Back Movement Resiliently Opposed In Operating Position Patents (Class 297/285)
  • Patent number: 8544955
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tillable chair. Specifically, the present invention relates to a tilting chair that enables tilting by combining the left plate body (110) and back plate body (120) with a tilt (130), wherein said back plate body (120) comprises a back plate backbone (122) and a back plate (124) that is combined with a moving means (150) to allow movement in up and down directions with respect to said back plate backbone (122), the front part of said left plate body (110) is combined with one side of said tilt (130), said back plate backbone (122) is combined with another side of said tilt (130), and the rear part of said left plate body (110) is combined with said back plate body (120). According to such configuration, slippage between the human body and back plate does not take place upon tilting so that the comfort level of a user may be enhanced, and a spinal cord may be effectively protected by maintaining a state of lordosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sidiz, Inc.
    Inventor: Joonyeob Kim
  • Publication number: 20130241255
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back having a support frame coupled to a seat foundation. The seat back also further includes a deformable seat shell adapted to assume various shapes between initial position and final positions in response to variable rearward loads applied by a seated passenger. The seat shell is coupled to the support frame by a compliant shell-motion controller via upper and lower motion-control links. The motion-control links allow pivotal motion, and at least one of the links includes a spheroidal joint. A link foundation extends between and interconnects the upper and lower motion-control links and is coupled to the support frame so that the link foundation does not move during seat shell deformation. The shell-motion controller may be pre-assembled as part of a backrest or the motion-control links may be formed after the link foundation is attached to the support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, INC.
    Inventors: Amit Kulkarni, David Goligorsky, Timothy R. Proulx, Yang Cao
  • Publication number: 20130234484
    Abstract: A backrest inclination structure for lumbar support enables a backrest to enter a free state when a user sitting at any position of a chair lifts a lever of a spring continuous control unit, such that the backrest fits the user's moving back when the backrest is configured for movable inclination. Hence, the backrest can move together with the user's back ergonomically to provide lumbar support. Accordingly, the user can sit comfortably on the chair and be free from lumbago and kyphosis which are common among sedentary individuals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventor: Tung-Chun Pan
  • Publication number: 20130099537
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a comfortable backrest chair. [Solution]A shape retaining material is formed to have radial cores 12 distributed and radially extending upward from a base plate adjacent a cut hole 4 to be fitted on a chair support frame, and a first and a second reinforcing cores 13 and 14 arranged adjacent the base plate of the radial cores 12. A core sheet is formed by attaching a first, a second and a third mesh sheets 9 to the shape retaining material. A chair sheet material is formed by attaching a first and a second buffer sheets 15 and 16 and an outer surface side buffer sheet 7 to the core sheet. A backrest portion of the chair sheet material is constructed to have a larger right and left width than the breadth of a seated person's shoulders, and when the load of the seated person is applied, right and left opposite ends of the backrest portion can be displaced in directions to approach each other due to elasticity of the core sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Seizou Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20130082499
    Abstract: A chair includes a base, a support element and a torsion element. The support element is coupled to the base and includes a seat region, a backrest region and a transition region connecting the seat region and the backrest region. The backrest region is reclinable relative to the seat region by way of elastic deformation of the support element. The torsion element is coupled to the base and to the backrest region. The torsion element controls the reclining of the backrest region relative to the seat region. The support element is exclusively connected to the torsion element above a lumbar region, wherein the backrest region can be inclined and/or twisted in relation to the seat region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola E.M. Zwick, Claudia Plikat, Roland R.O. Zwick
  • Patent number: 8408647
    Abstract: A movable chair backrest is substantially composed of an upper board pivotally attached to a front of a backrest frame. A lower end of the upper board is connected to a lower board by a resilient sheet. A bouncing board connects between the lower board and the backrest frame. Therefore, the lower board operationally swings forward, backward, rightward, leftward relative to the upper board to correspond to different sitting and leaning postures of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventor: Yao-Chuan Wu
  • Patent number: 8388064
    Abstract: A stackable chair having a back member may flex to allow for improved user comfort. An inline spring-to-frame configuration with a pair of spring members reinforced by steel plates on the top and bottom of each end of each spring is attached to the underside of the left and right members of the seat support frame. The spring-to-frame configuration may allow the back support frame to flex relative to the seat support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Bertolini Corporation
    Inventors: James Bertolini, Bruce William Prock
  • Patent number: 8360529
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly with a seat back mounted to pivot on a seat cushion by a recliner mechanism, and is urged forwardly by a torsion bar subassembly which has two ends fixed respectively to the seat back and to the seat cushion. The torsion bar subassembly urges the seat back to pivot forwardly for only a limited arcuate range of travel from a vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Chris Armbruster
  • Publication number: 20130001994
    Abstract: A chair with a resilient back contains a back member, a cushion, and a support member, characterized in that: the support member includes a horizontally hollow tube in which an elastic mechanism is disposed, the back member includes two pressed pieces fixed on two sides thereof respectively, lower ends of the two pressed pieces connect with two ends of the elastic mechanism individually, and the cushion is secured on the support member, wherein the elastic mechanism is a torsion spring, a middle section of the elastic mechanism is fixed, and two outer ends of the torsion spring are coupled with the lower end of the pressed piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Yao-Chuan Wu
  • Publication number: 20120306248
    Abstract: A lumbar support for a vehicle backrest has a rest member with a front surface shaped to support an area of a user's back, and an elastic member behind the rest member; the elastic member has an intermediate portion fixed to the rest member and two opposite ends fixed connected to a backrest frame, maintains the rest member in a rest position and can deform in response to a thrust of the user's back so as to let the rest member move between the rest position and a first position under normal conditions, and then abruptly towards a second position when a thrust of a user's back exceeds a given force value; the force/displacement curve of the elastic member has a slope which is between zero and a given threshold in the section between the first and the second positions, the threshold being equal to 0.5 [N/mm].
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: C.R.F. Societá Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Salvatore Demontis, Gianluca Puleo, Fabio Lopez, Giorgio Masoero
  • Patent number: 8272691
    Abstract: A resilient lower-back supporting device capable of vertical adjustment along with a backrest of a chair includes a resilient supporting unit pivotally connected between a lower end of the height-adjustable backrest and a supporting element. Configured for resilient extension and retraction, the resilient supporting unit includes an outer supporting rod and an inner supporting rod inserted therein. The two supporting rods are pulled toward each other by a spring provided therebetween. Besides, a spring is provided at an outer end of each supporting rod to bias the resilient supporting unit and the backrest toward a predetermined direction. With the backrest being vertically adjustable, and with the resilient support provided by a lower-back supporting portion at the lower end of the backrest, people of different heights are ergonomically supported especially on the lower back while sitting in the chair and are protected from back pain attributable to a prolonged sitting posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: FUH Shyan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsai Hsuan-Chin
  • Publication number: 20120235456
    Abstract: A chair includes a chair body, a connecting member, a back portion, and a restoring device. The chair body includes a base having a receiving chamber. The restoring device includes a threaded adjusting sleeve rotatably mounted in the receiving chamber, a threaded rod screwed into the adjusting sleeve, a pull cord having a first end mounted on the connecting member and a second end mounted on the threaded rod, and an elastic member biased between the base and the adjusting sleeve. Thus, when the back portion is pressed, the connecting member is driven to pivot about the chair body so that the back portion is moved to adjust its inclined angle. In addition, the elastic member provides a damping force to damp a further movement of the back portion to limit the inclined angle of the back portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Chih-Yang Huang
  • Publication number: 20120228911
    Abstract: A chair with a tilting backrest including two flexible supporting sectional elements set at a distance from one another in a transverse direction, wherein each of said supporting sectional elements is provided with a plurality of through notches that form respective points of localized bending that enable bending backwards of the supporting sectional element, and wherein each of said notches has a first contact surface and a second contact surface that, in the position of maximum inclination backwards of the backrest, come to bear upon one another to stop bending backwards of the sectional element, wherein the projections of said first and second contact surfaces in a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chair are at least partially superimposed on one another in such a way as to prevent visual communication through said notches in a direction orthogonal to said vertical plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Alessandro Piretti
  • Patent number: 8262162
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a leaf spring and a body support structure biased by the leaf spring. One of the leaf spring and the body support structure has a cam with a concave cam surface, while the other of the leaf spring and body support structure has a cam follower with a convex cam surface. The cam follower engages the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Elindo G. Castro, Jr., Christopher C. Hill
  • Publication number: 20120223560
    Abstract: A back support is pivotally oriented to locate a pivot point relative to posterior superior iliac spines of a seated user, such that when an upper portion of the back support contacts the upper torso of the user and moves to a desired angular orientation to balance the upper torso over the pelvic area, the back support transfers support to the posterior superior iliac spines to maintain the pelvic skeletal structure in alignment. A lower portion of the back support angularly contacts, supports and confines gluteal and buttocks tissue of the user independently of the degree of pivotal orientation of the upper portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hetzel, Rex Stevens, Bruce D. Roemmich, Steven C. Maurus
  • Publication number: 20120146377
    Abstract: The invention provides a seating apparatus having a reclining movement with a corresponding seat lift movement. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a seating apparatus comprising a base, a curved support bar pivotally connected to the base, a plurality of ramps attached to one of the curved support bar and the base, and a plurality of rollers attached to the other of the curved support bar and the base for interacting with the plurality of ramps. As a user reclines, the plurality of rollers operatively engage the plurality of ramps to lift the seat of the apparatus. The combination of the reclining movement with the corresponding seat lift movement is particularly beneficial for providing an increased level of user comfort throughout a range of seating positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Publication number: 20120086251
    Abstract: A back portion for a chair has a back frame, the back frame having a lower portion adapted to extend across at least a major part of a lower region of a seated adult occupant's back, an upper portion vertically spaced from the lower portion and adapted to extend across at least a major part of an upper region of the occupant's back, and a relatively narrow interconnecting region between the upper portion and lower portion. The relatively narrow interconnecting region is resiliently flexible to provide a flexing movement in a rearward direction of the upper portion relative to the lower portion. A cover operatively connected to the back frame provides a supporting surface for the back of the seated occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: FORMWAY FURNITURE LIMITED
    Inventors: Kent Wallace Parker, Paul Michael Wilkinson, Lyall Douglas Stewart, Daryl Owen Neal, Gregory W. Baum, Noah Juniper Rainbow McNeill
  • Publication number: 20120046147
    Abstract: A mounting member is adapted for joining a seat back to a frame. The mounting member includes a base and an extension projecting from the base along an axis in absence of external forces to the extension. The extension has an end distant from the base that is connectable to the seat back and that is resiliently linearly movable in directions substantially perpendicular to the axis 360° about the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: PRECOR INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas P. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20120019035
    Abstract: A chair comprises a seat and a backrest support which are mounted on a support member, the backrest support being pivotal about a horizontal pivot axis, and an energy accumulator which is tensioned when the seat is subjected to a load and acts on the backrest support, the energy accumulator engaging the backrest support at an effective distance from the pivot axis. To improve the efficiency of such a mechanism, the energy accumulator is connected on the one side to the support member and one the other side via a transverse connector to the backrest support. With the mechanism the energy accumulator is subject to a load substantially by the rear region of the seat and thus substantially by the complete weight of a person sitting on the seat. In an alternative embodiment the seat comprises an elastic cover which on the one side is clamped in the support member and on the other side is connected to the backrest support, the elastic cover serving as energy accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Johannes Uhlenbrock
  • Publication number: 20120007400
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a backrest member having an upper edge, opposite side edges and a lower edge. The backrest member has a forwardly facing convex shape formed along a vertical centerline thereof between the upper and lower edges. The lower edge has a forwardly facing concave shape. The lower edge has outer portions positioned forwardly of an entirety of the upper edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Yves Behar, Bret Recor, Naoya Edahiro, Qin Li, Andrew J. Kurrasch, Christopher C. Hill, John Matthai, Brock Walker
  • Patent number: 8084966
    Abstract: An electromotive furniture drive (2) for displacing parts of an item of furniture in relation to one another comprises a base body (16) on which a first drive unit (4) and a second drive unit (6) are held. When the furniture drive (2) is mounted, each drive unit (4, 6) is actively connected to a part of the item of furniture to be displaced. According to the invention, the drive units (4, 6) are each accommodated in a separate housing (8 or 10), whereby the base body (16) is provided in the form of a brace and connects the housings (8, 10) of the drive units (4, 6) to one another. The inventive model significantly simplifies the production of furniture drives whereby rendering it more economical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Eckhart Dewert
  • Publication number: 20110285190
    Abstract: A movable chair backrest is substantially composed of an upper board pivotally attached to a front of a backrest frame. A lower end of the upper board is connected to a lower board by a resilient sheet. A bouncing board connects between the lower board and the backrest frame. Therefore, the lower board operationally swings forward, backward, rightward, leftward relative to the upper board to correspond to different sitting and leaning gestures of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Yao-Chuan Wu
  • Publication number: 20110241399
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a leaf spring and a body support structure biased by the leaf spring. One of the leaf spring and the body support structure has a cam with a concave cam surface, while the other of the leaf spring and body support structure has a cam follower with a convex cam surface. The cam follower engages the cam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Elindo G. Castro, JR., Christopher C. Hill
  • Patent number: 7992936
    Abstract: A seat comprising an underframe and a seat element wherein the seat element comprises a front seat part, a rear seat part, a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part wherein the seat element can be displaced from a basic position into a reclined position, and wherein the seat element comprises at least one supporting arm composed of at least one upper support and at least one lower support having an arcuate profile in a transitory region between the rear seat part and the lower backrest part, and wherein the upper support and the lower support are connected at an upper backrest part. At least one guide element guiding the upper support in a front region of the seat part, and at least one connecting link positioning the upper support and the lower support with respect to each other. The front seat pan: being capable of being pulled back by the upper support when the backrest parts are loaded by an individual leaning against them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
  • Publication number: 20110181085
    Abstract: A seat assembly including a seat base, a back support, a support for the back support and/or for the seat base and at least one elastomer torsion-spring element. The back support and/or the seat base are/is pivotably hinged to the support in such a manner that a pivoting movement of the back support and/or of the seat base on a rotation axis can be carried out. During the respective pivoting movement of the back support and/or of the seat base with the elastomer torsion-spring element a restoring torque is generated that acts on the back support and/or on the seat base. The elastomer torsion-spring element includes an internal casing, an external casing encompassing the internal casing, and an elastomer body arranged in a space between the internal casing and the external casing. The elastomer body is rigidly connected to contact surfaces of the internal and external casings. The internal casing and/or the external casing are/is rotatably arranged on a rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Stoll Giroflex AG
    Inventors: Stephan PFEIFER, Wolfgang Emmenegger
  • Patent number: 7971935
    Abstract: An ergonomic chair having a seat with selectively located slot patterns or spring mechanisms to reduce pressure on the occupant of the seat and a flexible back that allows the occupant to recline while at the same time providing lumbar support. An embodiment of the chair may be telescopically stacked in a space-saving configuration of a plurality of identical chairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
    Inventors: Manuel Saez, Lachezar Tsvetanov
  • Patent number: 7946651
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for an office chair or arm-chair, in which control means for the backrest inclination and spring means for biasing the backrest to the position of minimum inclination are provided, in which at least one stepped stop block can be moved in a controlled manner, a step of said block being suitable to interfere with a member connected to the backrest when the same is being inclined, in order to limit the stroke of said member between the position of minimum inclination of the backrest and a position of interference of the member connected to the backrest with a selected one of the block steps. The invention also relates to a method for transforming a locking mechanism to an end-of-stroke mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Donati S.p.A.
    Inventor: Armando Donati
  • Patent number: 7896439
    Abstract: A chair has a seat 1 and a backrest 2 and the backrest 2 is allowed to be tilted backward by elastic deformation of right and left back frame devices 4. The right and left back frame devices 4 each are composed of two unit frames 43 and 44. The back frame device 4 has a main portion 4a which are disposed outside the right and left sides of the seat 1, upper inward portions 43a and 44a which are connected to an upper rear end of the main portion 4a, lower inward portions 43b and 44b which go under the seat 1 from a lower end portion of the main portion 4a, and forward end portions 43c and 44c which are integrally connected to the lower inward portions 43b and 44b. The forward end portions 43c and 44c are fixed to the base 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Itoki Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kan, Eric Chan
  • Publication number: 20110018321
    Abstract: A chair capable of a reduced transportation volume and rapid assembly includes a seat cushion fixing frame and a backrest supporting frame as separate components. The seat cushion fixing frame has an end coupled with an upside-down square U-shaped element bilaterally provided with downwardly extending sections, each section concavely provided with an oblique notch. The backrest supporting frame has an end corresponding in position to the seat cushion fixing frame and penetrated by a fixedly provided bar for being received in the oblique notches of the upside-down square U-shaped element during assembly. A resilient assembly is assembled to a bottom portion of a slot formed in a horizontal section of the backrest supporting frame. The two frames and the resilient assembly can be assembled rapidly without using tools. The seat cushion fixing frame and the backrest supporting frame are detachable from each other for compact packaging, thus effectively reducing transportation and production costs thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Toung-Chun Pan
  • Publication number: 20110012409
    Abstract: A mechanism for an office chair has a displaceable actuating element. The position of the element changes during a movement of the office chair mechanism, and the change in position thereof changes the movement characteristic of the office chair mechanism. The actuating element is operationally connected to a functional element. The position of the functional element changes in the event of a change in the position of the actuating element during a movement of the office chair mechanism. At least one property of the change in position of the actuating element changes in the event of a change in the position of the functional element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: BOCK 1 GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Hermann Bock
  • Patent number: 7862120
    Abstract: The invention achieves a chair in which a shape of a backrest surface can be three-dimensionally changed while following a motion such as a sitting person looks around while sitting or the like. In a chair provided with a backrest in which an upper portion of a backrest surface is supported by a plurality of frame elements arranged so as to be spaced with each other in a width direction, the respective frame elements are independently movable backward and forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kokuyo Furniture Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Ueda
  • Publication number: 20100301651
    Abstract: A memory device installed in a backrest of a chair is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Kyoung Ho Yoon
  • Publication number: 20100301652
    Abstract: The invention relates to a back rest for a stool or a chair, comprising two adjacent, spring-mounted back supports (3.1), each of which is fixed to a separate carrier part (4.1). Said back rest is characterised in that each carrier part (4.1) forms the first limb of an essentially L-shaped carrier (4), and the second limb (4.2) of each carrier (4) is fixed beneath the stool or chair seat in such a way that it can be pivoted about a horizontal axis against an elastic force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: ROHDE & GRAHL GMBH
    Inventor: Martin Ballendat
  • Publication number: 20100259082
    Abstract: An item of seating furniture includes a carrying frame having a carrying element; a seat frame having a seat surface; and a backrest, wherein the carrying element extends into a region of the backrest; a sliding guide, wherein the seat frame is displaceable in the sliding guide relative to the carrying frame between a front working position and a rear resting position. The item also includes a pelvic support disposed in a rear region of the seat surface and inclined in the front working position in relation to a plane of the seat surface; a frame configured to carry the pelvic support and pivotably movable relative and kinematically coupled to the seat frame; a thrust bearing configured to support the frame in a displaceable and pivotably movable manner; and a joint connecting the frame to the seat frame at a trailing end portion of the seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Votteler Designpartner GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Votteler
  • Patent number: 7802847
    Abstract: An angle-adjusting structure for a backrest of a chair is mounted at a rear side of a butterfly-shaped mounting member of the chair. The angle-adjusting structure includes a main body and a rotating member jointly passed through by a shaft having external teeth. A resilient element is mounted around an end of the shaft. A cover is secured to the main body by threaded fasteners. A pressing member is mounted on the other end of the shaft. By pressing the pressing member inward, the external teeth of the shaft are disengaged from internal teeth of the rotating member, and the rotating member is allowed to rotate freely. When the pressing member is released, the resilient element mounted around the end of the shaft extends outward to re-engage the external teeth of the shaft with the internal teeth of the rotating member, thereby securing the rotating member in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventor: Kuo-Ching Chou
  • Publication number: 20100207431
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat element (1) for a seat system, which extends substantially across an entire zone of a backrest and/or a seat area of a seat in a mounted state. Said seat element (1) comprises devices (12-21) for receiving functional elements in order to provide additional seat functions. Such a modular seat system makes it possible to create in a simple manner different fittings of a seat, especially a vehicle seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: SCHUKRA GERATEBAU AG
    Inventors: Jan Petzel, Thomas Preiss, Veit Stossel, David Anthony Swan, Renato Colja
  • Publication number: 20100187882
    Abstract: An integrally formed base arrangement of an office chair, and more particularly, a base arrangement integrally made by plastic material, comprising: a) a middle axle seat; b) a first U-shaped pivotal seat perpendicular to the middle axle seat; c) a claw member having a plurality of arched supporting arms extending in the shape of claws from the external rim of the middle axle seat upward; d) a base frame disposed at the top of the supporting arms of the claw member, an annular groove being positioned at the surface of the base frame; e) two second U-shaped pivotal seats symmetrically formed at both sides of the bottom of the base frame; and f) two hand rest supports extended from both sides of the base frame and the claw member outward, thereby creating a connection surface directed upward at the external end thereof. In this way, a convenient and rapid assembly of components of the office chair is ensured. Moreover, a stable structure is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Yung-Hua Chen
  • Publication number: 20100187881
    Abstract: Follow-up performance to respiratory movements is made higher than that of the prior art without obstructing movements of the pelvis of a person. A configuration is adopted that a cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat back 34, 140 and a cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat cushion are displaced according to load fluctuation to a cushioning member for a seat back 40, 150 or a cushioning member for a seat cushion 20. That is, such a configuration is adopted that the cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat back 34, 140 or the cushioning member for a seat cushion 20 not only moves according to load fluctuation but also frames themselves supporting them move via tension structure members spread over the frames (a cushioning member for a seat back and a cushioning member for a seat cushion).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Seiji Kawasaki, Hiroki Oshimo, Shigeyuki Kojima
  • Publication number: 20100117422
    Abstract: The present invention intends to arrange the appearance of furniture at a connecting portion between a first member having stiffness and a second member movable relative to the first member and having stiffness without forming the connecting portion in an unnaturally large diameter. More specifically, the present invention provides a structure for connecting members comprising: a first member having stiffness; a second member movable relative to the first member and having stiffness; and a spring member in which an end portion thereof is connected to the first member and other end portion thereof is connected to the second member so as to accumulate a reaction force by elastic deformation, wherein the spring member is formed into a frame-like shape extending along the first and second members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: KOKUYO FURNITURE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Nobuyuki UEDA
  • Publication number: 20100072799
    Abstract: According to the present invention a back for a seating unit is provided. The back comprises a plurality of flexible finger elements. Each of the plurality of flexible finger elements has a distal end. The back further comprises a retainer connecting at least two of the flexible finger elements proximate their distal ends. When a load is applied to a flexible finger element, the retainer distributes at least a portion of the load to at least one adjacent flexible finger element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Gordon J. Peterson, Christopher J. Norman, Russell Holdredge, Bruce Smith, Luke Pearson, Thomas Overthun, Kara Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090302653
    Abstract: A support structure for a seat is provided comprising two lateral side wires (1, 2) and a plurality of transverse wires (4-12) extending between the two lateral side wires (1, 2) is provided. The plurality of transverse wires (4-12) comprises a first transverse wire having a first convolution (4A-12A, 4B-12B) and a second transverse wire having a second convolution (4A-12A, 4B-12B). According to the invention, a shape of said first convolution (4A-12A, 4B-12B) is different from a shape of said second convolution (4A-12A, 4B-12B) for example by varying a dimension like the height of said shapes. With such an arrangement, the transversal resiliency of the support structure may be varied and thus adapted to load bearing requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: L&P SWISS HOLDING COMPANY
    Inventors: Pierrot Catry, Jo Pattyn
  • Patent number: 7568763
    Abstract: A seating unit includes a base with a control housing, a back supported on the base for reclining movement, and a seat supported at least partially by a pivoting link on the base for synchronous movement with the back upon recline of the back. A back stop is operably mounted on a pair of parallel guide rods that extend transversely across the control housing for selective movement to a plurality of different positions where the back stop engages the link to limit movement of the seat and hence limit recline of the back to a plurality of selectable recline positions corresponding to the plurality of different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Bedford, David A. Bodnar, Gary Lee Karsten, Robert J. Battey, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gordon J. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20080217977
    Abstract: A seating structure has an articulated seat and back. A rear portion of the seat is automatically pivotable relative to a forward portion of the seat as the seat is tilted between upright and reclined tilt positions. An upper portion of the back is pivotable relative to the lower portion between a neutral position and an extended position, with the upper portion being pivotable relative to the lower portion independent of the tilt position of the back. In one aspect, an adjustment mechanism is coupled between lower and upper back support members and pivots the upper support member between at least first and second support positions. A seat with an adjustable seat depth is also provided, along with various methods for operating the different aspects and embodiments of the seating structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: John F. Aldrich, Rayan S. Brill, Elindo G. Castro, Christopher C. Hill, James D. Slagh, Troy Roark, Douglas M. VanDeRiet, Jeffrey A. Weber
  • Patent number: 7422287
    Abstract: A back includes an integrated articulating back frame and a back support. The back frame has a lower segment pivoted to a chair control, an upper segment for thoracic support, and links forming a four-bar linkage with the upper and lower segments, with a joint being formed at the lumbar region. The back support is stretchable in limited directions to accommodate shape change in the articulating back frame but to provide adequate support to a seated user. Upon receiving a rearward pressure on the lumbar joint, the back frame itself changes shape. The pivot locations in the four bar linkage create a mechanism that simultaneously controls rotational and translational movement of the upper segment during flexure of the lumbar. The back frame is close to the back support to provide significant design flexibility, but permit substantial lumbar flexure. Various back supports are contemplated that accommodate articulation of the back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Heidmann, Gordon J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7416252
    Abstract: A backpost for use in wooden dining chair. The backpost unit provides reclining movements for a wooden chair of the type having a stationary frame section within which the backpost unit is secured. The backpost unit consists of an interlocking mechanism with minimum components and requires minimum maintenance and provides a solid and reliable reclining mechanism. The chair enables the user to secure an accurate posture of sitting during eating and also enables the user to enjoy a relaxing posture while sitting on the same dining chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Green Continental Furniture (M) SDN BHD
    Inventor: Lean Sen Lor
  • Patent number: 7416251
    Abstract: An improved chair is disclosed. The chair includes: (i) a seat; (ii) a base portion connected to the bottom of the seat; (iv) an upwardly extending support frame connected to either the seat or the base; and (v) a backrest connected to the support frame by a number of fasteners. The fasteners include a resilient member located between the backrest and the support frame, such that the backrest is spaced apart from the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Global Total Office
    Inventor: Zooey Chia-Tien Chu
  • Patent number: 7396078
    Abstract: A musician's chair that enhances the musician's posture when performing vocal or wind instruments. The music posture chair includes a seat and back that are mounted on a frame with respect to a floor to not only enhance diaphragmatic breathing of the musician but also to enhance the comfort of the musician.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Wenger Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick H. Weber, Kenneth E. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 7396079
    Abstract: A back includes an integrated articulating back frame and a back support. The back frame has a lower segment pivoted to a chair control, an upper segment for thoracic support, and links forming a four-bar linkage with the upper and lower segments, with a joint being formed at the lumbar region. The back support is stretchable in limited directions to accommodate shape change in the articulating back frame but to provide adequate support to a seated user. Upon receiving a rearward pressure on the lumbar joint, the back frame itself changes shape. The pivot locations in the four bar linkage create a mechanism that simultaneously controls rotational and translational movement of the upper segment during flexure of the lumbar. The back frame is close to the back support to provide significant design flexibility, but permit substantial lumbar flexure. Various back supports are contemplated that accommodate articulation of the back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Heidmann, Gordon J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7384100
    Abstract: A flexible chair that includes a seat member with seat bottom and back rest portions, first and second pairs of legs, and a plurality of cross members. The pair of first legs are pivotly connected to rearward positions of the seat bottom portion and extend downwardly and forwardly from the seat bottom portion. The pair of second legs are pivotly connected to forward positions of the seat bottom portion and extend downwardly and rearwardly from the seat bottom portion, such that the first legs cross the second legs. The plurality of cross members connect the first and second legs together such that the seat member is rearwardly reclinable against a resilient force provided by at least one of the first pair of legs, the second pair of legs and the plurality of cross members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventors: Charles O. Perry, Marco C. Perry
  • Patent number: 7320503
    Abstract: The invention relates to a backrest with a support area (71), at least one structure connected to the support area (71) or forming the support area (71), which structure (10) extends towards the top of the backrest from a first end region of the support area (71) to a second end region of the support area (71) and at the front has a tension element (49) and at the rear a pressure element (47). The tension element (49) connects the first end region (37) of the support area (71) to the second end region (38) of the support area (71) transmitting tensile forces. The pressure element (47) connects the first end region (37) of the support area (71) to the second end region (38) of the support area (71) transmitting thrust forces. Pressure element (47) and tension element (49) are in the extension direction non-displaceably connected to one another in the first and in the second end region of the support area (71).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignees: Provenda Marketing AG
    Inventor: Volker Wilhelm Eysing