US3197165A

US3197165A - Molded articles and methods of making same

Info

Publication number: US3197165A
Application number: US154303A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jules C Gits
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-11-22
Filing date: 1961-11-22
Publication date: 1965-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-27

Description

July 27, 1965 J. 0. ans 3, 7,

MOLDED ARTICLES AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME Filed Nov. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. JULEJ 6. 6/7:

I, l 34 30 J4 deny ii;

y 7, 1965 J. c. GITS 3,197,165

MOLDED ARTICLES AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME Filed Nov. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORQ J04 55 C. 6/ 7'6 United States Patent 3,197,165 MGLDED ARTICLES AND METHODS OF MAKENG SAME Jules (I. Gite, 702 Kenilworth, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Filed Nov. 22, 196i, Ser. No. 154,393 16 Claims. (til. 24818'7) This invention relates to improvements in molded articles and methods of making same. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in molded articles of furniture and to improvements in methods of making same.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved article of furniture and also an improved method of making same.

It is frequently desirable to make articles of furniture out of plastic material; and, where articles of furniture are so made, it is usually desirable to form those articles without legs and then subsequently secure legs to those articles of furniture. For example, it is frequently desirable to mold the seats and backs of chairs and then subsequently secure legs to those seats. In many instances it is desirable to make chairs so the seats and backs thereof are thin; and, where that is done, it is frequently difiicult to secure the legs to those seats. Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an article of furniture which could be made thin but to which legs could readily be attached. The present invention provides such an article of furniture; and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an article of furniture which can be made thin but which can have legs readily attached to it.

The present invention forms bosses on the under surface of an article of furniture and arranges those bosses so they define spaces having the shape of a parallelogram with frusto-conical for-ms at the four corners thereof,

The outermost dimensions of those spaces are larger than the cross sections of the legs which are to be assembled with those articles of furniture, but the innermost dimensions of those spaces are smaller than the cross sections of those legs. -As a result, those legs can extend part way into the spaces defined by those bosses, and those bosses can coact with those legs to provide a wedging action. That wedging action is desirable because it eliminates any play between the legs and the article of furniture. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to form a number of spaced bosses on the under surface of an article of furniture that form spaces which have the shape of a parallelogram with frusto-conical' forms at four corners thereof and which can accommodate the legs which are subsequently attached to that article of furniture.

Once the legs have been wedged within the spaces dedined by the bosses on the under surface of the article of furniture, suitable retaining members can be secured to those bosses to hold those legs within those spaces. Those retaining members will thereafter prevent accidental separation of the legs from the article of furniture, thereby permit-ting ready and full usage of the article of furniture without any loosening of those legs relative to that article of furniture.

In some instances an article of furniture will have four legs, and two of those legs will be the arms .of one inverted U-shaped tubular member while the other two legs will be the arms of a second inverted U-shaped tubular member. In such instances the under surface of the article of furniture should have four groups of bosses on it; and two of the groups of bosses could hold the closed end of the said one inverted U-shaped tubular member while the other two groups of bosses could hold the closed end of the other inverted U-shaped tubular member. The closed ends of the inverted U shaped ,197,165 Patented July 27, 1965 tubular members would cross each other and would be secured to each other by a fastener where they crossed each other; and the two groups of bosses which hold each inverted U-sha'ped tubular member would coac-t with the fastener which holds the closed ends of the inverted U- shaped tubular members to provide three-point support for each inverted U-shaped tubular member. 'In other instances the legs for the article of furniture will have a ring secured to the upper ends thereof; and that ring will serve to secure those legs to the article of furniture. In such instances, three groups of bosses should be provided on the under surface of the article of furniture. Those three groups of bosses would coact with each other to provide three-point support for the said ring, and thus for the leg structure of the article of furniture. In this way, the present invention provides three-point support for the leg structures of articles of furniture which are molded from plastic material; and the provision of such support is desirable because it minimizes the likelihood of rocking of the articles of furniture relative to the leg structures for those articles of furniture. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide groups of bosses on the under surface of an article of furniture which can provide three-point support for the leg structure of that article of furniture.

