Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SEAT
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Utility
Model Application No.
201420570054.7, filed September 29, 2014, which application is hereby
incorporated by
reference in its entirety herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to furniture, and in
particular, to a seat.
More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a seat having a seat
bottom and a seat
back.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to the present disclosure, a seat includes a
seat bottom
supported by ground underlying the seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the
seat
bottom to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom. The seat back is coupled
to the
seat bottom by a user in the field.
[0004] In illustrative embodiments, the seat may further
include a seat-back
mount configured to couple the seat back to the seat bottom in a fixed
position relative to
the seat bottom without the use of tools. The seat-back mount includes a seat-
back slide
rail and a seat-back rail receiver. The seat-back slide rail is coupled to the
seat back in a
fixed position relative to the seat back. The seat-back rail receiver is
coupled to the seat
bottom in a fixed position relative to the seat bottom.
[0005] In illustrative embodiments, the seat bottom includes
a seat-bottom frame
supported by ground underlying the seat-bottom frame, a seat-bottom platform,
and a
platform coupler. The platform coupler is configured to couple the seat-bottom
platform
to the seat-bottom frame in a fixed position relative to the seat-bottom frame
without the
use of tools.
[0006] In illustrative embodiments, the platform coupler
includes a platform
mount and a platform support. The platform mount is arranged to interconnect a
rear
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portion of the seat-bottom platform to the seat-bottom frame in a fixed
position relative to
the seat-bottom frame. The platform support is coupled to the seat-bottom
frame and
arranged to engage and support a front portion of the seat-bottom platform.
The platform
mount includes a platform retainer and platform-retainer receiver. The
platform retainer
is coupled to the seat-bottom platform in a fixed position relative to the
seat-bottom
platform. The platform-retainer receiver is coupled to the seat-bottom frame
in a fixed
position relative to the seat-bottom frame and arranged to receive the
platform retainer
therein.
[0007] In illustrative embodiments, the seat-bottom frame includes a frame
foundation, a support beam, and a beam retainer. The frame foundation is
supported by
ground underlying the seat-bottom frame. The beam retainer is configured to
couple the
support beam to the frame foundation in a fixed position relative to the frame
foundation
without the use of tools. The beam retainer includes a beam slide rail and a
beam-rail
receiver. The beam slide rail is coupled to the support beam in a fixed
position relative to
the support beam. The beam-rail receiver may be coupled to the frame
foundation in a
fixed position relative to the frame foundation. The beam slide rail is
arranged to extend
into and mate with the beam-rail receiver.
[0008] In illustrative embodiments, the frame foundation includes a first
upright
base and a second upright base. The first upright base is supported by ground
underlying
the first upright base. The second upright base is supported by ground
underlying and
supporting the first and second upright bases. The second upright base is
positioned to lie
in spaced-apart lateral relation to the first upright base. The support beam
extends
between the first and second upright bases. The support beam is coupled to the
first and
second upright bases by the beam retainer.
[0009] In illustrative embodiments, the seat-bottom platform includes a
platform
deck and a platform-support leg. The platform deck is arranged to extend
between the
first and second upright bases. The platform-support leg is configured to be
coupled to
the platform deck without the use of tools.
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[0010] Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent
to
those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments
exemplifying the
best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying
figures in
which:
[0012] Fig. 1 is perspective view of a seat in accordance with the present
disclosure showing that the seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back
coupled to the seat
bottom and suggesting that at least a portion of the seat is assembled by a
user without
the use of tools;
[0013] Fig. 2 is an exploded assembly view of the seat of Fig. 1 suggesting
that
the seat back and seat bottom include pre-manufactured subcomponents which are
then
assembled together by the user as suggested in Fig. 3;
[0014] Fig. 3 is a series of views showing an illustrative process for
assembling
the seat of Fig. 1;
[0015] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a first step in the assembly process
of
Fig. 3 showing a pair of upright bases spaced apart from one another to form a
frame
foundation;
[0016] Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a second step in the
assembly
process of Fig. 3 and suggesting that a support beam is positioned to extend
between and
engage with the upright bases to form a seat-bottom frame;
[0017] Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of a portion of Fig. 5 showing
a beam
slide rail of the support beam positioned above a beam-rail receiver of one of
the upright
supports as part of a beam retainer;
[0018] Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 suggesting that the beam slide
rail has
moved down to engage with the beam-rail receiver to secure the support beam to
the
upright support;
[0019] Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a third step in the
assembly
process of Fig. 3 where the support beam is secured between the upright
supports;
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[0020] Fig. 9 is an exploded assembly view of a seat-bottom platform
included in
the seat of Fig. 1;
[0021] Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the assembled seat-
bottom
platform in a fourth step of the assembly process of Fig. 3;
[0022] Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a fifth step in the
assembly
process of Fig. 3 and suggesting that the seat-bottom platform is positioned
to extend
between and engage with the upright bases and the support beam;
[0023] Fig. 12 is an enlarged partial perspective view taken from the
perspective
of line 12-12 of Fig. 11 showing a platform-retainer receiver coupled to one
of the
upright supports;
[0024] Fig. 13 is an enlarged partial perspective view taken from the
perspective
of line 13-13 of Fig. 11 showing a platform retainer coupled to a platform
deck of the
seat-bottom platform;
[0025] Fig. 13A is a perspective view of a platform mount suggesting that
the
platform retainer of the seat-bottom platform engages with platform-retainer
receiver of
the upright support to secure the seat-bottom platform between the upright
supports;
[0026] Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing a sixth step in the
assembly
process of Fig. 3 where the seat-bottom platform is secured between the
upright supports;
[0027] Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing a seventh step in the
assembly
process of Fig. 3 and suggesting that the seat back is positioned to extend
between and
engage with the upright bases;
[0028] Fig. 16 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a portion of Fig.
15
showing a seat-back slide rail of the seat back positioned above a seat-back
rail receiver
of one of the upright supports as part of a seat-back mount for securing the
seat back to
the seat bottom;
[0029] Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 15 showing an eighth step in the
assembly
process of Fig. 3 where the seat back is secured to the seat bottom;
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[0030] Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing a ninth step in the
assembly
process of Fig. 3 and suggesting that cushions are arranged to be placed along
the seat-
bottom platform and the seat back; and
[0031] Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 showing a tenth step in the
assembly
process of Fig. 3 where the seat is assembled and configured to support a user
sitting
thereon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] A seat 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown, for
example,
in Fig. 1. A process 100 of assembling seat 10 is shown for example in Fig. 3.
Seat 10 is
assembled in process 100 without the use of tools such as screw drivers,
hammers, pliars,
or the like. Seat 10 includes a series of subcomponents which are pre-
manufactured as
suggested in Fig. 2. Any tools required to form the subcomponents of seat 10
are used
prior to delivery of the subcomponents to a user such that the user does not
require tools
to assemble together the subcomponents to form seat 10 as suggested in Figs. 3-
19.
[0033] Seat 10 includes a seat bottom 12 and a seat back 14 as suggested in
Fig. 1
and shown in Fig. 2. Seat bottom 12 rests on ground 18 underlying and
supporting seat
bottom 12. A seat-back mount 16 is arranged to interconnect seat back 14 and
seat
bottom 12 without the use of tools. As a result, seat back 14 is arranged to
extend
upwardly away from seat bottom 12 as shown in Figs. 1, 17, and 18.
[0034] Seat-back mount 16 includes first and second seat-back slide rails
21, 22
and associated first and second seat-back rail receivers 23, 24 as shown in
Fig. 2. First
seat-back slide rail 21 is coupled to a first upwardly extending side of seat
back 14 in a
fixed position relative to seat back 14. Second seat-back slide rail 22 is
coupled to a
second upwardly extending side of seat back 14 in a fixed position relative to
seat back
14. First seat-back rail receiver 23 is coupled to seat bottom 12 in a fixed
position so as
to align with first seat-back slide rail 21 as suggested in Figs. 15-17.
Second seat-back
rail receiver 23 is coupled to seat bottom 12 in a fixed position and located
in spaced-
apart relation to first seat-back rail receiver 23 so as to align with second
seat-back slide
rail 22 as suggested in Figs. 15-17.
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[0035] During assembly, seat-back slide rails 21, 22 are aligned along
alignment
axes 25, 26 and slid into associated seat-back rail receivers 23, 24 as
suggested in
Figs. 15-17. Seat-back slide rail 21 is formed to include a complementary
profile with
seat-back rail receiver 23 such that a portion of seat-back slide rail 21 is
received in and
engages with seat-back rail receiver 23 to block movement of seat-back slide
rail 21
relative to seat-back rail receiver 23 in at least one direction. In some
embodiments,
portions of seat-back rail receiver 23 are received in seat-back slide rail
21. Seat-back
slide rails 21, 22 are of similar construction and seat-back rail receivers
23, 24 are of
similar construction. In the illustrative embodiment, after seat-back slide
rails 21, 22 are
slid into associated seat-back rail receivers 23, 24, the shapes of the
components
cooperate with one another to block movement of seat back 14 relative to seat
bottom 12
in any direction other than back along alignment axes 25, 26 as suggested in
Figs. 15-17.
