Combined tension and back stop function for seating unit
First Claim
1. A seating unit comprising:
- a base, a seat, a back, and a control operably supporting the seat and the back on the base for synchronous movement as the back is moved between upright and recline positions;
the control including a housing, a first mechanism providing a biasing supporting force to the back during recline, and a booster spring mechanism for increasing the supporting force;
an on/off selector device for selectively activating and deactivating the booster spring mechanism includes a stop member slidably mounted to the housing and that is movable to a self-sustaining disengaged first position for deactivating the booster spring mechanism and an engaged second position for activating the booster spring mechanism; and
the booster spring mechanism operably connected to the back for rotation therewith during recline of the back, the booster spring mechanism defining an axis of rotation and including an arm extending from the axis of rotation that freely rotates when the stop member is in the disengaged first position, but that when in the second position, engages the stop member to tension the booster spring mechanism upon recline of the back.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seating unit includes a base, a seat, a back, and a control operably supporting the seat and the back on the base for movement between upright and recline positions. The control includes a spring providing a biasing supporting force to the back during recline, and further includes a booster mechanism for increasing the supporting force, and still further includes a stop member and a selector device for activating and deactivating the booster mechanism. The selector device is easily movable with a low effort that is independent from friction generated by internal components of the booster mechanism. The stop member is linearly slidably mounted atop a control housing for selectively engaging the booster mechanism and the link for movement between a disengaged position, a booster-engaged position, a partial-recline position, and a recline-prevented position.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A seating unit comprising:
-
a base, a seat, a back, and a control operably supporting the seat and the back on the base for synchronous movement as the back is moved between upright and recline positions;
the control including a housing, a first mechanism providing a biasing supporting force to the back during recline, and a booster spring mechanism for increasing the supporting force;
an on/off selector device for selectively activating and deactivating the booster spring mechanism includes a stop member slidably mounted to the housing and that is movable to a self-sustaining disengaged first position for deactivating the booster spring mechanism and an engaged second position for activating the booster spring mechanism; and
the booster spring mechanism operably connected to the back for rotation therewith during recline of the back, the booster spring mechanism defining an axis of rotation and including an arm extending from the axis of rotation that freely rotates when the stop member is in the disengaged first position, but that when in the second position, engages the stop member to tension the booster spring mechanism upon recline of the back. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. In a seating unit having a base, a seat, a back adapted to pivot between upright and reclined positions, an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, a first adjustment mechanism for adjusting a first control member on the chair, and a second mechanism for adjusting a second control member on the chair, the improvement comprising:
a single actuator operably coupled to both the first adjustment mechanism and the second mechanism selectively operating one of said mechanisms when in a first position and selectively operating both of said mechanisms when in a second position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
15. A seating unit comprising:
-
a base, a back, and an underseat control operably coupled to and supporting the back for movement between upright and reclined positions, the control including a housing, an adjustable component, a stop member engaging the adjustable component, and an actuator adjusting the stop member into engagement with the adjustable component;
the actuator including a handle operating the stop member and an over-torque mechanism connecting the handle to the stop member; and
the over-torque mechanism releasing and preventing damage to the stop member and to the actuator and to the adjustable component when a damaging excessive force is transmitted by the handle but when the stop member is prevented from moving. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification