Patent Publication Number: US-2020297114-A1

Title: Sling Assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to comfortable and stylish furniture using stretchable fabric material. 
     SUMMARY 
     One exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is an assembly preferably comprising a chassis having a first rail and an opposing second rail connected by a cross bar disposed therebetween. The assembly also comprises a sling frame having a first stretch bar and an opposing second stretch bar connected by a stretchable fabric disposed therebetween. The first stretch bar has an engagement member extending therefrom. The first rail has a key hole cut therein configured to receive a cam lock and the engagement member. The cam lock is adapted to engage the engagement member to hold the fabric in a stretched, fully assembled position. 
     The cam lock preferably comprises a body having a cam extending therefrom, wherein the body has a keyway, and wherein the cam has a holder. The engagement member preferably comprises a leg and a glide base disposed at one end of the leg. The holder is configured to receive the glide base. The key hole preferably comprises a channel and a slot in communication therewith, wherein the leg of the engagement member is disposed within the slot when the assembly is in the stretched, fully assembled position. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a method comprising inserting a cam lock into a key hole cut within a rail, wherein the key hole has a central axis. The cam lock is then rotated away from the central axis of the key hole. Next, an engagement member is preferably inserted into the key hole, wherein the engagement member extends from a first stretch bar of a sling frame. The sling frame includes the first stretch bar and an opposing second stretch bar connected by a stretchable fabric. The fabric is then stretched and held taut by rotating the cam lock back toward the central axis of the key hole to move the engagement member along the central axis of the key hole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Some non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are illustrated in the following drawings. Identical or duplicate or equivalent or similar structures, elements, or parts that appear in one or more drawings are generally labeled with the same reference numeral, optionally with an additional letter or letters to distinguish between similar objects or variants of objects, and may not be repeatedly labeled and/or described. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation. For convenience or clarity, some elements or structures are not shown or shown only partially and/or with different perspective or from different point of views. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a sling assembly disclosed herein, wherein the sling assembly is seen in its stretched, fully assembled position with the sling itself shown in dashed lines; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the sling assembly seen in  FIG. 1  but with end caps, wherein the sling itself is shown in dashed lines and each cam lock is not yet inserted into its respective key hole; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the sling assembly seen in  FIG. 1 , wherein the sling itself is shown in dashed lines and each cam lock is now inserted into its respective key hole, and wherein the sling assembly is in its pre-assembled position; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the sling assembly seen in  FIG. 1 , but seen in its pre-assembled position wherein the dashed lines of the cam lock show the cam lock has been rotated away from the central axis of the key hole; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the sling assembly seen in  FIG. 1  in its fully assembled position wherein the dashed lines of the cam lock show the cam lock has been rotated back toward the central axis of the key hole (for the cam lock to engage the engagement member extending from the sling frame and thus keep the sling taut in its fully assembled state); 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up, partial cut-away view of certain aspects of the sling assembly before a cam lock has been inserted into a key hole; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a close-up, partial cut-away view of certain aspects of the sling assembly after the cam lock has been inserted into the key hole; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a close-up, partial cut-away view of certain aspects of the sling assembly after the cam lock has been inserted into the key hole and then rotated away from the central axis of the key hole; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a close-up, partial cut-away view of certain aspects of the sling assembly after the cam lock has been inserted into the key hole and rotated away from the central axis of the key hole, and after the engagement member has been inserted into the key hole, as would be seen in the sling assembly&#39;s pre-assembled position; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a close-up, partial cut-away view of certain aspects of the sling assembly after the cam lock has been inserted into the key hole and rotated away from the central axis of the key hole, after the engagement member has been inserted into the key hole, and after the cam lock has been rotated back toward the central axis of the key hole to make the sling taut and keep the sling assembly in its taut, fully assembled position; 
         FIG. 11  shows details of the cam lock; 
         FIG. 12  shows the orientation of a cam lock before it is inserted into its respective key hole; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the cam lock inserted into the key hole, wherein the body of the cam lock may be seen aligned with the central axis of the key hole, i.e., before the cam lock is rotated away from the central axis; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates the cam lock after it has been moved away from the central axis of the key hole but before the engagement member is also inserted into the key hole; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates the cam lock after it has been moved away from the central axis of the key hole and after the engagement member is inserted into the key hole; 
         FIG. 16  shows how the cam lock engages the engagement member after the sling has been made taut to keep the taut sling in its fully assembly position; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates one embodiment of a structural, anchor arrangement on the opposite side of the sling frame seen in  FIGS. 6-16 , wherein an engagement member is not yet inserted into a key hole of the rail; 
         FIG. 18  shows the engagement member inserted into the key hole seen in  FIG. 17 ; and 
         FIG. 19  shows the engagement member inserted into the key hole seen in  FIG. 17 , wherein the engagement member is now in its anchored position such that the sling may be made taut. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Many people seek stylish and comfortable furniture. One such type is a sling chair or the like typically comprised of a support frame upon which stretchable fabric is mounted. As this chair is a joy to sit in, it is often the favorite of any user seeking to relax and perhaps enjoy a little sunshine and the great outdoors. Over time, however, sling fabric material tends to become worn, aged, or saggy. 
