Marine seat interchangeable component assembly and method

• US 20060082211A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Attwood Corporation (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Attwood Corporation (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: Begin, Jason E., Olsen, Donald J., Slabaugh, Anthony L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.560
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/32 with tensioned cords, e.g. of elastic type, in a flat plane
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/38 for the head adjustable coupled to reclining or easy chairs A47C1/036
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/546 of detachable type
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2029/043 Seats; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/04 Furniture peculiar to vessels floatable furniture B63C9/30
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/06 Fastening to floors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/02 Molded

Abstract

A seat for marine use including a hollow primary seat structure. The primary seat structure has a generally upright back portion and a seat portion formed integrally with the back portion and extending forwardly therefrom. The back portion includes at least a pair of first female connector structures, and the seat portion includes at least a pair of second female connector structures. The seat further includes a pair of armrests having integral hook-shaped connectors at first ends thereof. The hook-shaped connectors are received in the first female connectors of the primary seat structure. The armrests also include integral male connectors at second ends that are received in the second female connector structures of the primary seat structure.

Claims

1. A seat for marine use, comprising:

a hollow molded primary seat structure including a generally upright back portion and a seat portion extending forwardly therefrom, the primary seat structure including at least a pair of first female connector structures, and a second pair of female connector structures;

a pair of armrests having integral hook-shaped connectors at first ends thereof, wherein the hook-shaped connectors are received in the first female connector structures, the armrests including integral male connectors at second ends thereof received in the second female connector structures.

2. The seat of claim 1, wherein:

the primary seat structure and the armrests are hollow molded.

3. The seat of claim 1, wherein:

the hook-shaped connectors extend upwardly within the first female connector structures and the seat is in an upright position.

4. The seat of claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of the primary seat structure and the armrests are upholstered.

5. The seat of claim 4, wherein:

the back portion defines a forward side and a rearward side; and

the first female connector structures open toward the forward side.

6. The seat of claim 5, wherein:

the seat portion defines a top side and a bottom side, and the second female connector structures open upwardly.

7. The seat of claim 6, including:

a bolster pivotably connected to the primary seat structure, the bolster being pivotable between a lowered position and a generally horizontal raised position.

8. The seat of claim 7, including:

the bolster defines a range of rotation between the raised and lowered positions; and

first and second stop structures preventing rotation of the bolster outside of the range.

9. The seat of claim 8, wherein;

the bolster is generally U-shaped in plan view.

10. A method of making a seat for marine use, comprising:

hollow molding a primary seat structure having at least a pair of integrally molded first connector structures;

hollow molding at least a selected one of an armrest and a head rest having a second connector structure;

securing the second connector structure to the first connector structure; and

upholstering at least a portion of the primary seat structure and the selected one of the armrest and head rest.

11. The method of claim 10, including:

hollow molding an integral armrest and head rest structure having a pair of downwardly extending portions; and

securing the integral armrest and head rest structure to the primary seat structure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the primary seat structure defines an upper surface;

molding first connector structure into the upper surface;

molding second connector structure on the integral armrest and head rest structure; and

engaging the first connector structure with the second connector structure to attach the integral armrest and head rest structure to the primary seat structure.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first connector structures comprise apertures; and

the second connector structures comprise hooks received in the apertures.

14. The method of claim 10, including:

molding an enlarged opening through a central portion of the back portion;

molding a cover;

positioning the cover to extend across at least a substantial portion of the enlarged opening.

15. A seat for marine use, comprising:

a hollow molded primary seat structure having a generally upright back portion defining an upper edge and generally vertical side edges, the primary seat structure including a seat portion;

an enlarged U-shaped hollow molded structure forming a combination armrest/head rest extending around the upper edge and the side edges of the back portion.

16. The seat of claim 15, wherein:

the primary seat structure includes opening adjacent the upper edge; and

the armrest/head rest includes connectors received in the apertures.

17. The seat of claim 15, wherein:

at least a selected one of the pr y seat structure and the armrest/head rest is blow-molded from a polymer material.

18. The seat of claim 15, wherein:

the primary seat structure and the armrest/head rest are upholstered.

19. The seat of claim 15, wherein:

the primary seat structure includes at least four apertures; and

the armrest/head rest includes at least four connectors received in the apertures.

20. The seat of claim 19, wherein:

the at least four connectors include barbs.

21. A method of a seat for marine use, comprising:

hollow molding a seat structure having an upright back portion and a seat portion;

hollow molding a first armrest with a first body defining a first shape that provides a first visual appearance;

hollow molding a second armrest having a second body defining a second shape that provides a second visual appearance that is substantially different than the first appearance; and

connecting a selected one of the first and second armrests to the seat structure.

22. The method of claim 21, including:

molding first connecting structure into the seat structure;

molding second connecting structure into the selected one of the first and second armrests; and

interconnecting the first and second connecting structures.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

at least one of the first and second connecting structures includes a hook-shaped portion;

the other of the first and second connecting structures comprises an opening; and

wherein;

at least a portion of the hook-shaped portion is received in the opening.

24. The method of claim 23, including:

covering at least a portion of the seat structure with upholstery.