Back Supports Rear Of Bottom Patents (Class 297/320)
  • Patent number: 5209549
    Abstract: An adjustable chair which allows the user to select a desired lying position. It has a base of circular shape having a connection assembly to rotatably receive a framework, to which a hinged back and seat portions are secured. The framework has a slidable bar supporting the seat portion, while a pair of arms integrally formed on the framework are pivotedly connected to the back portion. Therefore, as one lying on the chair, by properly manipulating the body weight and adjusting the slidable bar, the chair can be adjusted to a desired inclined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Inventor: I-Shan Chang
  • Patent number: 5203608
    Abstract: A seat assembly is disclosed with an articulating seat cushion rotatable about a transverse axis near the front end of the seat cushion. The seat back is reclinable and is coupled to the rear of the seat cushion so as to raise the rear end of the seat cushion in response to rearward reclining of the seat back whereby the seat occupant's hip point is raised as the seat back is reclined to provide a more comfortable recliner. The recliner drive mechanism includes a lead screw with a motor/transmission assembly to drive the lead screw and includes a thrust washer carried by the lead screw to transfer axial loads on the lead screw directly to the motor mount rather than allowing the lead screw loads to be transferred to the internal components of the motor/transmission assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: Omar D. Tame
  • Patent number: 5112109
    Abstract: A vehicular seat whose seat back is divided into upper and lower seat backs. The lower seat back is hingedly connected at its lower end section with a seat cushion and at its upper end section with the lower end section of the upper seat back. The upper end section of the lower seat back is slidably supported onto a back panel of a vehicle body through a bracket fixed to the back panel, so that the lower seat back upper end section is slidable along a guide opening formed in the bracket. The upper seat back is also slidably movable along the back panel, following the lower seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Takada, Hironobu Murakami
  • Patent number: 5094508
    Abstract: An elevator chair for assisting entry and exit including a vertically telescopic back frame raised and lowered by a motor driven vertical threaded screw and tube assembly. The back frame raises and lowers a rear portion of a seat and movement of the front of the seat is controlled by forward links that are positioned to raise the forward portion of the seat as the chair lifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: C.E.B. Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Leeland M. Bathrick, Glenn Brittain
  • Patent number: 5080435
    Abstract: A chair, in particular an office chair, including a seat and a back rest which are pivotal in relationship to a supporting column supporting these. The back rest is mounted on a carrier for pivotal movement about a fixed first horizontal axis. A downwardly directed first control means is mounted on the carrier for pivotal movement about a second axis which is located in front of the first axis. The lower area of the first control means is mounted for pivotal movement about a third axis at the lower end of a second control means. The second control means extends upwardly to the front area of the seat and there is connected for pivotal movement about a fourth axis. The carrier is connected at a fifth horizontal axis located below the second axis on the carrier to a substantially horizontal third control means, the other end of which third control means is pivotally coupled connected for pivotal movement about a sixth axis, lying above the third axis, with the second control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Desanta
  • Patent number: 5071189
    Abstract: A chair with an automatic adjustment feature includes a seat coupled by engaging links to a plurality of support arms for relative pivoting and translational movement with respect to such arms. The seat has an upwardly extending rear extension connected to the back rest by an adjusting element. A pivot lever is disposed at either side of the seat, each lever having a first end pivotably pinned to a support arm, a second end attached to the back rest and a hinge pin disposed intermediate such ends and coupling the pivot lever to the seat. The element is of the self-adjusting type for permitting relative linear movement between the rear extension and the back rest while yet preventing bending movement between such extension and such back rest. The positional relationship of the rear extension and the back rest to one another is automatically adjusted as the chair is moved between an upright position and a reclining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Roeder GmbH
    Inventor: Gunter Kratz
  • Patent number: 5042876
    Abstract: A controller is provided for seating, and the like, such as chairs of the type that have a stationary base or support, and a back which tilts about a generally horizontal axis with respect to the support. The controller includes an adjustable tension device, which readily adapts the chair for different users and various applications. The adjustable tension device comprises a spring, having one end operably connected with a support, and the other end operably engaging the back at selected locations spaced apart from the tilt axis, such that rearward tilting of the chair back deflects the spring, and thereby generates a torque or back tension which resists further tilting. A shifter moves the other end of the spring between the selected back locations to vary the lever arm at which the spring acts, and thereby adjusts back tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick S. Faiks
