Back And Bottom Adjust In A Fixed Relationship Patents (Class 297/302.1)
  • Patent number: 11540637
    Abstract: To realize a noble, useful seat with a simple structure designed to follow a natural movement of a seated person in front-rear and left-right directions and to support appropriately a movement of the person continuously changing its posture while the person balances a load. The seat includes the elastic support layer 3 and upper and lower base units 4 and 5 arranged to sandwich the elastic support layer 3. The upper base unit 4 includes the rolling surface 42e bulging toward the lower base unit 5 thereabove via the elastic support layer 3, is rollable in a 360° direction from the tilt reference position IRP in receiving a load of the seated person, and has a moving distal end side tilting more downward as a distance from the position IRP increases, and is configured to move while compressing the elastic support layer 3 by the rolling surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: KOKUYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Sugano, Yojiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10226127
    Abstract: A resistive motion support mechanism joined to a mounting surface and to a base for providing resistive support to the mounting surface as the mounting surface undergoes one or both of rotational and tilt movement relative to the base, the motion support mechanism comprising: a support bearing connected to the mounting surface and to the base which permits one or both of tilting and rotational motion of the mounting surface relative to the base; a resistance cartridge fixedly connected to the mounting surface such that the resistance cartridge undergoes movement relative to the base and applies a resistive force on the base as the mounting surface undergoes the one or both of rotational and tilt movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CORECHAIR INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Patrick N. Harrison, John Foreman
  • Patent number: 9981569
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein concern a reclinable seat comprising a base, a seat back and a seat pan. The seat pan comprises a seat bottom and a seat front, wherein the seat bottom is pivotably connected to the seat back by a first hinge member, and the seat bottom is further pivotably connected to the seat front by a second hinge member. The seat further comprises a seat bottom link arm attachable between the seat bottom and the base, and a seat front link arm attachable between the seat front and the base. The seat bottom link arm and the seat front link arm individually control a pivoting of the seat bottom and seat front, respectively, in response to a pivot of the seat back. Example embodiments presented herein further relate to a vehicle provided with a reclinable seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Douglas Hall Frasher
  • Patent number: 9744885
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1) includes a structural part (3) which has a lock connection plate (60) and a locking unit (10) which is fixed to the lock connection plate (60). The locking unit (10) has at least one bearing bolt (51) with a passage opening (55). The lock connection plate (60) also comprises at least one mating contour (62) which projects into the passage opening (55) in the at least one bearing bolt (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS GMBH
    Inventors: Patrick Handl, Andreas Vedder, Uwe Moeller, Igor Gordeenko, Oezkan Demirci, Dennis Pohlscheidt, Martin Christall
  • Patent number: 9433296
    Abstract: A device for connecting a back rest to the seating portion support mechanism for chairs includes a first part pertaining to the mechanism, a second part pertaining to the back rest, a pair of pins, at least one of which is applied to the first part (second part), a pair of open slots, at least one of which pertains to the second part (first part), the slots forming housings for the pins, an elastic member acting on at least one of the pins or the housings, the distance between the axes of the pins or the housings being modifiable temporarily against the action of the elastic member, wherein the open slots present an inclined surface which, by acting against one of the pins, causes a temporary modification of the distance between axes of the pins, so facilitating engagement of the pin in the housing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: IMARC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Gorgi
  • Patent number: 9364091
    Abstract: A tilt mechanism (10) for a chair comprises a base (11), a back bracket (12) configured to support a chair back (4) and a coupling arrangement (16, 25) configured to couple the back bracket (12) to the base (11). The coupling arrangement comprises a guide track (25) and a guide member (16). One of the guide track (25) and the guide member (16) is provided on a portion of the back bracket (12) extending from a back attaching portion (23) to a pivot coupling portion (24) at which the back bracket (12) may be articulated to a chair seat (3). The other one of the guide track (25) and the guide member (16) is provided on the base (11). When the coupling arrangement (16, 25) couples the back bracket (12) to the base (11), pivoting the back bracket (12) about the pivot coupling portion (24) causes the guide member (16) and the guide track (25) to be displaced relative to each other, effecting a displacement of the pivot coupling portion (24) relative to the base (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Massimo Costaglia
