Interfitted Back And Bottom Or Back Frame And Bottom Frame Patents (Class 297/440.15)
  • Patent number: 6981747
    Abstract: A fully upholstered, ready-to-assemble article of furniture which may be custom ordered by a consumer, packaged by the seller for shipment to the consumer by a parcel delivery service, and then assembled by the consumer from the packaged components. The article of furniture includes a frame of a plurality of interlocking, planar frame members which are secured together by fasteners received in push-in connector elements. Upholstery coverings, the design of which is custom selected by the consumer, are attached to the frame and secured to one another by hook and loop fasteners. Foam elements are received within a second plurality of upholstery covers which have large openings for receiving the foam elements to provide cushions for the article of furniture. The frame members, upholstery covers, and foam elements are packaged in first, second, and third containers, respectively, which are each light enough to be shipped for home delivery by a parcel delivery service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Home Reserve, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine L. Wieland, Blair Wieland
  • Patent number: 6979059
    Abstract: A rocking chair has a flexible joint between a chair base and a chair component permitting rocking action. The flexible joint includes a housing with a plurality of internal surfaces. A plurality of compressible rods are disposed within the housing and a rigid member extends among the rods to engage the rods against the internal surfaces of the housing. The rigid member is attached to either the chair base or the chair component while the housing is then attached to either the chair base or the chair component whichever is not attached to the rigid member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: HC Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Curtis Conlin
  • Patent number: 6974191
    Abstract: A bath chair having elongated slots on opposite sides, legs secured to the seat, and a backrest mounted on two opposed L-shaped backrest support tubes, is provided with a pair of handrails secured to the seat by the horizontal segments of the backrest support tubes. Pairs of connecting tubes are mounted on opposite sides of the bottom face of the seat, each connecting tube having a cylindrical opening sized and disposed to receive respective horizontal segments of the backrest support tubes. The handrails are inserted through respective seat slots, each carrying a cylindrical member at its end disposed between and aligned with opposed connecting tubes. The horizontal segments of the backrest support tubes are inserted through the connecting tubes and the handrail cylindrical members therebetween so as to secure the handrail to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Medical Depot, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Serhan
  • Patent number: 6971721
    Abstract: A chair includes a seat portion; a backrest surrounding at least a portion of the seat portion; and a base removably positioned beneath the seat portion. The base preferably includes tapered sidewalls that correspond with the backrest when the base is inverted and placed on the seat portion. In such a nested position, the disassembled chair may be efficiently shipped and stored in polyhedral boxes with angled side walls, that may be stacked and alternatingly inverted to take advantage of the angled sidewalls of such boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: LumiSource, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Lee
  • Patent number: 6955401
    Abstract: A collapsible rocker chair includes a back member having an top section and a base having first locking holes extending through said base at a first and second distal end thereof. A seat member includes second locking holes extending therethrough. The chair also includes first and second sideboards each having a curvilinear base. Each of the sideboards includes a first slot extending from an edge thereof and a second slot positioned substantially perpendicular to the first slot. The further includes a first and second locking member each having a crescent shape. The first distal end of the base is inserted though the second slot of the first sideboard and the second distal end of the base is inserted through the second slot in the second side board so that said first locking holes are positioned on an exterior side of each of said first and second sideboards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventor: Jon Shoulberg
  • Patent number: 6929275
    Abstract: A person transport wheelchair has a frame assembly with tubular members attached to connectors supporting a seat, a back rest, and a foot rest. A pair of wheels rotatably mounted on an axle secured to the frame assembly movably support the wheelchair on a surface. The connectors have joined parallel tubes and a flange on one tube. The tubular members have ends telescoped into the tubes. The flanges support the seat, back rest and foot rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Kurt Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Phillip E. Schlangen
  • Patent number: 6913318
