WO2014138542A1

WO2014138542A1 - Chair base

Info

Publication number: WO2014138542A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/021608
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Andrew OSBORNE
Original assignee: Office Depot, Inc.
Priority date: 2013-03-08
Filing date: 2014-03-07
Publication date: 2014-09-12

Abstract

A chair base adapted to support a column for a seat includes a hub having a central axis; a plurality of legs radially extending from the hub; and a plurality of cylinders radially extending from the hub, wherein each cylinder engages a portion of a corresponding leg. As a user shifts their body weight to one side while seated on a chair having the chair base, piston rods from the plurality of cylinders on the opposite side of the chair base will extend while piston rods from the plurality of cylinders on the same side will retract, thus the chair base move's with the user.

Description

CHAIR BASE

RELATED APPLICATION

[001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to United States Provisional

Application No. 61/774,807, filed March 8, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[002] People with desk jobs may spend more time sitting in their office chairs every day than lying in their beds at night. Holding your body in a static position for a sustained period will stress the muscles involved. For example, when sitting, the force of your upper body settles into your lower back, in the lumbar region of the spine, which can increase the back's workload. Distributing body weight evenly to the front, back, and sides while sitting in a chair may be one way to reduce back pain from sitting for a long time.

[003] People spend more than one billion hours every single day playing video games.

Gaming chairs can extend the pleasure of playing a video game. Chairs that move fluidly with a person's body would help make the gaming experience pleasurable.

SUMMARY

[004] According to aspects illustrated herein, there is disclosed a chair base adapted to support a column for a seat that includes a hub having a central axis; a plurality of legs radially extending from the hub; and a plurality of cylinders radially extending from the hub, wherein each cylinder engages a portion of a corresponding leg. In an embodiment, the hub includes a plurality of top hub ports, one of each top hub port engaging one of the plurality of cylinders, and a plurality of bottom hub ports, one of each bottom hub port engaging one of the plurality of legs. In an embodiment a caster is attached to an end of each leg to provide selective rolling movement of the chair base over a surface of a floor. In an embodiment, each leg has an inner end rigidly and fixedly secured to the hub at a corresponding bottom hub port. In an embodiment, the hub is a single annular hub part. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of legs is covered by a plastic casing. [005] According to aspects illustrated herein, there is disclosed a chair base adapted to support a column for a seat that includes a hub assembly having a central axis, the hub assembly comprising an upper annular hub part and a lower annular hub part; a plurality of legs radially extending from the lower annular hub part; and a plurality of cylinders radially extending from the upper annular hub part, wherein each cylinder engages a portion of a corresponding leg. In an embodiment, the upper hub part and the lower hub part are coaxially aligned and spaced axially apart from one another. In an embodiment, the upper hub part is axially movable relative to the lower hub part. In an embodiment, the upper hub part comprises a plurality of top hub ports, one of each top hub port engaging one of the plurality of cylinders. In an embodiment, the lower hub part comprises a plurality of bottom hub ports, one of each bottom hub port engaging one of the plurality of legs. In an embodiment, casters are attached to an end of each leg to provide selective rolling movement of the chair base over a surface of a floor. In an embodiment, each leg has an inner end rigidly and fixedly secured to the lower hub part at a corresponding bottom hub port. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of legs is covered by a plastic casing.

[006] According to aspects illustrated herein, there is disclosed a chair that includes a column; a seat carrier supported by the column; a seat member articulated to the seat carrier; a hub assembly having a central axis and internally dimensioned to receive the column, the hub assembly comprising an upper annular hub part and a lower annular hub part; a plurality of legs radially extending from the hub assembly; and a plurality of cylinders radially extending from the hub assembly, wherein each cylinder engages a portion of a corresponding leg. In an embodiment, the upper hub part and the lower hub part are coaxially aligned and spaced axially apart from one another. In an embodiment, the upper hub part is axially movable relative to the lower hub part. In an embodiment, the upper hub part comprises a plurality of top hub ports, one of each top hub port engaging one of the plurality of cylinders, and the lower hub part comprises a plurality of bottom hub ports, one of each bottom hub port engaging one of the plurality of legs. In an embodiment a caster is attached to an end of each leg to provide selective rolling movement of the chair base over a surface of a floor. In an embodiment, each leg has an inner end rigidly and fixedly secured to the hub assembly at a corresponding bottom hub port. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of legs is covered by a plastic casing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[007] The presently disclosed embodiments will be further explained with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the presently disclosed embodiments.

[008] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of a chair base of the present invention.

[009] FIG. 2 is a detail view showing a portion of the chair base of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chair base of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 4 is an elevational view illustrating a hub of the chair base of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a photograph illustrating a perspective view of the chair base of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a photograph illustrating a partial perspective view of the chair base of

FIG. 1 (without a column).

[0014] FIGS. 7 A and 7B are perspective and side views, respectively, illustrating a leg member of the chair base of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIGS. 8 A and 8B are bottom and sectional views (taken along Section lines A-

A), respectively, illustrating a leg member of the chair base of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a photograph illustrating an embodiment of a chair base of the present invention.

[0017] FIGS. lOA-lOC are elevational views of the chair base of FIG. 9.

