Tightening rod for sling chair

Abstract

A chair includes first support comprising a passageway, a second support, a body of material extending from the first support to the second support, a rod extending between the first support and the second support, and a threaded nut. The rod includes a main body and a threaded portion sized to be received by the passageway. The threaded nut is configured to be positioned about and to interface with the threaded portion. Rotating the rod clockwise causes the main body to move laterally away from the support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chair comprising:
 a first support comprising a passageway;   a second support;   a body of material extending from the first support to the second support;   a rod extending between the first support and the second support, the rod comprising:
 a main body; and 
 a threaded portion sized to be received by the passageway; and 
   a threaded nut configured to be positioned about and to interface with the threaded portion,   wherein rotating the rod clockwise causes the main body to move laterally away from the support.   
     
     
         2 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded nut is shaped to receive a wrench. 
     
     
         3 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the main body and the threaded portion are monolithic. 
     
     
         4 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion is configured to interface with a hex key. 
     
     
         5 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the rod further comprises a slip cover configured to be positioned over a portion of the threaded portion that extends from the first support to the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the body of material comprises a stretchable material, and wherein increasing a distance between the first support and the second support increases a tension on the body of material. 
     
     
         7 . The chair of  claim 6 , wherein a length of the rod is greater than the distance between the first support and the second support when the body of material is unstretched. 
     
     
         8 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is rotatably coupled to the second support. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly comprising:
 a threaded passageway having an inner diameter;   a rod in initial contact with the threaded passageway; and   a screw having a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the threaded passageway, the screw extending through the threaded passageway,
 wherein threads of the screw interface with the threaded passageway, such that rotating the screw causes the screw to move laterally within the threaded passageway, and 
 wherein lateral movement of the screw causes the rod to separate from the threaded passageway. 
   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first support comprising the threaded passageway;   a second support substantially parallel to the first support; and   a body of material extending between the first support and the second support,   wherein the rod extends from the first support to the second support, and   wherein causing the rod to separate from the threaded passageway increases a distance between the first support and the second support.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein increasing the distance between the first support and the second support increases a tension on the body of material. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the screw is configured to interface with and be rotated by a hex key. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first support comprising the threaded passageway;   a second support substantially parallel to the first support; and   a body of material extending between the first support and the second support a first support, wherein:
 the threaded passageway comprises a nut, 
 the nut abuts the first support, 
 causing the rod to separate from the threaded passageway causes the rod to separate from the first support and increases a distance between the first support and the second support. 
   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the screw is monolithic with the rod. 
     
     
         15 . A method for assembling a chair, comprising:
 providing an assembly comprising:
 a threaded passageway having an inner diameter; 
 a rod in initial contact with the threaded passageway; and 
 a screw having a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the threaded passageway, the screw extending through the threaded passageway, 
 wherein threads of the screw interface with the threaded passageway, such that rotating the screw causes the screw to move laterally within the threaded passageway; and 
   rotating the screw,   causing the rod to move laterally away and separate from the threaded passageway.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein rotating the screw comprises:
 inserting a hex key into an end of the screw; and   turning the hex key.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the threaded passageway comprises a nut, the method further comprising:
 holding, with a wrench, the nut stationary as the screw is rotated.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the screw is monolithic with the rod, such that the screw and the rod rotate together. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the rod is rotatably coupled to a side support of the chair. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising moving a slip cover along the rod to obscure a portion of the screw extending between the passageway and the rod.