Flexible Panel Fixed To A Frame (e.g., Fabric, Elastomeric Sheet, Etc.) Patents (Class 297/452.13)
  • Patent number: 12060139
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inflatable and floatable modular platform system wherein certain embodiments comprise an adjustable back-rest. The inflatable platform system of the present disclosure includes floating elements of differing shapes and sizes configured to be interconnected in order to allow users to stand, sit, and walk between floating elements. Embodiments include inflatable platforms having circular, arc-shaped, rectangular, and L-shaped inflatable platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: BOTE, LLC
    Inventor: Aaron May
  • Patent number: 11786080
    Abstract: A shampoo support apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the shampoo support apparatus, a body is configurable between a reclining configuration and a booster seat configuration. In the reclining configuration, the body provides a neck support and a back support. A support structure that may be placed above the body is configured to accept and secure a smart device thereat and support the smart device at a smart device working distance from the neck support. In the booster seat configuration, the body folds into a rectangular shape to provide a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: Kia-Shun Voltz
  • Patent number: 10518886
    Abstract: A method of upholstering a seat having a seating frame, and a corresponding attachment assembly, comprises providing a diaphragm generally having a weave of warp and weft yarns with an attachment member for installation of the diaphragm to the seat. The attachment member comprises an adapter strip and a coil member. The coil member is adapted to be intertwined with the weave of the diaphragm and thereafter inserted into and held by the channel in the seating frame. The adapter strip may be connected to the coil member to facilitate feeding the assembly through the channel in the seating frame. Alternately, the adapter strip can replace the channel in the seating frame and instead provide a mounting structure to which the diaphragm can be attached through the coil member's engagement with the adapter strip. A retainer sheet may also be used to maintain a desired tension of the diaphragm during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco
  • Patent number: 9795221
    Abstract: This invention relates to recreational flotation devices, and particularly to inflatable lounge chairs, and to methods for manufacturing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Osimo
  • Patent number: 9173497
    Abstract: The invention concerns a seat forming a rigid sitting surface (8) and a backrest frame (1) globally oriented in intersecting directions in a crossover area situated towards the rear of the rigid sitting surface, characterized in that it includes a flexible sheet (3), in that the backrest frame includes a device (7) for suspension of said flexible sheet, disposed higher than the rigid sitting surface, in that said flexible sheet includes a transition panel (18) extending between the suspension device and an intersection area (9) globally in front of the suspension device, so that said transition panel serves as a rear sitting surface portion and a bottom backrest portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventor: Emmanuel Antoine Mastio
  • Patent number: 9066610
    Abstract: An infant basket comprises: a basket body; two pivot plates formed with notches; two hollow connectors pivoted to the pivot plates; two latch members mounted in the hollow connectors and operable to engage and disengage the notches; and a handle having two hollow end portions. The hollow connectors are mounted detachably in the hollow end portions such that the latch members are disposed within the hollow end portions. The latch members are co-rotatable with the handle and the hollow connectors relative to the pivot plates about a rotation axis from an upright position to a lie-back position relative to the basket body when the latch members are disengaged from the notches, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Wonderland Nursery Goods Company Limited
    Inventor: Xiao-Song Duan
  • Patent number: 9016796
    Abstract: A portable stool for providing convenient seating comprising: a base, where the base is placed on a surface during use of the stool; a support post, where the support post extends vertically from the base; a telescoping post connected to the support post, where the telescoping post is vertically adjustable; openings along the telescoping post; seat posts, where the seat posts extend vertically from the openings; and a nylon seat attached to each distal end of the seat posts. The telescoping post may include three openings and a seat post extends from each opening. In one particular embodiment, the posts extend at an angle from each opening. The support post may include an adjustment slot. Inherently the portable stool further includes a collapsed position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Erwin Portis
  • Patent number: 9004604
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and seating product that include a seat deck assembly with a tensioned fabric decking are described. The seat deck assembly includes one or a pair of frame rails attached along opposite edges of the decking. The decking includes an elastomeric textile. The decking or a first of the frame rails is attached to a first side of the frame. The second of the frame rails is placed in a rigid fixture. A force is applied by an actuator to the frame to move the second side of the frame toward the second frame rail and to stretch the elastomeric fabric. The second frame rail is couple to the second side of the frame and the assembled frame is removed from the fixture. Cushions, padding or an upholstered covering can complete embodiments of the seating product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Jeremy Bogard, Mark Mazza, Bernard R. Simon, Larry I. Bullard
