WO1993018686A1 - Siege d'un seul tenant dote d'une assise et d'un dossier souples - Google Patents

Siege d'un seul tenant dote d'une assise et d'un dossier souples Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993018686A1
WO1993018686A1 PCT/US1992/006272 US9206272W WO9318686A1 WO 1993018686 A1 WO1993018686 A1 WO 1993018686A1 US 9206272 W US9206272 W US 9206272W WO 9318686 A1 WO9318686 A1 WO 9318686A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
chair
seat
spine
seat bottom
support
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1992/006272
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jeffrey S. Wilcox
Keith A. Mcdowell
Donald T. Chadwick
Peter F. Bemis
Original Assignee
American Seating Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by American Seating Company filed Critical American Seating Company
Publication of WO1993018686A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993018686A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
    • A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
    • A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
    • A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
    • A47C1/03255—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
    • A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
    • A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
    • A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
    • A47C1/03261—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest characterised by elastic means
    • A47C1/03266—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest characterised by elastic means with adjustable elasticity
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
    • A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
    • A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
    • A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
    • A47C1/03261—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest characterised by elastic means
    • A47C1/03277—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest characterised by elastic means with bar or leaf springs

Definitions

  • the invention relates to seating and more particularly to chairs having one-piece seat-and-back supports.
  • the back support of St. John's seat-and-back support is flexible, the seat support thereof is not.
  • the back support is designed to deflect downwardly and backwardly relative to the seat support in response to an occupant's weight, the seat support is not so constructed.
  • Such design has been determined to be insufficient in providing the necessary comfort for users, especially in work environments where the chairs are occupied for extended periods of time.
  • a chair one-piece seat-and-back support comprising a U-shaped seat support with upper and lower leg portions and an intermediate bight portion, and a back support with a lower bight portion and an upright back portion, wherein both bight portions are flexible thereby enabling the seat support and the back support to adjustably respond at different rates of deflection to an occupant's weight.
  • This chair design has been determined to be most adequate in providing the necessary comfort to the chair occupant.
  • U.S. patent to Werner, 3,740,792, issued June 26, 1973 discloses a chair comprises a box-like lower housing open at back and top portions thereof and mounted on top of a pedestal.
  • An upper seat support is pivotally mounted to the housing on a horizontal shaft.
  • a number of overlapping leaf springs surround the shaft and engage the housing and the seat support. The springs bias the seat support in a horizontal position. When a downward force is exerted on the seat support, the same pivots against the tension of the springs.
  • Benzing also provides for adjustment of the leaf spring's resistance to deflection of the seat support relative to the housing. Specifically, the tension of the springs is adjusted by turning a lever which displaces the springs forwardly and rearwardly toward and away from the pivotal axis of the seat support to increase the moment arm of the springs and thus vary the tension of the same.
  • the present invention provides a unitary chair support member, comprising: an elongated spine portion having first and second ends, the first end adapted to be supported by a chair base.
  • the spine includes a seat bottom pan and a seat back pan, the pans being integrally molded with the spine thereby forming the unitary chair support member.
  • the seat back pan is located at the second end of the spine and the seat bottom pan is located along the spine between the seat back pan and the first end of the spine.
  • the seat bottom pan includes a seating surface adapted to support a user.
  • the seating surface is defined by an outer peripheral edge and including first and second relieved portions displaced from the peripheral edge of the seat bottom pan.
  • the spine is joined with said seat bottom pan distal the peripheral edge of the seat bottom pan.
  • the portions of the seat bottom pan lying between the first and second relief portions and the peripheral edge form resilient support surfaces for fully supporting the legs and tail bone area of the user.
  • the chair support members preferably formed from either glass reinforced polyester or glass reinforced nylon and is formed using an injection molding process.
  • the chair base supports, and is secured to, the first end of the elongated spine by clampingly engaging the elongated spine along the outer periphery of the first end of the spine.
  • the first and second relief portions of the seat bottom pan form means for retaining an inner shell member.
  • Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a chair in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the chair shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in Figure 1 illustrating the chair tilting capability.
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of a support means of the chair and certain elements of a stabilizer means and one embodiment of a tension control means.
  • Figure 6 is a detailed side elevational view of a seat-and-back support of the chair.
  • Figure 7 is a bottom view of the seat-and-back support.
  • Figure 8 is a fragmented perspective view of a seat support of the seat-and-back support illustrating the stabilizer means and the tension control means.
  • Figure 9 is an exploded view of the stabilizer means.
  • Figure 10 is a perspective view of a stiffening means of the chair mounted to a cradle of the tension control means.
  • Figure 11 is a front elevational view of the stiffening means and the cradle shown in Figure 10.
  • Figure 12 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the tension control means.
  • Figure 13 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the tension control means.
  • Figure 14 is an exploded view of an armrest mounting means of the chair.
  • Figure 15 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the tension control means illustrated in Figure 12.
  • Figure 16 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the chair of the present invention.
  • Figure 17 is a rear perspective view of the chair of Figure 16.
  • Figure 18 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the support means of the present invention (also called the spine support and adjustment assembly).
  • Figure 19 is a side elevational view of the chair of Figure 16.
  • Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 20-20 of Figure 19.
  • Figure 21 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 21-21 of Figure 20.
  • Figure 21A is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 21A-21A of Figure 21.
  • Figure 22 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 22-22 of Figure 21.
  • Figure 22A is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 22A-22A of Figure 22.
  • Figure 23 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 23-23 of Figure 21.
  • Figure 24 is a front perspective view of the unitary chair support member of the present invention.
  • Figure 25 is a bottom perspective view of the unitary chair support member of the present invention.
  • Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 26-26 of the unitary chair support member of Figure 24.
  • Figure 27 is a bottom view taken substantially along lines 27-27 of the unitary chair support member of Figure 24.
  • Figure 28 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially through lines 28-28 of Figure 27.
  • Figure 29 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially through lines 29-29 of Figure 27.
  • Figure 30 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially through lines 30-30 of Figure 27.
  • Figure 31 is a front view taken substantially along lines 31-31 of the unitary chair support member of Figure 24.
  • Figure 32 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially through lines 32-32 of Figure 31.
  • Figure 33 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially through lines 33-33 of Figure 31.
  • Figure 34 is a front view of the seat back inner shell of the present invention.
  • Figure 35 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 35-35 of the seat back inner shell of Figure 34.
  • Figure 36 is an assembly showing the seat back inner shell of Figure 34 assembled to the unitary chair support member of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • a chair 10 comprising a castered base 12, a vertically adjustable pedestal 14 mounted to base 12 and an elongated one-piece seat-and-back support 16 mounted to the pedestal.
  • the seat-and-back support is adapted to deflect downwardly and backwardly against the weight of an occupant.
  • a resilient stiffening means 18 is provided for increasing the seat-and-back support's resistance to deflection.
  • a tension control means 20 is provided for adjusting the tension of the stiffening means 18.
  • the chair base 12 comprises a plurality of equidistantly spaced arms 22 having mounted at outer ends 24 thereof floor engaging casters 26. Inner ends 28 of the arms 22 are connected by a central web 30 having a central socket 32 extending therethrough.
  • the base 12 is preferably a one-piece member made of cast aluminum or Zytel (a glass reinforced nylon). Although the base 12 is illustrated as having five arms 22, any other number of arms can be used to provide the necessary support for the chair 10.
  • the illustrated chair base 12 is of a similar type used in connection with a chair manufactured and sold under the trademark EQUA by Herman Miller, Inc., of Zeeland, Michigan, Applicant's assignee of record. However, other suitable chair bases known in the art may be substituted for the illustrated base 12.
  • the pedestal 14 comprises a lower tube 34 securely received within the web socket 32 of the base 12 and an upper tube 36 above the lower tube and securely rotatably mounting at an upper end 38 thereof a support means 40 preferably made of die cast aluminum.
  • a pneumatic air spring 42 is positioned between and partially received within the upper and lower tubes 34, 36 and comprises a piston (not shown) securely mounted to the web 30 and a cylinder 44 secured to the support means 40.
  • the air spring 42 includes an adjustment pin 46 projecting upwardly from the upper axial end (not shown) of the cylinder 44 and through a vertical bore (not shown) in the support means 40.
  • the pin 46 is adapted to move between an upper position, where the cylinder and piston of the air spring 42 are held stationary in locked engagement, and a lower position, where the cylinder and piston are released for movement relative to each other to extend or contract the air spring longitudinally.
  • the adjustment pin 46 is normally biased in the upper, locked position.
  • a height adjustment lever 50 is pivotally mounted to the support means 40, engages at an inside end 52 of the lever the adjustment pin 46 and extends outwardly from the casting at the lever outside end 50 is 54 at lateral side 56 of the chair 10.
  • the lever inside end 52 forces the pin 46 to the lower position, thereby releasing the piston (not shown) relative to the cylinder 44 and thus allowing the pedestal 14 to extend or contract to raise or lower the chair upper portion 58.
  • the lever 50 is released, the pin moves to the upper position and the pedestal 14 becomes locked in the adjusted position.
  • a hand knob 60 is provided at the lever outside end 54 to facilitate manual pivotal actuation of the lever 50.
  • the one-piece seat-and-back support 16 is mounted to the pedestal 14 and is bent so as to form a lower generally U-shaped seat support 62 open toward the chair back portion 64 and an upper, somewhat S-shaped back support 66.
  • the seat support 62 comprises upper and lower leg portions 68, 70 and a first bight portion 69 intermediate the leg portions.
  • the back support 66 comprises a second bight portion 73 extending rearwardly and upwardly from the upper leg 68 and an upper back support portion 75 extending upwardly from the second bight portion.
  • the first and second bight portions 69, 73 are resilient and the upper and lower legs 68, 70 and the upper back support portion 75 are somewhat stiff.
  • the chair seat 72 is mounted on the upper leg portion 68 of the seat support 62.
  • the chair back 74 is mounted on the upper back support portion 75 of the back support 66.
  • the lower leg 70 of the U-shaped seat support 62 forms a downwardly oriented cover 76 at a rear end 76 of the leg.
  • the cover 76 has a rearwardly and downwardly sloping U-shaped side wall 78 and a top wall 80.
  • the cover 76 is complementary to, slidably received on and mounted to the support means 40. Mounting of the cover 76 and thus the seat-and-back support 16 to the support means 40 can be achieved by any suitable mechanical means, such as by plurality of bolts 82 in registry with a number of aligned holes 84 and threaded bores 86 of the cover and support casting, respectively.
