Chair assembly

• US 8,973,990 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Krupiczewicz, Todd D., Hall, Jeffrey A., Peterson, Gordon J., Groendal, Dale M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US14/029,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.1, 297/218.2, 297/218.3, 297/218.5, 297/228.11, 297/452.14, 297/452.27, 297/452.48, 297/218.4, 297/452.56, 297/452.57, 297/452.58, 297/452.59, 297/452.6
• US Class Current: 297/218.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/024 the parts, being the back-rest, or the back-rest and seat unit, having adjustable and lockable inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/02 Upholstery attaching means quilting, quilting means, fastening, fixing or finishing upholstery B68G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/11 for chairs for headrests only A47C7/386; removable protective covers for car seats B60N2/60
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/02 Seat parts adaptation of seats to mounting in tubular chairs A47C5/06; such parts not restricted to chairs A47C23/00; removable upholstered units or cushions A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/405 with double backrests
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/486 Cover stretching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49954 Fastener deformed after application

Abstract

A chair component that includes a first chair member that includes a forwardly facing front surface and a rearwardly facing rear surface that define a first thickness therebetween, and at least one raised portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, wherein the front surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness, and wherein a majority of the first chair member comprises the first thickness; a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member; and a drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member, wherein the drawstring is secured to the first chair member by at least one fastener that is received within the raised portion.

Claims

1. A chair component, comprising:

a first chair member adapted to support a seated user, and that includes a front surface and a rear surface that define a first thickness therebetween, the first chair member further includes at least one raised portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, wherein the front surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness, and wherein a majority of the first chair member comprises the first thickness;

a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member; and

a drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member, wherein the drawstring is secured to the first chair member by at least one fastener that is received within the at least one raised portion, and wherein the at least one fastener is separate from the first chair member and is securely retained to the at least one raised portion.

2. The chair component of claim 1, wherein the cover member is aligned with the at least one raised portion to properly align the cover member with respect to the first chair member.

3. The chair component of claim 2, wherein the at least one fastener includes at least one staple.

4. The chair component of claim 1, further comprising:

a second chair member movable between a first position, wherein the second portion is substantially coplanar with the first chair member, and a second position, wherein the second chair member is substantially parallel with the first chair member.

5. The chair component of claim 4, wherein the cover member is wrapped about at least a portion of the second chair member.

6. The chair component of claim 5, wherein the drawstring is operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the second chair member, and wherein the drawstring is continuous.

7. The chair component of claim 4, wherein the first chair member includes at least one first coupler and the second chair member includes at least one second coupler that engages the first coupler, thereby securing the second chair member to the first chair member when the second chair member is in the second position.

8. The chair component of claim 7, wherein the at least one first coupler and the at least one second coupler comprise a quick-connect fastener.

9. The chair component of claim 4, wherein the second chair member comprises a back seat shell.

10. The chair component of claim 1, wherein the cover member includes a fabric portion and a drawstring tunnel located proximate an edge of the fabric portion, wherein the drawstring is received within the drawstring tunnel.

11. The chair component of claim 10, wherein the drawstring tunnel and the drawstring are secured to a rear surface of the first chair member by the at least one fastener.

12. The chair component of claim 10, wherein the fabric is elastically deformable in at least one direction.

13. The chair component of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a chair back assembly.

14. A chair component, comprising:

a chair member adapted to support a seated user and that includes a front surface and a rear surface, the first chair member further including at least one raised portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface;

a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member; and

a drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member, wherein the cover is aligned with the at least one raised portion, and wherein the drawstring is secured to the first chair member, and wherein the at least one fastener is separate from the first chair member and is securely retained to the at least one raised portion.

15. The chair component of claim 14, wherein the drawstring is secured to the first chair member by at least one fastener that is received within the raised portion.

16. The chair component of claim 15, wherein the front surface and the rear surface define a first thickness therebetween, and wherein the front surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness.

17. The chair component of claim 15, wherein the at least one fastener includes at least one staple.

18. The chair component of claim 14, wherein the cover member includes a fabric portion and a drawstring tunnel located proximate an edge of the fabric portion, wherein the drawstring is received within the drawstring tunnel.

19. The chair component of claim 18, wherein the drawstring tunnel and the drawstring are secured to a rear surface of the first chair member by at least one fastener.

20. The chair component of claim 14, wherein the chair component comprises a chair back assembly.