Stackable chair with flexible back

Abstract

A chair having a seat, a seat back and a frame with spaced apart side members and a rear member interconnecting the side members is provided. The chair also includes a support interconnecting the two side members. A seat support bracket interconnects the rear member to the mid portion of the support member. A spring interconnects the seat back to the support member. The proximal end of the spring is attached to the support member, and the distal end of the spring is attached to the seat back. The spring translates a portion of the load placed on the seat back onto the support member, and allows the user to recline. A support having a flange is disposed on each of the legs in a predetermined manner so as to place the chair on top of a like chair in a predetermined position convenient and conducive to stacking.

1 . A chair comprising:
 a seat;   a seat back;   a frame including a pair of spaced apart side members and a rear member interconnecting one of the side members to the other side member;   a plurality of legs extending from the frame so as to support the frame;   a support member including a first end portion and a second end portion, and a mid portion interconnecting the first end portion to the second end portion, the first end portion being connected to one of the side members and the second end portion being connected to the other side member;   a seat support bracket interconnecting the rear member to the mid portion of the support member; and   a spring having a proximal end connected to the support member and a distal end connected to the seat back so as to translate at least a portion of the load experienced by the seat back onto the support member.   
   
   
       2 . The chair as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the support member is forward of the rear member. 
   
   
       3 . The chair as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mid portion of the support member is lower than the pair of side members. 
   
   
       4 . The chair as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the seat support bracket includes a seat panel that is integrally formed with a step portion, the step portion being generally orthogonal to the seat panel, the seat panel being attached to the rear member and the step portion being attached to the support member. 
   
   
       5 . The chair as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the seat support bracket includes a slot, and a portion of the spring extends through the slot. 
   
   
       6 . The chair as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the proximal end of the spring is generally orthogonal to the distal end. 
   
   
       7 . The chair as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the proximal end of the spring is attached to a top surface of the support member. 
   
   
       8 . The chair as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the spring is located below and is attached to a bottom surface of the mid portion of the support member. 
   
   
       9 . The chair as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of legs includes a pair of rear leg members and a pair of front leg members, the rear leg members being spaced apart from and extending generally above the pair of spaced apart forward leg members. 
   
   
       10 . The chair as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the rear member extends above the side members. 
   
   
       11 . The chair as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the spring is below the rear member. 
   
   
       12 . The chair as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a support attached to an underside of one of the pair of spaced apart side members and one of the plurality of legs extending from the frame, wherein the support extends downwardly from the side member along a length of a leg to a flange and the flange rests upon a frame member of a like chair when placed in a stack of like chairs. 
   
   
       13 . The chair as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the support is a plurality of supports, each of the plurality of supports attached to an underside of one of the pair of spaced apart side members and one of the plurality of legs extending from the frame, wherein each of the plurality of supports extend downwardly from one of the pair of spaced apart side members along a length of a leg to a flange and each of the flange rests upon a frame member of a like chair when placed in a stack of like chairs. 
   
   
       14 . The chair as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the flange rests upon a top surface of a frame front member. 
   
   
       15 . A stackable chair as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of supports has a concave edge extending downwardly in a direction from the underside of the side member to the flange so as to define an arc. 
   
   
       16 . A stackable chair as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of supports has a generally straight extending downwardly in a direction from the underside of the side member to the flange so as to define a triangle. 
   
   
       17 . A stackable chair comprising:
 a seat;   a seat back;   a frame including a pair of spaced apart side members and a rear member interconnecting one of the side members to the other side member;   a plurality of legs extending from the frame so as to support the frame; and   a support disposed on each of the plurality of legs, wherein the support extends downwardly from each of the side members to a flange and the flange rests upon a frame member of a like chair when placed in a stack of like chairs.   
   
   
       18 . A stackable chair as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the support has a concave edge extending from the side member to the leg so as to define an arc. 
   
   
       19 . A stackable chair as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the support is shaped like a triangle. 
   
   
       20 . A stackable chair as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the flange extends generally orthogonal from the support towards a center line of the seat.