Modular chair construction and method of assembly

• US 5,782,536 A
• Filed: 02/17/1995
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc. (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Schwoerer, Patrick P., 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., Haan, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/390,118
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 297/300.2, 297/300.5, 297/337, 297/440.15-440.22, 297/301.1, 297/301.4, 297/311, 297/440.14, 297/302.1, 297/302.4, 297/300.1, 297/440.1
• US Class Current: 297/440.15
• 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 synchrotilt chair control comprising:

a fixed housing;

a back upright support bracket rotationally connected to said fixed housing, said back upright support bracket including first pivot receiving structure;

a seat support configured to be removably attached to said back upright support bracket, said seat support including a second pivot receiving structure alignable with said first pivot receiving structure; and

removable/interference-fit pivot pins pivotally engaging said first and second pivot receiving structure for pivotally securing said seat support to said back upright support bracket, said pivot pins being removable from said synchrotilt chair control so that said seat support can be readily removed and replaced;

said first pivot-receiving structure including spaced apart inner and outer flange pairs defining a space for receiving said second pivot-receiving structure, each of said inner and outer flange pairs defining a clevis-simulating arrangement for supporting one of said pivot pins on opposing sides of said second pivot-receiving structure.

2. A synchrotilt chair control as defined in claim 1 wherein said first pivot-receiving structure includes pivot-forming holes located on opposing sides of said back upright support bracket, said pivot-forming holes defining a common axis of rotation for said back upright support bracket and said seat support, said common axis extending through said back upright support bracket, said pivot pins being removable from an exterior of said back upright support bracket.

3. A synchrotilt chair control as defined in claim 2 wherein said seat support includes a synchrotilt bracket connected to said back upright support bracket and a seat adjustment mechanism operably connected to said synchrotilt bracket.

4. A synchrotilt chair control as defined in claim 1 wherein said seat support includes a seat adjustment mechanism.

5. A synchrotilt chair control as defined in claim 4 wherein said seat adjustment mechanism includes a seat-angle-adjustment mechanism.

6. A synchrotilt chair control as defined in claim 4 wherein said seat adjustment mechanism includes a seat-depth-adjustment mechanism.

7. A synchrotilt control for chairs comprising:

a fixed housing having a front flange;

a back upright support bracket pivotally mounted to said fixed housing for pivotal movement about a back tilt axis spaced from said front flange, said back upright support bracket being movable between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position, said back upright support bracket including first apertured flanges spaced from said front flange and from said back tilt axis;

a synchrotilt bracket including a front-flange-engaging bearing for mateably receiving and capturing said front flange to define a low friction non-stationary seat tilt axis and further including second apertured flanges alignable with said first apertured flanges and defining a common axis; and

interference-fit pivot pins removably engaging said first and second apertured flanges for pivotally securing said synchrotilt bracket to said back upright support bracket, said pivot pins including a circumferential recess providing the interference-fit.

8. A synchrotilt control as defined in claim 7 wherein said synchrotilt bracket is U-shaped.

9. A synchrotilt control as defined in claim 8 wherein said first apertured flanges define pivot-forming holes located on opposing sides of said back upright support bracket, said pivot-forming holes defining said common axis such that said common axis extends through said back upright support bracket.

10. A synchrotilt control as defined in claim 9 wherein said common axis moves over-center with respect to a line connecting said back tilt axis and said seat tilt axis when said back upright support bracket is pivoted between said fully upright position and said fully reclined position.

11. A synchrotilt chair control comprising:

an energy module including a fixed housing, a back upright support bracket rotatably connected to said fixed housing, and an energy source, said back upright support bracket being movable between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position with said energy source biasing said back upright support bracket toward said fully upright position;

a synchrotilt bracket having one end rotatably secured to said fixed housing and a second end pivotally secured to said back upright support bracket; and

an angularly adjustable seat support connected to said synchrotilt bracket for rotation therewith during recline of the back upright support bracket, the angularly adjustable seat support further being constructed to be separately angularly adjustable on the synchrotilt bracket while the back upright support bracket is in a stationary position, said angularly adjustable seat support defining a seat-angle-adjustment axis located generally under the center of gravity of a person sitting on a seat attached to said adjustable seat support so that the relative position of the seat to said fixed housing can be adjusted while the person is sitting on the seat without the weight of the person adversely affecting the effort required to make the adjustment.

12. A synchrotilt chair control as defined in claim 11 wherein said synchrotilt bracket is U-shaped.

13. A synchrotilt chair control as defined in claim 11 including removable pivot pins connecting said synchrotilt bracket to said back upright support bracket.

14. A synchrotilt chair control comprising:

an energy module including a fixed housing, a back upright support bracket rotatably connected to said fixed housing, and an energy source, said back upright support bracket being movable between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position with said energy source biasing said back upright support bracket toward said fully upright position;

a synchrotilt bracket having one end rotatably secured to said fixed housing and a second end pivotally secured to said back upright support bracket; and

a seat-depth-adjustable seat support connected to said synchrotilt bracket for rotation therewith during recline of the back upright support bracket, said seat-depth-adjustable seat support including a slidably adjustable seat-engaging support bracket and a releasable latch mechanism for providing independent fore/aft adjustment of a seat attached to said seat-engaging support bracket relative to said synchrotilt bracket, the seat-depth-adjustable seat support being constructed for ready adjustment while a person is seated on the seat.

15. A synchrotilt chair control as defined in claim 14 including removable pivot pins connecting said synchrotilt bracket to said back upright support bracket.

16. A synchrotilt chair control as defined in claim 15 wherein said synchrotilt bracket is U-shaped.

17. A synchrotilt chair control comprising:

a fixed housing;

a back upright support bracket rotationally connected to said fixed housing, said back upright support bracket including first pivot receiving structure;

a seat support configured to be removably attached to said back upright support bracket, said seat support including a second pivot receiving structure alignable with said first pivot receiving structure; and

removable/interference-fit pivot pins pivotally engaging said first and second pivot receiving structure for pivotally securing said seat support to said back upright support bracket, said pivot pins being removable from said synchrotilt chair control so that said seat support can be readily removed and replaced.

18. A synchrotilt control for chairs comprising:

a fixed housing having a front flange;

a back upright support bracket pivotally mounted to said fixed housing for pivotal movement about a back tilt axis spaced from said front flange, said back upright support bracket being movable between a fully upright position and a fully reclined position, said back upright support bracket including first apertured flanges spaced from said front flange and from said back tilt axis;

a synchrotilt bracket including a front-flange-engaging bearing for mateably receiving and capturing said front flange to define a low friction non-stationary seat tilt axis and further including second apertured flanges alignable with said first apertured flanges and defining a common axis; and

interference-fit pivot pins removably engaging said first and second apertured flanges for pivotally securing said synchrotilt bracket to said back upright support bracket.

19. A synchrotilt control as defined in claim 18 wherein said pivot pins include an irregular surface providing the interference fit.