  • Patent number: 8998337
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a comfortable backrest chair. [Solution] A shape retaining material is formed to have radial cores 12 distributed and radially extending upward from a base plate adjacent a cut hole 4 to be fitted on a chair support frame, and a first and a second reinforcing cores 13 and 14 arranged adjacent the base plate of the radial cores 12. A core sheet is formed by attaching a first, a second and a third mesh sheets 9 to the shape retaining material. A chair sheet material is formed by attaching a first and a second buffer sheets 15 and 16 and an outer surface side buffer sheet 7 to the core sheet. A backrest portion of the chair sheet material is constructed to have a larger right and left width than the breadth of a seated person's shoulders, and when the load of the seated person is applied, right and left opposite ends of the backrest portion can be displaced in directions to approach each other due to elasticity of the core sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Seizou Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8998339
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes a back shell member including a laterally-extending top portion, a laterally-extending bottom portion and a pair of longitudinally-extending side portions extending between the top portion and the bottom portion and cooperating therewith the defined open space therebetween, and a cover having a first surface adapted to support a seated user and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the cover is positioned over the back shell member to cover at least a portion of the open space, and wherein the cover comprises an elastomeric material having a longitudinal direction compliance to lateral direction compliance ration of at least 3:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon J. Peterson, Robert J. Battey
  • Patent number: 8991931
    Abstract: Plural weft fascia portions wider than wefts are arranged in a ground texture formed in a lattice shape by warps and the wefts so as to be spaced from each other from one end of the clothing fabric toward the other end thereof in the vertical direction, and the arrangement intervals between the weft fascia portions adjacent to each other in the vertical direction are gradually decreased from one end of the clothing fabric toward the other end in the vertical direction, and then are gradually increased from the minimum portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Okamura Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Narita, Ryou Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8955904
    Abstract: A moon chair structure comprising a seat ring tube, a front leg tube, a rear leg tube and back supporting rods; the front leg tube, the rear leg tube and the back supporting rods form a frame for supporting the seat ring tube; the rear leg tube and the front leg tube intersect with each other to form a supporting leg; slidable sleeves are provided at top ends of the rear leg tube; the slidable sleeves sleeve on the back supporting rods for forward and backward sliding movement on the back supporting rods; the slidable sleeves disposed at the top ends of the rear leg tube are slidable with respective to the back supporting rods; dynamic and variable triangular structures are formed by coordination between the rear leg tube, the front leg tube and the back supporting rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Xiaohui Zhu
  • Patent number: 8950808
    Abstract: An infant chair includes a frame having a seat portion and a base portion that are pivotally connected to each other so as to be movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. A locking mechanism is operable to lock the frame in the expanded position. Further, a cover is configured to substantially cover the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Boppy Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jamie Kummerfeld, Paul Fair
  • Patent number: 8931849
    Abstract: The invention relates to seating furniture comprising two frames arranged at a distance to each other on a support, between which frames a seat part and a backrest part can be mounted, and the frames have one upper frame part and a lower frame part each which mechanically immobilize the seat part and the backrest part a the sides thereof. The upper frame part and the lower frame part are clamping elements that can be braced with each other. At least one clamping element has a laterally extending recess on each edge which recess forms a frame groove in which a respective engaging element provided on the edges of the seat part and of the backrest part can be mounted by way of a frictional connection to the upper frame part and the lower frame part. The recess has an undercut portion which forms a stop for holding the clamped engaging element by a form fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Kusch + Co. GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Kusch, Robert De Le Roi, Karl-Heinz Seipp
  • Patent number: 8919871