[0018] FIG. 11 is a photograph of the chair base of FIG. 9 with a seat arrangement.

[0019] While the above -identified drawings set forth presently disclosed embodiments, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. This disclosure presents illustrative embodiments by way of representation and not limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] FIG. 1, in conjunction with FIG. 3, illustrates an embodiment of a chair base 100 of the present invention. The chair base 100 includes a column 110, typically employing a height-adjustment mechanism, such as a mechanical lift mechanism or a pneumatic lift cylinder.

The column 110 is sufficiently designed to support a seat carrier (not visible), and a seat member (not visible) can be articulated to the seat carrier. The lower end of the column 110 connects to a hub 120. The hub 120 is internally dimensioned to receive the column 110. A plurality of generally horizontally elongate leg members 130 engage the hub 120 and are disposed in uniformly angularly spaced relationship around and radiating outwardly from the center hub 120. In an embodiment, plastic casings can be positioned over each leg member 130. A corresponding plurality of pneumatic/gas cylinders 135 engage the hub 120 and are disposed in uniformly angularly spaced relationship around and radiating outwardly from the center hub 120. The pneumatic cylinders 135 also engage a portion of each leg member 130. Each of the leg members 130 typically are provided with an opening 140 (see FIG. 7B) of a suitable diameter and depth sized to receive and engage a shaft extending upwardly from a caster 142 or glide so as to provide rolling support for the chair. In an embodiment, the chair base 100 includes five leg members 130 and five pneumatic cylinders 135. FIG. 2 is a detail view showing a portion of FIG. 1. Each pneumatic cylinder 135 includes a first fitting end 132 that engages the hub 120 at a top hub port 122, and a second fitting end 138 that engages the leg member 130 at a first leg port 136. In an embodiment, the fitting ends are hinge eyes. In an embodiment, the fitting ends are ball sockets. In an embodiment, the pneumatic cylinders 135 are single-acting cylinders that use the pressure imparted by compressed air to create a driving force in one direction), and a spring to return to the "home" position. In an embodiment, the pneumatic spring includes a dampener. Although the embodiments described herein discuss the use of pneumatic cylinders it will be appreciated that hydraulic cylinders are also contemplated. In an embodiment, the chair includes hydraulic cylinders having a hydraulic cylinder bushing. In an embodiment, a pneumatic or a hydraulic cylinder of the present invention further includes a shock absorber.

[0021] As a user shifts their body weight to one side while seated on a chair having the chair base 100, the piston rods from the pneumatic cylinders 135 on the opposite side of the chair base 100 will extend while the piston rods from the pneumatic cylinders 135 on the same side will retract, thus the chair base 100 move's with the user. In an embodiment, the spring dampeners provide a smooth gentle motion while in use.

[0022] FIG. 4 is an elevational view illustrating an embodiment of a hub 120 for use with the chair base 100 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the hub 120 is a single annular hub part. The hub 120 includes a plurality of top hub ports 122 sized to accept the first fitting end 132 of the pneumatic cylinders 135. The hub 120 further includes a plurality of bottom hub ports 128 sized to engage a second leg port 134 of the leg members 130. The components can be connected via any known connecting means. FIG. 5 is a photograph illustrating a perspective view of the chair base 100 of FIG. 1. Each leg 130 and the hub 120 can be formed from a wide variety of materials, including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, and wood. FIG. 6 is a photograph illustrating a partial perspective view of the chair base 100 of FIG. 1 (without the column) showing connections between the various parts.

[0023] FIGS. 7 A and 7B are perspective and side views, respectively, illustrating a leg member 130 of the chair base 100 of FIG. 1. FIGS. 8A and 8B are bottom and sectional views (taken along Section lines A-A), respectively, illustrating a leg member 130 of the chair base 100 of FIG. 1. As noted above, each leg member 130 includes a first leg port 136, which engages the second fitting end 138 of a pneumatic cylinder 135, and further each leg member 130 includes a second leg port 134 that engages the hub 120 at a bottom hub port 128.

[0024] FIGS. 9-11 illustrate an embodiment of a chair base 200 of the present invention.

The chair base 200 includes a column 110, typically employing a height-adjustment mechanism, such as a mechanical lift mechanism or a pneumatic lift cylinder. The column 110 is sufficiently designed to support a seat carrier (not visible), and a seat member (not visible) can be articulated to the seat carrier. The lower end of the column 110 connects to a hub assembly 212 consisting of an upper annular hub part 214 and a lower annular hub part 216 that are coaxially aligned and spaced axially from one another. The hub assembly 212 is internally dimensioned to receive the column 110. A plurality of generally horizontally elongate leg members 130 (here illustrated with plastic casings positioned over each leg member 130) engage the lower hub part 216 and are disposed in uniformly angularly spaced relationship around and radiating outwardly from the lower hub part 216. A corresponding plurality of pneumatic/gas cylinders 135 engage the upper hub part 214 and are disposed in uniformly angularly spaced relationship around and radiating outwardly from the upper hub part 214. The pneumatic cylinders 135 also engage a portion of each leg member 130. The upper annular hub port 214 includes a plurality of top hub ports 222 for engaging the first fitting end 132 of the pneumatic cylinders 135. The lower annular hub port 216 includes a plurality of bottom hub ports 228 sized to engage a second leg port 134 of the leg members 130. The components can be connected via any known connecting means. Each of the leg members 130 typically are provided with an opening of a suitable diameter and depth sized to receive and engage a shaft extending upwardly from a caster or glide so as to provide rolling support for the chair. In an embodiment, the chair base 200 includes five leg members 130 and five pneumatic cylinders 135. Each pneumatic cylinder 135 includes a first fitting end 132 that engages the upper hub part 214 and a port, and a second fitting end 138 that engages the leg member 130 at a first leg port 136. In an embodiment, the fitting ends are hinge eyes. In an embodiment, the fitting ends are ball sockets.

[0025] In an embodiment, the pneumatic cylinders are single-acting cylinders that use the pressure imparted by compressed air to create a driving force in one direction), and a spring to return to the "home" position. In an embodiment, the pneumatic spring includes a dampener. Although the embodiments described herein discuss the use of pneumatic cylinders it will be appreciated that hydraulic cylinders are also contemplated. In an embodiment, the chair includes hydraulic cylinders having a hydraulic cylinder bushing. In an embodiment, a pneumatic or a hydraulic cylinder of the present invention further includes a shock absorber. FIGS. lOA-lOC are elevational views of the chair base 200 of FIG. 9 illustrating that the upper hub part 214 can be adjusted axially based on the weight of a user.

[0026] FIG. 11 shows a chair 300 including chair base 200, a seat carrier 310 supported by the column 110 of chair base 200, and a seat member 320 articulated to the seat carrier. As a user shifts their body weight to one side while seated on the chair 300, the piston rods from the pneumatic cylinders 135 on the opposite side of the chair base 200 will extend while the piston rods from the pneumatic cylinders 135 on the same side will retract, thus the chair base 200 move's with the user. In an embodiment, the spring dampeners provide a smooth gentle motion while in use.

[0027] It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A chair base adapted to support a column for a seat comprising: a hub having a central axis; a plurality of legs radially extending from the hub; and a plurality of cylinders radially extending from the hub, wherein each cylinder engages a portion of a corresponding leg.

2. The chair base of claim 1 wherein the hub comprises: a plurality of top hub ports, one of each top hub port engaging one of the plurality of cylinders; and a plurality of bottom hub ports, one of each bottom hub port engaging one of the plurality of legs.

3. The chair base of claim 1 further comprising casters attached to an end of each leg to provide selective rolling movement of the chair base over a surface of a floor.

4. The chair base of claim 1 wherein each leg has an inner end rigidly and fixedly secured to the hub at a corresponding bottom hub port.

5. The chair base of claim 1 wherein the hub is a single annular hub part.

6. The chair base of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of legs is covered by a plastic casing.

7. A chair base adapted to support a column for a seat comprising: a hub assembly having a central axis, the hub assembly comprising an upper annular hub part and a lower annular hub part; a plurality of legs radially extending from the lower annular hub part; and a plurality of cylinders radially extending from the upper annular hub part, wherein each cylinder engages a portion of a corresponding leg.

8. The chair base of claim 7 wherein the upper hub part and the lower hub part are coaxially aligned and spaced axially apart from one another.

9. The chair base of claim 8 wherein the upper hub part is axially movable relative to the lower hub part.

10. The chair base of claim 7 wherein the upper hub part comprises a plurality of top hub ports, one of each top hub port engaging one of the plurality of cylinders.

11. The chair base of claim 7 wherein the lower hub part comprises a plurality of bottom hub ports, one of each bottom hub port engaging one of the plurality of legs.

12. The chair base of claim 7 further comprising casters attached to an end of each leg to provide selective rolling movement of the chair base over a surface of a floor.

13. The chair base of claim 7 wherein each leg has an inner end rigidly and fixedly secured to the lower hub part at a corresponding bottom hub port.

14. The chair base of claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of legs is covered by a plastic casing.

15. A chair comprising : a column; a seat carrier supported by the column; a seat member articulated to the seat carrier; a hub assembly having a central axis and internally dimensioned to receive the column, the hub assembly comprising an upper annular hub part and a lower annular hub part; a plurality of legs radially extending from the hub assembly; and a plurality of cylinders radially extending from the hub assembly, wherein each cylinder engages a portion of a corresponding leg.

16. The chair of claim 15 wherein the upper hub part and the lower hub part are coaxially aligned and spaced axially apart from one another.

17. The chair of claim 15 wherein the upper hub part is axially movable relative to the lower hub part.

18. The chair of claim 15 wherein the upper hub part comprises a plurality of top hub ports, one of each top hub port engaging one of the plurality of cylinders, and wherein the lower hub part comprises a plurality of bottom hub ports, one of each bottom hub port engaging one of the plurality of legs.

19. The chair of claim 15 further comprising casters attached to an end of each leg to provide selective rolling movement of the chair over a surface of a floor.

20. The chair of claim 15 wherein each leg has an inner end rigidly and fixedly secured to the hub assembly at a corresponding bottom hub port.