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Chair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related theretoChair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related thereto description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070284930, Chair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related thereto. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIORITY OF INVENTION [0001]This non-provisional application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/804,363, filed Jun. 9, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002]This patent document pertains generally to office-type furniture. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this patent document pertains to an office-type chair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related thereto. BACKGROUND [0003]Modern chairs, and particularly office-type chairs, are typically provided with fabric-covered cushions designed to provide comfort to an occupant sitting thereon. One problem associated with fabric-covered cushions is that over time the cushions get dirty, worn, or damaged, such that they need to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced. Still other times, the replacement of fabric-covered cushions may be desired for size-changing, remodeling, or upgrading purposes. Unfortunately, the fabric-covered cushions of typical office chairs are permanently attached to an associated chair frame, and therefore are not easily removable, if at all, for one or more of the aforementioned desired purposes. For this reason, currently used chair constructions are often discarded in their entirety when repair or replacement of the cushions is necessary or desired. [0004]Yet another problem associated with many office-type chairs is that constructions thereof do not allow air to travel through the associated chair cushions. As a result, the chair occupant may be left feeling uncomfortably hot at their back or seated regions. As a further result of no air flow, the cushions may develop a foul smell over time, such as a stale or musty smell. [0005]What is needed is a chair having back or seat cushion assemblies that are easily, quickly, and reliably removable from, and attachable to, an associated chair frame. What is further needed is a chair having a conformable, breathable cushion assembly. OVERVIEW [0006]A chair comprising a chair base, a chair frame mounted to the chair base, a back cushion assembly, and a seat cushion assembly, along with related methods, is described. The chair frame includes an upper and lower frame portion. One or both of the back cushion assembly or the seat cushion assembly can be releasably coupled to the upper frame portion or the lower frame portion, respectively. Such releasable coupling can be achieved via one or more quick-release connectors brought into coupling engagement or disengagement via a rotational, sliding, or push-button movement. In varying examples, the back and seat cushion assemblies each comprise at least one support member and a foam cushion attached thereto. A downward-oriented surface of the seat cushion support member can comprise an integrated tool housing to store a connector actuator tool when not in use. [0007]In Example 1, a chair comprises a chair base; a chair frame mounted to the chair base, the chair frame including an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion; a back cushion assembly including at least one back support member and a back cushion attached to the back support member; and a seat cushion assembly including at least one seat support member and a seat cushion attached to the seat support member, the seat cushion assembly releasably attached to the lower frame portion with at least a first quick-release connector brought into coupling engagement via a rotational, sliding, or push-button movement. [0008]In Example 2, the chair of Example 1 is optionally configured such that the back cushion assembly is releasably attached to the upper frame portion using at least a second quick-release connector. [0009]In Example 3, the chair of Example 2 is optionally configured such that one or both of the first or second quick-release connectors are configured to be brought into coupling engagement via a rotational movement amount of about 720-degrees or less. [0010]In Example 4, the chair of Example 3 is optionally configured such that one or both of the first or second quick-release connectors include a 3/4-turn, 1/2-turn, or 3/4-turn fastener assembly. [0011]In Example 5, the chair of at least one of Examples 1-4 is optionally configured such that the first quick-release connector includes a cam fastener assembly. [0012]In Example 6, the chair of at least one of Examples 1-5 is optionally configured such that the first quick-release connector includes a sliding fastener assembly. [0013]In Example 7, the chair of at least one of Examples 1-6 is optionally configured such that the first quick-release connector includes a push-button fastener assembly. [0014]In Example 8, the chair of at least one of Examples 1-7 is optionally configured such that the upper frame portion comprises a ring-shaped region disposed with a central opening extending therethrough, and the back cushion assembly is supported around a peripheral edge by, and coupled to, the ring-shaped frame region. [0015]In Example 9, the chair of at least one of Examples 1-8 is optionally configured such that one or both of the upper frame portion or the lower frame portion are configured to receive and support cushion assemblies of at least two different sizes. [0016]In Example 10, the chair of at least one of Examples 1-9 is optionally configured such that at least one of the back support member or the seat support member comprise a cushion stiffener panel and an outer protective shell. [0017]In Example 11, the chair of Example 10 optionally comprises a lumbar support assembly, the lumbar support assembly projecting from, and coupled to, an inward-oriented surface of the outer protective shell associated with the back support member. [0018]In Example 12, the chair of at least one of Examples 1-11 optionally comprises an actuator tool, a distal end of which is configured to be received by a non-circular void in a head portion of the first quick-release connector. [0019]In Example 13, the chair of Example 12 is optionally configured such that the at least one seat support member comprise an integrated tool housing configured to retain the actuator tool when not in use. [0020]In Example 14, a method of manufacture comprises forming a chair base; forming a chair frame, including forming an upper frame portion and forming a lower frame portion; coupling the chair frame to the chair base; forming a back cushion assembly, including forming at least one back support member and forming a back foam cushion; forming a seat cushion assembly, including forming at least one seat support member and forming a seat foam cushion; and releasably coupling one or both of the back cushion assembly to the upper frame portion or the seat cushion assembly to the lower frame portion, including rotating, sliding, or push-button activating at least a first quick-release connector in an engaging direction. Continue reading about Chair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related thereto... Full patent description for Chair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related thereto Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Chair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related thereto patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Chair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related thereto or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Motor-vehicle headrest Next Patent Application: Seat frames having appearance of one-piece construction and seat frames having a back support design derived from the frame Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Chair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related thereto patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.55773 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
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