Patent ID: 8388064

Claim:
A stackable chair, comprising: a seat frame comprising at least one tubular seat frame member, said seat frame configured to receive and support a seat portion; a back frame comprising at least one tubular back frame member, said back frame configured to receive and support a back portion; along each side of the chair, a gap separating adjacent ends of the at least one tubular seat frame member and the at least one tubular back frame member; at least two leg members, each of said leg members attached to said seat frame; and along each side of the chair, at least one flexible member positioned below the gap and extending across said gap, said at least one flexible member coupled to the seat frame and the back frame; wherein the at least one flexible member is configured to selectively move between a flexed position and a non-flexed position, wherein the at least one flexible member is normally in the non-flexed position when no forces are directed on the back portion, said at least one flexible member being configured to move to a flexed position when an occupant exerts a rearwardly-directed force on the back portion to at least partially recline the back portion relative to the seat portion; at least one first plate member positioned between the at least one flexible member and the at least one tubular seat frame member, and at least one second plate member positioned between the at least one flexible member and the at least one tubular back frame member; wherein the at least one first plate member maintains a clearance between the flexible member and the at least one tubular seat frame member; wherein the at least one second plate member maintains a clearance between the flexible member and the at least one tubular back frame member; and wherein a space separates adjacent ends of the at least one first plate member and the at least one second plate member, said space having a length that is greater than a length of the gap.