Sling chair

Abstract

A sling chair may include a frame having one or more side rails, each side rail having a J-channel, and a fabric having one or more edges. The J-channel may include a neck and a foot, and be configured to receive a rod connected to a fabric edge. A locking strip may be inserted and force fit into the J-channel to lock the fabric edge and rod in the J-channel. The locking strip may include one or more lateral protrusions for mating with a ridge along an inner surface of the side rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sling chair comprising:
 a frame having a first side rail having an interior side and a second side rail having an interior side, the first and second side rails are generally parallel, and each side rail has a J-channel along a length of the rail;   a fabric panel having first and second edges, the first and second edges generally parallel;   a first rod connected to the first edge and inserted into the first side rail J-channel; and   a first locking strip inserted into the first side rail J-channel and configured to lock the first rod and first edge into the first side rail J-channel.   
     
     
         2 . The sling chair of  claim 1 , further comprising a second rod connected to the second edge and inserted into the second side rail J-channel, and a second locking strip inserted into the second side rail J-channel and configured to lock the second rod and second edge into the second side rail J-channel. 
     
     
         3 . The sling chair of  claim 1 , wherein the first side rail J-channel comprises a neck and a laterally offset foot, the laterally offset foot being laterally offset inward toward the first rail interior side. 
     
     
         4 . The sling chair of  claim 3 , wherein the first rod and the first edge are received in the laterally offset foot. 
     
     
         5 . The sling chair of  claim 2 , wherein the second side rail J-channel comprises a neck and a laterally offset foot, the laterally offset foot being laterally offset inward toward the second rail interior side. 
     
     
         6 . The sling chair of  claim 5 , wherein the second rod and the second edge are received in the laterally offset foot. 
     
     
         7 . The sling chair of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge comprises a loop, and the first rod is inserted in the loop. 
     
     
         8 . The sling chair of  claim 2 , wherein the second edge comprises a loop, and the second rod is inserted in the loop. 
     
     
         9 . The sling chair of  claim 1 , wherein the first rod is stapled to the first edge. 
     
     
         10 . The sling chair of  claim 2 , wherein the second rod is stapled to the second edge. 
     
     
         11 . The sling chair of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking strip comprises a lateral protrusion configured for mating with a corresponding ridge formed in the first side rail. 
     
     
         12 . The sling chair of  claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional width of the first J-channel neck is less than the cross-section width of the first J-channel foot. 
     
     
         13 . A sling chair comprising:
 a frame having a first side rail having an interior side and an exterior side, and a second side rail having an interior side and an exterior side, the first and second side rails are generally parallel, and each side rail has a J-channel along a length of the rail;   a fabric panel having first and second edges, the first and second edges generally parallel;   a first rod connected to the first edge and inserted into the first side rail J-channel;   a first locking strip inserted into the first side rail J-channel and configured to lock the first rod and first edge into the first side rail J-channel;   a second rod connected to the second edge and inserted into the second side rail J-channel; and   a second locking strip inserted into the second side rail J-channel and configured to lock the second rod and second edge into the second side rail J-channel.   
     
     
         14 . The sling chair of  claim 13 , wherein the each J-channel comprises a neck and a laterally offset foot, the laterally offset foot being laterally offset inward toward the associated side rail interior side, such that the first edge and first rod are received in the first side rail J-channel foot, and the second edge and second rod are received in the second side rail J-channel foot. 
     
     
         15 . The sling chair of  claim 14 , wherein the first locking strip is force fit in the first side rail J-channel between the fabric panel and the exterior side of the first side rail. 
     
     
         16 . The sling chair of  claim 15 , wherein the first locking strip comprises a lateral protrusion configured for mating with a corresponding ridge formed in the first side rail J-channel. 
     
     
         17 . A method for assembling a sling chair having a frame with a first side rail having an interior side and a second side rail having an interior side, the first and second side rails are generally parallel, and each side rail has a J-channel along a length of the rail, the method comprising:
 assembling a first fabric edge and rod assembly;   inserting the first fabric edge and rod assembly into the first side rail J-channel; and   force fitting a first locking strip in the first side rail J-channel, the first locking strip configured to lock the first rod and first edge into the first side rail J-channel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 assembling a second fabric edge and rod assembly;   inserting the second fabric edge and rod assembly into the second side rail J-channel; and   force fitting a second locking strip in the second side rail J-channel, the second locking strip configured to lock the second rod and second edge into the second side rail J-channel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein inserting the second fabric edge and rod assembly into the second side rail J-channel and inserting the first fabric edge and rod assembly into the first side rail J-channel are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first side Jail J-channel comprises a neck and a laterally offset foot, and inserting the first fabric edge and rod assembly into the first side rail J-channel comprises receiving the first fabric edge and rod assembly in the laterally offset foot.