Seating structure having a backrest with a bowed section

• US 6,722,741 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Sayers, Randy J., Coffield, Timothy P., Schoenfelder, Rodney C., Cammenga, Eric, Keller, Carolyn, Chadwick, Donald, Bruner, Jeffrey W., Stumpf, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson. Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/256,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 297/301.1, 297/300.1, 297/296, 297/300.2, 297/285, 297/452.56, 297/452.29, 297/452.3, 297/452.18
• US Class Current: 297/452.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03 the parts being arm-rests conversion into a bed A47C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0303 adjustable rectilinearly in vertical direction
• 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 1/03261 characterised by elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/30 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/06 Special adaptation of seat upholstery or fabric for attachment to tubular chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/14 of adjustable shape; elastically mounted ; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261; elastically-mounted back-rests or backrest-seat units in the base frame A47C7/44
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14631 Coating reinforcements fibre reinforcements B29C45/0005
• 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 29/49863 with prestressing of part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49867 of skin on frame member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49998 Work holding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32475 having detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3024 : Including elastic strand or strip

Abstract

A seating structure includes a support structure, a seat supported by the support structure and a backrest pivotally connected to the support structure. The seat includes a front and rear. The backrest is positioned adjacent the rear of the seat. The backrest includes a frame having a pair of bow-shaped side members. Each of the side members has a lower section and an upper section. The upper sections extend from the lower sections so as to form a pair of first bowed sections at substantially a lumbar region of the backrest. A flexible membrane is attached to and extends between the side members. The flexible membrane has a second bowed section corresponding to the first bowed sections of the side members. A method of using the seating structure is also provided.

Claims

1. A seating structure comprising:

a support structure;

a seat supported by said support structure and comprising a front and rear;

a backrest pivotally connected to said support structure and positioned adjacent said rear of said seat, wherein said backrest comprises a frame having a pair of spaced-apart, bow-shaped side members, each of said side members having a lower section and an upper section, wherein each of said upper sections extends from one of said respective lower sections so as to form a pair of first bowed sections at substantially a lumbar region of said backrest, wherein said first bowed sections have a generally convex-shaped forwardly facing contour, and wherein said upper section of each side member further extends laterally outwardly from said lower section; and

a flexible membrane coupled to and extending between said side members and having a second bowed section corresponding to said first bowed sections of said side members.

2. The seating structure of claim 1 wherein said upper sections extend rearwardly from respective ones of said lower sections.

3. The seating structure of claim 1 further comprising an armrest attached to each of said side members.

4. The seating structure of claim 1 wherein said flexible membrane comprises an elastic material.

5. The seating structure of claim 4 wherein said elastic material comprises elastomeric monofilaments.

6. The seating structure of claim 1 wherein said frame further comprises a top member extending between and connecting said upper sections of said side members and a bottom member extending between and connecting said lower sections of said side members.

7. The seating structure of claim 6 wherein said top member is curved.

8. The seating structure of claim 6 wherein said membrane is connected to said top and bottom members.

9. A seating structure comprising:

a support structure;

a seat supported by said support structure and comprising a front and rear;

a backrest pivotally connected to said support structure and positioned adjacent said rear of said seat, wherein said backrest comprises a frame having a pair of spaced-apart, bow-shaped side members, each of said side members having a lower section and an upper section, wherein each of said upper sections extends from one of said respective lower sections so as to form a pair of first bowed sections at substantially a lumbar region of said backrest, wherein said first bowed sections have a generally convex-shaped forwardly facing contour; and

a flexible membrane coupled to and extending between said side members and having a second bowed section corresponding to said first bowed sections of said side members, wherein said flexible membrane comprises an elastic material comprising elastomeric monofilaments and wherein said flexible membrane further comprises multifilament yarns.

10. A seating structure comprising:

a support structure;

a seat supported by said support structure and comprising a front and rear;

a backrest pivotally connected to said support structure and positioned adjacent said rear of said seat, wherein said backrest comprises a frame having a pair of spaced-apart, bow-shaped side members, each of said side members having a lower section and an upper section, wherein each of said upper sections extends from one of said respective lower sections so as to form a pair of first bowed sections at substantially a lumbar region of said backrest, wherein said first bowed sections have a generally convex-shaped forwardly facing contour;

a flexible membrane coupled to and extending between said side members and having a second bowed section corresponding to said first bowed sections of said side members; and

a back support member disposed in an opening of said frame between said side members proximate said lumbar region, said back support member contacting said flexible membrane.

11. The seating structure of claim 10 wherein said back support member is moveably connected to said frame and is moveable between a top and a bottom of said frame.

12. A seating structure comprising:

a support structure;

a seat supported by said support structure and comprising a front and rear;

a backrest pivotally connected to said support structure and positioned adjacent said rear of said seat, wherein said backrest comprises a frame having a pair of spaced-apart, bow-shaped side members, each of said side members having a lower section and an upper section, wherein each of said upper sections extends from one of said respective lower sections so as to form a pair of first bowed sections at substantially a lumbar region of said backrest, wherein said first bowed sections have a generally convex-shaped forwardly facing contour, wherein said frame further comprises a top member extending between and connecting said upper sections of said side members, wherein said too member is curved, and wherein said top member has a forwardly facing concave contour; and

a flexible membrane coupled to and extending between said side members and having a second bowed section corresponding to said first bowed sections of said side members.

13. The seating structure of claim 12 further comprising a bottom member extending between and connecting said lower sections of said side members.

14. The seating structure of claim 12 wherein said membrane is connected to said top member such that said membrane has a contour substantially following along said forwardly facing concave contour.

15. A seating structure comprising:

a support structure;

a seat supported by said support structure and comprising a front and rear;

a backrest pivotally connected to said support structure and positioned adjacent said rear of said seat, wherein said backrest comprises a frame having a pair of spaced-apart, bow-shaped side members, each of said side members having a lower section and an upper section, wherein each of said upper sections extends from one of said respective lower sections so as to form a pair of first bowed sections at substantially a lumbar region of said backrest, wherein said first bowed sections have a generally convex-shaped forwardly facing contour; and

a flexible membrane coupled to and extending between said side members and having a second bowed section corresponding to said first bowed sections of said side members;

wherein said frame comprises a channel, and further comprising a carrier member secured along an edge portion of said flexible membrane, wherein said carrier member is inserted into said channel.

16. The seating structure of claim 15 wherein said edge portion of said membrane is molded with said carrier member.

17. A seating structure comprising:

a support structure;

a seat pivotally supported by said support structure and comprising a front and rear;

a backrest pivotally connected to said support structure and positioned adjacent said rear of said seat, wherein said backrest comprises a frame having a pair of spaced apart, bow-shaped side members and a cross member extending between and connecting said side members, each of said side members having a lower section and an upper section, wherein each of said upper sections extends rearwardly from one of said respective lower sections so as to form a pair of first bowed sections at substantially a lumbar region of said backrest, and wherein said cross member has a forwardly facing generally concave contour; and

a flexible membrane coupled to and extending between said side members and connected to said cross member such that said membrane has a contour substantially following along said forwardly facing concave contour, said membrane having a second bowed section corresponding to said first bowed sections of said side members.

18. The seating structure of claim 17 further comprising an armrest attached to each of said side members.

19. The seating structure of claim 17 wherein said upper section of each side member further extends laterally outwardly from said lower section.

20. The seating structure of claim 17 wherein said frame comprises a channel, and further comprising a carrier member secured along an edge portion of said membrane, wherein said carrier member is inserted into said channel.

21. The seating structure of claim 20 wherein said edge portion of said membrane is molded with said carrier member.

22. The seating structure of claim 17 further comprising a back support member disposed in an opening of said frame between said side members proximate said lumbar region, said back support member contacting said flexible membrane.

23. The seating structure of claim 22 wherein said back support member is moveably connected to said frame and is moveable between a top and a bottom of said frame.

24. The seating structure of claim 17 wherein said cross member comprises a top member extending between and connecting said upper sections of said side members, and further comprising a bottom member extending between and connecting said lower sections of said side members.

25. The seating structure of claim 24 wherein said membrane is further connected to said bottom member.

26. The seating structure of claim 17 wherein said flexible membrane comprises an elastic material.

27. The seating structure of claim 26 wherein said elastic material comprises elastomeric monofilaments.

28. The seating structure of claim 27 wherein said membrane further comprises multifilament yarns.