  • the cover 76 functions to protect elements of the height-adjustable pedestal 84 described above. Elements of the tension control means 20 are similarly protected by the cover 76 as will be described below.
  • the first and second portions 69, 73 resiliently respond to deflect and move the seat-and-back support downwardly and backwardly between three general degrees of flex: a full upright "work intensive” position, a partially flexed “relaxed” position, and a “full tilt” position.
  • Substantially maximum flex of the seat-and-back support 16 is achieved in the full tilt position obtained when an occupant exerts additional pressure on the back support 66. In this position, the outer angle between the seat support upper leg 68 and the back support 66 is maximized by the further downward and rearward seat-and-back support 16 deflection. In the full tilt position, a significant portion of an occupant's upper body weight is shifted to the chair back 74.
  • the elongated one-piece seat-and-back support 16 is adapted to resiliently respond to shifts in an occupant's weight by smoothly flexing at the first and second bight portions 69, 73 thereof from an upright work intensive position to a partially relaxed position to a full tilt position as an occupant shifts his/her weight rearwardly against the back support 66.
  • the novel design of the elongated one-piece flexible , seat-and-back support 16 is such that the same is directly responsive to shifts in an occupant's weight to smoothly bend among the various degrees of fertil heretofore described, with the upper leg 68 of the seat support 62 deflecting at a rate different from the rate of deflection of the back support 66.
  • the seat-and-back support 16 is preferably made of a glass reinforced nylon resin, a suitable example of which is marketed by the DuPont Company under the trademark Zytel.
  • the seat-and-back support is preferably injection molded from such material.
  • a polyester resin by DuPont sold under the trademark Rynite may also be used.
  • the seat support upper leg portion 68 is enlarged or relatively wide with respect to other portions of the seat and back support 16, namely, the first bight portion 69 and the lower leg portion 70 of the seat support 62 and the second bight portion 73 and the upper back support portion 75 of the back support 66.
  • the back support portion 75 and the second bight portion 73 of the back support 66 are relatively narrow and each preferably has a width of approximately four inches along substantially the full length thereof.
  • the upper leg portion 68 of the seat support 62 is approximately 10.5 inches in width at a central transverse axis thereof.
  • the upper leg portion tapers as it extends forwardly to the first bight portion 69 which tapers along its length to the lower leg portion 70, the first bight portion having a maximum width of approximately 9.5 inches and an average width of approximately 8.125 inches.
  • the lower leg portion 70 of the seat support also tapers along the length thereof continuing from the first bight portion 69 and has a maximum width of 6.75 inches and an average width of approximately 6 inches.
  • the second bight portion 73 is approximately 0.500 inches in thickness and the upper leg portion 68 has a thickness less than the thickness of the second bight portion.
  • the average thickness of the upper leg portion 68 is approximately .250 inches.
  • the thickness gradient between the second bight portion and the upper leg portion is gradual.
  • the first bight portion 69 and the lower leg portion also preferably have a thickness of .250 inches.
  • the chair 10 further includes a bridle 88 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "stabilizer means") mounted to and between the upper and lower legs 68, 70 of the seat support 62 and for providing stability to the same during deflection of the seat-and-back support 16.
  • the bridle 88 comprises an upper bracket 90 mounted to the seat support upper leg 68 and a U-shaped stabilizer bracket 92 secured to and between the upper bracket and the support means 40.
  • the bracket 90 comprises an upper plate 94 and a pair of spaced bilateral flanges 96 preferably formed integral with the plate.
  • the plate 94 is positioned above and mattingly engages the seat support upper leg 68 by a plurality of bolts 98 in registry with aligned holes 100 in the overlapping plate and seat support upper leg.
  • the flanges 96 of the bracket 90 depend downwardly therefrom and are in registry with a pair of spaced slots 102 extending through the seat support upper leg 68.
  • the U-shaped stabilizer bracket 92 is pivotally mounted to the bracket 90 at upper end 104 of spaced arms 106 of the stabilizer.
  • each flange 96 of the bracket 90 forming a pair of spaced legs 110 having a includes a slot 108 pair of aligned openings 112 extending therethrough.
  • the upper ends 104 of the arms 106 are received in the slots 108 and include holes 114 aligned with the aligned openings 112.
  • a pair of pins 116 extend through the aligned openings 112 and holes 114 to pivotally mount the stabilizer arms 106 to the bracket 90.
  • the U-shaped stabilizer bracket 92 is also pivotally mounted at a lower bight portion 118 thereof to the support means 40 in sandwiched relationship between the same and the seat support lower leg 70.
  • the support means 40 has formed therein a front transverse channel 120 in which a U-shaped, in cross section, shoe 122 complementary to the front transverse channel is received.
  • the bight portion 108 of the stabilizer bracket 92 rotatably engages the shoe 122 and is fully received within the channel 120 such that there is sufficient clearance between the seat support lower leg 70 and the bight portion 118 to permit free rotation of the same with respect to the support means 40.
  • Lower portions 124 of the stabilizer arms 106 are in slidable registry with a pair of spaced elongated slots 126 extending through the seat support lower leg.