  • Patent number: 8888184
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tilting device (5) for a chair, comprising a lower plate (6) and an upper plate (7). An elastic body (8) is located therebetween. The lower plate (6) has a bulge (9) in the vertical direction, by means of which the tilting device (5) is placed onto the upper end of a gas spring (2). The seat plate (3) of the chair is fastened to the upper plate (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Topstar GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Meyer, Peter Wagner
  • Patent number: 8752896
    Abstract: Provided is a chair suited to the use of a keyboard or mouse, the chair has a seat 3 and a rocking backrest 4. The seat 3 comprises a first section 3a, 12a and a second section 3b, 12b. The first section 3a of the seat 3 is affixed to a seat-mounting shell 11 is attached to a base 9, via a seat-mounting fixture, so as to be slide forwards and backwards. The backrest 4 has a back cover 14, a back panel 15 and a cushion move downwards while rotating in a seesaw fashion during rocking. The front end of the back cover 14 is connected to the seat-mounting fixture 10 by means of a connecting pin 25. When the chair rocks, the seat 3 moves forwards as a whole while the second section 3b tilts backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Itoki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takeuchi, Shinji Inoue, Minoru Hashimoto, Jun Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 8613482
    Abstract: A chair chassis is revealed. The chair chassis includes a seat base, a middle base and an adjustment member. A sliding plate is connected to each side of the seat base. A sliding slot is arranged at a front and a rear end of each sliding plate and a pulley is arranged transversely between two sliding slots. The two pulleys connect to a tilting board. The middle base between the two sliding plates connects to the tilting board and the two sliding plates by the pulley on the front end. A third pulley slides over a slant part of the middle base. The adjustment member includes a rack, a locking piece and a lock adjustment rod for control of movement of the locking piece to be engaged with and separated from the rack. Thus users with various weights can use the same chair chassis and operate the chair chassis easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hangzhou Zhongtai Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Xing Ni
  • Patent number: 8585026
    Abstract: A spring system comprising flat plate-springs with one end mounted rigidly to an un-spring first base and the opposite end mounted rigidly to a sprung second base. The spring system is fitted with cams as strain-control surfaces, mounted tangent to the plate springs and spaced progressively from the said plate-springs beginning at the tangency. The strain-control cams are movable to provide for adjustable spring rates, actively repositioned upon demand therein providing an adaptive active spring-rate system or suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Edbert E. L. Dittmar
  • Patent number: 8556341
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique shock absorbing module which, when attached to a vehicular seat and chassis, exhibits unexpected superior effectiveness in reducing the effects of impacting shocks emanating from the operation of a vehicle. The shock absorbing system includes shock absorbing members disposed within a guide track supported by support frame. A slideable carriage with tracking members such as wheels saddling onto the shock absorbing system serves to immediately transfer and absorb any impacting forces exerted multidirectionally against the carriage member and a vehicular seat mounted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Connaughty
  • Publication number: 20130113253
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tilting device (5) for a chair, comprising a lower plate (6) and an upper plate (7). An elastic body (8) is located therebetween. The lower plate (6) has a bulge (9) in the vertical direction, by means of which the tilting device (5) is placed onto the upper end of a gas spring (2). The seat plate (3) of the chair is fastened to the upper plate (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: TOPSTAR GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Meyer, Peter Wagner
  • Patent number: 8414073
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seating arrangement (1) having a substructure (3), in which the seating arrangement (1) comprises at least one carrying arm (7, 8), and the carrying arm (7, 8) comprises an upper, first carrier (7a, 8a) and a lower, second carrier (7b, 8b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
  • Patent number: 8297702
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a two-position, at rest, seat angle adjustment assembly that locks the seat in two distinct positions. In a first position, the seat is generally horizontal, while in a second position, the seat is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal. The assembly includes left and right adjustment mechanisms, a rod, and a lever. The left and right adjustment mechanisms are mounted to the seat and the back assembly on each side thereof. Each of the mechanisms includes a housing, and a cam. The cam is received in the housing and the rod is fixably received within the cam. The lever is attached to the rod proximate the right adjustment mechanism. The lever is utilized to rotate the cams within their respective housings thereby moving the seat with respect to the back assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Massimo Costaglia
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8025335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chair with a seat, a base support and a backrest, wherein the seat is pivotably mounted on the base support and the backrest is pivotably mounted on the seat, and a first spring system is provided between the base support and the seat and a second spring system is provided between the seat and the backrest. Furthermore, means are provided for adjusting the spring behavior of the two spring systems so that the pivotability of the seat in relation to the base support and the pivotability of the backrest in relation to the seat can be adapted to different requirements, especially to users of different weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Wilkhahn Wilkening + Hahne GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Carsten Gehner
  • Patent number: 7806478
    Abstract: A task chair capable of forward and rearward synchronized movement with a base assembly, a linkage supported by the base assembly to pivot about an axis in relation to the base assembly, a seat assembly pivotally retained relative to the linkage, and a back assembly pivotally retained relative to the linkage. The linkage can include a bracket and a resiliently deflectable assembly retained relative to the bracket. A projection retained by the base assembly can engage the resiliently deflectable assembly whereby the linkage and the seat and back assemblies can pivot in relation to the base assembly. The linkage can have a bracket; a first link pivotally coupled at a first axis relative to the bracket, pivotally coupled at a second pivot axis relative to the seat assembly, pivotally coupled at a third pivot axis relative to the back assembly; and a second link pivotally coupled at a first axis relative to the bracket and at a second axis relative to the back assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: Sava Cvek
  • Patent number: 7770973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chair with a seat, a base support and a backrest, wherein the seat is mounted on the base support so as to be pivotable about a first pivoting axis and the backrest is mounted on the seat so as to be pivotable about a second pivoting axis. The two pivoting axes are arranged so as to be displaceable relative to one another in order to be able to change the seat depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Wilkhahn Wilkening + Hahne GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Carsten Gehner, Michael Englisch
  • Patent number: 7753447
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a cantilever having a distal end and a proximate end, a frame portion coupled to the distal end, a base portion coupled to the proximate end, and a locking apparatus coupled to the frame portion, the base portion, or the cantilever, wherein the locking apparatus has a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the locking apparatus prevents the frame portion from tilting relative to the base portion when the locking apparatus is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: James H. Sulzer
  • Publication number: 20100001567
    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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Mark Powicki, Stephen James Messineo
  • Patent number: 7497516
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile joint (1) for a seating construction, especially a chair, for mounting between a seat device and a base, comprising at least two joint elements (10, 30) which are reciprocally restricted pivoted between two extreme positions to allow tilting movement of the seating construction effected by the users weight displacement, comprising two outer joint elements (10, 30) which are pivoted related with a middle joint element (20), wherein the rotational axis (40, 50) between the two joint elements (10, 30) and the middle joint element (20) is displaced in relation to each other in the horizontal direction, whereby the joint (1) may assume a stable tilting position between the two extreme positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Varier Furniture AS
    Inventor: Ole Petter Wullum
  • Patent number: 7431397
    Abstract: A chair has a seat, a center column, a seat support bar joined to the center column, and a mechanism provided for securing the seat with adjustable inclination to the seat support bar and including a toggle lever assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Interstuhl Bueromoebel GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Link
  • Patent number: 7350863
