Seating components with laminated bonding material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11058224-B2
Application number	US-201916241496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2019
Priority date	Apr 13, 2015
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

A seating support arrangement includes a seating frame, a cover member supported by the seating frame, the cover member having a first elastic modulus in a first direction, the cover member having an outer surface area and a support area that is less than the outer surface area and is configured to support a user, and a polymer film surface layer attached to the support area of the cover member such that the combination of the cover member in the support area and the surface layer has a second elastic modulus in the first direction that is greater than the first elastic modulus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seating support arrangement, comprising:
a seating frame;
a cover member supported by the seating frame, the cover member having a first elastic modulus in a first direction, the cover member having an outer surface area configured to support a user when in the seated position and a support area that is less than the outer surface area and is configured to support the user; and
a polymer film surface layer attached to the support area of the cover member at locations spaced laterally across the support area to prevent planar movement of the polymer film surface layer at the locations and such that the combination of the cover member in the support area and the surface layer at the locations has a second elastic modulus in the first direction that is greater than the first elastic modulus where the polymer film surface layer is not attached to the cover member.

2. The seating support arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the surface layer is substantially transparent.

3. The seating support arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the surface layer is attached to the cover member by at least one of adhesion, sonic welding, and laser welding.

4. The seating support arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the surface layer is attached to an outer surface of the cover member.

5. The seating support arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the surface layer comprises an aesthetic pattern.

6. The seating support arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the seating support arrangement comprises a back support assembly.

7. The seating support arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the support area is positioned to support the lumbar area of a seated user.

8. The seating support arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the polymer film surface layer comprises a polyester.

9. The seating support arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the cover member comprises a fabric.

10. A method for constructing a seating support arrangement, comprising:
providing a seating frame;
providing a cover member having a first elastic modulus in a first direction, the cover member having an outer surface area configured to support a seated user and a support area that is less than the outer surface area and is configured to support the seated user;
attaching a polymer film surface layer to the support area of the cover member at locations spaced laterally across the support area to prevent planar movement of the polymer film surface layer at the locations and such that the combination of the cover member in the support area and the surface layer at the locations has a second elastic modulus in the first direction that is greater than the first elastic modulus where the polymer film surface layer is not attached to the cover member; and
supporting the cover and the surface layer by the seating frame.

11. A seating support arrangement, comprising:
a cover member having a first elastic modulus in a first direction, the cover member having an outer surface area and a shaped area that is less than the outer surface area, wherein the outer surface area and the shaped area are each configured to support a seated user; and
a polymer film surface layer attached to the shaped area of the cover at locations spaced laterally across the shaped area to prevent planar movement of the polymer film surface layer at the locations and such that the combination of the cover member in the shaped area and the surface layer has a second modulus of elasticity in the first direction at the locations that is greater than the first modulus of elasticity where the polymer film surface layer is not attached to the cover member.

12. The seating support arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the surface layer is substantially transparent.

13. The seating support arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the surface layer is attached to the cover member by at least one of adhesion, sonic welding, and laser welding.

14. The seating support arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the surface layer is attached to an outer surface of the cover member.

15. The seating support arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the surface layer comprises an aesthetic pattern.

16. The seating support arrangement of claim 11 , further comprising:
a seating frame that supports the cover member.

17. The seating support arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the seating support arrangement comprises a back support assembly.

18. The seating support arrangement of claim 17 , wherein the support area is positioned to support the lumbar area of a seated user.

19. The seating support arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the polymer film surface layer comprises a polyester.

20. The seating support arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the cover member comprises a fabric.

21. A method for constructing a seating support arrangement, comprising:
providing the seating support arrangement of claim 11 ;
shaping the shaped area into a three dimensional shape; and
attaching the cover member and the surface layer to a frame while the shaped area substantially retains the three dimensional shape.

22. The method for constructing the seating support arrangement of claim 21 , wherein the seating support arrangement comprises a back support assembly.

23. The method for constructing the seating support arrangement of claim 22 , wherein the support area is positioned to support the lumbar area of a seated user.

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Ludwig James Nolan
• Smith Bruce M
• Forslund Iii Carl V
• Norman Christopher J
• Peterson Gordon J
• Biddle Fredric
• Deevers Nickolaus William Charles

Classifications

• A47C7/28

  with tensioned springs, e.g. of flat type · CPC title

• A47C7/26

  with reinforcement {of the external layer of the upholstery, e.g. vandal resistant} · CPC title

• A47C7/14 Primary

  of adjustable shape; elastically mounted {; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions (movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261)} · CPC title