Where the upper ends of the legs for an article of furniture are secured to a ring which, in turn, is secured to the under surface of the article of furniture, the lower ends of those legs can be secured to a threaded sleevelike nut. That nut can then be telescoped onto a threaded adjusting rod; and rotation of that sleeve-like nut relative to that rod can provide desired adjustments in the overall height of the article of furniture.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description, two preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of chair that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a further chair that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a sectional View, on a larger scale, of the bottom of the chair shown in 'FIG. 1, and it is taken .along the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a larger-scale view, through the chair of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 44 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 3, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 5,5 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a scale intermediate those of FIGS, 3 and 4, of portions of the legs of the chair in FIG. 2,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, on a scale intermediate those of FIGS. 1 and 3 through the chair of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 7--7 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 8 is a bottom view, on a scale intermediate those of FIGS. 1 and 3 of a chair which has a leg-securing bracket assembled with it, and

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of one of the bosses and part of one of the webs on the bottom of the chair of FIG. 1 or on the bottomof the chair of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral '20 generally denotes a chair that is made in accordance with the under surface of the seat 22,-and webs 28 extend between the pairs of bosses 26; andthose webs help stiifen and strengthen those bosses.

The chair seat 22 and back 23, the reinforcing rib 24,

the bosses 25, and the webs 2.8 will preferably. be formed in the same molding operation. The webs 23, and the bosses 26 adjacent the opposite ends of those webs, are grouped to define three spaces having the shape of a parallelogram with fru'sto-conical forms at the four cornersthereof; and two of those spaces are adjacent the rear of the combined seat 22 and back 23 while the third of those spaces is adjacent the front of that combined seat and back.

The numeral 3t) denotes a ring or plate which is made of metal and has a width smaller than the outermost dimensions of the parallelogram-shaped spaces, defined by the grouped bosses 26, but larger than the innermost dimensions of those spaces. As a result, that ring or plate can extend part way into-those spaces, and the bosses 26 can coact with that ring or plate to provide a wedging action, shownby FIG. 4. That wedging action is desirable because it avoids any play between the member 39 and the combined seat 22'and back 23, and because it prevents any rocking of that member relative to that combined seat and back. As indicated by FIG. 3, the bosses 26 associated with'the three pairs of webs 28 will provide three points of support between the member 3%? and the combined seat 22 and back 23.

Straps 32 are placed in engagement with the member 39, and screws 34 can be passed through openings in the opposite ends of those straps and seated in tapped openings in the bosses 25. As indicated particularly by FIG. 4, the straps 32 can be tightened sulficiently to causethem to bow and conform to the curvature of the surface of the member 3%. This bowing is desirable because it increases the area of engagement between the straps 32 and the member 3% and also enables the restorative forces within the straps 32 to hold the member 39 solidly in the parallelogram-shaped spaces defined by the groups of bosses 26. 7

The numeral 36 denotes arcuate' struts that constitute the upper ends of the leg structure for the chair of FIG. 1; and the upper ends of those struts are suitably and fixedly secured to the member 39; Preferably, the upper ends of those struts will extend into openings in the member 30 and will then be welded to that member. The lower ends of the struts fi will be suitably secured, as by welding, to the exterior of a sleeve-like nut 38; and the struts 36 thus solidly secure the sleeve-like nut 38 to the member 30. p a

The numeral 44 denotes a ring which can rest upon the floor or ground, and that ring is shown as having a larger diameterthan does the member 30; Struts 42 of arcuate form, that constitutc the lower ends of the leg structure for the chair of FIG. 1, have the lower ends 7 thereof secured to the ring 40. Those lower ends of those struts will preferably extend into openings in that ring and will then be welded to that ring; and the upper ends of those struts are fixedly secured, as by welding, to a sleeve-like nut 44. The internal threads of the sleeve-

like nuts

38 and 44 are oppositelythreaded; and the internal threads in the sleeve-like .nut .38 accom modate the upper threads of a double-threaded rod 46, a

while the internal threads in the sleeve-like nut 44 accommodate the lower threads of that double-threaded rod. A collar 48 is secured to the upper end of the dou ble-threaded rod 46, while a collar St! is secured to the lower end of that rod.

The double-threaded rod 46 and the sleeve-like nuts 38 and permit adjustment of the spacing between the rings 39 and 4d; and thus permit adjustment of the overall spacing of the combination seat 22 and back 23 from the fioor or the ground. The collars 48 and 5t prevent accidental separation of the sleeve-

like nuts

38 and 44 from the double-threaded rod 46 during adjustment of the positions of those sleeve-like nuts relative to the double-threaded rod 45.

