Seating unit with accessories

• US 20060273634A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stewart, Robert L., Cornell, Paul Thomas, Plant, Russell, Kaloustian, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,530,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/170
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/624 located on side of seat, e.g. on armrest
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/68 Arm-rest tables ; or back-rest tables

Abstract

A seating unit includes a tubular support extending upwardly from a chair frame, a retainer telescopingly engaging an upright open end of the support, and an armrest mounted on the retainer. The retainer is keyed at both ends to prevent undesired rotation of the armrest. Accessories are mounted to the retainer, and are positionable at use and non-use positions relative to a seated user. The accessories include a cup holder, a container, a hook for hanging items under the cup holder or container, and different tablets. One tablet includes a wheeled leg that extends downwardly from a center of gravity of the tablet, the leg supporting the tablet and reducing cantilever forces on the retainer. The back and seat comprise a flexible member co-molded onto a supportive partial-perimeter frame member and includes back and seat sections that matably engage corresponding surfaces of the frame member.

Claims

1. An armrest apparatus comprising:

an upright support;

an armrest supported atop the upright support; and

an accessory rotatably attached to the upright support for adjustment between different positions relative to the armrest.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the upright support provides cantilevered support to the armrest at a location generally at a front of the armrest.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the upright support extends below the armrest.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein the upright support is a sole support for the armrest.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the upright support includes a circumferentially-extending structure for rotatably supporting the accessory.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the upright support includes a retainer that extends upwardly and that includes a first mounting structure for supporting the armrest and a second mounting structure for supporting the accessory.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein the second mounting structure includes a circumferentially-extending structure for rotatably supporting the accessory.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein the first mounting structure is located at a top of the retainer and includes a keyed connection to prevent rotation of the armrest.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein the support includes a tubular section with an open end, and wherein the retainer includes a bottom that is configured to non-rotatably engage the open end.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein the support includes a tubular section, and wherein the retainer removably engages the tubular section.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein the support includes a tubular section, and wherein the retainer telescopingly engages the tubular section at a lower end and also telescopingly engages the armrest at an upper end.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the accessory is selected from a group consisting of one of a tablet, a container, and a cup holder.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the accessory includes at least the cup holder.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the accessory includes a tablet and an accessory-supporting leg extending downward from the tablet for engaging a floor surface.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 14, wherein the accessory leg includes a floor-engaging bottom part located generally below a center of gravity of the tablet.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the support includes a lower end configured and adapted to be removably attached to a chair frame.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the armrest is removably attached to the support.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the accessory has a first end supported by the support, a laterally-extending leg that extends from the first end, a useful end that is located at another end of the laterally-extending leg, and a hook that extends downwardly from the laterally-extending leg at a location generally under the laterally-extending leg for holding items under the accessory.

19. A seating apparatus comprising:

a seating unit having a frame; and

a support extending from the frame and including a top section configured to both rotatably support a first device and non-rotatably support a second device.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 19, wherein the first device has a functional portion forming an accessory.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 20, wherein the second device forms an armrest.

22. The apparatus defined in claim 21, wherein both the armrest and the accessory engage the top section.

23. The apparatus defined in claim 21, wherein the accessory includes a cup holder.

24. The apparatus defined in claim 20, wherein the accessory includes a tablet.

25. The apparatus defined in claim 24, wherein the accessory includes a leg extending downwardly under the tablet at a location generally at a center of gravity of the tablet.

26. The apparatus defined in claim 24, wherein the leg includes a wheel.

27. The apparatus defined in claim 20, wherein the accessory includes a hook that extends downwardly from under the accessory for holding items under the accessory.

28. A seating unit comprising:

a frame for supporting a seated user;

a retainer engaging the frame;

an armrest supported by the retainer; and

an accessory also supported by the retainer in a coordinated position relative to the armrest.

29. A seating unit comprising:

a base adapted to stably engage a floor surface;

a supportive frame member supported on the base and defining at least one of a seat section and a back section, the supportive frame member defining an enlarged opening and a perimeter frame extending at least partially around the opening to two opposing sides of the opening; and

a sheet support co-molded onto the supportive frame member, the sheet support having edge strips overlapping the perimeter frame and secured to the opposing sides with integrally formed rivet-simulating protrusions that engage apertures in the supportive frame member.

30. The seating unit defined in claim 29, wherein the sheet support includes a sheet section that at least partially covers the enlarged opening.