Chair assembly with upholstery covering

• US 10,165,861 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2017
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Bruce M., Peterson, Gordon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US15/595,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 29745214, 29745255-45262
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/024 the parts, being the back-rest, or the back-rest and seat unit, having adjustable and lockable inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03 the parts being arm-rests conversion into a bed A47C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0307 adjustable rectilinearly in horizontal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0308 adjustable by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/032 the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest A47C1/035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03261 characterised by elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03266 with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03272 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03274 of torsion type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/14 Beach chairs ; Chairs for outdoor use, e.g. chairs for relaxation or sun-tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/20 Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats tables with variable height A47B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/30 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/02 Upholstery attaching means quilting, quilting means, fastening, fixing or finishing upholstery B68G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/023 connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/00 Chairs of special materials
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/12 of plastics, with or without reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/006 with castors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/14 : of adjustable shape; elastically mounted ; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261; elastically-mounted back-rests or backrest-seat units in the base frame A47C7/44
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/185 : with a stiff, rigid support
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/24 : Upholstered seats A47C7/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 : for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/44 : with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/441 : with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/443 : with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 : with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/462 : adjustable by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/54 : Supports for the arms
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/12 : Other elements specially adapted for fastening, fixing, or finishing, in upholstery work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 : Method
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 : by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A seating unit component assembly comprises a support component that includes a first surface adapted to abut a seated user, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end surface, a second end surface opposite the first end surface, and a pair of side surfaces extending between the first and second end surfaces, and a cover having a plurality of sides that cooperate to form an interior space that receives the support component therein, wherein the cover includes a first portion comprising a non-fabric substantially flexible thermoplastic material covering at least a portion of at least one of the side surfaces of the support component, a second portion comprising a fabric covering at least a portion of the first surface and at least a portion of the first end surface of the support component, and a third portion comprising a substantially rigid overlay covering at least a portion of the second end surface and at least a portion of the second surface.

Claims

1. A seating unit component assembly, comprising:

a support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user, the support component including a first surface adapted to abut a seated user, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end surface, a second end surface opposite the first end surface, and a pair of side surfaces extending between the first and second end surfaces; and

a cover having a plurality of sides that cooperate to form an interior space that receives the support component therein, the cover comprising;

a first portion comprising a substantially flexible, elastically resilient material covering at least a portion of at least one of the side surfaces of the support component;

a second portion comprising a significantly flexible material having a flexibility that is greater than the flexibility of the first portion and covering at least a portion of the first surface and at least a portion of the first end surface of the support component; and

a third portion comprising a substantially rigid overlay, wherein the third portion is less flexible than the first portion, and wherein the third portion covers at least a portion of the second surface and at least a portion of the side surfaces of the support component.

2. The seating unit component assembly of claim 1, wherein the third portion covers at least a portion of the second end surface of the support component.

3. The seating unit component assembly of claim 2, wherein the corner comprises an angle of greater than or equal to about 90°

.

4. The seating unit component assembly of claim 3, wherein the support component comprises a seat assembly.

5. The seating unit component assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion covers at least a portion of the second end surface.

6. The seating unit component assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion covers at least a portion of the second end surface.

7. The seating unit component assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a majority of at least one of side surfaces of the support component is covered by the third portion.

8. The seating unit component assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-fabric substantially flexible thermoplastic material of the first portion comprises thermoplastic elastomer.

9. The seating unit component assembly of claim 1, wherein first portion and the second portion of the cover cooperate to define a corner between the first surface and at least one of the side surfaces.

10. An office chair assembly that includes the seating unit component of claim 1.

18. The seating unit component assembly of claim 1, wherein the third portion covers at least a portion of the second end surface.

19. The seating unit component assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion covers at least a portion of the second end surface.

20. The seating unit component assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion covers at least a portion of the second end surface.

11. A seating unit component assembly, comprising:

a support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user, the support component including a first surface adapted to abut a seated user, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end surface, a second end surface opposite the first end surface, and a pair of side surfaces extending between the first and second end surfaces; and

a cover having a plurality of sides that cooperate to form an interior space that receives the support component therein, the cover comprising;

a first portion comprising a substantially flexible first material and covering at least a portion of at least one of the side surfaces of the support component;

a second portion comprising a substantially flexible second material that is different than the first material and covering at least a portion of the first surface and at least a portion of the first end surface of the support component; and

a third portion comprising a substantially rigid overlay covering at least a portion of at least one of the side surfaces and at least a portion of the second surface, wherein the third portion of the cover is significantly offset from the first end surface of the support component.

12. The seating unit component assembly of claim 11, wherein at least a majority of at least one of side surfaces of the support component is covered by the third portion.

13. The seating unit component assembly of claim 11, wherein the non-fabric substantially flexible thermoplastic material of the first portion comprises thermoplastic elastomer.

14. The seating unit component assembly of claim 11, wherein first portion and the second portion of the cover cooperate to define a corner between the first surface and at least one of the side surfaces.

15. The seating unit component assembly of claim 14, wherein the corner comprises an angle of greater than or equal to about 90°

.

16. The seating unit component assembly of claim 11, wherein the support component comprises a seat assembly.

17. An office chair assembly that includes the seating unit component of claim 11.