Reconfigurable rest for an article of furniture

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a reconfigurable rest for an article of furniture such as a sofa. The reconfigurable rest comprises an elongate first post for connection to a body of the article of furniture, a length of the first post defining a longitudinal first axis. The reconfigurable rest comprises an elongate second post for connection to the body of the article of furniture, the second post being spaced apart from the first post along a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. At least one articulated connector extends between and interconnects the first and second posts. A curvature of the at least one articulated connector is adjustable to adjust a curvature of the reconfigurable rest relative to the second axis. Upholstery covers at least a majority of the at least one articulated connector.

1 . A reconfigurable rest for an article of furniture such as a sofa, the reconfigurable rest comprising:
 an elongate first post for connection to a body of the article of furniture, a length of the first post defining a longitudinal first axis;   an elongate second post for connection to the body of the article of furniture, the second post being spaced apart from the first post along a second axis transverse to the first axis;   at least one articulated connector extending between the first and second posts to interconnect the first and second posts, a curvature of the at least one articulated connector being adjustable to adjust a curvature of the reconfigurable rest relative to the second axis; and   upholstery covering at least a majority of the at least one articulated connector.   
     
     
         2 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one articulated connector is configured to require application of a force of at least a predetermined magnitude to adjust the curvature of the at least one articulated connector. 
     
     
         3 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined magnitude is greater than that generated by a person having a mass of 100 kg sitting on a seating portion of the article of furniture and leaning against the reconfigurable rest at an angle of 30 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
         4 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 2 , wherein the force of at least a predetermined magnitude is a bending moment of at least 10 Nm or at least 15 Nm or at least 20 Nm or at least 25 Nm or at least 30 Nm or at least 35 Nm or at least 40 Nm or at least 45 Nm or at least 50 Nm. 
     
     
         5 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 2 , wherein the force of at least a predetermined magnitude is a bending moment greater than that generated by the self-weight of the reconfigurable rest when:
 one of the first and second posts is oriented with its longitudinal axis horizontal and is prevented from moving and rotating; and   a remainder of the reconfigurable rest is cantilevered, horizontally, from said one of the first and second posts.   
     
     
         6 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one articulated connector is a linkage comprising at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links. 
     
     
         7 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 6 , wherein an interference fit exists between the links. 
     
     
         8 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least one articulated connector is a linkage comprising at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links;   an interference fit exists between the links; and   the at least one articulated connector is configured, via the interference fit between the links, to require application of the force of at least a predetermined magnitude to adjust the curvature of the at least one articulated connector.   
     
     
         9 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 6 , wherein each of the links comprises a cog, the cog of each of the links being engaged with the cog of the or each longitudinally adjoining said link to control adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector. 
     
     
         10 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one articulated connector is a linkage comprising at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links;   an interference fit exists between the links;   each of the links comprises a cog, the cog of each of the links being engaged with the cog of the or each longitudinally adjoining said link to control adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector; and   a magnitude of interference provided by the interference fit is provided or contributed to by one or more of:
 engagement of the cogs; 
 friction between the links; 
 material properties of the links; and 
 bearing force between the links. 
   
     
     
         11 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 6 , wherein each of the links comprises an abutment surface, the abutment surface of each of the links being configured to engage with the abutment surface of the or each adjoining said at least one link to limit a range of adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector. 
     
     
         12 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 11 , wherein the range of adjustment of the curvature of the at least one articulated connector bay be from to zero to a curvature of one sign or the other. 
     
     
         13 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 6 , wherein the at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links further comprises at least a second plurality of hingedly connected links, the links of the second plurality being hingedly connected to the links of the first plurality. 
     
     
         14 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 13 , wherein the links of the second plurality are longitudinally misaligned with those of the first plurality. 
     
     
         15 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 13 , wherein the links of the second plurality frictionally interfere with those of the first plurality. 
     
     
         16 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the at least one articulated connector is a linkage comprising at least a first plurality of hingedly connected links;   an interference fit exists between the links; and   the frictional interference of the links of the second plurality with those of the first plurality contribute to a magnitude of interference provided by the interference fit.   
     
     
         17 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one articulated connector comprises at least a first said articulated connector and a second said articulated connector, the first and second articulated connectors being substantially parallel with one another. 
     
     
         18 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 1 , wherein the upholstery covers substantially the whole of the at least one articulated connector. 
     
     
         19 . The reconfigurable rest of  claim 18 , wherein the upholstery covers at least a majority of portions of the first and second posts that extend from the body of the article of furniture, in use. 
     
     
         20 . An article of furniture such as a sofa, comprising:
 a body; and   the reconfigurable rest of  claim 1 , the reconfigurable rest being connected to the body.