Chair construction and method therefore

Abstract

In one embodiment, a chair includes a frame and a seat support coupled to the frame. The seat support is slidable relative to the frame from a disengaged position to an engaged position. A seat member is coupled to the seat support. The seat member is slidable relative to the seat support from a disengaged position to an engaged position. Methods of assembly are also provided.

1 . A chair comprising:
 a frame comprising one of a tab extending in a first direction or a slot extending in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and one of an opening or a protuberance formed thereon, said opening facing said second direction and said protuberance extending in said second direction; and   a seat support having the other of said tab or said slot and the other of said opening or said protuberance, wherein said seat support is moveable in said second direction between a first position, wherein said tab is disengaged from said slot and said protuberance is disengaged from said opening, and a second position, wherein said tab is engaged with said slot and said protuberance is received in said opening.   
     
     
         2 . The chair of  claim 1  wherein said seat support is further moveable to a third position between said first and second positions, wherein said tab is engaged with said slot and said protuberance is disengaged with said opening. 
     
     
         3 . The chair of  claim 1  wherein said seat support is locked to said frame when said seat support is in said second position. 
     
     
         4 . The chair of  claim 3  further comprising a lock member inserted through said tab and engaging the other of said frame or said seat support defining said slot. 
     
     
         5 . The chair of  claim 1  wherein said frame comprises a pair of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending side frame members coupled to a laterally extending cross member, wherein said tab is connected to and extends laterally inwardly from one of said side frame members and said seat support comprises said slot, and wherein said cross member comprises said one of said opening or said protuberance. 
     
     
         6 . The chair of  claim 5  wherein said cross member comprises a plurality of said openings and said seat support comprises a plurality of said protuberances. 
     
     
         7 . The chair of  claim 1  further comprising a seat member coupled to said seat support. 
     
     
         8 . The chair of  claim 7  wherein one of said seat member and said seat support comprises an insert member, and the other of said seat member and said seat support comprises a catch member, wherein said seat member is moveable relative to said seat support from a first position, wherein said insert member is disengaged from said catch member, to a second position, wherein said insert member is engaged with said catch member. 
     
     
         9 . The chair of  claim 8  wherein said frame comprises an upwardly extending post, and further comprising a backrest having a mounting portion with an opening formed therein, wherein said post is disposed in a bottom of said opening formed in said mounting portion, and further comprising an insert member disposed through a top of said opening formed in said mounting portion, wherein said insert member is engaged with said post, and further comprising a lock member disposed through said mounting portion, said post and said insert member. 
     
     
         10 . The chair of  claim 9  wherein said insert member comprises one of an armrest or a plug. 
     
     
         11 . The chair of  claim 9  wherein said lock member comprises a releasable retainer pin moveably mounted to said backrest, wherein said retainer pin is accessible through an opening formed in the bottom of said mounting portion, and is moveable between a lock position, wherein said retainer pin is engaged with said post and said insert member, and an unlocked position, wherein said retainer pin member is disengaged with said post and said insert member. 
     
     
         12 . A method of assembling a chair comprising:
 providing a frame comprising one of a tab or a slot and a cross member comprising one of an opening or a protuberance formed thereon;   providing a seat support having the other of said tab or said slot and the other of said opening or said protuberance;   positioning said seat support relative to said frame and thereby aligning said tab with said slot and said protuberance with said opening; and   moving said seat support and said frame relative to each other from a first position, wherein said tab is disengaged from said slot and said protuberance is disengaged from said opening, to a second position, wherein said tab is engaged with said slot and said protuberance is received in said opening.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said moving said seat support and said frame relative to each other from said first position to said second position comprises moving said seat support and said frame relative to each other from said first position to a third position, wherein said tab is engaged with said slot and said protuberance is disengaged with said opening, and then moving said seat support and said frame relative to each other from said third position to said second position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising locking said seat support to said frame when said seat support is in said second position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein locking said seat support to said frame comprises inserting a lock member through said tab and engaging the other of said frame or said seat support defining said slot. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said frame comprises a longitudinally extending side frame member coupled to said cross member, wherein said tab is connected to and extends laterally inwardly from said side frame member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising coupling a seat member to said seat support. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein one of said seat member and said seat support comprises an insert member, and the other of said seat member and said seat support comprises a catch member, and wherein said coupling said seat member to said seat support comprises moving said seat member relative to said seat support from a first position, wherein said insert member is disengaged from said catch member, to a second position, wherein said insert member is engaged with said catch member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said frame comprises an upwardly extending post, and further comprising providing a backrest having a mounting portion with an opening formed therein, disposing said post in a bottom of said opening formed in said mounting portion, disposing an insert member through a top of said opening formed in said mounting portion, engaging said insert member with said post, and locking said mounting portion and said insert member to said post. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said locking said mounting portion and said insert member to said post comprises moving a lock member coupled to said backrest from a unlocked position, wherein said lock member is disengaged from said post and said insert member, to a locked position, wherein said lock member is engaged with said post and said insert member. 
     
     
         21 . A method of assembling a chair comprising:
 sliding a seat support relative to a frame in a horizontal direction from a disengaged position to an engaged position;   immobilizing said seat support relative to said frame in said engaged position;   sliding a seat member relative to said seat support in a horizontal direction from a disengaged position to an engaged position; and   immobilizing said seat member relative to said seat support in said engaged position.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising sliding a backrest relative to a frame in a downward direction from a disengaged position to an engaged position, and immobilizing said backrest relative to said frame in said engaged position. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising sliding an insert member relative to said backrest and said frame from a disengaged position to an engaged position, and immobilizing said insert member. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said immobilizing said backrest and said immobilizing said insert member are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         25 . A chair comprising:
 a frame;   a seat support coupled to said frame, wherein said seat support is slidable relative to said frame in a horizontal direction from a disengaged position to an engaged position; and   a seat member coupled to said seat support, wherein said seat member is slidable relative to said seat support in a horizontal direction from a disengaged position to an engaged position.   
     
     
         26 . The chair of  claim 25  further comprising a backrest coupled to said frame, wherein said backrest is slidable relative to said frame in a downward direction from a disengaged position to an engaged position. 
     
     
         27 . The chair of  claim 26  further comprising an insert member coupled to said frame, wherein said insert member is slidable through an opening formed in said backrest relative to said frame in a downward direction from a disengaged position to an engaged position. 
     
     
         28 - 33 . (canceled)