US3841704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chair
Assignee: Steelcase Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-26
•
Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1993-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A contoured, molded plastic shell chair whose exterior shell is segmented into arm, back and seat shell segments so that, while each segment is contoured somewhat, each segment is free of any sharp contours. Each segment is separately upholstered by an unseamed upholstery segment. Adjacent shells are joined together along abutting, inwardly turned flanges which extend generally aroung the periphery of each shell segment. Separate back and arm cushions hook into hangers positioned on the interior of their corresponding shell segments. Both the back cushion and the arm cushions include flanges projecting downwardly and inwardly into position beneath the seat cushion such that when the seat cushion is fastened in place by bolts, the back and arm cushions are positively held in place in their respective hangers.
Inventors
- 👤 W Platner
- 👤 R Whitewam
- 👤 S Kolk
- 👤 E Ursul
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:12
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C3/00; A47C3/12; A47C31/00; A47C31/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S297/00; Y10S297/01; Y10S297/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
In a contoured, molded plastic shell chair, the improvement comprising: the exterior shell of said chair defining a seat, back and arms and being segmented along the lines of sharpest contour thereof, including at least along the juncture between the seat of the shell and back of the shell and along the junctures between the arms of the shell and the seat and back of the shell, such that said shell is compised of a plurality of separate segments; each said segment being contoured somewhat in accordance with a desired aesthetic design, but being free of sharp angle contours whereby each segment can be separately upholstered with unseamed upholstery segments; an unseamed upholstery segment covering the exterior of each of said shell segments; attachment means joining said shell segments togther to provide an upholstered exterior shell for said chair.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a contoured, molded plastic shell chair, the improvement comprising: the exterior shell of said chair defining a seat, back and arms and being segmented along the lines of sharpest contour thereof, including at least along the juncture between the seat of the shell and back of the shell and along the junctures between the arms of the shell and the seat and back of the shell, such that said shell is compised of a plurality of separate segments; each said segment being contoured somewhat in accordance with a desired aesthetic design, but being free of sharp angle contours whereby each segment can be separately upholstered with unseamed upholstery segments; an unseamed upholstery segment covering the exterior of each of said shell segments; attachment means joining said shell segments togther to provide an upholstered exterior shell for said chair.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The chair of claim 1 in which each of said exterior shell segments includes a flange located generally at the periphery thereof, at least in the vicinity of an adjacent shell segment; at least portions of said flanges of adjacent shell segments abutting; said attachment means joining said abutting portions of said flanges together, thereby joining adjacent shell segments to create a unitary exterior shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The chair of claim 2 in which each said upholstery segment for each said shell segment wraps around the periphery of said shell segment whereby the edges of said upholstery segment are disposed on the interior of said shell segment and are thereby hidden from view.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The chair of claim 3 in which each of said exterior shell segments is relatively thin, each of said flanges for each of said shell segments being inwardly turned and extending generally all of the way around the periphery of its shell segment; said upholstery segment for each of said shell segments wrapping around the perphery of said shell segment and onto said inwardly turned flange.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The chair of claim 1 in which said shell segments include tongue and groove means cooperating to facilitate securance of said shell segments to one another; said attachment means extending between adjacent shell segments for securing said shell segments together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chair of claim 5 in which said attachment means including joining bars extending at least from some of said shell segments to others of said shell segments; means securing each said joining bar to each of two adjacent shell segments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The chair of claim 6 in which one of said joining bars joins each of said arm shell segments to said back shell segment; said chair including a back cushion, said back cushion including a cushion supporting pan having recessed channels therein generally at each side thereof and in the vicinity of said joining bars whereby said joining bars which join said arm segments to said back segment are received within said recess.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