  • Patent number: 5005905
    Abstract: A chair for an office or the like, having one seat and one back rest which are adjustable especially by body displacement, and having a support (24). The seat has a front seat section (28) and a rear seat section (30) which is connected pivotingly about a first, free-floating seat section about a second pivot axis (32) parallel to the first pivot axis but spaced apart therefrom. The front seat section is on the one hand displaceable by means of at least one supporting element (26) and at least one positive guide (25) along a path established by the positive guide, and on the other hand is suspended on the support for pivoting about a third pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis but spaced away therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Inventor: Horst Sondergedl
  • Patent number: 4986601
    Abstract: A tilting mechamism for supporting a seat portion and a backrest of chair in integral fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Itoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Inoue
  • Patent number: 4966412
    Abstract: A chair, especially an office chair, has a base and a seat disposed thereon as well as a backrest. The seat and the backrest are supported such that they can be pivoted about horizontal axes in a coordinated manner, and at least one gas spring is provided for damping the pivoting movement and for attaining a restoring action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Burositzmobelfabrik Friedrich-W. Dauphin GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Elke Dauphin
  • Patent number: 4890887
    Abstract: This invention provides improved seating for vehicles having cramped space for operators. A tubular frame (12) is disposed to the periphery of backrest and seat members (13), (14). The backrest slides and pivots with respect to the frame and is pivotally attached to the seat. Pivot blocks (34) fixed to the seat underside selectively engage a frame bearing shaft (24) to hold the backrest and seat and any of several adjustments while holding the included angle between seat and backrest relatively uniform and keeping the seat index point relatively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: L. John Koutsky, J. Scott Shovar
  • Patent number: 4884840
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement in adjustable seats, in which a back support (1) and seat part (2) are mutually pivotably (3) joined, and where the back support (1) is pivotably (4) connected to the rear portions (5) of arm rests (7) included in the substructures (6) of the seat, and where the front portion (8) of the seat part (2) is pivotable in at least one pivot point (9) on the underside of the seat part (2), from which extends at least one slide bar (10) in the longitudinal direction of the seat part for coaction with a fixed locking sleeve (11) projecting out from the lower part of the substructure (6) for enabling an adjustment desired by the user of the mutual, angular positions of the back support (1) and seat part (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Mobelteam AB
    Inventors: Ake Linden, Roger Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 4865384
    Abstract: A chair, in particular an office chair, comprising a vertical base starting out from a bottom part, a seat plate which is connected pivotally about a first horizontal transverse axis to a forwardly directed support arm of the base, and a bar receiving a back rest, which bar is connected swingably to the base along a second horizontal transverse axis and is connected swingably to the rear area of the seat plate through a third horizontal transverse axis which, at the same time, permits relative movement between the bar and seat plate perpendicularly with respect to the third transverse axis. A torsion spring has at least one spring arm which extends at an angle from the torsion axis. The torsion spring is rotationally supported on the support arm with its torsion axis parallel with respect to the first horizontal transverse axis. The spring arm extends below the rear area of the seat plate and is there supported in a support bearing on the underside of the seat plate and a slide bearing on the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Desanta
  • Patent number: 4856123
    Abstract: A toilet apparatus for use with bed ridden patients comprises a frame which provides an upper horizontal patient support so that the patient can be transferred from a lying condition in a bed onto the support. A back portion of the support then pivots about a point on a line with the waist of the occupant to define a back portion move to a vertical position and a seat portion rolls along a cam track to a lowered position together with a leg rest portion which pivots downwardly. The occupant therefore takes up the seated condition and can make use of toilet facilities attached to the seat portion. The pivot point retains the center of gravity of the patient at the level of the frame so that little lifting or lowering force is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Henderson Medical Appliance Company Ltd.
