Stackable chair having wheel assemblies

Abstract

A stackable chair for supporting a seat occupant on a ground surface includes a seat, a chair back, a first leg assembly and a second leg assembly each having a base leg, an upright leg and a junction which couples the base leg to the upright leg. A first wheel assembly is coupled to the first leg assembly at the junction and a second wheel assembly is coupled to the second leg assembly at the junction. The stackable chair includes an end cap coupled to the base leg. The first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly include one or more wheels that at least partially support the chair on the ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stackable chair configured for supporting a seat occupant on a floor or other ground surface comprising:
 a seat for supporting the seat occupant;   a chair back extending at an angle relative to the seat;   a first leg assembly and a second leg assembly each having a base leg, an upright leg, and a junction which couples the base leg to the upright leg;   a first wheel assembly coupled to the first leg assembly at the junction and a second wheel assembly coupled to the second leg assembly at the junction; and   an end cap coupled to each of the base legs.   
     
     
         2 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the end caps are coupled to the base legs at outer ends of the base legs opposite the junctions. 
     
     
         3 . The chair of  claim 2 , wherein the end caps are configured to partially support the chair on the ground surface. 
     
     
         4 . The chair of  claim 2 , wherein the end caps are movable into and out of engagement with the ground surface upon a reclining force applied to the chair back such that the entire weight of the chair is supported by the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The chair of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second wheel assemblies include a pair of wheels that contact the ground surface, wherein the pair of wheels at least partially support the chair on the ground surface and allow the chair to move along the ground surface upon application of a tilting force to the chair that move the end caps away from the ground surface. 
     
     
         6 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the seat extends generally parallel to the base legs and a chair back extends generally perpendicular to the seat. 
     
     
         7 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the seat has a seat width and wherein the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly are separated by a width greater than the seat width. 
     
     
         8 . The chair of  claim 7  wherein the chair is configured to form a stack with one or more other chairs, wherein when the stack of chairs is formed, the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly of a bottom chair of the stack of chairs support the stack of chairs on the ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second wheel assemblies each include a wheel bracket which is coupled to the junction and a pair of wheels, wherein the wheels at least partially support the chair on the ground surface. 
     
     
         10 . The chair of  claim 9 , wherein the wheels of the first and the second wheel assembles support the chair on the ground surface such that the junction does not contact the ground surface. 
     
     
         11 . The chair of  claim 1 , wherein the junction is curved such that the upright leg extends at an angle with respect to the base leg. 
     
     
         12 . The chair of  claim 1  wherein the end cap is formed from a material to resist sliding along the ground surface. 
     
     
         13 . A stackable chair configured for supporting a seat occupant on a floor or other ground surface and capable of being stacked on top of each other, the chair comprising:
 a seat for supporting the seat occupant;   a chair back extending at an angle relative to the seat;   a first leg assembly including an upright leg coupled to the seat, a base leg extending parallel to the ground surface and a junction which couples the base leg to the upright leg;   a second leg assembly including an upright leg coupled to the seat, a base leg extending parallel to the ground surface and a junction which couples the base leg to the upright leg   a first wheel assembly coupled to the first leg assembly at the junction, the first wheel assembly including at least one wheel; and   a second wheel assembly coupled to the second leg assembly at the junction, the first wheel assembly including at least one wheel,   wherein the at least one wheel of the first wheel assembly and the at least one wheel of the second wheel assembly at least partially support a weight of the chair on the ground surface.   
     
     
         14 . The chair of  claim 13  further comprising an end cap coupled to the base legs of the first and second leg assemblies, wherein the end caps at least partially support the weight of the chair on the ground surface. 
     
     
         15 . The chair of  claim 13  wherein the first and second wheel assemblies each include a wheel bracket coupled to the junction and a pair of wheels, wherein the wheels at least partially support the chair on the ground surface. 
     
     
         16 . The chair of  claim 15  wherein the pair of wheels are located on opposite sides of the wheel brackets and are supported by an axle extending through the wheel bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The chair of  claim 13 , wherein the seat has a seat width and wherein the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly are separated by a width greater than the seat width. 
     
     
         18 . The chair of  claim 17  wherein when a stack of chairs is formed, the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly of a bottom chair of the stack of chairs support the stack of chairs on the ground surface when the stack of chairs is tilted to a movement position. 
     
     
         19 . The chair of  claim 18  further comprising an end cap coupled to the base legs of the first and second leg assemblies, wherein the end caps at least partially support the weight of the chair on the ground surface in a seating position. 
     
     
         20 . The chair of  claim 17 , wherein the end caps of the bottom chair are movable out of engagement with the ground surface upon a tilting force applied to the stack of chairs such that the entire weight of the stack of chairs is supported by the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly of the bottom chair.