Back Adjusts Independent Of Seat Patents (Class 297/301.1)
  • Patent number: 6435615
    Abstract: In a chair having a pivoting backrest, displacement of a seated person's clothing is minimized by yieldably mounting a pivot axis for the backrest so that the pivot axis is lowered in elevation as the person's back leans against the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Otto Zapf
  • Publication number: 20020043843
    Abstract: A chair (10) includes a supporting frame (20,22) and a seat portion (14) which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion, forward of the transverse fold. The seat portion (14) is supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion. The chair (10) also includes a reclinable back portion (16) and a recline mechanism with which the back portion (16) is connected for reclining action of the back portion (16). The recline mechanism is operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion (14) such that on reclining action of the back portion (16), the rearward portion is moved to increase in rearward tilt angle and to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame (20,22), with a consequent folding of the seat portion about the transverse fold line under the weight (W) of the occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Mark Rundle Pennington, Jon Leonard Fifield, Robert Bruce Stewart
  • Patent number: 6367877
    Abstract: A back for a seating unit, such as a chair, includes a back frame and a compliant back that is flexibly bendable to define different curvilinear shapes for sympathetically and ergonomically supporting a seated user's back. The back includes a belt bracket with forwardly-extending flanges pivotally connecting the back to the back frame at a first connection generally aligned with a seated user's hip joint. The back includes a second connection pivotally connecting the back to the back frame at a second location spaced vertically above the first connection. An adjustable force generating mechanism is connected to the first connection that biases a lumbar portion of the back forward with respect to the chair. The first and second connections, in combination with the adjustable force generating mechanism, constrain the compliant back to move over a range that provides excellent ergonomic lumbar support to a seated user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn A. Knoblock, Arnold B. Dammermann, Larry DeKraker, Kevin A. Ekdahl, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gardner J. Klaasen, II, James A. Perkins, Gordon J. Peterson, Edward H. Punches, Charles P. Roossien, David S. Teppo, Michael J. Yancharas
  • Patent number: 6322144
    Abstract: The invention concerns a seat support for revolving chairs, in particular office revolving chairs, comprising a metal body in the shape of a pan, provided with top fixing elements for the seat lower part or seat plate, a bottom part for receiving the conical end of a support post adjustable in height, rear assembling elements for assembling said support to a seat back support and at least a lateral or front sleeve, provided for at least an actuating lever. The pan-shaped metal body has side walls opening obliquely frontwards at least partially into an angle ranging between 20 and 70 relative to the seat support longitudinal median axis, and are joined therein with a front wall. The pan-shaped metal body horizontal transverse section, formed by the side walls and the front wall tapers towards the tub base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sifa Sitzfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Gebhard
  • Publication number: 20010005094
    Abstract: A chair has a seat (4) and a backrest (5) which are independently pivotable within limits at extremities. The seat is biassed upwardly at the front and the backrest is biassed forwardly. The seat and the backrest have a common pivot joint (8), under the centre of gravity of the occupant. There are no occupant-operated controls as the chair responds automatically to the posture of the occupant, providing full support at all relative positions of the seat and the backrest in a balanced manner for occupants of a wide range of weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventor: William John Hancock
  • Patent number: 6196632
    Abstract: A chair, especially an office chair in which a one-piece backrest has forwardly extending arms engaging and secured to armrest portions of a tubular frame. The arms form the armrests for the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mauser Office GmbH
    Inventors: Michele De Lucchi, Gerhard E. Reichert
  • Patent number: 6193314
    Abstract: An office chair includes a backrest, a chair seat, and a connecting device having a first end for engaging with the backrest and a second end for securely engaging with the chair seat. The first end of the connecting device includes a compartment, an inner wall defining the compartment including a slot with two spaced horizontal sections. Two slider members each include a locking member for releasably engaging with an associated positioning groove of the backrest and a sliding rod slidably received in an associated horizontal section of the slot in the connecting device. An actuator is mounted in the compartment of the connecting device and slidable in a vertical direction. The actuator includes two inclined faces. The sliding rod of each slider member abuts against an associated inclined face such that vertical movement of the actuator causes horizontal movements of the slider members along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Ming-Che Chiang