Seating with comfort surface

• US 20040245840A1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Heidmann, Kurt R., Peterson, Gordon J., Tubergen, Renard G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.63
• 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 1/03238 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 1/03261 characterised by elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03274 of torsion type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03294 slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/04 Clamps for attaching flat elastic strips or flat meandering springs to frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/14 of adjustable shape; elastically mounted ; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261; elastically-mounted back-rests or backrest-seat units in the base frame A47C7/44
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/28 with tensioned springs, e.g. of flat type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/38 for the head adjustable coupled to reclining or easy chairs A47C1/036
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs

Abstract

A chair includes a base, a seat, a back, and a control operably supporting the seat and back on the base for movement between upright and recline positions. The seat and back include a stiff perimeter frame with opposing perimeter sections, and a plurality of rods each independently bendable in vertical and angled directions. End bearings on the rods are captured in pockets in the perimeter frame, which limits their inward and outward sliding movement. The control includes front and rear leaf springs and a pivot arm operably supporting the seat and the back for synchronous movement, with the direction of movement being such that energy is stored during recline. The energy stored during recline assists in providing a heavier person with added counterbalancing force during recline. A booster mechanism is also selectively engageable for added support upon recline.

Claims

1. A seating unit comprising:

a frame adapted to support a seated user, the frame having spaced-apart opposing side sections each with at least one recess therein, and a plurality of resilient support members extending between the opposing side sections, each support member being independently bendable and each further having ends operably slidably positioned in the at least one recess and coupled to the side sections to engage at least an inner end surface of the at least one recess for limited inward sliding movement.

2. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the support members each include a bent wire with a first portion forming the length and a second portion forming the ends.

3. The seating unit defined in claim 2, wherein the first portion includes a linear section of wire rod when in an unstressed condition.

4. The seating unit defined in claim 3, wherein the second portion forming the ends of each support member are L-shaped.

5. The seating unit defined in claim 2, wherein the wire is made of spring steel.

6. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one recess includes individual pockets, the ends being captured in the pockets.

7. The seating unit defined in claim 6, including a cover attached to the frame that covers the pocket sufficiently to non-releasably capture the ends of the support members.

8. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the ends of the support members engage an outer end surface of the at least one recess for limiting outward sliding movement.

9. The seating unit defined in claim 8, wherein the ends of the support members engage the outer end surface and cause pretension resulting in a bowed shape in at least some of the support members.

10. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the support members each form an elongated loop, with the length of the loop comprising a pair of long parallel members, and the ends of the loop being short transverse members.

11. The seating unit defined in claim 1, including a cover attached to each of the side sections that closes the at least one recess and captures the support members therein.

12. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the frame defines a back.

13. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the frame defines a seat.

14. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the support members are separate wires that include a single strand extending between the opposing side sections.

15. The seating unit defined in claim 14, wherein the end of the support members comprise a down-turned bent wire section.

16. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the inner end surface of the at least one recess is angled relative to vertical.

17. The seating unit defined in claim 1, including an angled surface inboard of the at least one recess and forming a down ramp away from the recess.

18. The seating unit defined in claim 1, including a lumbar device adjustably engaging the support members and adapted to support the engaged support members at locations inboard of the inner end surface.

19. The seating unit defined in claim 1, including a lumbar device adjustably positioned on the side sections and adjustably engaging the support members, the lumbar device being movable between a storage position where the lumbar device is in effect and disabled, and movable to a plurality of different use locations.

20. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the frame defines a seat support structure, and including a seat slidably positioned on the seat support structure and that is depth-adjustable.

21. The seating unit defined in claim 20, including a latch for holding the seat in a selected depth-adjusted position.

22. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a seat including a main portion, and under-knee portion, and a flexible portion connecting the under-knee portion with the main portion, and further including resilient springs that span the flexible portion and engage the under-knee portion and the main portion for supporting and adding resiliency to the seat frame across the flexible portion.

23. The seating unit defined in claim 22, wherein the frame includes a pattern of diagonal slots in the flexible portion.

