Seat, in particular an office chair

• US 10,111,525 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Haworth Incorporated
• Inventors: Sander, Armin, Potrykus, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Allred, David E
• Application Number:
  US15/715,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20180014646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/02 Reclining or easy chairs supports for parts of body A47C7/36, A47C7/50, A47C7/54
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/023 the parts being horizontally-adjustable seats ; Expandable seats or the like, e.g. seats with horizontally adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/006 with castors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/02 Seat parts adaptation of seats to mounting in tubular chairs A47C5/06; such parts not restricted to chairs A47C23/00; removable upholstered units or cushions A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/445 with bar or leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/54 Supports for the arms

Abstract

The invention relates to a seat (1), in particular an office chair, comprising a seat support (3) for a seating surface (6) and comprising a backrest support (4) of a backrest (5), which is held on the seat support (3) so as to be able to move in a tiltable manner to the side, wherein the backrest support (4) comprises two support aims (4a, 4b) which are configured to be flexible and/or articulated laterally and spaced apart from one another. Preferably, the seating surface (6) and/or the backrest (5) comprises a curved seat shell and/or backrest shell (6a, 5a) provided with a cover (6b, 5b) with a number of flexible curved ribs (15, 16) on the edge of the shell, wherein the cover is stretched by the seat shell and/or backrest shell (6a, 5a) such that when the cover (6b, 5b) is loaded, the bending of the curved ribs (15, 16) is altered.

Claims

1. A seat, in particular an office chair, comprising:

a seat support for a seating surface;

a backrest support coupled with the seat support, the backrest support comprising two support arms having upper ends connected by a connecting element, the support arms and connecting element defining a central opening;

a backrest cover; and

a flexible shell extending outwardly from the support arms and the connecting element, the flexible shell defining at least a right peripheral side, a left peripheral side, and a top peripheral side, which collectively define a peripheral edge, the flexible shell extending from the support arms and the connecting element in the direction of the seat support, such that the peripheral edge is spaced forwardly from the backrest support in a direction adapted to engage or at least partially surround a user sitting in the seat;

wherein the backrest cover is supported on the peripheral edge of the shell, the backrest cover extending in the manner of a secant relative to the shell, wherein when the cover is loaded in a direction toward the flexible shell, a bending of at least a portion of the flexible shell is altered and at least one of the lateral sides of the shell bends toward the seating surface.

2. The office chair of claim 1 wherein the flexible shell is curved and extends at least partially between each of the two support arms and the backrest cover, the flexible curved shell extending convexly as viewed from a rear such that the shell forms a concave forward surface of the backrest shell toward the seating surface.

3. The office chair of claim 2 wherein the backrest support is coupled with the seat support so as to be able to move relative to the seat support.

4. The office chair of claim 3 wherein the support arms are connected at a lower end by a lower connecting element, and wherein the connecting element and the lower connecting element each extend in a horizontal direction, the support arms, connecting element and lower connecting element collectively defining a trapezoidal shape.