Contoured seating structure

• US 7,594,700 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Schoenfelder, Rodney C., Cammenga, Eric, Maalouf, Carolyn, Chadwick, Donald, Bruner, Jeffrey W., Stumpf, William E., Sayers, Randy J., Coffield, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US11/211,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.18, 297/452.24, 297/452.23, 297/452.56, 297/452.13, 297/284.11, 297/452.48, 297/452.27, 297/214, 297/452.41, 297/284.9, 297/452.55, 297/452.22, 297/452.26, 297/452.25, 297/452.64, 297/448.1
• US Class Current: 297/452.56
• 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 chair includes a control housing, a seat and a back support including an upwardly extending upright portion and a link portion extending forwardly from a lower portion of the upright portion. The link portion is pivotally connected to the control housing about a first pivot axis. The seat is connected to the link portion and is pivotable relative thereto. A linkage is coupled to the seat and is pivotally connected to the control housing at a second pivot axis positioned rearwardly and downwardly from the first pivot axis.

Claims

1. A seating structure comprising:

a frame comprising spaced apart side members with inboard edges defining an opening therebetween, each of said side members defining a support surface extending upwardly and outwardly from said inboard edges, wherein said frame further comprises a front member extending between and connecting said side members and further defining said opening, wherein said front member comprises a recess;

a membrane extending between and attached to said side members and attached to said front member and covering at least a portion of said opening, wherein said membrane has an exposed upper body-supporting surface visible to a user, and wherein at least a portion of each of said support surfaces extends downwardly and inwardly from said membrane, wherein said at least said portion of each of said support surfaces are spaced apart from and positioned below at least a portion of said membrane; and

a cushion disposed in said recess between said front member and a forward portion of said membrane.

2. The seating structure of claim 1, wherein said membrane comprises elastic monofilaments.

3. The seating structure of claim 1, wherein said support surface of each of said side members defines a concave upper surface.

4. The seating structure of claim 1, wherein said upper surface of a forward portion of said membrane adjacent said front member has a substantially convex shape.

5. The seating structure of claim 1, wherein at least another portion of each of said support surfaces extends upwardly and outwardly from said membrane, wherein said at least said another portion of each of said support surfaces is positioned above at least a portion of said membrane and is exposed and visible to the user.

6. The seating structure of claim 1 further comprising an insert member secured to an edge of said membrane, wherein said insert member is connected to said frame.

7. The seating structure of claim 6, wherein said frame comprises a channel, wherein said insert member is disposed in said channel.

8. The seating structure of claim 6, wherein said insert is molded about said edge of said membrane.

9. A seating structure comprising:

a frame comprising spaced apart side members extending in a longitudinal direction with inboard edges defining an opening therebetween, each of said side members having a support wall extending upwardly from said inboard edges; and

a membrane extending between and attached to said side members and covering at least a portion of said opening, wherein said membrane has an exposed upper body-supporting surface visible to a user, and wherein at least a portion of each of said support walls extends upwardly from and is positioned above at least a portion of said upper body-supporting surface of said membrane, wherein said at least said portion of each of said supports walls is directly exposed and visible to the user;

wherein a height of each of said support walls is tapered as each of said side members extends longitudinally from an intermediate section thereof to a forward section thereof with said height of said support walls being greater at said intermediate section than at said forward section.

10. A seating structure comprising:

a frame comprising a pair of opposite, spaced apart side members and a front member extending between and connecting said side members, said side members and said front member defining an opening, wherein said front member of said frame comprises a recess;

a flexible membrane secured to said frame, wherein said membrane covers at least a portion of said opening and is attached to said front member and to said side members, wherein said membrane and said frame define an exposed upper body-supporting surface visible to a user and comprising side portions having an exposed surface extending upwardly and outwardly from said membrane and a substantially convex front portion, and wherein said side members define said exposed surface of said side portions of said upper body-supporting surface; and

a cushion disposed between said front member and a forward portion of said membrane, wherein said cushion is disposed in said recess.

11. The seating structure of claim l0, said membrane comprises an elastomeric material.