Chair cusion and upholstery assembly and method

• US 5,489,145 A
• Filed: 01/13/1994
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Knoll Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Van Hekken, Hendrik R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US08/182,811
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.57, 297/452.59, 297/452.61, 5/402-407
• US Class Current: 297/452.57
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/20 with reinforcement in the foam layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/12 Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/1214 Anchoring by foaming into a preformed part, e.g. by penetrating through holes anchoring by moulding in general B29C37/0078; outsert moulding B29C45/14344, B29C70/74
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/70 Completely encapsulating inserts B29C70/86 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed is a chair cushion and upholstery assembly and method used in the construction of one and two piece office type chairs. A molded plastic cushion liner member having a marginal portion surrounding one or more open portions and adapted to fit within a chair cushion support member is foamed in situ within an inset molding apparatus to fill the open portions of the cushion liner member and bond the foam cushion material to the liner member. Upholstery material covers the foam cushion material with the marginal edges of the upholstery material bonded to a foam-free peripheral or border surface of the cushion liner member with an adhesive or glue.

Claims

1. A composite molded cushion and upholstery assembly for installation in a chair cushion support member, comprising a molded plastic cushion liner member adapted to fit within the chair cushion support member and having a marginal portion including an opening substantially surrounded by the marginal portion, a foam cushion material filling the opening of the plastic cushion liner member and bonded to its marginal portion, said marginal portion including a peripheral outer edge portion that is free of foam, and upholstery material covering the foam cushion material with marginal edge of the upholstery material bonded to said foam free outer edge portion of the cushion liner member.

2. The composite molded cushion and upholstery assembly of claim 1 in which the foam cushion material is foamed in place against the plastic cushion liner member.

3. The composite molded cushion and upholstery assembly of claim 1 in which the foam cushion material is mechanically bonded to the plastic cushion liner member by foam cushion material extruded through a plurality of holes extending through the marginal portion of the plastic cushion liner member.

4. The composite molded cushion and upholstery assembly of claim 1 in which the foam cushion material is chemically bonded to the plastic cushion liner member.

5. The composite molded cushion and upholstery assembly of claim 1 in which the foam cushion material is a polyurethane foam and the plastic cushion liner is made of an ABS thermoplastic.

6. The composite molded cushion and upholstery assembly of claim 1 in which marginal edges of the upholstery material are glued to a foam-free peripheral surface of the plastic cushion liner member.

7. The composite molded cushion and upholstery assembly of claim 1 has a first opening to receive foam cushion material for a chair seat and a second opening to receive foam material for a chair back.

8. The composite molded cushion and upholstery assembly of claim 1 wherein the width of the opening is substantially larger than the width of the marginal portion.

9. An injection molded plastic liner for use in a composite foam chair cushion comprising a marginal portion including a plurality of holes extending through the marginal portion, an opening surrounded by the marginal portion, a border portion formed on a peripheral outer edge of said marginal portion, the holes and the opening adapted to receive and retain a foamed in situ foam cushion material, and upholstery material covering the foam cushion material with the marginal edge of the upholstery material bonded to the border portion which remains free of foam cushion material.

10. The molded plastic liner of claim 9 in which the plastic is a thermoplastic ABS material.