Chair and chair control assemblies, systems, and methods

• US 10,455,940 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Machael, Jay R., Lindorfer, Matthew R., Heitman, Brandt M., Hahn, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Brindley, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US15/982,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20190021501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03233 by means of a rack-and-pinion or like gearing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03238 by means of peg-and-notch or pawl-and-ratchet mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03294 slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/20 Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats tables with variable height A47B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs

Abstract

Chairs, seating systems, chair sub-assemblies and sub-systems, and associated methods of assembly and use. Aspects relate to chairs and methods of assembling chairs including chair controls of a relatively compact and effective design with desirable synchronous raising and tilting motions. Aspects also relate to tilt lock assemblies for achieving secure and effective tilt securement. Additional aspects relate to forward and rearward adjustment, or extension and retraction, of a seating assembly of the chair.

Claims

1. A method of actuating a chair control assembly of a chair, the chair control assembly including a seat support, a link arm, and a control body, the method comprising

rotating a body of the link arm in a first direction about a first pivot which causes a pivot link of the link arm to rotate in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction about a second pivot;

in response to rotating the body of the link arm in the first direction, moving front riders and rear riders slidably coupled to the seat support and the control body upwardly and rearwardly in front channels and rear channels; and

in response to moving the front and rear riders upwardly and rearwardly in the front and rear channels, moving a seat mount of the seat support upwardly and rearwardly from a first lowered support position to a second raised support position such that a front of the seat mount is raised to a relatively greater extent than a rear of the seat mount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein as the seat mount is moved upwardly and rearwardly to the second raised support position, there is both a tilting motion, with the front of the seat support being tilted at an angle, and an upward and rearward motion of the seat mount upon rotation of the body of the link arm in the first direction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a direction in which both the front channels extend are angularly offset from a direction in which both the rear channels extend.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the chair is configured such that when the chair is supported on a horizontal surface, the front channels extend along a direction that is at an angle from about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the chair is configured such that when the chair is supported on a horizontal surface, the rear channels extend along a directions that is at an angle from about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the front channels are angularly offset from the rear channels by an absolute angle of from about 0 degrees to about 25 degrees.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating a body of the link arm in a first direction includes pressing rearwardly on a back of the chair.

8. A method of assembling a chair, the method comprising:

assembling a chair control assembly, the chair control assembly comprising a seat support, a link arm, and a control body; and

coupling the chair control assembly to a back and a base of the chair such that rotating a body of the link arm in a first direction about a first pivot which causes a pivot link of the link arm to rotate in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction about a second pivot;

wherein rotation of the body of the link arm in the first direction causes front riders and the rear riders slidably coupled to the seat support and the control body to move upwardly and rearwardly in front channels and rear channels causing a seat mount of the seat support to move upwardly and rearwardly from a first lowered support position to a second raised support position such that a front of the seat mount is raised to a relatively greater extent than a rear of the seat mount.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein as the seat mount is moved upwardly and rearwardly to the second raised support position, there is both a tilting motion, with the front of the seat support being tilted at an angle, and an upward and rearward motion of the seat mount upon rotation of the body of the link arm in the first direction.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a direction in which both the front channels extend are angularly offset from a direction in which both the rear channels extend.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the chair is configured such that when the chair is supported on a horizontal surface, the front channels extend along a direction that is at an angle from about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the chair is configured such that when the chair is supported on a horizontal surface, the rear channels extend along a directions that is at an angle from about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the front channels are angularly offset from the rear channels by an absolute angle of from about 0 degrees to about 25 degrees.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the chair is assembled such that rotating a body of the link arm in a first direction is accomplished by pressing rearwardly on the back of the chair.