Apparatus and method for manufacturing a fabric suspension seat structure
A seat assembly includes a fabric component having a seat surface and a frame including an interior segment directly attached to the fabric component. The interior segment extends from an exterior segment that has a greater flexural resistance than the interior segment.
1. A seat assembly, comprising:
a fabric component having a seat surface;
a frame including an inner segment directly molded to the fabric component; and
a skirt integrally formed with the frame,
wherein the inner segment extends from a mid-segment that has a greater flexural resistance than the inner segment, and
wherein the skirt is coupled to the inner segment of the frame by a living hinge.
2. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fabric component is at least partially surrounded by the frame.
3. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fabric component is configured to extend across the frame in a tensioned state.
4. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fabric component is at least partially composed of a resin material.
5. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the skirt is configured to be molded to the fabric component, the skirt having a lower flexural resistance than the frame.
6. The seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein the skirt is at least partially composed of a material having a melting temperature that is greater than a melting temperature of the material of the fabric component.
7. The seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein the skirt includes a plurality of gaps therealong.
8. A seat assembly, comprising:
a seat member;
a frame; and
a skirt integrally formed with the frame and the seat member,
wherein an inner segment of the frame has a flexural resistance that is greater than a flexural resistance of the skirt, and
wherein the skirt is coupled to the inner segment of the frame by a living hinge.
9. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the skirt extends along at least a portion of a periphery of the seat member.
10. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the seat member is configured to rotate about the inner segment of the frame.
11. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the flexural resistance of the skirt decreases in a direction moving inwardly from the living hinge to an interior edge of the skirt.
12. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the skirt includes a plurality of undulations therealong.
13. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the skirt decreases in thickness between an interior edge and the frame.