Modular chair and method
First Claim
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1. A modular chair comprising:
- a seat deck having a pair of laterally spaced side rails abuttingly engaging a rear cross member, and interconnected to a front cross member;
bracket means for securing said side rails to said rear cross member at a rear portion of said seat deck, and for securing said side rails to said front cross member;
a base operably interconnected to said seat deck;
a left side frame assembly and a right side frame assembly for engaging said side rails of said seat deck, each of said side frame assemblies forming an individual modular component; and
a seat back assembly for engaging said seat deck and said side frame assemblies, said seat back assembly forming an individual modular component;
said left and right side frame assemblies including an inner side frame panel having a horizontal ledge formed on a lower surface thereof for engaging a top surface of said side rails, and a rearwardly extending tab for engaging a rectangular space defined in said seat back assembly;
whereby said side frame assemblies and said seat back are operably interconnected with said seat deck and said base for creating an interlocking engagement for enhancing the structural integrity of said modular chair.
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Abstract
A modular occasional chair and method for assembling a modular chair are disclosed. The modular chair includes a universal seat deck to which modular side frame and seat back components constructed in various styles are attached. The universal seat deck can accommodate a variety of bases including four-leg, swivel/glider, swivel, and swivel/rocker styles. The construction method involves assembling and preupholstering each modular frame component prior to final assembly. The method further involves producing a modular chair in a "cell manufacturing" environment in which the individual components are simultaneously manufactured during parallel assembly processes.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A modular chair comprising:
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a seat deck having a pair of laterally spaced side rails abuttingly engaging a rear cross member, and interconnected to a front cross member; bracket means for securing said side rails to said rear cross member at a rear portion of said seat deck, and for securing said side rails to said front cross member; a base operably interconnected to said seat deck; a left side frame assembly and a right side frame assembly for engaging said side rails of said seat deck, each of said side frame assemblies forming an individual modular component; and a seat back assembly for engaging said seat deck and said side frame assemblies, said seat back assembly forming an individual modular component; said left and right side frame assemblies including an inner side frame panel having a horizontal ledge formed on a lower surface thereof for engaging a top surface of said side rails, and a rearwardly extending tab for engaging a rectangular space defined in said seat back assembly; whereby said side frame assemblies and said seat back are operably interconnected with said seat deck and said base for creating an interlocking engagement for enhancing the structural integrity of said modular chair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A modular chair comprising:
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a seat deck including a pair of laterally spaced side rails interconnected to a front cross member to form a pair of front corners, and interconnected to a rear cross member to form a pair of rear corners; a left side frame assembly and a right side frame assembly for engaging said side rails; a seat back assembly for engaging said seat deck and said side frame assemblies; said left and right side frame assemblies including an inner side frame panel having a horizontal ledge formed on a lower surface thereof for engaging a top surface of said side rails, and a rearwardly extending tab for engaging a rectangular space defined in said seat back assembly; and a bracket disposed in an inside portion of each of said front corners for securing said side rails to said front cross member; said bracket including a first flange surface having a perpendicular first tab surface extending therefrom and a second flange surface having a second tab surface extending therefrom, wherein said first flange surface and said second flange surface are perpendicular, and wherein said first tab surface is positioned directly above said second tab surface to form a third flange surface, whereby said first flange surface, said second flange surface, and said third flange surfaces are orthogonal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A modular chair comprising:
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a seat deck having a pair of laterally spaced side rails abuttingly engaging a rear cross member, and interconnected to a front cross member, wherein a top edge of said front cross member extends above a horizontal plane formed by said side rails and said rear cross member, thereby forming an inclined seating surface; bracket means for securing said side rails to said rear cross member at a rear portion of said seat deck, and for securing said side rails to said front cross member, said bracket means including a first flange surface having a perpendicular first tab surface extending therefrom and a second flange surface having a second tab surface extending therefrom, wherein said first flange surface and said second flange surface are perpendicular, and wherein said first tab surface is positioned directly above said second tab surface, whereby said first tab surface, said second tab surface, and said first and second flange surfaces are orthogonal; said interconnection between said front cross member, said bracket means, and said side rails forming a pair of vertical notches at the outside front corners of said seat deck; a base operably interconnected to said seat deck; a left side frame assembly and a right side frame assembly for engaging said side rails of said seat deck, each of said side frame assemblies forming an individual modular component; and a seat back assembly for engaging said seat deck and said side frame assemblies, said seat back assembly forming an individual modular component; whereby said side frame assemblies and said seat back are operably interconnected with said seat deck and said base to form said modular chair.
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Specification