    Inventors: D. Grant Henderson, Grenville K. Yuill, David Kroeker
  • Patent number: 4818018
    Abstract: A stretchable legless chair comprises: a fixed seat frame having a projecting stopper and a holding member provided respectively on the upper surface of the rear portion thereof; a movable seat frame provided over said fixed seat frame and pivotally coupled with the front portion of said fixed seat frame at the front end thereof, and having a chain at the back end thereof to be engaged with said holding member and a leg lever interposed between said fixed seat frame and said movable seat frame and selectibly rotatably mounted on said projecting stopper; a back reclining frame pivotally coupled with the rear end of said movable seat frame at the lower end thereof; and a swinging support lever interposed between said back reclining frame and said fixed seat frame. The stretchable legless chair as described is used as a normal chair, an easy legless chair, an exercise unit for stretching the back of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Fuji Iryoki
    Inventor: Yoshikiyo Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 4792187
    Abstract: The pivot mechanism is intended for height-adjustable seats, especially office chairs or office armchairs, with a seat (6) and a back 7) arranged at an underframe (8) to be pivotable in synchronism and being under the effect of a pretensionable pullback spring against the tilting motion oriented rearwardly, as well as with a device for locking the back (7) in positions of varying tilt. The pivot mechanism is characterized in that the seat (6) exhibits spring elements (11) effective in the pivoting plane of the back (7), which spring elements are attached to the underframe (8) and to the back (7) and act on the back (7) as pullback springs tensionable by the user's weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventor: Simon Desanta
  • Patent number: 4792185
    Abstract: A seat device having a cushion supported to be movable up and down to damp vibration, characterized in that the seated portion of the cushion is divided into front, center and rear parts which are connected bendably with one another, that one of the front and rear parts of the seated portion is pivoted on a fixed member while the other is swingably and slidably supported by a fixed member, that swinging arms are projected downward from the front and rear parts of the seated portion, and that a cushion spring for urging the center part of the seated portion upward is stretched between the front ends of the swinging arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Ikeda Bussan Co.
    Inventor: Yoshitoshi Oshikawa
  • Patent number: 4761033
    Abstract: A chair with a seat support (7) has a seat plate (11) which is supported to the seat support (7) by means of a rear and a front guide rod. The chair has a back rest support (14a) that is pivot-hinged to the seat support (7). The seat support (7) is connected to a rigid, back rest angle support (1) by means of a front and a back parallelogram guide rod (3). The angle support is fixed to the bottom part of the chair (2). The parallelogram guide joints (3) are also connected to each other by means of a parallel guide rod (4). A first force storage member (5) is situated between the seat support (7) and the back rest angle support (1) and a second force storage member (15) is located between the back rest support (14a) and the seat support (7). The force necessary for the slope of the back rest is independent of the weight of the user. A user with higher weight must expend a higher amount of force for the slope of the back rest to move backward than a user with a lower weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Drabert Sohne GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Max Lanuzzi, Fredi Dubach
  • Patent number: 4754999
    Abstract: A child's car seat is disclosed which consists of two basic parts, the first comprising a base, frame, and back, and the second consisting of a seat removably secured to the base adjacent the back whereby, when the seat is secured to the base, a child's car seat is provided for infants and small toddlers and, when the seat is removed from the base, a booster seat is provided for larger children. The seat includes a split shield secured to the seat portion so as to be used in both the car seat and booster seat configuration. A harness, including a crotch strap, is provided for use when the car seat configuration is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Spalding & Evenflo Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Kain
  • Patent number: 4732424