    Abstract: An adjustable seat support assembly for a wheelchair. The seat support assembly includes a seat bottom frame and a seat back frame. The seat bottom frame has at least two spaced apart beams. Each beam includes at least one channel that extends along at least a portion of the beam. Preferably the channel extends along the entire length of the beam. A seat plate is mounted to and extends between the beams. The seat back frame includes two vertical supports. Each support has an upper end and a lower end. At least one back frame cross-bar is attached to and extends between the vertical supports. A mounting bracket is attached to the lower end of each support and removably attached to a channel in one of the beams. Preferably there are two or more channels formed in each beam, one channel in the bottom and the other in the side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Pride Mobility Products Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin Scott Higley, Walter A. Watkins, Gerald White, Michael J. Rozaieski, Thomas M. Hale
  • Patent number: 6837546
    Abstract: A modular arm rest system for a chair. The arm rest includes a connecting member that is installed into an interior cavity in the chair frame and is retained by a nose. A back is also provided with an arm rest hole that the connecting member can be installed through, thereby securing the back to the chair frame. The modular system includes a reclining chair and a four-legged stacker chair with arm rests and plugs so that the chairs can be reconfigured as desired by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas M. VanDeRiet, Jeffrey R. Oberlin
  • Patent number: 6811226
    Abstract: A modular furniture assembly is disclosed with an improved structural design that increases the structural stability of the modular furniture assembly by using triangulated support structures. In addition, the disclosed furniture assembly is designed with few adjustable parts in a manner such that a furniture user may rapidly and easily assemble the furniture assembly and adjust it to a desired configuration without requiring specialized tools or specialized knowledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: George Kamrath
  • Publication number: 20040189076
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seating shell base having a forward end and a rearward end, and a back support member mounted at the rearward end of the seating shell base for substantially vertical movement with respect to the seating shell base. An inner seat tray is positioned within the seating shell base and mounted for forward and rearward sliding movement with respect to the seating shell base, the inner seat tray having opposed pivot points. A seat back is pivotally mounted at the pivot points, the seat back being connected to the back support member. Downward movement of the back support member vertically with respect to the seating shell base causes the seat back to pivot at the pivot points, thereby reclining the seat back, and thereby causing the inner seat tray to slide forward with respect to the seating shell base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Wayne H. Hanson, William B. Phelps, Stephen M. Sanford
  • Patent number: 6786543
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom. The vehicle seat also has a recliner mechanism for adjusting the angle between the seat back and the seat bottom. The recliner is capable of substantially supporting the seat back relative to the seat bottom below a threshold force acting on said seat back during normal operating loads. The operating loads are below a threshold level. The seat also has an impact control mechanism operatively connected to the seat back and the seat bottom. The impact control mechanism is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. In the disengaged position, the seat back is permitted to move relative to said seat bottom. In an engaged position, the impact control mechanism restrains the seat back from moving relative to the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Christer Andersson, Odd Jaegtnes
  • Publication number: 20040155509
    Abstract: The invention provides a knock-down furniture bracket assembly which includes a mounting bracket and a slide bracket, both of which are tapered and are configured to slidably mate with one another. The mounting bracket attaches to a base of a piece of seating furniture and the slide bracket attaches to a back of the piece of seating furniture. The mounting bracket has a slot provided therethrough and the slide bracket has a dimple extending outwardly thereof. Upon sliding the slide bracket onto the mounting bracket, the dimple engages the slot in the mounting bracket to prevent movement of the slide bracket relative to the mounting bracket. The dimple can be disengaged from the slot upon an application of a predetermined force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Danny R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6752465
    Abstract: A seat framework for use in a bus, which is basically from by a tubular seat back frame member and a tubular seat cushion frame member. The seat framework is fixed via a support leg element on a floor of the bus and provided with a reinforcement element which includes an angle portion of L-shaped cross-section and a tubular portion. The reinforcement element is provided between the seat framework and the support leg element, such that the angle portion thereof is fixed on either of the two lateral frame portions of the seat back frame member, while the tubular portion thereof is fixedly connected with the support leg element. The reinforcement element may be so formed as to include two angle portions and a tubular intermediate portion defined between the two angle portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumio Igarashi
