Flipit™

The Flipit is a unique new compact seat. It is a comfortable and stable everyday chair that transforms simply into a compact, self standing unit which is easy to carry, transport and store. But more than that, it is a desirable object that also works beautifully, transforms brilliantly and performs reliably. It is just 100mm deep, 510mm high and 442mm wide, about the size of a briefcase.

Flipit is designed around our patented linkage mechanism, using simple geometry and precisely located pivot points to engineer the transformation from open seat to closed unit. It is a flexible solution for both public and private multifunctional areas and where storage space is at a premium. The functional Flipit fits into any environment, indoors or outdoors, at home or at work.

If you think the Flipit is for you and you’d like to buy one or more now, please contact us immediately. They cost £110 each + VAT plus shipping in the UK.

Design

The Flipit has a unique style. The aesthetics reflect the precise engineering of the chair and celebrate the manufacturing process and the practical materials used rather than any particular style. It just flips open and shut using one hand. You just pick it up by the handle incorporated into the seat back, which transforms it effortlessly into the open seating position. To close it, you just pick it up by the carrying handle, which disengages the chair so it flips closed.

Performance

The Flipit has undergone the most arduous tests and has achieved the highest performance standards. So strong in fact it will carry the weight of a 30 stone person. It has two certifications from FIRA (Furniture Institute Research Association) BS 4875-1:2001 Test Level 5 Strength & Durability and BS EN1022:2005 Safety & Stability. These confirm it is a safe and a long lasting product.

It is also very comfortable! The polypropylene components flex a little to give both support and comfort. If you’d like to road test one, just contact us and take part in ‘Flipit 52’, the diary of a chair.

History

Most folding chairs are designed around a principle dating back hundreds of years, namely that the back member of the chair is an extension of the front leg. Unfortunately, this means that when the chair is folded, its overall height is greater than when it is open, making it awkward to carry and store.

We wanted to design a compact seating solution for the 21st century. The Flipit folds up to a fraction of the size of a normal chair. It is just 100mm deep, 510mm high and 442mm wide, about the size of a briefcase. And when closed, the flipit stands up just like a briefcase too.

Materials

The structure is made from pressure die cast aluminium, extruded aluminium tubes and plated steel rivets. The seat, back, feet and tube inserts are made from injection-moulded polypropylene.

The seat and back are currently available in translucent white, black, pink and blue and the frame in dark bronze and silver. Bespoke colours and finishes can also be specified for all components to customise or brand the chairs for certain environments.

The designer

The Flipit has been conceived, designed and developed by Marion Mainstone in London. Marion is a graduate of The Royal College of Art. The unique linkage mechanism around which Flipit has been designed is now protected with a world wide patent. Another patent for the locking principle is currently protected by a P.C.T. Marion is developing other products incorporating the Intellectual Property Rights of the Company, please contact her with any questions about the design.