METHOD OF FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION
First Claim
1. The method of making an article of furniture formed from an integral shell having the contour of the article of furniture, wherein the improvement comprises severing the integral shell to provide a separate perimeter shell having an aperture therein and a center shell produced by the severing of the integral shell, the center shell mating with the perimeter shell in the completed article of furniture so as to close off the aperture in the perimeter shell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A chair or similar article of furniture employing molded shells which mate to complete an integral shell. Two shells are employed: a perimeter shell having an aperture therein and a center shell that mates with the perimeter shell so as to close off the aperture in the perimeter shell. The two shells are advantageously molded first as one piece which is then cut into the two shells. Each shell is separately upholstered with upholstery connections being located along an edge portion of the shell. The two shells are thereafter joined together along the edge portions; upholstery connections along the edge portions are concealed between the joined-together portions. The mating shells may incorporate flanges along the edges thereof which abut in joining the shells together. In such a case, and when one flange presents an outwardly exposed surface, a doubled-over piece of upholstery may be employed to cover the exposed surface. The doubling over of the upholstery conceals the upholstery connections into the exposed surface as well as the fastening elements used to join the two shells together. A free edge of the doubled-over upholstery is then tucked between the abutting flanges to complete the upholstery. Alternatively, an extrusion may be employed as a spacer between the abutting flanges of the two shells, with a portion thereof extending over the outwardly exposed flange surface. The extrusion may have upholstery adhered thereto, and thus conceals the upholstery connections and the fastening elements used to join one shell to the other. The upholstery for the perimeter shell is a machine-sewed fabric envelope, eliminating all handstitching except for the sewing of a small flap under the front of the shell.
13 Citations
6 Claims
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1. The method of making an article of furniture formed from an integral shell having the contour of the article of furniture, wherein the improvement comprises severing the integral shell to provide a separate perimeter shell having an aperture therein and a center shell produced by the severing of the integral shell, the center shell mating with the perimeter shell in the completed article of furniture so as to close off the aperture in the perimeter shell.
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2. The method of making an article of furniture as defined in claim 1, wherein the perimeter and center shells are separately upholstered, with connections of upholstery to each shell being located along an edge portion of the shell, and thereafter joining the two shells along the edge portions thereof so as to conceal the upholstery connections between the joined edge portions.
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3. The method of making an article of furniture as defined in claim 1, wherein the integral shell is formed with a portion thereof that forms an angle with the adjacent parts of the integral shell, the integral shell being severed in said portion to form the perimeter and center shells.
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4. The method of making an article of furniture, comprising forming a perimeter shell having an aperture through the surface thereof, forming a center shell adapted to mate with the perimeter shell so as to close off the aperture through the surface of the perimeter shell, and joining the two shells together to complete the closing of the aperture.
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5. The method of making an article of furniture as defined in claim 4, wherein the perimeter and center shells are separately upholstered, with connections of upholstery to each shell being located along an edge portion of the shell, the two shells being joined along the edge portions thereof so as to conceal the upholstery connections between the joined edge portions.
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6. The method of making an article of furniture as defined in claim 4, including forming the inner peripheral edge portion of the perimeter shell and the outer peripheral edge portion of the center shell each with a flange extending at an aNgle with respect to the adjacent portion of the respective shell, the flanges so formed being caused to abut each other in the joining together of the shells.
Specification