Attachment structure for suspension seating

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11812866-B2
Application number	US-202217994905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2022
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A seating structure includes a frame, a carrier, and a suspension material. The frame includes first and second side frame members and first and second cross frame members forming a closed loop and defining an opening therebetween. The frame also includes a plurality of first attachment features on an outer perimeter of the frame. The carrier includes first and second side carrier members and first and second cross carrier members that form a closed loop. The carrier also includes a plurality of second attachment features on an inner perimeter of the carrier. The plurality of second attachment features engages the plurality of first attachment features to attach the carrier to the frame. The suspension material is attached to the carrier and extends over the opening in the frame to define a continuous seat and backrest.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seating structure comprising:
a frame having an opening, a user-facing surface, and a perimeter surface angled relative to the user-facing surface, the perimeter surface defining an outermost edge of the frame, the frame also including a plurality of first attachment features coupled to and evenly spaced continuously along the perimeter surface of the frame; and
a carrier including a plurality of second attachment features engaging the plurality of first attachment features to attach the carrier to the frame; and
a suspension material attached to the carrier and extending over the opening in the frame,
wherein the suspension material at least partially covers the user-facing surface of the frame.

2. The seating structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first attachment features includes teeth, and wherein the plurality of second attachment features includes apertures.

3. The seating structure of claim 1 , wherein the suspension material is molded into the carrier.

4. The seating structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second attachment features is evenly spaced continuously along the carrier.

5. The seating structure of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a first side frame member, a second side frame member, and a cross frame member extending between and coupled to the first side frame member and the second side frame member, and wherein the perimeter surface is defined by the first side frame member, the second side frame member, and the cross frame member.

6. The seating structure of claim 5 , wherein the carrier includes a first side carrier member, a second side carrier member, and a cross carrier member corresponding to the first side frame member, the second side frame member, and the cross frame member.

7. A seating structure comprising:
a frame including a first side frame member and a second side frame member spaced apart in a first direction and defining an opening therebetween, each of the first side frame member and the second side frame having an outer perimeter, the first and second side frame members further defining a first width measured between the outer perimeter on the first side frame member and the outer perimeter on the second side frame member in the first direction, the frame also including a plurality of first attachment features disposed on the outer perimeter of the first and second side frame members, each of the plurality of first attachment features having a distal end, the plurality of first attachment features defining a second width measured between the distal end of one of the plurality of first attachment features on the first side frame member and the distal end of one of the plurality of first attachment features on the second side frame member in the first direction, the second width being greater than the first width;
a carrier including a plurality of second attachment features engaging the plurality of first attachment features to attach the carrier to the frame; and
a suspension material attached to the carrier and extending over the opening in the frame.

8. The seating structure of claim 7 , wherein the frame includes first and second cross frame members spanning between and connected to the first and second side frame members, the first and second cross frame members spaced apart in a second direction transverse to the first direction.

9. The seating structure of claim 8 , wherein the carrier includes first and second side carrier members and first and second cross carrier members corresponding to the first and second side frame members and the first and second cross frame members, wherein the carrier is a continuous ring formed by the first and second side carrier members and first and second cross carrier members spanning between and connected to the first and second side carrier members, the first and second cross carrier members spaced apart in the second direction transverse to the first direction.

10. The seating structure of claim 9 , wherein the first side carrier member, the second side carrier member, the first cross carrier member, and the second cross carrier member are integrally formed as a single unit.

11. The seating structure of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first attachment features includes teeth, and the plurality of second attachment features includes apertures that receive the teeth.

12. The seating structure of claim 11 , wherein the apertures define through-openings in the first and second side carrier members so that the teeth are visible through the apertures on a side of the carrier facing outwardly away from the opening.

13. The seating structure of claim 7 , further comprising:
a base;
a support column extending vertically from the base; and
a tilt mechanism coupled to an end of the support column opposite the base, the tilt mechanism supporting the frame above the base.

14. The seating structure of claim 7 , wherein the frame defines a seat, a backrest, or both, and wherein the suspension material forms a seating surface, a backrest surface, or both.

15. The seating structure of claim 7 , wherein the suspension material is molded into the carrier.

16. A seating structure comprising:
a frame defining an opening, the frame including an inner portion facing toward the opening, an outer portion opposite from the inner portion and facing away from the opening, and a plurality of teeth on the outer portion;
a carrier including a plurality of apertures that receive the plurality of teeth to attach the carrier to the frame; and
a suspension material attached to the carrier and extending over the opening in the frame.

17. The seating structure of claim 16 , wherein the frame includes a support surface extending between the inner portion and the outer portion.

18. The seating structure of claim 17 , wherein the carrier includes a first portion attached to the outer portion of the frame and a second portion extending over at least part of the support surface.

19. The seating structure of claim 18 , wherein the suspension material is attached to the second portion of the carrier.

20. The seating structure of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of teeth is evenly spaced along the outer portion.

Assignees

• Millerknoll Inc

Inventors

• Schmitz Johann Burkhard
• Zwick Carola Eva Marianne
• Zwick Roland Rolf Otto
• Slagh James
• Tracy Brent
• Stanton Sr Michael D

Classifications

• A47C31/023 Primary

  connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like · CPC title

• A47C3/30 Primary

  with vertically-acting fluid cylinder · CPC title

• A47C7/282

  with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes · CPC title

• A47C7/36 Primary

  Supports for the head or the back · CPC title

• A47C7/40

  for the back · CPC title