Tension adjustment mechanism for chairs

• US 5,630,647 A
• Filed: 05/26/1995
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Heidmann, Kurt R., Knoblock, Glenn A., Scheper, Robert M., Root, Brian H., McClure, Eric T., Steffens, James P., Palacios, Noe, Sayers, David D., VanStee, Greg A., Christensen, Brian L., Schwoerer, Patrick P., Haan, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/451,991
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 297/303.4, 297/463.1, 297/300.5, 297/301.4, 297/302.4, 297/292, 297/293, 297/303.5, 297/463.2, 297/303.3, 297/301.1
• US Class Current: 297/303.3
• 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 1/03266 with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03272 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03274 of torsion type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 13/005 Modular seating chairs connectible into a row A47C1/124
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A chair construction and method for building a chair having selected features are provided. The construction includes a plurality of interchangeable different components including different base assemblies, back assemblies, seats, arms, and chair controls that can be selected to provide different features on a "customized" chair. The different chair controls are constructed from a selected one of a plurality of interchangeable energy modules and a selected one of a plurality of interchangeable seat support modules. All components include standardized connections for engaging the related components, and further include various mechanisms and designs so that by selecting particular components, a chair having various features and appearances can be provided. For example, the plurality of interchangeable seat support modules include a non-adjustable seat support module, a seat-angle-adjustable seat support module, and a seat-depth-adjustable seat support module. Also, the plurality of interchangeable chair control modules include a non-lockable energy module, a back lockable energy module, and a multi-position backstop energy module, each connectable to a selected one of the aforementioned seat support modules. The modularity of these components facilitates assembly including on-site assembly, repair, and post-assembly upgrading of the chair. Further, the seat support is connected by removable pivot pins to allow assembly, retrofit and/or modification in the field. The tension adjustment mechanism, the seat height actuator mechanism, and the pivot connections are constructed for durability, performance, assembleability, compactness of design, and to minimize the number of and complexity of parts. The method includes selecting modules from a menu of interconnectable/interchangeable modules to construct a chair control, and further selecting modules from a menu of interchangeable components to construct a chair having selected features.

Claims

1. A chair control comprising:

a fixed housing;

a back support bracket rotatably secured to said fixed housing for movement about a back tilt axis between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position;

an energy source for biasing said back support bracket toward said fully upright position; and

a tension adjustment mechanism including a bell crank pivotally attached to said fixed housing proximate a bottom thereof for movement about a generally vertically-extending axis so that said bell crank moves in a generally horizontal plane near the bottom of the fixed housing, said bell crank including a first leg having a threaded member thereon and a second leg operably engaging said energy source, said tension adjustment mechanism further including a threaded rod engaging said threaded member and rotatably engaging said fixed housing so that said threaded rod can be rotated to move said threaded member along said rod in a selected axial direction to thus pivot said bell crank and in turn change a tension of said energy source.

2. A chair control as defined in claim 1 wherein said energy source comprises a spring.

3. A chair control as defined in claim 2 wherein said spring comprises a coil spring.

4. A chair control as defined in claim 1 wherein said tension adjustment mechanism includes a bearing located on said fixed housing engaging an end of said threaded rod.

5. A chair control as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second legs define different lengths such that said bell crank provides mechanical advantage to change the tension of said energy source.

6. A chair control as defined in claim 1 wherein said threaded rod is generally horizontally disposed.

7. A chair control comprising:

a fixed housing;

a back support bracket rotatably secured to said fixed housing for movement about a back tilt axis between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position;

an energy source for biasing said back support bracket toward said fully upright position;

a tension adjustment mechanism including a bell crank pivotally attached to said fixed housing, said bell crank including a first leg having a threaded member thereon and a second leg operably engaging said energy source, said tension adjustment mechanism further including a threaded rod engaging said threaded member and rotatably engaging said fixed housing so that said threaded rod can be rotated to move said threaded member along said rod in a selected axial direction to thus pivot said bell crank and in turn change a tension of said energy source;

said tension adjustment mechanism including a spring-engaging bracket engaging said second leg of said bell crank.

8. A chair control as defined in claim 7 wherein said energy source includes a first spring and a second spring, said first and second springs being positioned on opposing sides of said spring-engaging bracket.

9. A chair control comprising:

a fixed housing;

a back support bracket rotatably secured to said fixed housing for movement about a back tilt axis between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position;

an energy source for biasing said back support bracket toward said fully upright position;

a tension adjustment mechanism including a bell crank pivotally attached to said fixed housing, said bell crank including a first leg having a threaded member thereon and a second leg operably engaging said energy source, said tension adjustment mechanism further including a threaded rod engaging said threaded member and rotatably engaging said fixed housing so that said threaded rod can be rotated to move said threaded member along said rod in a selected axial direction to thus pivot said bell crank and in turn change a tension of said energy source; and

said tension adjustment mechanism including a bearing located on said fixed housing engaging an end of said threaded rod;

said end of said threaded rod slidably and rotatably engaging said bearing.