    Abstract: A foldable infant seat includes a support frame including two generally U-shaped support members, each U-shaped support member pivotally connecting with the other at a central location of the U-shaped support member such that the support frame is foldable between a first configuration in which corresponding ends of the U-shaped support members are separated from each other and a second configuration in which the corresponding ends of the U-shaped support members are disposed in close proximity to each other. A flexible seat member is securable to the support frame. In one embodiment, a canopy is pivotally secured to the support frame. The canopy can include at least one pocket configured to store one or more items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Huntsberger, Maarten Van Huystee, Gregory S. Young
  • Patent number: 8893326
    Abstract: A frame suitable for use in a cradle for small children, or in similar devices, where a structure for containing a dynamic load requires support, consists of two flexible longitudinal laminae, parallel one to another and joined by one or more crosswise laminae. The longitudinal laminae are curved in a more or less central part of their length so forming a first section that rests on the ground and a second section inclined at an angle determined in relation to the first section to sustain the containing structure. In the curved part and along the whole of the second section the longitudinal laminae are subjected to torsion opposite in sign such as to incline them towards the inside of the frame; this lessens their flexibility sufficiently to limit elongation of the flexor oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bombol Limited
    Inventor: Frederic Frans Petrus Gooris
  • Patent number: 8870291
    Abstract: An aircraft seat back including a composite material seat back frame element and a composite seat back diaphragm molded to the seat back frame element during a molding step to provide a composite aircraft seat back formed of a seat back frame element and a seat back diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Nicholas Pozzi, Glenn Allen Johnson
  • Patent number: 8764109
    Abstract: An infant chair includes a frame having a seat portion and a base portion that are pivotally connected to each other so as to be movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. A locking mechanism is operable to lock the frame in the expanded position. Further, a cover is configured to substantially cover the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Boppy Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jamie Kummerfeld, Paul Fair
  • Patent number: 8561651
    Abstract: A fabric, a fabric manufacturing method and a vehicle seat are provided. The fabric has one surface and an opposite surface, and includes a constituent yarn having at least an elastic yarn; and a chenille yarn having a core yarn and a pile yarn. At least one kind of yarn of the constituent yarn is shaped in a waveform as seen from a sectional direction of the fabric. The core yarn is located closer to the opposite surface than an imaginary line, the imaginary line being formed by connecting each of peaks of mountain portions of the waveform in the one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunori Watanabe, Satoru Yamada
  • Patent number: 8517311
    Abstract: An aircraft seat that includes a seat bottom frame having a back, a seat back frame pivotally connected to the back of the seat bottom frame, and a seat back shell. The seat back shell has at least a front panel, a back panel opposite the front panel, and at least two side panels disposed between the front and back panels which connects the front panel to the back panel. The combination of the front, back, and side panels form a gap to receive the entire seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: PAC Seating Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hector Noel Marini
  • Patent number: 8419135
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat (1) having a carrying frame (2) and a support unit (8) connected thereto, the support unit having a base frame (6) as well as an elastic cover (10) held thereon made of knitted fabric (11) as an unsupported structure, the cover (10) forming a support surface (9) having a seat region (13) and a back region (12) and being configured continuous between the seat region (13) and the back region (12). The support surface (9) of the cover (10) has a plurality of zones (33 to 38) located consecutively in the longitudinal direction of the cover, of which at least one zone (34) has a greater elastic deformability relative to the other zones (33, 35, 36, 37, 38). In a longitudinal edge region (41) of the knitted fabric (11) there is arranged on both sides of the seating region (13) always an additional strip-shaped edge section (43) of zone (34), having the greatest elastic deformability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Greiner Purtec GmbH, Kobieder Strickmode GmbH, Ludeke Design
    Inventors: Johann Moeseneder, Franz Stollberger, Christine Luedeke
  • Patent number: 8403421
    Abstract: A sling chair includes a back frame member having side rails held in substantially parallel relation by a pair of cross bar members. In one embodiment, the cross bar members are generally curved so as to extend away from the back faces of the side rails, forming a concave back structure which can receive a sling member and, eventually, a seated occupant. The cross bar members have a notch allowing for insertion of a flexible rod and sling loop and sling member after assembly of the cross bar members and side rails. Insertion of the flexible rod and sling loop does not require tools. The cross members are adapted to retain the sling member in secure fashion through upper and lower backrest assemblies, resulting in better support and more efficient assembly. This also facilitates separate provisioning of decorative features to improve the chair's aesthetic qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Agio International Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Oliver Wang
