Office chair
AssigneeHerman Miller, Inc.
InventorsDouglas M. VanDeRiet, Daniel J. Raether, Jeff Weber, Todd D. Krupiczewicz, Robert G. Nyhuis, Timothy P. Coffield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fabric seat for a chair and a method and machine for manufacturing the fabric seat. The fabric seat comprises a seat frame that supports the outer circumference of a fabric material. The seat frame comprises grasping members that secure the fabric to the seat frame and retain the desired stretch in the fabric. The grasping members can be teeth. A cover is also provided, which is snapped onto the circumference of the seat frame, to trap the fabric and protect the user from the grasping members.
Claims28
A chair comprising:
- a frame having a series of grasping members located around a circumference of the frame and a fabric;
- wherein said series of grasping members secure said fabric to said frame, said fabric providing a body support surface characterized by at least a portion of said fabric spanning an open area thereby defining a suspended fabric surface adapted to support a body;
- wherein said grasping members comprise teeth extending from said frame, each of said teeth comprising an undercut area along an outside of said teeth, said undercut area defined at least in part by a first retaining surface and a second retaining surface, said second retaining surface overhanging said first retaining surface;
- and wherein said fabric comprises holes that said teeth protrude through thereby securing said fabric to said frame, a portion of said fabric being disposed under said second retaining surface.
A body support structure comprising:
- a frame having a first, body-facing side facing a first direction and a second side facing a second direction opposite said first direction, said frame comprising a plurality of grasping members extending from said first, body-facing side of said frame in said first direction;
- and
- a flexible fabric engaging said plurality of grasping members, said grasping members extending through said fabric;
- wherein said frame and said fabric form a body support surface characterized by at least a portion of said fabric spanning an open area thereby defining a suspended fabric surface adapted to support a body.
A body support structure comprising:
- a frame having a body-facing surface, an outer periphery and an inner periphery defining an opening, said frame comprising a plurality of grasping members extending from said frame along said outer periphery thereof;
- and
- a fabric covering said opening and at least a portion of said body-facing surface of said frame, said fabric engaging said plurality of grasping members, said grasping members extending through said fabric;
- wherein said frame and said fabric form a body support surface characterized by at least a portion of said fabric spanning an open area thereby defining a suspended fabric surface adapted to support a body.
A body support structure comprising:
- a frame having a body-facing surface, said frame comprising a plurality of grasping members extending from said frame;
- and
- a fabric covering at least a portion of said body-facing surface of said frame, said fabric engaging said plurality of grasping members, said grasping members extending through said fabric;
- wherein said frame and said fabric form a body support surface characterized by at least a portion of said fabric spanning an open area thereby defining a suspended fabric surface adapted to support a body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.