Chairs and seats – Upholstery cover detachably connected to frame – Cover connector mounted by hem inserted elongated member
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-19
2001-04-24
Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Upholstery cover detachably connected to frame
Cover connector mounted by hem inserted elongated member
C297S226000, C297S440110, C297S440200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220661
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to chair back constructions optimally suited to provide a wrinkle-free appearance and that facilitate quick assembly. The present invention further relates to methods of assembly.
Recently, a new chair has been developed by Steelcase that includes a very flexible back construction adapted to flex significantly in the lumbar region of a seated user's back, and further that is biased in the lumbar region to provide good support to a seated user. The result is a very comfortable back that posturally supports a user as the user moves around in the chair. The back construction characteristically provides excellent postural support and characteristically minimizes shirt pull as a seated user moves between upright and reclined positions. A potential problem is that the back construction flexes to such an extent that it is difficult to eliminate wrinkles and looseness in upholstery covering the back construction in all flexed positions of the back construction, particularly as the back construction is flexed from a deep concave condition where the lumbar region protrudes forwardly, and is flexed toward a more planar condition where the lumbar region is more aligned with the thoracic and pelvic regions of the back construction. During this flexure, there is a significant change in vertical length along a front surface of the back construction as the back construction is flexed. The problem is further compounded by the need to have a competitive chair assembly process that minimizes parts, cost, and labor. Still further, the particular new chair design illustrated herein has a novel and attractive rear appearance of the back construction that, in many circumstances, is desirable not to hide or cover. Thus, an upholstery arrangement is desired that attaches to and is limited primarily to a front surface of the back construction, yet that is secure, durable, and closely retained to the back support structure to prevent looseness and bunching of the covering.
Accordingly, a chair back and related method of assembly are desired that solve the aforementioned problems and have the aforementioned advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a chair includes a base, a back upright operably supported on the base for movement between an upright position and a reclined position, and a back construction. The back construction includes a back support attached to the back upright, and further includes a cushion assembly attached to the back support. The back support includes a bottom section defining a horizontally extending recess, and the cushion assembly includes a stiffened edge flange configured to frictionally engage the recess to retain the cushion assembly to the back support along the bottom section of the back construction.
In another aspect of the present invention, a chair includes a base, a back upright operably supported on the base for movement between an upright position and a reclined position, and a back construction. The back construction includes a back support attached to the back upright, and further includes a cushion assembly attached to the back support. The back support includes a bottom section, and the cushion assembly includes an elastically stretchable lower edge section stretched and attached to the bottom section of the back construction to pull a lower part of the cushion assembly downwardly.
In another aspect of the present invention, a construction for a chair includes a support shell configured to support a seated person. The support shell has a bottom section defining a horizontally extending recess. The chair further includes a cushion assembly attached to the support shell. The cushion assembly includes a cushion and a cover assembly covering the cushion. The cushion assembly has an elastic section with a stiffened edge flange configured to frictionally engage the recess to retain the cushion assembly to the support shell along the edge section of the support shell.
In another aspect of the present invention, a chair includes a base and a back upright supported on the base. A back support includes relatively stiff thoracic and pelvic sections pivoted to the back upright at top and bottom pivot connections, respectively, and further includes a flexible lumbar section located between the thoracic and pelvic sections. The back support includes a first top connector and a first bottom connector. A cushion assembly covers at least part of a front surface of the back support. The cushion assembly includes a second top connector engaging the first top connector on the back support and includes a second bottom connector engaging the first bottom connector on the back support. The first bottom connector includes a horizontally extending recess and the second bottom connector includes a stiffened edge flange configured to frictionally engage the recess to retain the cushion assembly to the back support at a bottom thereof.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a back construction for a chair includes a back support shell shaped to support a seated user's back and a cover assembly covering a front of the back support shell. The back support shell has a bottom edge with a horizontally elongated recess formed proximate the bottom edge, and the cover assembly includes an elongated stiffened bottom flange configured to fit into the recess.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a cover assembly includes an upholstered front panel of aesthetic material shaped to cover a front of a chair back, and a rear panel attached to the front panel along three adjacent edges of the rear panel. The front and rear panels form a sock that can be pulled over a cushion to cover the cushion. The rear panel is made in part from stretchable material, so that the rear panel can be stretched toward a fourth edge on the rear panel and secured along the fourth edge while the rear panel is in a stretched condition.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a method includes steps of providing a back upright, pivotally attaching a flexible back shell to the back upright at top and bottom first connections with the back shell being configured to flex to provide different lumbar-supporting shapes, and attaching a cushion assembly to the back shell at top and bottom second connections.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a method includes steps of providing a back shell having a horizontally extending recess extending along a bottom section and providing a cover shaped to cover a front surface of the back shell. The cover includes a stiffened bottom flange shaped to fit into the recess. The method further includes a step of attaching the cover to the back shell including engaging the stiffened bottom flange in the horizontally extending recess.
These and other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill upon reading the following description and claims together with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Brown Peter R.
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
Steelcase Development Inc.
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