Fluid-spring Patents (Class 297/301.2)
  • Patent number: 11344459
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tilt assembly (1) for a powered wheelchair (15), comprising: an elongated base member (3) provided with an axial channel, a lifting member (5) configured to be received by the base member (3) and to move rectilinearly in the channel, between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base member (3), a tilt frame (7) pivotally connected to the lifting member (5), the tilt frame (7) being configured for mounting a seat assembly (21) thereto, and an actuator arm (9) pivotally connected to the base member (3) and to the tilt frame (7), the actuator arm (9) being configured to be actuated between a retracted actuator position and a fully extended actuator position, wherein the tilt frame (7) is configured to obtain a perpendicular orientation relative to a central axis (11) of the lifting member (5) when the lifting member (5) is in the retracted position and the actuator arm is in the retracted actuator position and to be inclined relative to the central axi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Jonas Jähkel, Mehdi Mirzaie
  • Patent number: 11110030
    Abstract: A massage chair includes a back massage system and a thigh massage system with a roller mechanism configured to move a roller in a three dimensional orbital motion. The roller mechanism is driven by a single motor that can change the direction in operation. Also included is a roller motion drive element within the roller mechanism. A shaft is configured to pass through the roller motion drive element in an offset non-perpendicular angle relative to the end face thereby forming an angle between the shaft and the end face that is less than 85 degrees. The offset causes the orbital motion of the roller when rotated. The electronics of the massage chair facilitate facial recognition and a medical assessment device to detect bodily characteristics. The backrest of the massage chair can elongate to stretch the user. A plurality of airbags are also available for the twisting of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Luraco, Inc
    Inventors: Kevin Le, Thanh Le, Matthew Palmore
  • Patent number: 9827154
    Abstract: An exemplary seat having seat connection mechanism for attaching the seat to a wheelchair includes a seat frame and a backrest. The backrest is pivotably connected to the seat frame through a pivoting mechanism. The seat further includes a biasing member connected to the backrest at a first connection point and a second connection point near the seat frame. The second connection point and the pivoting mechanism are spaced apart from one another by a distance C. The seat further includes an adjustment mechanism adapted for changing the distance C. The second connection point may be connected to a guide arm, such that the position of the second connection point is adjustable by sliding the second connection point along the guide arm, thus making the distance C adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: R82 A/S
    Inventors: Flemming Møller, Knud Jørgensen
  • Patent number: 9597243
    Abstract: A medical procedure chair that includes a sitting area, a sliding seat back section, and a living hinge connecting the sitting area of the chair to a sliding seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Midmark Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Helmick, Chris Herr
  • Patent number: 9504327
    Abstract: A reclining chair having a seat, base frame, and a back rest movably connected to the base frame. The base frame includes at least a three prong base attached to caster wheels and a column, the seat is connected to the column of the base frame and includes a front end and back end. The back rest has top portion, intermediate portion, and bottom portion, the intermediate portion is hingedly connected to the back end of the seat and the bottom portion is movably connected to the base frame, using a lockable gas spring. The lockable gas spring has a first end connected to the bottom portion of the back rest and a second end connected to the base frame, whereby the movable distance between the first end and the second of the gas cylinder moves the back rest between an upright position and a reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Harmony Lifestyle, LLC
    Inventor: Tony Ledat
  • Patent number: 9492013
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes seat support and structures each operably coupled to a base structure, wherein the back support structure is movable between upright and reclined positions, and a biasing assembly exerting a biasing force biasing the back support structure towards the upright position, wherein the biasing force is adjustable between first and second magnitudes, and wherein the second magnitude is greater than the first magnitude. The chair assembly further includes an adjustment assembly operably coupled to the biasing assembly allowing a user to adjust the biasing force between the first and second magnitudes, wherein the adjustment assembly adjusts the biasing assembly between a first configuration corresponding to the first magnitude and a second configuration corresponding to the second magnitude, and an assist feature exerting an assist force on the biasing assembly, thereby reducing an input force required to be applied by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Todd T. Andres
  • Patent number: 8167371
    Abstract: A seat back assembly (16) for a seat (10), comprising an upper seat back portion (24) for supporting an upper portion of a user's back and a lower seat back portion (22) for supporting a user's pelvis and pelvic region. The lower seat back portion (22) and the upper seat back portion (24) are independently adjustable. The upper seat back portion (24) can be reclined to one of a number of fixed angular positions and it is arranged and configured for dynamic angular movement under a load over a range of positions. The dynamic movement of the upper seat back portion (24) is controlled by a shock absorber (44) having adjustable damping means for providing a required level of tension and rebound in relation to the dynamic back action of the upper seat back portion (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Mark Carl Underwood