     At this stage in the game, the user must decide whether to replace the chair in its entirety or just replace the sling fabric. Should the latter route be in play, the user has a rather significant chore ahead. 
     To elaborate, while there are a few different styles of sling chairs, the most common configuration has the sling fabric seated into a channel in the rails of the chair&#39;s frame. To replace the sling fabric for this type of chair, a number of different steps must take place. Such steps may include disassembling the chair, cutting the new fabric to size, sewing hems, sewing sleeves, inserting the sling fabric in the rail&#39;s channels, reinserting the spreader bars of the chair, and reassembly. To reinsert the spreader bars, tools are available. Such spreader bar tools not only add to the cost of replacement but if used incorrectly could damage the frame or rivnuts (hidden nuts in the frame typically used in these applications). 
     Accordingly, a sling assembly that makes sling fabric replacement convenient, quick, and without the need for special tools is desired. 
       FIGS. 1-19  illustrate an embodiment of a sling assembly  100  disclosed herein. Turning first to  FIG. 1 , sling assembly  100  may be seen as generally comprising a chassis  102  and a sling frame  104  disposed thereupon.  FIG. 1  particularly illustrates the sling assembly  100  in its stretched, fully assembled position. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the sling assembly  100  seen in  FIG. 1 . As seen here and elsewhere, chassis  102  is seen as preferably comprising first and second opposing rails  106  connected by first and second cross bars  108 . However, the underlying configuration of chassis  102  need not comprise this particular structure or shape. For example, chassis  102  may be shaped more like a chaise lounge, chair, headrest, etc. Regardless of its shape, the components of the chassis  102 , such as each rail  106  and cross bar  108 , are preferably metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. 
     The chassis  102  provides support for the sling frame  104  and a means for anchoring the sling frame  104  thereupon. In this regard, the rails  106  of the chassis  102  include one or more key holes  110  cut therein. Each key hole  110  may comprise a channel  112  and a slot  114  at one end of the key hole  110  (closer to the outer edge of rail  106 ), as seen for example in  FIG. 6 . The end of each rail  106  may have an end cap  116 , such as that seen in  FIG. 2 , which shows the sling assembly  100  in its pre-assembled state. 
     The sling frame  104  itself is generally comprised of first and second opposing stretch bars  128 , which are preferably made of aluminum or stainless steel. A sling  136  connects each stretch bar  128 , wherein the sling fabric may wrap around each stretch bar  128  in a sleeve-type configuration with the stretch bar  128  contained within each sleeve. Each such sleeve may be formed by stitching or thermal heat-bonding the sling fabric material. The sling fabric is preferably a stretchable, durable, breathable, and highly ultraviolet light resistant material. The shape of sling frame  104  may again vary from a chaise lounge, chair, headrest, etc. to match the underlying shape of the chassis  102 . 
