Steelcase Inc.

Michael J Kemen

Kurt R Heidmann

Robert J Battey

Nickolaus William Charles Deevers

Nancy A Funk

James J Betcher

A seating arrangement includes a base member, and an integrally formed support member coupled to the base member and supporting a seat moveable from an upright position to a reclined position, wherein a portion of the support member is bendable as the seat moves from the upright position to the reclined position such that a first side of the support member is put in tension and a second side generally opposite the first side is put in compression, and wherein the first side includes a tensile substrate so that the first side has as higher modulus of elasticity than the second side.

Seating arrangement and method of construction

A seating arrangement includes a base member, and an integrally formed support member coupled to the base member and supporting a seat moveable from an upright position to a reclined position, wherein a first portion of the support member positioned rearwardly of the base member is bendable such that an upper layer of the first portion is put in tension, and wherein a second portion of the support member positioned forwardly of the base member is bendable such that a lower layer of the second portion is put in tension, wherein the upper layer of the first portion and the lower layer of the second portion are reinforced with at least one tensile substrate.

A method of manufacturing a furniture component includes steps of molding a panel component of a flexible compliant plastic, the panel component having a continuous perimeter flange and further having flexible strips extending between portions of the perimeter flange that are shaped to flex to comfortably support a human body part. The method further includes molding a tubular perimeter frame of a reinforced structural plastic different than the flexible compliant plastic onto the panel component, the step of molding the perimeter frame including integrally bonded the perimeter frame to the perimeter flange to stiffen the perimeter flange and support the panel component and further including a gas assist process.

Method of manufacturing furniture article

A furniture component, such as a chair back or seat, includes a panel component made of a flexible compliant plastic, and a rigid tubular perimeter frame integrally molded onto and hence bonded to a perimeter flange of the panel component to structurally support the panel component. The panel component includes horizontally extending flexible strips shaped to provide comfortable support for a seated user. The perimeter frame extends continuously around the enlarged show area and is made by gas assist processes, which cause the perimeter frame to be tubular and hollow for increased strength-to-weight ratio. Methods related to the above are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Lowell, MI, United States of America

Michael J Kemen