    Abstract: Work chair, comprising a seat, supported in a height-adjustable manner by a column on a foot, and an adjustable backrest, the seat, at least in part, having a substantially horizontal position, and the backrest promoting an upright position of the user's back, characterized in that the column (3) is composed of three parts (4, 5, 6) and as a result provides a two-stage adjustability for the seat height, in that the seat is divided into two parts (7, 8), in such a manner that a rear section (7) is fixed and always retains the substantially horizontal position, while a front section (8) is hinged with respect to the rear section, and in that the front section (8) is secured to the column (3) in a hinged manner (11) by a rod (9) secured to it in a hinged manner (10). The chair can be dimensioned in such a way that it allows an ergonomic working position to be adopted by virtually all users, irrespective of their corporal size, with the possibility of increasing the size of the workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Arthur Engels, Joannes Henricus Maria de Kroon, Gaston Lionel van Amerongen
  • Publication number: 20070273189
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chair with a seat, a base support and a backrest, wherein the seat is mounted on the base support so as to be pivotable about a first pivoting axis and the backrest is mounted on the seat so as to be pivotable about a second pivoting axis. The two pivoting axes are arranged so as to be displaceable relative to one another in order to be able to change the seat depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Carsten Gehner, Michael Englisch
  • Publication number: 20070273190
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chair with a seat, a base support and a backrest, wherein the seat is pivotably mounted on the base support and the backrest is pivotably mounted on the seat, and a first spring system is provided between the base support and the seat and a second spring system is provided between the seat and the backrest. Furthermore, means are provided for adjusting the spring behaviour of the two spring systems so that the pivotability of the seat in relation to the base support and the pivotability of the backrest in relation to the seat can be adapted to different requirements, especially to users of different weights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Carsten Gehner
  • Patent number: 7264311
    Abstract: A seating unit includes a base, a reclineable back, a seat, and a control operably supporting the back and the seat on the base for synchronous movement between upright and recline positions. The control includes a pair of flexible support members and a link that combine to operably support the seat and back for synchronous movement on the base upon recline, which provides ergonomic non-shearing support for a seated user during recline. The back and seat each include perimeter frames, parallel resilient support members extending between side frame sections of the perimeter frames, and covers covering the resilient support members for distributed support and aesthetics. By this arrangement, the flexible member and the link move the one component along a defined path during recline of the back, and the seat and back also provide ergonomic support, both during recline and without recline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventor: Kurt R. Heidmann
  • Patent number: 7234774
    Abstract: A seating unit includes a seat, a back, a base, and a motion control having a plurality of flexible supports for operably supporting the seat and back on the base. The flexible supports are movable in a generally fore-to-aft direction but stiff in a generally vertical direction, and further the flexible supports have end sections projecting generally outward from said base for operably engaging the seat and/or back, so that when the flexible supports flex in the fore-to-aft direction, they provide for directed movement of the seat and/or the back. In one form, the flexible supports are integrally molded with the center section of the motion control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Heidmann, Renard G. Tubergen
  • Patent number: 7165811
    Abstract: A seating unit includes a base, a reclineable back, a seat, and a control operably supporting the back and the seat on the base for movement between upright and recline positions. The control includes a pair of flexible support members and a link that combine to operably support the seat and back for synchronous movement on the base upon recline. The flexible support member is stiff in a vertical direction for carrying a combined weight of the one component and of the seated user, but flexible in a horizontal direction to permit a swinging movement of its ends upon recline. The link is rigid and pivoted to the base for movement about a horizontal axis and also pivoted to the one component. By this arrangement, the flexible member and the link move the one component along a defined path during recline of the back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Bodnar, Adam C. Bedford, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gary L. Karsten
  • Patent number: 7036882
