Chair assembly

• US 9,167,910 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• 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:
  US14/029,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.4, 297/228.11, 297/452.15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 includes a first chair member adapted to support a seated user, a second chair member movable between a first position, wherein the second chair member 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, a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member and at least a portion of the second chair member, and a single-piece drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member and the at least a portion of the second chair member when the second chair member is in the first position.

Claims

1. A chair component, comprising:

a first chair member adapted to support a seated user;

a second chair member movable between a first position, wherein the second chair member 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;

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

a single-piece drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member and the at least a portion of the second chair member when the second chair member is in the first position, and wherein the cover member remains wrapped about the at least a portion of the first chair member and about the at least a portion of the second chair member as the second chair member is moved from the first position to the second position.

2. The chair component of claim 1, wherein the drawstring abuts the first chair member.

3. The chair component of claim 1, wherein the drawstring is secured to the first chair member by at least one fastener that is separate from the first chair member.

4. The chair component of claim 3, wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one staple.

5. The chair component of claim 3, wherein the first chair member includes a front surface, a rear surface, and at least one raised portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, and wherein the at least one fastener is received within the at least one raised portion.

6. The chair component of claim 5, wherein the front surface of the first chair member and the rear surface of the first chair member define a first thickness therebetween, and wherein the front surface of the of the first chair member and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness.

7. The chair component of claim 1, wherein the first chair member includes a front surface, a rear surface, and at least one raised portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, wherein the cover is aligned with the raised portion.

8. The chair component of claim 1, 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.

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

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 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 chair component comprises a chair back assembly.

14. The chair component of claim 13, wherein the second chair member comprises a back seat shell.

15. A chair component, comprising:

a first chair member adapted to support a seated user;

a second chair member movable between a first position, wherein the second chair member is substantially coplanar with the first chair member and the second chair member is spaced from the first chair member, and a second position, wherein the second chair member contacts the first chair member;

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

a single-piece drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member and the at least a portion of the second chair member when the second chair member is in the first position, and wherein the cover member remains wrapped about the at least a portion of the first chair member and about the at least a portion of the second chair member as the second chair member is moved from the first position to the second position.

16. The chair component of claim 15, wherein the drawstring abuts the first chair member.

17. The chair component of claim 15, wherein the chair component comprises a chair back assembly.

18. The chair component of claim 17, wherein the second chair member comprises a back seat shell.

19. A chair back assembly, comprising:

a back frame assembly;

a back support assembly operably coupled to the back frame assembly and adapted to support a seated user, wherein the back support assembly is movable between a first position with respect to the back frame assembly and second position with respect to the back frame assembly that is different than the first position, the back frame assembly and the back support assembly cooperating to define a gap therebetween, the gap defining a first distance when the back support assembly is in the first position and a second distance that is greater than the first distance when the back support assembly is in the second position;

a shield member substantially filling the gap to reduce access thereto as the back support assembly is moved between the first and second positions.

20. The chair back assembly of claim 19, wherein the shield member slidably tracks along a select one of the back frame member assembly and the back support assembly as the back support assembly is moved between the first and second positions.

21. The chair back assembly of claim 20, wherein the back frame assembly includes a horizontally-extending frame portion and the back support includes a back shell having a rearwardly facing rear surface, and wherein the gap is defined between the horizontally-extending frame portion and the rear surface of the back shell.

22. The chair back assembly of claim 21, wherein the shield member slidably engages the horizontally-extending frame portion.

23. The chair back assembly of claim 21, wherein the shield member includes an arcuately-shaped surface that slidably engages the horizontally extending frame portion.

24. The chair back assembly of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the shield member is located between the horizontally-extending frame portion and the back shell.

25. The chair back assembly of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the shield member is located between the back frame assembly and the back support assembly.

26. The chair back assembly of claim 19, wherein the shield member includes an arcuately-shaped surface that slidably engages a select one of the back frame member and the back support member.