Patent US3669499A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3669499A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chair
Assignee: Steelcase Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-30
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1990-12-30
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a chair whose structural strength is derived from a molded, high-impact polystyrene structural shell. The face of this shell is covered with suitable cushioning and upholstery and arms may be provided if desired. This structural shell is then joined to a decorative, molded polypropylene trim shell which covers the rear of the structural shell and which includes a recessed portion to accommodate the seat supporting pan of a chair base which is secured to the structural shell, through the trim shell.
Inventors
- 👤 Frans Semplonius
- 👤 Stephen B Kolk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:15
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C3/00; A47C3/12; A47C31/00; A47C5/00; A47C5/04; A47C5/06; A47C5/12; A47C7/00; A47C7/02; A47C7/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A chair comprising a load bearing structural shell with integral seat and back; means for covering the front face of said structural shell; a molded, plastic non-load bearing trim shell having a decorative exterior appearance, integral seat and back covering portions for covering generally the rear surfaces of said structural shell, and sufficient thickness and rigidity to hold a desired design configuration; said trim shell being secured to said structural shell and being positioned to cover the rear of said structural shell to thereby give the chair a decorative exterior appearance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A chair comprising a load bearing structural shell with integral seat and back; means for covering the front face of said structural shell; a molded, plastic non-load bearing trim shell having a decorative exterior appearance, integral seat and back covering portions for covering generally the rear surfaces of said structural shell, and sufficient thickness and rigidity to hold a desired design configuration; said trim shell being secured to said structural shell and being positioned to cover the rear of said structural shell to thereby give the chair a decorative exterior appearance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The chair of claim 1 which comprises: a chair base having a seat supporting pan which is positioned within an upwardly projecting recess in said seat covering portion of said trim shell; means securing said supporting pan to said structural shell through said trim shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The chair of claim 2 in which the bottom of said structural shell comprises a downwardly prOjecting, generally rectangular rib to provide said structural shell with increased thickness and rigidity in the area of connection to said seat supporting pan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The chair of claim 1 which comprises a continuous arm secured at either side thereof; one end of each arm extending around to the rear of said structural shell back and being secured thereto and the other end extending around to the rear of said structural shell seat and being secured thereto; said seat and said back each including a recessed channel in the peripheral edge portion of said structural shell for accommodating the thickness of said arm such that said trim shell can be snugly secured to the rear of said structural shell and thereby cover the connection of said arms to said structural shell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The chair of claim 1 in which said means for covering the face of said structural shell comprises: cushioning secured to the face of said structural shell; upholstery covering said cushioning and extending around the peripheral edge of said shell to the rear thereof; said upholstery being secured at its perimeter to the rear of said structural shell, and being hidden from view at its perimeter by said trim shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The chair of claim 5 which comprises: a continuous layer of soft padding material covering said cushioning material and being covered by said upholstery and extending around the peripheral edge of said structural shell, beneath said upholstery, and being secured to the rear of said structural shell along with said upholstery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The chair of claim 5 in which said structural shell comprises: a plurality of holes therethrough along the junction between said seat and back; said upholstery being tufted along the junction between the seat and back by means of threads sewn thereto and being pulled through said plurality of holes and stapled to the rear of said structural shell, hidden from view by said trim shell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The chair of claim 1 in which said structural shell comprises a plurality of integral, reinforcing ribs extending down said back on the rear side thereof and around to the bottom of said seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The chair of claim 5 in which said cushioning comprises: a first cushion being applied to the face of said back in the lumbar supporting region thereof; a second cushion being applied to the face of said back in the shoulder supporting region thereof; said first cushion being of heavier density than said second cushion in order to provide greater support to the lumbar region of a person''s back.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The chair of claim 1 in which the peripheral edge of said trim shell is covered by an elongated bumper strip to provide edge protection and to fill any slight gaps between said peripheral edge and said structural shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