    Abstract: A chair, in particular office chair, comprises a seat support with a front seat support part and a rear seat support part which is pivotable in relation thereto about a horizontal pivoting axis. An adjustable-length energy storing device, which is articulated to the seat support parts, serves for adjustment of the two seat support parts relative to each other. An interlocking mechanism is provided for locking the pivotability of the seat support parts relative to each other, the interlocking mechanism being designed for providing a plurality of positions of interlocking of the front seat support part relative to the rear seat support part. The seat support parts of the chair can therefore be interlocked in a selected position of interlocking, meeting a user's wishes. This helps put into practice a chair that offers improved ease and convenience of sitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Dauphin Entwicklings-u. Beteiligungs GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Elzenbeck
  • Patent number: 7004543
    Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
  • Patent number: 6957862
    Abstract: A chair includes an upper frame disposed above and pivoted to a lower frame. An inclination adjusting device includes a latch mounted slidably on the upper frame and movable between a first position, in which the latch extends into and engages a selected one of engaging grooves in a latch engaging member that is formed on the lower frame, and a second position, in which the latch disengages the selected engaging groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventor: Su-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 6957863
    Abstract: A seating unit includes a seat, a back, a base, and a motion control having a plurality of flexible supports for operably supporting the seat and back on the base. The flexible supports are movable in a generally fore-to-aft direction but stiff in a generally vertical direction, and further the flexible supports have end sections projecting generally outward from said base for operably engaging the seat and/or back, so that when the flexible supports flex in the fore-to-aft direction, they provide for directed movement of the seat and/or the back. In one form, the flexible supports form leaf-spring-like beams with resiliently bendable ends that flex in a slightly angled fore-aft direction to provide a predetermined synchronized path of movement of the seat and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Heidmann, Renard G. Tubergen
  • Patent number: 6942295
    Abstract: A reclining chair system with a standard assembly supporting seat and backrest assemblies, which are pivotally mounted to each other and capable of providing a rocker effect to a user. A strut assembly provides substantially a bounce free shock absorbing function by using two coaxially disposed compressible and resilient members that are compressed sequentially. A headed shaft with a step limits the compression of the first member. The arrangement permits a volumetrically efficient operation while preventing excessive fatigue of the member. An adjustment mechanism permits a user to readily set the relative angular position of backrest and seat with respect to the standard (and consequently the horizontal plane) depending on the location of the chair system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Guillermo E. Lopez
  • Patent number: 6874853
    Abstract: This object is attained in a chair comprising a pedestal; a seat support supported thereon via a chair column, said seat support comprising a front and a rear seat support element being connected with one another via a pivot axis extending substantially horizontally; a seat supported on said seat support elements; a backrest secured on said rear seat support element; a longitudinally adjustable energy storing means for mutually adjusting said backrest and said seat, said energy storing means being joined with said seat support elements at a distance from their pivot axis; a spring abutment being arranged pivotably around said pivot axis for adjustably dampening a pivoting movement of said seat support elements relative to one another; an adjusting element extending substantially tangentially relative to said pivot axis and being pivotable around an adjusting element pivot axis for modifying the bias between said spring abutment and one seat support element; and an actuating twist handle connected with said ad
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Dauphin Entwicklungs- u. Beteiligungs-GmbH
    Inventor: Konrad Wild
  • Patent number: 6869142
    Abstract: A seating unit includes a seat, a back, a base, and a motion control having a plurality of flexible supports for operably supporting the seat and back on the base. The flexible supports are movable in a generally fore-to-aft direction but stiff in a generally vertical direction, and further the flexible supports have end sections projecting generally outward from said base for operably engaging the seat and/or back, so that when the flexible supports flex in the fore-to-aft direction, they provide for directed movement of the seat and/or the back. In one form, the flexible supports form leaf-spring-like beams with resiliently bendable ends that flex in a slightly angled fore-aft direction to provide a predetermined synchronized path of movement of the seat and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Heidmann, Renard G. Tubergen
  • Patent number: 6840578
