, or by shifting the points of attachment of the arms on the hub in the vertical direction.

Claims

1. A base for furniture having a supporting column structure comprising a central hub and a plurality of radiating arms, each arm being manufactured as a separate part from metal or plastic and being individually attached to the hub, wherein the height of the base is variable by means of varying the angle of the arms relative to the hub or the location of the points of attachment of the arms to the hub.

2. The base according to claim 1, further comprising each arm being individually attached to the hub by means of at least one screw, bolt or rivet allowing variation of the axial direction of the arm relative to the hub by means of a spacer body between the hub and the upper edge of the proximal end of the arm.

3. The base according to claim 1, further comprising each arm being individually attached to the hub by means of at least one screw, bolt or rivet allowing a pivoting motion of the arm relative to the axial direction of the hub, whereby the angle of the arm relative to the axial direction of the body may be varied by means of a spacer body between the hub and the upper edge of the proximal end of the arm.

4. The base according to claim 2, wherein the angle of the arm relative to the axial direction of the hub may be varied by means of a collar external to the hub, the thickness or position of which determines said angle.

5. The base according to claim 1, further comprising the arms having at their proximal ends a flange with a direction essentially corresponding to the side of the hub or a tangent of the same; the arms are attached to the hub by means of at least one screw in essentially the radial direction of the hub; the hub being tubular and provided with holes at varying heights or alternatively with vertically longitudinal openings; and internally to the hub is fitted an essentially horizontal disk having a thickness exceeding that of the diameter of the screws, the disk having radial threaded holes for receiving the screws; whereby the disk is adapted to be set at varying heights at the holes or the longitudinal openings to allow variation in the vertical location of the arms relative to the hub.

6. The base according to claim 1, further comprising the arms being manufactured from bent sheet steel.

7. The base according to claim 6, further comprising the arms being bent to a U or C profile which is open downwards.

8. The base according to claim 6, further comprising the arms being bent to a U or C profile which is open upwards.

9. The base according to claim 8, further comprising the arms being provided with separate cover elements.

Description

[0029] The invention is described in greater detail below referring to the attached drawings, in which

[0030] FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the arms are prepared from sheet metal bent to a C-profile which is open downwards, and the angle of the arms relative to the hub can be varied;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a preferable embodiment of the invention, in which the arms are attached to the hub so as to be collapsible. A collar between the hub and the upper edges of the proximal ends of the arms provides for adjustment of the angle between the hub and the arms.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the embodiment in FIG. 2 with the arms partly folded:

[0033] FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the arms collapsed;

[0034] FIG. 5 shows side views of alternative structures for the hub of the embodiment in FIG. 1.

[0035] In the figures, all equivalent parts have not been provided with reference numerals when the objects are symmetrical.

[0036] In FIG. 1 is depicted a side view of a furniture base according to the invention. The arms 1 are manufactured from steel sheet, whereby blanks have been cut from planar material and initially bent to a U-profile, providing the necessary stiffness, after which a further bending has been carried out to achieve an esthetical curvature. In the figures, this curvature is upward concave throughout, but it may also be the opposite. In the arms are provided end flanges 3 with holes for radially directed screws 4. The holes are located close to the lower edge of the flange, and the upper edge of the proximal end of the arm abuts the hub 2. Here, the hub is cylindrical, i.e. has a circular section. To match the contact area between the planar end flange 3 and the curved surface on the hub 2, a spacer body 5 has been fitted between the surfaces, preferably so that the screw runs through a hole in the body. Spacers having varying thickness in their upper and lower sections may be used for varying the angle between arm and hub, and thus for varying the height of the furniture base.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment where the hub is provided with protrusions 6 arranged in pairs in a star configuration. On the arms are provided welded lugs 7, the outer ends of which are inserted between the pairwise protrusions 6 on the hub. Pivot pins 8, e.g. in the form of rivets or bolts, are arranged through the lugs 7 on the arms and the protrusions 6. Thus, the arms may be folded to lie essentially in the axial direction as shown in FIG. 3 where two arms are swung down and one is swung out. A furniture base collapsed in this manner has a shape making packing and transport relatively easy. When the arms may turn around the pivot pins in this manner, their angle relative to the hub in the operational position may be varied using e.g. spacers between the hub and the upper edge of the proximal ends of the arms. Thus, the height of the furniture base may be varied. Preferably, this is carried out e.g. using a collar 9 or collars on the outside of the hub, the thickness or the rotational position of the collar determining the above-mentioned angle.

[0038] The joint structure may also be the inverse to that shown in the figure, i.e. with single protrusions on the hub and pairs of lugs on each arm.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows the furniture base of FIG. 2-3 in the collapsed state from above, the parts being indicated as in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0040] FIGS. 2 to 4 show an embodiment with arms worked from sheet metal, but corresponding constructions having pivoting arms may be applied when the arms are produced from other

[0041] FIG. 5 shows two further alternative embodiments for the variable attachment of arms (not shown) to a hub 2. A circular disc 10 having a thickness exceeding the diameter of the screws (not shown) is adapted for fitting into the hub in a horizontal position. In the disc 10 are provided radial, threaded holes 11 for receiving the screws. The tubular hub may be provided with series of through holes 12 at varying heights, or alternatively with vertically longitudinal openings 13 for the screws, whereby the vertical position of the points of attachment for the arms may be varied. The disc 10 having radial screw holes 11 is set within the hub to a desired vertical position, after which the screws are set through the end flanges of the arms and through the corresponding holes 12 or longitudinal openings 13 on the desired level in the hub, and the screws are tightened against the hub surface. Thus, no parts need to be welded to the tubular hub, but the unit is assembled using screw joints only.

[0042] In the distal ends of the arms, base plates for contacting the floor may be provided in particular for embodiments where the arms are of relatively thin sheet metal.

[0043] When the arms are made from bent sheet metal, their profile may be set in the opposite direction relative to FIGS. 1 to 4, i.e. with the cavity upwards. Thereby the cavity may preferably be closed with a covering element. This element may be provided in a material and color of choice, allowing great variety in the appearance of the chair base. One advantage is that welded details and screw joints may be located within the profile so they are hidden by the covering element.

[0044] The covers may be fastened e.g. using suitable protrusions on their underside, forming snap-on connections engaging the edges of the C-profile of the arms.

[0045] The present invention provides advantages in the manufacturing process, among others. In relation to furniture bases molded in one piece, surface finishing operations like chrome plating, polishing and coating are significantly easier to carry out when the arms are separate, thin and longitudinal objects. Assembly by screwing allows less complicated procedures than e.g. in case the arms and the hub are provided with form-fitting joint components which must be shaped by molding or working.

[0046] The features described herein may be combined freely within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.