10. A tension adjustment apparatus comprising:

a chair control having a fixed housing with sides and a back upright support bracket rotatably secured to said fixed housing for movement between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position;

a torsion spring for biasing the back upright support bracket toward the fully upright position, said torsion spring defining an axis of rotation that extends horizontally through the sides; and

a tension adjustment mechanism engaging an end of said spring, said tension adjustment mechanism including a substantially horizontally disposed adjustable rod that extends through one of the sides to a location laterally adjacent and outside/beside the fixed housing and that is adapted to rotatably engage said fixed housing at a low friction contact so that the friction generated on said rod by said housing during adjustment is minimized, whereby a user can conveniently grasp said adjustable rod outside of and beside the fixed housing to provide an adjustment force to adjust said tension adjustment mechanism.

11. A tension adjustment apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein a free end of said adjustable rod is adapted to abuttingly engage said fixed housing, and wherein a tension of said spring is adapted to operably hold said adjustable rod against said fixed housing at a point of contact.

12. A tension adjustment apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said tension adjustment mechanism includes a bearing adapted to be attached to said fixed housing at said point of contact.

13. A tension adjustment apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said tension adjustment mechanism includes a bell crank having a first leg operably engaging said adjustment rod and a second leg operably engaging said torsion spring.

14. A tension adjustment apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said tension adjustment mechanism includes a force reduction device operably connected to said adjustable rod.

15. A tension adjustment apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said force reduction device includes a lever.

16. A tension adjustment apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said lever comprises a bell crank.

17. A tension adjustment apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said bell crank is configured to be pivotally secured to the fixed housing.

18. A tension adjustment apparatus for a chair control, the chair control having a fixed housing and a back upright support bracket rotatably secured to said fixed housing for movement between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position, comprising:

a torsion spring for biasing the back upright support bracket toward the fully upright position; and

a tension adjustment mechanism engaging an end of said spring, said tension adjustment mechanism including a substantially horizontally disposed adjustable rod having a free end adapted to rotatably engage said fixed housing at a low friction contact so that the friction generated at said free end is minimized, whereby the adjustment force required to adjust said tension adjustment mechanism is minimized, said free end of said adjustable rod being adapted to abuttingly engage said fixed housing, and a tension of said spring being adapted to operably hold said adjustable rod against said fixed housing at a point of contact;

said tension adjustment mechanism including a bearing adapted to be attached to said fixed housing at said point of contact, and further including a bell crank having a first leg operably engaging said adjustment rod and a second leg operably engaging said torsion spring, and still further including a spring-engaging bracket that engages said bell crank.

19. A chair control comprising:

a fixed housing;

a back support bracket rotatably secured to said fixed housing for movement about a back tilt axis between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position;

an energy source for biasing said back support bracket toward said fully upright position, said energy source including a pivot tube and a pair of coil springs operably mounted on said pivot tube to said fixed housing, said coil springs being operably connected to said back support bracket for biasing same; and

a tension adjustment mechanism including a spring-engaging bracket pivotally supported in said pivot tube, and further including a bell crank pivotally attached to said fixed housing, said bell crank including a first leg having a threaded member thereon and a second leg operably engaging said spring-engaging bracket, said tension adjustment mechanism further including a generally horizontally disposed threaded rod engaging said threaded member and rotatably engaging said fixed housing so that said threaded rod can be rotated to move said threaded member along said rod in a selected axial direction to thus pivot said bell crank and in turn pivot said spring-engaging bracket to change a tension of said coil springs.

20. A chair control as defined in claim 19 wherein said threaded rod includes an end rotatably engaging said fixed housing.

21. A chair control as defined in claim 20 wherein the end of said threaded rod defines a point of contact with said fixed housing.

22. A chair control comprising:

a fixed housing;

a back support bracket rotatably secured to said fixed housing for movement about a back tilt axis between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position;

an energy source operably mounted in said fixed housing for biasing said back support bracket toward said fully upright position, said energy source being operably connected to said back support bracket for biasing said back support bracket toward said fully upright position; and

a tension adjustment mechanism including a bell crank pivotally attached to said fixed housing, said bell crank including a first leg having a threaded member thereon and a second leg operably engaging said energy source, said tension adjustment mechanism further including a generally horizontally disposed and laterally extending threaded rod engaging said threaded member and rotatably engaging said fixed housing so that said threaded rod can be rotated to move said threaded member along said rod in a selected axial direction to thus pivot said bell crank and in turn adjust a tension of said energy source.

23. A chair control as defined in claim 22 wherein said threaded rod includes an end rotatably engaging said fixed housing.

24. A chair control as defined in claim 23 wherein the end of said threaded rod defines a point of contact with said fixed housing.