Vertically Patents (Class 297/411.36)
  • Patent number: 6386636
    Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
  • Publication number: 20020043863
    Abstract: A height-adjustable and rotatable chair arm for an office chair includes a rotatable sleeve that is rotatably connected to an upright support post of the chair, and an arm assembly supported on the sleeve. Rotation of the sleeve relative to the upright permits the chair arm to be rotated to a desired position. Additionally, the sleeve includes a vertical row of slots and the arm assembly includes a lock mechanism which engages the slots whereby the arm assembly is vertically slidable along the sleeve and lockable at a selected elevation to adjust the height of the chair arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Richard N. Roslund, Gary Kiesgen, Matthew B. Rutman, Larry A. Wilkerson, Robert Leonetti
  • Publication number: 20020017813
    Abstract: An improved hinge for mounting an arm on a chair. A sleeve is secured to one side of the chair back. A shaft is rotatably received in the sleeve. The shaft can be retained within the sleeve by a retainer that is formed separate from or as a part of the shaft. The shaft is fastened to the arm of the chair. The shaft and sleeve have sector shaped extensions extending along the axis of rotation of the shaft that are engageable to position the arm in a generally horizontal position while allowing the arm to be rotated upwardly by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: David T. Greene
  • Patent number: 6343840
    Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism for chair backrest or arm comprises a tube-like brace having a transverse elongate groove and transverse apertures; a sliding member in the brace with an upper end secured to backrest or arm; a guide member coupled to a lower end of the sliding member; a hook flexibly coupled to the guide member having an upper bent free end; a first half-cylindrical member in the brace for receiving a portion of the sliding member and the hook, an internal notched member having curved members and a longitudinal channel; a second half-cylindrical member in the brace matingly secured to the first half-cylindrical member, an upper hole, a lower hole, and a spring-depressible detent in the lower hole; and a lock pin inserted through the groove and the upper hole to secure the brace and the second half-cylindrical member together. Backrest or arm may be pushed down to cause the bent end to move through the channel and pulled up to lock in one of the curved members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Yi Chun Enterprise Ltd.
    Inventor: Mei-Chin Chuang
  • Patent number: 6341821
    Abstract: This assembly is an armrest and a joystick support for use by a heavy machinery operator. The assembly includes a bracket secured to the backrest, on the side and above the operator'seat, a straight bar extending forwardly from the bracket, a first connector assembly including a universal joint for connecting the rear end of said bar of the bracket and a joystick support connected to the front end of the bar through a second connector assembly including a universal joint. The armrest is supported above the intermediate portion of the bar through a third connector assembly including a sleeve and a pair of upright elongated plates with longitudinal slots enabling adjustment of the armrest height above the bar and the adjustment of the armrest forwardly of the bracket. With this system, the operator can first adjust the position of the joystick along X,Y,Z axes to suit his arm and hand with respect to the joystick and then adjust the position of the armrest accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Inventor: Vincent Rousseau
  • Patent number: 6336680
    Abstract: A height-adjusting mechanism for armrest includes a slider movably mounted in a slide way of a sleeve connected at a lower end to a seat of an armchair. A retaining block horizontally extends through a transverse hole on the slider and into one of many vertically spaced locating holes on the slide way to hold the slider at a certain height relative to the sleeve. A long plate having a top handle is attached to one side of the slider and could be pulled upward and elastically return to an original position when being released. When the long plate is pulled upward, it drives the retaining block to disengage from the locating hole and allows the slider to freely move up and down. And, when the long plate is released, the retaining block is driven to engage into another locating hole to hold the slider to a new height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Ching-Yang Lee
  • Patent number: 6315362
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism mounted in a chair for releasably locking one chair component in one of positions relative to a seat. The mechanism comprises a tube-like brace secured to underside of seat; a sliding member slideable in brace secured to one chair component and having lengthwise recesses; a guide member coupled to sliding member; a hook member having a lower end coupled to guide member and an upper bent end; a first member secured in brace including a notched member having curved members and a channel; and a second member secured in brace together with first member for receiving sliding member and hook member, a spring-loaded detent of second member being secured in a hole and having a portion projected from hole into one recess for engagement in an unused state. One chair component is operative to push down to cause bent end to move through channel in response to a disengagement of detent from one recess and pull up to lock in one of curved members with detent engaged with the other recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Yi Chun Enterprise Ltd.
