Chairs and seats – Having detachably interfitting parts or components; i.e.,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2001-05-01
Cranmer, Laurie K. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Having detachably interfitting parts or components; i.e.,...
C297S411420, C297S440230, C297S448200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224159
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to a chair having a flexible frame, and which can be easily disassembled to and assembled from a flat configuration for storage or shipment. In preferred embodiments, the chair includes a pivoting seat and back assembly (including an upper back portion which pivots with respect to the rest of the assembly) and a flexible frame which supports the seat and back assembly with freedom for the upper back portion to recline relative to the frame. The frame includes flat or substantially flat pieces which can be connected (preferably detachably connected) by key and keyhole fasteners, screws, or other suitable connectors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,712, issued to Charles O. Perry discloses several embodiments of a chair having a seat, a back, and a frame which flexes to permit partial reclining of the back. The flexible frame is biased into a configuration in which the back is upright. When the user tilts the back into a reclining position (thereby flexing the frame as well as pivoting the back relative to the frame), the frame (as it flexes) lifts up the rear portion of the seat, thus orienting the seat so as to provide better support for the reclining user. The frame implements stops which limit the amount by which the back can pivot relative to the frame.
However, the chair described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,712 is not designed to be knocked down into a flat (or substantially flat) state. Until the present invention, it had not been known how to implement a chair which can be pivoted into a reclining configuration and which is also designed to be readily disassembled into (and then reassembled from) a flat or substantially flat state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In preferred embodiments, the invention is a chair including a pivoting seat and back assembly (which can be disassembled to or assembled from a flat or substantially flat configuration) and a frame (which can be disassembled to or assembled from flat or substantially flat pieces) supporting the seat and back assembly. The frame pieces are configured to be detachably connected together (and/or detachably connected to the seat and back assembly), such as by key and keyhole fasteners and screws, in the sense that they can easily be disconnected from each other (or from the seat and back assembly) after being connected together, and then easily reconnected. Preferably, the seat and back assembly comprises a lower back and seat portion, an upper back portion, and hinges which allow the lower back and seat portion to pivot relative to the upper back portion. Also preferably, the hinges allow the seat and back assembly to be folded following disassembly from the frame.
Preferably, the chair has a flexible frame, an ergonomically beneficial design which allows at least the upper back to recline relative to the frame, and is easily disassembled. In its disassembled form, chair comprises flat (or substantially flat) components which can be efficiently stored or packaged (e.g., so as to occupy a space much smaller than that required to package the assembled chair). The design provides for easy assembly of the disassembled chair. The chair can be shipped in its disassembled form and assembled easily without any need for welding. Preferably, the frame is made of pieces of metal tubing and connectors.
In a class of embodiments, the invention is a knock-down chair which is ergonomically designed to provide a comfortable seat which is automatically urged upward and forward (by a flexing frame) when the user tilts the upper portion of the chair's back into a reclining position.
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Cranmer Laurie K.
Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP
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