  • the upper leg 68 thereof deflects downwardly causing the arms 106 of the stabilizer bracket 92 to pivot about their mounting to the flanges 96, the arm lower ends 124 to register to a greater extent with the elongated slots 126 of the seat support lower leg 70 and the stabilizer bracket bight portion 118 to rotate within the front transverse channel 120 of the support means 40.
  • the bridle 88 accommodates relative movement of the upper and lower legs 68, 70 of the seat support 62 while at the same time performing its primary functions of resisting separation of the upper and lower legs 68, 70 when the chair 10 is not occupied and providing lateral stability to the U-shaped seat support 62 during flex of the same between the work intensive and full tilt positions.
  • the chair 10 is provided with the resilient stiffening means 18 and the tension control means 20.
  • the stiffening means 18 comprises an elongated strap-like leaf spring mounted to and between the upper and lower legs 68, 70 of the seat support 62.
  • the geometry of the leaf spring will be hereinafter described in detail.
  • the leaf spring resists downward relative movement of the seat support upper leg 68 when an occupant's weight is exerted thereon.
  • the leaf spring is preferably made of a composite material such as unidirectional S-glass with an epoxy resin (i.e., glass-reinforced epoxy).
  • the tension control means adjusts the leaf spring's resistance to deflection of the seat-and-back support 16.
  • the tension control means 20 is adapted to adjustably engage the leaf spring along a longitudinal axis thereof to decrease and increase the effective length of the leaf spring to increase and decrease, respectively, the spring's resistance to relative deflection of the seat-and-back support.
  • the tension control means 20 generally comprises an engaging means 123 for adjustably engaging the leaf spring, a mounting means 125 for movably mounting the engaging means to the support means 40 for movement between front and rear positions relative to the leaf spring and an actuating means 127 operably connected to the mounting means for actuating movement of the engaging means between the front and rear positions.
  • movement of the engaging means 123 toward the rear position decreases the effective moment arm length between the leaf spring and the force exerted on the rear portion of the seat support by the occupant, thereby increasing the spring's resistance to deflection of the upper leg 70.
  • Movement of the engaging means toward the front position increases the effective moment arm length to thereby decrease the spring's resistance to deflection of the upper leg.
  • the resiliency or resistance to deflection of the seat-and-back support 16 can be adjusted to comfortably accommodate occupants varying in weight. It may be surmised that a relatively heavy occupant would adjust the tension control means 20 to a position adjacent the rear position to increase resistance to deflection of the seat-and-back support 16, while an occupant of relatively light weight would set the tension control means closer to the front position to decrease the leaf spring's resistance to deflection of the seat-and-back support.
  • the resilient stiffening means 18 comprises a substantially bow-shaped leaf spring 128, having upper front and rear portions 130, 132 and a central portion 134.
  • the spring front and rear portions 130, 132 reverse in curvature, the apexes of the curves freely slidably engaging front and back bottom surfaces 136, 138 of the seat support upper leg 68.
  • the leaf spring 128 is slidably engaged with, at the central portion 134 thereof, the tension control means 20.
  • the tension control means is slidably mounted to the support means 40 through an elongated opening 140 in the seat support lower leg 70 for movement between the front and rear positions heretofore described.
  • the engaging means 123 thereof comprises a cradle 142 slidably mounted to the support means 40 for movement between the front and rear positions heretofore described through the elongated opening 140 in the seat support lower leg 70.
  • the cradle 142 is positioned between the spaced stabilizer arms 106 of the bridle 88 and comprises a substantial U-shaped member having a pair of sidewalls 146, a bottom wall 148 and a transverse pin 150 mounted to and between the sidewalls in spaced relationship to the bottom wall.
  • the bottom wall 148 has depending downwardly therefrom a pair of tangs 152 fixedly secured to the mounting means 125 of the tension control means 20.
  • the leaf spring central portion 134 is captured between the transverse pin 150 and the cradle bottom wall 148.
  • the cradle transverse pin 150 is preferably fitted with a rubber sleeve 154 and the cradle bottom wall 148 is preferably covered with a rubber sheet 156.
  • the sleeve 154 and the sheet 156 function to eliminate noise otherwise caused by direct movable engagement of the spring center portion 134 with the cradle 142 during operation of the tension control means and caused by the variable deflection of the spring 128 during usage of the chair 10.
  • the mounting means 125 comprises a scissor mechanism 144 slidably mounted to the support means 40 in substantially flush relationship to a top surface 158 thereof and beneath the seat support lower leg 70.
  • the actuating means 127 comprises an adjustment rod 164 rotatably mounted to the support means 40 is substantially flush relationship to the same's top surface 58.
  • the support means 40 has formed in the top surface 158 thereof rear transverse and longitudinal channels 160, 162.
  • the transverse channel 160 is positioned rearwardly of the front transverse channel 120 associated with the bridle 88.
  • the adjustment rod 164 is rotatably received within the support means rear transverse channel 160 at an inner end 172 of the rod, the rod outer end 174 extending laterally outwardly from the support means 40 at chair lateral side 176 opposite the height adjustment lever 50.
  • the rod 164 is mounted in rotatable registry with the transverse channel 160 by brackets 178 secured to the support means 40 by any suitable mechanical means, such as by screws 180 in registry with aligned holes (not shown) in the brackets and threaded bores (not shown) in the support means.
