Patent ID: 7600820
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
1. A molded chair shell comprising: a seat portion having laterally spaced side edges and a front area and a rear area, wherein at least the rear area of the seat portion defines an upwardly facing surface; a back portion having laterally spaced side edges and an upper area and a lower area, wherein at least the lower area of the back portion defines a forwardly facing surface; a junction area between the rear area of the seat portion and the lower area of the back portion, wherein the junction area extends across a width of the chair shell between the side edges of the seat and back portions and defines a wall that is formed integrally with and extends between the upwardly facing surface of the seat portion and the forwardly facing surface of the back portion; and a reinforcement member between the seat portion and the back portion, wherein the reinforcement member comprises a pair of cavity side walls and an outer wall, wherein a first one of the cavity side walls extends outwardly from the rear area of the seat portion and a second one of the cavity side walls extends outwardly from the lower area of the back portion, and wherein the outer wall of the reinforcement member is spaced outwardly of the wall of the junction area, wherein the outer wall of the reinforcement member extends between and interconnects the cavity side walls, and wherein the wall of the junction area extends between and interconnects the cavity side walls, wherein the cavity side walls and the outer wall of the reinforcement member, in combination with the wall of the junction area, cooperate to define a hollow internal cavity that is located at the junction area; wherein the rear area of the seat portion, the lower area of the back portion, and the reinforcement member are formed integrally with each other, wherein the integral formation of the outer wall of the reinforcement member and the wall of the junction area cooperate to define an integrally formed double wall construction at the junction area, and wherein the rear area of the seat portion and the lower area of the back portion are configured to define a single wall construction forwardly and above the junction area, respectively, wherein the double wall construction at the junction area and the single wall construction forwardly and above the junction area, respectively, are formed integrally with each other.