Chair

This invention is a chair primarily for public environments, in particular outdoors.

In public environments and then in particular outdoors as for instance in parks and other open locations it is desirable with seats at different occasions, at bus stops, if one wants to rest, meet and talk, or perhaps quite simply only sit quietly and enjoy the surroundings without having to stand up. The fact that furniture placed outdoors are frequently subjected to damage hamper the possibility of public seats.

An additional factor that restrict the useability of publically placed seating furniture is rain and snow. I reality this means that public places only can be used for a short time during the summer while one for the rest of the year has to do without outdoor sitting, either because they are put away until the summer or because the whether is such that they in effect can not be used since they are covered, are wet or are too cold.

In view of the above problems the object of the invention is to provide a chair that can be used outdoors in different configurations.

In accordance with the invention the above object is solved with a chair that consists of two more or less Z-shaped parts that are placed next to each other and where for each part the middle part constitute seat and the parts extending from the middle part constitute backrest and leg respectively. The legs are in a first embodiment of the invention in their lower end connected with a base plate. Alternatively one can consider inserting the legs into recesses in a larger plate or in the ground anchored corresponding guides.

The leg-seat-backrest-parts shaped after the body provide a comfortable sitting and furthermore result in that the sitting person is centered on the chair despite the unfilled middle elongate space. Furthermore water easily flow off from the seat areas so that the chair will dry faster after possible rain.

The chair is made of concrete and each leg-seat-backrest-part may have an almost rectangular cross-section. By arranging leg, backrest and seat in one and the same plane (horizontal at casting, vertical when the chair is ready) the manufacturing of the chair parts of concrete is facilitated. By manufacturing the parts of the chair of concrete the parts despite the moderate cross section dimensions become comparatively heavy and thereby less attractive to vandalize.

In a further development of the invention the chair is electrically heated, which can be achieved with self-regulating heating cables that are placed inside the chair, one cable for each part along seat and backrest.

The electrical heating in combination with the comparatively moderate material volume make the required power for the heating of the chair in the winter, so that it may be comfortable and nice to sit in, comparatively small at the same time as this heat is enough to thaw and dry away possible precipitation. The seat areas are preferably gently sloping towards each other, so that the heat together with the inclination causes for instance snow to slide off the seat areas. Since it all the way is a distance between the two parts of the chair there is no risk of the elongate opening between them getting clogged.

By arranging insert holes for the legs in a larger concrete plate in the ground or particular, with reception openings provided, connection blocks in the ground a simple and practical fabrication is obtained on the one hand and on the other hand a possibility to remove one or several chairs if so should be desired. For instance this can enable snow plough access in the winter or if one for other reasons wish to drive vehicles where the chairs are placed. On the occasions when the chairs are removed one can conceive that particular plugs are mounted in the reception holes for the chairs.

Since the parts of the chair in accordance with the invention have corresponding shapes and are comparatively flat these may at transport as well as at storing be placed very space-saving without one therefor risking that the parts cause damage to each other. The chair parts of concrete are reinforced with for instance reinforcing irons and furthermore a heating cable is placed inside each part extending along this. For the electric connecting of the heating cable the connection may take place in the bottom of each reception space for the legs, alternatively each chair may have an outgoing cable that extend to a suitable distribution point. Due to the heating furthermore the risk that water force itself into the concrete and at degrees below zero ruin the surface of the concrete is eliminated.

Further advantages and characteristics of the chair in accordance with the invention is in more detail apparent from the patent claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the enclosed drawing, where fig 1 shows the chair seen from the front, fig 2 the same chair seen from the side and fig 3 a matching foundation.

The chair shown in the drawing includes two more or less Z-shaped parts 1, 2 arranged in parallel next to each other. The legs are extended a short distance down below the ground level and are with these downwards narrowing extensions arranged in a base plate provided with downwards slightly narrowing receiving holes. The middle part (the seat) of the Z-shaped parts is inclined slightly backwards for draining and comfort. In the Z-shaped parts of the chair heating cables 5 are embedded in seat and backrest connected via an electric cable 6. Since the Z-shaped parts are comparatively narrow an even heating can be achieved with one sole heating cable in each part.

Advantageously at the fabrication of the chair a strip of heat insulating material may be applied behind the heating cable and essentially in parallel with seat and backrest surface so that the generated heat essentially is directed towards the seat surface.

The legs may be fastened in the base plate with mortar, glue or wedges. Alternatively one can consider these only being inserted into the reception holes or mechanically locked in these so that they can be removed again. The chair is made of concrete which renders the two Z-shaped parts so heavy that it is neither comfortable nor easy to lift these without help of suitable machinery and the risk of vandalism is reduced. Since the parts are flat the casting of the concrete is facilitated and one can even consider to paint or treat the surface of the chair in some other way.