  • Patent number: 6725523
    Abstract: A knockdown chair more particularly to one that is easily knocked down to its component parts or as the case may be easily re-assembled into said wooden chair by fixing the components parts together is disclosed. A back rest is permanently fixed to a first seat portion. A second seat portion supports the user. The first and second seat portions are attached together by means of a tongue and groove connection and secured by screws placed advantageously to ensure both seat portions remain intact. Leg assembly members are advantageously detachably fixed to the underside of the attached seat portions. The invention also relates to the method of constructing the chair from the knockdown condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Jolly Wood Sdn Bhd
    Inventor: Ping-Kuei Chiang
  • Publication number: 20040070255
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a separable chair assembly, in particular a type of chair assembly which can be separated, folded, overlapped for storage with least space, characterized in that the chair assembly consists of one back unit and one seat unit, closed matched. The back unit and the seat unit are in an H form with slight curvature looked from a side view. The back unit is designed wider than the seat unit, so the chair assembly can be folded in one piece when not in use. The back unit is furnished with a front retaining board and a rear retaining at the center part. While in use, the back unit and the seat unit will cross each other so as to set the seat unit leaning on the retaining boards thus to form a chair. It is a practicable application for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: Mark Ten Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Spencer Chen
  • Patent number: 6702389
    Abstract: A seat structure having an elastomeric fabric connected to spaced apart support members which are pivotally secured to a support plate to allow one or both of said spaced apart support members to be pivoted away from the other to provide a desired tension in the elastomeric fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: William Fred Hall, Jr., Bernhard Zeiler
  • Publication number: 20040041453
    Abstract: A child's chair that may be readily adjusted with regard to the height of the seat bottom, and the position of the seat back relative to the seat bottom. The use of telescoping legs and a slidable support for the seat back allow the chair to be adjusted for positioning according to the needs of a particular child.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Craig Ellis, Darcy M. Jones
  • Patent number: 6698840
    Abstract: A chair includes a seat and a backrest. A coupling unit includes two engaging tongues respectively extending from opposite sides of the seat, and a pair of brackets respectively fixed on opposite sides of the backrest and defining two tongue-retention channels. Each of the engaging tongues is formed with an engaging hole. Two fastener clips are mounted on the brackets, respectively. Each fastener clip includes a resilient arm having a V-shaped engaging end that is engageable with the engaging hole in a respective one of the engaging tongues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Shin Yeh Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuen-Jong Tseng
  • Patent number: 6695401
    Abstract: A metal frame glider having preassembled wooden seat panels. A bench back panel and a bench seat panel each include three vertical wooden support members to which a plurality of horizontal wooden slats are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald C. Noll
  • Publication number: 20040021359
    Abstract: A modular sofa includes a hollow base frame, upholstered back and armrest members, and a plurality of mounting units. Each mounting unit includes amounting seat secured to a respective one of the back and armrest members, and a hook plate extending from the mounting seat so as to define an insert space. The base frame includes a rear side wall and a pair of lateral side walls, each of which is inserted into the insert space of a respective mounting unit. A threaded rod extends through the hook plate and through a respective one of the rear sidewall and the lateral side walls, and engages threadedly a mounting hole in the mounting seat for fastening the respective one of the back and armrest members to the respective side wall of the base frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Yuan-Feng Chang
  • Publication number: 20030209934
    Abstract: A bench includes a frame that may include a back and seat support portion which is sized and configured to support a bench seat and a bench back. The bench seat and the bench back are preferably constructed from blow-molded plastic. The bench seat and back may include a plurality of depressions that are desirably configured to increase the strength of the bench seat and back. The bench seat and back may also include one or more screw bosses, receiving channels and/or grooves. Desirably, the depressions, screw bosses, receiving channels and/or grooves are formed in the bench seat or bench back as part of a unitary, one-piece construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Thayne B. Haney, Kent Ashby
  • Patent number: 6644749
