US6983997B2 — Chair having a suspension seat assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 70 words

A chair comprising: a chair frame having rim sections with a plurality of projections projecting vertically therefrom; a resiliently flexible suspension fabric which is fixed on the rim sections by said projections; and edge trim which is over-molded onto said rim sections so that said projections and said rim sections are embedded within said edge trim in non-removable engagement therewith to prevent disengagement of said suspension fabric from said projections.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 70 words

A chair comprising: a chair frame having rim sections with a plurality of projections projecting vertically therefrom; a resiliently flexible suspension fabric which is fixed on the rim sections by said projections; and edge trim which is over-molded onto said rim sections so that said projections and said rim sections are embedded within said edge trim in non-removable engagement therewith to prevent disengagement of said suspension fabric from said projections.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

The chair according to claim 1 , wherein said chair frame comprises a recessed center section between said rim sections which said center section is disposed below said suspension fabric for accommodating deflection of said suspension fabric into said recessed section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

The chair according to claim 2 , wherein said chair includes a seat assembly for supporting a seat of a chair occupant which said seat assembly comprises said chair frame and said suspension fabric which faces upwardly to support the seat of said occupant.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 80 words

The chair according to claim 3 , which includes a molded seat shell formed from a mold material, said seat shell comprising said edge trim as a part thereof to define a central opening within said seat shell in which said suspension fabric is disposed to support the seat of a chair occupant, said seat shell further comprising a front shell panel which extends forwardly from said suspension fabric and is adapted to support a thigh region of said occupant.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

The chair according to claim 4 , wherein said front shell panel extends across a width of said chair and said chair includes a seat support surface defined by said suspension fabric and an upper surface of said front shell panel.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 140 words

A chair comprising: a chair frame having rim sections with a plurality of projections projecting vertically therefrom; a resiliently flexible suspension fabric which is fixed on the rim sections by said projections; and a molded seat shell formed from a mold material, said seat shell comprising edge trim as a part thereof to define a central opening within said seat shell in which said suspension fabric is disposed to support the seat of a chair occupant, said seat shell further comprising a front shell panel which extends forwardly from said suspension fabric and is adapted to support a thigh region of said occupant, said edge trim being over-molded onto said rim sections so that said projections and said rim sections are embedded within said edge trim in non-removable engagement therewith to prevent disengagement of said suspension fabric from said projections.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 140 words

A chair comprising: a chair frame having rim sections with a plurality of projections projecting vertically therefrom; a resiliently flexible suspension fabric which is fixed on the rim sections by said projections; and a molded seat shell formed from a mold material, said seat shell comprising edge trim as a part thereof to define a central opening within said seat shell in which said suspension fabric is disposed to support the seat of a chair occupant, said seat shell further comprising a front shell panel which extends forwardly from said suspension fabric and is adapted to support a thigh region of said occupant, said edge trim being over-molded onto said rim sections so that said projections and said rim sections are embedded within said edge trim in non-removable engagement therewith to prevent disengagement of said suspension fabric from said projections.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

The chair according to claim 6 , wherein said front shell panel extends across a width of said chair and said chair includes a seat support surface defined by said suspension fabric and an upper surface of said front shell panel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The chair according to claim 7 , wherein said front shell panel is resiliently deflectable and is deflectable downwardly in response to occupant movements.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

The chair according to claim 6 , wherein said suspension fabric is an elastomeric material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 195 words

In a chair comprising a seat unit and a back unit interconnected together to respectively support the seat and back of a chair occupant, at least one of said seat unit and said back unit being defined by a frame assembly comprising: a chair frame having a central section and a rim section which is spaced from said central section and extends about at least a portion of a periphery of said chair frame, said rim section including a plurality of projections which project from said rim section; a flexible suspension material which spans said central section and is fixed to said rim sections by said projections which project into said suspension material to affix said suspension material in a taut condition on said rim section; and a support shell mounted to and supported on said chair frame, said support shell comprising edge portions which extend about said rim sections and cover over said projections to prevent removal of said suspension material from said projections, said edge portions being over-molded onto said rim sections such that said projections and said rim sections are embedded within the material of said edge portions in non-removable engagement therewith.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 195 words

In a chair comprising a seat unit and a back unit interconnected together to respectively support the seat and back of a chair occupant, at least one of said seat unit and said back unit being defined by a frame assembly comprising: a chair frame having a central section and a rim section which is spaced from said central section and extends about at least a portion of a periphery of said chair frame, said rim section including a plurality of projections which project from said rim section; a flexible suspension material which spans said central section and is fixed to said rim sections by said projections which project into said suspension material to affix said suspension material in a taut condition on said rim section; and a support shell mounted to and supported on said chair frame, said support shell comprising edge portions which extend about said rim sections and cover over said projections to prevent removal of said suspension material from said projections, said edge portions being over-molded onto said rim sections such that said projections and said rim sections are embedded within the material of said edge portions in non-removable engagement therewith.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chair according to claim 10 , wherein said support shell is formed of a resilient molded material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 48 words

The chair according to claim 11 , wherein said frame assembly is adapted to support a seat of the occupant, said support shell including a front shell section which extends generally horizontally and is disposed forwardly of the suspension material for supporting a thigh area of the occupant.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

The chair according to claim 10 , wherein said suspension material is an elastomeric mesh.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The chair according to claim 10 , wherein said flexible suspension material is a composite pad defined by a plurality of layers of pad material.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 38 words

The chair according to claim 14 , wherein said layers comprise a cushion layer of cushion material, and a support layer of an elastomeric suspension fabric below said cushion layer to support a weight of a chair occupant.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 296 words

In a chair comprising a seat unit and a back unit interconnected together to respectively support the seat and back of a chair occupant, at least one of said seat unit and said back unit being defined by a frame assembly comprising: a chair frame having a central section and a rim section which is spaced from said central section and extends about at least a portion of a periphery of said chair frame, said rim section including a fixing arrangement on a surface of said rim section; a flexible suspension material which spans said central section and is fixed to said rim section by said fixing arrangement, said fixing arrangement contacting said suspension material to removably secure said suspension membrane in a taut condition on said rim section; and a support shell mounted to and supported on said chair frame, said support shell comprising shell edge portions which extend about said rim sections and cover over said fixing arrangement to prevent removal of said suspension membrane from said fixing arrangement, said fixing arrangement adapted to secure said suspension material to said rim section in the absence of said support shell, said shell edge portions having a central slot in which is received said rim section, said fixing arrangement and edge portions of said suspension material such that said material edge portions are in non-removable engagement with said support shell, said edge portions being defined by molded material having a shape defined by over-molding of said edge portions onto said rim section, said fixing arrangement and said material edge portions which are embedded within said shell edge portions, said central slot having an interior surface having a molded shape which conforms to opposing surfaces of said rim section, said fixing arrangement and said material edge portions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 296 words

In a chair comprising a seat unit and a back unit interconnected together to respectively support the seat and back of a chair occupant, at least one of said seat unit and said back unit being defined by a frame assembly comprising: a chair frame having a central section and a rim section which is spaced from said central section and extends about at least a portion of a periphery of said chair frame, said rim section including a fixing arrangement on a surface of said rim section; a flexible suspension material which spans said central section and is fixed to said rim section by said fixing arrangement, said fixing arrangement contacting said suspension material to removably secure said suspension membrane in a taut condition on said rim section; and a support shell mounted to and supported on said chair frame, said support shell comprising shell edge portions which extend about said rim sections and cover over said fixing arrangement to prevent removal of said suspension membrane from said fixing arrangement, said fixing arrangement adapted to secure said suspension material to said rim section in the absence of said support shell, said shell edge portions having a central slot in which is received said rim section, said fixing arrangement and edge portions of said suspension material such that said material edge portions are in non-removable engagement with said support shell, said edge portions being defined by molded material having a shape defined by over-molding of said edge portions onto said rim section, said fixing arrangement and said material edge portions which are embedded within said shell edge portions, said central slot having an interior surface having a molded shape which conforms to opposing surfaces of said rim section, said fixing arrangement and said material edge portions.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

The chair according to claim 16 , wherein said connector arrangement comprises projections which project from said surface of said rim section and into said suspension material, said projections being embedded within the material of said edge portions of said support shell.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 14 words

The chair according to claim 16 , wherein said fixing arrangement is an adhesive.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 260 words

In a chair comprising a seat unit and a back unit interconnected together to respectively support the seat and back of a chair occupant, at least one of said seat unit and said back unit being defined by a frame assembly comprising: a chair frame having a central section and a rim section which is spaced from said central section and extends about at least a portion of a periphery of said chair frame, said rim section including a fixing arrangement on a surface of said rim section; a flexible suspension material which spans said central section and is fixed to said rim section by said fixing arrangement, said fixing arrangement contacting said suspension material to removably secure said suspension membrane in a taut condition on said rim section which said fixing arrangement comprises a fixing strip affixed to said surface of said rim section wherein said suspension material in turn is secured to said fixing strip through the application of heat; and a support shell mounted to and supported on said chair frame, said support shell comprising edge portions which extend about said rim sections and cover over said fixing arrangement to prevent removal of said suspension membrane from said fixing arrangement, said fixing arrangement adapted to secure said suspension material to said rim section in the absence of said support shell, said edge portions having a central slot in which is received said rim section, said fixing arrangement and edge portions of said suspension material such that said edge portions are in non-removable engagement with said support shell.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 260 words

In a chair comprising a seat unit and a back unit interconnected together to respectively support the seat and back of a chair occupant, at least one of said seat unit and said back unit being defined by a frame assembly comprising: a chair frame having a central section and a rim section which is spaced from said central section and extends about at least a portion of a periphery of said chair frame, said rim section including a fixing arrangement on a surface of said rim section; a flexible suspension material which spans said central section and is fixed to said rim section by said fixing arrangement, said fixing arrangement contacting said suspension material to removably secure said suspension membrane in a taut condition on said rim section which said fixing arrangement comprises a fixing strip affixed to said surface of said rim section wherein said suspension material in turn is secured to said fixing strip through the application of heat; and a support shell mounted to and supported on said chair frame, said support shell comprising edge portions which extend about said rim sections and cover over said fixing arrangement to prevent removal of said suspension membrane from said fixing arrangement, said fixing arrangement adapted to secure said suspension material to said rim section in the absence of said support shell, said edge portions having a central slot in which is received said rim section, said fixing arrangement and edge portions of said suspension material such that said edge portions are in non-removable engagement with said support shell.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-01-09	2009-07-11	2010-01-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-01-09	2013-07-11	2014-01-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-01-09	2017-07-11	2018-01-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Chair having a suspension seat assembly

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