# US 10,441,089 B2 · Chair upholstery attachment method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,089 B2 - Document ID: US10441089B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/389,654 - Filed: 2016-12-23 - Published: 2017-04-13 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-30 - Assignees: Steelcase Inc. - Applicants: Steelcase Inc. - Inventors: Gordon Jay Peterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441089B2 ## CPC - A47C 31/026: {passing through the upholstery, e.g. upholstery nails or buttons} - A47C 7/24: Upholstered seats (A47C7/18 takes precedence) - A47C 7/40: for the back - A47C 31/023: {connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like} - B21D 39/00: Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating ({joining mitred profiles B21D53/745; } riveting B21J; uniting components by forging or pressing to form integral members B21K25/00; welding B23K; press-fitting, force-fitting, or shrinking in general B23P11/00, B21D19/00; by adhesives F16B11/00 {; Connections as such F16L, F16B}); Tube expanders - B68G 7/05: Covering or enveloping cores of pads {(in plastics material using a matching die B29C63/025)} - B68G 7/10: Finishing of edges - B68G 7/12: Other elements specially adapted for fastening, fixing, or finishing, in upholstery work - A47C 5/12: of plastics, with or without reinforcement - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B68G: METHODS, EQUIPMENT, OR MACHINES FOR USE IN UPHOLSTERING; UPHOLSTERY NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method of constructing a seating arrangement that includes providing a first chair structure comprising a first polymeric material having a first surface and a second surface, the first chair structure including at least one attachment area, providing a second chair structure, locating the second chair structure proximate the first chair structure such that at least a portion of the second chair structure covers the first chair structure, providing at least one staple member comprising a second polymeric material, wherein the second polymeric material of the at least one staple member may be recycled with the first polymeric material of the first chair structure without requiring separation of the at least one staple from the first chair component and inserting the at least one staple member through the first chair structure and the second chair structure, thereby securing the first chair structure to the second chair structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of constructing a seating arrangement, comprising: providing a first chair structure comprising a first polymeric material having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface and the second surface cooperating to define a first thickness therebetween, the first chair structure including at least one attachment area; providing a second chair structure; locating the second chair structure proximate the first chair structure such that at least a portion of the second chair structure covers the first chair structure; providing at least one staple member comprising a second polymeric material, wherein the second polymeric material of the at least one staple member may be recycled with the first polymeric material of the first chair structure without requiring separation of the at least one staple from the first chair component; and inserting the at least one staple member through the first chair structure and the second chair structure, thereby securing the first chair structure to the second chair structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first chair structure includes a plurality of apertures that receive the at least one staple member therein. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second polymeric material of the at least one staple is different than the first polymeric material of the first chair structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one staple comprises a thermoplastic polymer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one staple comprises polypropylene. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one staple includes a pair of prongs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein each of the prongs are tapered along a length thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein each of the prongs are tapered along a majority of a total length of each of the prongs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one staple member includes a barb located at a distal end thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the barb is elastically deformable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first chair structure further includes at least one raised portion extending from the second surface, the first surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness, a majority of the first chair structure comprises the first thickness, and wherein the at least one attachment area is located within the at least one raised portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second chair structure comprises a cover. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the cover comprises a fabric. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first chair structure includes a back shell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the seating arrangement comprises an office chair assembly. ### Claim 16 A method of constructing a seating arrangement, comprising: providing a first chair structure comprising a first polymeric material having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first chair structure including a densely-spaced array of apertures extending between the first and second surfaces; providing a second chair structure; locating the second chair structure proximate the first chair structure such that at least a portion of the second chair structure obscures at least a portion of the densely-spaced array of apertures; providing at least one fastener comprising a second polymeric material; and securing the second chair structure with the first chair structure by inserting the at least one fastener into at least one of the obscured apertures of the densely-spaced array of apertures subsequent to the locating of the second chair structure proximate the first chair structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the array of apertures includes at least one aperture equally spaced from at least two other apertures of the array of apertures. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the array of apertures includes at least one aperture equally spaced from at least six other apertures of the array of apertures. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the array of apertures extend completely between the first surface and the second surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one fastener member comprises a thermoplastic polymer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one fastener comprises polypropylene. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second polymeric material of the at least one fastener is different than the first polymeric material of the first chair structure. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one fastening member includes at least one staple member having a pair of prongs received within apertures of the array of apertures. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first chair structure further includes at least one raised portion extending from the second surface, the first surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness, a majority of the first chair structure comprises the first thickness, and wherein the densely-spaced array of apertures is located within the at least one raised portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second chair structure comprises an upholstery element. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the upholstery element comprises a fabric. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first chair structure includes a back shell. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the seating arrangement includes an office chair assembly.