Variable configuration seating

• US 20090195040A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hilary Rolf Birkbeck
• Original Assignee: Hilary Rolf Birkbeck
• Inventors: Birkbeck, Hilary Rolf
• Application Number:
  US11/990,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195040A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/317
• 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

Abstract

A variable chair (10) features variable displacement between a back-to-seat pivot or slide pivot interconnection (14) and a back sliding pivot (15), to compensate for occupant weight in tilt moment in a weight responsive action; a particular construction features opposed pairs of intercoupled seat and back crank arm frames (111, 113) mounted upon a carrier or ground frame (114) by which the chair is supported, to achieve a back tilt, seat slide action; with the option of frame flex for restorative action; and with combined back and seat action about a virtual pivot which can approximate to a natural occupant body spine lumbar pivot and associated pivot movement path.

Claims

1. {Pivot Disposition}

A variable configuration chair (10) or chair support assembly comprising a seat frame (11) a back frame (12) mounted upon a movable pivot or slide pivot (15), with seat and base frames interconnected by a variable disposition element and/or coupling (14), whereby spacing between back pivot axis and back-seat coupling reflects seat occupancy.

2. {Weight-Responsive Configuration}

A chair of claim 1, with an intercoupled back (12) and seat (11) configured with variable spacing between a back to seat pivot or slide pivot coupling (14) and a back slide pivot axis (15) responsive to chair loading, such as occupant size and/or weight (W), whereby to vary occupant turning moment arm about a back pivot for back tilt or recline action adapted to seat occupancy.

3. {Back Tilt—

Seat Slide Action}

A chair of any preceding claim with a intercoupled back frame tilt and seat frame slide action, over a seat ramp inclination set upon occupancy, by downward movement of a seat frame rear coupling with a back frame so back tilt drives a seat up an incline reflecting occupancy.

4. {Carrier Frame Ground Support}

A chair of any preceding claim comprising back (12) and seat (11) frames intercoupled to a carrier or ground frame connected to a chair base or chassis upon a ground support.

5. {Pivot+Locus}

A chair of any preceding claim with an effective pivot and pivot locus representing a natural pivot and pivot locus of a chair occupant

6. {Seat+Back Cranked Frames}

A chair of any preceding claim, with a seat frame (II) of cranked arm profile a back frame (12) of cranked arm profile corresponding arms (21, 22/23, 24) of seat and back and frames (11, 12) being intercoupled directly or indirectly by pivots and/or slides (25, 26).

7. {Variable Configuration}

A chair of any preceding claim,

with back and seat frame inter-couple, through relatively movable, cranked frames (111, 114);

each frame having respective upper and lower arms;

an upper arm of one frame (111) carrying a back rest (112), a lower arm of said one frame (111) also being captive with a corresponding lower arm of another frame (114) through sliding pivot interconnection;

a seat (115) carried by said other frame (114) lower arm;

said other frame (114) upper arm being captive with a corresponding upper arm of said one frame (111) through sliding pivot interconnection;

an intermediate carrier or ground frame (113) captive by pivotal connection with said one frame (111) upper arm and said other frame (114) lower arm;

and for mounting upon a support.

8. {Complementary Frames}

A chair of any preceding claim, with a complementary pair of opposed frame assemblies at each side, each frame assembly with indirect back (112) and seat (115) inter-couple, through relatively movable cranked inner (114) and outer (111) frames;

outer frame (111) upper arms being secured to opposite sides of a back (112), and outer frame (111) lower arms being captive with corresponding lower arms of an inner frame (114) through sliding pivot interconnection;

a seat (115) with opposite sides carried by inner frame (114) lower arms;

inner frame (114) upper arms being captive with corresponding outer frame (111) upper arms through sliding pivot interconnection;

an intermediate carrier or ground frame (113), captive by pivotal connection with outer frame (111) upper arms and inner frame (114) lower arms;

and for mounting upon a support.

9. {Flex Frame}

A chair of any preceding claim with a flex frame to provide cushion and/or restorative action upon loading and deflection, such as by chair occupancy.

10. {Flex Carrier Frame}

A chair of any preceding claim with a flex frame as a carrier or ground frame intercoupled to respective seat and back frames, to allow relative frame displacement through pivot and/or slide and/or flex.

11. {Resilient Slide Path}

A chair of any preceding claim with a resiliently deformable element in a slide path between intercoupled frames.

12. {Support Frame+Capture Fittings}

A chair of any preceding claim, mounted upon a support frame (60) between spaced bearing and/or capture fittings (65, 75) for relative back and/or seat movement

13. {Variable Profile Skeletal Frame}

A chair of any preceding claim, mounted upon a skeletal support frame (31, 32, 33) of variable profile in response to chair occupancy

14. {Frame Hoop}

A chair of any preceding claim with a support frame (19) configured as a hoop with one end supporting a back frame pivot and another end supporting a seat frame.

15. {Frame Splay}

A chair of any preceding claim, configured for support frame splay between support frame bearing and/or capture fittings (13, 15) to supplement frame movement upon loading and provide cushion and/or restorative action by frame deflection and/or bending upon splay.

16. {Adjustable Friction Capture Fittings}

A chair of any preceding claim, with adjustable friction capture fittings (28, 29) between back, seat and support frames, for supplemental control of chair action freedom.

17. {Crank Frame Intercouple}

A variable configuration chair, with relatively movable, cranked back, seat and carrier frames (111, 113, 114), for a back-tilt or recline and seat-slide interaction, over a seat ramp inclination variable with occupancy;

and a back pivot movable in relation to a back and seat coupling, whereby back tit resistance varies with back pivot disposition and/or seat ramp inclination.

18. {Chair as Described and Illustrated}

A chair or chair support assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.