Seating structure having a fabric with a weave pattern

• US 6,726,286 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sayers, Randy U., Coffield, Timothy P., Schoenfelder, Rodney C., Cammenga, Eric, Keller, Carolyn, Chadwick, Donald, Bruner, Jeffrey W., Stumpf, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/262,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 139/419, 139/421, 139/383.R, 139/420.A, 139/426.R, 139/50, 160/371, 160/378, 442/184, 523/0, 297/452.64, 297/463.2
• US Class Current: 297/452.64
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03 the parts being arm-rests conversion into a bed A47C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0303 adjustable rectilinearly in vertical direction
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03238 by means of peg-and-notch or pawl-and-ratchet mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03261 characterised by elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/30 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/06 Special adaptation of seat upholstery or fabric for attachment to tubular chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/14 of adjustable shape; elastically mounted ; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261; elastically-mounted back-rests or backrest-seat units in the base frame A47C7/44
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14631 Coating reinforcements fibre reinforcements B29C45/0005
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2713/00 Use of textile products or fabrics for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts B29K2105/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/443 Chairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49867 of skin on frame member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49998 Work holding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32475 having detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3024 : Including elastic strand or strip

Abstract

A seating structure having a fabric with a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user. The fabric includes a plurality of strands of multifilament yarn and a plurality of monofilaments running generally perpendicular to the strands. At least some of the monofilaments are arranged in pairs. The monofilaments in each pair weaving alternatively above and below some adjacent strands and crossing over each other between other adjacent strands.

Claims

1. A seating structure having a fabric with a weave pattern for supporting a body of a user on the seating structure, the fabric comprising:

a plurality of strands of multifilament yarn;

a plurality of monofilaments running generally perpendicular to the strands, at least some of said monofilaments arranged in pairs, the monofilaments in each pair weaving alternatively above and below some adjacent strands and crossing over each other between other adjacent strands.

2. The seating structure of claim 1 wherein the monofilaments are made from an elastomeric material.

3. The seating structure of claim 2 wherein the monofilaments in each pair weave above and below adjacent strands more often than cross over each other.

4. The seating structure of claim 1 wherein the frequency and location of crossing over creates a discernable pattern in the fabric.

5. The seating structure of claim 4 wherein the fabric is generally see-through.

6. The seating structure of claim 5 further comprising a frame having a channel, the fabric being secured within the channel.

7. The seating structure of claim 6 wherein the fabric forms a portion of a seat.

8. The seating structure of claim 6 wherein the fabric forms a portion of a backrest.

9. The seating structure of claim 8 wherein the multifilament yarn strands extend generally from a top to a bottom of the backrest and the monofilaments extend generally from a first side to a second side of the backrest.

10. A seating structure having a fabric with a weave for supporting a body of a user on the seating structure, the seating structure comprising:

a plurality of strands of multifilament yarn;

a plurality of monofilaments running generally perpendicular to the strands, at least some of said monofilaments arranged in pairs, the monofilaments in each pair weaving alternatively above and below some adjacent strands and crossing over each other between other adjacent strands; and

a carrier member integrally connected to an end portion of the fabric.

11. The seating structure of claim 10 further comprising a frame with a channel, the channel adapted to receive the carrier member.

12. The seating structure of claim 11 wherein the monofilaments are made from an elastomeric material.

13. The seating structure of claim 12 wherein the monofilaments cross above and below some adjacent strands of multifilament yarn more often than they cross over each other.

14. The seating structure of claim 13 wherein the fabric forms a portion of a backrest and a seat.

15. The seating structure of claim 14 wherein the fabric is generally see-through.

16. The seating structure of claim 15 further comprising a base and a plurality of castors.

17. The seating structure of claim 16 wherein the frame and carrier member are adapted to provide a three-dimensional contour to the fabric.

18. The seating structure of claim 17 wherein the carrier member is molded to the fabric.

19. A moveable workspace seating structure having a fabric with a weave for supporting a body of a user, the seating structure comprising:

a plurality of strands of multifilament yarn;

a plurality of monofilaments running generally perpendicular to the strands, at least some of said monofilaments arranged in pairs, the monofilaments in each pair weaving alternatively above and below some adjacent strands and crossing over each other between other adjacent strands; and

a carrier member molded to an end portion of the fabric and adapted to provide a three-dimensional contour to the fabric when connected to a frame of the seating structure.

20. The seating structure of claim 19 wherein the monofilaments are made from an elastomeric material.

21. The seating structure of claim 20 wherein the monofilament strands cross above and below some adjacent strands of the multifilament yarn more often than they cross over each other.

22. The seating structure of claim 21 wherein the fabric is generally see-through.

23. The seating structure of claim 22 wherein the fabric forms a portion of a seat.

24. The seating structure of claim 22 wherein the fabric forms a portion of a backrest.

25. The seating structure of claim 22 further comprising a base and a plurality of castors.