  • the scissor mechanism 144 comprises a block 166, a pair of plates 168 and a pair of arms 170.
  • the block 166 is slidably received within the longitudinal channel 162 of the support means 40 and includes a pair of shoes 182 in which the tangs 152 of the cradle 142 are securely received.
  • the plates 168 include threaded portions (not shown) operatively engaging the threaded adjustment rod 164. Because the plate threaded portions (not shown) and their respective rod threaded portions 184, 186 are oppositely directed, rotation of the adjustment rod in one direction or the other causes the plates to move toward or away from each other.
  • the arms 170 are pivotally mounted at front and rear ends 188, 190 thereof to and between the plates 168 and the block 166, respectively.
  • the hand knob 194 preferably differs in geometry from the height adjustment knob 60 so that the knobs can be easily differentiated by an occupant.
  • the tension control means 20 further comprises a retainer 196 securely mounted to the seat support lower leg 70 and having an open rear portion 198 providing access to the interior of the retainer.
  • the retainer 196 can be formed integrally with the seat support lower leg 70 or be separate therefrom but mounted to the seat support by any suitable mechanical means.
  • the stiffening means 18 comprises a substantially S-shaped leaf spring 200 having an upper curved end 201 freely engaging the seat support upper leg rear part at an apex 202 of the curved end, and a lower substantially straight end 204 received within the retainer 196 through the open rear portion 198 thereof.
  • the elements of the tension control means 20 are substantially identical to those of the above-described embodiment except that in the embodiment of Figure 12, a fulcrum pad 206 is mounted to the block 166 rather than the cradle 142. Like the cradle 142, however, the fulcrum pad 206 is set in slidable registry with the elongated opening 140 of the seat support lower leg 70 and includes tangs 152 engaging the shoes 182 of the block 166. The pad 206 is set in slidable engagement with a bottom surface 208 of the leaf spring straight end 204.
  • the fulcrum pad 206 is adapted to move between the front and rear positions heretofore described to alter the effective length of the leaf spring and thereby adjust the same's resistance to deflection of the seat-and-back support 16. Specifically, upon rotation of the adjustment rod 164 in one direction, the fulcrum pad 206 moves rearwardly to shorten the effective moment arm length between the spring and occupant downward force and thereby increase the spring's resistance to relative downward movement of the seat support upper leg 68. When the fulcrum pad 206 is moved toward the front position of the tension control means, the moment arm is increased, thereby decreasing the spring's resistance to downward relative movement of the seat support upper leg 68.
  • the fulcrum pad 206 is positioned adjacent the front position of the tension control means 20.
  • the fulcrum pad 206 is positioned closer to the rear position of the tension control means 20.
  • the stiffening means 20 comprises a substantially straight leaf spring 210 having the lower front end 212 thereof fixedly secured to the seat support lower leg front part 214 by any suitable mechanical means, such as by a plurality of bolts 216 in registry with an equal number of pairs of aligned holes (not shown) extending through the spring front end 212 and the lower leg front part 214.
  • An upper rear end 220 of the leaf spring 210 is bent along a gradual curve, the apex 222 of which freely mattingly engages the seat support upper leg rear part 138.
  • the engaging means 123 comprises a cam pad 224 mounted about a horizontal axis of rotation on a pin 226 forming the mounting means 125 and rotatably secured transversely to and between opposing sidewalls 78 of the seat support lower leg cover 76.
  • the cam pad 224 is set in registry with an enlarged opening 228 extending through the seat support lower leg 70 and an enlarged channel 229 within and the support means 40.
  • the cam pad 224 engages a bottom surface 230 of the leaf spring 210 at a rear part 232 of the pad.
  • the cam pad 224 is somewhat triangular in shape, with the rear end 232 thereof being enlarged relative to a front end 234 of the pad.
  • rotation of the same in one direction causes the pad to move rearwardly and upwardly and to engage the spring lower front portion 212 to a greater extent to thereby shorten the effective moment arm length between the spring and the force exerted on the seat by the occupant and thereby increase the spring's resistance to deflection of the seat support upper leg 68.
  • Rotation of the pad 224 in the other direction moves the same forwardly and downwardly to thereby increase the moment arm length and reduce the spring's resistance to deflection.
  • the actuating means 127 comprises an adjustment shaft 26 threadably mounted to the support means 40 through a vertical threaded bore (not shown) of the same, and has a lower end 238 extending downwardly from the support means and mounting a handwheel 240 and an upper end 242 above the casting and in abutting engagement with the cam pad rear end 232.
  • the chair seat 72 comprises an inner shell (not shown) and an outer structural shell (not shown) and is mounted to and above the seat support upper leg 68 by any suitable mechanical means, such as by a plurality of screws (not shown) in registry with aligned holes 246 extending through the seat outer shell and the seat support upper leg.
  • the shape of the seat 72 is complementary to that of the seat support 62, but enlarged with respect thereto to provide the necessary comfort and support to the occupant.
  • the seat front portion 248 is rolled over to comfortably accommodate an occupant's legs.
  • a cushion 250 is molded to the top of the inner shell.
  • the inner shell is removably fastened by any suitable snap means to the outer shell.
  • the seat 72 is preferably made of Zytel or polypropylene, compositions which provide some degree of flexibility to the seat during flex of the seat-and-back support 16.
  • the chair back 74 is substantially half oval in shape and has an enlarged U-shaped channel 252 within a central relief portion 254 formed on a rear surface 256 of the back.
  • the back 74 comprises an inner and an outer shell (not shown), the outer shell being securely fastened to the back support 66, with the same received within the channel 252 and flush with respect to the relief portion 254 by any suitable mechanical means, such as by a plurality of screws (not shown) extending through aligned orifices (not shown) in the back and the back support.
  • the back 74 is preferably made of a material such as Zytel or polypropylene to provide flexibility of the back.
  • the chair back 74 is enlarged with respect to the back support and in this manner functions to distribute the weight transferred from the occupant to the chair seat and back support as the occupant leans rearwardly in the same between the upright and full tilt positions.
  • a cushion 262 is molded to the inner shell, the same being removably fastened by any suitable snap means to the outer shell. By this method, the back cushion 262 can be replaced as necessary.
  • each armrest 264 is a substantially V-shaped flexible member having, with reference to the work intensive position of the seat-and-back support 16, a substantially horizontal leg 266 and a diagonal leg 268, free ends of the horizontal and diagonal legs being rotatably mounted to the back 74 and the seat 72, respectively, at a lateral side 56 or 176 of the chair.
  • the horizontal leg 266 provides support for an occupant's arm.
  • the armrests 264 likewise flex thereby accommodating the changing geometry of the seat-and-back support. Flex of the V-shaped armrests generally occurs at the vertices 270 of the Vs, due to the rotatable connection between the armrests and the seat 72 and back 74. Each armrest 264 is substantially rectangular, in cross section, with the thickness thereof tapering substantially at the vertex 270 of the V. A reduction of thickness at the vertex facilitates the resiliency of the armrest 264.
  • the armrests 264 are rotatably mounted to the chair back 74 and the chair seat 72 at lateral sides 56, 176 of the chair 10. To this end, the free ends 272,
  • sockets 276 of the horizontal and diagonal legs 266, 268, respectively, have formed thereon sockets 276.
  • an attachment means 278 is provided for mounting the armrests 264 to the seat 72 and the back 74.
  • the armrest attachment means 278 comprises a pair of U-shaped brackets 280, each having a web portion 282 and a pair of side portions 284. Each side portion 284 includes a hole 286 extending therethrough.
  • One bracket 280 is securely mounted to and between the chair back shells, with the web portion 282 sandwiched therebetween and the side portions 284 extending rearwardly of the chair.
  • a recess in the inner chair back shell (not shown) accommodates the bracket web.
  • the other bracket 280 is mounted to and between the chair seat shells, the web portion 282 sandwiched therebetween and the side portions 284 extending downwardly from the chair seat 72.
  • a recess in the inner chair seat shell (not shown) accommodates the bracket web.
  • the attachment means 278 further comprises a hollow tubular spacer 288 partially received within each armrest socket 276, the spacer being aligned with a respective hole 286 in the U-shaped bracket 280.
  • Bolts 290 extend through the aligned sockets 276, spacers 288 and holes 286 to securely mount the armrest 264 to the brackets 280.
  • Hemispherical protective caps 292 can be placed over the bolts 290.
  • the chair 10 comprises the first stabilizer means or bridle 88 pivotally mounted to and between the upper and lower leg portions 68, 70 of the seat support 62 for providing stability to the same during deflection of the upper leg 68 relative to the lower leg by virtue of the resilient first bight portion 69 intermediate the same.
  • the armrests 264 also function as stabilizer means for the seat and back support 16, but not with respect to the upper and lower legs 68, 70 thereof. Rather, by virtue of the pivotal connection of the armrests 264 to and between the seat 70 and the back 74, on opposite lateral sides 56, 76 of the chair, the armrests provide lateral stability to the seat and back support 16 between the upper leg portion 68 and the upper back support portion 75 during relative deflection thereof by virtue of the resilient second bight portion 73.
  • the second embodiment of chair 310 of the present invention includes chair base 312, pedestal 314, unitary chair support member 316, spine support and adjustment assembly 318, arms 321, seat back 322, and seat bottom 324.
  • spine support and adjusting assembly 318 is comprised of upper support casting 328 and lower support casting 330.
  • Upper support casting 328 is adapted to clampingly engage lower support casting 330 thereby clamping tongue portion 334 of unitary chair support member 316 therebetween. It is important to note that the cooperation of upper casting 328 and lower casting 330 act to crimpingly engage tongue portion 334 of support member 316 along its outer periphery. Thus, tongue portion 334 is firmly retained within assembly 318 without placing bolts or the like through one or more apertures in tongue 334. It was found that when tongue 334
  • TITUTE SHEET was fastened to casting 318 via bolting or the like, the stress associated with using such conventional fastening techniques caused premature failure in tongue portion 334.
  • Control mechanism assembly 336 is adapted to be housed within well 344 of lower support casting 330. Control mechanism assembly 336 is adapted to move C-shaped spring 326 thereby effecting the stiffness of chair 310. This function will be more fully discussed hereinafter.
  • Arm strap 338 is pivotally connected to pretension bar 332 by way of pin 346.
