Seat for a reclining office chair

• US 6,908,159 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
• Original Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
• Inventors: Prince, Jonathan William, Pennington, Mark Rundle
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D ADAMO, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/954,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20020043871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.54, 297/452.56, 297/452.13, 297/452.21, 297/452.23, 297/452.24, 297/452.29, 297/452.31, 297/452.33, 297/452.36, 297/452.46
• US Class Current: 297/452.23
• 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 1/03 the parts being arm-rests conversion into a bed A47C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0307 adjustable rectilinearly in horizontal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/031 having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/006 with castors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/22 Straps or the like for direct user support or for carrying upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/462 adjustable by mechanical means

Abstract

A seat portion (14) for a seat (10) wherein the seat portion (14) includes a panel having a rear portion to support the occupant. The rear portion has a longitudinal centerline and incorporates two zones (162) on either side of the longitudinal centerline. Each of the zones has a first pattern of weakeners arranged in a series of spaced sinuous lines. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the panel, apart from the zones (162) may also be provided with a pattern of weakeners arranged in a series of spaced sinuous lines (163), interrupted by the zones (162).

Claims

1. A seat portion for a seat wherein the seat portion comprises a panel comprising a rear portion to support the occupant and a remainder portion, the rear portion having a central section extending along a longitudinal centerline and two spaced apart, flexible zones, one on either side of the central section, each of the flexible zones comprises a first pattern of weakeners arranged in a series of spaced sinuous lines, and wherein the flexible zone are more flexible than the central section and at least a major part of the remainder portion of the panel.

2. The seat portion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sinuous lines extend longitudinally.

3. The seat portion as claimed in claim 2 wherein the sinuous lines are discontinuous.

4. The seat portion as claimed in claim 3 wherein the weakeners are in the form of slots.

5. The seat portion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the weakeners are in the form of apertures.

6. The seat portion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zones are substantially rectangular.

7. The seat portion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seat portion further comprises a forward portion integrally formed with the rear portion.

8. The seat portion as claimed in claim 7 wherein a substantial part of the seat portion, apart from the zones is provided with a second pattern of weakeners.

9. The seat portion as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second pattern of weakeners is arranged as a series of spaced sinuous lines.

10. The seat portion as claimed in claim 9 wherein the sinuous lines of the second pattern are transversely extending.

11. The seat portion as claimed in claim 10 wherein weakeners of the second pattern are in the form of apertures.

12. The seat portion as claimed in claim 10 wherein the weakeners of the second pattern are in the form of slots.

13. The seat portion as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sinuous lines of the second pattern are discontinuous.

14. The seat portion as claimed in claim 10 wherein the frequency of the sinuous lines in the first pattern is greater than the frequency of the sinuous lines in the second pattern.

15. The seat portion as claimed in claim 10 wherein the sinuous lines in the first pattern are more closely spaced than the sinuous lines in the second pattern.

16. The seat portion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seat portion is a unitary plastic panel.

17. The seat portion as claimed in claim 16 wherein the panel is moulded to form a dished shape in the rear and, at approximately one third of the length of the seat panel from the front edge along the longitudinal centerline, there is a transverse plateau portion which is generally flat with the seat portion dipping downwardly, forwardly of the transverse plateau portion.

18. The seat portion as claimed in claim 17 wherein each of the front corners dip downwardly.

19. The seat portion as claimed in claim 17, wherein the portion forward of the transverse plateau portion is sufficiently flexible to deform under force applied thereto by the legs of the occupant.

20. The seat portion as claimed in claim 9 wherein stiffening webs are incorporated on the underside of the panel.

21. The seat portion as claimed in claim 20 wherein the stiffening webs extend in the transverse direction and are disposed in between the lines of weakeners, following the pattern of spaced transversely extending sinuous lines.

22. A seat panel for a seat comprising a rear portion to support the occupant and a remainder portion, the rear portion having a central section extending along a longitudinal centerline and two spaced apart, flexible zones on opposing side of the central section, the remainder portion of the seat panel at least partially surrounding the flexible zones, wherein the panel is of a construction which provides enhanced flexibility in each of the flexible zones compared to the remainder portion and the central section, and wherein a substantial portion of the remainder portion is provided with a pattern of weakeners arranged in a series of spaced sinuous lines.

23. The seat panel as claimed in claim 22 wherein the sinuous lines extend transversely across the panel.

24. The seat panel as claimed in claim 23 wherein the sinuous lines are curved convex forwardly at least across a central region of the seat panel bridging the longitudinal centerline.

25. The seat panel as claimed in claim 22 wherein weakeners are in the form of apertures.

26. The seat panel as claimed in claim 22 wherein the weakeners are in the form of slots.

27. The seat panel as claimed in claim 26 wherein the sinuous lines are discontinuous.

28. The seat panel as claimed in claim 22 wherein the zones also comprise a further pattern of weakeners.

29. The seat panel as claimed in claim 28 wherein the further pattern of weakeners is a series of spaced sinuous lines extending in a different direction to the pattern of weakeners in the substantial portion of the panel.

30. The seat panel as claimed in claim 22 wherein the zones are rectangular.

31. The seat panel as claimed in claim 22 wherein the panel is moulded to form a dished shape in the rear and, at approximately one third of the length of the seat panel from the front edge along the longitudinal centerline, there is a transverse plateau portion which is generally flat with the seat portion dipping downwardly, forwardly of the transverse plateau portion.

32. The seat panel as claimed in claim 31 wherein each of the front corners dip downwardly.

33. The seat portion as claimed in claim 31, wherein the portion forward of the transverse plateau portion is sufficiently flexible to deform under force applied thereto by the legs of the occupant.

34. The seat panel as claimed in claim 22 wherein stiffening webs are incorporated on the underside of the panel.

35. The seat panel as claimed in claim 23 wherein stiffening webs are incorporated on the underside of the panel and extend in the transverse direction following the pattern of spaced transversely extending sinuous lines of weakeners and are disposed in between the lines of weakeners.

36. A seat portion for a seat wherein the seat portion comprises a panel comprising a rear portion to support the occupant and a remainder portion, the rear portion having a relatively stiff central section defining a longitudinal centerline and incorporating two discrete relatively flexible zones, one on either side of the relatively stiff central section wherein each of the zones comprises a first pattern of weakeners defined by a plurality of spaced curved lines, and wherein the zones are more flexible than at least a major part of the remainder portion of the panel.