    Abstract: A chair has a seat connected to a support leg in an up and down angularly displaceable manner, elastic elements for propping up a rear end of the seat to a higher position, and a mechanism for limiting position of the seat when the seat seats people; the mechanism has an adjustment rod, a gear turnable together with the adjustment rod, an elastic plate for engaging the gear so as to prevent rotation of the gear when the adjustment rod isn't operated, and eccentric cams for holding the seat at desired position when the chair seats people; the cams can turn together with the adjustment rod, and are each formed with a stopping edge having several sections; thus, the depressed position of the seat, i.e. the position when the seat seats people, is decided by the position of the cams, and the seat can move accordingly when the sitter leans forwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Wen-Fa Su
  • Patent number: 6827401
    Abstract: A rocker mechanism is provided for implementation with a chair assembly to enable forward and rearward rocking thereof. The rocker mechanism includes upper and lower castings resiliently interconnected by a pair of leaf springs extending at an angle therebetween. The leaf springs are assembled between the upper and lower castings to define first and second effective lengths of each leaf spring for providing first and second spring rates of each leaf spring. In this manner, rocking motion in a first direction may be more difficult than rocking motion in a second direction. Further, the angular configuration of the leaf springs between the upper and lower castings enables maximization of the lengths of the leaf springs within the rocker mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard E. Marshall, Michael E. Mohn, Larry P. LaPointe
  • Patent number: 6783180
    Abstract: This invention is an improved tilt lock device for chairs having a spindle and piston for raising and lowering the chair. The improvement consists of a pawl plate for engagement with the piston where the pawl plate is integral with a locking shaft that extends from the chair. The pawl plate contains a barrier rib that is disposed in the upper surface of the plate and is compressively biased by a torsion spring extension. Axial displacement of the locking shaft is precluded when the torsion spring is in bias engagement with the barrier rib. To overcome the bias, the locking shaft requires the application of an axial external force and remains locked until such force overcomes the bias of the barrier rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Phillip Young
  • Patent number: 6773066
    Abstract: A control for a seat, and a seat in combination with the control and a base, said control comprising an upper and a lower arm pivotally joined, with a flexure extending as a cantilever between them, such that a contactor contacts the flexure, and both permits and limits the tilting movement of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: John W. Caldwell
  • Publication number: 20040104611
    Abstract: An adjustable armrest for a chair includes a housing having a cavity defined by a wall and a latch member slideably mounted in the cavity. The latch member includes a wedge shaped portion having a first and second surface forming a oblique angle between them. One of the first and second surfaces engages the wall of the housing at least when the latch is in the engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
  • Patent number: 6729688
    Abstract: The invention relates to seat and backrest arrangements in seat furniture, in particular office chairs, which comprise a seat plate, a seat-plate support and a backrest support and in which the seat plate (1), in the region of its front, knee-side edge (2), is connected moveably to the seat-plate support (3) and, in the region of its rear edge (5), is connected moveably to the backrest support (6), the backrest support (6) being coupled displaceably to the seat-plate support (3). The seat and backrest arrangements according to the invention are characterized in that a spring means (4) for cushioning the seat plate (1) and the backrest support (6) is arranged in the region of the front, knee-side edge (2) of the seat plate (1)—between the seat plate (1) and seat-plate support (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Giroflex-Entwicklungs-AG
    Inventor: Anton Erne
  • Publication number: 20040051359
    Abstract: A control for a seat, and a seat in combination with the control and a base, said control comprising an upper and a lower arm pivotally joined, with a flexure extending as a cantilever between them, such that a contactor contacts the flexure, and both permits and limits the tilting movement of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: John W. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 6692075
    Abstract: A chair, in particular an office chair, has a backrest that is articulated on a seat carrier via a backrest carrier, and has a seat surface that can be moved synchronously with the backrest. The front region of the seat surface is connected to the seat carrier via a sliding guide. The rear region of the seat surface is connected to the seat carrier via a seat link. A top point of rotation connects the seat link to the seat surface. A bottom point of rotation connects the seat link to the seat carrier. The distance between the top point of rotation and the backrest is smaller than the distance between the bottom point of rotation and the backrest. A sliding guide for the seat surface is provided in the backrest carrier for synchronizing the movement of the backrest and the movement of the seat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Armin Sander, Martin Potrykus, Peter Horn