24. The seating unit defined in claim 1, including an upholstered cushion rested on the frame.

25. The seating unit defined in claim 24, wherein the upholstered cushion is removably attached to the frame.

26. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the side sections each include an inner wall having apertures through which the support members extend toward the other side section.

27. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the support members include a resilient rod made of metal.

28. The seating unit defined in claim 27, wherein the support members comprise spring steel.

29. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the support members have a round cross section.

30. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein at least some of the support members include a bearing attached to the ends.

31. The seating unit defined in claim 30, wherein the bearing defines a channel that captures an associated one of the ends.

32. The seating unit defined in claim 31, wherein the channel is shaped to snappingly engage the associated one end.

33. A seating unit comprising:

a frame including spaced-apart side sections each having inner and outer walls; and

a plurality of resiliently-bendable longitudinally-stiff support members with an elongated mid section extending across the frame between the side sections, the support members including ends coupled to the side sections and which engage at least one of the inner and outer walls in a manner limiting inward and outward sliding movement of the ends, and which as a result limit transverse flexing of the elongated mid section of the support members.

34. The seating unit defined in claim 33, including resilient stiffeners positioned in the side sections and capturing the resilient stiffeners.

35. The seating unit defined in claim 33, wherein the support members are separate wires that include a single strand extending between the opposing side sections.

36. The seating unit defined in claim 35, wherein the end of the support members comprise a down-turned bent wire section.

37. The seating unit defined in claim 33, wherein the inner end surface of the at least one recess is angled relative to vertical.

38. The seating unit defined in claim 33, including an angled surface inboard of the at least one recess and forming a down ramp away from the recess.

39. The seating unit defined in claim 33, including an upholstered cushion rested on the frame.

92. The seating unit defined in claim 33, wherein the ends of the support members are configured to engage both the inner walls and the outer walls of the side sections to limit inward and outward sliding movement of the ends during substantial bending of the support members.

40. A seating unit comprising:

a base;

a seat operably supported by the base;

the seat including a frame adapted to support a seated user, the frame including opposing side sections, the seat further including resiliently-bendable longitudinally-stiff support members extending between the side sections;

the side sections each including front and rear portions defining a flex point therebetween that is adapted to permit a front portion of the side sections to flex downwardly to relieve pressure under a seated user'"'"'s knees and thighs, and each further including resilient support springs that extend between the front and rear portions to support and stiffen the side sections at the flex point.

41. The seating unit defined in claim 40, wherein the front portion is supported in cantilever off of the rear portion.

42. The seating unit defined in claim 40, wherein the seat further includes a seat support structure on the base, the frame being slidably supported on the seat support structure for depth adjustment.

43. Canceled.

44. Canceled.

45. Canceled.

46. Canceled.

47. Canceled.

48. Canceled.

49. Canceled.

50. A seating unit comprising:

a frame adapted to support a seated user, the frame having opposing side sections each with a plurality of recesses therein, and a plurality of resilient elongated support members extending between the opposing side sections;

each support member being independently bendable and each further having configured ends operably slidably positioned in the recesses and coupled to the side sections for limited sliding movement in the recesses.

51. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the support members each include a bent wire with a first portion forming the length and a second portion forming the ends.

52. The seating unit defined in claim 51, wherein the first portion includes a linear section of wire rod when in an unstressed condition.

53. The seating unit defined in claim 52, wherein the second portion forming the ends of each support member are L-shaped.

54. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the support members comprise wires made of spring steel.

55. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the at least one recess includes individual pockets, the ends being captured in the pockets.

56. The seating unit defined in claim 55, including a cover attached to the frame that covers the pocket sufficiently to non-releasably capture the ends of the support members.

57. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the ends of the support members engage the outer end surface and cause pretension resulting in a bowed shape in at least some of the support members.

58. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the support members each form an elongated loop, with the length of the loop comprising a pair of long parallel members, and the ends of the loop being short transverse members.

59. The seating unit defined in claim 50, including a cover attached to each of the side sections that closes the at least one recess and captures the support members therein.

60. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the frame defines a back.

61. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the frame defines a seat.

62. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the support members are separate wires that include a single strand extending between the opposing side sections.

63. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the inner end surface of the at least one recess is angled relative to vertical.

64. The seating unit defined in claim 50, including an angled surface inboard of the at least one recess and forming a down ramp away from the recess.

65. The seating unit defined in claim 50, including a lumbar device adjustably engaging the support members and adapted to support the engaged support members at locations inboard of the inner end surface.

66. The seating unit defined in claim 65, including a lumbar device adjustably positioned on the side sections and adjustably engaging the support members, the lumbar device being movable between a storage position where the lumbar device is in effect and disabled, and movable to a plurality of different use locations.

67. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the frame comprises a seat including a main portion, and under-knee portion, and a flexible portion connecting the under-knee portion with the main portion, and further including resilient springs that span the flexible portion and engage the under-knee portion and the main portion for supporting and adding resiliency to the seat frame across the flexible portion.

68. The seating unit defined in claim 67, wherein the frame includes a pattern of diagonal slots in the flexible portion.

69. The seating unit defined in claim 50, including an upholstered cushion rested on the frame.

70. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the support members comprise spring steel.

71. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the support members have a round cross section.

72. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein at least some of the support members include a bearing attached to the ends.

73. The seating unit defined in claim 50, including a flexible sheet covering the side sections and wires.

74. The seating unit defined in claim 73, including a cushion under the sheet.

93. The seating unit defined in claim 50, wherein the configured ends are L-shaped.

75. A seating unit comprising:

a frame adapted to support a seated user, the frame having opposing side frame sections;

a plurality of resilient wires extending between the side frame sections, each wire being having a length that is independently bendable; and

means for supporting the wires for limited sliding movement when the wires are resiliently bent.

76. The seating unit defined in claim 75, wherein the means for supporting the wires includes L-shaped ends formed integrally on the wires.

77. The seating unit defined in claim 75, including a flexible sheet covering the side frame sections and wires.

78. The seating unit defined in claim 77, including a cushion under the sheet.

79. The seating unit defined in claim 75, wherein the means for supporting the wires includes a hinge.

80. The seating unit defined in claim 79, wherein the side frame sections each include a first inner wall, a second inner wall, with the hinge connecting the first and second inner walls, and further including multiple strips extending between the second inner walls of the opposing side frame sections, the strips each including a channel for receiving the wires.

81. The seating unit defined in claim 80, wherein the hinge is located below a top face of the side frame sections.

82. The seating unit defined in claim 81, wherein the hinge is integrally molded as part of the side frame sections.

83. A seating unit comprising:

a seat frame adapted to support a seated user, the seat frame having a main section and a front section connected by a flexible section, the front and flexible sections being shaped and adapted to comfortably support a seated user'"'"'s thighs and knees; and

springs elongated in a fore/aft direction and extending across the flexible section and partially into each of the main and front sections for providing resilient support to the front section.

84. The seating unit defined in claim 83, wherein the flexible section includes a plurality of slots that selectively weaken the flexible section for controlled flexure.

85. The seating unit defined in claim 84, wherein at least half of the slots extend diagonally.

86. The seating unit defined in claim 83, wherein the plurality of slots form a pattern of at least two rows extending transversely, with each row including at least five slots.

87. The seating unit defined in claim 83, wherein the springs are embedded in the seat frame.

88. The seating unit defined in claim 83, wherein the springs comprise plastic molded components.

89. The seating unit defined in claim 83, wherein the springs comprise elongated flat plate springs.

90. The seating unit defined in claim 83, including a cushion positioned on the seat frame.

91. A seating unit comprising:

a frame adapted to support a seated user, the frame having spaced-apart opposing side sections with at least one recess therein, and a plurality of resilient support members extending between the opposing side sections, each support member being bendable and each further having at least one end operably slidably positioned in the at least one recess and coupled to the side sections to engage at least an inner end surface of the at least one recess for limited sliding movement.