     Each stretch bar  128  may have an engagement member  130  extending therefrom. The engagement member  130  may be threaded to be screwed into a corresponding hole of a stretch bar  128 . Alternatively, the engagement member  130  may be permanently attached to the stretch bar  128 . Each engagement member  130  preferably comprises a leg  132  and a glide base  134  extending therefrom, such as seen in  FIG. 14 . However, other structural arrangements of the engagement member  130  are possible. 
     The sling assembly  100  also preferably comprises a cam lock  118 . Turning to  FIG. 11 , the cam lock  118  may comprise a body  120 , a keyway  122  cut therein, a cam  124  extending from the body  120 , and a holder  126  disposed at the end of the cam lock  118  opposite the body  120 . The keyway  122  is seen as having a hexagonal shape designed to fit a hex key; however, the shape of the keyway  122  may be configured to fit a simple “flat-blade” screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, or the like. The shape of the holder  126  of the cam lock  118  may also vary but its shape is designed to match the shape of the engagement member  130  and particularly the glide base  134  upon which the holder  126  is configured to engage. Such engagement keeps the sling  136  taut when the sling assembly  100  is in its stretched, fully assembled position, as discussed next below. 
     In operation, the sling assembly  100  has been structurally arrangement as set forth above to enable a user to replace the sling  136  conveniently, quickly, and without the need for special tools. To elaborate, and with reference to  FIGS. 2-3 and 7 , the user inserts at least one cam lock  118  into a key hole  110  of a rail  106 . To do so, the axis of the cam lock  118  is first aligned with the central axis of the key hole  110 , as best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 12 . The body  120  of the cam lock  118  is then inserted into the channel  112  of the key hole  110 , as seen in  FIGS. 3, 7 , and  13 . Next, the cam lock  118  is rotated away from the central axis of the key hole  110 , as seen in  FIGS. 8-9 and 14-15 . Rotation is done via the use of a standard tool, such as a hex key that fits into the keyway  122 .  FIGS. 4 and 14-15  illustrate the cam lock  118  may be rotated about 90° away from the central axis of the key hole  110 . 
       FIG. 4  also shows that each engagement member  130  on the left side of the sling frame  104  is inserted into a corresponding key hole  110  of the rail  106  on the left side of the chassis  102 . As best seen in  FIGS. 17-19 , each engagement member  130  is first inserted into one end of the key hole  110  (see  FIGS. 17-18 ) and then slid toward an end of a rail  106  until the leg  132  is seated against the end of the key hole  110  (see  FIG. 19 ). In this manner, one side of the sling frame  104  is now anchored or held in place to permit the sling  136  to be made taut as disclosed immediately below. Other anchoring-type structures may be used instead of the disclosed engagement member and key hole arrangement. 
     Next, each engagement member  130  on the right side of the sling frame  104  is inserted into a corresponding key hole  110  of the rail  106  on the right side of the chassis  102 , as best seen in  FIGS. 5, 9, and 14 . In particular, the leg  132  and glide base  134  are inserted into the channel  112  of the respective key hole  110 , as seen for example in  FIG. 14 . Once inserted, the cam lock  118  is then rotated back toward the central axis of the key hole  110  wherein holder  126  mates up against the glide base  134 . Continued rotation moves the engagement member  130  away from the body  120  of the cam lock  118  (see  FIGS. 9 and 15 ), along the central axis of the key hole  110  from the channel  112  to the slot  114 , until the leg  132  abuts the end of the slot  114  (see  FIGS. 10 and 16 ). Such an arrangement locks the sling frame  104 , with its now-taut sling  136 , in place against the chassis  102  to keep the sling assembly  100  in its stretched, fully assembled position. Over time, should the sling fabric material in this sling  136  become worn, aged, or saggy, the user may then simply reverse the above-disclosed method of operation to remove the old sling frame  104 , and then repeat the methodology yet again to make sling fabric replacement convenient, quick, and without the need for special tools. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, the embodiments have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel sling assembly structure and corresponding method disclosed herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the disclosed elements may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.