Modular chair construction and method of assembly

• US 5,630,649 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., Root, Brian H., Steffens, James P., Christensen, Brian L., Schwoerer, Patrick P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/452,665
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 297/463.1, 297/344.19, 297/344.18, 297/344.12, 297/338, 297/339, 248/157, 248/404, 248/188.5
• US Class Current: 297/344.19
• 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 vertically adjustable chair comprising:

a base assembly including a base and a vertically adjustable pedestal with a top actuator;

a fixed housing engaging said pedestal; and

a vertical adjustment control mechanism comprising;

an arm pivotally mounted in said fixed housing, said arm including a bearing section for engaging said top actuator, a first section, and a handle-forming second section spaced from said first section; and

an adjustment member engaging said fixed housing and said first section for pivotally supporting said first section, said adjustment member being adjustable from an exterior of said fixed housing to reposition said first section and thus reposition said bearing section relative to said top actuator to eliminate looseness and play of said arm in said fixed housing, said arm operably engaging at least one of said fixed housing and said adjustment member so that when said handle-forming second section is pivoted, said bearing section actuates said top actuator, said adjustment member being configured to snap lock into said fixed housing.

2. A vertically adjustable chair as defined in claim 1 wherein said second section of said arm includes pivot-defining structure for engaging said fixed housing so that when said handle is moved in a first direction, said pivot-defining structure engages said fixed housing to pivot said arm to actuate said top actuator.

3. A vertically adjustable chair as defined in claim 2 wherein said adjustment member engages said first section so that, when said arm is pivoted in a second direction opposite said first direction, said arm is pivoted to actuate said top actuator.

4. A vertically adjustable chair as defined in claim 1 wherein the arm is pivotally mounted in the fixed housing at first and second spaced apart pivots, such that the handle-forming second section can be moved in one of a first direction and an opposite second direction to move the bearing section to operate the top actuator.

5. A vertically adjustable chair comprising:

a base assembly including a base and a vertically adjustable pedestal with a top actuator;

a fixed housing engaging said pedestal; and

a vertical adjustment control mechanism comprising;

an arm pivotally mounted in said fixed housing, said arm including a bearing section for engaging said top actuator, a first section, and a handle-forming second section spaced from said first section; and

an adjustment member engaging said fixed housing and said first section for pivotally supporting said first section, said adjustment member being adjustable from an exterior of said fixed housing to reposition said first section and thus reposition said bearing section relative to said top actuator to eliminate looseness and play of said arm in said fixed housing, said arm operably engaging at least one of said fixed housing and said adjustment member so that when said handle-forming second section is pivoted, said bearing section actuates said top actuator;

said adjustment member including a slot for slidably engaging said first section of said arm, said slot limiting the movement of said first section of said arm in a predetermined direction.

6. A vertically adjustable chair as defined in claim 5 wherein said adjustment member includes a body defining said slot and further includes a boss extending from said body, and still further includes an adjustment screw extending through said fixed housing into operative engagement with said boss.

7. A vertically adjustable chair as defined in claim 6 wherein said fixed housing includes an access hole, and said adjustment screw includes a shaft extendable through said access hole and further includes an enlarged head engaging said fixed housing around said hole.

8. In a vertically adjustable chair, the chair including a vertically adjustable pedestal with a top actuator, a fixed housing engaging the pedestal, and an actuator control mechanism pivotally mounted in said fixed housing and adapted to engage said top actuator, the improvement comprising:

an adjustment member engaging said fixed housing and said actuator control mechanism, said adjustment member configured to snap attach to said fixed housing and being configured for adjustment from an exterior of said fixed housing to reposition said actuator control mechanism relative to said top actuator to maintain proper adjustment of said actuator control mechanism relative to said top actuator.

9. An invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said actuator control mechanism includes an arm having a first section and pivot-defining structure spaced from said first section, said first section engaging said adjustment member and said pivot-defining structure engaging said fixed housing so that when said handle is moved in a first direction, one of said first section and said pivot-defining structure engages a corresponding one of said actuator member and said fixed housing to pivot said arm to actuate said top actuator.

