CHAIR WITH PIVOT FUNCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING

• US 20130313883A1
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daniel W. Tracy Jr.
• Inventors: Machael, Jay R., Aschbrenner, Evan T., Tracy, Daniel W. Jr., Hector, Andrew B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,198,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.18
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03272 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03279 of torsion type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03294 slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/02 Seat parts adaptation of seats to mounting in tubular chairs A47C5/06; such parts not restricted to chairs A47C23/00; removable upholstered units or cushions A47C27/00
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a chair including a base, a hub, and a seat frame. The hub is supported by the base and includes first and second side mounts and first and second covers. The first side mount is positioned on a first side of the chair and includes a back portion and a bottom portion. The first cover is coupled to the first side mount to define a first channel with the first side mount. The seat frame includes a first lateral member having a lower portion and an upper portion that is pivotally coupled to the back portion of the first side mount and is configured to angulate relative to the lower portion. The lower portion of the first lateral member is slidably received in the first channel such that two sides and a bottom of the lower portion received within the first channel are substantially hidden.

Claims

1. A chair comprising:

a base configured to support the chair on a surface;

a hub supported by the base and including;

a first side mount positioned on a first side of the chair, the first side mount including a back portion and a bottom portion,

a first cover coupled to the first side mount to define a first channel with the first side mount,

a second side mount positioned on a second side of the chair, the second side mount including a back portion and a bottom portion, and

a second cover coupled to the second side mount to define a second channel with the second side mount; and

a seat frame including;

a first lateral member including a lower portion and an upper portion that is pivotally coupled to the back portion of the first side mount and is configured to angulate relative to the lower portion, the lower portion of the first lateral member being slidably received in the first channel such that two sides and a bottom of the lower portion received within the first channel are substantially hidden from view, and

a second lateral member including a lower portion and an upper portion that is pivotally coupled to the back portion of the second side mount and is configured to angulate relative to the lower portion, the lower portion of the second lateral member being slidably received in the second channel such that two sides and a bottom of the lower portion received within the second channel are substantially hidden from view.

2. The chair of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower portions of the first lateral member are pivotally coupled.

3. The chair of claim 2, wherein the upper and lower portions of the first lateral member are pivotally coupled at a location generally corresponding to a position underneath a hip joint of a user.

4. The chair of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower portions of the first lateral member are flexibly coupled.

5. The chair of claim 1, wherein the first side mount defines a substantially L-shaped side profile.

6. The chair of claim 1, wherein the back and bottom portions of the first side mount define an acute angle with one another in side profile.

7. The chair of claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of the first channel defines a slide surface and the lower portion of the first lateral member has a bushing that rests on top of the slide surface to be slidably received against the slide surface.

8. The chair of claim 7, wherein the slide surface is configured such that when the upper portion of the first lateral member is pivoted backward relative to the back portion of the first side mount, the lower portion of the first lateral member slides forward and is raised vertically on the first slide surface.

9. The chair of claim 1, wherein the seat frame further includes a front cross member coupling the lower portions of the first and second lateral members together and a back cross member coupling the upper portions of the first and second lateral members together, the back cross member, the front cross member, the first lateral member, and the second lateral member, combining to define an open center.

10. The chair of claim 9, further comprising an elastic mesh coupled directly to the first and second lateral members, the elastic mesh being held under tension between the first and second lateral members to support a user'"'"'s weight.

11. The chair of claim 10, wherein the first lateral member, the second lateral member, the upper cross mount, and the lower cross mount are configured to resist a compressive force exerted by the mesh on the seat frame.

12. The chair of claim 1, further comprising an elastic seat member secured under tension between the first and second lateral members, the first and second side mounts supporting the first and second lateral members against a compressive force exerted by the elastic seat member on the first and second lateral members.

13. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a seat member that is integrally formed with the upper portions of the first and second lateral members.

14. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a seat member that is integrally formed with the lower portions of the first and second lateral members.

15. The chair of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower portions of the first and second lateral members are each substantially inflexible, molded, polymeric components.

16. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a spring secured between the lower portion of the first lateral member and the first side mount.

17. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a torsion spring secured between the upper portion of the first lateral member and the first side mount.

18. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a torsion spring secured between the upper and lower portions of the first lateral member.

19. A chair comprising:

a base configured to support the chair on a surface;

a hub supported by the base and including;

a first side mount positioned on a first side of the chair and having a back portion that extends substantially vertically and a bottom portion that extends substantially horizontally and defines a first channel,

a second side mount positioned on a second side of the chair and having a back portion that extends substantially vertically and a bottom portion that extends substantially horizontally and defines a second channel, and

a seat frame including;

a first lateral member including a lower portion and an upper portion coupled to the lower portion such that lower portion and the upper portion are configured for angulation relative to one another, the lower portion of the first lateral member being slidably received in the first channel, the first channel defining a slide surface and the lower portion of the first lateral member having a bushing slidably received against the slide surface such that the lower portion of the first lateral member is raised vertically as the upper portion of the first lateral member is pivoted backward relative to the first side mount, and

a second lateral member including a lower portion and an upper portion coupled to the lower portion such that lower portion and the upper portion are configured for angulation relative to one another, the lower portion of the second lateral member being slidably received in the second channel.

20. A chair comprising:

a base configured to support the chair on a surface;

a hub supported by the base and including;

a first side mount positioned on a first side of the chair and having a back portion that extends substantially vertically and a bottom portion that extends substantially horizontally and defines a first channel,

a second side mount positioned on a second side of the chair and having a back portion that extends substantially vertically and a bottom portion that extends substantially horizontally and defines a second channel,

a seat frame including;

a first lateral member including a lower portion and an upper portion coupled to the lower portion such that lower portion and the upper portion are configured for angulation relative to one another, the lower portion of the first lateral member being slidably received in the first channel, and

a second lateral member including a lower portion and an upper portion coupled to the lower portion such that lower portion and the upper portion are configured for angulation relative to one another, the lower portion of the second lateral member being slidably received in the second channel,

means for raising the lower portions of the first and second lateral members vertically as the upper portion of the first lateral member is pivoted backward with the back portion of the first side mount; and

means for supporting a user'"'"'s weight between the first and second lateral members.

21. The chair of claim 20, wherein the means for raising includes a slide surface and a bushing slidably received against the slide surface.

22. The chair of claim 21, wherein the bushing is coupled to the lower portion of the first lateral member.

23. The chair of claim 20, wherein the means for raising includes a slot formed into the lower portion of the first lateral member and a rider coupled to the bottom portion of the first side mount, the rider being slidably received in the slot.

24. The chair of claim 20, wherein the means for supporting includes a mesh stretched between the first and second lateral members.

25. The chair of claim 20, wherein the means for supporting includes a seat secured between the first and second lateral members and a backrest secured between the first and second lateral members.

26. A method of making a chair comprising:

tensioning a seating material between a first lateral member having an upper portion and a lower portion and a second lateral member having an upper portion and a lower portion;

securing a back cross member between the upper portions of the first and second lateral members and a front cross member between the lower portions of the first and second lateral members; and

releasing the first and second lateral members onto first and second side mounts of a chair hub such that the first and second side mounts resist compression between the first and second lateral members.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising securing a first cover to the first side mount and securing a second cover to the second side mount to cover the second lateral member such that the first lateral member is slidably received between the first cover and first side mount and the lower portion of the second lateral member is slidably received between the second cover and second side mount.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising pivotally coupling the upper portion of the first lateral member relative to a back portion of the first side mount.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein tensioning the mesh between the first and second lateral members includes securing the mesh into first and second keder grooves formed into the upper and lower portions of the first and second lateral members.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first and second keder grooves are formed into outwardly facing sides of the first and second lateral members.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the first and second covers substantially hide the first and second keder grooves from view.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein slidably receiving the lower portion of the first lateral member between the first cover and the first side mount includes placing a bushing coupled to the lower portion of the first lateral member in sliding contact with a sliding surface of the first side mount.