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Stackable chair assembly

Stackable chair assembly description/claims

The present invention generally relates to chairs, and more specifically, to a stackable chair.

Chairs for extended seating applications, such as conference rooms and school classrooms are preferably durable and comfortable. Often times, these chairs are stackable or nestable for storage and transportation purposes. Typical stackable and/or nestable chairs are formed from a generally L-shaped molded shell that is defined by a generally horizontal seat and a generally vertical back support and includes a pair of inverted U-shaped leg members attached to the generally L-shaped shell.

A stackable chair is stacked by placing the inverted U-shaped leg members of one chair on top of the leg members of another chair such that the seat of the upper chair is supported just above the seat of the lower chair. The rear surface of the back support of the upper chair can be spaced apart from the front surface of the back support of the lower chair. Alternatively, the rear surface of the back support of the upper chair can be rested against the front surface of the back support of the lower chair when in the stacked configuration.

Stackable chairs are generally formed of hard plastic, or other similar material, and are designed to be rigid so that they can be properly stacked. However, these hard shells are uncomfortable to a user when used in extended seating applications and are not aesthetically pleasing to consumers and users of the chairs. In an effort to improve comfort and create aesthetically pleasing design features, the shells can be ergonomically designed and can include, among other things, an intentional flex between the seat and back support. However, while the ergonomic design and intentional flex may improve design and comfort, it creates instability when multiple chairs are stacked on top of each other. Therefore, the rigid chairs fail to provide comfort while the flexible shells do not permit multiple chairs to be stacked safely. The present invention is provided to solve these and other problems.

The present invention relates to a chair assembly adapted to be nested with a second chair assembly identical to the chair assembly. The chair assembly comprises a seating portion and a back support. The seating portion includes a top seat surface, a bottom seat surface generally parallel to the top seat surface, a first side seat edge, a second side seat edge, and a front edge. The back support is generally perpendicular to the seating portion and includes an inner back support surface, an outer back support surface generally parallel to the inner back support surface, a first side back support edge, a second side back support edge, and a top back support edge. A first return flange is disposed on the first side back support edge of the back support and a second return flange is disposed on the second side back support edge of the back support.

A first recess can be disposed on the inner surface of the back support, and is adapted to receive a first return flange of a second chair assembly nested with the unitary shell. A second recess can be disposed on the inner surface of the back support and is adapted to receive a second return flange of the second chair assembly nested with the unitary shell.

The chair assembly may further comprise a first inverted U-shaped leg member secured to the outer surface of the generally horizontal seating surface and a second inverted U-shaped leg member, secured to the outer surface of the generally horizontal seating surface.

When the second chair assembly is nested with the chair assembly, the first inverted U-shaped leg member of the second chair assembly is nested with the first inverted U-shaped leg member of the chair assembly and the second inverted U-shaped leg member of the second chair assembly is nested with the second inverted U-shaped leg member of the chair assembly.

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a stackable chair assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of a stackable chair assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a stackable chair assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a stackable chair assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a stackable chair assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a stackable chair assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a stackable chair assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is perspective front view of a second stackable chair assembly stacked on top of a first stackable chair assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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