Support assembly for a seating structure
DCFirst Claim
1. A support assembly for supporting a body of a user in a seating structure, the support assembly comprising:
- a rigid frame member;
an expandable, semi-rigid carrier member expandable between at least a first and second configuration, wherein said carrier member is attached to said frame member when expanded to said second configuration; and
a membrane of elastic material comprising an edge, wherein at least a portion of said edge is molded with said carrier member, wherein said membrane is stretched a desired amount as said carrier member is expanded between said at least said first and second configurations.
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Abstract
A seating structure includes a support assembly for supporting the body of a user. The support assembly includes a frame member defining an opening and having a channel formed around at least a portion of a perimeter of the opening and an expandable carrier member expandable between at least a first and second configuration. The carrier member is inserted into the channel when expanded to the second configuration. A membrane of elastic material covers the central opening. The membrane has an edge, at least a portion of which is attached to the carrier member. The membrane is stretched a desired amount as the carrier member is expanded between the first and second configurations. A method of assembling a seating structure is also provided.
317 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A support assembly for supporting a body of a user in a seating structure, the support assembly comprising:
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a rigid frame member;
an expandable, semi-rigid carrier member expandable between at least a first and second configuration, wherein said carrier member is attached to said frame member when expanded to said second configuration; and
a membrane of elastic material comprising an edge, wherein at least a portion of said edge is molded with said carrier member, wherein said membrane is stretched a desired amount as said carrier member is expanded between said at least said first and second configurations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A support assembly for supporting a body of a user in a seating structure, the support assembly comprising:
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a frame member;
an expandable carrier member expandable between at least a first and second configuration, wherein said carrier member is attached to said frame member when expanded to said second configuration, wherein said carrier member comprises a plurality of tab members each having a hook portion engaging said frame member; and
a membrane of elastic material comprising an edge, wherein at least a portion of said edge is attached to said carrier member, wherein said membrane is stretched a desired amount as said carrier member is expanded between said at least said first and second configurations. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A support assembly for supporting a body of a user in a seating structure, the support assembly comprising:
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a frame member;
an expandable carrier member expandable between at least a first and second configuration, wherein said carrier member is attached to said frame member when expanded to said second configuration; and
a membrane of elastic material comprising an edge, wherein at least a portion of said edge is attached to said carrier member, wherein said membrane is stretched a desired amount as said carrier member is expanded between said at least said first and second configurations, and wherein said membrane comprises a fabric comprising monofilaments and strands of multifilament yarn.
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10. A seating structure comprising:
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a frame member defining an opening and comprising a channel formed around at least a portion of said opening;
a membrane comprising a stretchable, elastic material and having an edge portion; and
a carrier member molded with at least a portion of said edge portion of said membrane, wherein said carrier member is inserted into said channel with said membrane covering said opening. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A seating structure comprising:
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a frame member defining an opening and comprising a channel formed around at least a portion of said opening;
a membrane comprising a stretchable material and having an edge portion, wherein said membrane comprises a fabric comprising monofilaments and strands of multifilament yarn; and
a carrier member molded with at least a portion of said edge portion of said membrane, wherein said carrier member is inserted into said channel with said membrane covering said opening.
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23. A seating structure comprising:
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a frame member comprising a channel;
a carrier member press fitted in said channel, said carrier member and said channel having corresponding contours wherein said channel is shaped to receive said carrier member by said press fit;
a membrane comprising a stretchable, elastic material and having an edge portion molded with said carrier member. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A seating structure comprising:
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a frame member defining an opening and comprising a body facing surface and a channel formed in said body facing surface around at least a portion of said opening;
a membrane comprising a stretchable material and having an edge portion, wherein said membrane comprises a fabric comprising elastomeric monofilaments and strands of multifilament yarn; and
a securing member formed from a plastic material and dimensioned to be received within said channel, wherein said securing member is disposed in said channel and secures at least a portion of said edge portion of said membrane to said frame member with said membrane covering said opening and with at least a portion of said body facing surface remaining uncovered by said membrane. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A seating structure comprising:
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a frame member defining an opening and comprising a body facing surface and a channel formed in said body facing surface around at least a portion of said opening;
a membrane comprising a stretchable material and having an edge portion; and
a securing member formed from a plastic material and dimensioned to be received within said channel, wherein said securing member is disposed in said channel and secures at least a portion of said edge portion of said membrane to said frame member with said membrane covering said opening and with at least a portion of said body facing surface remaining uncovered by said membrane, wherein said plastic material is selected from the group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene and glass-filled polypropylene.
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Specification