    Abstract: A swivel-chair (10) has a frame (15) on which a seat (24) is movably mounted. A back (22) is connected with the seat (24), and this back (22) may be turned around a connecting point (19) at the frame (15). At this connecting point (19) a rotary spring (40) is provided, which tends to turn the back (22) into its working position, and the seat (24) is supported and guided at a seat-guide (31) at its forward area, that is where the thighs of the user are resting. This seat-guide (31) is preferably made such, that it will keep the inclination of the seat (24) on movement thereof, thus the so-called seat-slope, at an ergonomically advantageous value. A movement into the rest position goes against the rotary spring (40) and if required also the seat-guide (31) Optionally a blocking-device (45) for the seat (24) may also be provided in order to be able to block the seat (24) in any desired position in accordance with the wishes of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Inventor: Angela Uredat-Neuhoff
  • Patent number: 4709962
    Abstract: The work chair has a seat squab and a backrest which both pivot on a seat carrier in the same direction interdependently. A load element is fitted to the seat carrier which is adjustable over its linear extension by means of a locking mechanism, whereby the load element pivots the seat squab and backrest into position of rest under spring loading.To achieve a relatively large and symmetric spring loading in the smallest space it is foreseen that the load element should consist of two parallel compression springs in between which a hydraulic locking mechanism is fitted whereby one end of the load element is connected by a pivot to the free pivoting part of a lever arm, which forms the backrest-carrying part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Kloeber GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Joachim Steinmann
  • Patent number: 4693514
    Abstract: It is possible to lock the inclination of the back of a seat by the locking device by means of a strip friction connection. The locking device is arranged as a modular unit with an axial motion by means of friction connection disk (13a) in bearings (10a) of the seating. A self-locking eccentric (17) bearing by its pivoting axis (16) on the tension rod (14) and with an extremely small rise of its eccentric curve is frontally engaged with the assembly of friction connection disks (13). Thus, part of the handling resistance of the eccentric is considerably reduced due to the small rise of its eccentric curve and on the other hand, due to a shortening, characteristic of the system, of the pivoting travel of the eccentric (17), said travel being still sufficiently short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Inventor: Rolf Volkle
  • Patent number: 4687250
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly comprises a support frame attachable to a vehicle cab floor by a guide/slide rail assembly. A manually actuatable horizontally swingable lever mounted on the guide/slide rail assembly alongside the seat releasably locks the entire seat assembly is selected fore and aft positions. A seat and pivotally interconnected backrest are pivotally, slidably and resiliently mounted on the support frame. The seat is horizontally shiftable fore and aft on the support frame to vertically tilt the backrest. A manually actuatable vertically pivotable backrest adjustment bar is mounted on and extends horizontally along the front of the seat and releasably locks the seat on the support frame so as to maintain the backrest in selected tilt positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John C. Esche
  • Patent number: 4685730
    Abstract: The structure (1) supporting the body on the seat is subdivided into a front seating part (2) articulated on the frame (5), a back (4) articulated on a bracket (10) which is itself articulated on the frame, and a rear seating part (3) articulated between the back (4) and the front seating part (3). A non-rigid connection (14) is provided between the rear seating part (3) and the bracket (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Etablissements Linguanotto
    Inventor: Louis Linguanotto
  • Patent number: 4662675
    Abstract: A folding seat/table arrangement has transverse seat members (10,12) and transverse backrest/table top members (14,16) carried on transversely-spaced folding frames (18). In those frames, backrest supports (34) are pivotable relative to seat member carriers (30) between first and second stable end positions, by virtue of connecting links (38) which connect said supports (34) to rear seat legs (24). In one position (as shown) the backrest transverse members (14,16) are supported as an upright backrest for seated persons. In the other position, the backrest transverse members (14,16) are supported by props (48) from rearwardly-inclined backrest supports (34), in a horizontal table-top posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventor: Giuseppe Volpi
  • Patent number: 4640547
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable swivel chair with a pivoting angular holder for the backrest. The angular holder for the backrest is provided into an upper portion and an offset arm so as to allow for the articulated movement of the parts with respect to one another. The offset arm extends under the seating surface while the upper portion provides a support for the backrest. Adjustment means are provided in the form of frictional engagement of lamellar packs and the clamping thereof by means of a clamping adjustment device which may be released so as to position the movable elements with respect to one another. The assembly is mounted on a support post and the upper external portion of the support element defines the seat portion of the swivel chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Inventor: Heinrich Fromme