    Inventor: Mei-Chin Chuang
  • Patent number: 6311939
    Abstract: An integrated mouse pad and wrist and arm support which can be attached to a desk chair and which provides support for both the wrist and arm of a computer operator. The device provides a support arm with a mouse pad at one end and enables the user's wrist and arm to rest at approximately the same level as the mouse pad. Use of the device reduces stress to the wrist, arm, shoulder and neck during use of the mouse. The device is attached to the chair by an attachment member, the height of which can be adjusted as desired by the operator. The angular position of the support arm with respect to the operator can be adjusted to a selected ergonomic position. In one embodiment, the length of the support arm can be adjusted to a selected ergonomic position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: Leslie Palmatier Christensen
  • Patent number: 6296313
    Abstract: An adjusting device for an armrest of a chair includes a first support base secured on the seat of the chair, an L-shaped adjusting arm having a horizontal section slidably mounted in the first support base, a lower retaining member mounted on the first support base for releasably securing the horizontal section of the adjusting arm to the first support base, a second support base secured on the armrest of the chair and slidably mounted on the vertical section of the adjusting arm, and an upper retaining member mounted on the second support base for releasably securing the second support base to the vertical section of the adjusting arm. In such a manner, the adjusting device can be used to arbitrarily adjust the horizontal and vertical positions of the armrest of the chair so that the armrest can be available for users of different statures so as to provide a comfortable sensation to the users, thereby increasing the versatility of the armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Wen Sang Plastics Co., LTD
    Inventor: Wen-Long Wu
  • Patent number: 6296312
    Abstract: A multi-position armrest designed for use with a conventional chair to enhance the comfort of an individual seated within the chair. The armrest includes a support arm having a first end adapted for attachment to a chair and a second end coupled to an arm pad in a manner permitting the arm pad to selectively rotate relative to the support arm. The arm pad includes a first circular locking member engaging a second circular locking member on the support arm to selectively lock the arm pad relative to the support arm. The armrest is also provided with a resilient coupling assembly coupling the arm pad to the support arm in a manner permitting the arm pad to move from the support arm to disengage the first circular locking member from the second circular locking member and permit the arm pad to rotate relative to the support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Neutral Posture Ergonomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome J. Congleton, Rebecca Congleton Boenigk, Bobby A. Boenigk, Mark E. Benden
  • Patent number: 6286793
    Abstract: In a pop-up structure of the invention, an elevatable member is rotatably disposed on upper portions of a pair of front and rear poles, which is also rotatably provided on a base member. Shielding plates extend between the front and rear poles on both sides thereof. In case the elevatable member is elevated by rotating both poles, even if an elevating height of the elevatable member is high, at least a part of the space formed between the front and rear poles is covered by the shielding plates at the both sides. Therefore, the appearance at the popped-up state of the pop-up structure is improved, and there is no risk of catching foreign materials by the poles or the like when it is collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignees: Nifco Inc., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsugio Hirose, Toshihiro Hara, Mutsuhisa Masaki, Tohru Sambonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20010015566
    Abstract: A seat for, for example, an aircraft that has an open outer shell which embraces a seat portion, a seat back, a head rest and a foot rest when the seat is in an upright position. Also embraced by the shell are a pair of arm rests. The seat is reclinable into a bed configuration such that the seat portion is moved forwardly out of the open end of the shell. Simultaneously, the arm rests are movable between the raised position and the position substantially flush with the seat portion. In the bed configuration, the removal of the arm rests from the raised position significantly increases the width of the bed, thus enhancing the comfort of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: Singapore Airlines Ltd.
