Chair and the structure for stretching a mesh over an element of the chair

• US 7,837,272 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Okamura Corporation
• Original Assignee: Okamura Corporation
• Inventors: Igarashi, Ryo, Narita, Tetsuya, Kiyoku, Akira, Nakayama, Ken, Masunaga, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US11/577,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.1, 297/218.3, 297/218.5, 297/296, 297/298, 297/299, 297/300.1, 297/300.2, 297/301.1, 297/440.11, 297/452.18, 297/452.55, 297/452.56, 297/452.59, 297/452.63, 297/284.4, D63/64, D63/65, D63/66
• US Class Current: 297/452.56
• 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 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/38 for the head adjustable coupled to reclining or easy chairs A47C1/036
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/64 Hat or coat holders

Abstract

An upholstered structure including an upholstery material for a chair or a backrest of a chair is proposed, which may achieve: reduced proportion of the appearance of the rear frame of the backrest over the appearance of the whole chair; more sophisticated design; reduced weight; reduced number of parts; and improved assemble-ability. In the chair having the backrest upholstered with the upholstery material over the front surface of the rear frame, the rear frame comprises a front frame to which the peripheral edge part of the upholstery material is fixed and an upper reinforcement frame rod. The laterally facing upper reinforcement frame rod is connected at its both ends to both ends of the laterally facing upper frame rod at the top of the front frame with the center part of the upper reinforcement frame rod separated backward from the upper frame rod.

Claims

1. A chair comprising:

a seat;

a backrest including a back frame and a mesh having margins, the back frame comprising a front face frame, the front face frame including an upper frame rod positioned in a forward arc for securing the mesh, the upper frame rod configured as a single strip with ends and an upper reinforcement rod positioned behind the forward arc, the upper reinforcement rod configured as a single arcuate strip having a central section and ends; and

a right frame rod extending along a right side of the backrest and a left frame rod extending along a left side of the backrest;

wherein the margins of the mesh are fixed to the front face frame so as to position the mesh to upholster the front face frame, and

wherein the ends of the upper reinforcement rod and the ends of the upper frame rod each comprise part of an upper end of the right frame rod and the left frame rod, and the upper reinforcement rod is free of direct contact with any structure other than the right frame rod and the left frame rod so that the central section of the upper reinforcement rod is spaced apart and rearward from the upper frame rod.

2. A chair of claim 1, wherein said back frame further comprises an edge piece having a hook-like portion at an end, an upper part of the mesh being wound from a front surface of the upper frame rod to a rear surface around an upper surface, said edge piece engaging with a corner between a lower surface and the front surface of the upper frame rod so that said front face frame is upholstered with said mesh.

3. A chair of claim 2 wherein the front face frame further said right and left frame rods each has a vertical groove in an outer side surface, the edge piece to which the mesh is mounted engaging in the vertical groove so that said front face frame is upholstered with said mesh.

4. A chair of claim 3 wherein the upper frame rod is narrower than said right and left frame rods.

5. A chair comprising:

a seat;

a backrest including a back frame and a mesh having margins, the back frame comprising a front face frame, the front face frame including an upper frame rod positioned in a forward arc for securing the mesh, the upper frame rod configured as a single strip with ends and an upper reinforcement rod positioned behind the forward arc, the upper reinforcement rod configured as a single arcuate strip having a central section and ends; and

a right frame rod extending along a right side of the backrest and a left frame rod extending along a left side of the backrest;

the front face frame including a lower frame rod configured as a single strip with ends, and a lower reinforcement rod configured as a single arcuate strip having a central section and ends,

wherein the margins of the mesh are fixed to the front face frame so as to position the mesh to upholster the front face frame,

wherein the ends of the upper reinforcement rod and the ends of the upper frame rod each comprise part of an upper end of the right frame rod and the left frame rod, and the upper reinforcement rod is free of direct contact with any structure other than the right frame rod and the left frame rod so that the central section of the upper reinforcement rod is spaced apart and rearward from the upper frame rod, and

wherein the ends of the lower reinforcement rod and the ends of the lower frame rod each comprise part of a lower end of the right frame rod and the left frame rod, and the lower reinforcement rod is free of direct contact with any structure other than the right frame rod and the left frame rod so that the central section of the lower reinforcement rod is spaced apart and rearward from the lower frame rod.

6. A chair of claim 5, wherein said back frame further comprises a first edge piece having a hook-like portion at an end, an upper part of the mesh being wound from a front surface of the upper frame rod to a rear surface around an upper surface, said first edge piece engaging with a corner between a lower surface and the front surface of the upper frame rod so that said front face frame is upholstered with said mesh.

7. A chair of claim 6, wherein said right and left frame rods each has a vertical groove in outer side surface, the edge piece to which the mesh is mounted engaging in the vertical groove so that said front face frame is upholstered with said mesh.

8. A chair of claim 7, wherein the upper frame rod is narrower than said right and left frame rods.

9. A chair of claim 6, further comprising a second edge piece having a hook-like portion at an end, a lower part of the mesh being wound from a front surface of the lower frame rod to a rear surface around a lower surface, said edge piece engaging with a corner between an upper surface and the front surface of the lower frame rod so that said front face frame is upholstered with said mesh.

10. A chair of claim 9, wherein said right and left frame rods each has a vertical groove in outer side surface, the edge piece to which the mesh is mounted engaging in the vertical groove so that said front face frame is upholstered with said mesh.

11. A chair of claim 10, wherein the lower frame rod is narrower than said right and left frame rods.

12. A chair of claim 10, wherein the upper frame rod, said right and left frame rods and the lower reinforcement rod of the front face frame are integrally formed, each end of the lower frame rod being mounted to the lower reinforcement rod with a screw.

13. A chair comprising:

a seat;

a backrest including a back frame and a mesh having margins, the back frame comprising a front face frame, the front face frame including an upper frame rod positioned in a forward arc for securing the mesh, the upper frame rod configured as a single strip with ends and an upper reinforcement rod positioned behind the forward arc, the upper reinforcement rod configured as a single arcuate strip having a central section and ends; and

a right frame rod extending along a right side of the backrest and a left frame rod extending along a left side of the backrest;

a headrest structure positioned in part above the backrest;

wherein the margins of the mesh are fixed to the front face frame so as to position the mesh to upholster the front face frame, and

wherein the ends of the upper reinforcement rod and the ends of the upper frame rod each comprise part of an upper end of the right frame rod and the left frame rod, and the upper reinforcement rod is free of direct contact with any structure other than the right frame rod, the left frame rod and the headrest structure so that the central section of the upper reinforcement rod is spaced apart and rearward from the upper frame rod.

14. A chair of claim 13, wherein the upper frame rod, the right frame rod and the left frame rod are integrally formed.