Back support adjustment system

• US 8,622,472 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2006
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C-Pod Ergonomics Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: C-Pod Ergonomics Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Rajaratnam, Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US12/294,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20100264708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,843 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.18, 297/452.63, 297/452.64, 297/284.2, 297/452.56, 297/284.3
• US Class Current: 297/284.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/022 having independently-adjustable supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/023 connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/38 for the head adjustable coupled to reclining or easy chairs A47C1/036
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/465 by pulling an elastic cable

Abstract

A back support adjustment system including a flexible suspension system having an adjustable and interchangeable flexing means positioned in between a frame and a support member. The back support adjustment system further includes an adjustable back support system having a housing integral with a back support surface and a tension assembly movable within the housing. Both the tension assembly and the adjustable back support system are adapted to engage the frame so that the movable tension assembly adjusts the tension of the adjustable back support system and the adjustable flexing means controls movement of the flexible suspension system.

Claims

1. A back support adjustment system comprising:

(a) a flexible suspension system having an adjustable and interchangeable flexing means positioned in between a frame and a support member; and

(b) an adjustable back support system having a back support surface and a moveable tension assembly integral within the support surface, both the support surface and the movable tension assembly adapted to engage the frame, whereby the movable tension assembly adjusts the tension across the support surface and the adjustable flexing means controls movement of the flexible suspension system.

2. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame is interchangeable with alternative shaped frames.

3. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support surface is polymer based material, mesh, plastic or fabric.

4. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support surface is mounted to the frame by an attachment system.

5. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the attachment system further comprises a series of posts on the frame that are adapted to engage a series of apertures on a reinforcing member whereby a housing is positioned in between the frame and the reinforcing member.

6. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjustable flexing means further comprises at least two interchangeable and elastomeric grommets adapted to receive an adjustable fastening system and mounted in between the frame and the support member.

7. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the grommets have a grooved circumference, the grooved circumference defining a relief.

8. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the grommets have varying flexibility.

9. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a removable, head support system adapted to engage the frame.

10. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the removable, head support system has a height positioning means and an angle adjusting means.

11. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the angle adjusting means and the height positioning means is actuated by a releasable clamping means.

12. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the height positioning means is further defined as a height positioning clamp and the angle adjusting means is a biased locking mechanism.

13. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tension assembly further comprises a series of securing members, each having a first end adapted to engage a tensioning means, and a second end adapted to engage a releasable locking means mounted in the frame.

14. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the tension assembly is a ratchet assembly or dial-up assembly.

15. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the tensioning means is a series of tensioning members, each having a first end adapted to engage a fixing buckle mounted in the frame, and a second end having an anchor member adapted to engage the first end of the securing member.

16. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the tensioning member is a tensioning zone integral with the back support surface.

17. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the tensioning zone is selected from a group consisting of rigid straps, spring members, elastic webbing, polymer based material, fabric and plastic members.

18. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first end of the securing member further comprises a releasable attachment mechanism for engaging the anchor member.

19. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the securing member has a setting marking for adjusting the hack support adjustment system to different levels of tension and a stopping mechanism.

20. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the releasable locking means is a release-locking mechanism and series of channels adapted to receive the securing, member and engage and release the securing mechanism.

21. A back support adjustment system comprising:

(a) a flexible suspension system having an adjustable and interchangeable flexing means positioned in between a frame and a support member; and

(b) an adjustable back support system having a housing integral with a back support surface and a tension assembly movable within the housing, both the tension assembly and the adjustable back support system adapted to engage the frame, whereby the movable tension assembly adjusts the tension of the adjustable back support system and the adjustable flexing, means controls movement of the flexible suspension system.

22. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the frame is interchangeable with alternative shaped frames.

23. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the support surface is polymer based material, mesh, plastic or fabric.

24. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the support surface is mounted to the frame by an attachment system.

25. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the attachment system further comprises a series of posts on the frame that are adapted to engage a series of apertures on a reinforcing member whereby the housing is positioned in between the frame and the reinforcing member.

26. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the adjustable flexing means further comprises at least two interchangeable and elastomeric grommets adapted to receive an adjustable fastening system and mounted in between the frame and the support member.

29. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 21 further comprising a removable, head support system adapted to engage the frame.

30. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 29 wherein the removable, head support system has a height positioning means and an angle adjusting means.

31. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 30 wherein the angle adjusting means and the height positioning means is actuated by a releasable clamping means.

32. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 31 wherein the height positioning means is further defined as a height position clamp and the angle adjusting means is a biased locking mechanism.

33. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the tension assembly further comprises a series of securing members, each having a first end adapted to engage a tensioning means, and a second end adapted to engage a releasable locking means mounted in the frame.

34. A hack support adjustment system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the tension assembly is a ratchet assembly or dial-up assembly.

35. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 33 wherein the tensioning means is a series of tensioning members, each having a first can adapted to engage a fixing buckle mounted in the frame, and a second end having an anchor member adapted to engage the first end of the securing member.

36. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 35 wherein the tensioning member is selected from a group consisting of rigid straps, spring members, elastic webbing, and plastic members.

37. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 35 wherein the housing further comprises a series of integral channels adapted to accept the series of tensioning members.

38. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 35 wherein the first end of the securing member further comprises a releasable attachment mechanism for engaging the anchor member.

39. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 38 wherein the securing member has a setting marking for adjusting the back support adjustment system to different levels of tension and a stopping mechanism.

40. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 39 wherein the releasable locking means is a release-locking mechanism and a series of channels adapted to receive the securing member and engage and release the securing mechanism.

27. A back support adjustment system as claimed in chum 26 wherein the grommets have a grooved circumference, the grooved circumference defining a relief.

28. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 27 wherein the grommets have varying flexibility.

41. A hack support adjustment system comprising:

(a) a flexible suspension system laving an adjustable and interchangeable flexing means positioned in between a frame and a support member, the adjustable flexing means controls movement of the flexible suspension system; and

(b) a back support surface adapted to engage the frame, the back support surface having a front side and a back side; and

(c) an adjustable back supports system having an adjustable tension assembly mounted to the frame and adapted to engage the back side of the back support surface when the front side of the back support surface is engaged.

42. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the frame is interchangeable with alternative shaped frames.

43. A hack support adjustment system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the back support surface is polymer based material, mesh, plastic or fabric.

44. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the support surface is mounted to the frame by an attachment system.

45. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 44 wherein the attachment system further comprises a series of posts on the frame that are adapted to engage a series of apertures on a reinforcing member whereby the housing is positioned in between the frame and the reinforcing member.

46. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the adjustable flexing means further comprises at least two interchangeable and elastomeric grommets adapted to receive an adjustable fastening system and mounted in between the frame and the support member.

47. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 46 wherein the grommets have a grooved circumference, the grooved circumference defining a relief.

48. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 47 wherein the grommets have varying flexibility.

49. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 41 further comprising a removable, head support system adapted to engage the frame.

50. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 49 wherein the removable, head support system has a height positioning means and an angle adjusting means.

51. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 50 wherein the angle adjusting means and the height positioning means is actuated by a releasable clamping means.

52. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 51 wherein the height positioning means is further defined as a height positioning clamp and the angle adjusting means is a biased locking mechanism.

53. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the tension assembly further comprises a series of securing members, each having a first end adapted to engage as tensioning means, and a second end adapted to engage a releasable locking means mounted in the frame.

54. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 53 wherein the tension assembly is a ratchet assembly or dial-up assembly.

55. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 53 wherein the tensioning means is a series of tensioning members, each having a first end adapted to engage a fixing buckle mounted in the frame, and it second end having an anchor member adapted to engage the first end of the securing member.

56. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 55 wherein the tensioning member is selected from a group consisting of rigid straps, spring members, elastic webbing, and plastic members.

57. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 55 wherein the first end of the securing member further comprises a releasable attachment mechanism for engaging the anchor member.

58. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 57 wherein the securing member has a setting marking for adjusting the back support adjustment system to different levels of tension and a stopping mechanism.

59. A back support adjustment system as claimed in claim 58 wherein the releasable locking means is a release-locking mechanism and series of channels adapted to receive the securing member and engage and release the securing mechanism.