  • Patent number: 8366044
    Abstract: An aircraft seat that includes a seat bottom frame having a back, a seat back frame pivotally connected to the back of the seat bottom frame, and a seat back shell. The seat back shell has at least a front panel, a back panel opposite the front panel, and at least two side panels disposed between the front and back panels which connects the front panel to the back panel. The combination of the front, back, and side panels form a gap to receive the entire seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: PAC Seating Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hector Noel Marini
  • Patent number: 8297708
    Abstract: An assembling structure for a vehicle seat includes: an assembly frame having a frame shape and configured to be detachably attached to a seat main body of the vehicle seat, the seat main body having a backbone frame having a frame shape; a planar elastic body configured to elastically support a body of an occupant and is stretched on the assembly frame; an elastic latching unit configured to be detachably attached to a part of the backbone frame, the elastic latching unit formed on a part of a periphery of the assembly frame, wherein the assembly frame further includes a hook portion, the backbone frame further includes a portion to be hooked, and the planar elastic body is prevented from moving in an out-of-plane direction of the planar elastic body when the hook portion of the assembly frame is hooked on the portion to be hooked of the backbone frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mizobata, Hideyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 8251454
    Abstract: A backrest of chair in which the lower part of a back frame can be concealed neatly by a stretching material. In the backrest device of a chair where a bag like stretching material (12) knitted or woven in the shape of mesh and opening downward is stretched across a back frame (11) formed by coupling the upper ends of right and left side frames (14a) directing the vertical direction by an upper frame (14b) directing the right and left direction, and coupling the lower ends of both the side frames (14a) by a lower frame (14c) which can be fixed to a backrest supporting rod (8) erected from the upper rear of the seat body of the chair, upper portion of the stretching material (12) is made air permeable, and at least a part at the lower portion of the stretching material (12) covering the lower frame (14c) is made non-translucent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Okamura Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tsukiji, Eisuke Hara
  • Patent number: 8177302
    Abstract: In one aspect, a seat includes a perimeter frame and a weight bearing surface. The perimeter frame includes a front frame member, two contoured lateral frame members, and a contoured rear frame member. Each lateral frame member has a front portion, a second portion proximate the user's thighs, a concave curve portion proximate the user's pelvis, and a rear portion, the bottom of the concave curve portion being lower than the second portion and lower than the rear portion. The rear frame member has a central dip portion. The weight bearing surface on which the user sits includes a plurality of straps attached to the perimeter frame. Other aspects relate a method for making a seat and a method for fitting a seat to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Tamarack Habilitation Technologies
    Inventors: J. Martin Carlson, Mark J. Payette
  • Patent number: 8172332
    Abstract: A backrest device for a chair, capable of, without a reduction in its strength and rigidity, effectively bending backward so as to follow the shape of the back of a person seated on the chair, providing the person with excellent sitting comfort. In the backrest device, a back board is supported by a backrest frame, and the back board has a flexible back stopper on the inner side of a back frame. The thickness of a vertical intermediate section of the back stopper is gradually increased from both left and right sections of the intermediate section toward the center such that the thickness is less in both left and right sections and is maximum at the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Okamura Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Masunaga, Ryo Igarashi, Yoichiro Oda
  • Patent number: 8157329
    Abstract: A method of attaching furniture components includes providing a first furniture component that may be comprised of polymeric material, positioning a second furniture component adjacent to the first furniture component, positioning stakes attached to the second component through holes formed in the first component, and heating the stakes to bond portions of the second component to portions of the first component. The second component may also be comprised of polymeric material and the stakes may be integral with the second component or formed on the second component. Chairs or other furniture such as office furniture may include components attached together by embodiments of the disclosed method. In some embodiments of the method, a second component may also have projections that are positioned through holes in a third furniture component that may subsequently be heated to bond the third component to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Knoll, Inc.
