Office chair

• US 6,688,690 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JSJ Seating Company Texas, L.P.
• Original Assignee: JSJ Seating Company Texas, L.P.
• Inventors: Watson, Ronnie K., Bach, James W., Coffield, Timothy P., Chrostowski, Matthew E., Chapman, Anthony K., Lewis, Randall C., Bach, David F., Ebenstein, Scott M., Inman, Christopher G.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US09/883,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20020096920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 297/316, 297/317, 297/318, 297/322, 297/300.2
• US Class Current: 297/316
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/022 Sheet holders; Bed cover holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/023 connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/462 adjustable by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14336 Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article B29C45/14573 and B29C45/14598 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14418 Sealing means between mould and article
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2713/00 Use of textile products or fabrics for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts B29K2105/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/443 Chairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/486 Cover stretching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49867 of skin on frame member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49869 by flexing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49872 Confining elastic part in socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature

Abstract

A chair having an adjustable resilient back recliner mechanism, a pair of adjustable armrests, modular upper back portions and an adjustable lumbar support. The chair includes a tension control that adjusts the tension in the recliner mechanism. The tension control is cam-operated to permit adjustment throughout the entire range of adjustability with only limited rotational movement of a control knob. The chair includes a recline limit control that adjusts the limit of rearward movement in the recliner mechanism. The limit control includes a cable operated stop that interact with a stepped trackway on the seat. The chair further includes a height control for adjusting the seat height including a push-button located in the tension control knob. The armrests include height and angle adjustment mechanisms. The lumbar support includes a lumbar cam that is rotatably mounted to a lumbar pad. The lumbar cam includes a plurality of lobes that vary in radius so that rotation of the cam causes variation in the contour of the lumbar region. The chair back includes a fabric carrier with an upper back portion mounting platform that permits attachment of any of a variety of modular upper back portions.

Claims

1. A chair comprising:

a recliner mechanism;

a back movably mounted to said recliner mechanism, said recliner mechanism permitting said back to recline under a force to a selectable limit;

a seat movably mounted to said recliner mechanism and operatively linked to said back, whereby said seat moves forwardly as said back reclines;

a recline limit control mechanism for adjustably controlling said selectable limit, said control mechanism including a trackway and a stop, at least one of said trackway and said stop traveling forwardly along a path as said seat moves forwardly, said selectable limit being defined by engagement of said stop with said trackway, said stop being movable with respect to said trackway such that said selectable limit is adjusted by movement of said stop, said recline limit control mechanism permitting said back to tilt forward of said selectable limit when said stop and said trackway are engaged.

2. A chair comprising:

a recliner mechanism;

a back movably mounted to said recliner mechanism, said recliner mechanism permitting said back to recline under a force to a selectable limit;

a seat movably mounted to said recliner mechanism and operatively linked to said back, whereby said seat moves forwardly as said back reclines;

a recline limit control mechanism for adjustably controlling said selectable limit, said control mechanism including a trackway and a stop, at least one of said trackway and said stop traveling forwardly along a path as said seat moves forwardly, said selectable limit being defined by engagement of said stop with said trackway, said stop being movable with respect to said trackway such that said selectable limit is adjusted by movement of said stop, wherein said trackway includes a plurality of laterally offset steps.

3. The chair of claim 2 wherein said offset steps are offset from one another in a lateral direction and in a longitudinal direction.

4. The chair of claim 3 wherein said offset steps are offset from one another in a lateral direction and in a longitudinal direction.

5. The chair of claim 4 wherein said trackway is carried by said seat and said stop is mounted to said recliner mechanism.

6. The chair of claim 5 wherein said stop is slidably mounted within a track on said recliner mechanism.

7. The chair of claim 6 wherein said control mechanism includes a lever, a rotor mounted to said lever and a cable mounted to said rotor, said stop being mounted to said cable, whereby movement of said lever results in movement of said stop.

8. The chair of claim 7 further comprising a bias means for biasing said seat in a rearward position at a tension, said bias means including a biasing element extending between said recliner mechanism and said seat, said biasing element having a pre-tension;

and

a tension control mechanism for adjustably controlling said tension by selectively varying said pre-tension in said biasing element.

9. The chair of claim 8 wherein said tension control mechanism includes a tension knob that is rotatably mounted to said chair, said tension knob being operatively linked to said biasing element such that rotation of said tension knob results in variation in said pre-tension in said biasing element.

10. The chair of claim 9 wherein said tension knob includes a shaft, said lever being rotatably mounted about said shaft with said lever disposed adjacent to said tension knob.

11. The chair of claim 10 further comprising an adjustable height support column;

and

a height control mechanism for selectively adjusting a height of said support column, said height control mechanism including a push button mounted within said tension knob.

12. A chair comprising:

a recliner mechanism;

a back mounted to said recliner mechanism, said back being reclinable between a default position and a reclined position under a rearward force;

a seat movably mounted to said recliner mechanism and operatively linked to said back, whereby said seat moves forwardly along a path from a rearward position to a forward position as said back moves from said default position to said reclined position;

a bias means for biasing said seat in said rearward position at a tension, said bias means including a biasing element extending between said recliner mechanism and said seat, said biasing element having a pre-tension, said biasing element oriented substantially parallel to said path and adapted to be varied in pre-tension along said path;

a tension control mechanism adapted to selectively vary said pre-tension in said biasing element along said path,

wherein said tension control mechanism includes a control knob rotatably mounted to said chair, said control knob being operatively connected to said biasing element, wherein rotation of said control knob varies said pre-tension in said biasing element,

wherein said tension control mechanism includes a cam mounted to said control knob whereby rotation of said control knob results in rotation of said cam, said cam being operatively connected to said biasing element, wherein rotation of said cam varies said pre-tension in said biasing element,

wherein said control mechanism includes a pre-tension lever operatively linked to said cam, said pre-tension lever pivoting in response to rotation of said cam, said pre-tension lever being operatively connected to said biasing element, wherein pivoting of said pre-tension lever varies said pre-tension in said biasing element,

wherein said control mechanism provides full adjustment of said tension by rotation of said control knob through no more than about 180 degrees.

13. A chair comprising:

a recliner mechanism;

a back mounted to said recliner mechanism, said back being reclinable between a default position and a reclined position under a rearward force;

a seat movably mounted to said recliner mechanism and operatively linked to said back, whereby said seat moves forwardly from a rearward position to a forward position in a path as said back moves from said default position to said reclined position;

a bias means for biasing said seat in said rearward position at a tension, said bias means including a biasing element extending between said recliner mechanism and said seat, said biasing element having a pre-tension;

a tension control mechanism for adjustably controlling said tension by selectively varying said pre-tension in said biasing element, wherein said recline mechanism permits said back to recline to a limit; and

a recline limit control mechanism for adjustably controlling said limit, said control mechanism including a trackway and a stop, at least one of said trackway and said stop traveling forwardly along a path as said seat moves forwardly, said limit defined by engagement of said stop with said trackway, said stop being movable with respect to said trackway such that said limit is adjusted by movement of said stop.

14. The chair of claim 13 wherein said control knob is mounted upon a shaft protruding from a control housing, said recline limit control mechanism including a lever mounted over said shaft.

15. The chair of claim 14 further comprising an adjustable height support column;

and

a height control mechanism for selectively adjusting a height of said support column, said height control mechanism including a push button mounted within said tension knob.