Patent ID: 7270378

Claim:
In a chair adapted to be supported on a floor so as to support the seat and back of a chair occupant, said chair comprising: a base adapted to be supported on the floor; a rigid seat frame supported on said base which is configured to support the weight of the chair occupant, said seat frame comprising rigid side frame rails which are spaced apart in a side-to-side direction and which extend along opposite sides of the chair in a front-to-back direction; and a suspension seat assembly adapted to be connected to said side frame rails and thereby defining an upward facing support surface for supporting the seat of the chair occupant, said suspension seat assembly comprising a seat shell and an elastomeric suspension fabric having a peripheral edge connected to said seat shell, said seat shell comprising a plurality of sidewardly spaced, side shell sections and a rear shell section which extend in a generally U-shape, and an enlarged front panel which extends a substantial distance in the front-to-back direction from a front edge of said sheet shell proximate to a middle portion of said seat shell to support the thighs of the chair occupant, said front panel and said side and rear shell sections being joined together in a generally annular shape to define a suspension opening wherein said peripheral edge is connected to said front panel and said side and rear shell sections of said seat shell, said side shell sections being fixedly mounted to said side frame rails with said suspension fabric being suspended within said suspension opening of said seat shell to support the seat of the chair occupant and said front panel extending forwardly from said side frame rails in cantilevered relation therewith to support the thighs.