10. In a vertically adjustable chair, the chair including a vertically adjustable pedestal with a top actuator, a fixed housing engaging the pedestal, and an actuator control mechanism pivotally mounted in said fixed housing and adapted to engage said top actuator, the improvement comprising:

an adjustment member engaging said fixed housing and said actuator control mechanism, said adjustment member configured for adjustment from an exterior of said fixed housing to reposition said actuator control mechanism relative to said top actuator to maintain proper adjustment of said actuator control mechanism relative to said top actuator; and

said actuator control mechanism including an arm having a first section and pivot-defining structure spaced from said first section, said first section engaging said adjustment member and said pivot-defining structure engaging said fixed housing so that when said handle is moved in a first direction, one of said first section and said pivot-defining structure engages a corresponding one of said actuator member and said fixed housing to pivot said arm to actuate said top actuator;

said adjustment member being snap-attached to said fixed housing.

11. In a vertically adjustable chair, the chair including a vertically adjustable pedestal with a top actuator, a fixed housing engaging the pedestal, and an actuator control mechanism pivotally mounted in said fixed housing and adapted to engage said top actuator, the improvement comprising:

an adjustment member engaging said fixed housing and said actuator control mechanism, said adjustment member configured for adjustment from an exterior of said fixed housing to reposition said actuator control mechanism relative to said top actuator to maintain proper adjustment of said actuator control mechanism relative to said top actuator;

said actuator control mechanism including an arm having a first section and pivot-defining structure spaced from said first section, said first section engaging said adjustment member and said pivot-defining structure engaging said fixed housing so that when said handle is moved in a first direction, one of said first section and said pivot-defining structure engages a corresponding one of said actuator member and said fixed housing to pivot said arm to actuate said top actuator; and

said adjustment member including a slot for slidably engaging said first section of said arm, said slot limiting movement of a second section of said arm in a predetermined direction but permitting movement of said arm in a direction opposite said predetermined direction.

12. In a chair control for a vertically adjustable chair, a vertical adjustment control mechanism for actuating a release member of a chair height adjustment device operably connected to the chair control, said control mechanism comprising:

an actuator lever having a handle-supporting first end, an intermediate section and a second end;

a first pivot on the chair control for operably engaging said first end for pivoting said intermediate section in a predetermined direction when said handle-supporting first end is moved in a first direction to operate the release member;

a second pivot on the chair control for operably engaging said second end for pivoting said intermediate section in said predetermined direction when said handle-forming first end is moved in a second direction, opposite said first direction, to operate the release member; and

one of said first and second pivots including an adjustment member having a body with a slot therein configured to operably engage the end corresponding to said one pivot, said adjustment member further having an adjustable member engaging said body for adjustably positioning said body relative to said chair control, said adjustable member being accessible from an exterior of said chair control to permit adjustment without disassembly of the adjustable chair and being adjustable to eliminate play in said actuator lever when said actuator lever is in a non-actuating position relative to the release member.

13. A control mechanism as defined in claim 12 wherein said adjustable member comprises a screw.

14. A control mechanism as defined in claim 12 wherein said actuator lever includes material forming said second pivot.

15. A control mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein said intermediate section is configured to contact the release member.

16. A control mechanism as defined in claim 15 wherein said intermediate section includes a flattened surface.

17. A vertically adjustable chair comprising:

a base assembly including a base and a vertically adjustable pedestal with a top actuator;

a fixed housing engaging said pedestal; and

a vertical adjustment control mechanism comprising;

an arm pivotally mounted in said fixed housing, said arm including a bearing section for engaging said top actuator, a first section, and a handle-forming second section spaced from said first section; and

an adjustment member engaging said fixed housing and said first section for pivotally supporting said first section, said adjustment member being adjustable from an exterior of said fixed housing to reposition said first section and thus reposition said bearing section relative to said top actuator to eliminate looseness and play of said arm in said fixed housing, said arm operably engaging at least one of said fixed housing and said adjustment member so that when said handle-forming second section is pivoted, said bearing section actuates said top actuator.