  • Patent number: 7963606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to task chairs that support the body of the user in healthy positions while the user performs various tasks over extended sitting periods and that provide independent and independently adjustable support to the lower and the upper back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Garrex LLC
    Inventor: Gary L. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7823976
    Abstract: A chair includes a backrest and a seat surface. The backrest is adjustable relative to the seat surface, and the backrest is adjustable in its inclination independently of the position of the seat surface. The adjustment of the inclination of the backrest occurs in a stepless manner and without an operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kintec-Solution GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Mackert
  • Publication number: 20100084902
    Abstract: There is provided a link mechanism for a chair that is a link mechanism that is used at a chair, the link mechanism for a chair having: a first link whose one end is connected to a bottom surface of a link that supports a seat surface portion of the chair; a second link whose one end is connected to another end of the first link; a first joint portion rotatably connecting the first link and the second link; a second joint portion provided at another end of the second link; and a first elastic resistance unit imparting elasticity in a rotating direction to the second joint portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zenroh Fukai
  • Publication number: 20090315376
    Abstract: A gas spring device includes a pair of gas springs disposed parallel and adjacent one another. Each of the gas springs has a piston extendable in an opposite direction from the piston of the other gas spring. An adjustable coupling joins the pair of gas springs together and is adjustable to selectively position one of the gas springs along a longitudinal length of the other gas spring in order to adjust the overall piston-to-piston length of the gas spring device. Additionally, an inclinable chair can include the gas spring device to allow a chair frame to be selectively positioned at a desired angle of inclination with respect to a base frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Takuro Nishiwaki
  • Publication number: 20090195038
    Abstract: A seat back assembly (16) for a seat (10), comprising an upper seat back portion (24) for supporting an upper portion of a user's back and a lower seat back portion (22) for supporting a user's pelvis and pelvic region. The lower seat back portion (22) and the upper seat back portion (24) are independently adjustable. The upper seat back portion (24) can be reclined to one of a number of fixed angular positions and it is arranged and configured for dynamic angular movement under a load over a range of positions. The dynamic movement of the upper seat back portion (24) is controlled by a shock absorber (44) having adjustable damping means for providing a required level of tension and rebound in relation to the dynamic back action of the upper seat back portion (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: JCM SEATING SOLUTIONS LTD.
    Inventor: Mark Carl Underwood
  • Patent number: 7497515
    Abstract: A work station chair (10) is enabled to shift in response to a person leaning forward in the chair (10) when in a working mode and leaning back in a rest position. The chair includes a seat (18), a backrest (24) and supportive structure. The seat (18) is resiliently supported on the supportive structure (22) and moveably along an arc track (30) which is mounted on the supportive structure and has a radius generated from the ankle of the person sitting on the chair. The backrest (20) is resiliently supported on the seat (18) and moveable along an arc track (64) which is mounted to the seat (18) and has a radius generated from H-point that is a natural pivot point of the torso and thigh lines of the person. The chair (10) provides a combined tilting movement of the person's body about the ankle point and the H-point when the person shifts his or her gravity to reduce adverse static postural loads and forces which are responsible for the fatigue and biomechanical dysfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventors: Jonathan Krehm, legal representative, Peter Jonathan Joel, legal representative, Michael Cowan, legal representative, Marek Kmicikiewicz, Benjamin Cowan
  • Patent number: 7416252
    Abstract: A backpost for use in wooden dining chair. The backpost unit provides reclining movements for a wooden chair of the type having a stationary frame section within which the backpost unit is secured. The backpost unit consists of an interlocking mechanism with minimum components and requires minimum maintenance and provides a solid and reliable reclining mechanism. The chair enables the user to secure an accurate posture of sitting during eating and also enables the user to enjoy a relaxing posture while sitting on the same dining chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Green Continental Furniture (M) SDN BHD
    Inventor: Lean Sen Lor
  • Patent number: 7396081
    Abstract: A chair control mechanism has a rotatable shaft with a radially extending member abutting an actuating finger of a gas control cylinder. A slider may push a second radially extending member of the rotatable shaft in order to rotate the shaft. The slider has a tab extending into the mouth of the head of a further shaft which is rotated by a user operated handle. Thus, when the user operates the handle, the head of the further shaft causes the slider to slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt Canada Co.
