Cover For A Swivel Chair

Abstract

A swivel chair assembly includes a seat, a base, a swivel mechanism attaching the seat to the base and a cover. The swivel mechanism includes a first mounting portion attached to the seat and a second mounting portion attached to the base. The cover extends over the swivel mechanism and is fixed relative to the base. The first mounting portion of the swivel mechanism and the seat are pivotable relative to the second mounting portion of the swivel mechanism, the base and the cover.

Claims

1. A swivel chair assembly, the swivel chair assembly comprising: a seat; a base; a swivel mechanism attaching the seat to the base, the swivel mechanism comprising a first mounting portion attached to the seat and a second mounting portion attached to the base; and a cover extending over the swivel mechanism and fixed relative to the base, the first mounting portion of the swivel mechanism and the seat pivotable relative to the second mounting portion of the swivel mechanism, the base and the cover.

2. The swivel chair assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is attached to the base.

3. The swivel chair assembly of claim 2, wherein the cover snap attaches to the base.

4. The swivel chair assembly of claim 2, wherein a fastener extends through the cover and at least a portion of the base to attach the cover to the base.

5. The swivel chair assembly of claim 4, wherein the fastener extends through the base and is received at the second mounting portion of the swivel mechanism to attach the cover to the base and attach the base to the second mounting portion of the swivel mechanism.

6. The swivel chair assembly of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a plurality of tubular legs attached to the second mounting portion of the swivel mechanism, the plurality of tubular legs extending through respective openings of the cover.

7. The swivel chair assembly of claim 6, wherein the openings are formed through a side wall of the cover, and each tubular leg of the plurality of tubular legs includes an upper portion attached to the second mounting portion of the swivel mechanism and extending radially from the second mounting portion of the swivel mechanism through one respective opening, the cover snap attaching to the upper portions of the plurality of tubular legs at the openings.

8. The swivel chair assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover includes (i) a first portion extending over the swivel mechanism and along a portion of the seat and (ii) a second portion extending from the first portion and toward the seat.

9. The swivel chair assembly of claim 1, wherein a plate is disposed at least partially between the seat and the first mounting portion of the swivel mechanism, the swivel mechanism accommodated at an interior cavity defined by the cover and the plate.

10. The swivel chair assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a chair having a seat bottom and a backrest and (ii) a stool.

11. A swivel mechanism for a chair assembly, the swivel mechanism comprising: a first mounting portion configured to attach to a seat of a chair assembly; a second mounting portion configured to attach to a base of the chair assembly, the second mounting portion pivotable relative to the first mounting portion to enable pivoting of the seat relative to the base; and a cover configured to fixedly attach relative to the base of the chair assembly and extend over the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion.

12. The swivel mechanism of claim 11, wherein the cover is configured for attachment to the base.

13. The swivel mechanism of claim 12, wherein the cover is configured for snap attachment to the base.

14. The swivel mechanism of claim 12, wherein, with the cover attached to the base, a fastener extends through the cover and at least a portion of the base to attach the cover to the base.

15. The swivel mechanism of claim 14, wherein the fastener extends through the base and is received at the second mounting portion to attach the cover to the base and attach the base to the second mounting portion.

16. The swivel mechanism of claim 11, wherein the base comprises a plurality of tubular legs, the cover including respective openings configured to receive the plurality of tubular legs.

17. The swivel mechanism of claim 16, wherein the openings are formed through a side wall of the cover, and each tubular leg of the plurality of tubular legs includes an upper portion configured to attach to the second mounting portion and extending radially from the second mounting portion of the swivel mechanism through one respective opening, and the cover configured for snap attachment to the upper portions of the plurality of tubular legs at the openings.

18. The swivel mechanism of claim 11, wherein the cover includes (i) a first portion configured to extend over the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion and along a portion of the seat and (ii) a second portion that extends from the first portion and toward the seat.

19. The swivel mechanism of claim 11, further comprising a plate configured to be disposed at least partially between the seat and the first mounting portion of the swivel mechanism, the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion accommodated at an interior cavity defined by the cover and the plate.

20. The swivel mechanism of claim 11, wherein the seat of the chair assembly comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a chair having a seat bottom and a backrest and (ii) a stool.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair assembly;

[0018] FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the chair assembly with a seat of the chair assembly removed;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chair assembly with the seat removed and with a lower plate of a cover removed to show a base and swivel mechanism of the chair assembly;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a partial view of the chair assembly with the seat removed;

[0021] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the chair assembly; and

[0022] FIGS. 7-14 are views of another chair assembly having a taller base than the seat assembly of FIGS. 1-6.

