Chair

Abstract

A seating structure includes a frame defining an opening, a suspension material extending across the opening, and a molded strip encapsulating an edge of the suspension material and coupled to the frame. The molded strip defines a plurality of windows. A portion of the suspension material is exposed through at least some of the plurality of windows.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seating structure comprising:
 a frame defining an opening;   a suspension material extending across the opening; and   a molded strip encapsulating an edge of the suspension material and coupled to the frame, the molded strip defining a plurality of windows, wherein a portion of the suspension material is exposed through at least some of the plurality of windows.   
     
     
         2 . The seating structure of  claim 1 , wherein the molded strip has a generally C-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The seating structure of  claim 2 , wherein the C-shaped cross-section is defined by a first leg, a second leg spaced apart from the first leg, and an intermediate leg extending between and connecting the first and second legs, and wherein the plurality of windows is formed in the first leg. 
     
     
         4 . The seating structure of  claim 3 , wherein the second leg is received in a slot of the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The seating structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of windows is arranged in a row along a length of the molded strip. 
     
     
         6 . The seating structure of  claim 1 , wherein each window has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The seating structure of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the molded strip includes a plurality of fingers, and wherein a space is respectively defined between each finger. 
     
     
         8 . The seating structure of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension material includes a monofilament. 
     
     
         9 . A suspension assembly for a seating structure, the suspension assembly comprising:
 a suspension material configured to extend across an opening defined by the seating structure; and   a strip molded to an edge of the suspension material and configured to be coupled to a portion of the seating structure, the strip defining a plurality of windows,   wherein a portion of the suspension material is exposed through at least some of the plurality of windows.   
     
     
         10 . The suspension assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the strip has a generally C-shaped cross-section, and wherein the C-shaped cross-section is defined by a first leg, a second leg spaced apart from the first leg, and an intermediate leg extending between and connecting the first and second legs. 
     
     
         11 . The suspension assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the strip is formed by a first strip member molded to a first edge of the suspension material and a second strip member molded to a second edge of the suspension material such that the first strip member is spaced apart from the second strip member in a first direction. 
     
     
         12 . The suspension assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second strip members each include a plurality of fingers, and wherein a space is respectively defined between each finger. 
     
     
         13 . The suspension assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the strip is also formed by a third strip member molded to a third edge of the suspension material and a fourth strip member molded to a fourth edge of the suspension material such that the third strip member is spaced apart from the fourth strip member in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the third strip member and the fourth strip member interconnect the first strip member and the second strip member. 
     
     
         14 . The suspension assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of windows is arranged in a row along each strip member. 
     
     
         15 . The suspension assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the suspension material includes a monofilament. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a seating structure, the seating structure including a frame defining an opening, the method comprising:
 providing a suspension material;   molding a strip to an edge of the suspension material such that a portion of the suspension material is exposed through a plurality of windows defined within the strip; and   coupling the strip to the frame such that the suspension material extends across the opening of the frame.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein molding the strip to the edge of the suspension material includes injecting a plastic material into a mold assembly to form the strip such that the strip has a generally C-shaped cross-section defined by a first leg, a second leg, and an intermediate leg. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein coupling the strip to the frame includes inserting the second leg into a slot of the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 prior to molding the strip to the edge of the suspension material, securing the suspension material within a mold assembly by using a plurality of projections formed on a first mold portion to hold the suspension material against a second mold portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the strip is a first strip member defining a first plurality of windows and the edge is a first edge, and further comprising molding a second strip member to a second edge of the suspension material such that the suspension material is exposed through a second plurality of windows defined within the second strip member.