Chair back attachment and method of assembly

• US 7,604,298 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Peterson, Gordon J., Karsten, Gary Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US11/757,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20080296958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 297/440.1, 297/440.15, 297/440.16, 297/440.2, 297/440.21, 297/353, 245/70
• US Class Current: 297/440.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/462 adjustable by mechanical means

Abstract

A chair includes a lower back frame, a back construction, including a back support attached to the lower back frame, a cushion assembly attached to the back support and a clip wedgingly engaged between the back support and the cushion assembly. The cushion assembly further includes an inner shell which includes two or more apertures and a hook extending downwardly and outwardly from each aperture. The clip further includes at least one angled ramp and at least one stop. The angled ramp is configured to allow the hook of the inner shell to slide through the angled ramp and the stop is configured to suspend sliding of the hook. Methods of assembling a back construction are also provided.

Claims

1. A chair comprising:

a lower back frame;

a back construction including a back support attached to the lower back frame, and further including a cushion assembly attached to the back support, wherein the cushion assembly includes an inner shell comprising two or more apertures and an associated hook adjacent each aperture; and

a clip wedgingly engaged between the back support and the inner shell, wherein the clip includes a main body portion, a side flange including at least one angled ramp and at least one stop, wherein the association hook of the inner shell slides past the at least one angled ramp and the at least one stop suspends sliding of the associated hook, and wherein the main body portion further includes a first side edge, and the side flange further includes a second side edge, the first and second side edges abutting each other.

2. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the inner shell further includes a top section, a bottom perimeter band and two side perimeter bands, wherein the side perimeter bands include the two or more apertures and the associated hook extends downwardly and outwardly from each aperture.

3. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion of the clip further includes an angled edge.

4. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the side flange further includes an end stop.

5. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion and side flange are approximately perpendicular to each other.

6. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the inner shell further includes a top section, a bottom perimeter band and two side perimeter bands, the side perimeter bands including the two or more apertures and a hook adjacent each aperture;

wherein the main body portion of the clip further comprises an angled edge and a first side edge;

wherein the side flange further includes an end stop and a second side edge; and

wherein the first side edge abuts the second side edge.

7. An upholstery attachment system for facilitating assembly of a chair back comprising:

a clip including at least one angled ramp, at least one stop, and at least one indentation located between the stop and the angled ramp, wherein the clip is wedgingly engaged between a back support and an inner shell, wherein the inner shell includes at least two apertures and an associated hook extending from each aperture, wherein the associated hook slides through the at least one angled ramp and the at least one stop suspends sliding of the hook, and wherein the inner shell further includes a top section, a bottom perimeter band and two side perimeter bands, wherein the side perimeter bands include the two or more apertures and the associated hook for each aperture.

8. The upholstery attachment according to claim 7, wherein the clip further includes a first side edge, and the side flange further includes a second side edge, the first and second side edges abutting each other.

9. The upholstery attachment according to claim 7, wherein the clip further includes an angled edge.

10. The upholstery attachment according to claim 7, wherein the side flange further includes an end stop.

11. The upholstery attachment according to claim 7, wherein the clip includes a main body portion that is approximately perpendicular to the side flange.

12. The upholstery attachment according to claim 7, wherein the inner shell further includes a top section, a bottom perimeter band and two side perimeter bands, the side perimeter bands including the two or more apertures and the associated hooks, wherein the main body portion of the clip further comprises an angled edge and a first side edge;

wherein the side flange further includes an end stop and a second side edge; and

wherein the first side edge abuts the second side edge.

13. A method of assembly comprising the steps of:

providing a back support having a top portion, an upper right side portion, and an upper left side portion, and further including a hook on the upper left and upper right side portions, and two or more hooks across the top portion;

providing an inner shell having a top portion, upper right side and left side portions, and right and left side perimeter bands, and further including an aperture and overhangs or overhangs alone on the upper right and upper left side portions, two or more apertures and overhangs or overhangs alone across the top portion, and two or more apertures on the right and left side perimeter bands, wherein the two or more apertures on the right and left side perimeter bands include an associated hook adjacent each aperture;

providing a clip having a main body portion, and a side flange including at least one angled ramp, at least one stop, and at least one indentation adapted for partial assembly positioning;

sliding the two or more hooks on the right and left side perimeter bands through the at least one angled ramp of the clip until the at least one stop suspends sliding of the two or more hooks; and

placing the hooks on the top, upper left, and upper right side portions of the back support through the apertures and overhangs or overhangs alone across the top, upper right and upper left portions of the inner shell.

14. The method of assembly according to claim 13, wherein the step of providing a clip further includes a main body portion further comprising an angled edge and first side edge;

wherein the side flange further includes an end stop and a second side edge; and

wherein the first side edge abuts the second side edge.

15. An upholstery attachment for facilitating assembly of a chair back comprising:

a clip including a main body portion including a first side edge and a side flange including a second side edge abutting the first side edge and further including two angled ramps, two stops, and an end portion, wherein the clip is attached to a back support and is wedgingly engaged between the back support and an inner shell, wherein the inner shell includes two apertures and an associated hook adjacent the aperture and extending downwardly and outwardly from each aperture; and

wherein the associated hook slides through the angled ramps and the two stops suspend sliding of the hook.