[0023] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative configurations depicted therein, a chair assembly 100 includes a seat 200 attached to a base 300 via a swivel mechanism 400 that enables pivoting of the seat 200 relative to the base 300 about a pivot axis A.sub.100 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Further, a cover 500 extends over the swivel mechanism 400 and is fixed relative to the base 300. As discussed further below, the cover 500 prevents access to the swivel mechanism 400 to reduce instances of objects or user's appendages being caught in the swivel mechanism 400 during movement of the seat 200 relative to the base 300. Further, the cover 500 enhances the aesthetic appearance of the chair assembly 100 by hiding the swivel mechanism 400 and other components between the seat 200 and cover 500.

[0025] In the illustrated example, the seat 200 is a chair having a seat bottom 202 and a backrest 204. The seat bottom 202 has an upper surface or sitting surface 202a configured to support the user at the chair assembly 100 and a lower surface or mounting surface 202b is opposite the sitting surface 202a. The backrest 204 is integrally formed with the seat bottom 202, such as via a thermoplastic molding process. In other examples, the seat may provide other seating configurations for the user. For example, the seat may include a chair having a seat bottom and a separately attached backrest or the seat may include a stool that does not have a backrest. Optionally, the seat may include arms or armrests extending along opposite sides of the seat bottom. The armrests may be integrally formed with or attached to the seat bottom or the backrest so that the armrests pivot with the seat 200. Optionally, armrests may extend from the base 300 so that the seat 200 pivots relative to the base 300 and armrests.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the base 300 includes a plurality of tubular legs 302 having respective upper end portions 304 attached to the swivel mechanism 400 and respective lower end portions 306 extending from the upper end portions 304 and configured to support the chair assembly 100 at a ground surface. The tubular legs 302 may be connected or attached to one another at a central region or mounting portion 308 of the base 300, with the upper end portions 304 extending radially outward from the mounting portion 308. The upper end portions 304 may extend substantially parallel to the ground surface with the lower end portions 306 extending downward from the upper end portions 304 to meet the ground surface. It should be understood that other arrangements of the base 300 are possible without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in the illustrated example of FIGS. 1-6, the base 300 is a mobile base, such that the chair assembly 100 is movably supported within its environment via respective wheels or casters 310 disposed at the ends of the lower end portions 306 of the legs 302. The casters 310 may be lockable to preclude the chair 100 from moving within the environment. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 7-14, the base 300 is a stationary base, meaning that the plurality of legs 302 of the base 300 are configured to non-movably support the chair assembly 100 within the environment. The stationary base 300 may include glides or feet 312 disposed at the ends of the lower end portions 306 of the legs 302, such as to enable a user to push the chair 100 within the environment without damaging the ground surface or the legs 302 and/or to provide added traction between the legs 302 and the ground surface when the chair 100 is being used.

[0027] The swivel mechanism 400 includes a first mounting portion or plate 402 that attaches to the mounting surface 202b of the seat 200 and a second mounting portion or plate 404 that is opposite the first plate 402 and attaches to the mounting portion 308 of the base 300. The first plate 402 and the second plate 404 are pivotable relative to one another to enable movement of the seat 200 relative to the base 300 about the pivot axis A.sub.100. For example, the first plate 402 and the second plate 404 may be pivotable relative to one another via a ball bearing disposed between the first plate 402 and the second plate 404 or according to other commonly known methods. It should be understood that other configurations of the swivel mechanism 400 are possible without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0028] With the seat 200 and the base 300 mounted to the swivel mechanism 400, the cover 500 is attached to one or more of the seat 200, the base 300 and the swivel mechanism 400 to accommodate the swivel mechanism 400 within an interior portion of the cover 500 and thus preclude interaction of objects and users with the swivel mechanism 400 during movement of the seat 200 relative to the base 300 (FIGS. 4-6). In other words, the cover 500 is placed over the swivel mechanism 400 to protect objects and users from catching in the swivel mechanism 400 and to provide a more aesthetically pleasing outer appearance for the chair assembly 100. Further, the cover 500 may be configured for snap attachment at the chair assembly 100 to simplify installation.

[0029] The cover 500 includes a dish or lower plate 502 having a first planar portion or surface 502a that extends over and along the swivel mechanism 400 and the upper end portions 304 of the legs 302, and a second cylindrical or annular side wall portion 502b that extends from the planar portion 502a toward the mounting surface 202b of the seat 200. The lower plate 502 is fixed relative to the base 300 so that the seat 200 pivots relative to the lower plate 502 and the base 300. Further, the cover 500 may include a plate or upper portion 504 disposed at least partially between the mounting surface 202b of the seat 200 and the first plate 402 of the swivel mechanism 400 (FIGS. 2, 5, and 6).

