US3351383A

US3351383A - Upholstery technique

Info

Publication number: US3351383A
Application number: US570026A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald A Richardson
Original assignee: Knoll Associates Inc
Current assignee: Knoll Associates Inc
Priority date: 1966-08-03
Filing date: 1966-08-03
Publication date: 1967-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-07

Description

1967 0. A. RICHARDSON 3,351,383

UPHOLSTERY TECHNIQUE Filed Aug. 5, 1966 5 Sheets-$heet l 4 INVENTOR I fla/ma 4. rP/CHAQDSOA/ ATI'OEA/EV %4 [way D. A. RICHARDSON Nov. 7, 1967 UPHOLSTERY TECHNIQUE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1966 INVENTOR 00mm ,4, Ham/P050 Km ATTOR/UFV Nov. 7, 1967 D, A. RICHARDSON UPHOLSTERY TECHNIQUE Filed Aug. 3, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENITOR DONALD A, Hey/1mm! %m 6 A TI'OEWFY ml States 3,351,333 UPHOLSTERY TECHNIQUE Donald A. Richardson, Barto, Pa., assignor to Knoll Associates, Inn, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 570,026 3 Claims. (Cl. 297460) Unit ABSTRACT 01F THE DISQLUSURE This invention relates to the construction of chairs and the like, and more particularly, to a technique of upholstering especially adapted to a cushion assembly for a chair.

A well-konwn form of chair or the like to which the present invention is applicable is that shown in Design Patent 199,308 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Such a chair comprises an exposed frame and upholstered seat and back members. These members are formed of two shaped shells or pans, to one or both of which upholstery fabric is applied. The present invention is particularly directed to an improvement in the method of upholstering such chairs.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an upholstering technique which includes the fastening together of the aforesaid shells without exposing the fastening means.

Another object is to allow for varying the thickness of the upholstery fabric that is accommodated by the upholstery shells for the seat and back members.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the basic feature of the present invention which resides in the provision of a fastening means comprising a plurality of forwardly extending spring clips secured to one of the shells which make up the cushion assembly and a plurality of wire rods afiixed to the other shell of the assembly, which rods are adapted to be engaged by teeth on the spring clips. In assembling the shells, the wire rods on the other shell are slid past the teeth or barbs on the one shell by simple application of pressure to the shells, the wire rods and clips forming a ratchet-like arrangement. Upon release of pressure the rods are firmly engaged by the teeth that they have just advanced beyond in their furthermost point of travel. In effect, then, the wire rods engage the particular teeth which make the assembly as tight as possible. In accordance with this described arrangement the result is that the completed assembly has a finished look and is completely devoid of any exposed screws or the like, and further, the assembling can be very quickly performed by one possessing minimal skills.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawmgs.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the outer shell of a cushion assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner shell of the cushion assembly.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

335L383 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are side views in section illustrating several stages of the procedure in accordance with the technique of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the figures wherein an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, there is shown in FIG. 1 an outer shell 10 of a cushion assembly which is adapted to be fitted into a chair frame. This shell 10 is formed, for example, as a sheet metal stamping and in this illustration is contoured especially for the back of a chair. It is provided with forwardly extending

flanges

12 and 14 at its top and bottom respectively. The flanges l2 and 14- are provided with suitable holes for inserting screws to enable attachment of the shell to a chair frame,

Afiixed to the inner surface of the shell 10 as part of the fastening means for the assembly are four forwardly projecting spring clips 16, which are affixed, typically by spot welding, to the surface of the shell. Each of these spring clips 16 is provided with a plurality of rearwardly struck barbs or teeth 16a for purposes to be explained hereinafter. The outer shell 10 is finished in conventional fashion to yield an attractive appearance. Thus, its outer surface may be covered with a fabric 18 of imitation leather or the like.

