Chair Assembly with Upholstery Covering

• US 20140077571A1
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Vander Veen, Mark, Peterson, Gordon J., Smith, Bruce M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.1
• 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 method of assembling a chair component includes providing a support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user and including at least one aperture, providing a cover including a plurality of sides that cooperate to form an interior space, and including at least one coupler, positioning the support component within the interior space of the cover such that the at least one coupler is positioned within the at least one aperture, providing a securing member, and attaching the securing member to the support component such that the at least one coupler is held within the at least one aperture by the securing member.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a chair component, comprising:

providing a support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user and including at least one aperture;

providing a cover including a plurality of sides that cooperate to form an interior space, and including at least one coupler;

positioning the support component within the interior space of the cover such that the at least one coupler is positioned within the at least one aperture;

providing a securing member; and

attaching the securing member to the support component such that the at least one coupler is held within the at least one aperture by the securing member.

2. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the cover includes providing the cover with a first portion that comprises a thermoplastic material.

3. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 2, wherein the step of providing the cover includes providing the cover with a second portion that comprises a non-thermoplastic material, and wherein the first portion and the second portion of the cover cooperate to form an outer aesthetic surface of the cover.

4. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 2, wherein the step of providing the cover includes providing the at least one coupler as integral with the first portion of the cover.

5. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 4, wherein the step of providing the cover includes providing the at least one coupler with a Z-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

6. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 5, wherein the step of providing the support component includes providing the support component with a substantially rigid shell member and a cushion member supported by the shell member, and wherein the shell member includes the at least one aperture.

7. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 6, wherein the step of attaching the securing member to the support component includes securing the securing member to the support component such that the at least one coupler member is sandwiched between the securing member and the shell member.

8. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 7, wherein the step of providing the cover includes providing the at least one coupler as a plurality of couplers spaced from one another, the step of providing the support component includes providing the at least one aperture as a plurality of apertures within the shell member, and wherein the plurality of apertures receive the plurality of couplers.

9. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 8, wherein the step of providing the securing member includes providing the securing member as a plate-shaped member.

10. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the support component includes providing the support component with a substantially rigid shell member and a cushion member supported by the shell member, and wherein the shell member includes the at least one aperture.

11. A method of assembling a chair component comprising:

providing a support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user, the support component including a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end surface, and a plurality of side surfaces; and

providing a cover having a plurality of sides that cooperate to form an interior space, the cover including a first portion comprising a non-fabric substantially flexible thermoplastic material covering at least a majority of at least one of the side surfaces of the support component, and a second portion comprising a fabric covering at least a portion of the first surface of the support component; and

providing a substantially rigid overlay covering at least a portion of the second surface such that at least a portion of the first portion is positioned between the support component and the overlay.

12. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the cover includes providing the cover with a first portion that comprises a thermoplastic material.

13. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 12, wherein the step of providing the cover includes providing the cover with a second portion that comprises a non-thermoplastic material, and wherein the first portion and the second portion of the cover cooperate to form an aesthetic surface of the cover.

14. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the support component includes providing the support component with a substantially rigid shell member and a cushion member supported by the shell member.

15. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the securing member includes providing the securing member as a plate-shaped member.

16. The method of assembling the chair component of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the support component includes providing the support component as a seat assembly.

17. A seating unit component assembly, comprising:

a support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user, the support component including a first surface adapted to abut a seated user, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end surface, a second end surface opposite the first end surface, and a pair of side surfaces extending between the first and second end surfaces; and

a cover having a plurality of sides that cooperate to form an interior space that receives the support component therein, the cover comprising;

a first portion comprising a non-fabric substantially flexible thermoplastic material covering at least a portion of at least one of the side surfaces of the support component;

a second portion comprising a fabric covering at least a portion of the first surface and at least a portion of the first end surface of the support component; and

a third portion comprising a substantially rigid overlay covering at least a portion of the second end surface and at least a portion of the second surface.

18. The seating unit component assembly of claim 17, wherein the third portion covers at least a portion of the second end surface.

19. The seating unit component assembly of claim 17, wherein the first portion covers at least a portion of the second end surface.

20. The seating unit component assembly of claim 17, wherein the first portion covers at least a portion of the second end surface.