Contoured plastic seat back

• US 5,951,110 A
• Filed: 10/17/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Irwin Seating Company (Irwin Seating Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Irwin Seating Company (Irwin Seating Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Russell, Robert L., Conner, John P., Coffield, Tim, Finney, Steven E., Thalen, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, PETER R
• Application Number:
  US08/953,474
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.9, 297/218.1, 297/218.5, 297/440.2, 297/452.14, 297/452.31, 297/452.36, 297/452.38, 297/452.58, 297/452.6, 297/452.65
• US Class Current: 297/452.31
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/12 with shell-shape seat and back-rest unit, e.g. having arm rests
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/02 Upholstery attaching means quilting, quilting means, fastening, fixing or finishing upholstery B68G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/12 of plastics, with or without reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method

Abstract

A plastic contoured seat back includes an inner and an outer shell affixed together. The inner shell includes a three dimensionally curved front surface and a two-dimensionally curved back surface. The inner shell may include an internal rib adjacent the top of the shell that is shaped differently from the top edge of the inner shell. The internal rib is adapted to allow the inner shell to be cut adjacent the internal rib so that the inner shell can be varied in shape. The shell may also include indentations on the back side of the shell adjacent the corners of the inner shell. The indentations are dimensioned to receive overlapping fabric that is pulled around the corners such that the fabric on the back of the shell adjacent the corners does not project outwardly more than the fabric elsewhere, despite the overlapping of the fabric at the corners. The inner shell may also include a plurality of uniquely identified holes adapted to allow a variety of different ornamentation to be attached to the inner shell.

Claims

1. A chair back comprising:

a one-piece, rigid inner chair back shell;

a front surface on said inner shell, said front surface being a curved, generally planar surface adapted to be at least partially covered with a padding, said front surface having a generally curved shape for both at least one horizontal cross section and at least one vertical cross section; and

a back surface on said inner shell, said back surface oriented away from said front surface, said back surface having a generally curved shape for at least one vertical cross section and having a straight shape for substantially all horizontal cross sections, said front and back surfaces defining a plurality of apertures adapted to allow ornamentation to be secured to the padding; and

an outer shell adapted to be secured to said inner shell, said outer shell generally conforming to the back surface of said inner shell.

2. The chair back of claim 1 wherein outer shell is adapted to be secured to said inner chair back shell at a plurality of different positions located at different heights with respect to said inner chair back shell.

3. The chair back of claim 1 wherein said front surface of said inner chair back shell is adapted to allow slab foam to be affixed to said front surface.

4. The chair back of claim 1 wherein said inner chair back shell is made of plastic and has an upper portion which includes a plurality of sets of internal ribs adapted to allow said inner chair back shell to be cut to a plurality of different shapes.

5. The chair back of claim 1 wherein the generally curved shape of said front surface is curved concavely into said inner chair back shell.

6. The chair back of claim 1 wherein said inner chair back shell has a lower and an upper portion and said lower portion is thicker than said upper portion.

7. The chair back of claim 1 wherein said inner chair back shell is molded from plastic and said plurality of apertures extend from said front surface to said back surface, each said aperture having a unique identifier molded adjacent thereto on said inner chair back shell.

8. The chair back of claim 1 wherein said inner chair back shell has a top portion including a pair of corners and said inner chair back shell defines a pair of recesses in said back surface of said inner chair back shell, each said recess defined adjacent each said corner, said recesses adapted to receive fabric folded around said corners.

9. A chair back comprising:

a one-piece inner shell having a two-dimensionally curved back surface and a three-dimensionally curved front surface, said three-dimensionally curved front surface being a curved, generally planar surface adapted to allow unmolded slab foam to be affixed to it;

said inner shell including a plurality of apertures adapted to allow ornamentation to be secured to said slab foam; and

an outer shell adapted to be secured to said inner shell, said outer shell generally conforming to the back surface of said inner shell.

10. The chair back of claim 9 wherein said inner shell defines a top and a bottom and said back surface is curved in vertical cross-sections from said top to said bottom.

11. The chair back of claim 10 wherein said inner shell further includes a plurality of internal ribs adapted to allow said inner shell to be cut to different shapes.

12. The chair back of claim 11 wherein said inner shell is made of plastic and is rigid.

13. The chair back of claim 9, wherein said three-dimensionally curved front surface is curved inwardly into said inner shell.

14. The chair back of claim 9 wherein said inner shell includes a plurality of holes adapted to receive fasteners to secure said shell to a pair of wings.

15. The chair back of claim 14 wherein said pair of wings are adapted to be secured to said inner chair back at a plurality of different positions.

16. A chair back comprising:

an inner shell having a two-dimensionally curved back surface and a three-dimensionally curved front surface, said three-dimensionally curved front surface adapted to allow unmolded slab foam to be affixed to it;

said inner shell including a plurality of holes adapted to receive fasteners to secure said shell to a pair of wings; and

an outer shell adapted to be secured to said inner shell at a plurality of different positions, said outer shell being at least partially secured to said inner shell by fasteners engaging said pair of wings.

17. A chair back, comprising:

an inner shell having a two dimensionally curved back;

an outer shell having a front conforming to said two dimensionally curved back of said inner shell, said outer shell defining a plurality of sets of apertures, each said set of apertures defined at a height on said outer shell different from the rest of said sets of apertures;

a pair of wings attached to said inner shell back; and

a plurality of fasteners inserted into one of said sets of apertures, said fasteners extending into said wings and at least partially securing said inner and outer shell together.

18. The chair back of claim 17 wherein one of said inner shell and said outer shell includes at least one clip, and the other of said inner shell and said outer shell includes at least one clip recess adapted to receive said clip and further secure said inner shell to said outer shell.

19. The chair back of claim 17 wherein said inner shell includes a three dimensionally curved front having a skin disposed over a majority of said front wherein cushioning can be affixed to said skin by an adhesive.

20. The chair back of claim 19 wherein said inner shell is made of plastic.

21. A chair comprising:

a seat;

at least two legs for supporting said seat;

an inner shell disposed above said seat for supporting a user'"'"'s back, said inner shell having a front side which is three-dimensionally curved and a back side which is two-dimensionally curved;

an outer shell attached to side back side of said inner shell, said outer shell being two-dimensionally curved; and

at least one wing attached to each of said at least two legs and said inner shell, said inner shell supported by said wings and said legs, said legs and said wings attached to said inner shell along the right and left sides of said inner shell.