The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 25, 1999
Filed:
May. 20, 1997
Robert J Battey, Kentwood, MI (US);
Robert S Grooters, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Kurt R Heidmann, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
John L Hendricks, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Michael A Kolarik, Kentwood, MI (US);
Brian H Root, Grandville, MI (US);
Bruce G Rose, Freeport, MI (US);
Robert M Scheper, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A chair base includes a leg assembly having a plurality of radially-extending legs, and a leg cover adapted to cover the legs. The tubular legs have a top surface divided by a center line and have apertures offset from the center line. The leg covers are adapted to cover the legs, and the leg covers including downwardly extending off-centered bosses for engaging the apertures. Each of the tubular legs have an end with aligned vertical holes therein. A sleeve-like pintle retainer is located in the aligned vertical holes and flared at its top and bottom to hold the pintle retainer in the tubular legs. The leg assembly includes a tubular center hub. The plurality of radially extending tubular legs each have a top wall, a bottom wall and opposing side walls, the top and bottom walls each having an arcuately shaped end engaging the center hub. A pair of ring welds extend continuously circumferentially around the center hub for welding the arcuately shaped ends of the top and bottom walls to the center hub. In a modified form the covers include a plurality of flat-topped intermediate retainers shaped for attachment to a top of the legs, and a plurality of aesthetic flat-bottomed trim pieces shaped for mating adhering attachment to the top of the retainers.