Chair shell with integral hollow contoured support

摘要

A molded chair shell includes a seat portion and a back portion joined at a junction area. A support or reinforcement member is located at the junction area and is formed integrally with the seat portion and the back portion. The reinforcement member includes an internal cavity between the seat portion and the back portion that is substantially positioned over the junction area. The cavity is formed by cavity walls, which may form ribs that extend forwardly along the seat portion and upwardly the back portion of the chair shell. The chair shell may be formed in an injection molding process, and the internal cavity may be formed in a gas assist operation carried out during the injection molding process.