Upholstered chair with two-piece shell

• US 5,630,643 A
• Filed: 06/01/1993
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Scheper, Robert M., Smith, Douglas A., Groendal, Dale M., Hahn, Thomas R., Scholten, Brian L., Abraham, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thorpe, Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): McAndrews, Jr., Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US08/071,391
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.2, 297/228.13, 297/452.59, 297/452.6, 297/440.11, 297/440.15, 297/440.16
• US Class Current: 297/218.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/12 with shell-shape seat and back-rest unit, e.g. having arm rests
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/023 connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like

Abstract

A chair includes a base, a chair control and tilt mechanism, a shell assembly and a cushion assembly. The shell assembly includes a seat shell fixed to the base and a separate back shell. The back shell and seat shell are interconnected by a mechanical hinge. The hinge includes a pair of tabs on the back shell received in sockets defined by the seat shell. The tabs are retained in the sockets by the chair base. Back supports or chair arms have ends operatively connected to the tilt mechanism. Opposite ends of the arms are secured to the seat back to support and guide the back during tilting movement. The cushion assembly includes a molded foam member having a fabric or other upholstery material joined thereto. The back shell includes an integral, hinged upholstery flap. The fabric of the cushion assembly is folded over and joined to the flap. The flap is folded and operatively connected to a rear surface of the back shell. The seat shell includes another integral upholstery attachment flap. The flaps provide a finished edge for the upholstery. The back shell defines grooves within which lateral edges of the cushion assembly upholstery material are retained.

Claims

1. A chair, comprising:

a base;

a seat shell defining a rear edge, lateral edges and a front edge, said seat shell being fixed to said base;

a back shell having a top edge, lateral edges and a front edge;

at least one tab integral with said back shell; and

at least one socket integral with said seat shell, said at least one socket being dimensioned to receive and retain said at least one tab in order to interconnect said shells, said at least one tab being clamped between said base and said seat shell to secure said back shell in place.

2. A chair as defined by claim 1 wherein said at least one tab is generally L-shaped in side elevation.

3. A chair as defined by claim 1 wherein said at least one tab is integral with a lower edge of said one of said back shell and said seat shell.

4. A chair as defined by claim 3 wherein said at least one tab is located at least partially between said base and said seat shell.

5. A chair as defined by claim 4 further including another tab and another socket, said another tab being integral with the lower edge of said back shell and said another socket being integral with said seat shell.

6. A chair as defined by claim 5 further comprising:

an arm having an end joined to said base and an end joined to said back shell.

7. A chair comprising:

a base;

a seat shell defining a rear edge, lateral edges and a front edge, said seat shell being fixed to said base;

a back shell having a top edge, lateral edges and a front edge;

at least two tabs integral with one of said seat shell and said back shell;

at least two sockets integral with the other of said seat shell and said back shell, said at least two sockets being dimensioned to receive and retain said at least two tabs in order to interconnect said shells, said at least two tabs each being generally L-shaped in side elevation and further being integral with a lower edge of said one of said back shell and said seat shell and still further being located at least partially between said base and said seat shell;

an arm having an end joined to said base and an end joined to said back shell; and

tilt means on said base and engaging said arm for resiliently biasing said arm and said back shell to an upright position, said at least two tabs being joined to said back shell by an integral hinge.

8. A chair, comprising:

a base;

a molded seat shell attached to said base;

a tilt mechanism on said base;

a molded back shell operatively connected to said tilt mechanism for movement between upright and tilt positions;

a hinge comprising molded polymeric material integrally molded as part of one of said back shell and said seat shell and forming a living hinge configured to hingedly and releasably interlockingly interconnect said back shell to said seat shell; and

a cushion assembly secured to said seat shell and said back shell.

9. A chair as defined by claim 8 wherein said hinge comprises:

one of said seat shell and said back shell defining at least one elongated tab joined to said one of said shells along a hinge line.

10. A chair as defined by claim 9 wherein the other of said shells defines at least one integral socket dimensioned to receive said elongated tab.

11. A chair as defined by claim 9 wherein said at least one tab is formed integral with a lower edge of said back shell.

12. A chair as defined by claim 11 wherein said seat shell includes a rear edge, said seat shell defining an aperture dimensioned to receive said at least one tab.

13. A chair as defined by claim 12 wherein said base engages said at least one tab and clamps said at least one tab against said seat shell.

16. A chair as defined by claim 8 wherein said hinge comprises:

a pair of generally L-shaped elongated tabs integral with a lower edge of said back shell, each of said tabs being joined to said shell adjacent a lateral edge thereof by a living hinge.

17. A chair as defined by claim 16 wherein said hinge further comprises:

a pair of straps formed integral with said seat shell adjacent a rear edge thereof, said straps defining apertures dimensioned to receive said elongated tabs.

14. A chair, comprising:

a base;

a seat shell attached to said base;

a tilt mechanism on said base;

a back shell operatively connected to said tilt mechanism for movement between upright and tilt positions;

mechanical hinge means integrally formed as part of one of said back shell and said seat shell for hingedly and releasably interconnecting said back shell to said seat shell;

a cushion assembly secured to said seat shell and said back shell; and

said mechanical hinge means comprising one of said seat shell and said back shell defining at least one elongated tab joined to said one of said shells along a hinge line, the other of said shells defining at least one integral socket dimensioned to receive said elongated tab, said at least one tab being formed integral with a lower edge of said back shell, said seat shell including a rear edge, said seat shell defining an aperture dimensioned to receive said at least one tab, said base engaging said at least one tab and clamping said at least one tab against said seat shell, said seat shell including an integral strap which defines said aperture therewith.

15. A chair as defined by claim 14 wherein said at least one tab is generally L-shaped in side elevation, said strap engaging said at least one tab to prevent rearward movement thereof when said at least one tab is disposed within said aperture.

18. A chair, comprising:

a base;

a seat shell attached to said base;

a tilt mechanism on said base;

a back shell operatively connected to said tilt mechanism for movement between upright and tilt positions;

hinge means formed as part of said back shell and said seat shell for hingedly and releasably interconnecting said back shell to said seat shell;

a cushion assembly secured to said seat shell and said back shell;

said hinge means comprising a pair of generally L-shaped elongated tabs integral with a lower edge of said seat shell, each of said tabs being joined to said shell adjacent a lateral edge thereof by a living hinge, a pair of straps formed integral with said seat shell adjacent a rear edge thereof, said straps defining apertures dimensioned to receive said elongated tabs; and

said seat shell being fixed to said base and said base interlockingly engaging said tabs to interferingly prevent inadvertent removal of said tabs from said apertures.

23. A chair as defined by claim 18 wherein said back shell defines an upper edge having an upholstery attachment flap joined thereto, said cushion assembly including an upholstery portion folded over and joined to said flap, said flap being folded over against a rear surface of said back shell to secure said cushion assembly to said back shell and form a finished upholstery edge.

24. A chair as defined by claim 23 further including a fastener formed on said attachment flap for securing said flap to said rear surface of said shell.

25. A chair as defined by claim 24 wherein said fastener is generally T-shaped and said back shell defines a fastener aperture configured to receive and retain said fastener.

26. A chair as defined by claim 23 wherein said seat shell defines a front edge having a seat upholstery attachment flap joined thereto, said cushion assembly including another upholstery portion folded over said seat upholstery attachment flap of said seat shell and joined thereto, said flap being folded against and secured to an undersurface of said seat shell to attach said cushion assembly to said seat shell.

27. A chair as defined by claim 26 wherein a rear surface of said back shell defines a pair of elongated, outwardly open channels, said channels being spaced inwardly from lateral edges of said back shell, said cushion assembly including lateral edge portions disposed within said channels.

28. A chair as defined by claim 27 further including a pair of elongated, flexible members press-fitted into said channels to retain said lateral edge portions.

29. A chair as defined by claim 28 further comprising:

elongated trim strips joined to said flexible members and covering said channels.