Inner shell 20, which is adapted to be mated with outer shell 10, is also formed as a sheet metal stamping especially shaped to conform to the back of the user. It, of course, could also be constructed of plastic or similar material, as could shell 10. Inner shell 20, is provided in the illustrative embodiment with most of the padding 22 for the cushion assembly. However, it should be noted that the outer shell 10 could likewise be provided with similar padding. Included as an integral part of the shell 20 is a plurality of ribs 24. Surrounding the padding 22 is a layer 28 of leather or the like to provide a finished appearance for the shell 20, and this layer is secured at the inner surface by gluing thereto. Across the ribs 24 of the inside shell 20 a number of wire rods 30 are spotwelded. These rods 30 are adapted to engage with the teeth 16a on the spring clips 16.

Once the covering fabric 18 has been glued to the outer shell 10, that shell is secured to the chair frame 32 (FIG. 5). This is accomplished by means of the screws 34 which are screwed into the wooden frame 32 through the holes provided in the flanges l2 and 14. Similar conventional attachments may be used where the frame is metal. When the outer shell It) is firmly secured to the frame 32 the mating inner shell 20, whose upholstery preparations have been completed, is brought into engagement with the outer shell 10. The inner shell is pushed up (FIG. 6) so that the rods 30 slide under the spring clips 16. Thus the upper rod slides under the two upper spring clips and likewise, the lower rod slides under the two lower spring clips. The spring clips 16 being flexible, readily bend (FIG. 7) as they come into contact with the shell 20. Because of the spacing between the rods 3t) and the surface of shell 20 the forward portions of spring clips 16 meet no restriction in their movement. Continued pressure on the shell 20 results in movement of the rods 30 past successive teeth 16a until they reach their uppermost limit and have completed their travel. Thence they are finally engaged advantageously by the teeth that make for the tightest assembly of the

shells

10 and 20.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1; A cushion assemblyfor a chair or the like, comprising a combination of mating shells, a plurality of forwardly directed hooks afiixed to the inner surface of one shell, the other shell being provided with a plurality of spaced wire rods for engaging, upon application of pressure,- with teeth provided on said plurality of hooks;

said hooks comprising spring clips having said teeth projecting therefrom;

said other shell including a plurality of spaced ribs on the inner surface thereof, said plurality of spaced wire rods spanning and being arranged substantially perpendicular to said ribs for engaging said teeth.

2. A cushion assembly for a chair back or the like, comprising a pair of contoured metal shells, one of said shells being provided with forwardly directed flanges for securing said shell to a chair frame, a plurality of forwardly extending hooks affixed to an inner surface of said one shell, said other shell being provided with a plurality of wire rods for engaging upon upward movement of said other shell, the plurality of hooks on said one shell;

said hooks comprising spring clips having rearwardly struck teeth projecting therefrom;

said other shell being provided with padding means secured to one surface thereof, a plurality of spaced ribs on an inner surface of said other shell, and said plurality of wire rods extending across said plurality of ribs and each adapted to engage, upon said upward movement, with at least two of said plurality of hooks.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said wire rods engage those teeth on said spring clips beyond which said rods are just able to travel upon application of pressure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,186,301 1/1940 La Moore 297460 X 2,252,970 8/1941 Gedris 297450 X 2,284,957 6/1942 Gedris 297-460 X 3,037,814 6/19621 Gardner et al. 297460 X 3,288,529 11/1962 Koch 297460 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A CUSHION ASSEMBLY FOR A CHAIR OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A COMBINATION OF MATING SHELLS, A PLURALITY OF FORWARDLY DIRECTED HOOKS AFFIXED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF ONE SHELL, THE OTHER SHELL BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED WIRE RODS FOR ENGAGING, UPON APPLICATION OF PRESSURE, WITH TEETH PROVIDED ON SAID PLURALITY OF HOOKS; SAID HOOKS COMPRISING SPRING CLIPS HAVING SAID TEETH PROJECTING THEREFROM; SAID OTHER SHELL INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED RIBS ON THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF, SAID PLURALITY OF SPACED WIRE RODS SPANNING AND BEING ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID RIBS FOR ENGAGING SAID TEETH.