  • Patent number: 4640548
    Abstract: An adjustable chair, especially an office chair, includes a column (32), a seat (34), a backrest (36), supported by a curved supporting bar (40). Three horizontal transverse axes (44, 46, 48) connect the seat and the column, the column and the curved supporting bar and the curved supporting bar and the seat in one hinged triangular arrangement where at least one transverse axis permits not only a swiveling motion but also a relative shift of the connected parts to permit an adjustment of the seat and backrest. At least one of the transverse axes of this type consists of at least one rubber pad (46, 48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Kusch & Co. Stizmobelwerke KG
    Inventor: Simon Desanta
  • Patent number: 4614377
    Abstract: A foldable lounge chair provided for both sitting and comfortable lounging positions wherein the back of the chair keeps upright while the seat is occupied and when the user lies his back against the back of the chair, the back of the chair inclines gradually backward and simultaneously makes the seat raise from its original lower horizontal position. When the back of the chair is inclined to the desired angle, a inclination setting button can be firmly fastened that the inclined position of the back may thus be set. When the inclination setting button is loosened, or the user no longer lies his back against the back of the chair, the back can automatically return to its original upright position. If not in use, the chair can be quickly folded flat for storage and carrying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Inventor: Wun-Thong Luo
  • Patent number: 4607883
    Abstract: A reclining mechanism for easy chair or swivel chair comprising a guide tube and a jack stay, wherein the guide tube is disposed horizontally along the longitudinal direction of the chair in the center above the upper portion of the leg base, having the forward portion thereof extended upwardly in an appropriate angle of elevation. The obliquely extended tube is provided with a guide slot which is formed along the longitudinal line on the upper side thereof and inside the tube at one side wall thereof is mounted a spring plate. The jack stay has its upper end firmly secured to the lower portion of the seat member or seat frame while its front edge being pivotally connected to a guide bar which projects into the guide slot. The guide bar is provided at the lower end thereof with a sliding block which is received and movable in the extended tube. The spring plate constantly presses against the sliding block so as to slow down the movement of the sliding block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Inventor: Huang Y. Tzu-Chun
  • Patent number: 4560199
    Abstract: A chair includes a seat support, a seat formed of two portions one of which is rigidly connected to the seat support, and a back rest also formed of two portions one of which is connected to another portion of the seat. The two seat portions are pivotally connected to each other and the two back portion are also pivotally connected to each other. The pivotable portion of the seat together with the back can swing from the sitting position of the chair to the backward-leaning rest position by means of a quadrangular linkage having four arms pivotally connected to each other. Two adjacent arms of the linkage are pivoted with respect to the rigid portion of the seat, about a pivoting connection near the horizontal axis of the pivotable portion of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Pamont AG
    Inventor: Richard Sapper
  • Patent number: 4545616
    Abstract: An invalid carriage including a chair of pivotted construction with a connection between the back of the chair and a mast that is fixed to a chassis. There are means to raise the connection up the mast, so raising the chair seat from horizontal to forwardly-sloping so as to help raise a user of the chair from a sitting to a standing position, and to lower the connection so that the reverse occurs so as to help a standing person to sit down in the chair. As the mast connection moves, so collapsing or expanding the chair framework, wheels allow the feet of the front legs of the chair to move backwards and forwards over the chassis. In an alternative construction the feet of the front legs are anchored to the chassis, and the foot of the mast rolls backwards and forwards over the chassis as the mast connection moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: National Research Development Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Booth
  • Patent number: 4545617