30. A chair as defined by claim 29 wherein said hinge comprises:

a pair of generally L-shaped elongated tabs integral with a lower edge of said seat shell, each of said tabs being joined to said shell adjacent a lateral edge thereof by a living hinge.

31. A chair as defined by claim 30 wherein said hinge further comprises:

a pair of straps formed integral with said seat shell adjacent a rear edge thereof, said straps defining apertures dimensioned to receive said elongated tabs.

32. A chair as defined by claim 31 wherein said seat shell is fixed to said base and said base engages said tabs preventing removal of said tabs from said apertures.

33. A chair as defined by claim 32 wherein said tilt mechanism includes:

an elongated support member having a tilt end and a back end; and

spring means on said base and operatively connected to said tilt end for resiliently biasing said support member to an upright position.

34. A chair as defined by claim 33 wherein said back shell is attached to said back end of said support member at said rear surface of said back shell.

35. A chair as defined by claim 34 further including another elongated support member having a tilt end operatively connected to said spring means and a back end attached to said back shell.

36. A chair as defined by claim 35 wherein said elongated support members are configured to define armrests.

19. A chair, comprising:

a base;

a seat shell attached to said base;

a tilt mechanism on said base;

a back shell operatively connected to said tilt mechanism for movement between upright and tilt positions;

mechanical hinge means formed as part of said back shell and said seat shell for hingedly interconnecting said back shell to said seat shell;

a cushion assembly secured to said seat shell and said back shell; and

said tilt mechanism including an elongated support member having a tilt end and a back end, and spring means on said base and operatively connected to said tilt end for resiliently biasing said support member to an upright position.

20. A chair as defined by claim 19 wherein said back shell is attached to said support member at said back end thereof.

21. A chair as defined by claim 20 further including another elongated support member having a tilt end operatively connected to said spring means and a back end attached to said back shell.

22. A chair as defined by claim 21 wherein said elongated support members are configured to define armrests.

37. An upholstered chair, comprising:

a base;

a shell mounted on said base, said shell defining an upholstery attachment member joined to the shell along an edge thereof, said shell having front and rear surfaces; and

upholstery material having a portion folded over and secured to said attachment member, said material being on the front surface of said shell, said attachment member being folded against the rear surface to retain the material on said shell and to define a finished edge.

38. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 37 wherein said shell further defines an elongated channel opening through said rear surface and extending along a lateral edge of said shell.

39. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 38 wherein said upholstery material includes a lateral edge portion disposed in said channel and said chair further includes an elongated, flexible base extrusion press-fitted into said channel to retain said lateral edge portion of said upholstery.

40. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 39 wherein said base extrusion defines an elongated slot and said chair further includes an elongated trim member having an attachment portion disposed in said slot.

41. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 39 wherein said shell defines the back of said chair.

42. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 41 further including a seat shell on said base and joined to said shell defining said back of said chair.

43. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 42 wherein said seat shell includes a forward edge and said seat shell defines an integral attachment flap hinged to said forward edge, said upholstery material including a forward edge folded over and joined to said attachment flap, said attachment flap being folded against a bottom surface of said seat shell and attached thereto.

44. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 43 further including:

snap means on said attachment member for securing said attachment member to said shell which defines the back of said chair.

45. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 44 wherein said shell defining the back of the chair further defines another channel opening through said rear surface, said channels each extending along a lateral edge of said shell.

46. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 45 further including another elongated, flexible base extrusion press-fitted into said another channel and retaining another upholstery portion therein.

47. An upholstered chair as defined by claim 46 further including another trim strip secured to said another elongated, flexible base extrusion and covering said another channel.

48. A chair, comprising:

a base;

a seat shell defining a rear edge, lateral edges and a front edge, said seat shell being fixed to said base;

a back shell having a top edge, lateral edges and a front edge;

at least one tab integral with one of said seat shell and said back shell;

at least one socket integral with the other of said seat shell and said back shell, said at least one socket dimensioned to receive and retain said at least one tab in order to interconnect said shells; and

said at least one tab being integral with a lower edge of said back shell and said seat shell and further being located at least partially between said base and said seat shell and engaged with said base and said seat shell to assist in securing said back shell relative to said base.

