Support assembly for a seating device

• US 20050253441A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neutral Posture Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neutral Posture Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Larry, Smith, Christopher A., Benden, Mark E., Congleton, Jerome J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,036,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/423.250
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/52 of detachable type

Abstract

An adjustable support assembly is described for use with any prior art seating device having a post and a plurality of substantially horizontal legs. In some embodiments, the support assembly has a support with at least two voids for mounting to the post of the seating device, and at least one leg. The outer perimeter of the support is moveable outwardly with respect to the post of the seating device via selective engagement with one of the voids. Further, the attachment of the legs to the support provides a way to selectively lock the support to prevent rotation of the support about the post. A method of adjusting the support is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An adjustable support assembly attachable to a center post of a seating device having a plurality of substantially horizontal legs, the adjustable support assembly comprising:

a substantially triangular support having a first void and a second void therethrough, the support having an apex and an outer perimeter, a slot providing communication from the apex through the first void to the second void; and

a pair of support legs adapted to be attachable to an underside of the support, the first void selectively engaging the post to define a first position of the support, the second void being located between the first void and the outer perimeter, the second void engaging the post to define a second position of the support,

such that the perimeter moves outwardly from the post when the support is moved from second position to the first position, in which the pair of support legs is selectively attachable to the underside of the support at a pair of first leg sockets at a first location or a second pair of leg sockets at a second location, the second location being positioned between the first leg socket and the outer perimeter of the support, in which the pair of support legs is adapted to straddle one of the substantially horizontal legs of the seating device when the pair of support legs is attached to the first pair of leg sockets, thus substantially preventing rotation of the support about the post, the support being rotatable about the post when the pair of support legs is attached to the second pair of leg sockets.

2. A support assembly attachable to a center post of a seating device having a plurality of substantially horizontal legs, the support assembly comprising:

a support having a first void and a second void therethrough, the support having an end and an outer perimeter; and

at least one support leg adapted to be attachable to the support, the first void selectively engaging the post to define a first position of the support, the second void being located between the first void and the outer perimeter, the second void engaging the post to define a second position of the support, such that the perimeter moves outwardly from the post when the support is moved from second position to the first position.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the support is substantially triangular and the end comprises an apex, and the first void substantially at the apex.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a slot in the apex adapted to selectively engage a neck on the post, the slot also providing communication through the voids.

5. The assembly of claim 4 in which the at least one support leg is selectively attachable to an underside of the support at a first location or a second location, the second location being positioned between a first leg socket and the outer perimeter of the support.

6. The assembly of claim 5 in which the first location comprises the first leg socket and the second location comprises a second leg socket.

7. The assembly of claim 6 further comprising an intermediate position defined by the leg engaging an intermediate leg socket located between the first and second leg socket.

8. The assembly of claim 7 in which the support leg is adapted to interfere with one of the substantially horizontal legs of the seating device when the support leg is attached to the first leg socket, thus substantially preventing rotation of the support about the post.

9. The assembly of claim 8 in which the support is rotatable about the post when the support leg is attached to the support at the second leg socket.

10. The assembly of claim 9 in which the support and the leg are each comprised of a material selected from the group of wood, aluminum or plastic.

11. The assembly of claim 2 in which the at least one support legs further comprises a pair of support legs, a first location comprising a first pair of leg sockets each equidistant from the post, and a second location comprising a second pair of leg sockets each equidistant from the post, wherein the support legs are adapted to straddle one of the substantially horizontal legs of the seating device when the support legs are attached to the first leg sockets, thus substantially hampering rotation of the support about the post, the support being rotatable about the post when the pair of support legs engages the pair of second leg sockets.

12. The assembly of claim 2 further comprising a second support assembly having a second support having a first void and a second void therethrough, the second support having an end and an outer perimeter;

and

at least one support leg adapted to be attachable to the second support, the first void selectively engaging the post to define a first position of the second support, the second void being located between the first void and the outer perimeter, the second void engaging the post to define a second position of the second support, such that the perimeter moves outwardly from the post when the support is moved from second position to the first position,

wherein the support leg of the first support assembly and the support leg of the second support assembly have dissimilar lengths thus providing a step arrangement for the seating device.

13. The assembly of claim 2 in which the length of the at least one leg is selected from the group of six inches, nine inches, or twelve inches.

14. The assembly of claim 2 in which the support comprises radial traction grooves.

15. The assembly of claim 14 in which the integral support leg comprises at least one notch adapted to engage at least one substantially horizontal leg of the seating device.

16. The assembly of claim 14 further comprising a second support assembly having a second support with a second integral leg, the first support and the second support being parallel.

17. The assembly of claim 16 in which the first integral leg and second integral leg each comprise at least one notch adapted to selectively mate with one of the substantially horizontal legs of the seating device.

18. The assembly of claim 17 in which a length of first integral leg and a length of the second integral leg are dissimilar.

19. The assembly of claim 18 in which the first and second support assemblies are stackable, when each notch of each integral leg engages the same substantially horizontal leg of the seating device.

20. The assembly of claim 18 in which the first and second support assemblies form a stair step in combination when the first leg and the second leg engage different substantially horizontal legs of the seating device.

21. The assembly of claim 2 in which the at least one leg is telescopic having an adjustable length.

35. The assembly of claim 2 in which the support comprises tread surfaces.

36. The assembly of claim 2 in which the at least one support leg is integral with the support.

22. (canceled)

23. The support assembly of claim 22 in which the support leg is adapted to substantially interfere with at least one substantially horizontal leg of the seating device when the support leg is connected to the support at the first location.

24. The support assembly of claim 23 in which the at least one support leg is selectively attachable to an underside of the support, the first location being a first leg socket adapted to selectively engage the leg, the second location being a second leg socket adapted to selectively engage the support leg.

25. The support assembly of claim 24 in which the support comprises a first void and a second void therethrough, the support being substantially triangular having an apex, wherein the first void selectively engages the post to define a first position of the support, the second void being located between the first void and the outer perimeter, the second void engaging the post to define a second position of the support,

such that the perimeter moves outwardly from the post when the support is moved from second position to the first position.

26. The support assembly of claim 23 in which the at least one support leg comprises a pair of support legs and the second location is defined by a pair of support leg sockets such that the pair of support legs are adapted to straddle one of the substantially horizontal legs of the seating device when the support is in the second position.

27. The support assembly of claim 23, in which the at least one leg is integral to the support.

28. The support assembly of claim 23, further comprising a second support assembly having a second support and a second leg having a length dissimilar to a length of the first leg, the first and second support assemblies adapted to define a step on the base of the seating device.

29. A method providing an adjustable support for a user when the user is seated on a seating device, the seating device having a neck on a post supported by a plurality of substantially horizontal legs, comprising:

providing a support assembly having a support with a first void and a second void therethrough, the support having an end and an outer perimeter, and

at least one support leg adapted to be attachable to the support at a first location and a second location between the first location and the outer perimeter, the first void selectively engaging the post to define a first position of the support, the second void being located between the first void and the outer perimeter, the second void engaging the post to define a second position of the support;

inserting at least one support leg at the second location;

engaging the slot with the neck of the post until the neck is circumscribed by the first void;

lowering the support until post engages the first void and the leg contacts a floor; and

supporting the user'"'"'s feet with the support.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising rotating the support about the post to a predetermined location.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

raising the support until the slot engages the neck;

pushing inwardly until the neck circumscribes the second void; and

lowering the support until the post engages the second void and the leg contacts the floor.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

removing the at least one leg from the second location; and

attaching the at least one support leg at the first location to prevent the rotation of the support about the post, the at least one leg in interference with the substantially horizontal leg of the seating device.

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)