Referring to FIUS. 2, 5 and 6, the numeral 54 generally denotes another chair that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. That chair includes a combination seat 56 and back 5'7 which can be identical to the combination seat 22 and back 23. A reinforcing and stiffening rib 58 is formed on, and extends downwardly from, the under surface of the seat 56 in the same manner in which the reinforcing and stiffening rib'24- is formed on, and extends downwardly frorn, the under surface of the seat 22. A number of webs 62, which have frusto-conical bosses at the opposite ends thereof, are formed on, and dependdownwardly from, the under surface of the seat 56. Two of the groups of webs 62 and their associated frusto-conical bosses will be identical to the two groups of webs 2S and their associated frusto-conical bosses which are adjacent the rear of the seat 22. Two further groups of webs 62 and their associated frustoconical bosses are provided adjacent the front of the seat 56, whereas just one group of webs 28 and their associated frusto-conical bosses 26 are provided adjacent the front 1 of the seat 22. As a result, the seat 56 has four groups of webs and associated frusto-conical bosses whereas the seat 22 has just three groups of webs and associated frusto-conical bosses.

' As indicated particularly by FIG. 5, two of the groups of webs .62 and their associated frusto-conical bosses define a line that extend from upper left to lower right; and two further groups of webs .62 and their associated frusto-conical bosses define a line that extends from upper right to lower left. An inverted, generally U-shaped member 65, which is formed of tubular material, has the closed end thereof wedged between the frusto-conical bosses that are associated with the groups of webs 62 which define the line extending from upper left to lower right in PEG. 5; and the arms of that U-shaped member constitute two of the four legs for the char of FIG. 2. A second inverted, generally U-shaped member 64, which is formed of tubularmaterial, has the closed end thereof wedged between the "frusto-conical bosses that are associated with the groups of webs 52 which define the line extending from upper right to lower left in FIG. 5; and the arms of that U-shapcd member constitute the remaining legs for the chair 'of FIG. 2. As indicated particularly by FIG. 6, the closed end of the generally U-Shaped member 64- has a bend 68 therein which enables the closed-ends of the generally U shaped members 6d and 66 to lie in the same plane although they cross each other. A stout pin 69, such as a heavy rivet, extends through alined openings in the closed ends of the generally

U-shaped members

64 and 66 and will prevent accidental separation of those generally U-shaped members from each other.

The pin 69 coacts'with the two groups of webs 62 and their associated frusto-conical bosses which engage the generally U-shaped member 64 to provide three-point support for that generally U-shaped member; and that pin coacts with the two groups of webs 62 and their associated frusto-conical bosses which engage the generally U-shaped member 66 to provide three-point support for that generally U-shaped member. This arrangement is desirable because it assures full support for the combin'ed seat 56 and back 57 and minimizes the possibility of that combined seat and back rocking relative to the generally

U-shaped members

64 and 66.

Straps 70 extend between the fnisto-conical bosses at 55 the ends of the webs 52, and those straps have openings in the ends thereof to accommodate fasteners '72. Those fasteners extend into, and are held by, tapped openings in those frusto-conical bosses. The straps 72 will be identical to, and will have the same configuration as, the straps 32 of the chair 20.

The combined seat as and back 57 can be made in the same mold in which the combined seat 22 and back 23 is made, where that mold is provided with removable plugs that can define the third group of frusto-conical bosses and webs for the combined chair seat 22 and back 23 and has removable plugs for the two further groups of frustoconical bosses and webs for the combined chair seat 56 and back 57. Specifically, when the combined chair seat 22 and back 23 is to be formed, plugs will be inserted in the recesses which are intended to form the two further groups of frusto-triangular bosses and webs for the combined seat 56 and back 5'7. When the combined seat es and back 57 is to be formed, plugs will be inserted in the recesses that otherwise would form the third group of frusto-triangular bosses and webs for the combined seat 22 and back 23.

If desired, a leg-securing bracket could be substituted for the member 39 of FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 7 or the generally U-shaped members s4 and as of FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. Such a bracket is shown in FIG. 8; and it is generally denoted by the numeral St That bracket has the form of a cross or X, but it could be made in different forms. Further, that bracket could be made from different materials.

The bracket bit is secured to the various bosses at the ends of the webs 62 on the under face of the combined seat 5d and back 57 by screws '72those screws passing through openings in that bracket and seating in tapped sockets in those bosses. The bracket can have various forms of legs or bases, not shown, secured to it, either rigidly or by a swivel. With the bracket 39, as well as with the member 39 of FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 7 and the generally

U-shaped members

64 and 66 of FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the bosses on the under faces of the seats constitute sturdy supports that facilitate ready securement of legs or bases to the chairs.

VJhereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described two preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form ofthe invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a chair which has a molded combined seat and back and wherein said seat has an under surface and has a plurality of bosses projecting downwardly from said under surface, said bosses being frusto-conical in configuration, four of said bosses being grouped to define a space, four more of said bosses being grouped to define a second space, four further bosses being grouped to define a third space, four additional bosses being grouped to define a fourth space, an inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into the first said and said third spaces and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitute two of the legs for said chair, a second inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into said second and said fourth spaces and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitute the other two legs for said chair, said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members crossing each other, a fastener extending through the crossed portions of said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members to fixedly secure said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members together, webs that extend between adjacent bosses and that are parallel to said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members, said webs stiffening and reinforcing 6 said bosses, the bosses in each group of bosses having confronting faces that define planes which are spaced apart and which incline downwardly from said under surface of said seat and which incline away from each other to make said spaces defined by said groups of bosses have the shape of a parallelogram with frustoconical forms at the four corners thereof, said inverted generally U-shaped members being tubular and having diameters which are larger than the innermost dimensions of said spaces but are smaller than the outermost dimensions of said spaces defined by said groups of bosses, whereby said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members can coact with said confronting faces of said bosses to provide a wedging action for said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members, and straps that extend transversely of, and in engagement with, said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members and that have the ends thereof secured to said bosses, said straps bowing around said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members to provide substantial areas of engagement between said straps and said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members and to apply forces urging said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members into wedged position within said spaces defined by said groups of bosses, said fastener coacting with said four bosses and said four further bosses to provide three-point support for the first said inverted generally U-shaped member, said fastener coacting with said four more bosses and said four additional bosses to provide three-point support for said second inverted generally U-shaped member.

2. In a chair which has a molded combined seat and back and wherein said seat has an under surface and has a plurality of bosses projecting downwardly from said under surface, four of said bosses being grouped to define a space, four more of said bosses being grouped to define a second space, four further bosses being grouped to define a third space, four additional bosses being grouped to define a fourth space, an inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into the first said and said third spaces and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitute two of the legs for said chair, a second inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into said second and said fourth spaces and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitute the other two legs for said chair, said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members crossing each other, a fastener extending through the crossed portions of said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members to fixedly secure said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members together, said inverted generally U-shaped members being circular in cross section and having diameters which are larger than tie innermost dimensions of said spaces but are smaller than the outermost dimensions of said spaces defined by said groups of bosses, whereby said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members can coact with said confronting faces of said bosses to provide a wedging action for said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members.

3. In an article of furniture which has a molded seat that has an under surface and that has a plurality of bosses projecting downwardly from said under surface, said bosses being grouped to define a plurality of spaces, and a leg structure which has portions thereof disposed within said spaces defined by the groups of bosses, the bosses in each group of bosses having confronting faces that define planes which are spaced apart and which incline downwardly from said under surface of said seat and which incline away from each other to make said sp ces defined by said groups of bosses have the shape of a parallelogram with frusto-conical forms at the four corners thereof, said portions of said leg structure being tubular and having diameters which are larger than the innermost dimensions of said space but are smaller than the outermost dimensions of said spaces defined by said groups of bosses, whereby said portions of said' leg structure can coact with said confronting faces of said bosses to provide a wedging action for said portions of said leg structure, said leg structure receiving three-point support from said bosses. t

4. In an article of furniture which has a molded seat that has an under surface and that has a plurality of bosses projecting downwardly from said under surface, said bosses being frusto-conical and having the'largest diameters thereof abutting said under surface of said seat, said bosses being grouped to define a plurality of spaces, and a leg structure which has portions thereof disposed within said spaces defined by the groups of bosses, the bosses in each group of bosses having confronting faces that define planes which are spaced apart and which incline downwardly from said under surface of said seat and which-incline away from each other to make said spaces defined by said groups of bosses have the shape of -a parallelogram with frusto-conical forms at the four corners thereof, said portions of said leg structure being circular in cross section and having diameters which are larger than the innermost dimensions of said spaces but are smaller than the outermost dimensions of said spaces defined by said groups of bosses, whereby said portions of's'aid leg structure can coact with said confronting faces of said bosses to provide a wedging action for said portions of said leg structure.