The chair of claim 1 in which: a seat cushion and a back cushion are positioned on said seat segment and said back segment respectively; said back cushion and said back segment including means for releasably securing said back cushion to said back segment whereby said back cushion is held against said back segment; said back cushion including flange means projecting downwardly therefrom and inwardly towards the center of said seat; said seat cushion including means engaging said flange means and seating on top thereof; means for securing said seat cushion to seat segment whereby removal of said back cushion is prevented and said back cushion is firmly held in place on said exterior shell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
The chair of claim 8 which comprises: an arm cushion for each of said arm segments; each of said arm cushions and said arm segments including means cooperating for releasably securing said arm cushion to said arm segment whereby said arm cushion is held against said arm segment; each of said arm cushions including flange means projecting downwardly therefrom and inwardly towards the center of said seat; said seat cushion including means engaging said flange means of said arm cushions and seating on top thereof whereby said arm cushions are also positively secured to said exterior shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chair of claim 9 in which said back cushion includes side flanges adjacent said arm cushions and extending behind said arm cushions whereby said arm cushions act to further hold said back cushion against said exterior shell of said chair.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The chair of claim 10 in which each of said exterior shell segments includes a flange located at the periphery thereof, at least in the vicinity of an adjacent shell segment; at least portions of said flanges of adjacent shell segments abutting; said attachment means joining said abutting portions of said flanges together, thereby joining adjacent shell segments to create a unitary exterior shell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
114 words
The chair of claim 9 in which said means cooperating for releasably securing said arm and back cushions to said exterior shell comprise: each of said back and arm cushions including a hook projecting rearwardly therefrom; said exterior shell including a hanger thereon for each of said hooks, each of said hooks hooking into said hangers; said shell segments are molded sufficiently thick that hook receiving recesses can be integrally molded therein; said back and arm shell segments including integrally molded hook receiving recesses for receiving said hooks of said back and arm cushions; said hangers comprising generally flat straps extending across said recesses whereby said hooks hook into said recesses behind said straps.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chair of claim 12 in which said exterior shell segments are of rigid urethane foam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
The chair of claim 11 in which each of said back, arm and seat cushions comprises a plastic pan; cushion means adhered to said plastic pan; said flange means for each of said back and arm cushions comprising a flange integrally formed with said plastic pan; upholstery covering said cushion means for each said back, arm and seat cushions and extending onto said flanges and being secured to said flanges; said upholstery wrapping around behind said pan at points where there are no flanges; each said upholstery segment for each said shell segment wrapping around the periphery of said shell segment whereby the edges of said upholstery segment are disposed oN the interior of said shell segment and are thereby hidden from view.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The chair of claim 8 in which said means for releasably securing said back cushion to said back shell segment is directionally oriented in a downward direction whereby said back cushion can be readily removed from said back segment by an upward movement of said back cushion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
The chair of claim 9 in which said means for releasably securing said back cushion to said back shell segment is directionally oriented in a downward direction whereby said back cushion can be readily removed from said back segment by an upward movement of said back cushion; said means for releasably securing said arm cushions to said arm segment being directionally oriented in a downward direction whereby said arm cushions are removable from said arm segments by an upward movement of said arm cushions with respect to said arm segments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
147 words
A chair comprising: a shell including seat, back and arms; a seat cushion, a back cushion and two arm cushions for mounting on said shell; said back cushion and said back including means cooperating to releasably secure said back cushion to said back whereby said back cushion is held against said back; each of said arm cushions and said arm including means cooperating to releasably secure said arm cushion to said arm whereby said arm cushion is held against said arm; said back cushion and each of said arm cushions each including flange means projecting downwardly therefrom and inwardly towards the center of said seat; said seat cushion including means engaging said flange means and seating on top thereof; means securing said seat cushion to said seat whereby removal of said back cushion and said arm cushions is prevented when said seat cushion is secured in place.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
147 words