  • Pretension bar 332 is pivotal about bushings 348.
  • Bushings 348 fit within their respective wells 350 within lower support casting 330.
  • Bushings 348 permit pretension bar 332 to pivot within lower support casting 330.
  • Pretension bar springs 333 sit within lower casting 330 and urge against their respectively associated bushings 348.
  • arms 321 are not rigidly fastened to lower casting assembly 330 but are attached thereto by way of pretension bar 332. Because pretension bar 332 is somewhat resilient, it acts like a torsion bar and offers a limited degree of downward movement 339 to arms 321 (such as when a user is leaning against one of the arms 321). This ability of arms 321 to offer a limited degree of movement aids in the comfort of the user especially when the user is leaning over one of the arms of the chair. This is to be contrasted with well known techniques of rigidly mounting arms 321 to a solid part of a chair base such that they offer no relative movement between themselves and the base. The limited movement of arms 321 in this manner is largely due to the resiliency of pretension bar 332 and its ability to act as a torsion bar.
  • TE SHEET Stiffness adjustment lever 340 is used to adjust the stiffness of seat bottom 324 (seat bottom 324 not shown in Figure 18).
  • Height adjustment lever 342 is used to adjust the height of seat bottom 324 of chair 310. This height adjustment function has been discussed in conjunction with chair 10 and will not be repeated here.
  • arms 321 are attached along their lower portion 350 to ends 352 of arm strap 338.
  • upper end 354 is not attached to seat back 322 thereby allowing seat back 322 to freely move within the confines established by unitary chair support member 316.
  • arms 321 atingly engage ends 352 such that they may be easily installed or replaced in the field. This allows the customer to save initial costs by purchasing the chairs without the arms and then, at a later time, purchasing the arms to upgrade the look and style of the chair. Additionally, replacing damaged arms is simple under this scheme.
  • Ends 352 are normally hidden from view by chair covering 356. Accordingly, when chair 310 is used without arms 321, ends 352 are inconspicuous.
  • chair covering 356 is simply pushed out of the way thereby making ends 352 available for engaging lower portion 350 of arms 321.
  • chair covering 356 can be designed with a break away portion which is easily removed from the portion of chair covering 356 which overlays ends 352.
  • the tension adjustment for seat bottom 324 is provided by the movement 358 of C-shaped spring 326.
  • seat bottom 324 will offer a maximum resistance against downward reflection 360.
  • spring 326 is moved to its right most location 326' it will offer the least resistance against downward reflection 360.
  • the left to right movement 358 of C-shaped spring 326 is accomplished by the rotation of tension adjustment lever 340.
  • first gear 362 rotatingly engages second gear 364, which in turn rotates lag screw 366.
  • Lag screw 366 is threadingly engaged to lag screw finger 368.
  • Lag screw finger 368 extends upwardly from well 344 and engages lower spring guide 370.
  • Lower spring guide 370 clampingly surrounds and engages lower end 372 of C-shaped spring 326.
  • Upper end 374 of C-shaped spring 326 terminates into upper spring guide 376.
  • Upper spring guide 376 is preferably notched 378 (see Figure 21A) such that notch 378 positively engages raised portion 380 of unitary chair support member 316. The cooperation between notch 378 and raised portion 380 maintains upper portion 374 of C-shaped spring 326 in its proper position.
  • lower spring guide 370 includes opening 382 to positively engage finger 368 thereby preventing lower portion 372 of C-shaped spring 326 from dislodging. It is important to note that because the contour of C-shaped spring 326 closely matches the contour of bite portion 384 of unitary chair support member 316, C-shaped spring 326 is accorded a greater degree of movement 358 than that which would otherwise be possible by using the leaf spring embodiments set out in Figures 8, 12, and 13.
  • the C-shaped spring 326 of Figure 21 is the preferred geometric shape.
  • the C-shaped spring is made from laminated material, preferably unidirectional fiberglass coated with epoxy resin.
  • unidirectional fiberglass coated with epoxy resin
  • seven layers of unidirectional fiberglass were coated with epoxy resin and bonded together using heat and pressure to form the laminated material into the desired C-shape.
  • the outside surface of the C-shaped spring is coated with an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).
  • UHMWPE ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
  • unitary chair support member 316 comprises an elongated spine portion 386 having a first end (or tongue) 388 and a second end 390 which blends into a seat back pan 392. Tongue 388 is adapted to be enclampingly engaged between upper support casting 328 and lower support casting 330 as has already been discussed.
  • Elongated spine 386 includes seat bottom pan 394. Seat back pan 392 and seat bottom 394 are both integrally molded with elongated spine 386. This process of integrally forming pans 392, 394 and spine 386 result in a unitary chair support member 316 which is extremely strong and eliminates assembly costs associated with the chair of Figure 1.
  • Seat bottom pan 394 is preferably located along elongated spine 386 between seat back pan 392 and tongue 388.
  • Seat bottom pan 394 preferably includes a seating surface 396 adapted to support a user and is defined by an outer peripheral edge 398.
  • Seat bottom pan 394 also includes first and second relieved portions 400, 402.
  • Relieved portions 400, 402 are respectively displaced 404, 406 from peripheral edge 398 of seat bottom pan 394 and elongated spine 386 is joined with the seat bottom pan 394 proximate relieved portions 400, 402 and distal peripheral edge 398.
  • portions of seat bottom pan 394 lying within displacement 404, 406 form resilient support surfaces for fully supporting the legs (406) and the tail bone area (404) of the user.
  • seat bottom pan 394 is constructed having first relief portion 400 and second relief portion 402.
  • Cross-sectional views of seat bottom pan 394 are shown in Figures 28-30 each taken at a separate location along seat bottom pan 394.
  • Raised portion 380 is shown in Figure 29. Raised potion 380 functions to guide upper spring guide 376 so as to retain C-shaped spring 326 in its proper location.
  • second end 390 of elongated spine 386 terminates into seat back pan 392.
  • Seat back pan 392 incorporates relieved portions 408 to accommodate flexing of seat back pan 392.
  • Retaining fasteners 410 are fastened to, or preferably integrally molded with, seat back pan 392. The use of retaining fasteners 410 will now be explained in conjunction with Figures 34-36.
  • the seat back pan 392 and the seat bottom pan 394 of the seat to the present invention is covered with a soft pliable foam 412 which is in turn covered by a fabric.
  • foam 412 and fabric 414 can be directly affixed to seat back pan 392, in its preferred embodiment foam 412 and fabric 414 are first fastened to seat back inner shell 416.
  • Seat back inner shell 416 incorporates apertures 418 which cooperative engage and fasten to retaining fasteners 410.
  • Fingers 420 are integrally formed with seat back inner shell 416. After foam 412 and fabric 414 is fastened to seat back inner shell 416, fingers 420 are folded downwardly before the assembly is attached to seat back pan 392. When folded down in this manner, fingers 420 cover any fabric ends, glue, fasteners, or other unattractive features which might otherwise be visible through the openings made by relieved portions 408.
  • seat bottom inner shell 422 can be used to add foam 412 and fabric 414 to seat bottom pan 394.
  • seat bottom inner shell 422 is adapted with engaging lip 424 to positively attach seat bottom inner shell 422 to seat bottom pan 394 by way of first and second relief portions 400, 402.

Abstract

Un support d'un seul tenant destiné à un siège (316) comporte une armature allongée (386) nantie de deux extrémités (388, 390). La première (388) prend appui sur une base de siège et la seconde (390) fait partie intégrante d'un dossier (392). Entre les extrémités de l'ossature (386), on trouve une assise incorporée (394), délimitée par un rebord périphérique (398) continu correspondant au périmètre du siège et par deux segments non porteurs avant et arrière (400, 402) situés à l'intérieur du rebord. L'armature (386) constitue un seul tenant avec l'assise (394) qu'elle rejoint entre les deux segments non porteurs de manière que, vers le segment non porteur avant (402), l'armature (386) s'incurve vers le bas pour se fixer à la base du siège, et que, vers le segment non porteur arrière (400), cette armature (386) s'incurve vers le haut pour rejoindre le dossier (392) et former des surfaces de soutien souples et conférant un appréciable confort à l'usager.
PCT/US1992/006272 1992-03-17 1992-07-29 Siege d'un seul tenant dote d'une assise et d'un dossier souples WO1993018686A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US85247092A 1992-03-17 1992-03-17
US852,470 1992-03-17

Publications (1)

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WO1993018686A1 true WO1993018686A1 (fr) 1993-09-30

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CA (1) CA2103263A1 (fr)
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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1872688A1 (fr) * 2006-06-29 2008-01-02 Oki Electric Industry Company, Limited Chaise
WO2022072543A1 (fr) * 2020-09-29 2022-04-07 Rocking Inc. Dispositif de rebondissement portatif avec ensemble de réglage de force

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1119887A (fr) * 1954-02-18 1956-06-26 Walter Knoll & Co Meuble à usage de siège
US4529247A (en) * 1982-04-15 1985-07-16 Herman Miller, Inc. One-piece shell chair
US4533174A (en) * 1980-02-22 1985-08-06 Gregg Fleishman Portable furniture
US4790595A (en) * 1986-04-21 1988-12-13 Mauser Waldeck Ag Chair having seat and back capable of relative tilting
US5102196A (en) * 1988-08-31 1992-04-07 Kokuyo Co., Ltd. Chair provided with a backrest

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1119887A (fr) * 1954-02-18 1956-06-26 Walter Knoll & Co Meuble à usage de siège
US4533174A (en) * 1980-02-22 1985-08-06 Gregg Fleishman Portable furniture
US4529247A (en) * 1982-04-15 1985-07-16 Herman Miller, Inc. One-piece shell chair
US4790595A (en) * 1986-04-21 1988-12-13 Mauser Waldeck Ag Chair having seat and back capable of relative tilting
US5102196A (en) * 1988-08-31 1992-04-07 Kokuyo Co., Ltd. Chair provided with a backrest

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1872688A1 (fr) * 2006-06-29 2008-01-02 Oki Electric Industry Company, Limited Chaise
US7819473B2 (en) 2006-06-29 2010-10-26 Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Chair
WO2022072543A1 (fr) * 2020-09-29 2022-04-07 Rocking Inc. Dispositif de rebondissement portatif avec ensemble de réglage de force

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2103263A1 (fr) 1993-09-18
MX9301502A (es) 1994-01-31

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