5. In an article of furniture which has a molded seat that has an under surface and that has a plurality of bosses projecting downwardly from said under surface, said bosses being frusto-conical and having the largest diameters thereof abutting said under surface of said seat, said bosses being grouped to define a plurality of spaces, and a leg structure which has portions thereof disposed within said spaces defined by the groups of bosses, the bosses in each group of bosses having confronting faces that define planes which are spaced apart and which incline downwardly from said under surface of said seat and which incline away from each other to make said spaces defined by said groups of bosses have the shape of a parallelogram with frusto-conical forms at the four corners thereof, said portions of said leg structure being circular in cross section and having diameters which are larger than the innermost dimensions of said spaces but are smaller than the outermost dimensions of said spaces defined by said groups of bosses, whereby said portions of said leg structure can coact with said confronting faces of said bosses to provide a wedging action for said portions of said leg structure, said portions of said leg structure being held out of engagement with said under surface of said seat, and retainers that are secured to said bosses and that engage said portions of said leg structure to hold said portions of said leg structure within aid spaces defined by said groups of bosses.

6. In an article of furniture which has a molded seat that has an under surface, a plurality of leg-receiving and holding members integral with said under surface of said seat but spaced apart on said under surface, and a leg structure for said article of furniture, each of said, members having tube-like portions which project downwardly from said under surface to define a recess in which a portion of said leg structure can extend,'each member having portions which receive and hold said portion of said leg structure and keep said portion of said leg structure from engaging said under surface of said article of furniture, and fasteners that can be secured to said tubelike portions of said members to fixedly hold said leg structure in assembled relation with said seat, whereby said members fixedly secure said leg structure to said seat but hold said leg structure out of engagement with said seat.

7. In a chair which has a molded combined seat and back and wherein said seat has an under surface and has a plurality of bosses projecting downwardly from said under surface, four of said bosses being grouped to define a space, four more of said bosses being grouped to define a second space, four further bosses being grouped to define a third space, four additional bosses being grouped to define a fourth space, an inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into the first and third spaces and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitutetwo of the legs for said chair, a second inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into said second and said fourth spaces and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitute the other two legs for said chair, said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members crossing each other, said inverted generally U-shaped members having diameters which are substantially the same as the dimension of said spaces defined by said groups of bosses, said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members being closely received by said bosses, and supported therebetween in spaced relation with the under surface of said seat.

8. In a chair which has a molded combined seat and back and wherein said seat has an under surface and has a plurality of bosses projecting downwardly from said under surface, four of said bosses being grouped to define a space, four more of said bosses being grouped to define a second space, four further bosses being grouped to define a third space, four additional bosses being grouped to define a fourth space, an-inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into the first and said third spaces, and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitute two of the legs for said chair, a second inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into said second and said fourth spaces and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitute the other two legs for said chair, said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members crossing each other, having diameters which are substantially the same as the dimension of said spaces defined by said groups of bosses, said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members being closely received by said bosses, and supported therebetween in spaced relation with the under surface of said seat.

9. In a chair which has a molded combined seat and back wherein said seat has an under surface and has a plurality of bosses projecting downwardly from said under surface, four of said bosses being grouped to define a space, four more of said bosses being grouped to define a second space, four further bosses being grouped to define a tln'rd space, four additional bosses being grouped to define a fourth space, an inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into the first and said third spaces and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitute two of the legs for said chair, a second inverted generally U-shaped member having the closed end thereof extending into said second and said fourth spaces and having the arms thereof extending downwardly from said under surface of said seat to constitute the other two legs for said chair, said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members crossing each other, having diameters which are substantially the same as the dimen-,

sion of said spaces defined by said groups of bosses, said closed ends of said inverted generally U-shaped members being closely received by'said bosses, and supported therebetween in spaced relation with the under surface of said seat, and retainers secured to the ends of said bosses to clamp said U-shaped members-in supported relation between said bosses.

