Blow molded, backfilled process and product

• US 6,746,085 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Imperial Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Imperial Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K
• Application Number:
  US10/136,675
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 297/411.2, 297/411.23, 297/411.46, 297/463.1, 297/463.2, 297/DIG.1, 297/DIG.2, 297/452.57, 297/452.58, 297/452.61, 264/154, 264/155, 264/156, 264/523, 264/46.6, 156/79, 156/78, 156/245
• US Class Current: 297/411.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/54 Supports for the arms
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/001 Shaping in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/00 Shaping techniques involving a cutting or machining operation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0009 Cutting out
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/14 the preformed part being a lining B29C44/1209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/18 Filling preformed cavities B29C44/1204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/04 Extrusion blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/04 cellular or porous
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/443 Chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/58 Upholstery or cushions, e.g. vehicle upholstery or interior padding mattresses, cushions B29L2031/751
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/01 Foam

Abstract

A method of making a chair component by forming a hollow enclosure in a blow mold, cutting an aperture in a recess on one side of the hollow enclosure just big enough to receive a rigid bracket adapter insert, then filling the hollow interior with a resilient foam behind the rigid bracket adapter insert. The hollow enclosure is in the shape of an armrest and has a recess shaped to fit an arm bracket or substrate of a chair. Three apertures are cut in the recess leaving some material to retain structural integrity of the hollow enclosure skin. The rigid bracket adapter insert is installed through one of the apertures and has a rectangular peripheral ridge to fit around the interior wall of the rectangular recess. The hollow enclosure is then backfilled with a foam behind the rigid bracket adapter insert forming an integral resilient low-cost armrest.

Claims

1. A method of forming a resilient armrest for chairs comprising;

forming a substantially hollow rectangular body in a blow mold having an elongate rectangular recess in one side;

cutting a plurality of apertures in said elongate recess;

inserting a mounting bracket adapter through said plurality of apertures in said elongate recess into said hollow body;

backfilling said hollow body behind said mounting bracket adapter with a resilient foam;

whereby a resilient armrest for attachment to an arm mounting bracket of a chair is formed.

2. The armrest according to claim 1 in which said rectangular recess is approximately in the range of one-half to two-thirds of the area of one side of said hollow body.

3. The armrest according to claim 1 in which said plurality of apertures is a plurality of equally spaced apertures in said recess.

4. The armrest according to claim 1 in which said plurality of apertures in said hollow body is three approximately equal spaced apart square apertures.

5. The armrest according to claim 4 in which said apertures are just large enough to allow said mounting bracket adapter to fit into the interior of said hollow rectangular body.

6. The armrest according to claim 5 in which said mounting bracket adapter is formed with a rectangular peripheral ridge;

said rectangular peripheral ridge formed to fit around arm interior sidewalls of said rectangular recess in said hollow body.

7. The armrest according to claim 6 in which said mounting bracket adapter is formed with a central aperture for injecting a resilient foam into the hollow interior of said hollow rectangular body behind said mounting bracket adapter.

8. A method of forming a chair component comprising;

forming a hollow sealed enclosure in the shape of a chair component;

trimming excess material from said hollow sealed enclosure;

forming a rectangular recess on one side of said hollow sealed enclosure;

emitting a purality of apertures in said recess on one side of said chair shaped component;

inserting a rigid plate through said plurality of apertures into the interior of said hollow sealed enclosure;

injecting a synthetic foam material behind said rigid plate to fill said hollow sealed enclosure;

whereby said rigid plate is firmly held against said opening in said recess thereby forming a chair component.

9. The method according to claim 8 in which said polarity of apertures comprises cutting three apertures in said recess leaving a web of material across said recess to retain structural integrity.