Chair with a linkage assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tiltable chair comprising:
- a base member;
a seat;
a back; and
a linkage assembly connecting the seat and back to the base member, said linkage assembly adapted to allow the seat and back to tilt downwardly and rearwardly and to allow pivotal movement of the seat about a pivot axis substantially in alignment with the hip joints of a user to reduce shear forces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A chair includes a control housing, a seat and a back support including an upwardly extending upright portion and a link portion extending forwardly from a lower portion of the upright portion. The link portion is pivotally connected to the control housing about a first pivot axis. The seat is connected to the link portion and is pivotable relative thereto. A linkage is coupled to the seat and is pivotally connected to the control housing at a second pivot axis positioned rearwardly and downwardly from the first pivot axis.
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Citations
128 Claims
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1. A tiltable chair comprising:
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a base member;
a seat;
a back; and
a linkage assembly connecting the seat and back to the base member, said linkage assembly adapted to allow the seat and back to tilt downwardly and rearwardly and to allow pivotal movement of the seat about a pivot axis substantially in alignment with the hip joints of a user to reduce shear forces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A tiltable chair comprising:
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a base member;
a seat;
a back; and
a linkage assembly between the base member, seat and back, said linkage assembly adapted to allow the seat and back to tilt downwardly and rearwardly such that the seat pivots about an effective pivot point at substantially the ankles of a user having feet resting on a floor, said linkage assembly also adapted to allow one of the back and the seat to tilt relative to the other about a pivot axis in substantial alignment with the hip joints of a user such that the angle between the back and seat increases as the seat and back pivot rearwardly about the ankle of a user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A tiltable chair comprising:
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a base member;
a seat having front, rear and lateral edge portions;
a back;
a pair of first links having an end pivotally attached to the lateral portions of the seat in alignment with a pivot axis at substantially the hip joint of a user;
a pair of second links having a first section fixedly connected to the first links and the back and a second section angled downwardly from the fist section, said second section terminating in an end pivotally mounted to a forward portion of the base member; and
a pair of restraining links having one end pivotally attached to a rear portion of the seat and another end pivotally attached to the base member to limit tilting of the seat;
whereby the first links, second links, and restraining links create an effective pivot point of the seat at substantially the ankles of a user having feet resting on a floor and the seat pivots about the hip axis of a user to increase the angle therebetween as the back and seat tilt rearwardly. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A tiltable chair comprising:
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a seat having a membrane of elastic material pre-stretched across a central opening in a frame member to provide a support which conforms to the body of a user when the chair is in any tilt position;
a back having a membrane of elastic material pre-stretched across a central opening in a frame member to provide a support which conforms to the body of a user when the chair is in any tilt position, said frame member having a bowed section to support the lumbar region of a back of a user a height adjustable brace member positioned horizontally across the back at approximately the lumbar region of a back of a user, said brace member being adjustable to provide a desired pressure against the membrane to support the back of the user;
a pair of height adjustable armrests adapted to tilt with the back such that the angle therebetween remains constant during tilting, said armrests also adapted to laterally pivot in a plane substantially perpendicular to the back about axes adjacent side edge portions of the back, said axes being positioned for approximate alignment with the elbows of a user having forearms resting on the armrests; and
a linkage assembly adapted to allow the seat and back to tilt downwardly and rearwardly such that the seat pivots about an effective pivot point at substantially the ankle of a user having feet resting on a floor, said linkage assembly also adapted to allow pivotal movement of the seat about a pivot axis at substantially the hip joints of a user such that the angle between the back and a horizontal plane increases at a greater rate than the angle between the seat and a horizontal plane as a user pivots the back and seat, said pivotal movement of the back relative to the seat automatically moving the bowed section of the frame in a generally vertical direction to accommodate the changing position of the lumbar region of the user.