10. In an article of furniture which has a thin molded plastic seat that has an under surface, a plurality of legreceiving and holding members that are integral with said under surface of said seat and that extend downwardly from said under surface of said seat, said leg-receiving and holding members being spaced outwardly from the center of said seat, and a leg structure for said article of furniture, each of said leg-receiving and holding members having portions which define a recess into which a portion of said leg structure extends and is held, each of said leg-receiving and holding members having portions which 7 receive and hold said portion of said leg structure and which keep said portion of said leg structure from engaging said under surface of said seat, and fasteners that can be secured to the first said portions of said leg-receiving and holding members to fixedly hold said leg structure in assembled relation with said seat, whereby said members and said fasteners fixedly secure said leg structure to said seat while holding said leg structure out of engagement with said seat so the central portion of said seat is free to flex.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Pridmore 297-459 Jung 248-157 Stieglitz 248-188 X Lundquist 248-157 X Fingerhut 248-188 X Valtri 248-163 Pollard et a1. 264-259 Carlson 248-163 Johnson 264-259 Schultz 297-459 X McAfee 248-432 X Examiners.

Claims

1. IN A CHAIR WHICH HAS A MOLDED COMBINED SEAT AND BACK AND WHEREIN SAID SEAT HAS AN UNDER SURFACE AND HAS A PLURALITY OF BOSSES PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID UNDER SURFACE, SAID BOSSES BEING FRUSTO-CONICAL IN CONFIGURATION, FOUR OF SAID BOSSES BEING GROUPED TO DEFINE A SPACE, FOUR MORE OF SAID BOSSES BEING GROUPED TO DEFINE A SECOND SPACE, FOUR FURTHER BOSSES BEING GROUPED TO DEFINE A THIRD SPACE, FOUR ADDITIONAL BOSSES BEING GROUPED TO DEFINE A FOURTH SPACE, AN INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING THE CLOSED END THEREOF EXTENDING INTO THE FIRST SAID AND SAID THIRD SPACED AND HAVING THE ARMS THEREOF EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID UNDER SURFACE OF SAID SEAT TO CONSTITUTE TWO OF THE LEGS FOR SAID CHAIR, A SECOND INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING THE CLOSED END THEREOF EXTENDING INTO SAID SECOND AND SAID FOURTH SPACES AND HAVING THE ARMS THEREOF EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID UNDER SAID SURFACE OF SAID SEAT TO CONSTITUTE THE OTHER TWO LEGS FOR SAID CHAIR, SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER CROSSING EACH OTHER, A FASTENER EXTENDING THROUGH THE CROSSED PORTIONS OF SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS TO FIXEDLY SECURE SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS TOGETHER, WEBS THAT EXTEND BETWEEN ADJACENT BOSSES AND THAT ARE PARALLEL TO SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS, SAID WEBS STIFFENING AND REINFORCING SAID BOSSES, THE BOSSES IN EACH GROUP OF BOSSES HAVING CONFRONTING FACES THAT DEFINE PLANES WHICH ARE SPACED APART AND WHICH INCLINE DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID UNDER SURFACE OF SAID SEAT AND WHICH INCLINE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO MAKE SAID SPACED DEFINED BY SAID GROUPS OF BOSS HAVE THE SHAPE OF A PARALLELOGRAM WITH FRUSTOCONICAL FORMS AT THE FOUR CORNERS THEREOF, SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS BEING TUBULAR AND HAVING DIAMETERS WHICH ARE LARGER THAN THE INNERMOST DIMENSIONS OF SAID SPACES BUT ARE SMALLER THAN THE OUTERMOST DIMENSIONS OF SAID SPACES DEFINED BY SAID GROUPS OF BOSSES, WHEREBY SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID GROUPS OF ERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS CAN COACT WITH SAID CONFRONTING FACES OF SAID BOSSES TO PROVIDE A WEDGING ACTION FOR SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS, AND STRAPS THAT EXTEND TRANSVERSELY OF, AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH, SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS AND THAT HAVE THE ENDS THEREOF SECURED TO SAID BOSSES, SAID STRAPS BOWING AROUND SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL AREAS OF ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID STRAPS AND SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS AND TO APPLY FORCES URGING SAID CLOSED ENDS OF SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS INTO WEDGED POSITION WITHIN SAID SPACES DEFINED BY SAID GROUPS OF BOSSES, SAID FASTENER COACTING WITH SAID FOUR BOSSES AND SAID FOUR FURTHER BOSSES TO PROVIDE THREE-POINT SUPPORT FOR THE FIRST SAID INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER, SAID FASTNER COACTING WITH SAID FOUR MORE BOSSES AND SAID FOUR ADDITIONAL BOSSES TO PROVIDE THREE-POINT SUPPORT FOR SAID SECOND INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER.