Seating systems

Abstract

Seating systems are disclosed.

1 . A seating system comprising:
 a base module having a carrier tray, said carrier tray having a base and a continuous upstanding side wall, said carrier tray defining a cavity containing a plurality of seating support units operable to provide support to an individual sitting on said base module;   a seating mechanism;   laterally spaced first and second actuators each being located within said seating mechanism; and   an open cavity between said first and actuators and said front and back members of said seating mechanism, said open cavity receiving therein said base module.   
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said carrier tray is configured in a generally quadrilateral shape;   said seating mechanism is configured in a generally quadrilateral shape with a pair of laterally spaced generally parallel and longitudinally oriented side members and joined to a pair of longitudinally spaced generally parallel and laterally oriented front and back members;   said laterally spaced first and second actuators are located proximate a respective one of said laterally spaced and longitudinally oriented side members; and   the open cavity is generally quadrilateral shaped.   
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said carrier tray is formed from a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said plurality of seating support units comprise a plurality of upstanding pocket coils. 
     
     
         5 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said base module further comprises a plurality of foam members located within and adjacent to said sidewall of said carrier tray. 
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said base module further comprises a plurality of foam members located within and adjacent to said sidewall of said carrier tray. 
     
     
         7 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said base module further comprises a flexible cover extending from said side wall and over said plurality of seating support units. 
     
     
         8 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said seating mechanism is made of metallic components. 
     
     
         9 . A system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the system further comprises a framework extending around and above said side wall of said carrier tray, said framework disposed between a rim of said sidewall of said carrier tray and said front, back and side members of said seating mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a footrest apparatus mounted for pivoting movement relative to said seating mechanism, and wherein said first and second actuators are operable to move said footrest apparatus between an extended position and a retracted position. 
     
     
         11 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a foam-core seat positioned above said base module. 
     
     
         12 . A system as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising a seat cushion located above said foam-core seat. 
     
     
         13 . A method of assembling a seating system, the method comprising:
 supporting a seat cushion support body on at least one support surface of at least one seat support body of a seating mechanism, wherein supporting the seat cushion support body on the at least one seat support body comprises extending at least a portion of a seat cushion receptacle of the seat cushion support body into a cavity on a side of the at least one seat support body opposite the at least one support surface and positioned laterally relative to at least one actuator actuatable to move at least one footrest support body relative to the at least one seat support body.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 forming said seating mechanism, said seating mechanism comprising:
 a pair of laterally spaced generally parallel and longitudinally oriented side members joined to a pair of longitudinally spaced generally parallel and laterally oriented front and back members to form a generally quadrilateral frame; 
 laterally spaced first and second actuators comprising said at least one actuator, each of said laterally spaced first and second actuators being located within said frame and located proximate a respective one of said laterally spaced and longitudinally oriented side members; and 
 said cavity, said cavity being a generally quadrilateral shaped open cavity between said first and actuators and said front and back members of said frame; and 
 
 inserting a base module within said open cavity, said base module having a carrier tray configured in a generally quadrilateral shape, said carrier tray having a base and a continuous upstanding side wall, said carrier tray defining a cavity containing a plurality of seating support units operable to provide comfortable support to an individual sitting on said base module. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the cavity is positioned laterally between two actuators actuatable to move the at least one footrest support body relative to the at least one seat support body. 
     
     
         16 . A seating system comprising:
 a seating mechanism comprising:
 at least one seat support body comprising at least one support surface; 
 at least one actuator; and 
 at least one footrest support body movable relative to the at least one seat support body in response to actuation by the at least one actuator; and 
   a seat cushion support body comprising:
 at least one support portion positionable against the at least one support surface of the at least one seat support body to support the seat cushion support body on the seating mechanism; and 
 a seat cushion receptacle; 
   wherein the seating mechanism defines a cavity positioned laterally relative to the at least one actuator and sized to receive at least a portion of the seat cushion receptacle when the at least one support portion of the seat cushion support body is positioned against the at least one support surface of the at least one seat support body to support the seat cushion support body on the seating mechanism.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the seating mechanism comprises two actuators actuatable to move the at least one footrest support body relative to the at least one seat support body, and wherein the cavity is positioned laterally between the two actuators. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of resilient cushion-support coils positioned in the seat cushion receptacle.