Back support

• US 10,264,890 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2016
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millerknoll Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Inventors: Aldrich, John F., Walker, Brock, Hornor, Thomas, Chadwick, Don, Koffman, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Islam, Syed A
• Application Number:
  US15/197,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20160374475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 2972843, 2972844, 2972847, 2972848
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/462 adjustable by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/666 vertically adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6671 with cable actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6673 with motor driven adjustments

Abstract

A back support structure includes a frame, a support, a fulcrum member, and an adjustment mechanism. The support includes an upright member having a lower end and an upper end. The lower end of the upright member is connected to the frame at a first location. A support pad is connected to the upper end of the upright member. The fulcrum member has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is connected to the frame at a second location spaced vertically above the first location. The fulcrum member includes a fulcrum engaging the upright member between the upper and lower ends. The fulcrum member is moveable between a plurality of fulcrum positions. The adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment member connected to the frame and the lower portion of the fulcrum member. The adjustment member is adjustable to move the fulcrum member to the plurality of fulcrum positions.

Claims

1. A back support structure comprising:

a frame;

a support comprising an upright member having a lower end and a upper end, the lower end of the upright member connected to the frame at a first location, and a support pad connected to the upper end of the upright member;

a fulcrum member having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion connected to the frame at a second location spaced vertically above the first location, the fulcrum member comprising a fulcrum engaging the upright member between the upper and lower ends, wherein the fulcrum member is moveable between a plurality of fulcrum positions; and

an adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment member connected to the frame and the lower portion of the fulcrum member, wherein the adjustment member is adjustable so as to move the fulcrum member to the plurality of fulcrum positions.

2. The back support structure of claim 1, wherein the upright member is pivotally connected to the frame at the first location.

3. The back support structure of claim 1, wherein the support pad comprises a first support pad, and the support further comprises a second support pad connected to the upright member below the first support pad.

4. The back support structure of claim 3, wherein said upright member comprises a first beam and a second beam, and the first support pad is pivotally connected to the first beam and the second support pad is pivotally connected to the second beam.

5. The back support member of claim 1, wherein the adjustment member comprises a flexible tether and the adjustment mechanism varies a length of the flexible tether extending between the frame and the lower portion of the fulcrum member.

6. The back support member of claim 1, wherein the adjustment member comprises a strap having a plurality of gear teeth, and the adjustment mechanism comprises a gear meshing with the gear teeth of the strap.

7. The back support member of claim 6, wherein said gear comprises a worm gear, and the adjustment mechanism further comprises a driven gear coupled to the worm gear, a drive gear meshing with the driven gear, and a grippable member coupled to the drive gear, wherein the grippable member and the drive gear are rotatable about a first axis, and wherein the driven gear and the worm gear are rotatable about a second axis in response to rotation of the grippable member and the drive gear about the first axis.

8. The back support member of claim 7, wherein the worm gear, the drive gear, the driven gear, and the plurality of gear teeth are positioned inside the fulcrum member.

9. A back support comprising:

a frame;

a stem having a lower portion connected to the frame and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion is moveable with respect to the lower portion;

a first support pad pivotally connected to the upper portion of the stem;

a second support pad pivotally connected to the stem between the upper portion and the lower portion;

a yoke connected to the frame and having a protrusion engaging the stem, the yoke configured to pivot about a first axis; and

an adjustment mechanism configured to pivot the yoke about the first axis.

10. The back support of claim 9, wherein the stem includes a first beam and a second beam, and the first support pad is pivotally connected to the first beam and the second support pad is pivotally connected to the second beam.

11. The back support of claim 10, wherein the first and second beams are pivot together about the lower portion of the stem, and the first beam is independently flexible of the second beam.

12. The back support of claim 9, wherein the first support pad is pivoted independently of the second support pad.

13. The back support of claim 12, wherein the first support pad includes a first axle, the second support pad includes a second axle, and the stem includes a first hinge socket receiving the first axle and a second hinge socket receiving the second axle.

14. The back support of claim 9, wherein the protrusion includes an opening and a plunger assembly extends at least partially through the opening to engage the second support pad.

15. The back support of claim 14, wherein the plunger assembly includes a pin and a biasing member biasing the pin toward the second support pad.

16. The back support of claim 9, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a strap having a first end connected to the frame and a second end connected to the yoke.

17. The back support of claim 16, wherein the first end of the strap includes an axle and the lower portion of the stem includes a hinge socket receiving the axle to pivotally connect the stem to the strap.

18. The back support of claim 16, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a gear mechanism positioned in the yoke for adjusting a length of the strap between the yoke and the frame.

19. A method for adjusting a back support structure comprising:

pivotably supporting an upright member about a first axis;

pivotably supporting a fulcrum member about a second axis, wherein the second axis is spaced apart from the first axis;

engaging the upright member with the fulcrum member between the first and second axes;

translating a strap attached to the fulcrum member;

pivoting the fulcrum member about the second axis in response to translating the strap; and

pivoting the upright member about the first axis in response to pivoting of the fulcrum member.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein translating the strap comprises rotating a gear engaged with the strap.