Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A plastic stand pipe designed for application to furniture such as a chair, to replace a metal stand pipe supporting a gas fluid spring which allows a seat to be raised and lowered as desired. The plastic stand pipe is attached to the chair base, and encloses the fluid spring which supports the seat. The inventive design relies on the combination of a novel structural configuration of the stand pipe inner working parts which support the fluid spring cylinder and use of appropriate plastic engineering materials to achieve the result allowing for replacement of the metal stand pipe. The structural configuration features a plurality of ribs formed on the inner wall of a plastic tubular member, such that the ribs contact the fluid spring cylinder and provide circumferential support. The end of each rib is formed with a support projection which is flexible, and the plurality of support projections form a floating support ring allowing for some freedom in the fluid spring movement from side to side at its top end. The design of the interior ribs supplies the dual function of guiding the fluid spring with flexibility while providing sufficient rigidity to support loads placed on it. The plastic engineering material comprises fiberglass-reinforced nylon and a ter polymer comprising ethylene, acrylic acid and maleic anhydride, and provides sufficient strength, flexibility and durability under the severe mechanical conditions of the application.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim