Back Adjusts Independent Of Seat Patents (Class 297/301.1)
  • Patent number: 11779121
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seat and an upright coupled with the seat. A pliable backrest is coupled with the upright and includes a support face and a coupling face. The pliable backrest includes a pliable material extending between the support and coupling faces. The support face is a first exterior face of the pliable back rest and the coupling face is a second exterior face of the pliable back rest. The coupling face is spaced away from the upright with a deformation gap. Another seating assembly includes a joint assembly along the upright member. The joint assembly includes a pivot configured to promote rotation of a first upright portion of the upright relative to a second upright portion. The joint assembly includes opposed stop interfaces configured to control rotation of the first upright portion relative to the second upright portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Cramer LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Gilchrist, Kyle Michael Waggoner, Jean-Francois Gomree, Nicholas M. Christianson
  • Patent number: 11583092
    Abstract: A backrest includes a primary frame having a pair of laterally spaced first uprights defining a first opening therebetween, a first front surface and a first rear surface. A secondary frame includes a pair of laterally spaced second uprights defining a second opening therebetween, a second rear surface facing the first front surface of the primary frame and a second front surface, wherein the secondary frame is coupled to the primary frame, and wherein at least portions of the first and second openings are aligned. A flexible shell overlies and is coupled to the second front surface of the secondary frame. The flexible shell includes a third rear surface visible through the aligned portions of the first and second openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: STEELCASE INC.
    Inventors: Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt R. Heidmann, Pascal Rolf Hien, Jeffrey A. Hall, John Colasanti, Michael Yancharas
  • Patent number: 11465539
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an armrest for car seats including a connection bracket coupled to a car seat, a rest body connected to the connection bracket so as to be turnable about a fourth axis of rotation, a third cam connected to the rest body so as to be turnable about the fourth axis of rotation, a gas cylinder connected to the third cam, the gas cylinder being configured to be extended and contracted in a longitudinal direction, and a manipulation button installed at the rest body, the manipulation button being configured to manipulate the gas cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI TRANSYS INC.
    Inventor: Teh Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10694897
    Abstract: A tilting mechanism for a chair that has a seat frame, a seat and a chair back. The tilting mechanism has a track path along which the seat tracks between an upright sitting position and a reclined position. The chair back tracks concurrently between a first position when the seat is in the upright sitting position and a second inclined position when the seat is in the reclined position. The inclination of the chair back increases at a greater rate than the inclination of the seat as the seat moves between the upright sitting position and the reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ANDREW J HART ENTERPRISES LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hart, Peter G. Murray
  • Patent number: 10610019
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for an office chair. In order to accomplish an advantageous motion characteristic of the mechanism and thus of the office chair, a synchronized mechanism provides a correlated seat/backrest movement of an office chair. The backrest support is connected to the seat support not directly and immediately, but via a coupling element. The force applied to the seat support upon swiveling the backrest support is applied to the seat support solely via the coupling element. Two guide element pairs are provided to guide the seat support relative to the base support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: BOCK 1 GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hermann Bock
  • Patent number: 10131259
    Abstract: Provided is an armrest structure for a vehicle seat, and more particularly, an armrest structure for a vehicle seat, which may be operated even though a button is pushed less than a button of a structure in the related art, such that a likelihood of the occurrence of abnormal noise may be reduced because of the reduction in stroke when the button is pushed, and a user may operate the armrest structure with a smaller effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DAE WON SAN UP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kug-Hun Han, Sang-Ho Kim, Soo-Hyun Moon, Young-Bok Sung, Jin-Hyung Kim, Jae-Myung Hur, Seok-Joo Kang
  • Patent number: 9987953
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a tilt down mechanism configured to sink down a seat cushion in conjunction with forward tilting down movement of a seat back, wherein the tilt down mechanism couples a rear part of the seat cushion to a base on a floor by a rotary shaft, couples a front part of the seat cushion to the base via a front link, and further includes a power transmission member that couples the front link and the seat back, and wherein the tilt down mechanism is configured so that the power transmission member tilts the front link downward in conjunction with the forward tilting down movement of the seat back, thereby sinking down the front part of the seat cushion about the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Kimura, Atsutaka Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 9969301
    Abstract: A rotational device (10) for a vehicle seat includes a base element (20) and a seat part support (30) which can be rotated about a rotational axis (S) with respect to the base element (20). The rotational device (10) can be moved from a base position into a rotated position by rotating the seat part support (30) with respect to the base element (20). A catch hook (37) is provided on the base element (20) and/or on the seat part support (30). The catch hook protrudes in the radial direction over the base element (20) and/or over the seat part support (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS COMPONENTS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Joerg Adam
  • Patent number: 9758071
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a tilt down mechanism configured to sink down a seat cushion in conjunction with forward tilting down movement of a seat back, wherein the tilt down mechanism couples a rear part of the seat cushion to a base on a floor by a rotary shaft, couples a front part of the seat cushion to the base via a front link, and further includes a power transmission member that couples the front link and the seat back, and wherein the tilt down mechanism is configured so that the power transmission member tilts the front link downward in conjunction with the forward tilting down movement of the seat back, thereby sinking down the front part of the seat cushion about the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Kimura, Atsutaka Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 9663005
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a tilt down mechanism configured to sink down a seat cushion in conjunction with forward tilting down movement of a seat back; and a link member coupled between the seat back and the seat cushion, wherein the link member is coupled to be slidable relative to either of the seat back and the seat cushion so that, when the seat back is moved within a region in which the seat back is raised from a forward tilted down position, the link member transmits power from the seat back to the seat cushion to pull up the seat cushion, and when the seat back is tilted within an adjustment region of a backrest angle of the seat back, the link member releases the transmission of the power from the seat back to the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Kimura, Atsutaka Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 9656581
    Abstract: A compact body support apparatus is provided for use with an armrest of a vehicle such as an airplane, train, or bus. The compact body support apparatus comprises a base, a support post, a housing, and a headrest cushion. The support post presents a lower end secured to the base and an upper end. The housing is secured to the upper end of the support post. The headrest cushion is secured to the housing for supporting a head of a user. The compact body support apparatus is configured to be selectively placed into a collapsed position and a deployed position, such that the support post and at least a portion of the base are disposed within the housing when the compact body support apparatus is in the collapsed position and the support post extends in a generally downward direction when the compact body support apparatus is in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: JetComfy, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Brecht, Ephraim Zlotnitsky
  • Patent number: 9656578
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a tilt down mechanism configured to sink down a seat cushion in conjunction with forward tilting down movement of a seat back, wherein the tilt down mechanism couples a rear part of the seat cushion to a base on a floor by a rotary shaft, couples a front part of the seat cushion to the base via a front link, and further includes a power transmission member that couples the front link and the seat back, and wherein the power transmission member is configured by a link member of a rigid body and is configured to, when the seat back is raised from a forward tilted down position, transmit the movement of the seat back to the front link to raise the front link to thus pull up the seat cushion from a downward sunk position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsutaka Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 9533766
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved pivot articulation for a kinematic seat. Certain embodiments provide an elastic pivot that is formed as flexion weaves that connect upper and lower portions of a seat back. The flexion weaves may be inner and outer legs that are curved in configuration or that have bent dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Zodiac Seats France
    Inventor: Jeremy Cailleteau
  • Patent number: 9380879
    Abstract: A chair includes a backrest swivel mechanism that is configured to permit the backrest to swivel about a vertical axis about a preselected range of motion. The backrest may be configured to swivel, or rotate, about a vertical axis that is defined by an element located adjacent a rearward central location that is below the seat of the chair and adjacent a rear of the chair. A lock mechanism can be selectively engaged to lock and unlock the swiveling mechanism so that when in the locked state, the backrest cannot swivel and when in the unlocked state, the backrest can swivel. In some embodiments, the range of swiveling motion may be with a predefined range, such as +/?10° or +/?20° of rotation relative to a central position of the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Knoll, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Hector, Khalid Masoud
  • Patent number: 9271573
    Abstract: The control device includes a seat having a positioning hole. An elevation support connects a first control line and is pivoted to the seat. A control lever has a connecting base received in the receiving room. The connecting base has a receiving hole, a connecting trough and a driving shaft. A tilt support has a through hole and connects a second control line. A cover assembled with the seat has a rotation hole. A rotation support has a cap and a bar. The bar has an insert hole and passes the rotation hole, the through hole and the connecting trough. A bolt passes through the insert hole and the receiving hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DONGGUAN KENTEC OFFICE SEATING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Su
  • Patent number: 9107504
    Abstract: A chair with a seating surface and a link with two ends connected to the seating surface. A frame with two supporting portions connected to the link and the frame can displace against a bias to allow one of the two supporting portions to move, allowing the seating surface to tilt. A flexible front is attached to a front member on the frame, the flexible front bends when the seating surface tilts. The link rotates when the supporting portions displace. The supporting portions are round and pass through round holes in the link, allowing the supporting portions to rotate within the link when the seating surface tilts. A stop connected to the seating surface and a stop connected to the frame limits the maximum tilt angle of the seating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Inventor: Peter J. Haas
  • Patent number: 9044094
    Abstract: A chair chassis, comprising a chassis pedestal, a left and a right connecting rod for back, a seat supporting frame, an adjusting handle, the adjusting handle comprises an adjusting screw rod. On the adjusting screw rod exists a locating block for mounting handle and, the first pulling line and the second pulling line are wrapped around it, the two pulling lines are respectively used to lock or unlock the tilting angle of the back and to lock or unlock the position of the supporting frame; the adjusting handle also comprises a block for the pulling line, which is connected with the third pulling line, and the block for the pulling line is connected with the adjusting screw rod and can relatively slide on it. The invention is multi-functioned with the action of only one adjusting handle, and the structure of the invention is compact, and it is convenient to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Yucheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20150130237
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat for a vehicle including a seatback portion and a seat portion. The seatback portion includes a lower portion of the seatback portion that supports a lower part of an upper body of an occupant sitting in the seat portion, and an upper portion of the seatback portion that supports an upper part of the upper body. The lower portion of the seatback portion has support resistance against the lateral movement of the upper body, which is lower than that of the upper portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eishi Takeuchi, Kohshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 8931841
    Abstract: A synchronous mechanism for a chair, such as an office chair, including a base unit, a seat support arranged above and moveably on the base unit, a backrest support arranged on the base unit so as to be capable of being pivoted about a pivot axis oriented horizontally and in transverse direction of the chair, and a prestressing device. The prestressing device exerts a prestressing force acting upwards on the seat support and forwards on the backrest support. The seat support is connected to the base unit via a coupling mechanism providing movability of the seat support relative to the base unit. The coupling mechanism is arranged to positively control the movements of the seat support relative to the base unit such that the seat support can be moved back and forth on its own between positions which are parallel to one another when the backrest support is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Carsten Kelm
  • Patent number: 8894150
    Abstract: Chair comprising, a base structure bearing a seat, a tilting backrest, and at least one joint which connects the backrest to the base structure and allows a movement of the backrest between a rest position and a backward tilted position under a backwards push applied by the user, wherein said joint comprises a first and a second curved component with a circular profile coupled together in a telescopic manner and fixed to the base structure or to the seat and, respectively, to the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pro-Cord S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Piretti
  • Publication number: 20140339870
    Abstract: Seat furniture is provided that includes 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, characterized in that the energy accumulator is connected on one side to the support member and on another side via a transverse connector to the backrest support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Johannes Uhlenbrock
  • Publication number: 20140239686
    Abstract: Seating assemblies and methods are disclosed. A seating assembly (100) can comprise a seat, a back support (114), and a frame component (110). The frame component can extend from a bottom portion (118), positioned near an underside of the seat, to a top portion (120), configured to maintain the back support at a position above the seat. The back support can laterally extend from a left edge portion (1670) to a right edge portion (1672) and can include a spring member (122) at or near each of the left and right edge portions. The spring member can include at least one undulation or arc (1674) providing integrated rated compression adaptation to a user. The seating assembly can further comprise a tilt mechanism (408), engaged with the frame component, including one or more leaf springs (424) and a spring contact assembly. The spring contact assembly (426) can be positioned on a top side of the one or more leaf springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: CRAMER LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Christianson, Jean Francois Gomrée, Rodney C. Schoenfelder, Jeffrey Weber, Shawn Monitor
  • Patent number: 8733839
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Bock 1 GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hermann Bock
  • Publication number: 20140103690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat frame having a sitting surface frame and a backrest frame, wherein the backrest frame has a left backrest longitudinal strut and a right backrest longitudinal strut as well as a lower cross strut and an upper cross strut, the right and left backrest longitudinal struts being pivotably arranged on the lower cross strut in such a way that the backrest frame is helically deformable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Erwin HALLER, Alexander LOREY
  • Publication number: 20140077553
    Abstract: A chair assembly including a first chair structure, a second chair structure, an actuator assembly coupled to the second chair structure to move the second chair structure between the first and second positions, a control input assembly coupled to the first chair structure, and a control link assembly coupling the control input assembly with the actuator assembly to move the second chair structure between first and second positions, and including a first shaft operably coupled to the control link, and rotatable about a second axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis and to the first direction, and first and second universal joint assemblies coupling the first shaft member to the second shaft, wherein actuation of the control input moves the second chair structure between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Russell T. Holdredge, Todd T. Andres
  • Publication number: 20140062154
    Abstract: A reclining chair has a base coupled to a chair back. The chair back is adapted to recline from an upright position to a reclined position. To accommodate that reclining motion, the chair back includes a flex zone formed with notches extending through an inner portion of the flex zone. Those notches narrow as the chair back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position. The flex zone also includes an outer portion that is separated from the inner portion by a gap, the outer portion having one or more notches extending through the outer portion. Those notches also narrow as the chair back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: HNI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Phillip David Minino, John R. Koch, Marcus Curtis Koepke, Corey John Susie, Martin Calvin Koepke
  • Patent number: 8616641
    Abstract: A therapeutic back support device including a back support portion that automatically and repeatedly moves forward to maintain engagement with a user's back as the user moves forward with respect to a chair seat. The back support portion substantially resists backward motion and provides substantially continuous therapeutic support to the user's spine pending a release signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Access Enterprise, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Powicki, Stephen James Messineo
  • Patent number: 8613481
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Kent Wallace Parker, Paul Michael Wilkinson, Lyall Douglas Stewart, Daryl Owen Neal, Gregory W. Baum, Noah Juniper Rainbow McNeill
  • Patent number: 8602494
    Abstract: A task chair with a chair base, a pivoting mechanism housing supported by the chair base, a non-pivoting seat bottom, and a pivoting seat back coupled to the pivoting mechanism housing. The seat bottom can have a rigid seat pan that underlies a flexible seat insert and a seat cushion. The seat pan, the seat insert, and the seat cushion can be matingly engaged. A seat back frame can retain a panel of elastomeric material, and lumbar supports can be slidably retained by the seat back frame. The lumbar supports can be flexible to adjust to contoured support rails and can be fixed at selected locations along the rails. The lumbar supports can have non-symmetrical, contoured surfaces and shapes and can be nondestructively removable and exchangeable. Adjustable arm structures with upper and lower arm members can be raised and lowered by operation of an actuation trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Sava Cvek
  • Patent number: 8544957
    Abstract: A chair includes a supporting structure, a seat moveably mounted on the supporting structure and moveable with respect to the supporting structure in a vertical direction, and a backrest including a first frame pivotally connected to the seat and a second frame separate from and pivotally mounted on the first frame to connect to the seat. Further, a first control device is mounted and concealed between the first and second frames in order to prevent the user from inadvertently colliding with it. The first control device is adjusted for various relative pivotal positions of the first and second frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Lin
  • Patent number: 8465095
    Abstract: The chair of the invention includes a cushion, a back and a back support. Either or both of the back and back support are made of a flexible material. The back is perpendicular to the cushion and has an upper connecting portion and a lower connecting portion. The back support is of a substantial L-shape and has an upper end and a protrudent mount. The back support is connected between the cushion and the back for supporting the back. The upper end of the back support fixedly connects with the upper connecting portion, and the protrudent mount movably and pivotally connects with the lower connecting portion, thereby the back support is capable of tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Ken Su
  • Publication number: 20130093228
    Abstract: A wheelchair includes a pivotable mechanism. The pivotable mechanism allows for a pivoting movement about an axis defined by an interface between adjacent components. These components may be (a) a seat member and a back member, (b) a seat member and a footrest, (c) a foot rest and a footplate support, (d) a baseplate and a footplate, or (e) a back member and a headrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: American Track Roadsters, Inc.
    Inventor: American Track Roadsters, Inc.
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130076092
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a backrest coupled to an upwardly extending support frame. The backrest includes a deformable seat shell adapted to assume various shapes between an initial position and a final position in response to variable rearward loads applied by the torso of 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. At least one of the motion-control links includes a flexural portion configured to bend about a pivot axis to establish a flexural joint. The lower motion-control link may include a flexural joint and/or a revolute joint, and the upper motion control link may include a flexural, revolute, or spheroidal joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventor: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130057037
    Abstract: Reaction force mechanism for backrest of a chair has clear large space under the seat and uses a longer reaction force spring than the prior art. The mechanism includes a base member supported on a leg, a back support member coupled by a rotation shaft to the base member to recline and support the backrest, a seat support member to which the seat is mounted, a weight-dependent reaction force mechanism for moving the seat support member in a lifting direction, and a reaction force spring for applying a spring force for returning the back support member to an original position, in which the reaction force spring is disposed in a lateral orientation between the back support member and the seat support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: TAKANO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Horiki, Kazuyuki Ito
  • Publication number: 20120274111
    Abstract: Chair comprising, a base structure bearing a seat, a tilting backrest, and at least one joint which connects the backrest to the base structure and allows a movement of the backrest between a rest position and a backward tilted position under a backwards push applied by the user, wherein said joint comprises a first and a second curved component with a circular profile coupled together in a telescopic manner and fixed to the base structure or to the seat and, respectively, to the backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Giancarlo Piretti
  • Patent number: 8282166
    Abstract: A chair comprising, a base structure including two rear tubular elements open at the top, a backrest having two tubular portions open at the bottom and aligned to said tubular elements of the base structure, and two elastic devices, each of which has a top support inserted in a tubular portion of the backrest, a bottom support inserted in the corresponding tubular element of the base structure, and an elastic element flexurally deformable to enable tilting between the top support and the bottom support, wherein each of said elastic devices comprises a plurality of sectors stacked on top of one another and arranged between the top support and the bottom support, and wherein, in a resting position of the elastic element, a plurality of slits are formed on the rear side of each elastic device between each pair of adjacent sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Pro-Cord S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Piretti
  • Publication number: 20120193959
    Abstract: An automatic waistrest adjusting device for office chairs includes a waistrest combined with the bottom of a backrest, and the waistrest comes with a design of connecting a curved flexible metal plate and making use of whose flexibility to suspend the bottom of the waistrest that can be turned flexibly with a user's waist to achieve an ergonomic stepless angular adjustment to allow the user's waist to lean at the most comfortable position. The waistrest adjusting device combines the waistrest and the backrest by simple components and assembling method, and achieves the effects of preventing poor performance and quality caused by an elastic fatigue and extending the use life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: CHING-MING CHEN
  • Publication number: 20120153693
    Abstract: A preference control mechanism is provided that includes a housing, a shuttle, a sub shuttle and at least one resilient member. The housing has a channel. The shuttle has a cavity. The shuttle is moveable within the channel of the housing from a first position to at least one second position. The sub shuttle is moveable within the channel of the housing and is moveable independent of the shuttle. The one or more resilient members have a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is attached to the shuttle and the second end is attached to the sub shuttle. The preference control mechanism is configured for attachment to at least one chair component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: KNOLL, INC.
    Inventors: Arkady Golynsky, Gregory Allison
  • Publication number: 20120062005
    Abstract: A task chair with a chair base, a pivoting mechanism housing supported by the chair base, a non-pivoting seat bottom, and a pivoting seat back coupled to the pivoting mechanism housing. The seat bottom can have a rigid seat pan that underlies a flexible seat insert and a seat cushion. The seat pan, the seat insert, and the seat cushion can be matingly engaged. A seat back frame can retain a panel of elastomeric material, and lumbar supports can be slidably retained by the seat back frame. The lumbar supports can be flexible to adjust to contoured support rails and can be fixed at selected locations along the rails. The lumbar supports can have non-symmetrical, contoured surfaces and shapes and can be nondestructively removable and exchangeable. Adjustable arm structures with upper and lower arm members can be raised and lowered by operation of an actuation trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Sava Cvek
  • Patent number: 8113586
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the seat back angle, and more particularly an adjuster inclinedly disposed at a lower position of the bottom of the seat back and the rear side of the seat portion, comprising a rotating sleeve, an L-shaped connection body, a large spring, a shift shaft, and a locking device. When the locking device is locked, the seat back is positioned at a desirable inclination angle. When the locking device is unlocked, the shift shaft is axially movable such that the seat back is resiliently supported. Moreover, the compression state of the large spring is adjustable by a to-and-fro rotation of the rotating sleeve. In this way, the operators may adjust the resilience of the seat back 200 according to their own needs for obtaining a greatest sitting comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Yung-Hua Chen
  • Publication number: 20120025574
    Abstract: A chair has a seat support (101), a seat portion (13), a back portion (15), and a supporting frame. The supporting frame is formed by a castored base (11), a height adjustment mechanism (17), and a main transom (21). The seat portion (13) is selectively moveable relative to the supporting frame, with the seat portion having a locked configuration and a released configuration. The back portion has a back frame (25) and a compliant cover (61). The back frame has hook features for receiving a portion of the compliant cover (61). The back portion (15) is reclinable relative to the supporting frame between an upright position and a reclined position. A recline mechanism has deformable members operatively connecting the seat portion and the supporting frame. A recline resistance mechanism is selectively engageable to resist movement of the back portion toward the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Paul Michael Wilkinson, Kent Wallace Parker, Peter Tierney, Lyall Douglas Stewart, Gregory William Baum
  • Patent number: 8070232
    Abstract: The present invention provides a scooter with two chair backs. The scooter includes a main body containing a wheel seat, a pedal and front/rear wheel set; two chair back supports, assembled separately onto both sides on the back of wheel seat of the main body; and two chair backs, incorporated onto at least one chair back support via the connecting frame and transversely arranged at interval. The scooter of the present invention substantially improves the structural functionality and comfort of the chair back of the scooter, and also meets the diversified customer requirements with improved applicability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignees: Moventon Corporation
    Inventor: Cheng-Hung Hung
  • Publication number: 20110266847
    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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: James Bertolini, Bruce William Prock
  • Publication number: 20110215623
    Abstract: A height-adjusting assembly for an office chair backrest includes a supporting unit mounted with a vertically movable backrest. The supporting unit and the backrest have correspondingly an engaging element and a series of positioning teeth, respectively, to be coupled mutually. Upper and lower ends of the series of positioning teeth have a retracting portion and an expanding portion for retracting and expanding the engaging element, respectively. When the backrest slides upward, the engaging element successively engages with one of the positioning teeth so as to position the backrest at a desired height. When the backrest reaches to an upmost position, the engaging element is pressed by the retracting portion and retracts so as to separate from the positioning teeth. Then the backrest reaches a bottommost position thereof has the engaging element expanded by the expanding portion, thereby allowing the engaging element to engage with the positioning teeth again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Hsuan-Chin Tsai
  • Patent number: 8002351
    Abstract: A support member configured for attachment to a back assembly and a chair component is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment of the support member may be included in a chair that includes a base, a back assembly and the support member. The back assembly includes an extension attached to a back frame. The extension is attached to the base such that the back assembly is moveable relative to the base. The support member is attached to the extension and the base. The support member is more rigid than the extension. Preferably, the extension is composed of elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Knoll, Inc.
    Inventor: Arkady Golynsky
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 7823976
    Abstract: A chair includes a backrest and a seat surface. The backrest is adjustable relative to the seat surface, and the backrest is adjustable in its inclination independently of the position of the seat surface. The adjustment of the inclination of the backrest occurs in a stepless manner and without an operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kintec-Solution GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Mackert