Lumbar support for a chair

• US 20020190552A1
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hon. Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Phillips, Matthew J., Machael, Jay R., Koepke, Marcus C., Schultz, Craig H., Steffensen, Erik A., Schroeder, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,572,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.7
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/023 connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/06 Special adaptation of seat upholstery or fabric for attachment to tubular chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs

Abstract

A lumbar support for a chair having a flexible back, includes at least one generally vertical support member disposed to the rear of the chair back. A transverse member engages the vertical support and has opposed ends provided with grippers for gripping opposed edges of the flexible back. The transverse member is configured to force the opposed edges of the flexible back forwardly of the chair back in the lumbar region of the user to provide support therefor. The transverse member may also be configured to slide on the vertical support to provide for height adjustability of the lumbar support of the fabric.

Claims

1. A lumbar support assembly for a chair having a flexible back, comprising:

at least one generally vertical support member disposed to the rear of the chair back; and

a transverse member having means to engage said at least one vertical support, said transverse member having opposed ends with gripping means on each end for gripping opposed edges of said flexible back;

wherein said transverse member is configured to force said opposed edges of said flexible back forwardly of said chair back in the lumbar region of the chair user to provide support therefor.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said flexible chair back comprises fabric.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said fabric is of open mesh construction.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said flexible back comprises a fabric member held around its periphery by a carrier member.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said carrier member is semi-rigid and bendable.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said gripping means are slotted to receive edges of said carrier member.

7. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said gripping means is slidable on said carrier member.

8. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said carrier has edges formed with slots therein and said gripping means are received in said slots.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said slots and gripping means are cooperable to provide for selective vertical movement of said gripping means.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one vertical support member and said engaging means of said transverse member include complementary interfitting means permitting relative movement of said transverse member and at least one vertical support.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said interfitting means includes a tongue and groove arrangement.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said engaging means includes a tongue.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said at least one vertical support includes a groove.

14. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said groove is elongate permitting vertical movement of said transverse member relative to said at least one generally vertical support.

15. The assembly of claim 1 including a pair of spaced generally vertical support members.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said transverse member has a pair of engaging means each configured to engage one of said generally vertical supports.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said generally vertical supports and said engaging means include complementary interfitting means permitting relative movement of said transverse member and said vertical supports.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said interfitting means includes a tongue and groove arrangement.

19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein both engaging means include a tongue.

20. The assembly of claim 17 wherein both of said generally vertical support members include grooves.

21. The assembly of claim 18 wherein said grooves are elongate permitting vertical movement of said transverse member relative to said support members.

22. A lumbar support assembly for a chair having a flexible back comprising:

at least one generally vertical support member disposed to the rear of the chair back;

means slidable in a generally vertical direction on said at least one generally vertical support and having opposed ends;

gripping means on each of said opposed ends for slidably gripping opposed edges of said flexible back;

wherein said means slidable on said at least one generally vertical support is dimensioned and configured to force opposed edges of said flexible back forwardly of said chair back in the lumbar region of the chair user and is maintained in a preselected vertical position relative to said support by tension of said chair back.

23. The support assembly of claim 22 wherein said means slidable on said at least one generally vertical support includes a rigid transversely oriented member.

24. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said flexible chair back comprises fabric.

25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein said fabric is of open mesh construction.

26. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said flexible back comprises a fabric member held around its periphery by a carrier member.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein said carrier member is semi-rigid and bendable.

28. The assembly of claim 26 wherein said gripping means are slotted to receive edges of said carrier member.

29. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said means slidable on said at least one generally vertical support is connected to said at least one support by a tongue and groove arrangement.

30. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said at least one support includes an elongate groove.