    Inventors: James William Park, Philip Haith
  • Patent number: 6276757
    Abstract: A chair back support arrangement of a type including an upright supporting a back support arranged to slidably engage the upright, and interlocking means to maintain a selected support height for the back support, the interlocking means including a rack either affixed to or being part of the upright an engaging member supported by the back support and arranged to selectively interlock with the rack and being able to be activated to effect a change from interlocking to not interlocking by a change by relative positioning of the back support with respect to the upright. A catch is supported by the support back so that in one position, it can catch and hold in a non-engaging position, the engaging member clear of the rack, and in another position, it will release such engaging member to effect an interengaging action with the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Klasse Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Justin Peter Brown
  • Patent number: 6273384
    Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the height of a back part (3) of a typist's chair uses a sleeve-shaped slider (13) on the back part which slides along a rigid bar (8), and an interengageable pawl (37) and rack (22 or 23) are used to retain the back part (3) in an adjusted position. The sleeve (13) is accurately guided on the bar by engagement of projections (42, 43) such as lengths of cord, with grooves (40, 41). This guide arrangement can also be used for guiding movement of separate parts on furniture or in other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Unit Press Limited
    Inventors: Michael C. Hallmark, Roger Davies
  • Patent number: 6264277
    Abstract: An armrest support assembly has an armrest support frame and an elevator seat. The armrest support frame has an inner groove, a stepped slot, and a click hook, a post, and a threaded hole disposed on the opposite ends of the stepped slot. A positioning plate has through apertures matching the threaded holes of the armrest support frame. A bolt fastens each end of the positioning plate and the armrest support frame together. The elevator seat passes through the stepped slot of the armrest support frame. A top end of the elevator seat is inserted in the inner groove of the armrest support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Ywh-Shan Lay
  • Patent number: 6209840
    Abstract: A mechanism for the relative positioning of chair arm comprises a shroud including a first opening, a second opening, and a top plate; a supporting member disposed within the shroud including a notched cavity; a shuttle member disposed between the shroud and the supporting member comprising a vertical member having a slanted slot, a top horizontal member having a riser, a spring disposed on the riser being biased between the top horizontal member and the top plate, and a trigger button disposed on the top horizontal member; and a lock pin for slidably securing the slanted slot, the first opening, and the cavity together. Raising the trigger button will cause the lock pin to slide along the cavity and release of the trigger button will cause the lock pin to lock in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Chao Ken Chen
  • Patent number: 6209961
    Abstract: An armrest assembly includes a tube secured to a chair seat and an adjusting seat mounted in the tube. The adjusting seat includes an adjusting section having a first vertical slide passage. A peripheral side defining the first vertical slide passage includes a number of vertically spaced positioning notches. The adjusting section further includes a second vertical slide passage, the first vertical side passage and the second vertical slide passage together defining a loop passage. An armrest is mounted above the adjusting seat. An actuating member includes an upper end secured to the armrest to move therewith. The actuating member further includes a lower end slidably received in the adjusting seat. A positioning member is attached to the actuating member and includes an end slidable along the loop passage so as to be selectively and releasably engaged in one of the positioning notches for supporting the armrest at a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Su-Jan Chen
  • Patent number: 6202501
    Abstract: A steering apparatus with excellent operability, which is especially excellent in minute steering operability, is provided. For this purpose, the apparatus includes a steering operation shaft (6) rotating almost horizontally, and a lever (3) which is coupled to the steering operation shaft (6), separated by a predetermined horizontal distance from the steering operation shaft (6), and which turns almost horizontally to rotate the steering operation shaft (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Ikari
  • Patent number: 6203109
    Abstract: An ergonomic arm support for supporting the forearm during typing, keying, or assembly operations. The arm support includes an armrest pivotally mounted on a shroud for sliding the armrest to and away from a cantilever disk which is secured to a table or chair. The shroud is pivotally slidable or repositionable relative to the cantilever disk such that the armrest, which is pivotal relative to the shroud may be positioned to provide a wide range of locations for positioning of an individual's forearms. The cantilever disk permits easy or convenient inward, outward, forward, or backward positioning of an armrest relative to an object where the cantilever disk frictionally engages the shroud to lock the armrest into a desired position during use. The shroud may also function as an enclosure of the cantilever disk to prevent inadvertent engagement between an individual and/or the individual's clothes and the cantilever disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Industrial Ergonomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Bergsten, Donald A. Bergsten