Chair construction

Claim 2

A chair comprising, in combination a base structure including an inverted U-shaped front leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart front legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, an inverted U-shaped rear leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart rear legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, first connector means and second connector means in spaced apart generally parallel relation to each other, each extending between and fixed to said horizontal portions, and maintaining said horizontal portions in parallel relation to each other; said connector means each having an upper wall, a lower wall, and an upright wall extending from one of said walls in a direction toward the other wall; a seat structure comprising a molded integral seat-back shell generally symmetrical abouT a central vertical plane, and support means securing said shell to said base structure; said molded seat-back shell including a seat and a back extending upwardly from the seat; said support means including a first support element having a portion extending beneath said seat and a portion extending along the rear of said back, a second support element having a portion extending beneath said seat, and a portion extending along the rear of said back, means securing said support elements to said back with said portion extending beneath said seat in spaced-apart relation to each other, a first connector bracket secured to said first support element and engaging at least the upper and lower walls of said first connector means, a second connector bracket secured to said second support element and engaging at least the upper and lower walls of said second connector means, and fastener means securing said first connector bracket to said first connector means and said second connector bracket to said second connector means with said first and second support elements extending above the respective connector means.

Claim 3

A chair according to claim 1 wherein said support elements are formed from weldable material; and said connector brackets are each formed from weldable material and are secured to the respective support elements by welding.

Claim 4

A chair according to claim 1 wherein said fastener means secure said connector brackets to the respective upright walls of said connector means.

Claim 5

A chair according to claim 1 wherein said connector means and said connector brackets are each formed from weldable material; and said leg units and support elements are each formed from tubular weldable material.

Claim 6

A chair according to claim 1 wherein an arm support having a lower end extends beneath said connector means in generally parallel relation to said horizontal portions of said leg units, said arm support extends upwardly and then inwardly above said seat and terminates at an upper end; an arm is secured to the upper end of the arm support; and spaced-apart support brackets are secured to and project upwardly from said lower end; and said fastener means secure said connector bracket, connector means, and support brackets together at each side of the chair.

Claim 7

A base structure for supporting the seat of a chair comprising, in combination an inverted U-shaped front leg unit having a tubular horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart front legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; an inverted U-shaped rear leg unit having a tubular horizontal portion parallel with the horizontal portion of the front leg unit and having spaced-apart legs projecting downwardly from the horizontal portion; first and second connector sets extending between and secured by said horizontal portions in spaced-apart relation to each other, each of said connector sets comprising a first connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall, and a second connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall; said horizontal wall of the first element of each set extending across and welded to upper surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, and the vertical wall of said first element extending downwardly between and closely adjacent said leg units; said horizontal wall of said second element of each set extending below and welded to lower surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, in generally aligned relation to the horizontal wall of the first element, and the vertical wall of said second element extending upwardly between and closely adjacent said leg units; said vertical walls each having a height less than the diameter of said tubular portions, whereby said connector sets are each generAlly box-shaped with diagonally open corners; said vertical wall of the second connector element of each set being outwardly of the vertical wall of the first connector element, relative to the center of the base; and said vertical wall of the second connector element of each set having a pair of spaced-apart openings therein adapted to receive threaded fasteners to secure a seat to the base.

Claim 8

A base structure for supporting the seat of a chair comprising, in combination an inverted U-shaped front leg unit having a tubular horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart front legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; an inverted U-shaped rear leg unit having a tubular horizontal portion parallel with the horizontal portion of the front leg unit and having spaced-apart legs projecting downwardly from the horizontal portion; first and second connector sets extending between and secured by said horizontal portions in spaced-apart relation to each other, each of said connector sets comprising a first connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall, and a second connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall; said horizontal wall of the first element of each set extending across and welded to upper surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, and the vertical wall of said first element extending downwardly between and closely adjacent said leg units; said horizontal wall of said second element of each set extending below and welded to lower surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, in generally aligned relation to the horizontal wall of the first element, and the vertical wall of said second element extending upwardly between and closely adjacent said leg units; said vertical walls each having a height less than the diameter of said tubular portions, whereby said connector sets are each generAlly box-shaped with diagonally open corners; said vertical wall of the second connector element of each set being outwardly of the vertical wall of the first connector element, relative to the center of the base; and said vertical wall of the second connector element of each set having a pair of spaced-apart openings therein adapted to receive threaded fasteners to secure a seat to the base.

Claim 9

A structure according to claim 6 wherein a seat structure is secured to said base structure; said seat structure including first and second connector brackets, each comprising a horizontal wall adapted to engage the upper horizontal wall of the first connector element of a set, a vertical wall adapted to engage the vertical wall of the second connector element of a set, a horizontal lip extending inwardly from the vertical wall and under the horizontal wall of the second connector element of a set, said vertical walls of each connector element having openings therein alignable with the openings in said vertical walls, fastener means extending through said openings and securing a connector bracket to the second element of each set, and means securing said connector brackets to the seat.

Claim 10

A chair comprising, in combination a base structure including an inverted U-shaped front leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart front legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, an inverted U-shaped rear leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart rear legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, first connector means and second connector means in spaced-apart generally parallel relation to each other, each extending between and fixed to said horizontal portions, and maintaining said horizontal portions in parallel relation to each other; said connector means each having an upper wall, a lower wall, and an upright wall extending from one of said walls in a direction toward the other wall; a seat structure comprising a seat and a back each generally symmetrical about a central vertical plane, and support means securing said seat and back to said base structure; said support means including a first support element having a portion extending beneath said seat, and a portion extending along the rear of said back, a second support element having a portion extending beneath said seat, and a portion extending along the rear of said back, means securing said support elements to said back with said portions extending beneath said seat in spaced-apart relation to each other, means securing said support elements to said seat, a first connector bracket secured to said first support element and engaging at least the upper and lower walls of said first connector means, a second connector bracket secured to said second support element and engaging at least the upper and lower walls of second connector means, and fastener means securing said first connector bracket to said first connector means and said second connector bracket to said second connector means with said first and second support elements extending above the respective connector means.

Claim 11

A chair comprising, in combination a base structure including an inverted U-shaped front leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart front legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, an inverted U-shaped rear leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart rear legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, first connector means and second connector means in spaced-apart generally parallel relation to each other, each extending between and fixed to said horizontal portions, and maintaining said horizontal portions in parallel relation to each other; said connector means each having an upper wall, a lower wall, and an upright wall extending from one of said walls in a direction toward the other wall; a seat structure comprising a seat and a back each generally symmetrical about a central vertical plane, and support means securing said seat and back to said base structure; said support means including a first support element having a portion extending beneath said seat, and a portion extending along the rear of said back, a second support element having a portion extending beneath said seat, and a portion extending along the rear of said back, means securing said support elements to said back with said portions extending beneath said seat in spaced-apart relation to each other, means securing said support elements to said seat, a first connector bracket secured to said first support element and engaging at least the upper and lower walls of said first connector means, a second connector bracket secured to said second support element and engaging at least the upper and lower walls of second connector means, and fastener means securing said first connector bracket to said first connector means and said second connector bracket to said second connector means with said first and second support elements extending above the respective connector means.

Claim 12

A chair according to claim 8, wherein said fastener means includes threaded fasteners extending through openings in said connector bracket and secured to said connector means.

Claim 13

A base structure for supporting the seat of a chair comprising, in combination a first leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; a second leg unit having a horizontal portion parallel with the horizontal portion of the first leg unit and having a pair of spaced-apart legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; first and second connector sets extending between and secured to said horizontal portions in spaced-apart relation to each other, each of said connector sets comPrising a first connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall, and a second connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall; said horizontal wall of the first element of each set extending across and welded to upper surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, and the vertical wall of said first element extending downwardly between and closely adjacent said leg units; said horizontal wall of said second element of each set extending below and welded to lower surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, in generally aligned relation to the horizontal wall of the first element, and the vertical wall of said second element extending upwardly between and closely adjacent said leg units; said vertical walls each having a height less than the distance between the horizontal walls of the respective elements, whereby said connector sets are each generally box-shaped with diagonally open corners, and a seat structure secured to at least one of said connector elements of each set.

Claim 14

A base structure for supporting the seat of a chair comprising, in combination a first leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; a second leg unit having a horizontal portion parallel with the horizontal portion of the first leg unit and having a pair of spaced-apart legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; first and second connector sets extending between and secured to said horizontal portions in spaced-apart relation to each other, each of said connector sets comPrising a first connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall, and a second connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall; said horizontal wall of the first element of each set extending across and welded to upper surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, and the vertical wall of said first element extending downwardly between and closely adjacent said leg units; said horizontal wall of said second element of each set extending below and welded to lower surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, in generally aligned relation to the horizontal wall of the first element, and the vertical wall of said second element extending upwardly between and closely adjacent said leg units; said vertical walls each having a height less than the distance between the horizontal walls of the respective elements, whereby said connector sets are each generally box-shaped with diagonally open corners, and a seat structure secured to at least one of said connector elements of each set.

Claim 15

A structure according to claim 10 wherein said seat structure includes first and second connector brackets, each comprising a horizontal wall adapted to engage the upper horizontal wall of the first connector element of a set, a vertical wall adapted to engage the vertical wall of the second connector element of a set, said vertical walls of each connector element having openings therein alignable with the openings in said vertical walls, fastener means extending through said openings and securing a connector bracket to the first element of each set, and means securing said connector brackets to the seat.

