Tubular frame seating structure with tension sleeve
AssigneeArt Design International Inc.
InventorPaul Boulva
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite support frame structure for the construction of a seat. The support structure comprises a rigid continuous rod-like frame formed in a closed loop and having opposed diverging rod-like side members which lie in a common plane and opposed rod-like end members formed integral with the side members. At least one of the end members is arced outwardly. A belt of substantially non-extensible material forms a slightly truncated sleeve, narrower that the frame, to apply a compression force between the side members and to flex the arced end member. The sleeve is retained in tension about the opposed diverging rod-like side members by restoring spring force between the side members exerted by the arced end member.
Claims20
A frame composite support structure for the construction of a seat, said support frame structure comprising a rigid continuous rod-like frame formed in a closed loop and having opposed diverging side members lying in a common plane, said side members diverging towards a common end, a first intermediate end member formed integral at one end of said opposed side members, a second intermediate end member formed integral at an opposed end of said opposed diverging side members, at least one of said first and second intermediate end member having an outward arcuate shape to provide a restoring spring force in the frame when said diverging side members are compressed towards one another, and a belt of substantially non-extensible material forming a slightly truncated sleeve slightly smaller than the width of said rod-like frame disposed about said opposed diverging side members and spanning at least a portion of an open area defined inwardly of said frame, said sleeve when in position about said frame applying a compression force against said side members to flex said one of said first and second intermediate end member which is arced to apply a continuous restoring spring force in the frame between said side members to retain said sleeve in position by continuous tension.
A method of constructing a seating structure comprising the steps of:
- i) providing a composite support frame structure formed by a rigid continuous rod-like frame
- defining
- a closed loop and having diverging side members and transverse end members, said frame being a substantially trapezoidal-shaped frame, at least one of said transverse end members having an outward arcuate shape to provide a restoring spring force in said support frame structure when said diverging side members are compressed towards one another, and
- ii) positioning a belt of substantially non-extensive material forming a slightly truncated-shaped sleeve about said side members and spanning at least a portion of an open area defined inwardly of said frame, said sleeve being slightly smaller than the width of said support frame structure whereby said side members are placed in compression towards one another by said sleeve when positioned thereabout to flex said one of said first and second intermediate end members which is arced to apply a continuous restoring spring force in the support frame structure between said side members to maintain said sleeve stretched and substantially immovable across said open area by said continuous restoring spring force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.