    Inventors: Gerard J. Matern, David Lloyd Hobb, Kerry J. Brodrecht
  • Patent number: 7390062
    Abstract: A seat includes a base portion and an upright portion pivotable with respect to the base portion. The seat includes a reclining mechanism that includes first and second toothed members that are selectively engaged and disengaged to resist and permit, respectively, the angle of the upright portion with respect to the base portion. The first and second toothed members are engaged and disengaged through rotation of a cam mechanism. The seat also includes a bottom seat cushion height adjustment mechanism that permits raising and lowering of the bottom seat cushion with respect to a base portion of the frame. The bottom seat cushion height adjustment mechanism includes a slidable member that is slidable with respect to the base frame, and a plurality of cams that convert linear motion of the slidable member into vertical movement of the bottom seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Seats Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas C. Hahn
  • Patent number: 7322653
    Abstract: Disclosed is a videogaming and computer workstation unit, preferably integrated with an ergonomic chair, which permits ease of entry and exit to the chair for users of various sizes, and which permits users to use peripheral devices for operating video games and computers comfortably from a chair integrated with a gaming console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Vlad Dragusin
  • Patent number: 6951370
    Abstract: A chair includes a seat frame, a seat movably mounted on the seat frame, a backrest pivoted to the seat frame, a reciprocating mechanism mounted under the seat frame to cause the seat to engage in a series of repeated up-and-down motions, and a reclining mechanism mounted under the seat frame to enable the backrest to be adjusted for reclining. The reciprocating mechanism has a transmission member which is driven by a motor and is provided with a contact portion in contact with the underside of the seat. The reclining mechanism includes a control lever for regulating the position of an actuation pin in a triangular hole of a position control plate such that the actuation pin serves to activate or deactivate a pressure release knob of a cylinder which is fastened at one end with the backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: Hsiu-Hsia Hsu
  • Patent number: 6913316
    Abstract: In order to provide a chair that can support near a pelvis or a lumbar portion of a person who sits on the chair irrespective of a body proportion the person or a way to sit, a boundary portion K between a back and a seat is arranged to be transformable or movable and the boundary portion K can be fixed at a position where the boundary K pushes against near the pelvis of the person with an operation from outside
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Kokuyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yojiro Kinoshita, Nobuyuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 6779847
    Abstract: A chair control mechanism for positioning between the seat and seat support of a chair. The chair control mechanism includes a base section for mounting to a seat support such as an adjustable height cylinder, and a seat mounting section pivotally interconnected with the base section. A seat is mounted to the seat mounting section, and is pivotal about a seat pivot axis. An adjustable position back mounting arrangement is pivotally interconnected with the seat mounting section, and the chair back is engageable with the back mounting section. A variable stop arrangement is interposed between the base section and the seat mounting section, for varying the range of pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support. The back can be selectively locked in one of a number of predetermined positions relative to the seat by operation of a variable position back locking arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Michael N. Klein
  • Patent number: 6739664
    Abstract: A chair 1 allowing a person sitting thereon to move a part of the person's body above the waist which corresponds to the backrest of the chair is provided having a backrest portion located behind a seat portion, the backrest portion being divided into backrest upper frames 55 and backrest lower frames 50, wherein a first state which allows the whole backrest frame 5 to incline rearwardly and a second state which allows the backrest upper frames 55 to incline rearwardly relative to the backrest lower frames 50 are assumed, the first state and the second state being switchable to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignees: Kokuyo Co., Ltd., Takano Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yojiro Kinoshita, Nobuyuki Ueda, Toshiyuki Horiki, Kazuyuki Itoh
  • Patent number: 6715834