Claim 16

A chair according to claim 10 wherein said seat structure includes a molded seat and a molded back; a pair of spaced apart tubular support elements are secured to the seat and back, said support elements including generally horizontal front portions extending over said connector sets; first and second connector brackets extending downwardly from said front portions, and means releasably securing said brackets to said connector elements.

Claim 17

A chair according to claim 10 wherein said seat structure includes a seat-back shell having a rear surface, and ribs projecting from the surface, support elements secured only to said ribs with fasteners unexposed relative to the front surface of the shell, and bracket means fixed to said support elements and adapted to connect the seat structure to the connector elements.

Claim 18

A chair according to claim 12 wherein said connector brackets include an upper arcuately curved wall conforming with the curvature of and extending partially along the surface of one of said tubular support elements, an upper horizontal wall engaging the horizontal wall of said first connector element, a lower horizontal wall engaging the horizontal wall of said second connector element, and a vertical wall extending between said upper and lower horizontal walls.

Claim 19

A chair according to claim 14 which further includes an arm having writing surface above the level of the seat; an arm support element having a first portion extending under and secured to said arm, and a second portion extending from said first portion and under the seat and connector sets; and support bracket means secured to said second portion of said arm.

Claim 20

A chair according to claim 15 wherein said support bracket means includes first and second support brackets each comprising an upper vertical wall, a lower vertical wall, and a horizontal wall connecting said upper and lower vertical walls; said upper vertical wall engaging said vertical wall of said connector bracket; said horizontal wall engaging said lower horizontal wall of said connector bracket; saId lower vertical wall supporting said second portion of said arm support element.

Claim 21

A claim according to claim 16 wherein at least one of said support brackets further includes a horizontal lip projecting from the top of said upper vertical wall, said lip extending across and engaging said upper horizontal wall of said connector bracket.

Claim 22

A claim according to claim 16 wherein common releasable fastener means secure said support brackets and connector brackets to said connector elements of said connector sets.

Claim 23

A base structure for supporting the seat of a chair comprising, in combination a first leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; a second leg unit having a horizontal portion parallel with the horizontal portion of the first leg unit and having a pair of spaced-apart legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; first and second connector sets extending between and secured to said horizontal portions in spaced apart relation to each other, each of said connector sets comprising a first connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall, said vertical wall presenting oppositely facing edges of a configuration conforming with the surface configuration of said horizontal portions of said leg units along at least a portion of the length of said edges, and a second connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall, said vertical wall of said second connector element presenting oppositely facing edges of a configuration conforming with the surface configuration of said horizontal portions of said leg units along at least a portion of the length of said edges; said horizontal wall of the first element of each set extending across and welded to upper surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, said vertical wall of said first element extending downwardly between said leg units, and said end edges engaging said horizontal portions of said leg units; said horizontal wall of said second element of each set extending below and welded to lower surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, said vertical wall of said second element extending upwardly between said leg units, and said end edges engaging said horizontal portions of said leg units; and a seat structure secured to at least one of said connector elements of each set.

Claim 24

A base structure for supporting the seat of a chair comprising, in combination a first leg unit having a horizontal portion and a pair of spaced-apart legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; a second leg unit having a horizontal portion parallel with the horizontal portion of the first leg unit and having a pair of spaced-apart legs extending downwardly from the horizontal portion; first and second connector sets extending between and secured to said horizontal portions in spaced apart relation to each other, each of said connector sets comprising a first connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall, said vertical wall presenting oppositely facing edges of a configuration conforming with the surface configuration of said horizontal portions of said leg units along at least a portion of the length of said edges, and a second connector element having a horizontal wall and a vertical wall projecting perpendicularly from the horizontal wall, said vertical wall of said second connector element presenting oppositely facing edges of a configuration conforming with the surface configuration of said horizontal portions of said leg units along at least a portion of the length of said edges; said horizontal wall of the first element of each set extending across and welded to upper surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, said vertical wall of said first element extending downwardly between said leg units, and said end edges engaging said horizontal portions of said leg units; said horizontal wall of said second element of each set extending below and welded to lower surfaces of the respective tubular horizontal portions of said leg units, said vertical wall of said second element extending upwardly between said leg units, and said end edges engaging said horizontal portions of said leg units; and a seat structure secured to at least one of said connector elements of each set.

Claim 25

A structure according to claim 19 wherein said horizontal portions of said first and second leg units each have an arcuately curved surface configuration; said end edges of said first and second connector elements each curve arcuately along and engage a portion of the arcuately curved surface of each of the horizontal portions of said leg units; and said connector elements are identical to each other.

Claim 26

A structure according to claim 19 wherein said horizontal portions of said first and second leg units each have cylindrical surfaces; and said end edges of said first and second connector elements curve along and engage portions of said cylindrical surfaces.

Claim 27

A structure according to claim 19 wherein said first and second connector elements of each set have their horizontal walls generally aligned with each other and cooperate to provide connector sets of generally box-shaped configuration.