IP Library Granted Patent US 12708212
Granted Patent B2
US 12708212 · App. 18/734,502 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Back attachment

Inventors: Matthew David Remelts (Grand Rapids, MI); Richard L. Russell, Jr. (Shelbyville, MI); Brett W. Fischer (Grandville, MI)
Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
A47C7/40
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12708212
App. No.
18/734,502
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A chair component includes curved first and second shells respectively including first and second apertures spaced across the inner and outer shells, and a plurality of fasteners configured to extend into the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures, wherein at least some of the apertures of the first plurality of apertures of the first shell or at least some of the apertures of the second plurality of apertures of the second shell are elongated and wherein the plurality of apertures of the other of the first shell or the second shell are substantially round, and wherein the fasteners of the plurality of apertures received within the elongated apertures are configured to slide along a length of the elongated apertures as the first and second shells are pressed together and the plurality of fasteners extend into the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures.

Claims (45)

1 . A chair component, comprising:

a first shell including a first plurality of apertures spaced across the first shell, the first shell being curved;

a second shell including a second plurality of apertures spaced across the second shell, the second shell being curved; and

a plurality of fasteners configured to extend into the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures;

wherein at least some of the apertures of the first plurality of apertures of the first shell or at least some of the apertures of the second plurality of apertures of the second shell are elongated and wherein the plurality of apertures of the other of the first shell or the second shell are substantially round, and wherein the fasteners of the plurality of fasteners received within the elongated apertures are configured to slide along a length of the elongated apertures as the first and second shells are pressed together and the plurality of fasteners extend into the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures and wherein the first and second shells are configured to remain unflexed as the fasteners received within the elongated apertures slide along the length of the elongated apertures.

2 . The chair component of claim 1 , wherein the first shell is curved across a width of the first shell and the second shell is curved across a width of the second shell.

3 . The chair component of claim 1 , wherein a length of each of the elongated apertures varies across a width of the shell that includes the elongated apertures.

4 . The chair component of claim 1 , wherein a length of the elongated apertures varies across the first shell.

5 . The chair component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fasteners includes quick connect fasteners.

6 . The chair component of claim 1 , wherein the first shell includes an inner shell that includes the apertures that are substantially round, and wherein the second shell includes an outer shell that includes the apertures that are elongated.

7 . The chair component of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of apertures extends entirely through the first shell.

8 . The chair component of claim 7 , wherein the second plurality of apertures extends entirely through the second shell.

9 . A method of assembling a chair component, comprising:

providing the chair component of claim 1 ;

inserting the plurality of fasteners into the elongated apertures; and

connecting the first shell with the second shell by aligning the first plurality of apertures with the second plurality of apertures and moving the first and second shells toward one another such that the plurality of fasteners are received within the substantially round apertures and the plurality of fasteners slide along the length of the elongated apertures as the first and second shells move toward one another.

10 . A chair component, comprising:

an inner shell including a first plurality of apertures spaced across the inner shell where at least some of the apertures of the first plurality of apertures are substantially round, the inner shell being curved;

an outer shell including a second plurality of apertures spaced across the outer shell where at least some of the apertures of the second plurality of apertures are elongated, the outer shell being curved; and

a plurality of quick connect fasteners extending into the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures;

wherein the quick connect fasteners received within the elongated apertures are configured to slide along a length of the elongated apertures as the inner and outer shells are pressed together and the plurality of quick connect fasteners extend into the second plurality of apertures, and wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are each configured to remain unflexed as the inner and outer shells are pressed together.

11 . The chair component of claim 10 , wherein the inner shell is curved across a width of the inner shell and the outer shell is curved across a width of the outer shell.

12 . The chair component of claim 10 , wherein the length of at least some of the elongated apertures varies across a width of the outer shell.

13 . The chair component of claim 10 , comprising:

a cushion attached to the inner shell opposite the outer shell.

14 . The chair component of claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of apertures extends entirely through the inner shell and second plurality of apertures extend through the outer shell.

15 . A method of assembling a chair component, comprising:

providing the chair component of claim 10 ;

inserting the plurality of fasteners into the elongated apertures; and

connecting the inner shell with the outer shell by aligning the first plurality of apertures with the second plurality of apertures and moving the inner and outer shells toward one another such that the plurality of quick connect fasteners is received within the substantially round apertures and the plurality of fasteners slide along a length of the elongated apertures as the inner and outer shells move toward one another.

16 . A chair component, comprising:

an inner shell including a first plurality of apertures spaced across the inner shell, the inner shell being curved;

an outer shell including a second plurality of apertures spaced across the outer shell, the outer shell being curved; and

a plurality of quick connect fasteners extending into the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures;

wherein at least a portion of the plurality of quick connect fasteners are configured to slide along a length of at least some of the second plurality of apertures while remaining stationary along a length of at least some of the first plurality of apertures as the first and second shells are pressed together and the plurality of quick connect fasteners extend into the second plurality of apertures and wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are each configured to remain substantially unflexed as the at least portion of the plurality of quick connect fasteners slide along the length of the at least some of the second plurality of apertures.

17 . The chair component of claim 16 , wherein the at least some of the second plurality of apertures are elongated, and wherein the at least some of the first plurality of fasteners are round.

18 . The chair component of claim 16 , wherein the inner shell is curved across a width of the inner shell and the outer shell is curved across a width of the outer shell.

19 . The chair component of claim 16 , wherein a length of at least some of the elongated apertures varies across a width of the outer shell.

20 . The chair component of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of quick connect fasteners includes Christmas tree-type fasteners.

21 . The chair component of claim 16 , wherein the first plurality of apertures extends entirely through the inner shell and second plurality of apertures extend through the outer shell.

22 . The chair component of claim 16 , wherein the chair component comprises a chair back.

23 . A method of assembling a chair component, comprising:

providing the chair component of claim 16 ;

inserting the plurality of quick connect fasteners into the elongated apertures; and

connecting the inner shell with the outer shell by aligning the first plurality of apertures with the second plurality of apertures and moving the inner and outer shells toward one another such that the plurality of quick connect fasteners is received within the at least one of the first plurality of apertures and the plurality of quick connect fasteners slide along the length of the at least some of the second plurality of apertures as the inner and outer shells move toward one another.