    Abstract: An angle adjusting device for a chair includes a fixed plate, a pivotal plate being pivotable relative to the fixed plate, a cylinder secured in the fixed plate and having an actuating pin extending out and being movable relative to the cylinder, a control rod pivotal relative to the fixed plate, and a control plate driven by the control rod and having an extension in engagement with the actuating pin of the cylinder. Pivotal movement of the control rod drives the control plate to move to initiate movement of the actuating pin of the cylinder so that pressure inside the cylinder changes to allow the legs of the pivotal plate to move along the arcuate slot, which allows the pivotal plate to change its angle relative to the fixed plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Simon Liao
  • Patent number: 6669295
    Abstract: A passenger seat with low profile seat back recline locking assembly, including a recline unit for controlling movement of the seat back and locking the seat back in a desired recline position. A hydraulic cylinder assembly is pivotally-mounted by a first end thereof to a section assembly module of the seat and by an opposite second end thereof to the seat back unit. The cylinder assembly has a longitudinally-extending axis extending in alignment with the longitudinally-extending, generally vertical plane of the seat back. An actuator is positioned astride and operatively connected to the fluid cylinder adjacent one or the other of the first and second ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: B E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: John Williamson
  • Publication number: 20030178876
    Abstract: A chair control mechanism for positioning between the seat and seat support of a chair. The chair control mechanism includes a base section for mounting to a seat support such as an adjustable height cylinder, and a seat mounting section pivotally interconnected with the base section. A seat is mounted to the seat mounting section, and is pivotal about a seat pivot axis. An adjustable position back mounting arrangement is pivotally interconnected with the seat mounting section, and the chair back is engageable with the back mounting section. A variable stop arrangement is interposed between the base section and the seat mounting section, for varying the range of pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support. The back can be selectively locked in one of a number of predetermined positions relative to the seat by operation of a variable position back locking arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Michael N. Klein
  • Patent number: 6598936
    Abstract: A chair control mechanism for positioning between the seat and seat support of a chair. The chair control mechanism includes a base section for mounting to a seat support such as an adjustable height cylinder, and a seat mounting section pivotably interconnected with the base section. A seat is mounted to the seat mounting section, and is pivotable about a seat pivot axis. An adjustable position back mounting arrangement is pivotably interconnected with the seat mounting section, and the chair back is engageable with the back mounting section. A variable stop arrangement is interposed between the base section and the seat mounting section, for varying the range of pivoting movement of the seat relative to the seat support. The back can be selectively locked in one of a number of predetermined positions relative to the seat by operation of a variable position back locking arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Michael N. Klein
  • Patent number: 6450580
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat has a base element which can be fastened in the motor vehicle, a seat element which is disposed on the base element, and a backrest element which is disposed on the seat element. The seat can be adjusted between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the seat element and the backrest element can be used for normal sitting. In the unlocked position, the seat element and/or the backrest element are adjusted in the vehicle to the front with respect to the driving direction far enough so that a space arranged behind the seat with respect to the driving direction is accessible for loading and unloading. For adjustment between the locked position and the unlocked position, the seat element is swivellably disposed on the base element and/or the backrest element is swivellably disposed on the seat element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Mike Drew, Bernd Schmidt, Ralf-Henning Schrom, Volkmar Schulz
  • Patent number: 6290296
    Abstract: A chair height control mechanism has a gas cylinder with a valve control finger extending from an upper end overlain by a tilting actuator. A resilient pad is adhered to the upper end of the gas cylinder surrounding the valve control finger and maintains a spacing between the valve control finger and actuator when the actuator is not in use to avoid rattle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Northfield Metal Products Limited
    Inventor: Ken A. Beggs