    Inventors: Khalid Masoud, Adam Deskevich
  • Patent number: 8109576
    Abstract: A seat assembly is revealed. A connection slot is formed around a circumference of a rear side of a support and an assembly block is projectingly arranged at a center of the connection slot. At least one channel penetrating from one side to the other side of the assembly block is formed on the assembly block. A cloth surface is covered from a front side to a rear side of the support and a circumference thereof is mounted into the connection slot. A frame formed by injection molding is to cover the circumference of the rear side of the support and fill into the connection slot and the channel so as to connect and secure the cloth surface with the frame as well as the support by multiple bends of the cloth surface and infiltration of frame material into pores of the cloth surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Uei Yuang Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheng-Hung Lin
  • Publication number: 20110266857
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat for open or semi-open motorized recreational vehicles, such as riding mowers, golf carts, buggies or the like, in which a seat part and a backrest are formed together in one piece, wherein the seat part and the backrest have a common base structure and at least one net-like fabric stretched over the latter and the net-like fabric is formed as a possible contact face for a person who is sitting on the seat, wherein the net-like fabric is weatherproof and is designed in such a way that it is more extensible in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle seat than in a width-wise direction of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: GRAMMER AG
    Inventor: Roland UEBELACKER
  • Patent number: 7997651
    Abstract: An improved knockdown chair having opposing substantially C shaped support arms, substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, sock type seating portion cover, front reinforcing member, and bottom reinforcing member, wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms are of laminate construction and have an upper arcuate arm support, front arcuate portion, and substantially straight bottom, the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement having a tubular seat back and tubular sitting portion telescopically interconnected one to the other, and wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms is opposingly removably fastened to the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, the improvement comprising combination with each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms of a substantially S shaped reinforcing member of laminate construction removably fastened to the upper arcuate arm support and the substantially straight bottom for reinforcing each of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Ziming Shen
  • Patent number: 7992936
    Abstract: A seat comprising an underframe and a seat element wherein the seat element comprises a front seat part, a rear seat part, a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part wherein the seat element can be displaced from a basic position into a reclined position, and wherein the seat element comprises at least one supporting arm composed of at least one upper support and at least one lower support having an arcuate profile in a transitory region between the rear seat part and the lower backrest part, and wherein the upper support and the lower support are connected at an upper backrest part. At least one guide element guiding the upper support in a front region of the seat part, and at least one connecting link positioning the upper support and the lower support with respect to each other. The front seat pan: being capable of being pulled back by the upper support when the backrest parts are loaded by an individual leaning against them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
  • Patent number: 7845733
    Abstract: A seat cushion of a vehicle seat has a base seat whose front end is anchored to a front frame of a frame for a sitting portion, and whose rear end is connected to a rear frame of the frame for a sitting portion via helical tension springs. A supporter, supported via helical tension springs at a pair of left and right side frames of the frame for a sitting portion, is disposed at a lower side of the base seat so as to support a femoral region of a seated person. The supporter and the helical tension springs structure an auxiliary vibration system whose mass element is a femoral region of a seated person. The auxiliary vibration system is made to function as a dynamic vibration absorber with respect to up-down vibrations of a main vibration system whose mass element is an upper body of a seated person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Kazuyoshi Chizuka, Seiji Kawasaki, Yumi Ogura, Yasuhide Takata
  • Publication number: 20100231015
    Abstract: An infant support structure that supports a child above a support surface is disclosed. The infant support structure includes a frame, a seat, and an elastic member that supports the seat for vertical and horizontal movement relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Lundeen
  • Patent number: 7775590
    Abstract: An improved knockdown chair having opposing substantially C shaped support arms, substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, sock type seating portion cover, front reinforcing member, and bottom reinforcing member, wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms are of laminate construction and have an upper arcuate arm support, front arcuate portion, and substantially straight bottom, the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement having a tubular seat back and tubular sitting portion telescopically interconnected one to the other, and wherein each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms is opposingly removably fastened to the substantially L shaped tubular seating arrangement, the improvement comprising combination with each of the opposing substantially C shaped support arms of a substantially S shaped reinforcing member of laminate construction removably fastened to the upper arcuate arm support and the substantially straight bottom for reinforcing each of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Ziming Shen