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37. A vertically adjustable column for supporting the seat of a chair, the column comprising:
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an outer guide tube mounted to a support stand;
an intermediate telescoping tube slidably positioned within the outer guide tube;
an inner telescoping tube slidably positioned within the intermediate tube and having an upper portion thereof connected to a seat support member; and
a gas spring including a cylinder mounted within the inner tube, a piston rod extending outwardly from the cylinder in an axial direction and having an end connected to a bottom portion of the outer guide member, and a control pin assembly mounted to an upper portion of the cylinder for operable engagement with an actuator member, said piston rod being extensible between a collapsed position in which the cylinder and inner tube are substantially within the intermediate tube and the intermediate tube is substantially within the outer guide tube, and a raised position in which a portion of the cylinder and inner tube extend outwardly from the intermediate tube and a portion of the intermediate tube extends outwardly from the outer guide tube. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A vertically adjustable column for supporting a chair, the column comprising:
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an outer guide tube mounted to a support stand and having a collar mounted to a top portion thereof, the inner diameter of said collar being smaller than the inner diameter of the outer guide tube;
an intermediate telescoping tube slidably positioned within the outer guide tube, said intermediate tube having an interior shoulder and an exterior shoulder, the exterior shoulder bearing against the collar of the outer tube to limit the upward travel of the intermediate tube;
an inner telescoping tube slidably positioned within the intermediate tube and having an upper portion thereof connected to a seat support member, said inner tube having a collar mounted to a bottom portion thereof which bears against the interior shoulder of the intermediate tube to limit the upward travel of the inner tube; and
a gas spring including a cylinder mounted within the inner tube, a piston rod extending outwardly from the cylinder in an axial direction and having an end connected to a bottom portion of the outer guide member, and a control pin assembly mounted to an upper portion of the cylinder for operable engagement with an actuator member, said piston rod being extensible between a collapsed position in which the cylinder and inner tube are substantially within the intermediate tube and the intermediate tube is substantially within the outer guide tube, and a raised position in which a portion of the cylinder and inner tube extend outwardly from the intermediate tube and a portion of the intermediate tube extends outwardly from the outer guide tube. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 52, 53)
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51. A vertically adjustable column for supporting a chair, the column comprising:
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an outer tube mounted to a support stand and having a bushing attached to a top portion thereof, the inner diameter of said bushing being smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube;
an intermediate telescoping tube slidably positioned within the outer tube and being radially spaced therefrom, said intermediate tube having a lower bushing mounted to a lower portion thereof and an upper bushing mounted to an upper portion thereof, said outer tube bushing slidably bearing against the intermediate tube and said lower bushing of the intermediate tube slidably bearing against the outer tube;
a first spacer positioned between the outer tube and intermediate tube and the outer tube bushing and intermediate tube lower bushing, whereby the first spacer bears against said bushings to limit upward travel of the intermediate tube within the outer tube;
an inner telescoping tube positioned within the intermediate tube and being radially spaced therefrom said inner tube having a bushing mounted to a lower portion thereof and a seat support member connected to an upper portion thereof, said inner tube bushing slidably bearing against the intermediate tube and said upper bushing of the intermediate tube slidably bearing against the inner tube;
a second spacer positioned between the inner tube and intermediate tube and the intermediate tube upper bushing and inner tube bushing, whereby the second spacer bears against the inner tube bushing and intermediate tube upper bushing to limit upward travel of the inner tube within the intermediate tube; and
a gas spring including a cylinder mounted within the inner tube, a piston rod extending outwardly from the cylinder in an axial direction and having an end connected to a bottom portion of the outer guide member, and a control pin assembly mounted to an upper portion of the cylinder for operable engagement with an actuator member, said piston rod being extensible between a collapsed position in which the cylinder and inner tube are substantially within the intermediate tube and the intermediate tube is substantially within the outer guide tube, and a raised position in which a portion of the cylinder and inner tube extend outwardly from the intermediate tube and a portion of the intermediate tube extends outwardly from the outer guide tube.
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54. A chair comprising:
a pair of armrests adapted to be mounted to the chair to allow pivotal movement in a lateral direction to accommodate the angle at which the forearms of a user are positioned on the armrests. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A chair comprising:
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a back frame including side members having a plurality of vertically aligned teeth extending outward therefrom;
a seat carrier member connected to the back frame and having a pair of vertically extending sleeve members adapted to mate with the side members of the back frame, said sleeve members having a vertical slot therein;
a pair of support arms slidably attached to the seat carrier sleeve members, said support arms having a pawl pivotally mounted thereto which extends through the slot in the seat carrier and is biased in a direction toward the back frame for engagement with the teeth, whereby a user pivots the pawl out of engagement with the teeth to move the support arm in a generally vertical direction and releases the pawl to lock the support arm at a desired height; and
a pair of armrests pivotally mounted to the support arms, each support arm having a detent member in operable engagement with an irregular surface of the armrests, said detent members being biased in a direction toward said irregular surfaces to lock the armrests in a desired position.
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61. A support assembly for supporting the body of a user in a chair, the support assembly comprising:
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a frame member having an central opening therethrough and a channel formed around the perimeter thereof;
a carrier member adapted to fit inside the channel; and
a membrane of elastic material covering the central opening and adapted to be attached to the carrier member. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A support assembly for supporting the body of a user in a chair, the support assembly comprising:
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a frame member having an central opening therethrough and a channel formed around the perimeter thereof;
a one-piece deformable carrier member adapted to fit inside the channel; and
a membrane of elastic material covering the central opening, said membrane having an edge portion attached to the carrier member and said carrier member being expanded a desired amount prior insertion into the channel to pre-stretch said membrane a desired amount. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A support assembly for supporting the body of a user in a chair, the support assembly comprising:
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a frame member having an central opening therethrough and a channel formed around the perimeter thereof, the channel including a groove formed in a top surface of the frame member and a plurality of spaced apart slots extending through the frame member from a bottom wall of the groove;
a carrier member having a rim portion substantially the same size and shape as the groove and a plurality of spaced apart tabs extending downwardly from the rim portion, said tabs having a hook portion extending outwardly from a lower end thereof and the slots being of sufficient size to receive the tabs, the rim portion fitting in the groove and the tabs extending through the slots such that the hook portion thereof engages an underside of the frame member to secure the carrier member thereto; and
a membrane of elastic material having an edge portion adapted to be attached to the carrier member such that said membrane covers the central opening. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81)
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82. An exposed fabric having a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user in a chair, the fabric comprising:
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a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and
a plurality of monofilaments arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pairs of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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91. An exposed fabric having a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user in a chair, the fabric comprising:
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a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn oriented in a longitudinal filling direction of a frame member of the chair, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and
a plurality of elastomeric monofilaments prestretched in a lateral warp direction of the frame member and arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pairs of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. An exposed fabric for supporting the body of a user in a chair, the fabric comprising:
a plurality of generally parallel monofilaments having a greater width than thickness to increase the surface area in contact with a user sitting on the fabric and provide an attractive appearance of the fabric. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100)
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101. An apparatus for controlling the tilt range of a chair and the resistance to tilting of the chair, compising:
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an elastomeric torsion spring mounted to an axle;
a tilt rate adjustment mechanism including an outer sleeve member mounted to the spring, a screw-having an axis positioned generally tangentially relative to the sleeve member, a block member threadably attached to the screw, an arm extending radially outward from the sleeve and operably engaging the block member, a first gear attached to one end of the screw, and a second gear meshing with the first gear, whereby said second gear is actuated to rotate the first gear and screw, thus moving the block member in a linear direction along the axis of the screw to move the arm a desired radial amount and adjust the initial return torque of the spring;
a forward tilt limiter mechanism including an arm extending outwardly from the axle, said arm being operably engageable with a pivot member which is rotatable between a forward tilt position and a standard tilt position; and
a rearward tilt limiter mechanism including an arm extending outwardly from the axle, said arm being operably engageable with a cam member which is rotatable to a desired maximum rearward tilting position.
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102. A chair comprising:
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a control housing;
a seat;
a back support comprising an upwardly extending upright portion and a link portion extending forwardly from a lower portion of said upright portion, wherein said link portion is pivotally connected to said control housing about a first pivot axis, and wherein said seat is connected to said link portion and is pivotable relative thereto; and
a linkage coupled to said seat and pivotally connected to said control housing at a second pivot axis positioned rearwardly and downwardly from said first pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116)
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117. A chair comprising:
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a control housing;
a seat comprising a frame having a pair of side frame elements;
a back support comprising a pair of link portions pivotally connected to said control housing about a first pivot axis, wherein said side frames elements of said seat are connected respectively to said link portions and are pivotable about a second pivot axis positioned rearwardly of said first pivot axis; and
a pair of link members coupled to said frame and pivotally coupled to said control housing about a third pivot axis positioned rearwardly and downwardly from said first pivot axis, wherein each of said link members extends upwardly and rearwardly from said third pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128)
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Specification