Chair having removable back or seat cushion assemblies and methods related thereto

Abstract

A chair comprising a chair base, a chair frame mounted to the chair base, a back cushion assembly, and a seat cushion assembly, along with related methods, is described. The chair frame includes an upper and lower frame portion. One or both of the back cushion assembly or the seat cushion assembly can be releasably coupled to the upper frame portion or the lower frame portion, respectively. Such releasable coupling can be achieved via one or more quick-release connectors brought into coupling engagement or disengagement via a rotational, sliding, or push-button movement. In varying examples, the back and seat cushion assemblies each comprise at least one support member and a foam cushion attached thereto. A downward-oriented surface of the seat cushion support member can comprise an integrated tool housing to store a connector actuator tool when not in use.

1 . A chair comprising:
 a chair base;   a chair frame mounted to the chair base, the chair frame including an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion;   a back cushion assembly including at least one back support member and a back cushion attached to the back support member; and   a seat cushion assembly including at least one seat support member and a seat cushion attached to the seat support member, the seat cushion assembly releasably attached to the lower frame portion with at least a first quick-release connector brought into coupling engagement via a rotational, sliding, or push-button movement.   
   
   
       2 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the back cushion assembly is releasably attached to the upper frame portion using at least a second quick-release connector. 
   
   
       3 . The chair of  claim 2 , wherein one or both of the first or second quick-release connectors are configured to be brought into coupling engagement via a rotational movement amount of about 720-degrees or less. 
   
   
       4 . The chair of  claim 3 , wherein one or both of the first or second quick-release connectors include a ¼-turn, ½-turn, or ¾-turn fastener assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the first quick-release connector includes a cam fastener assembly. 
   
   
       6 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the first quick-release connector includes a sliding fastener assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the first quick-release connector includes a push-button fastener assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the upper frame portion comprises a ring-shaped region disposed with a central opening extending therethrough; and
 wherein the back cushion assembly is supported around a peripheral edge by, and coupled to, the ring-shaped frame region.   
   
   
       9 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the upper frame portion or the lower frame portion are configured to receive and support cushion assemblies of at least two different sizes. 
   
   
       10 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the back support member or the seat support member comprise a cushion stiffener panel and an outer protective shell. 
   
   
       11 . The chair of  claim 10 , further comprising a lumbar support assembly, the lumbar support assembly projecting from, and coupled to, an inward-oriented surface of the outer protective shell associated with the back support member. 
   
   
       12 . The chair of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator tool, a distal end of which is configured to be received by a non-circular void in a head portion of the first quick-release connector. 
   
   
       13 . The chair of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one seat support member comprises an integrated tool housing configured to retain the actuator tool when not in use. 
   
   
       14 . A method of manufacture, comprising:
 forming a chair base;   forming a chair frame, including forming an upper frame portion and forming a lower frame portion;   coupling the chair frame to the chair base;   forming a back cushion assembly, including forming at least one back support member and forming a back foam cushion;   forming a seat cushion assembly, including forming at least one seat support member and forming a seat foam cushion; and   releasably coupling one or both of the back cushion assembly to the upper frame portion or the seat cushion assembly to the lower frame portion, including rotating, sliding, or push-button activating at least a first quick-release connector in an engaging direction.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming an actuator tool having a distal end configured to be received by a head portion of the first quick-release connector. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forming a lumbar support assembly; and
 coupling the lumbar support assembly to a portion of the back cushion assembly.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein forming the chair frame includes forming an upper frame portion configured to receive and support a plurality of back cushion assembly sizes. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein forming the chair frame includes forming a lower frame portion configured to receive and support a plurality of seat cushion assembly sizes. 
   
   
       19 . A method of use, comprising:
 removing one or both of a first back cushion assembly or a first seat cushion assembly from a chair frame, including rotating, sliding, or push-button deactivating at least one quick-release connector in a disengaging direction; and   releasably coupling at least one of a second back cushion assembly or a second seat cushion assembly to the chair frame, including rotating, sliding, or push-button activating at least one quick-release connector in an engaging direction.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein rotating the at least one quick-release connector in the disengaging or engaging direction includes rotating the connector an amount of about 720-degrees or less. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein rotating the at least one quick-release connector includes using an actuator tool storable beneath the first or second seat cushion assembly. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising storing the actuator tool on a downward-orientated surface of the first or second seat cushion assembly. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein releasably coupling at least one of the second back cushion assembly or second seat cushion assembly to the chair frame includes releasably coupling at least one new back or seat cushion assembly to the chair frame. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein releasably coupling the at least one new back or seat cushion assembly to the chair frame includes coupling a back or seat cushion assembly having a different size than a removed back or seat cushion assembly. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising performing maintenance on the first back or seat cushion assembly after removal, including one of cleaning or refurbishing the cushion assembly. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein releasably coupling at least one of the second back or seat cushion assembly to the chair frame includes coupling a cleaned or refurbished cushion assembly to the chair frame.