[0030] For example, the upper plate 504 may include a lip that snap attaches to the upper rim of the cylindrical wall portion 502b and the upper plate 504 extends partially over the first plate 402 of the swivel mechanism 400, with an aperture or opening in the upper plate 504 accommodating mounting of the first plate 402 to the seat 200. Optionally, the upper plate 504 may be attached between the first plate 402 and the mounting surface 202b of the seat 200 and pivot relative to the lower plate 502 and the base 300 with the seat 200. Thus, the upper plate 504 and the lower plate 502 cooperate to define an interior cavity or interior portion of the cover 500, with the swivel mechanism 400 disposed between the upper plate 504 and the lower plate 502 and within the interior portion.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower plate 502 includes recesses or openings or cutouts 506 formed along the upper edge or rim of the cylindrical wall portion 502b to accommodate the tubular legs 302 of the base 300. That is, with the cover 500 attached to the base 300, the upper end portion 304 of each leg 302 extends through a respective cutout 506 formed in the lower plate 502. Portions of the cylindrical wall 502b on each side of the cutouts 506 extend about or wrap around the legs 302 to provide as minimal of a gap between the upper plate 504 and lower plate 502 as possible.

[0032] Moreover, the cutouts 506 may be configured to enable snap attachment of the lower plate 502 to the legs 302 of the base 300. For example, the cutouts 506 may include a semi-circular portion 506a dimensioned to accommodate the tubular leg 302 and an opening channel 506b extending between the semi-circular portion 506a and the rim of the wall portion 502b. The connection between the channel 506b and the semi-circular portion 506a may be at least partially narrower than the width of the leg 302 and the diameter of the semi-circular portion 506a so that the wall portion 502b of the lower plate 502 may flex when the leg 302 is inserted through the channel 506b into the semi-circular portion 506a and then rebound to retain the leg 302 within the semi-circular portion 506a.

[0033] The base 300 may be mounted to the second plate 404 of the swivel mechanism 400 in any suitable manner. In the illustrated example, a threaded fastener 508 extends through the legs 302 at the mounting portion 308 for mounting to the second plate 404 (FIG. 4). That is, in the illustrated example the base 300 includes four tubular legs 302 and the upper end portions 304 of the legs 302 intersect one another at a central portion of the seat assembly 100 (e.g., at or near the pivot axis A.sub.100). An aperture or threaded receiver is disposed at the intersection of the legs 302 for receiving the threaded fastener 508. Additionally or alternatively, each of the legs 302 includes a respective aperture or threaded receiver for receiving additional threaded fasteners 508. Thus, the threaded fasteners 508 extend through the individual legs 302 and/or the intersection of the legs 302 for engaging the second plate 404 and mounting the base 300 to the swivel mechanism 400. It should be understood that the base 300 may include any suitable number of legs 302.

[0034] Optionally, the threaded fastener 508 may extend through the lower plate 502 of the cover 500 and one or more of the legs 302 for mounting the cover 500 to the base 300 and/or mounting the base 300 to the second plate 404 (FIG. 3). Thus, with the lower plate 502 snap attached to the legs 302, the threaded fastener 508 may provide redundant attachment means for the cover 500 at the chair assembly 100. In other words, the cover 500 may be attached to the base 300 and/or the second plate 404 of the swivel mechanism 400.

[0035] To provide an enhanced appearance to the seat assembly 100, the cover 500 may be color-matched to the seat 200. For example, the cover 500 may be formed from the same material as the seat 200 (e.g., a thermoplastic material or metallic material) and have the same color as the seat 200. Optionally, the cover 500 may be formed from a different material from the seat 200 (e.g., a different thermoplastic or metallic material) and include a coating or paint or dye configured to substantially match the color of the seat 200. In some examples, the cover 500 may provide a contrasting or complimentary color to the seat 200.

[0036] FIGS. 7-14 depict another seat assembly 100, 100a having a taller or elongated base 300, 300a. That is, the individual legs 302 of the base 300a may be longer, such as to provide counter-height seating, and a footrest 314 may connect the individual legs 302 of the base 300a. The seat assembly 100a may include a seat 200, swivel mechanism 400 and cover 500 that utilize characteristics similar to those described as part of the seat assembly 100, such that a full description would be duplicative.

[0037] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary configurations only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular articles a, an, and the may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms comprises, comprising, including, and having, are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. Additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0038] When an element or layer is referred to as being on, engaged to, connected to, attached to, or coupled to another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected, attached, or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly on, directly engaged to, directly connected to, directly attached to, or directly coupled to another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., between versus directly between, adjacent versus directly adjacent, etc.). As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0039] The terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections. These elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, and other numerical terms do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example configurations.

[0040] A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.