A chair comprising: a shell including seat, back and arms; a seat cushion, a back cushion and two arm cushions for mounting on said shell; said back cushion and said back including means cooperating to releasably secure said back cushion to said back whereby said back cushion is held against said back; each of said arm cushions and said arm including means cooperating to releasably secure said arm cushion to said arm whereby said arm cushion is held against said arm; said back cushion and each of said arm cushions each including flange means projecting downwardly therefrom and inwardly towards the center of said seat; said seat cushion including means engaging said flange means and seating on top thereof; means securing said seat cushion to said seat whereby removal of said back cushion and said arm cushions is prevented when said seat cushion is secured in place.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The chair of claim 17 in which said back cushion includes side flanges adjacent said arm cushions and extending behind said arm cushions whereby said arm cushions further act to hold said back cushion against said shell of said chair.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The chair of claim 17 in which upholstery covers said cushion means for each said back, arm and seat cushions and extends onto said flanges and is secured to said flanges; said upholstery wrapping around behind said pan at points where there are no flanges.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The chair of claim 17 in which each of said back, arm and seat cushions comprises a plastic pan; cushion means adhered to said plastic pan; said flange means for each of said back and arm cushions comprising a flange integrally formed with said plastic pan.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
The chair of claim 17 in which said means for releasably securing said back cushion to said back shell segment is directionally oriented in a downward direction whereby said back cushion can be readily removed from said back segment by an upward movement of said back cushion said means for releasably securing said arm cushions to said arm segment being directionally oriented in a downward direction whereby said arm cushions are removable from said arm segments by an upward movement of said arm cushions with respect to said arm segments.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
114 words
The chair of claim 17 in which said means cooperating for releasably securing said arm and back cushions to said exterior shell comprise: each of said back and arm cushions including a hook projecting rearwardly therefrom; said exterior shell including a hanger thereon for each of said hooks, each of said hooks hooking into said hangers; said shell segments are molded sufficiently thick that hook receiving recesses can be integrally molded therein; said back and arm shell segments including integrally molded hook receiving recesses for receiving said hooks of said back and arm cushions; said hangers comprising generally flat straps extending across said recesses whereby said hooks hook into said recesses behind said straps
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chair of claim 22 in which said exterior shell segments are of rigid urethane foam.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
103 words
A chair comprising: a shell including seat and back; a seat cushion and a back cushIon for mounting on said shell; said back cushion and said back including means cooperating to releasably secure said back cushion to said back whereby said back cushion is held against said back; said back cushion including flange means projecting downwardly therefrom and inwardly towards the center of said seat; said seat cushion including means enaging said flange means and seating on top thereof; means securing said seat cushion to said seat whereby removal of said back cushion is prevented when said seat cushion is fastened in place.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
103 words
A chair comprising: a shell including seat and back; a seat cushion and a back cushIon for mounting on said shell; said back cushion and said back including means cooperating to releasably secure said back cushion to said back whereby said back cushion is held against said back; said back cushion including flange means projecting downwardly therefrom and inwardly towards the center of said seat; said seat cushion including means enaging said flange means and seating on top thereof; means securing said seat cushion to said seat whereby removal of said back cushion is prevented when said seat cushion is fastened in place.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The chair of claim 24 in which said means for releasably securing said back cushion to said back shell segment is directionally oriented in a downward direction whereby said back cushion can be readily removed from said back segment by an upward movement of said back cushion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
114 words
The chair of claim 24 in which said means cooperating for releasably securing said arm and back cushions to said exterior shell comprise: each of said back and arm cushions including a hook projecting rearwardly therefrom; said exterior shell including a hanger thereon for each of said hooks, each of said hooks hooking into said hangers; said shell segments are molded sufficiently thick that hook receiving recesses can be integrally molded therein; said back and arm shell segments including integrally molded hook receiving recesses for receiving said hooks of said back and arm cushions; said hangers comprising generally flat straps extending across said recesses whereby said hooks hook into said recesses behind said straps.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
68 words
The chair of claim 1 comprising: at least some of said shell segments including a rigid anchor plate integrally molded therein at least at selected joining points; said anchor plates being joined to one another by means of joining bars extending therebetween; fastening means joining each said joining bar to each of said anchor plates in each of a pair of adjacent shell segments having said anchor plates.
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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) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |