Satellite chair seat construction

Abstract

A single piece cloth seat and back, configured for suspension from or supported by a collapsible metal or other material frame. The single piece cloth chair seat and back includes a chair seat portion having first and second horizontally extending edges and a chair back portion having first and second horizontally extending edges. The chair seat portion of the single piece cloth seat and back is attached to the chair back portion of the single piece cloth seat and back only proximate the first and second horizontally extending edges and providing at least one region of separation with no attachment between the first and second horizontally extending edges of the chair seat portion and the chair back portion.

Description

[0001] SATELLITE CHAIR SEAT CONSTRUCTION

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to chairs having a cloth seat and back and more particularly, to a collapsible chair having a single piece cloth seat and back suspended from or supported by a collapsible metal , or other material frame with a separation in at least one region between the chair seat and the chair upper back and headrest region .

[0004] BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0005]

[0002] Collapsible and portable chairs are widely used particularly outdoors for, for example only, camping, beach or oceanfront lounging and for watching sporting events . These types of chairs typically utili ze a metal or aluminum frame on which is suspended a cloth type seat and back .

[0006]

[0003] In some prior art chairs , the seat portion and the back portion are separate pieces . In many other prior art chairs , however, the seat and back portion of the chair are one piece . In such one piece seat and back chair seats , the weight of the user on the chair portion distorts the back portion af fecting the comfort of the back portion and i f a headrest is included and disposed on the back portion, the usability and comfort of the headrest is af fected by the distortion in the back portion .

[0007]

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for a single piece chair seat and back portion that allows the seat and back portions to

[0008] - 1 - have an area of separation whereby a user seated in the chair does not af fect and / or distort the back portion or headrest portion of such a chair .

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010]

[0005] The invention features a single piece cloth seat and back, configured for suspension from or supported by a collapsible metal or other material frame . The single piece cloth chair seat and back comprises a chair seat portion, a chair back portion, and wherein the chair seat portion includes one edge attached, only in part , to an edge of the single piece cloth chair back portion, providing at least one region of separation, in at least in part , between the chair cloth seat portion and the chair cloth back portion .

[0011]

[0006] In one embodiment , a single piece cloth seat and back, is configured for suspension from or supported by a collapsible metal or other material frame . The single piece cloth chair seat and back comprises a chair seat portion having first and second horizontally extending edges and a chair back portion also having first and second hori zontally extending edges . The chair seat portion of the single piece cloth seat and back is attached to the chair back portion of the single piece cloth seat and back only proximate the first and second horizontally extending edges of the chair seat portion and the chair back portion and providing at least one region of separation and no attachment

[0012] 2 between the first and second horizontally extending edges of the chair seat portion and the chair back portion .

[0013]

[0007] The single piece cloth seat and back may further include a headrest disposed on but not connected to the chair back portion or the collapsible frame . In a further embodiment , the collapsible metal or other material frame supporting the single piece cloth seat and back may include a bowed or arcuate portion disposed in a region behind the cloth chair back portion .

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]

[0008] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein :

[0016]

[0009] FIG . 1 is a representation of an example of a chair frame for use in connection with the one-piece chair fabric in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

[0017]

[0010] FIG . 2 is a representation of the one-piece chair fabric with an area of separation between the seat portion and the back portion according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0018]

[0011] FIG . 3 is a front view of the one-piece chair fabric of figure 2 mounted on and supported by the chair frame of figure 1 according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0019] 3

[0012] FIG . 4 is a back view of the one-piece chair fabric of figure 2 mounted on and supported by the chair frame of figure 1 according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0020]

[0013] FIG . 5 is a front side view of the one-piece chair fabric of figure 2 mounted on and supported by the chair frame of figure 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]

[0014] FIG . 6 is a front view of the one-piece chair fabric mounted onto a chair frame in accordance with, for example , figure 3 showing the region of separation between the seat portion and the upper back portion and separate headrest according to one feature of the present invention; and

[0022]

[0015] FIG . 7 is a back view of the one-piece chair fabric mounted onto a chair frame in accordance with, for example , figures 3 showing the region of separation between the seat portion and the upper back portion and headrest according to one feature of the present invention .