  • Patent number: 7740320
    Abstract: A chair is presented that includes a pair of chair arms, two pairs of chair legs, and a sheet of fabric. Each chair arm has a concave shape and a concave groove extending along the entire length of a concave surface of the chair arm. Each pair of chair legs is affixed to a bottom surface of each chair arm opposite the groove. The sheet of fabric has a pair of flexible rods. Each rod is affixed to the fabric and is substantially parallel to one another. The sheet of fabric is affixed to the chair by threading each of the rods through a different one of the corresponding grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Ming Chiang
  • Patent number: 7731294
    Abstract: At a vehicle seat 10, a cushion material 18 is provided at a frame 14 for a sitting portion of a seat frame 12, such that a seat cushion 20 is formed. An upper cushion member (three-dimensional solid knit fabric) 86, which is a surface layer portion of the cushion material 18, is stretched at the frame 14 for the sitting portion, and is layered on a cloth spring material 18 which is a lower layer portion of the cushion material 18. When the cloth spring material 68 is pressed and flexes downward due to pushing-against force which is based on body weight of a seated person at a time of sitting on the seat cushion 20, at regions of the cloth spring material 68 which are pushed by ischial tuberosities of the seated person, tensile forces of extension coil springs 80, which are forces in the pushing direction, act, and directions of tension of the cushion material 18 are in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Yasuda, Shun'ichi Doi, Kiyokazu Sunami, Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Seiji Kawasaki, Kazuyoshi Chizuka
  • Patent number: 7731295
    Abstract: A seat includes a tray, a net mounted on the tray and a supporting device provided between the tray and the net. Thus, when a user sits on the seat, the net takes a proportion of the user's weight while the supporting device takes another proportion of the user's weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Peter Lin
  • Patent number: 7731291
    Abstract: A sling chair includes a back frame member having side rails held in substantially parallel relation by a pair of cross bar members. In one embodiment, the cross bar members are generally curved so as to extend away from the back faces of the side rails, forming a concave back structure which can receive a sling member and, eventually, a seated occupant. The cross bar members are adapted to retain the sling member in secure fashion through upper and lower backrest assemblies, resulting in better support and more efficient assembly. This also facilitates separate provisioning of decorative features to improve the chair's aesthetic qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Agio International Company Limited
    Inventor: Oliver Wang
  • Patent number: 7654617
    Abstract: A chair seat for flexibly supporting the buttocks of a user seated thereon. The chair seat includes a seat surface having a pair of adjacent or side-by-side concentric corrugated regions formed therein, and which are configured for flexibly supporting the buttocks of the user by being deflectable with respect to the seat surface. The seat surface further includes a third corrugated region surrounding and concentric with the pair of side-by-side corrugated regions, and which third region is configured for flexibly supporting the hips and thighs of the user while also being deflectable with respect to the seat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mity-Lite, Inc.
    Inventor: Orrin C. Farnsworth
  • Patent number: 7631941
    Abstract: An apparatus having a fabric and method of forming thereof. The fabric's load bearing surface for supporting a load, comprising: at least one layer(s) (Ln) wherein n=0, ?1, ?2, . . . ?i, wherein n=0 represents the at least one layer(s) (Ln) of the load bearing surface that contacts the load. An n=?1, ?2, . . . ?i, represents successive underlying at least one layer(s) (Ln) of the load bearing surface. An n=?i, represents a bottom underlying at least one layer(s) (Ln). The fabric consists essentially of a polyurethane fiber and a fiber that is chemically different from the polyurethane fiber, and wherein the fabric has been stretched to the point just before encountering the Young's Modulus. The method comprising: cutting the fabric to a predetermined pattern; and stretching the fabric to the point just before encountering the Young's Modulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Inventor: James L. Chang
  • Patent number: 7594701
    Abstract: Aircrafts troop seating is lightweight and minimizes protruding features on which gear might snag. High strength webbing straps are added to a light weight seat fabric to add strength where strength is required, thus reducing the overall weight. The webbing is of a type used for seatbelts and meets fire regardant requirements. Seat belt style tension adjusters allow adjustment of the seating stretch to improve comfort and crash protection. Internal hardware attachment points are provided to reduce protruding features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Conax Florida Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Kawabata, Charlie VanDruff, Michael Duran
  • Patent number: 7568765
    Abstract: The chair has a sub frame (1) set on the floor, a mechanism (2) set on the sub frame, a seat (3) set on the mechanism (2) and a backrest (7) attached to the mechanism (2). The backrest (7) exhibits a backrest frame (5), which supports an elastically deformable backrest part (6) with a back panel (62). The back panel (62) has a back part (60), to which a head restraint (61) is attached. The backrest (7) is capable of pivoting about a first pivot shaft (D1) from an essentially upright, neutral position to a reclined position displaced towards the rear. The movements of the seat (3) and the backrest (7) are synchronized with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Vitra Patente AG