    Abstract: A modular arm rest system for a chair. The arm rest includes a connecting member that is installed into an interior cavity in the chair frame and is retained by a nose. A back is also provided with an arm rest hole that the connecting member can be installed through, thereby securing the back to the chair frame. The modular system includes a reclining chair and a four-legged stacker chair with arm rests and plugs so that the chairs can be reconfigured as desired by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas M. VanDeRiet, Jeffrey R. Oberlin
  • Patent number: 6631957
    Abstract: A dismantleable chair comprising a back member, leg members and a seat member all formed from generally two-dimensionally shaped materials such as plywood, and the like. The back member is somewhat arcuately shaped in both the horizontal and vertical cross-sections to provide superior seating comfort and strength. The arcuate shape also provides for a unique curved compressively pre-loaded joint design among the chair members, which substantially increases the strength and rigidity of the chair. The compressively preloaded joints are protected from bending and rotational loads by their respective positioning, and the presence of other spaced apart joints. The chair can be assembled and disassembled numerous times without loosing strength and rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Po Shun Leong
  • Patent number: 6619749
    Abstract: A ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture system includes a collection of identically configured side panels, with sets of the side panels having different aesthetic and/or functional features, a collection of base panels and back panels spanning between pairs of side panels, the collection of base and back panels being provided in different sets of lengths and configurations to permit construction of different types of furniture. The panels are interconnected through a series of slots and notches. A locking member is provided that can be wedged into a slot to lock the entire RTA furniture item together. A second locking member can be provided to be wedged into a slot in the back panel to provide additional support for a base panel. A wide variety of furniture items are show that can be constructed using the two locking members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Scott Willy
  • Publication number: 20030164640
    Abstract: A chair includes a base having an adjustable column, a seat, and a back. An underseat assembly operably supports the seat and the back on the base. The underseat assembly includes a metal bottom support with a tapered socket shaped to engage the column, and includes a seat-supporting yoke constructed with a center section shaped to vertically engage the bottom support. Opposing side support sections include inwardly facing mounting sections that mateably engage a top of the center section. A retainer plate clamps the bottom support, yoke, and side support sections together. A link is operably attached to the side support sections and the back for supporting the back. The seat, the back, and underseat components are constructed for top down assembly without requiring that the chair be inverted during assembly, and they form a four-bar linkage with the link that supports synchronous movement of the seat and back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Gary L. Karsten
  • Patent number: 6612654
    Abstract: An upholstered folding chair includes a chair frame, a base member permanently attached to the frame, and an upholstered insert configured to slide into and removably interlock with either the base member or the chair frame. The base member includes a retaining rim, which covers and protects at least some of the edges of the upholstered insert, and the base member and upholstered insert may have interlocking members which become hidden between the base and insert when the two are interlocked together. The base can be either a back base for receiving and supporting an upholstered chair back insert, or a seat base for receiving and supporting an upholstered chair seat insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Mity-Lite, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Laws, Livingston E. Atkins, III, Richard D. Smith, Gregory W. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20030151293
    Abstract: This invention relates to four part furniture frames having a seat box portion, a back portion and two arm portions. The unique tapered side edges on the seat box portions of these frames allows the seat box portion to be nested with the separate back portion, thereby forming a substantially flat rectangle. The unique notches on the back upright supports posts of these frames support the back spring rail of the seat box portion, allowing the seat stretchers to be uniquely made of plywood, oriented strand board or plastic instead of them being required to be made of hardwood such as oak. The light weight frames of this invention may be incorporated into both ready-to-assemble furniture and fully assembled upholstered furniture. These light weight, economical, nestable frames may be easily stacked, packed and shipped. Additionally, these frames may be easily assembled, by a furniture manufacturer, a store, a customer, or anyone else, with only eight easy-to-use connectors such as bolts and T-nuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Richard H. McLarty, Robert A. Medlin, Leslie A. Wade
  • Publication number: 20030151292