A chair comprising: a molded, high impact polystyrene structural shell having sufficient thickness to provide an integral, load bearing seat and back; means for covering the front face of said shell; a molded, decorative polypropylene non-load bearing trim shell for covering the rear surfaces of said structural shell, the thickness of said trim shell being sufficient to give it enough rigidity to hold a desired design configuration; means for securing said trim shell to said structural shell whereby the exterior of said chair is given a decorative appearance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
A chair comprising: a molded, high impact polystyrene structural shell having sufficient thickness to provide an integral, load bearing seat and back; means for covering the front face of said shell; a molded, decorative polypropylene non-load bearing trim shell for covering the rear surfaces of said structural shell, the thickness of said trim shell being sufficient to give it enough rigidity to hold a desired design configuration; means for securing said trim shell to said structural shell whereby the exterior of said chair is given a decorative appearance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The chair of claim 11 in which said structural shell comprises integral reinforcing ribs to give it added rigidity in strength.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The chair of claim 1 with said trim shell being rigidly secured to the back and to the seat of said structural shell to increase the rigidity thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
The chair of claim 4 in which said arm comprises: a metal support rod defining the general configuration of said arm and including a first end portion bent inwardly from the generally vertical plane of the arm to wrap around the underside of said structural shell seat and a second end portion bent inwardly from said generally vertical plane to wrap around the rear of said structural shell back; said first and secOnd end portions being secured to said structural shell; a decorative trim member having a channel on the underside thereof for receiving said metal support rod, except for said first and second end portions; means securing said trim member to said support rod with said support rod within said channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
The chair of claim 1 in which an arm is secured to either side thereof, said arm comprising: a metal support rod defining the general configuration of said arm and including a first end portion bent inwardly from the generally vertical plane of the arm to wrap around the underside of said structural shell seat and a second end portion bent inwardly from said generally vertical plane to wrap around the rear of said structural shell back; said first and second end portions being secured to said structural shell; a decorative trim member having a channel on the underside thereof for receiving said metal support rod, except for said first and second end portions; means securing said trim member to said support rod with said support rod within said channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
153 words
A chair comprising: an inner shell with a seat and a back; means for covering the face of said inner shell; an outer shell having seat and back covering portions; said outer shell being secured to said inner shell and being positioned to cover the rear of said inner shell; a continuous arm secured at either side of said chair; one end of each arm extending around to the rear surface of said inner shell back and being secured thereto and the other end extending around to the under surface of said inner shell seat and being secured thereto; said seat and said back each including a recessed channel in the peripheral edge portion of said inner shell for accommodating the thickness of said arm such that said outer shell can be snugly secured to the rear of said inner shell and thereby cover the connection of said arms to said inner shell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
153 words
A chair comprising: an inner shell with a seat and a back; means for covering the face of said inner shell; an outer shell having seat and back covering portions; said outer shell being secured to said inner shell and being positioned to cover the rear of said inner shell; a continuous arm secured at either side of said chair; one end of each arm extending around to the rear surface of said inner shell back and being secured thereto and the other end extending around to the under surface of said inner shell seat and being secured thereto; said seat and said back each including a recessed channel in the peripheral edge portion of said inner shell for accommodating the thickness of said arm such that said outer shell can be snugly secured to the rear of said inner shell and thereby cover the connection of said arms to said inner shell.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
The chair of claim 16 in which said arm comprises: a metal support rod defining the general configuration of said arm and including a first end portion bent inwardly from the generally vertical plane of the arm to wrap around the underside of said inner shell seat and a second end portion bent inwardly from said generally vertical plane to wrap around the rear of said inner shell back; said first and second end portions being secured to said inner shell; a decorative trim member having a channel on the underside thereof for receiving said metal support rod, except for said first and second end portions; means securing said trim member to said support rod with said support rod within said channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The chair of claim 17 in which said inner shell comprises a structural load bearing shell and said outer shell comprises a molded, plastic non-load bearing trim shell having a decorative exterior appearance and sufficient thickness and rigidity to hold a desired design configuration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2284957A
Cited
US2769485A
Cited
US2901028A
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US2892489A
Cited
US3139307A
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US3284136A
Cited
US3173723A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |