Reclinable chair
First Claim
1. A chair comprising:
- a supporting frame;
a seat portion supported above the supporting frame;
a back portion which is resiliently flexible at an intermediate lumbar region of the back portion; and
a tensionable biasing device which operates on the intermediate lumbar region of the back portion and is mechanically interconnected with the seat portion, which seat portion is moveable on the application of weight from an occupant and to an extent dependent on the weight of the occupant, so that the mechanical interconnection to the seat portion and the tensionable biasing device act to increase or decrease flexibility of the back portion at the intermediate lumbar region of the back portion as a function of the weight of the occupant on the seat portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A chair (10) includes a supporting frame (20,22) and a seat portion (14) which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion, forward of the transverse fold. The seat portion (14) is supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion. The chair (10) also includes a reclinable back portion (16) and a recline mechanism with which the back portion (16) is connected for reclining action of the back portion (16). The recline mechanism is operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion (14) such that on reclining action of the back portion (16), the rearward portion is moved to increase in rearward tilt angle and to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame (20,22), with a consequent folding of the seat portion about the transverse fold line under the weight (W) of the occupant.
451 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A chair comprising:
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a supporting frame;
a seat portion supported above the supporting frame;
a back portion which is resiliently flexible at an intermediate lumbar region of the back portion; and
a tensionable biasing device which operates on the intermediate lumbar region of the back portion and is mechanically interconnected with the seat portion, which seat portion is moveable on the application of weight from an occupant and to an extent dependent on the weight of the occupant, so that the mechanical interconnection to the seat portion and the tensionable biasing device act to increase or decrease flexibility of the back portion at the intermediate lumbar region of the back portion as a function of the weight of the occupant on the seat portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
a main support forming part of the supporting frame;
a second linkage comprising the seat portion or a guide relative to which the seat portion is selectively movable;
a front support linkage extending between the main support and the second linkage; and
a drive linkage wherein the drive linkage is pivotable about a drive axis through the main support, the drive linkage being connected to the second linkage; and
further wherein an interconnecting linkage interconnects the leaf-type spring with the drive linkage such that, at least beyond the predetermined threshold, the weight on the seat causes the leaf-type spring to flex against the back portion to impart greater stiffness thereto.
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7. The chair as claimed in claim 6 wherein a supplementary spring is provided, whereby weight on the seat portion up to the predetermined threshold causes flexing of the supplementary spring.
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8. The chair as claimed in claim 6 wherein two four bar linkages are defined on opposite sides of the chair, there being two such leaf-type springs on opposite sides of the chair with two such interconnecting linkages, wherein each interconnecting linkage is disposed directly between the associated leaf-type spring and the associated drive link.
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9. The chair as claimed in claim 8 wherein the four bar linkages tilt the seat portion synchronously with back recline.
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10. The chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein a tension limit is provided to prevent over-tensioning of the tensionable biasing device.
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11. The chair as claimed in claim 10 wherein the tension limit is in the form of a physical stop which acts against the leaf-type spring.
Specification