    Abstract: This invention relates to four part furniture frames having a seat box portion, a back portion and two arm portions. The unique tapered side edges on the seat box portions of these frames allows the seat box portion to be nested with the separate back portion, thereby forming a substantially flat rectangle. The unique notches on the back upright supports posts of these frames support the back spring rail of the seat box portion, allowing the seat stretchers to be uniquely made of plywood or oriented strand board instead of oak. The light weight frames of this invention may be incorporated into both ready-to-assemble furniture and fully assembled upholstered furniture. These light weight, economical, nestable frames may be easily stacked, packed and shipped. Additionally, these frames may be easily assembled, by a furniture manufacturer, a store, a customer, or anyone else, with only eight easy-to-use connectors such as bolts and T-nuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Richard H. McLarty, Robert A. Medlin, Leslie A. Wade
  • Patent number: 6595592
    Abstract: An article of furniture, viz., a chair, for institutional use such as in hospital waiting areas, school dormitories, military homes and the like. The chair includes two arms, a front member disposed between the arms, a seat back, a seat deck and a seat cushion. The arms are secured to the front member by screws that threadingly engage apertures therein. The seat back includes protrusions that are captured by a bracket disposed on each chair arm. Screws extend through apertures in both sides of the seat back and into threaded apertures in both arms, thereby fixing the seat back to the arms. The seat deck rests on a ledge in the seat back, secures to a flange on the front member by a screw and supports the seat cushion. The chair is upholstered with fabric having hook and loop strips around the perimeter that corresponds to hook and loop strips on each chair piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Wieland Furniture Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Wieland, Joel Alberda, Donald Newfer
  • Patent number: 6585320
    Abstract: An improved tilt rate control mechanism for a tilt back chair has an adjustable torsion spring, a tilt rate adjustment actuator and an actuator movement mechanism. The torsion spring has an adjustment lever for adjusting the tension on the torsion spring. The tilt rate adjustment actuator is disposed in contact with the adjustment lever such that the movement of the adjustment actuator causes movement of the adjustment lever. The adjustment actuator is moveable between (i) a first actuator position wherein the actuator is proximal to the torsion spring and the adjustment lever is in a minimum tension position, and (ii) a second actuator position wherein the actuator is distal from the torsion spring and the adjustment lever is in a maximum tension position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Virco Mgmt. Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Holbrook, Darren M. Mark
  • Patent number: 6568760
    Abstract: A chair of modular construction having modules that form the basic chair with additional modules that can be added to the chair without changing the basic construction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: HON Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Keith L. Davis, Marcus C. Koepke, Jamie Krull, Jay R. Machael, Matthew J. Phillips, Douglas A. Schroeder, Craig H. Schultz, Erik A. Steffensen, Brian R. Trego, Eric M. Zillig
  • Publication number: 20030094844
    Abstract: A combination lounger is constructed to include a rotary base with an reclining mechanism, a hassock detachably fastened to angle plates at front links of the reclining mechanism of the rotary base by tie screws, two armrest and side panel units detachably fastened to supporting lugs at two sides of the reclining mechanism of the rotary base, a seat detachably connected between the armrest and side panel units by tie screws, and a padded backrest detachably secured to inclining bars of the reclining mechanism of the rotary base by a hooked joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventor: Lube Shieh
  • Patent number: 6557942
    Abstract: A combination lounger is constructed to include a rotary base with an reclining mechanism, a hassock detachably fastened to angle plates at front links of the reclining mechanism of the rotary base by tie screws, two armrest and side panel units detachably fastened to supporting lugs at two sides of the reclining mechanism of the rotary base, a seat detachably connected between the armrest and side panel units by tie screws, and a padded backrest detachably secured to inclining bars of the reclining mechanism of the rotary base by a hooked joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: First & Best Furniture Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lube Shieh
  • Patent number: 6554366
    Abstract: A retaining plate is provided for use in the assembly of a chair to couple a J-back to a tilt mechanism. The J-back is provided with a number of mounting holes. Similarly, the tilt mechanism is provided with a number mounting holes that can be aligned with the mounting holes in the J-back. The retaining plate has a number of mounting holes disposed therethrough that are located to align with the mounting holes of the J-back and the tilt mechanism. The plate also includes a nut-retaining wall that is formed around the mounting holes and that is dimensioned to hold a threaded nut. The plate has a mechanism that is used to couple the plate to the tilt mechanism. In use, nuts may be placed within and held by the nut-retaining wall, and the plate may be coupled to the tilt mechanism so that the J-back may be coupled to the tilt mechanism by threading bolts into the nuts, the nuts being held in place by the nut-retaining walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Bryan H. Zeeuw, Steven K. Meek, Joseph T. Percy