49. A chair as defined by claim 48 wherein said seat shell is fixed to said base and said base interlockingly engages said at least one tab in a manner causing interference that prevents removal of said at least one tab from said at least one socket.

50. A chair as defined by claim 48 including an arm having an end joined to said base and an end joined to said back shell.

51. A chair as defined by claim 50 including tilt means on said base and engaging said arm for resiliently biasing said arm and said back shell to an upright position, said at least one tab being joined to said back shell by an integral hinge.

52. In an upholstered chair having a shell structure and upholstering fabric covering the shell structure, an improvement comprising:

an upholstery attachment member joined to the shell structure along an edge thereof, said attachment member being adapted to fold against a surface of the shell structure and further being adapted to be secured to said shell structure in a folded condition with the upholstery fabric disposed therebetween to provide a finished upholstered edge.

53. An improvement as defined by claim 52 wherein said attachment member includes a fastener for securely engaging said shell structure.

54. An improvement as defined by claim 53 wherein said fastener is integrally formed in said attachment member.

55. An improvement as defined by claim 54 wherein said shell structure includes integrally formed fastener receiving structure for receiving said fastener on said attachment member.

56. An improvement as defined by claim 55 wherein said attachment member includes a living hinge connecting said attachment member to said shell structure.

57. An improvement as defined by claim 52 wherein said fastener comprises a snap fastener configured to engage apertures in said shell structure.

58. An improvement as defined by claim 52 wherein said attachment member includes a living hinge connecting said attachment member to said shell structure.

59. An improvement as defined by claim 52 including a channel defined in the shell structure for receiving an edge of the upholstery fabric, and further including an extrusion for engaging and retaining the edge of the upholstery fabric in the channel.

60. A chair, comprising:

a base;

a seat shell comprising a molded structural plastic defining a rear edge, lateral edges and a front edge, said seat shell being fixed to said base;

a back shell comprising a molded structural plastic having a top edge, lateral edges and a front edge;

at least one tab molded integrally with one of said seat shell and said back shell;

at least one socket molded integrally with the other of said seat shell and said back shell, said at least one socket being dimensioned to receive and retain said at least one tab in order to interconnect said shells; and

said at least one tab being at least partially between said base and said seat shell and engaging with said base and said seat shell to assist in securing said back shell relative to said base.

61. A chair as defined by claim 60 wherein said at least one tab is integral with a lower edge of said one of said back shell and said seat shell.

62. A chair as defined by claim 61 further including another tab and another socket, said another tab being integral with one lower edge of said back shell and said another socket being integral with said seat shell.

63. A chair as defined by claim 62 wherein said at least one tab and said another tab are located at opposite sides of said one of said seat shell and said back shell.

64. A chair as defined by claim 63 wherein said back shell includes channels extending parallel lateral edges of said back shell, said at least one tab and said another tab being located in a position laterally and exteriorly of said channels on said back shell.

65. A chair, comprising:

a base;

a seat shell comprising a molded structural plastic defining a rear edge, lateral edges and a front edge, said seat shell being fixed to said base;

a back shell comprising a molded structural plastic having a top edge, lateral edges and a front edge;

at least one tab;

a hinge mechanism connecting said at least one tab to one of said seat shell and said back shell; and

at least one socket molded integrally with the other of said seat shell and said back shell, said at least one socket dimensioned to receive and retain said at least one tab in order to interconnect said shells, said hinge mechanism providing relative movement between said back shell and said seat shell upon the interconnection of said shells.

66. A chair as defined by claim 65 wherein said hinge mechanism comprises an integral flexible section of material forming a living hinge.

67. A chair as defined by claim 66 wherein said at least one tab is integral with a lower edge of said back shell.

68. A chair as defined by claim 67 further including another tab and another socket, said another tab being integral with a lower edge of said back shell and said another socket being integral with said seat shell.

69. A chair as defined by claim 65 wherein said hinge includes an integral hinge connecting said at least one tab to said one shell.