Chair assembly with upholstery covering

• US 9,173,491 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Vander Veen, Mark, Peterson, Gordon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brindley, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US14/029,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.7, 297/218.1, 297/218.2, 297/218.3, 297/218.4
• 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 1/03 the parts being arm-rests conversion into a bed A47C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0307 adjustable rectilinearly in horizontal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0308 adjustable by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/032 the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest A47C1/035 takes precedence
• 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 1/03266 with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03272 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03274 of torsion type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/14 Beach chairs ; Chairs for outdoor use, e.g. chairs for relaxation or sun-tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/20 Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats tables with variable height A47B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/30 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/02 Upholstery attaching means quilting, quilting means, fastening, fixing or finishing upholstery B68G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/023 connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/00 Chairs of special materials
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/12 of plastics, with or without reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/006 with castors
• 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 7/185 : with a stiff, rigid support
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/24 : Upholstered seats A47C7/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 : for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/44 : with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/441 : with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/443 : with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 : with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/462 : adjustable by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/54 : Supports for the arms
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/12 : Other elements specially adapted for fastening, fixing, or finishing, in upholstery work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 : Method
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 : by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A chair component assembly includes a back support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user, a lumbar support assembly adapted to support the lumbar area of a seated user, wherein the lumbar support is vertically adjustable, and a cover having an aesthetic outer surface and including a first pocket that receives the back support component therein, and a second pocket that receives the lumbar support assembly such that the lumbar support is vertically adjustable with the second pocket.

Claims

1. A chair component assembly, comprising:

a back support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user;

a lumbar support assembly adapted to support the lumbar area of a seated user, wherein the lumbar support assembly is vertically adjustable;

a cover having an aesthetic outer surface and including a first pocket that receives the back support component therein, and a second pocket that receives the lumbar support assembly such that the lumbar support is vertically adjustable with the second pocket; and

a drawstring operably coupled with the cover, wherein the drawstring secured the cover about at least a portion of the back support component; and

wherein the back support component includes a substantially rigid back shell having an integral attachment member, and wherein a free end of the drawstring is secured about the attachment member.

2. The chair component assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment member includes a first portion and a second portion cantilevered in substantially opposite directions from one another.

3. The chair component assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion cooperate to form an angled surface against which the drawstring is drawn, and wherein the angled surface causes the drawstring to bind against a rear surface of the back shell as the drawstring is drawn taught.

4. The chair component assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion is counter-sunk into a rear surface of the back shell, thereby defining a recess in the back shell about the first portion.

5. The chair component assembly of claim 4, wherein the first portion and the second portion cooperate to form an angled surface against which the drawstring is drawn, and wherein the angled surface causes the drawstring to bind against at least an edge of the recess.

6. A chair component assembly, comprising:

a back support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user;

a lumbar support assembly adapted to support the lumbar area of a seated user, wherein the lumbar support assembly is vertically adjustable;

a cover having an aesthetic outer surface and including a first pocket that receives the back support component therein, and a second pocket that receives the lumbar support assembly such that the lumbar support is vertically adjustable with the second pocket; and

wherein the second pocket is positioned behind the first pocket.

7. The chair component assembly of claim 6, wherein the second pocket includes an upwardly opening slot through which the lumbar support assembly extends.

8. The chair component assembly of claim 7, wherein the second pocket includes at least one aperture through which a handle member of the lumbar support assembly extends, and wherein the handle member is adapted to be grasped by a user to vertically adjust the lumbar support assembly.

9. The chair component assembly of claim 6, wherein the cover member includes at least one aperture that receives an engagement member of the back support component therethrough.

10. The chair component assembly of claim 6, wherein the first pocket and the second pocket include a common layer of the cover.

11. The chair component assembly of claim 10, wherein the cover member completely separates the lumbar support assembly from the back support component.

12. A chair component assembly, comprising:

a back support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user;

a lumbar support assembly adapted to support the lumbar area of a seated user, wherein the lumbar support assembly is vertically adjustable; and

a cover having an aesthetic outer surface and including a first pocket that receives the back support component therein, and a second pocket that receives the lumbar support assembly such that the lumbar support is vertically adjustable with the second pocket, and wherein a majority of the second pocket horizontally overlaps with the first pocket in a front-to-back direction.

13. The chair component assembly of claim 12, wherein the second pocket includes an upwardly opening slot through which the lumbar support assembly extends.

14. The chair component assembly of claim 13, wherein the second pocket includes at least one aperture through which a handle member of the lumbar support assembly extends, and wherein the handle member is adapted to be grasped by a user to vertically adjust the lumbar support assembly.

15. The chair component assembly of claim 12, wherein the cover member includes at least one aperture that receives an engagement member of the back support component therethrough.

16. The chair component assembly of claim 12, further including:

a drawstring operably coupled with the cover, wherein the drawstring secures the cover about at least a portion of the back support component.

17. The chair component assembly of claim 16, wherein the back support component includes a substantially rigid back shell having an integral attachment member, and wherein a free end of the drawstring is secured about the attachment member.

18. The chair component assembly of claim 12, wherein the second pocket is positioned behind the first pocket.

19. The chair component assembly of claim 18, wherein the first pocket and the second pocket include a common layer of the cover.