  • Publication number: 20030001420
    Abstract: An ergonomic chair includes a four-bar linkage arrangement wherein a lower frame member is provided with a rigid front support and a rigid rear support with a seat member pivotably connected to the front support. A back rest has an upper support pivotably connected at an upper end of the rear support of the lower frame member. A link member pivotably connects at a first end to a rear support of the seat member and at second end to a lower support of the back rest. This novel arrangement permits tilting movement of the backrest rearwardly relative to the lower frame member causing elevation of a rear portion of the seat member, permitting the feet to remain on the floor and alleviating pressure on the user's thighs, while rotation occurs closely coincident with the pivot axis of the user's hips and while maintaining a generally uniform gaze line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Marcus C. Koepke, Jamie Krull, Jay R. Machael, Tim Coffield, Keith L. Davis, Amin K. Habboub, Matthew J. Phillips, Douglas A. Schroeder, Craig H. Schultz, Erik A. Steffensen, Brian R. Trego, Eric M. Zillig
  • Patent number: 6488339
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, having a seat substructure (3) and a backrest (6) which is to be fastened to the seat substructure (3), the backrest (6) can be fastened to the seat substructure (3) by means of a quick-fitting connection (10, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co
    Inventors: Holger Finner, Rolf Schüler
  • Patent number: 6435614
    Abstract: A fishing pole support apparatus for connecting a user to a fishing pole to support and control the fishing pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Gollahon
  • Patent number: 6422654
    Abstract: A chair with a disconnectable back so that the back can be moved from its normally upright mounted position relative to the seat to be placed against the seat so as to minimize space to facilitate shipping of the chair. The seat has a pair of receiving cavities located at the back edge of the seat. The back has a pair of protuberances which are to engage with the receiving cavities. The back also includes a spring biased pin assembly that is to deflect when moving of the back between a pair of armrest frames with the spring biased pin assemblies engaging with holes formed within each armrest frame thereby locking in place the back with the seat achieving the normal usage position for the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: James E. Grove
  • Patent number: 6347835
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable frame member for a chair seat frame and a lockable alignment tool which is implemented between the chair seat frame and an attachable seat back. Initially, the chair seat frame is pre-assembled such that the adjustable frame member is in a non-rigid state, therefore allowing for side to side skewing motion of the chair seat frame. The lockable alignment tool is mounted onto the seat back, in its unlocked position. Once the lockable alignment tool is mounted to the seat back, it is locked such that its length is fixed. The lockable alignment tool is then removed from the seat back and mounted onto the seat frame. As the lockable alignment tool is mounted onto the seat frame, skewing motion of the seat frame is caused as the seat frame aligns with the lockable alignment tool. Once the lockable alignment tool has been fully mounted to the chair frame, screws are used to lock the adjustable frame member. As such, the adjustable frame member becomes a rigid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Michael R. Mero, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6279997
    Abstract: A portable pew, that comprises (1) a first, second, third, and fourth cam attached to a seat portion; (2) the seat portion, having a seat bottom, a seat top, a first seat side, a second seat side, a third seat side, and a fourth seat side, and wherein the first cam is pivotally attached to the first seat side and the second cam is pivotally attached to the second seat side; and the third cam is pivotally attached to the seat bottom, and the fourth cam is pivotally attached to the third seat side; (3) at least one back portion having a back portion front, and a back portion back, a first back side, a second back side, a third back side and a fourth back side, and wherein the first cam is additionally pivotally attached to the first back side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Trinity Furniture Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lorraine Moore, Barry E. Pratt
  • Publication number: 20010006302
    Abstract: A structure allows a functional member to be attached to an alloy frame without welding. In the state where a ratchet is disposed on a second side of the frame having an attachment bracket supported on a first side, a first fastener member is inserted through the functional member, frame, and attachment bracket so as to be received by a second fastener member provided in the attachment bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetaka Nagayasu, Masayuki Kato, Hitoshi Yanase
