Furniture item and a method for attaching webbing thereto

Abstract

A furniture item and a method for its manufacture, the item comprising at least one support portion, said at least one support portion ( 24,26 ) comprising a receiving frame ( 30 ) and a support member ( 50 ) comprising a webbing ( 54 ) made of flexible material fitted at its edges with frame-engaging profiles ( 56 ) formed with first engaging members ( 66 ) for secure engagement with corresponding second engaging members ( 32 ) of the receiving frame ( 30 ); the invention characterized in that said frame-engaging profiles ( 56 ) are integrally molded with said webbing ( 54 ).

1 . A furniture item comprising at least one support portion, said at least one support portion comprising a receiving frame and a support member comprising a webbing made of flexible material fitted at its edges with frame-engaging profiles formed with first engaging members for secure engagement with corresponding second engaging members of the receiving frame; the invention characterized in that said frame-engaging profiles are integrally molded with said webbing.  
   
   
       2 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the webbing is a sheet of material.  
   
   
       3 . A furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the webbing is a mesh.  
   
   
       4 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the webbing is made of a plurality of transversally extending straps.  
   
   
       5 . A furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the webbing is made of or coated with a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       6 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the webbing is made of mesh fabric woven of polymeric yarns coated with thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       7 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame-engaging profiles are made of a material having a substantially low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).  
   
   
       8 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame-engaging profiles are made of thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       9 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the webbing has a roughened texture at least at zones attached to the frame-engaging profiles.  
   
   
       10 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the webbing has a porous texture at least at zones attached to the frame-engaging profiles.  
   
   
       11 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame-engaging profiles form a closed frame structure corresponding with the receiving frame.  
   
   
       12 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame-engaging profiles extend substantially along edges of the webbing.  
   
   
       13 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein material of the frame-engaging profiles penetrates through the webbing to thereby increase mechanical engagement therebetween.  
   
   
       14 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame-engaging profiles are heat welded to respective portions of the webbing.  
   
   
       15 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some portions of zones of the frame-engaging profiles attached to the webbing sandwich the webbing.  
   
   
       16 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the furniture is a garden furniture.  
   
   
       17 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame-engaging profiles are detachable from the receiving frame.  
   
   
       18 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging members of the frame-engaging profiles are snapingly engaged with the second engaging members of the receiving frame.  
   
   
       19 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging members of the frame-engaging profiles project into the second engaging members of the receiving frame and are lockingly engaged with one another.  
   
   
       20 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the webbing is tensioned upon engaging the frame-engaging profiles with the receiving frame.  
   
   
       21 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving frame is integral with a frame portion of the furniture.  
   
   
       22 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving frame comprises openings for receiving the frame-engaging profiles and the frame-engaging profiles are formed with concealing portions, wherein upon engagement said concealing portions close the openings of the receiving frames.  
   
   
       23 . A furniture item according to  claim 1 , wherein prior to engagement of the support member to the support frame a plane of the webbing and a plane of the frame-engaging profiles are substantially parallel, whilst at the engaged position said panes intersect one another.  
   
   
       24 . A method for manufacturing a support portion for a furniture item, said support portion comprising a receiving frame and a support member comprising a webbing made of flexible material fitted at its edges with frame-engaging profiles formed with first engaging members for secure engagement with corresponding second engaging members of the receiving frame; the method includes integrally molding of the said frame-engaging profiles with the webbing.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the webbing is made of mesh fabric woven of polymeric yarns coated with a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the frame-engaging profiles are made of a material having a substantially low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein during the molding process the material of the frame-engaging profiles penetrates through the webbing to thereby increase mechanical engagement therebetween.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein during molding the frame-engaging profiles are heat welded to respective portions of the webbing.  
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein at least some portions of zones of the frame-engaging profiles attached to the webbing sandwich the webbing.  
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the frame-engaging profiles are connectable to the receiving frame in a detachable fashion.  
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 24 , comprising the following steps: 
 (a) Obtaining a mold;    (b) Applying the webbing material into the mold;    (c) Closing the mold and injecting molten material into the mold to thereby mold the frame-engaging profiles integrated with said webbing;    (d) Removing the integrated support portion from the mold.    
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the webbing is a sheet of material.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the webbing is made of a plurality of transversally extending straps.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein during the molding process plane of the webbing and a plane of the frame-engaging profiles are parallel.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein during step (c) molten material of the frame-engaging profiles penetrates through the webbing to thereby increase mechanical engagement therebetween.  
   
   
       36 . A support member for fitting to a support portion of a furniture item, said support member comprising a flexible webbing integrally molded with frame-engaging profiles engageable with corresponding engaging members of a receiving frame of the support portion.  
   
   
       37 . A support member according to  claim 31 , wherein the webbing is made of or coated with a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       38 . A support member according to  claim 36 , wherein the webbing is made of mesh fabric woven of polymeric yarns coated with a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       39 . A support member according to  claim 36 , wherein the frame-engaging profiles are made of a material having a substantially low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).