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:
Application
Filed:
October 17, 2001
Publication date:
April 17, 2003
Applicant:
La-Z-Boy Incorporated
Inventors:
Richard E. Marshall, Michael E. Mohn, Larry P. LaPointe
Abstract: A wheelchair seat suspension comprises at least one substantially horizontally, disposed elongate spring. The spring is adapted to be supported by the wheelchair frame. At least a portion of the spring is adapted to support at least a portion of the seat.
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:
Application
Filed:
September 20, 2001
Publication date:
March 20, 2003
Inventors:
Patrick C. Nelson, Manfred Kleinikel, Werner Haertel
Abstract: A chair includes an actuator having an actuator button disposed on top, a base secured on the actuator, a spring engaged in the base and having an actuator arm engaged on the actuator button for actuating the actuator button to release the actuator. A barrel is rotatably secured to the base. A bar is pivotally and adjustably secured to the base and adjustable relative to the base at any selected angular position. A latch is slidably engaged in the base and selectively engaged with the bar for adjustably securing the bar and the seat cushion to the base.
Abstract: A chair control mechanism is adapted to decrease a likelihood of the mechanism becoming unintentionally disengaged from a locked position. In particular, a control arm has locked position wherein a seat plate is restricted in movement relative to a main bracket and an unlocked position where the movement relative to said main bracket is allowed. A latch bar is biased against the control arm and the control arm is notched such that axial sliding of the control arm into said unlocked position is possible only after providing a force necessary to disengage said latch bar from said notch.
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. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 11, 2001
Publication date:
November 15, 2001
Inventors:
Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 11, 2001
Publication date:
August 9, 2001
Inventors:
Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 20, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 26, 2001
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
Abstract: An office chair includes a tilt control mechanism which connects a seat assembly to a base. The tilt control mechanism defines a pivot connection between the seat assembly and the base whereby the seat assembly effectively pivots about a pivot point in any direction extending radially from the pivot point. The tilt control mechanism includes an annular elastomeric ring which resists multi-directional tilting and biases the seat assembly to a neutral position. The elastomeric ring is adjustable axially toward and away from the pivot point to adjust resistance to tilting.
Abstract: An office chair includes a tilt control mechanism which connects a seat assembly to a base. The tilt control mechanism defines a pivot connection between the seat assembly and the base whereby the seat assembly effectively pivots about a pivot point in any direction extending radially from the pivot point. The tilt control mechanism includes an annular elastomeric ring which resists multi-directional tilting and biases the seat assembly to a neutral position. The elastomeric ring has a contact area on which the tilting moment of the seat assembly acts which contact area can be selectively varied to adjust tilting resistance.