    Inventor: Egon Bräuning
  • Patent number: 7540568
    Abstract: One aspect is a furniture piece configured for seating. The furniture piece includes first and second contours and a spreader mechanism coupled between the first and second contours. A three-dimensional cover envelope having panels in each of three-dimensions is configured over the first and second contours and the spreader mechanism thereby surrounding the contours and spreader mechanism. The cover envelope is tensioned in each panel creating a simulated cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Natura Design Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Behrens, Donald L. Bottemiller
  • Patent number: 7517024
    Abstract: An arrangement for enabling post-assembly tension adjustment in an elastomeric material application. The arrangement can have a frame structure and a panel of elastomeric material, such as elastomeric mesh, retained to span from a first side to a second side of the frame structure in tension. A tension adjustment assembly enables a post-assembly, selective deflection of the panel of elastomeric material and thus the tension in the panel of elastomeric material. The tension adjustment assembly can, for example, employ a selectively inflatable bladder, an extension and retraction arrangement with a biasing portion, a pivoting member, a laterally slidable member, a roller with a non-concentric pivot axis a deflection member with a tip portion disposed to an outer surface side of the panel of elastomeric material, or a deflection member slidable on an inclined surface in relation to the panel of elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: Sava Cvek
  • Patent number: 7484811
    Abstract: An apparatus having a fabric and method of forming thereof. The fabric's load bearing surface for supporting a load, comprising: at least one layer(s) (Ln) wherein n=0, ?1, ?2, . . . ?i, wherein n=0 represents the at least one layer(s) (Ln) of the load bearing surface that contacts the load. An n=?1, ?2, . . . ?i, represents successive underlying at least one layer(s) (Ln) of the load bearing surface. An n=?i, represents a bottom underlying at least one layer(s) (Ln). The fabric consists essentially of a polyurethane fiber and a fiber that is chemically different from the polyurethane fiber, and wherein the fabric has been stretched to the point just before encountering the Young's Modulus. The method comprising: cutting the fabric to a predetermined pattern; and stretching the fabric to the point just before encountering the Young's Modulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Inventor: James L. Chang
  • Patent number: 7481490
    Abstract: An apparatus protects the feet and legs of an infant from certain rigid parts of an infant bouncer seat while the infant is sitting and playing in the bouncer seat. A foot and leg protector includes a unitary and elongated, shell, wherein the shell is u-shaped when viewed from its top surface. Padded material having a thickness of at least about one half inch is disposed within the shell. The shell containing the padded material is permanently attached to the bouncer seat such that the foot and leg protector covers substantially the entire portion of the front lip of said bouncer seat, and front portions of left and right side lips. Alternatively, the foot and leg protector includes a removable attachment means including a male part and a female part. The male part is located on the bottom surface of the foot and leg protector and the female part is located substantially near the front lip of the bouncer seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventor: Marc A. Cornella
  • Publication number: 20080315660
    Abstract: A chair construction includes a chair frame with a seat portion and a back portion and a flexible envelope that encompasses the chair frame. The envelope includes first and second layers having a first selected width between first left and right edges. The first and second layers are constructed of a slingable material. A third layer constructed of a non-slingable material and has a second selected width between second left and right edges where the second selected width is shorter than the first selected width of the first and second layers. The first and second left and right edges are aligned and the layers are secured together proximate the left and right edges to form the flexible envelope. When the envelope is positioned over the frame, the third layer is stretched a greater distance than the first and second layers, such that the non-slingable layer remains taut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: HC Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Daniel Spicer
  • Patent number: 7464424
    Abstract: A giddy baby relaxer that is in the form of a woman's upper body. A baby holder in the front with arms and folding hands. The base stand consists of two attached extensive legs with locks, with an adjustable knob on both sides of the body of the baby relaxer. The rear of the upper body of the giddy baby relaxer embodies the heartbeat, breathing, vibrating and CD player. These are operable with a remote control. The rear of the body of the giddy baby relaxer is equipped for safety straps to allow for optional transporting in an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventors: Marilyn Formica, Charles J. Formica
  • Patent number: 7461442
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a contoured back assembly comprising a back frame and a suspension fabric. The fabric is attached to the back frame through a spline wherein the back frame has a three-dimensional contoured shape formed by overlapped frame rings with the fabric being joined thereto by a spline. The fabric is secured to the frame by a machine wherein the fabric is first stretched from the outer edge of the fabric and then is clamped to a frame surface in the pre-tensioned or pre-streched condition. The fabric edges are allowed to hang loose and then fixed in the frame by a spline. Once secured, the fabric is unclamped from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Johnson, Steve Gager, Wesley D. Mersman, Larry A. Wilkerson