  • Patent number: 6688689
    Abstract: A seat suspension system includes a first seat (e.g., a base) member and a second seat (e.g., a seat) member preferably overlying the first seat member. At least one spring (e.g., elastic or rubber) mount is interposed between the first and second seat member. The at least one elastic mount provides a projected elastic center spaced from (preferably located above) the second seat member such that the second seat member is pivotable about the projected elastic center. Embodiments describing seat suspension systems having a single focalized mount or a plurality of spaced apart, focalized mounts are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Richard P. Thorn
  • Patent number: 6669298
    Abstract: A damper (20) for damping motion between two relatively moveable members, such as pivotal motion between components in office chairs (10). The damper (20) includes a outer member (22) having an internal recess (23) with a inner surface (24) and a crosswise oriented hole (30) intersecting the recess (23), and an inner member assembly (32) moveable relative to the outer member (22) having a shaft (34) with a resilient friction member (38) mounted thereon. The resilient friction member (38) frictionally engages the inner surface (24) in an interference fit relationship thereby radially precompressing the resilient friction member (38). The resilient friction member (38) preferably has one or more protrusions (40) that may be axially or radially oriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Thorn, Samson Beyene
  • Patent number: 6644741
    Abstract: A synchrotilt mechanism for a chair to provide improved control over the relative but synchronized tilting of the back and seat during tilting. The chair back is supported on a rigid upright assembly including lower lever arms which project under the chair seat and are coupled at forward ends to a horizontal tilt shaft which is disposed under the front of the chair seat and is supported on a control housing fixed to the upper end of the base pedestal. A tension control mechanism is coupled between the tilt shaft and the control housing for normally urging the upright arrangement, and the chair back, into an upright position. The chair seat is movably supported on the lower lever arms by a support arrangement which permits the chair seat to pivot relative to the upright assembly about a generally transverse horizontal axis which is preferably slightly below the upper surface of the seat when the latter is in a nondeformed condition, i.e., the seat is not occupied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick C. Nelson, Manfred Kleinikel, Werner Härtel
  • Patent number: 6644742
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel seating device (1) with an elastic support element (2), at least one support leg (3) and a seat element (4), wherein the support element (2) has a substantially toroidal support body (9) standing on the ground. One great advantage provided by the novel seating device is that upward and downward movements can be slightly dampened thereby substantially alleviating the load on the back. Slight circular movements can also be effected which have an especially prophylactic effect against possible back injuries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas Walser
  • Patent number: 6595584
    Abstract: Seating such as chairs and groups of chairs which include a base, a support for an occupant, and a control mounting the support to the base which optionally can enable a rocking motion for the support, and a control for this purpose. A plurality of seating elements and other furniture items can be supported on a single beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: John W. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 6595593
    Abstract: A locking mechanism (11) suitable for use with office type chairs comprising an operating lever (13) movable between a locking position in which locking takes place and an unlocking position in which unlocking takes place, a spring, which biases the lever (13) into the locking position and a catch (23, 27, 29), which holds the lever (13) in the unlocking position upon movement of the lever (13) into the unlocking position. The catch (23, 27, 29) is disengaged when the lever (13) moves past the unlocking position. Upon disengagement of the catch, the lever (13) returns to the locking position under the action of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Elam
  • Patent number: 6588843
    Abstract: A chair control providing both articulating tilt motion and dual-ratio, adjustable, synchronized tilt motion. In a first aspect, the control can be configured as either an articulating tilt control or a synchronized tilt control. In a second aspect, the angle between the seat and the backrest may be selected by the user when the control is configured for either the articulating mode or the synchronized mode. In a third aspect, when in the synchronized mode, the angle between the seat and the backrest increases during forward tilt action to avoid “clam shelling.” In a fourth aspect, a forward tilt selector enables or prohibits forward tilting of the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: GHSP, Incorporated
    Inventor: Scott M. Ebenstein