Chair upholstery attachment arrangement and method

• US 9,565,949 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Gordon Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US14/718,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.1, 297/218.2, 297/218.3, 297/218.4, 297/218.5, 297/452.12, 297/452.13, 297/452.14, 297/452.15, 297/452.38, 297/452.58, 297/452.59, 297/452.6, 297/452.61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 31/026 passing through the upholstery, e.g. upholstery nails or buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/12 of plastics, with or without reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/24 Upholstered seats A47C7/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/00 Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating joining mitred profiles B21D53/745; riveting B21J; uniting components by forging or pressing to form integral members B21K25/00; welding B23K; press-fitting, force-fitting, or shrinking in general B23P11/00, B21D19/00; by adhesives F16B11/00 ; Connections as such F16L, F16B; Tube expanders
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/05 Covering or enveloping cores of pads in plastics material using a matching die B29C63/025
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/10 Finishing of edges
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/12 Other elements specially adapted for fastening, fixing, or finishing, in upholstery work

Abstract

A chair includes a chair component comprising a polymeric material and adapted to at least partially support a seated user, wherein the chair component includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and wherein the chair component further includes a plurality of apertures capable of being accessed from at least the second surface of the chair component. The chair further includes a cover that extends over at least a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface which includes the plurality of apertures, and at least one staple comprising a polymeric material, wherein each staple of the at least one staple includes a pair of prongs, and wherein at least one of the prongs extends through the cover extending over the portion of the second surface and is received and retained within one of the plurality of apertures, thereby securing the cover to the chair member.

Claims

1. A chair, comprising:

a chair component comprising a first polymeric material and adapted to at least partially support a seated user, the chair component including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the chair component further including a plurality of apertures capable of being accessed from at least the second surface of the chair component;

a cover that extends over at least a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface which includes the plurality of apertures; and

at least one or more staples comprising a second polymeric material, each staple of the at least one or more staples including a pair of prongs, wherein at least one of the prongs extends through the cover extending over the portion of the second surface and is received and retained within one of the plurality of apertures, thereby securing the cover to the chair component, and wherein the second polymeric material of the at least one of more staples may be recycled with the first polymeric material of the chair component without requiring separation of the at least one or more staples from the chair component.

2. The chair of claim 1, wherein the at least one or more staples comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

3. The chair of claim 2, wherein the at least one or more staples comprises polypropylene.

4. The chair of claim 1, wherein each of the prongs are tapered along a length thereof.

5. The chair of claim 4, wherein each of prongs are tapered along a majority of a total length of each of the prongs.

6. The chair of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the prongs includes a barb located at an end thereof.

7. The chair of claim 6, wherein the barb is elastically deformable.

8. The chair of claim 1, wherein the chair component and the at least one staple member are comprised of the same material.

9. The chair of claim 1, wherein the chair component includes a back shell.

10. The chair of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an upholstery arrangement.

11. The chair of claim 10, wherein the upholstery arrangement includes a fabric.

12. The chair of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a drawstring operably coupled with a cover member to draw the cover member over the at least portion of the first surface, and wherein the drawstring is secured to the chair component by the at least one or more staple member.

13. A chair, comprising:

a chair component comprising a polymeric material and adapted to at least partially support a seated user, the chair component including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the chair component further including a plurality of apertures arranged in at least one array and capable of being accessed from at least the second surface of the chair component;

an upholstery element that extends over at least a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface which includes the plurality of apertures so as to at least partially cover a portion of the plurality of apertures; and

at least one fastener comprising a polymeric material, the at least one fastener engaging the upholstery element that extends over the portion of the second surface and is received and retained within at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures, thereby securing the upholstery element to the chair component; and

wherein the total number of apertures of the plurality of apertures is greater than the total number of the at least one fastener.

14. The chair of claim 13, wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one prong.

15. The chair of claim 14, wherein a total number of the apertures of the plurality of apertures is greater than a total number of the at least one prong.

16. The chair of claim 13, wherein the at least one array of the plurality of apertures includes at least one aperture that is equally spaced from at least two other apertures of the at least one array of the plurality of apertures.

17. The chair of claim 13, wherein the at least one array of the plurality of apertures includes at least one aperture that is equally spaced from at least six other apertures of the at least one array of the plurality of apertures.

18. The chair of claim 13, wherein the plurality of apertures are densely-spaced within the at least one array, and wherein the at least one fastener randomly engages the at least one of the apertures of the plurality of apertures.

19. The chair of claim 13, wherein the at least one plurality of the plurality of apertures extend completely between the first surface and the second surface.

20. The chair of claim 13, wherein the first surface and the second surface cooperate to define a first thickness therebetween, the chair component further includes at least one raised portion extending from the second surface, the first surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness, a majority of the chair component comprises the first thickness, and wherein the at least one array of the plurality of apertures is located within the at least one raised portion.

21. An article of furniture, comprising:

a furniture component comprising a first polymeric material, the furniture component including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a compliant material that wraps about at least a portion of the furniture component and covers at least a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface; and

at least one or more staples comprising a second polymeric material that couples the compliant material to the furniture component, each staple of the at least one or more staples comprising two prongs, each prong extending through the compliant material and into the furniture component through the second surface, and wherein the second polymeric material of the at least one or more staples may be recycled with the first polymeric material of the furniture component without requiring separation of the at least one or more staples from the furniture component.

22. The article of furniture of claim 21, wherein the at least one or more staples comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

23. The article of furniture of claim 22, wherein the at least one or more staples comprises polypropylene.

24. The article of furniture of claim 21, wherein each prong includes a barb located at a distal end thereof.

25. The article of furniture of claim 21, wherein the furniture component further includes a plurality of apertures capable of being accessed from at least the second surface, and wherein the at least one or more staples is received within at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures.

26. The article of furniture of claim 25, wherein the plurality of apertures includes at least one array of apertures.

27. The article of furniture of claim 26, wherein the at least one array of apertures comprises a densely-spaced array of apertures.

28. The article of furniture of claim 27, wherein a total number of the apertures of the plurality of apertures is greater than a total number of the prongs of the at least one or more staples.

29. The article of furniture of claim 28, wherein the plurality of apertures are densely-spaced within the at least one array and wherein the prongs of the at least one staple randomly engage apertures of the at least one array.

30. The article of furniture of claim 21, wherein the article of furniture comprises a chair.