Swivel chair

• US 6,000,755 A
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leico GmbH & Co. Werkzeugmaschinenbau
• Original Assignee: Leico GmbH & Co. Werkzeugmaschinenbau
• Inventors: Uhlenbrock, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US09/100,909
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 297/300.1, 297/300.2, 297/300.4, 297/300.5, 297/300.7, 297/300.8, 297/316, 297/320
• US Class Current: 297/300.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03205 having adjustable and lockable inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs

Abstract

An office swivel chair is provided comprising a foot with a center column extending upwards therefrom, wherein the center column may be variable in length and/or spring mounted, a seat carrier is secured at the upper end of the center column, a seat top pivotable around a horizontal axis close to the front edge of the seat top, is connected with the seat carrier, and is biased by a spring arrangement with an upwards directed force, and a back rest attached at least one upwards extending lever which is articulately connected with the seat carrier at a first link point under the seat top, and spaced therefrom is articulately connected with the underside of the seat top at a second link point wherein, both link points comprise swivelling axes in parallel with the seat top swivelling axis. The length of the lever between the first link point and the second link point is variable by displacing the first link point and/or the second link point in the direction of the lever.

Claims

1. An office swivel chair comprising a foot with a center column extending upwards therefrom comprising:

a seat carrier secured at an upper end of said center column,

a seat top pivotable around a horizontal axis close to a front edge of said seat top,

connected to said seat carrier, and biased by a spring arrangement with an upwards directed force,

at least one lever extending in a first direction and having an upwards extending portion,

a back rest attached to said at least one lever at said upwards extending portion,

a first link element secured to said seat carrier under said seat top, and

a second link element secured to an underside of said seat top,

at least one of said first link element and said second link element being

displaceably mounted in a guide such that said at least one link element is movable toward or away from the other of said link elements in said first direction of said lever,

said at least one lever being articulately connected to said seat carrier at said first link element, and spaced therefrom, being articulately connected with said second link element, wherein both link elements comprise swivelling axes parallel to said seat top pivoting top axis, and wherein a length of said at least one lever, between said first link element and said second link element, is variable by displacing at least one of said first link element and said second link element in said first direction of said lever.

2. A chair according to claim 1, wherein said first link element may be releaseably lockable relative to said guide in said seat carrier.

3. A chair according to claim 2, wherein said first link element is adapted to be continuously displaceable and lockable relative to said guide.

4. A chair according to claim 2, wherein said first link element is adapted to be displaceable and lockable relative to said guide in discretely spaced steps.

5. A chair according to claim 2, wherein said link point is a swivelling bearing secured at said underside of said seat top.

6. A chair according to claim 2, wherein said lever is carried in said first link element and is adapted to be displaceable along said first direction.

7. A chair according to claim 6, wherein said lever is adapted to be releasably lockable against displacement in said first direction in said first link element, and said lever is adapted to be guided displaceably in said first direction in said second link element.

8. A chair according to claim 1, wherein said second link element is adapted to be displaceable and lockable relative to said guide.

9. A chair according to claim 8, wherein said second link element is continuously adapted to be displaceable and lockable relative to said guide.

10. A chair according to claim 8, wherein said second link element is adapted to be displaceable and lockable relative to said guide in discretely spaced steps.

11. A chair according to claim 8, wherein said first link point is a swivelling bearing secured to said seat carrier.

12. A chair according to claim 8, wherein said lever is carried in said second link element and adapted to be displaceable along said first direction.

13. A chair according to claim 12, wherein an end of said lever is non-displaceably secured to said first link element in said first direction.

14. A chair according to claim 1, wherein said back rest is rigidly secured at an upper free end of said lever.

15. A chair according to claim 1, wherein said back rest is linked at an upper free end of said lever pivotally around an axis parallel to said seat top pivoting axis.

16. A swivel chair comprising a foot with a center column extending upwards therefrom comprising:

a seat carrier attached to said center column,

a seat top pivotably attached, close to a front edge of said seat top, to said seat carrier so as to pivot around a horizontal axis, and biased with an upwards directed force against said seat top, rearwardly of said pivot connection,

at least one lever extending in a first direction and having an upwards extending portion,

a back rest attached to said at least one lever at said upwards extending portion,

a first link element attached to said seat carrier under said seat top, and

a second link element attached to an underside of said seat top,

at least one of said first link element and said link element being

displaceably mounted in a guide such that said at least one link element is movable toward or away from the other of said link elements in said first direction of said lever,

said at least one lever attached to said seat carrier at said first link element,

and spaced therefrom, attached to said second link element, wherein both link elements comprise swivelling axes parallel to said seat top horizontal axis, and wherein a length of said at least one lever, between said first link element and said link element, is variable by displacing at least one of said first link element and said second link element in said first direction of said lever.