Back construction for seating unit

• US 7,427,105 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Heidmann, Kurt R., Peterson, Gordon J., DeKraker, Larry, Roossien, Charles P., Knoblock, Glenn A., Dammermann, Arnold B., Teppo, David S., Knoblock, legal representative
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US11/532,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 297/342,300,284.4,411.36,316,322,300.2,300.1
• US Class Current: 297/322
• 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 1/03233 by means of a rack-and-pinion or like gearing mechanism
• 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 1/03272 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03274 of torsion type
• 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 7/24 Upholstered seats A47C7/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/445 with bar or leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/02 Molded

Abstract

A back construction includes a base with a yoke formed by a cross member and upright side arms that define a U-shape, armrests supported by the side arms, and a seat and back also supported by the side arms for synchronized motion upon recline of the back. Specifically, the side arms define a back tilt axis about which the back rotates upon recline. The back includes a back structure with configured ends that engage the side arms for rotation about the back tilt axis, and further define a seat tilt axis for supporting rotation/movement of the seat upon recline of the back.

Claims

1. A seating product comprising:

a base including a yoke, a center post and radially-extending legs with castors thereon, the yoke including upwardly extending side arms and a cross member extending between the side arms;

an armrest supported on each of said side arms;

a back structure pivoted relative to the base at back pivots for movement between upright and reclined positions; and

a seat pivoted to the back structure at seat pivots and operably supported for movement on the base;

the back structure including right and left configured end sections extending forwardly from the back and positioned on opposite sides of the seat and that are each located generally between the sides of the seat and associated ones of the side arms;

wherein the end sections are fixed relative to the back structure and include structure defining both the back and seat pivots, the back pivots define a back pivot axis, the back pivot axis is substantially horizontal and extends through the side arms, and the back structure is mounted to the side arms for movement about the back pivot axis;

upon recline of the back structure, the seat pivotally moves in a generally arcuate path about the back pivots and said seat moves relative to said back structure.

2. The seating product defined in claim 1, wherein the yoke defines a U-shape.

3. The seating product defined in claim 1, wherein the base includes a housing that engages and is supported by the post, the housing engaging and supporting the cross member.

4. The seating product defined in claim 1, wherein the seat and back pivots are spaced apart and located so that the seat moves upon recline of the back with a synchronous motion.

5. The seating product defined in claim 4, wherein the seat pivots are located below the back pivots when in the upright position.

6. The seating product defined in claim 4, wherein the end sections each define a narrow horizontal dimension shaped to fit within a space between an associated edge of the seat and the associated side arm and the end sections have relatively flat inboard and outboard surfaces;

and

the back pivots are on an outboard side of the end sections, the seat pivots being on an inboard side of the configured end sections, the back pivots and the seat pivots being located on an inboard side of the side arms, and the seat pivots are located along outboard edges of the seat.

7. The seating product defined in claim 1, wherein the seat also has a front portion operably supported for movement on the base.

8. The seating product defined in claim 1, wherein the armrests are vertically adjustable.

9. The seating product defined in claim 1, wherein the back structure includes a flexible lumbar section, and including an energy mechanism on the back structure that biases the flexible lumbar section toward a forwardly protruding convex shape.

10. The seating product defined in claim 1, wherein an energy mechanism biases said back structure towards an upright position.

11. The seating product defined in claim 1, wherein the back structure and the seat are operably connected to the base for moving the back structure and the seat with a synchronous simultaneous motion upon recline of the back structure by a seated user.

12. The seating product defined in claim 11, wherein the seat pivots are located below the back pivots when in the upright position.

13. The seating product defined in claim 1, wherein the back structure includes a back shell and a back frame, the back shell being connected to the back frame by at least one top and one bottom connection, the at least one bottom connection on the end section being rearward of the back and seat pivots.

14. The seating product as defined in claim 1, wherein the base, the seat and the back structure define a chair.

15. A seating product comprising:

a seat;

a base including a yoke having a pair of vertically extending support members and a cross member extending between the support members, the support members being disposed on respective sides of the base;

the base further including a center post and radially-extending legs with castors thereon;

an armrest supported on each of the support members;

a back shaped and adapted to support a seated user, said back including right and left end sections proximate to its lower portion, the end sections extending forwardly from the back on each side of the back and positioned on opposite sides of the seat, a portion of the end sections located generally between the sides of the seat and associated with one of the support members, each of the end sections being fixed to the back and pivotally connected to an associated one of the support members at a back pivot axis for movement about the back pivot axis to allow movement of the back between upright and reclined positions, the end sections including structure defining both seat pivots and the back pivots; and

the seat being pivoted to the end sections at a seat pivot axis spaced from the back pivot axis in an arrangement that causes the seat to move in response to recline of the back;

the back pivot axis being substantially horizontal and extending through the support members;

wherein upon recline of the back, the seat pivots axis rotates in a generally arcuate path about the back pivot axis and said seat moves relative to said back.

16. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the yoke defines a U-shape.

17. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the base includes a housing that engages and is supported by the post, the housing supporting the cross member.

18. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the support members are stationary relative to the base.

19. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the seat and back pivots are spaced apart and located so that the seat moves upon recline of the back with a synchronous motion.

20. The seating product defined in claim 19, wherein the seat pivot is located below the back pivot when in the upright position.

21. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the seat also has a front portion operably supported for movement on the base.

22. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the end sections each define a narrow horizontal dimension shaped to fit within a space between an associated edge of the seat and the associated support member, and the end sections have relatively flat inboard and outboard surfaces;

and

the back pivots are on an outboard side of the end sections, the seat pivots are on an inboard side of the end sections, the back pivots and the seat pivots are located inboard of the support members, and the seat pivots are located along outboard edges of the seat.

23. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the armrests are vertically adjustable.

24. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the back includes a flexible lumbar section, and including an energy mechanism on the back that biases the flexible lumbar section toward a forwardly protruding convex shape.

25. The seating product defined in claim 24, wherein the back further includes a back shell and a back frame, the back shell defining the lumbar section and being connected to the back frame by at least one top and one bottom connection, the at least one bottom connection on the end section rearward of the back and seat pivots.

26. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein an energy mechanism biases said back structure toward an upright position.

27. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the back pivot axis is located forward of a front surface of the back.

28. The seating product defined in claim 15, wherein the back and the seat are operably connected to the base for moving the back and the seat with a synchronous simultaneous motion upon recline of the back by a seated user.

29. The seating product as defined in claim 15, wherein the base, the seat and the back define a chair.

30. A seating product comprising:

a base assembly including a center post, radially-extending legs with castors thereon, a cross member, and upwardly extending side arms supported on ends of the cross member;

an armrest supported on each of said side arms;

a seat operably supported on the base assembly;

a back assembly pivoted to the base assembly at a first pivot axis for movement between upright and reclined positions and having forwardly extending support structure proximate its lower portion;

the forwardly extending support structure fixed relative to the back assembly and including structure defining the first pivot axis, the support structure mounted to the side arms at the first pivot axis for movement about the first pivot axis, and the support structure forming at least part of a connection of the back assembly to the base assembly; and

said seat being pivoted to the forwardly extending support structure at a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis in an arrangement that causes the second pivot axis to rotate in a generally arcuate path about the first pivot axis and the seat to move in response to recline of the back assembly,

wherein the first pivot axis is substantially horizontal and extends through the side arms.

31. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the cross member and side arms combine to form a U-shape.

32. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the base assembly includes a structural housing engaging and supported by the post, the housing engaging and supporting the cross member.

33. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the first and second pivot axes are spaced apart and located so that the seat moves upon recline of the back assembly with a synchronous motion.

34. The seating product defined in claim 33, wherein the second pivot axis is located below the first pivot axis when in the upright position.

35. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the seat also has a front portion operably supported for movement on the base assembly.

36. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the support structure defines a narrow horizontal dimension shaped to fit within a space between an associated edge of the seat and an associated upwardly-extending side arm on the base assembly;

and

back assembly pivots that define the first pivot axis are on an outboard side of the support structure, and seat pivots that define the second pivot axis are on an inboard side of the support structure.

37. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the armrests are vertically adjustable.

38. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the back assembly includes a flexible lumbar section, and including an energy mechanism on the back assembly that biases the flexible lumbar section toward a forwardly protruding convex shape.

39. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the first pivot axis is located forward of a front surface of the back assembly.

40. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein an energy mechanism biases said back assembly toward the upright position.

41. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the back assembly and the seat are operably connected to the base assembly for moving the back assembly and the seat with a synchronous simultaneous motion upon recline of the back assembly by a seated user.

42. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the second pivot axis is located below the first pivot axis when in the upright position.

43. The seating product defined in claim 30, wherein the back assembly further includes a back shell and a back frame, the back shell defining a lumbar section and being connected to the back frame by at least one top and one bottom connection, the at least one bottom connection being on an end section rearward of the first and second pivot axes.

44. The seating product as defined in claim 30, wherein the base assembly, the seat and the back assembly define a chair.