[0036] Seat bottom 12 includes a seat-bottom frame 28, a seat-bottom
platform
30, and a platform coupler 32 as suggested in Fig. 2 and shown in Fig. 14.
Seat-bottom
frame 28 is arranged to rest on ground 18 underlying and supporting seat-
bottom frame
28. Platform coupler 32 is arranged to interconnect seat-bottom platform 30 to
seat-
bottom frame 28 without the use of tools as suggested in Figs. 11-14. Seat-
bottom
platform 30, once coupled to seat-bottom frame 28, is configured to provide a
support
surface 34 which supports seat-bottom cushions 35, 36 thereon as shown in Fig.
18 and
suggested in Fig. 19.
[0037] Seat-bottom platform 30 includes a platform deck 38 and a platform-
support leg 40 as shown in Figs. 2 and 9-11. Platform-support leg 40 is
coupled to an
under surface 42 of platform deck 38 and is arranged to extend between and
rest on
ground 18 to support a rear portion of platform deck 38. Platform-support leg
40 is
located about midway between two longitudinal sides of platform deck 38. In
some
embodiments, platform-support leg 40 screws into a leg receiver 44 formed in
platform
deck 38 without the use of tools.
[0038] Platform coupler 32 includes first and second platform mounts 45, 46
and
a platform support 48 as suggested in Fig. 2 and shown in Figs. 11-14. First
platform
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mount 45 is coupled to a first longitudinal side of platform deck 38 and
arranged to
interconnect platform deck 38 to seat-bottom frame 28 as suggested in Fig. 11.
Second
platform mount 46 is coupled to a second longitudinal side of platform deck 38
and
arranged to interconnect platform deck 38 to seat-bottom frame 28. Platform
support 48
is coupled to seat-bottom frame 28 and arranged to extend in a rearward
direction. A
front side of platform deck 38 is arranged to abut and engage platform support
48 so that
platform deck 38 is supported by seat-bottom frame 28 along the front side of
platform
deck 38 as suggested in Fig. 11.
100391 Second platform mount 46 is substantially the same as first platform
mount 45, and thus, only first platform mount 45 will be discussed in detail.
First
platform mount 45 includes platform retainer 50 and a platform-retainer
receiver 52 as
shown in Figs. 2 and 11-13A. Platform retainer 50 is coupled to first
longitudinal side of
platform deck 38 in a fixed position relative to platform deck 38 as shown in
Fig. 13.
Platform-retainer receiver 52 is coupled to seat-bottom frame 28 in a fixed
position
relative to seat-bottom frame 28 as shown in Figs. 11-12. In some embodiments,
platform
retainers 50 are secured to platform deck 38 with fasteners, such as screws or
bolts for
example, which require the use of tools. However, platform deck 38 and
platform
retainers 50 are secured together into a single subcomponent of seat 10 before
delivery to
a user for assembly with the other subcomponents of seat 10 such that the user
does not
require tools to assemble together the subcomponents of seat 10.
[0040] During assembly, seat-bottom platform 30 is positioned relative to
seat-
bottom frame 28 so as to cause platform retainers 50 to be aligned along
installation axes
53, 54 with platform-retainer receivers 52 as suggested in Fig. 11. Platform
retainers 50
each are formed to include a complementary profile with platform-retainer
receivers 52
such that platform retainer 50 engages and interlocks with platform-retainer
receiver 52
to block movement of platform retainer 50 relative to platform-retainer
receiver 52 in at
least one direction as suggested in Fig. 13A. After platform retainer 50 is
mated with
platform-retainer receiver 52, seat-bottom platform 30 is coupled to seat-
bottom frame 28
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in a fixed position so that movement of seat-bottom platform 30 in any
direction other
than back along installation axes 53, 54 is blocked.
[0041] Seat-bottom frame 28 includes a frame foundation 56, a support beam
58,
and a beam retainer 60 as suggested in Fig. 2 and shown in Figs. 6-8. Frame
foundation
56 is arranged to lie on and be supported by ground 18 underlying frame
foundation 56 as
suggested in Fig. 4. Beam retainer 60 is arranged to interconnect support beam
58 to
frame foundation 56 without the use of tools as shown in Figs. 5-8.
[0042] Support beam 58 includes a face panel 51, a platform support 48
secured
to face panel 51, and a pair of rail blocks 55, 57 secured to face panel 51.
In some
embodiments, platform support 48 and rail blocks 55, 57 are secured to face
panel 51
with fasteners, such as screws or bolts for example, which require the use of
tools. A pair
of beam slide rails 61, 62 are secured to rail blocks 55, 57, respectively. In
some
embodiments, beam slide rails 61, 62 are secured to rail blocks 55, 57 with
fasteners,
such as screws or bolts for example, which require the use of tools. However,
support
beam 58 is secured together into a single subcomponent of seat 10 before
delivery to a
user for assembly with the other subcomponents of seat 10 such that the user
does not
require tools to assemble together the subcomponents of seat 10.
[0043] Beam retainer 60 includes first and second beam slide rails 61, 62
and
associated first and second beam-rail receivers 63, 64 as shown in Fig. 2.
First beam
slide rail 61 is coupled to a first end of support beam 58 in a fixed position
relative to
support beam 58. Second beam slide rail is coupled to an opposite second end
of support
beam 58 in a fixed position relative to support beam 58. First beam-rail
receiver 63 is
coupled to the frame foundation 56 in a fixed position relative to frame
foundation 56.
Second beam-rail receiver 64 is coupled to frame foundation 56 in a fixed
position
relative to frame foundation 56 and is arranged to lie in spaced-apart
relation to first
beam-rail receiver 63.
[0044] Frame foundation 56 includes a first upright base 67 and a second
upright
base 68 as shown in Figs. 4-8. Second upright base 68 is spaced-apart
laterally from first
upright base 67 as shown in Fig. 4. First beam-rail receiver 63 is coupled to
first upright
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base 67 while second beam-rail receiver 64 is coupled to second upright base
68. Support
beam 58 is arranged to extend between and interconnect first and second
upright base 67,
68 via beam slide rails 61, 62 mating with beam-rail receivers 63, 64 to form
seat-bottom
frame 28 as suggested in Fig. 5 and shown in Fig. 8.
[0045] During assembly, beam slide rails 61, 62 are aligned along beam
alignment axes 65, 66 and slid into associated beam-rail receivers 63, 64 as
suggested in
Figs. 5-8. Beam slide rail 61 is formed to include a complementary profile
with beam-
rail receivers 63 such that a portion of beam slide rail 61 is received in and
engages with
beam-rail receivers 63 to block movement of beam slide rail 61 relative to
beam-rail
receivers 63 in at least one direction. In some embodiments, portions of beam-
rail
receivers 63are received in beam slide rail 61. Beam slide rails 61, 62 are of
similar
construction and beam-rail receivers 63, 64 are of similar construction. In
the illustrative
embodiment, after beam slide rails 61, 62 are slid into associated beam-rail
receivers 63,
64, the shapes of the components cooperate with one another to block movement
of
support beam 58 relative to frame foundation 56 in any direction other than
back along
alignment axes 65, 66 as suggested in Figs. 6-8.
[0046] Second upright base 68 of frame foundation 56 is substantially the
same as
first upright base 67 as suggested in Fig. 4, and thus, only first upright
base 67 will be
discussed in detail. First upright base 67 includes an inner surface 67A and
an opposite
outer surface 67B. Inner surface 67A is arranged to face toward second upright
base 68.
First beam-rail receiver 63 is coupled to inner surface 67A and arranged to
extend toward
second upright base 68. First platform-retainer receiver 52 is coupled to
inner surface
67A in spaced-apart longitudinal relation to first beam-rail receiver 63 and
arranged to
extend toward second upright base 68. First seat-back rail receiver 23 is
coupled to inner
surface 67A in spaced-apart longitudinal relation above first beam-rail
receiver 63 and in
spaced-apart relation above first platform-retainer receiver 52. First seat-
back rail
receiver 23 is angled with respect to ground 18 and positioned to engage with
seat-back
slide rail 21 coupled to seat back 14.
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[0047] In some embodiments, seat-back slide rails 21, 22 are secured to
seat back
14 with fasteners, such as screws or bolts for example, which require the use
of tools. In
some embodiments, seat-back rail receiver 23, platform-retainer receiver 52,
and beam-
rail receiver 63 are secured to upright base 67 with fasteners, such as screws
or bolts for
example, which require the use of tools. However, seat back 14 and seat-back
slide rails
21, 22 are secured together into a single subcomponent of seat 10 before
delivery to a
user for assembly with the other subcomponents of seat 10 such that the user
does not
require tools to assemble together the subcomponents of seat 10. Likewise,
seat-back rail
receiver 23, platform-retainer receiver 52, and beam-rail receiver 63 are
secured to
upright base 67 into a single subcomponent of seat 10 before delivery to a
user for
assembly with the other subcomponents of seat 10 such that the user does not
require
tools to assemble together the subcomponents of seat 10.
[0048] Process 100 of assembling the subcomponents of seat 10 without the
use
of tools is shown for example in Fig. 3 and in detail in Figs. 4-19. Process
100 begins
with a first step 101 in which first and second upright bases 67, 68 are
arranged to rest on
ground 18 and positioned to lie in spaced-apart lateral relation to one
another as shown in
Figs. 3 and 4.
[0049] Process 100 then proceeds to a second step 102 in which horizontal
support beam 58 is arranged as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Support beam 58 is
arranged so
that beam slide rails 61, 62 are aligned along beam alignment axes 65, 66 to
cause beam
slide rails 61, 62 to mate with beam-rail receivers 63, 64 as support beam 58
is lowered
into place.
[0050] Process 100 then proceeds to a third step 103 in which horizontal
support
beam 58 is coupled to each upright base 67, 68 included in frame foundation 56
as shown
in Figs. 3 and 8. The shapes of beam slide rails 61, 62 and beam-rail
receivers 63, 64
cooperate to block movement of support beam 58 relative to frame foundation 56
in any
direction other than back along beam alignment axes 65, 66.
[0051] Process 100 proceeds to a fourth step 104 in which platform-support
leg
40 is aligned with leg receiver 44 formed in under surface 42 of platform deck
38 as
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shown in Figs. 3 and 9. Platform-support let 40 is then coupled to platform
deck 38 as
shown in Fig. 10 to form seat-bottom platform 30.
[0052] Process 100 proceeds to a fifth step 105 in which seat-bottom
platform 30
is aligned with the seat-bottom frame 28 as shown in Figs. 3 and 11. As a
result,
platform retainers 50, which are coupled to seat-bottom platform 30, are
aligned along
installation axes 53, 54 with associated platform-retainer receivers 52, which
are coupled
to upright bases 67, 68.
[0053] Process 100 then proceeds to a sixth step 106 in which seat-bottom
platform 30 is coupled to seat-bottom frame 28 by first and second platform
mounts 45,
46 and platform support 48 as shown in Figs. 3 and 14. After platform retainer
50 is
mated with platform-retainer receiver 52, seat-bottom platform 30 is coupled
to seat-
bottom frame 28 in a fixed position so that movement of seat-bottom platform
30 in any
direction other than back along installation axes 53, 54 is blocked.
[0054] Process 100 then proceeds to a seventh step 107 in which seat back
14 is
positioned to cause seat-back slide rails 21, 22 to be aligned along alignment
axes 25, 26
as suggested in Fig. 3 and shown in Fig. 15. As a result, seat-back slide
rails 21, 22
mates with seat-back rail receivers 23, 24 as seat back 14 is lowered into
position as
suggested in Figs. 16-17.
[0055] Process 100 proceeds to an eighth step 108 in which seat back 14 is
coupled to seat bottom 12 as a result of seat-back slide rails 21, 22 mating
with seat-back
rail receivers 23, 24 as shown in Figs. 3 and 17. After seat-back slide rails
21, 22 mate
with seat-back rail receivers 23, 24, movement of seat back 14 relative to
seat bottom 12
in any direction other than back along alignment axes 25, 26 is blocked.
[0056] Process 100 proceeds to a ninth step 109 in which seat-back cushions
71,
72 are arranged to be placed on seat back 14 and seat-bottom cushions 35, 36
are
arranged to be placed on the seat bottom as suggested in Figs. 3 and 18.
Process 100 then
proceeds to a tenth step 110 in which seat-bottom cushions 35, 36 are arranged
to rest on
and be supported by seat-bottom platform 30 as suggested in Figs. 3 and 19.
Also during
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tenth step 110, seat-back cushions 71, 72 are arranged to be supported in part
by seat
back 14.
[0057] Process 100 is shown in a series of sequential steps 101-110.
However,
the process of assembling seat 10 may be performed in any suitable combination
of
parallel and serial steps. The steps included in a process for assembling seat
10 may be
performed in any suitable order. Disassembly of seat 10 occurs in the reverse
of process
100 and also does not require tools.
