Chair assembly with upholstery covering

• US 9,826,839 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Battey, Robert J., Peterson, Gordon J., Heidmann, Kurt R., Andres, Todd T., Krupiczewicz, Todd David
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US15/202,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20160309901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 2972281, 29722811, 29722812, 29722813, 297229, 29745213, 29745214, 29745256, 297285, 297296
• 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 1/032 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 1/03266 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 3/00 Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats A47C1/00, A47C4/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/20 Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats tables with variable height A47B9/00
• 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 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 7/02 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 7/185 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 7/46 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

Abstract

A chair back assembly includes a back shell member including laterally extending top, bottom and side portions cooperating to define an open space therebetween, where a portion of the back shell member is located in a lumbar region, a cover having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the cover covers at least a portion of the open space, and a back frame assembly operably supporting the back shell member and movable between upright and reclined positions, wherein the back frame assembly causes the back shell to flex in a fore-to-aft direction as the back frame assembly is moved between the upright and reclined positions independent of an external force being exerted on the back shell member, and where the lumbar portion of the back shell member remains spaced from the back frame as the back frame is moved between the upright and reclined positions.

Claims

1. A chair back assembly, comprising:

a back shell member including a laterally extending top portion, a laterally extending bottom portion, and a pair of longitudinally extending side portions extending between the top portion and the bottom portion and cooperating therewith to define an open space therebetween, where a lumbar portion of the back shell member is located in a lumbar region of a seated user;

a cover having a first surface adapted to support a seated user and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the cover is positioned with respect to the back shell member to cover at least a portion of the open space; and

a back frame assembly operably supporting the back shell member and movable between an upright position and a reclined position, wherein the back frame assembly causes the back shell to flex in a fore-to-aft direction as the back frame assembly is moved between the upright and reclined positions independent of an external force being exerted on the back shell member, and where the lumbar portion of the back shell member remains spaced from the back frame as the back frame is moved between the upright and reclined positions.

2. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a mesh fabric.

3. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein a lumbar area of the back shell member moves in a fore-and-aft direction as the back frame assembly is moved between the upright and reclined positions.

4. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is stretched over the back shell member.

5. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is positioned over the back shell member to cover the at least a portion of the open space.

6. A seating arrangement comprising the chair back assembly of claim 1.

7. The seating arrangement of claim 6, wherein the seating arrangement comprises an office chair assembly.

8. A chair back assembly, comprising:

a back shell member including a laterally extending top portion, a laterally extending bottom portion and a pair of longitudinally extending side portions extending between the top portion and the bottom portion and cooperating therewith to define an open space therebetween, where a lumbar portion of the back shell member is located in a lumbar region of a seated user;

a cover having a first surface adapted to support a seated user and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the cover is positioned over the back shell member to cover at least a portion of the open space; and

a back frame assembly operably supporting the back shell member and movable between an upright position and a reclined position, wherein the back frame assembly causes the back shell to flex in a fore-to-aft direction as the back frame assembly is moved between the upright and reclined positions independent of an external force being exerted on the back shell member, wherein the lumbar portion of the back shell member is spaced from the back frame when the back frame is in the reclined position.

9. The chair back assembly of claim 8, wherein the cover comprises a mesh fabric.

10. The chair back assembly of claim 8, wherein a lumbar area of the back shell member moves in a fore-and-aft direction as the back frame assembly is moved between the upright and reclined positions.

11. The chair back assembly of claim 8, wherein the cover is stretched over the back shell member.

12. A seating arrangement comprising the chair back assembly of claim 8.

13. The seating arrangement of claim 12, wherein the seating arrangement comprises an office chair assembly.

14. A chair back assembly, comprising:

a back shell member including a laterally extending top portion, a laterally extending bottom portion, and a pair of longitudinally extending side portions extending between the top portion and the bottom portion and cooperating therewith to define an open space therebetween, where a lumbar portion of the back shell member is located in a lumbar region of a seated user;

a cover having a first surface adapted to support a seated user and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the cover is positioned with respect to the back shell member to cover at least a portion of the open space; and

a back frame assembly operably supporting the back shell member and movable between an upright position and a reclined position, wherein the back frame assembly causes the back shell to flex in a fore-to-aft direction as the back frame assembly is moved between the upright and reclined positions independent of an external force being exerted on the back shell member, and where the back frame is connected to the back shell member at a first position located above the lumbar portion of the back shell and a second position located below the lumbar portion of the back shell.

15. The chair back assembly of claim 14, wherein the lumbar portion of the back shell member remains spaced from the back frame as the back frame is moved between the upright and reclined positions.

16. The chair back assembly of claim 14, wherein the cover comprises a mesh fabric.

17. The chair back assembly of claim 14, wherein a lumbar area of the back shell member moves in a fore-and-aft direction as the back frame assembly is moved between the upright and reclined positions.

18. The chair back assembly of claim 14, wherein the cover is positioned over the back shell member.

19. A seating arrangement comprising the chair back assembly of claim 14.

20. The seating arrangement of claim 19, wherein the seating arrangement comprises an office chair assembly.