Chair Base Assembly

Abstract

A chair base assembly including a leg assembly, a seat support and a support column coupling the leg assembly to the seat support. Either one or both of the seat support and the leg assembly including an insert member that extends about a bore defined within each, configured to accept the support column. Such an insert member includes a winding that is outwardly deformable so as to be outwardly deformable. The insert member may include a winding of a substantially uniform wire-like member having a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration so as to define a circular cross-section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chair base assembly comprising:
 a leg assembly having a central hub with a plurality of legs extending axially outwardly therefrom, the legs having a proximal end coupled to the central hub and a distal end spaced axially outwardly therefrom, the central hub defining a cylindrical wall having an upper end and a lower end, being inwardly tapered between the upper end and the lower end such that a cross-sectional configuration at the upper end is larger than a cross-sectional configuration of a portion of the cylindrical wall between the upper end and the lower end, the cylindrical wall having an inner surface with a channel positioned between the upper end and the lower end, with an insert member positioned within the channel, the insert member comprising a wound member configured to extend about the inner surface of the cylindrical wall at least a radial distance that is greater than half of the circumference of the inner wall, the insert member being outwardly deformable;   a seat support configured to receive at least one of a seating surface and a back rest; and   a support column having an upper end coupled to the seat support and a lower end coupled to the leg assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The chair base assembly of  claim 1  wherein the insert member defines a generally cylindrical winding having a first end and a second end, the cylindrical winding extending at least about the circumference of the inner surface of the cylindrical wall with the first end and the second end being offset from each other and overlapping. 
     
     
         3 . The chair base assembly of  claim 2  wherein the insert member defines a cylindrical winding having at least two full windings. 
     
     
         4 . The chair base assembly of  claim 3  where the insert member is outwardly elastically deformed, and wherein the configuration is maintained by the coupling of the insert member with the cylindrical wall of the central hub. 
     
     
         5 . The chair base assembly of  claim 4  wherein the insert member is positioned at the upper end of the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         6 . The chair base assembly of  claim 2  wherein the insert member comprises a winding formed from a substantially uniformly configured metal member having a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The chair base assembly of  claim 2  wherein the leg assembly further includes a caster positioned at the distal end of each of the legs of the leg assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The chair base assembly of  claim 1  wherein the seat support further comprises:
 a body having a central bore defining an inner wall with a proximate end and a distal end, a channel is positioned within the inner wall between the proximal and distal end; and 
 a seat support insert member comprising a wound member configured to extend about the inner surface of the central bore at least a radial distance that is greater than half of the circumference of the inner surface, the seat support insert member being outwardly deformable. 
 
     
     
         9 . The chair base assembly of  claim 8  wherein the seat support insert member defines a generally cylindrical winding having a first end and a second end, the cylindrical winding extending at least about the circumference of the inner surface of the inner wall of the central bore with the first end and the second end being offset from each other and overlapping. 
     
     
         10 . The chair base assembly of  claim 9  wherein the seat support insert member defines a cylindrical winding having at least two full windings. 
     
     
         11 . The chair base assembly of  claim 10  where the seat support insert member is outwardly elastically deformed, and wherein the configuration is maintained by the coupling of the seat support insert member with the inner wall of the central bore. 
     
     
         12 . The chair base assembly of  claim 9  wherein the seat support insert member comprises a winding formed from a substantially uniformly configured metal member having a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A leg assembly for use in association with a chair base assembly comprising:
 a central hub with a plurality of legs extending axially outwardly therefrom, the legs having a proximal end coupled to the central hub and a distal end spaced axially outwardly therefrom, the central hub defining a cylindrical wall having an upper end and a lower end, being inwardly tapered between the upper end and the lower end such that a cross-sectional configuration at the upper end is larger than a cross-sectional configuration of a portion of the cylindrical wall between the upper end and the lower end, the cylindrical wall having an inner surface with a channel positioned between the upper end and the lower end, with an insert member positioned within the channel, the insert member comprising a wound member configured to extend about the inner surface of the cylindrical wall at least a radial distance that is greater than half of the circumference of the inner wall, the insert member being outwardly deformable.   
     
     
         14 . The leg assembly of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of legs are integrally formed with the central hub and comprise a polymer member, with the insert member comprising a metal member which is formed from a winding having a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The leg assembly of  claim 13  wherein the insert member defines a generally cylindrical winding having a first end and a second end, the cylindrical winding extending at least about the circumference of the inner surface of the cylindrical wall with the first end and the second end being offset from each other and overlapping. 
     
     
         16 . The leg assembly of  claim 15  wherein the insert member defines a cylindrical winding having at least two full windings. 
     
     
         17 . The leg assembly of  claim 16  where the insert member is outwardly elastically deformed, and wherein the configuration is maintained by the coupling of the insert member with the cylindrical wall of the central hub. 
     
     
         18 . The leg assembly of  claim 13  wherein the insert member is positioned at the upper end of the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         19 . A seat support for use in association with a chair base assembly comprising:
 a body having a central bore defining an inner wall with a proximate end and a distal end, a channel is positioned within the inner wall between the proximal and distal end; and   a seat support insert member comprising a wound member configured to extend about the inner surface of the central bore at least a radial distance that is greater than half of the circumference of the inner surface, the seat support insert member being outwardly deformable.   
     
     
         20 . The seat support of  claim 19  wherein the seat support insert member defines a generally cylindrical winding having a first end and a second end, the cylindrical winding extending at least about the circumference of the inner surface of the inner wall of the central bore with the first end and the second end being offset from each other and overlapping. 
     
     
         21 . The chair base assembly of  claim 20  wherein the seat support insert member defines a cylindrical winding having at least two full windings. 
     
     
         22 . The chair base assembly of  claim 21  where the seat support insert member is outwardly elastically deformed, and wherein the configuration is maintained by the coupling of the seat support insert member with the inner wall of the central bore. 
     
     
         23 . The chair base assembly of  claim 20  wherein the seat support insert member comprises a winding formed from a substantially uniformly configured metal member having a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration.