Synchrotilt chair

• US 4,979,778 A
• Filed: 01/17/1989
• Issued: 12/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brayton International, Inc.
• Inventors: Shields, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie K.
• Application Number:
  US07/298,051
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 297/300, 297/301, 297/304, 297/322
• US Class Current: 297/300.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs

Abstract

A chair includes a support base, a back and a seat. A tilt mechanism connects the back to the base permitting the back to move from an upright position to a reclined position. A forward portion of the seat is connected to the base through a double pivot. A rearward portion of the seat is connected to the back through a single pivot. As the back tilts to its reclined position, the rearward portion of the seat moves rearwardly and downwardly and the forward portion of the seat moves rearwardly and downwardly lowering overall seat height and eliminating leg lift.

Claims

1. A chair, comprising:

a support base having a pedestal and defining a forward fixed pivot portion;

a back;

tilt means connecting said back and said base for pivotally mounting said back to said base to permit rearward tilting of said back with respect to said fixed support base;

a seat having a forward portion and a rearward portion;

front pivot means between said seat and said base and pivotally connected to said seat and said base for permitting rearward and downward movement only of said seat forward portion upon rearward tilting of said back, said front pivot means including a forward link having an end pivoted to a fixed point on said seat and another end pivoted to a fixed point on said base pivot portion; and

rear pivot means between said tilt means and said seat for pivotally connecting said rearward portion of said seat directly to said back for downward and rearward movement only upon rearward tilting of said back with respect to said base so that the forward portion of the seat follows the downward and rearward motion of the rear of the seat to reduce thigh compression and lower overall seat height.

2. A chair as defined by claim 1 wherein said tilt means comprises:

a bracket, said back being attached to said bracket;

back pivot means for pivoting said bracket to said base; and

spring means engaging said bracket for biasing said bracket to a forward position.

3. A chair, comprising:

a support base;

a back;

tilt means connecting said back and said base for pivotally mounting said back to said base to permit rearward tilting of said back with respect to said fixed support base;

a seat having a forward portion and a rearward portion;

front pivot means between said seat and said base and pivotally connected to said seat and said base for permitting rearward and downward movement only of said seat forward portion upon rearward tilting of said back said front pivot means including a forward link pivoted to a fixed point on said seat and a fixed point on said base; and

rear pivot means between said tilt means and said seat for pivotally connecting said rearward portion of said seat for downward and rearward movement only upon rearward tilting of said back with respect to said base so that the forward portion of the seat follows the downward and rearward motion of the rear of the seat to reduce thigh compression and lower overall seat height, said tilt means comprising;

a bracket, said back being attached to said bracket;

back pivot means for pivoting said bracket to said base; and

spring means engaging said bracket for biasing said bracket to a forward position, said forward link of said front pivot means is pivoted at one end to the forward portion of said seat and at an opposite end to said base, and

wherein said rear pivot means comprises;

a rear link having an end rigidly fixed to said rearward portion of said seat, said rear link extending downwardly from said seat and having an opposite end pivoted to said bracket of said tilt means.

4. A chair as defined by claim 3 wherein said support base comprises:

a pedestal; and

a forward, fixed pivot bracket extending from said pedestal, said opposite end of said forward link being pivoted to said forward pivot bracket.

5. A chair as defined by claim 4 wherein said forward link comprises an elongated, generally U-shaped bar having a base pivoted to said forward pivot bracket and a pair of spaced legs, each leg being pivoted to said forward portion of said seat.

6. A chair as defined by claim 5 wherein said bracket of said tilt means includes an elongated bar having a forward portion attached to said back pivot means and an upwardly angled rearward portion attached to said back.

7. A chair as defined by claim 6 wherein said rear link comprises:

a housing;

a bushing disposed within said housing; and

a pin extending from said bushing and engaging said bracket.

8. A chair, comprising:

a base;

a back;

tilt means for mounting said back on said base to permit rearward tilting of said back between a fully upright position and a fully rearward position said tilt means including a back support member fixed to said back;

a one-piece seat having a rearward portion thereof positioned to contact at least a portion of a buttock area of an adult user, and a forward portion thereof positioned to contact at least a portion of a thigh area of an adult user;

rearward link means having an end rigidly fixed to said rearward portion of said seat and extending downwardly therefrom to an opposite end for pivotally connecting the rearward portion of said seat with said back support member at said opposite end of said rearward link means to support the rearward portion of said seat on said back support member in a manner such that when said back is tilted rearwardly from the fully upright position, the rearward portion of said seat moves only rearwardly and downwardly; and

forward link means between a fixed point on said seat and a fixed point on said base for pivotally connecting the forward portion of said seat with said base and for permitting the forward portion of said seat to move only rearwardly and downwardly when said back is tilted rearwardly from the fully upright position to lower overall seat height and to alleviate undesirable pressure at the thigh area of the user.

9. A chair as defined by claim 8 wherein said forward link means comprises:

a fixed pivot housing mounted on said base;

a rigid link having an end pivoted to said fixed pivot housing; and

a seat pivot housing secured to said seat forward portion, said rigid link including another end pivoted to said seat pivot housing.

10. A chair as defined by claim 9 wherein said fixed pivot housing comprises an elongated tube and a bushing disposed within said tube, said an end of said link being received by said bushing.

11. A chair as defined by claim 10 wherein said rearward link means comprises a journal housing fixed to said seat to define a rear link and a pivot pin journaled within said journal housing, said back defining a pivot point receiving said pivot pin.

12. A chair as defined by claim 11 wherein said back support member includes an elongated support bar, said bar including a forward portion fixed to said tilt means and an upwardly angled rearward portion, said forward portion of said support bar defining said pivot point.

13. A chair as defined by claim 9 wherein said rearward link means comprises a journal housing fixed to said seat to define a rear link and a pivot pin journaled within said journal housing, said back support member defining a pivot point receiving said pivot pin.

14. A chair as defined by claim 8 wherein said rearward link means comprises a journal housing fixed to said seat to define a rear link and a pivot pin journaled within said journal housing, said back support member defining a pivot point receiving said pivot pin.

15. A control mechanism for a chair of the type having a seat separate from a back, said control mechanism including:

a fixed support base;

a tilt plate adapted to be pivotally mounted on said base;

resilient means connecting said tilt plate to said base for resiliently biasing said plate from a reclined, tilt position to an upright position;

a fixed pivot assembly secured to siad base;

a seat pivot assembly adapted to be fixed to a forward portion of a seat;

a rigid link having a portion pivoted to said fixed pivot assembly and an end pivoted at a fixed point to said seat pivot assembly for pivotal movement only;

a back support fixed to said tilt plate; and

a rear seat link having an end rigidly fixed to a rear portion of the seat and an opposite end pivoted to said back support, said links being configured so that seat height is lowered as the chair moved from an upright position to a reclined position.

16. A control mechanism as defined by claim 15 wherein said fixed pivot assembly includes an elongated plate fixed to said base and a tube defining a pivot housing fixed to said plate, said rigid link portion being rotatably supported within said pivot housing.

17. A control mechanism as defined by claim 16 wherein said rigid link is a generally U-shaped, elongated rod having a base portion journaled within said pivot housing and a pair of legs, one of said legs being received by said seat pivot assembly and the other of said legs being received by another seat pivot assembly.

18. A control mechanism as defined by claim 17 wherein said rear seat link includes a rear journal housing and a rear pivot pin connecting said rear journal housing to said back support.

19. A control mechanism as defined by claim 15 wherein said rear seat link includes a rear journal housing and a rear pivot pin connecting said rear journal housing to said back support.