Abstract: An improved seating system that includes a seat back assembly (10) that is fabricated to include a seat back (12) with a first panel portion (14) that is optionally secured to a second panel portion (16) with one or more fasteners such as welds, adhesives, tack-offs, steel brackets or otherwise. The first panel portion (14), the second panel portion (16) or both preferably are plastic. The seat back assembly (10) may include one or more integrated reinforcement structures (20).

Abstract: A molded seat assembly comprises an insert having an upper and a lower surface, a peripheral edge, and a ridge disposed adjacent to the peripheral edge. A seat portion comprised of a plastic material is molded directly to the insert whereby the plastic material contacts the peripheral edge, the ridge, the upper surface melts or softens the peripheral edge, the ridge and the upper surface forming both a cohesive bond and a locking engagement between the seat portion and the insert.

Abstract: A chair seat that is movable between an upright and a forward position includes a spring mechanism that biases the seat toward the upright position. The spring mechanism includes camming structures that utilize both compressional and torsional forces from the spring to bias the seat toward the upright position. The compression of the spring exerts a positive force that must be overcome before the seat can be moved out of its upright position. The chair seat is constructed from a number of discrete components that are secured together without the use of welding or separate fasteners, such as via snap-fits. The discrete components include positioning tabs, special shapes, and other features that prevent them from being improperly assembled. The components of the chair seat may all be constructed out of suitable durable plastics, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and glass filled thermoplastics.

Abstract: A salon shampoo chair. The shampoo chair includes a barrel-shaped main frame, a seat and a basin mounted on the main frame and a selected number of foot stands fastened directly to a lower side of the main frame. The shampoo chair is sturdy and easy to assemble and disassemble.

Abstract: An improved seating system that includes a seat back assembly (10) that is fabricated to include a seat back (12) with first and second wall portions (14,16), and which may include an integrated reinforcement structure (18). The seating system is capable of either or both of withstanding without rupture at least about 11000 Newtons in the direction in which the seat back (12) faces in a plane, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle or, upon rapid acceleration up to at least about 20 g, substantially no fragmentation of the seat back with at least a 30 kg mass placed behind the seat back.

Abstract: A synchrotilt chair includes a base, a back, a seat, and a pair of parallel links pivoted to a rear of the base and to a bottom of the back to form a four-bar linkage arrangement. A spring arrangement includes leaf springs that extend between each link and the base to bias the link and in turn the back and seat toward an upright position, with the back and seat pivoting with a synchronous motion upon recline of the back. The base, the back, the seat, and the links are shaped to receive identical chairs along a stacking direction to form a densely nested stacked arrangement for compact storage. The base has a distinctive horizontal U-shaped mid-frame structure defining a plurality of corners, and further having up legs and down legs extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from each of the corners, with the pair of links attached to the two rearmost ones of the up legs.

Abstract: A molded seat assembly comprises an insert having an upper and a lower surface, a peripheral edge, and a ridge disposed adjacent to the peripheral edge. A seat portion comprised of a plastic material is molded directly to the insert whereby the ridge is adapted to prevent the flow of the plastic material beyond the ridge. The plastic material contacts the ridge and melts or softens the ridge. The ridge is then deformed forming both a cohesive bond and a locking engagement between the seat portion and the insert.

Abstract: A vehicular seat (10) including a seat bottom (12) and a seat back (14). In one embodiment, the seat bottom (12) and seat back (14) are formed from a blow molded frame (16) including side walls (18) extending generally upwardly from a bottom panel (20). A support mat (32) comprising fabric/rubber webbing extends across a central cut-out region (28) in the bottom panel (20) and supports an inflatable cushion (48) comprising a series of air cells (50). An extensible upholstery or trim cover layer (56) covers the inflatable cushion (48) and is joined to the frame (16). In a second embodiment, the seat bottom (12) and seat back (14) are formed from a blow molded shell (62). An intermediate layer (64) of plastics material is provided on the shell (62) beneath an upholstery layer (68). An opening in the shell (62) allows the intermediate layer (64) to be expanded outwardly from the shell (62) as the pressure within the shell (62) is increased.

Abstract: A plastic contoured seat back includes an inner and an outer shell affixed together. The inner shell includes a three dimensionally curved front surface and a two dimensionally curved back surface. The inner shell may include an internal rib adjacent the top of the shell that is shaped differently from the top edge of the inner shell. The internal rib is adapted to allow the inner shell to be cut adjacent the internal rib so that the inner shell can be varied in shape. The shell may also include indentations on the back side of the shell adjacent the corners of the inner shell. The indentations are dimensioned to receive overlapping fabric that is pulled around the corners such that the fabric on the back of the shell adjacent the corners does not project outwardly more than the fabric elsewhere, despite the over lapping of the fabric at the corners.