Chair having an automatically adjusting resistance to tilting

• US 7,717,515 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
• Original Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
• Inventors: Saez, Manuel, Tsvetanov, Lachezar
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US11/739,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 297/303.1, 297/316
• US Class Current: 297/316
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/032 the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest A47C1/035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs

Abstract

A chair having an automatically adjusting resistance to tilt. The chair includes a back support, a frame, a base and a back pivot member, which is pivotally mounted to the frame, and a seat, which is also pivotally mounted to the frame, such that an occupant of the chair adjusts resistance to tilt or reclining of the chair by applying a rearward force to the back support.

Claims

1. A chair comprising:

a) a base;

b) a frame mounted on the base, the frame having at least one rear pivot extension, wherein the rear pivot extension has a through-hole;

c) a seat pivotally mounted to a distal end of the frame;

d) a back pivot member pivotally mounted to a proximate end of the frame, the back pivot member having a back support extension, a seat lift extension, and a rod, wherein the seat lift extension lifts a proximate end of the seat when the back pivot member rotates in a rearward direction, wherein the rear pivot extension is pivotally mounted to the back pivot member by the rod positioned through the through-hole, wherein the rod has a through-bore, and wherein the back pivot member further comprises a washer with diameter greater than the through-hole, the washer positioned outward from the through-hole of the rear pivot extension, a long bolt, and a slot, such that the long bolt may be inserted through the washer, the through-hole of the rear pivot extension, the through-bore of the rod, and engaged with the slot of the back pivot member to pivotally secure the back pivot member to the rear pivot extension of the frame; and

e) a back support mounted to the back support extension of the back pivot member.

2. A chair comprising:

a) a base;

b) a frame mounted on the base;

c) a seat pivotally mounted to a distal end of the frame;

d) a back pivot member pivotally mounted to a proximate end of the frame, the back pivot member having a back support extension and a seat lift extension, wherein the seat lift extension lifts a proximate end of the seat when the back pivot member rotates in a rearward direction;

e) a back support mounted to the back support extension of the back pivot member; and

f) wherein the seat comprises a glide plate mounted to the underneath of the seat such that the seat lift extension lifts a proximate end of the seat by engaging the glide plate when the back pivot member rotates in a rearward direction.

3. The chair of claim 2 wherein the seat lift extension is a glider cam.

4. A chair comprising:

a) a base;

b) a frame mounted on the base;

c) a seat pivotally mounted to a distal end of the frame,

d) a back pivot member pivotally mounted to a proximate end of the frame, the back pivot member having a back support extension and a seat lift extension, wherein the seat lift extension lifts a proximate end of the seat when the back pivot member rotates in a rearward direction, wherein the seat lift extension slidably mounts to a railing mounted to an underside of the seat such that the seat lift extension slides toward the proximate end of the seat when the back pivot member rotates in a rearward direction; and

e) a back support mounted to the back support extension of the back pivot member.

5. The chair of claim 4 wherein the seat lift extension includes a carriage containing ball bearings, the carriage slidably mounted to the railing located on the underside of the seat.