    Abstract: The safety chair for children according to the invention is adjustable in two positions, giving the child a sitting and a recumbent position, respectively.The seat and the back of the chair are mutually pivotally connected and the seat is adjustably connected to a horizontal base frame part, the back being pivotally connected to upstanding portions of said base frame. Preferably the seat and the base frame are mutually connected by a lever mechanism according to the crank shaft principle. An actuating lever extends sideways from the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Inventors: Joannes H. Drexler, Wolfram J. P. Peters
  • Patent number: 4516805
    Abstract: A multi-position examination chair for supporting a patient and assuming sequentially a plurality of obstetric and gynecologic examination positions includes a base. A chair mounted on the base includes a back portion pivotally attached to the base and a seat portion pivotally attached to the back portion. A first linear actuator pivotally moves the back portion into a desired position relative the base, and a linkage cooperates to cause a predetermined amount of pivotal movement of the seat portion relative to the base in response to pivotal movement of the back portion. A second linear actuator power means pivotally moves the seat portion into a desired position relative the back portion. Actuation of one of a plurality of switches cooperates with a control system for movement of the back and seat portions from one of the examination positions to at least a next following one of the positions within the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Midmark Corporation
    Inventors: Marvin A. Leeper, Richard L. Turner, Terry J. Simpkins
  • Patent number: 4502729
    Abstract: A reclining chair is disclosed containing a conventional seat portion pivotable about a fixed pivot shaft or axle and a backrest containing a backrest plate displaceable upon guide rails. These guide rails are pivoted to a greater extent than the seat during the rearward reclining of the seat, due to the action of a guide element connected with a piston rod of a pneumatic spring arrangement. Due to the movement of the guide element there is rotated a transmission lever pair about a stationary pivot shaft, the transmission lever pair being connected with the guide element. A curved entrainment member, hingedly connected with this transmission lever pair, is connected with the backrest plate. Since a pivot shaft between the transmission lever pair and the curved entrainment member moves through an appreciably larger distance than the connection location between the seat and the guide element or the guide rails, the backrest plate is downwardly drawn along the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: Giroflex Entwicklungs AG
    Inventor: Hermann Locher
  • Patent number: 4478454
    Abstract: A body weight chair control in which the chair back and chair seat may be adjusted independently of each other. The chair occupant's body weight is the source of energy in moving both the back and seat. The chair control includes a front link and a rear link, each pivotally mounted on a base link. An intermediate link is pivotally mounted on the rear link, and a seat link is mounted on and between the intermediate link and the front link. A releasable locking mechanism is provided to lock two non-connected links in fixed relation, whereby all five links are locked in fixed relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick S. Faiks
  • Patent number: 4471994
    Abstract: At a seat carrier 4 of a chair, a backrest 5 is pivotally connected. A seat which rests on the seat carrier 4 and the backrest can be interdependently adjusted in their inclination. For return into the resting position and to fix in any desired position, a gas pressure spring 10 and, if necessary, additional springs 11 are provided. The one end of the gas pressure spring 10 engages at the free end of a thrust lever 15 which is pivotally held at the backrest 5, wherein this pivot axis 7 is arranged at a distance from the pivot axis 6 between the backrest 5 and the seat carrier 4. A lever arm 16 which is pivotally attached at the seat carrier 4 also engages at this thrust lever 15 at a distance from its pivot axis 7. The thrust lever 15 can perform a relative motion with respect to the backrest 5 by means of the arrangement of the lever arm 16. Therefore a relatively small movement of the backrest 5 results in a correspondingly larger movement of the gas pressure spring 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Fa. Karl Zund & Co., AG
    Inventors: Karl Zund, Bert Frey
  • Patent number: 4451085
    Abstract: A reclining article of furniture for sitting, especially an office chair, with the article including a seat portion and a back portion articulated thereto. The seat portion and back portion are respectively connected to an underframe. The seat portion is supported in a forward zone and the back portion is supported by a supporting lever articulated to the underframe and articulated to the back portion at hip level of a user. To obtain a support which is also effective in the zone of the lumbodorsal vertebrae and to provide a close contact of the supporting surfaces with the users body. The contact is uniform in the rest position approximately from a back of the knees up to the shoulder blades. The seat and back merge through an arcuate intermediate section which is flexible so that the arc becomes wider. A connecting line extending between two points of articulation of the supporting lever in a basic position of the chair is inclined at an angle of between 0.degree. and 25.degree. and, preferably, between 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Assignee: Wilkhahn & Hahne GmbH & Company
    Inventors: Klaus Franck, Werner Sauer
  • Patent number: 4392685
    Abstract: An adjustable lawn armchair is connected to one end of a pair of longitudinally extending spaced side members, and a footrest portion is connected to the other end thereof. Articulated pairs of supporting legs connect the footrest portion adjustably to spaced grooves in the pair of side members, whereby the footrest portion can be adjusted in its height and inclination to form a raised table in front of the armchair and can be lowered and shifted in the longitudinal direction together with adjustment of the seat and back of the armchair to form a recliner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Inventor: Franz X. Leonhart
  • Patent number: 4231614
    Abstract: An improved wheelchair for mechanically assisting in moving a disable person between a sitting and a standing position. A method and apparatus for automatically coordinating the movements of the feet, lower-leg, thigh, seat and back, including the initial pivotal raising of the lower-leg and foot followed by a reversal of direction as the upper-leg and back commence pivotal movement to achieve preliminary alignment of the leg prior to achieving complete upright alignment of the entire body. A lever mechanism having a forward lever arm coupled to a lower-leg support through a cam, and a rearward lever arm coupled to a seat and/or back through a delayed-action channel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Inventor: Gene P. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 4222607
    Abstract: This invention is a seating, the seat part of which is adjustable at the front and rear, so as to automatically adjust the angle between the seat part and the back part.The back part also has a lumber support portion adjustable to compensate for the different angles between the seat and the back parts.Thus the seating is comfortable for occupants and also provides support for the back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: The Dimmock Furniture Company Limited
    Inventor: James Dimmock
  • Patent number: 4198095
    Abstract: An adjustable reclining chair comprising a frame and a back-rest and squab hinged together, the back-rest pivotally mounted on the frame. A pair of cord members, one to each side of the squab, are attached at their ends to spaced locations on the frame, the cord members passing around stubs projecting laterally from the squab to suspend the latter from the frame. Friction between the cord members and stubs when a user sits in the chair prevents the chair reclining, but by reducing the weight on the squab, the friction is reduced and the degree of recline can be adjusted as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Inventor: David J. Wicks
  • Patent number: 4143910
    Abstract: A chair having an adjusting device for synchronously coupling a tiltable back rest to a tiltable seat comprises a seat support, a seat pivotally connected to the seat support, a back rest support pivotally connected to the seat support, a linkage between the seat and back rest support for causing pivotal motion of the back rest support to effect related pivotal motion of the seat, and a stored power element such as a fluid spring connected between the seat support and back rest support and concealed within a back rest mounted on the back rest support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1979
    Inventors: Klaus Geffers, Fritz Drabert
  • Patent number: 3934932
    Abstract: A chair provided with frictional coupling means for use in adjusting the relative angular position of the seat and the back thereof relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: J.E. Ekornes Fabrikker A/S
    Inventor: Jostein Ekornes
  • Patent number: RE34354
    Abstract: A chair for an office or the like, having one seat and one back rest which are adjustable especially by body displacement, and having a support (24). The seat has a front seat section (28) and a rear seat section (30) which is connected pivotingly about a first, free-floating seat section about a second pivot axis (32) parallel to the first pivot axis but spaced apart therefrom. The front seat section is on the one hand displaceable by means of at least one supporting element (26) and at least one positive guide (25) along a path established by the positive guide, and on the other hand is suspended on the support for pivoting about a third pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis but spaced away therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Inventor: Horst Sondergeld