  • Patent number: 6250842
    Abstract: A device for the releasable fastening of seats, bench seats or other objects on a floor of a motor vehicle, comprising a locking part, and a mating locking part which can be fastened to the floor. The locking part is movable by overcoming a spring force from a locking position, in which it cannot be uncoupled from the mating locking part, into a release position in which it can be uncoupled from the mating locking part. A blocking element, upon the uncoupling, retains the locking part in the release position by a positively locking interengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Ewald Witte GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Norbert Krüger
  • Publication number: 20010002763
    Abstract: A chair having an adjustable seat (1) and back (3) has a connection assembly for connecting the back to an adjustment mechanism (4) of the chair. The assembly has a rigid L-shaped connection bar (7) one end (7b) of which is insertable into a receiving structure (4a) of the mechanism (4). A catch mechanism is provided to hold this end (7b) in a locking position in the receiving structure (4a). The catch mechanism can be released e.g. with a screwdriver inserted through a side aperture (26) to allow ready removal of the back (3). The end (7b) may have a projection (8) which engages a hole (15) and a spring loaded wedge member (25) may be provided to hold the end (7a) between upper and lower plates (17, 12). This wedge member (25) may be slidable back in a slot (20) against the spring loading for release of the catch mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: June 7, 2001
    Inventors: Simon Vincent Harby Roberts, Mark Grant Jones
  • Patent number: 6224160
    Abstract: A chair is provided which includes an inner member for supporting the body of a person and an outer member for supporting the right and left edges of the inner member. The inner member is made of a synthetic resin and formed into a plate so that the inner member is elastically deformed under the weight of the person. The inner member is attached to the outer member with its side portions supported. Thus, behind the inner member is a space for allowing the inner member to be deformed. In order to be applied to the seat of a chair, preferably, the outer member includes a metal base and a pair of auxiliary supporting elements to be fitted on the metal base. The inner member and the auxiliary supporting elements are fixed to each other in a non-releasable manner by an engaging assembly including engagement nails and engagement holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Itoki Crebio Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takeuchi, Shigenori Takehara, Koji Katayama
  • Patent number: 6209963
    Abstract: A chair control mechanism for a chair assembly having a seat and a back includes an arrangement for mounting the lower end of a back support member, for positioning the back above the seat. The chair control mechanism includes a variable configuration mounting area so as to enable different back support members to be used with the same basic chair control mechanism structure. In one version, the variable configuration mounting area is provided by engaging one of a series of inserts within a transverse rear wall defined by the chair control mechanism. Each insert defines a passage configured to receive the lower seat mounting section of a back mounting member having a different set of dimensions, and the seat mounting section of the back mounting member extends through the passage and is engaged with the chair control mechanism by means of a fixed fastener-type arrangement or by a hand screw received within a slot for providing adjustability in the position of the back relative to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Miotto International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Gust, Michael N. Klein
  • Patent number: 6189974
    Abstract: A seat comprising side uprights (110, 110′), a seat (120) and a back (130). It also includes a primary interlocking system (111, 111′) to attach the side uprights in a roughly perpendicular fashion to the seat, a second interlocking system (122) to attach the seat in a roughly perpendicular fashion to the back, a wedge system (150) positioned between the back and the side uprights, and fasteners to lock the wedge system to the back and side uprights. Once the seat, uprights and back are interlocked, the whole assembly is held together by assembling the wedge system and fixing it in position using the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Christian Beck
  • Patent number: 6189973
    Abstract: A seat includes a base having a block extended rearward for forming a pair of notches. The block has two side extensions extended inward of the notches of the base. A plate has an opening formed between two legs for receiving the block and has two pins engaged into the extensions for rotating the plate relative to the base between a vertical position and a folded position. The pins may be engaged into the notches of the base for securing the plate at the vertical position. The legs each has a stop engaged with the extensions for retaining the plate to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Tian Tsyh Wu