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024]

[0016] The present invention features a collapsible ( i . e . foldable or similar ) chair having a single piece cloth seat and back suspended from or supported by a collapsible metal , or other suitable material such as , but not limited to , aluminum frame with a separation in at least one region between the chair seat and the chair upper back and headrest region . The

[0025] 4 headrest 18 may be part of the single piece cloth seat or more preferably, a separate component .

[0026]

[0017] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a metal or other material chair frame 10 for use with the single piece cloth seat and back with a separation in accordance with the features of the present invention .

[0027]

[0018] Figure 2 illustrates a single piece cloth seat and back 12 comprising a seat portion 14 , a back portion 16 and in the present example a separate headrest 18 . An area of separation 20 is provided between the seat portion 14 and the back portion 16 . The single piece cloth seat and back 12 may be of a one piece construction or alternatively, made from several pieces of cloth sewn together while still providing for the area of separation 20 between the seat portion 14 and the back portion 16 in accordance with the teachings of the invention .

[0028]

[0019] Once mounted onto the frame 10 , figure 3 , the single piece cloth seat and back 12 according to the present invention is supported by the frame 10 by, in the present embodiment , threading the chair frame through one or more pockets 22 , 24 in the cost seat 12 . Figure 3 shows the single piece cloth seat without any user weight in the seat .

[0029]

[0020] Figure 4 is a rear view of the chair according to the present invention . In this embodiment, one feature of the present invention is the provision of an optional curved or arcuately shaped support bar 26, which serves to provide some

[0030] 5 stability between the chair frame uprights while also allowing the chair back cloth to bend inwardly and conform to a comfortable position for the user' s back .

[0031]

[0021] As shown in figure 6, once any weight is placed on the chair bottom, the area of separation 12 allows the chair seat portion 14 to pull down and away from the chair back portion 16 and the headrest 18 ensuring that the seat back and headrest 18 are not pulled downward and out of position for comfortable use by the user sitting in the chair . Figure 7 shows the area of separation between the seat portion 14 and the chair back 16 leaving the upper seat back and headrest 18 intact and not pulled down out of place . The seat bottom portion 14 is stitched or attached to the seat back portion 16 along, at or near the edges of the one-piece cloth seat 12 . The amount of attachment portion versus non-attached portion is not precise but rather needs to be of sufficient length such that a person sitting in the seat portion causes the seat portion to pull downward along the separation region and not pull downwardly on the seat back upper portion . The separation in the one-piece cloth seat portion also can be varied in position upward or downward in the area between the seat and back portions to accommodate manufacturing and proper seating comfort .

[0032]

[0022] Accordingly, the present invention features a single piece cloth seat and back configured for suspension from or supported by a collapsible metal or other material frame with a separation in at least one region between the chair cloth seat

[0033] 6 portion and the chair cloth seat upper back and headrest region . The present invention allows the chair seat and back portion to flex independently and support the user and provides for no stress on the upper back and headrest portion of the chair .

[0034]

[0023] The present invention is not intended to be limited to a device or method which must satis fy one or more of any stated or implied obj ects or features of the invention and should not be limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment ( s ) described herein . Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents .

Claims

CLAIMSThe invention claimed is :1 . A single piece cloth seat and back, configured for suspension from or supported by a collapsible metal or other material frame, said single piece cloth chair seat and back comprising : a chair seat portion having first and second horizontally extending edges ; a chair back portion having first and second horizontally extending edges ; and wherein said chair seat portion of said single piece cloth seat and back is attached to said chair back portion of said single piece cloth seat and back only proximate said first and second hori zontally extending edges and providing at least one region of separation with no attachment between said first and second hori zontally extending edges of the chair seat portion and the chair back portion .2 . The single piece cloth seat and back of claim 1 , further including a headrest disposed on but not connected to one of said chair back portion or said collapsible frame .3 . The single piece cloth seat and back of claim 1 , wherein said collapsible metal or other material frame includes a bowed or arcuate portion disposed in a region behind said cloth chair back portion .- 8 -

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