Control assembly for chair

• US 9,526,339 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Battey, Robert J., Karsten, Gary L., Heidmann, Kurt R., Andres, Todd T.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US14/733,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20150265053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 297/285, 297/296
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/024 the parts, being the back-rest, or the back-rest and seat unit, having adjustable and lockable inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03 the parts being arm-rests conversion into a bed A47C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0307 adjustable rectilinearly in horizontal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0308 adjustable by rotation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03261 characterised by elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03266 with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03272 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03274 of torsion type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/14 Beach chairs ; Chairs for outdoor use, e.g. chairs for relaxation or sun-tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/20 Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats tables with variable height A47B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/30 with vertically-acting fluid cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/02 Upholstery attaching means quilting, quilting means, fastening, fixing or finishing upholstery B68G7/00
• 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 5/00 Chairs of special materials
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/12 of plastics, with or without reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/006 with castors
• 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 7/185 : with a stiff, rigid support
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/24 : Upholstered seats A47C7/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/40 : for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/44 : with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/441 : with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/443 : with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 : with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/462 : adjustable by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/54 : Supports for the arms
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/12 : Other elements specially adapted for fastening, fixing, or finishing, in upholstery work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 : Method
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 : by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A control assembly for a chair including a base structure including a first pivot point and a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point, and a seat support structure directly pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the first pivot point, a back support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the second pivot point, wherein the back support structure is adapted to move between a first and second position, a control link having a first end operably coupled to the seat support structure, and a second end operably coupled to the back support structure, and a biasing assembly exerting a biasing torque about the second pivot point that biases the back support structure from the second position toward the first position, wherein the biasing torque is adjustable between first and second magnitudes when the back support structure is in the first position.

Claims

1. A control assembly for a chair, comprising:

a base structure;

a seat support structure coupled to the base structure, wherein the seat support structure is adapted to support a seated user thereon;

a back support structure movably coupled to the base structure, wherein the back support structure moves between an upright position and a reclined position; and

at least one biasing assembly exerting a biasing torque that biases the back support structure from the reclined position towards the upright position, wherein the biasing torque is adjustable between first and second magnitudes, and wherein the second magnitude is more than double the first magnitude when the back support structure is in at least one of the upright and reclined positions.

2. The control assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the second magnitude of the biasing torque is more than double the first magnitude of the biasing torque when the back support structure is in the upright position and when the back support structure is in the reclined position.

3. The control assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the magnitude of the biasing torque increases from an upright torque when the back support structure is in the upright position to a reclined torque when the back support structure is in the reclined position.

4. The control assembly of claim 3, wherein:

the reclined torque is less than twice the upright torque when the biasing torque is adjusted to the first magnitude.

5. The control assembly of claim 3, wherein:

the reclined torque is about 43% greater than the upright torque when the biasing torque is adjusted to the first magnitude.

6. The control assembly of claim 3, wherein:

the reclined torque is less than twice the upright torque when the biasing torque is adjusted to the second magnitude.

7. The control assembly of claim 6, wherein:

the reclined torque is about 75% greater than the upright torque when the biasing torque is adjusted to the second magnitude.

8. The control assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an adjustment assembly operably coupled to the at least one biasing assembly to adjust the biasing torque between the first and second magnitudes, wherein the adjustment assembly adjusts the at least one biasing assembly between a first configuration corresponding to the first magnitude of the biasing force and a second configuration corresponding to the second magnitude of the biasing force.

9. The control assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the adjustment assembly includes a movable input member that changes the magnitude of the biasing torque upon movement of the movable input member between a first position and a second position.

10. The control assembly of claim 9, wherein:

the biasing torque is generated by a spring member having a first end, a second end and a length defined between the first end and the second end, and wherein a change in the length of the spring member changes the magnitude of the biasing torque between the first and second magnitudes.

11. The control assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the seat support structure is pivotably coupled to the base structure and rotates between the upright and reclined positions.

12. A control assembly for a chair, comprising:

a base structure including a ground-abutting support structure;

a seat support structure coupled to the base structure, wherein the seat support structure is adapted to support a seated user thereon;

a back support structure movably coupled to the base structure for movement between an upright position and a reclined position; and

at least one biasing assembly exerting a biasing torque that biases the back support structure from the reclined position towards the upright position, wherein the biasing torque is adjustable between first and second magnitudes, and wherein the second magnitude is greater than the first magnitude, and wherein, when the biasing torque is adjusted to the first magnitude, the biasing torque increases from a first upright torque when the back support structure is in the upright position to a first reclined torque when the back support structure is in the reclined position, and wherein the first reclined torque is less than twice the first upright torque.

13. The control assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the first reclined torque is about 43% greater than the first upright torque.

14. The control assembly of claim 12, wherein:

when the biasing torque is adjusted to the second magnitude, the biasing torque increases from a second upright torque when the back support structure is in an upright position to a second reclined torque when the back support structure is in the reclined position, and wherein the second reclined torque is less than twice the second upright torque.

15. The control assembly of claim 14, wherein:

the second reclined torque is about 75% greater than the second upright torque.

16. The control assembly of claim 14, wherein:

when the biasing torque is adjusted to the first magnitude, the biasing torque increases linearly from the first upright torque to the first reclined torque to define a first slope;

and wherein, when the biasing torque is adjusted to the second magnitude, the biasing torque increases linearly from the second upright torque to the second reclined torque to define a second slope; and

wherein the second slope is more than twice the first slope.

17. The control assembly of claim 16, wherein:

the second slope is about four times the first slope.

18. The control assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

an adjustment assembly operably coupled to the at least one biasing assembly to adjust the biasing torque between the first and second magnitudes, wherein the adjustment assembly adjusts the at least one biasing assembly between a first configuration corresponding to the first magnitude of the biasing force and a second configuration corresponding to the second magnitude of the biasing force.

19. The control assembly of claim 18, wherein:

the biasing torque is generated by a spring member having a first end, a second end and a length defined between the first end and the second end, and wherein a change in the length of the spring member changes the magnitude of the biasing torque between the first and second magnitudes.

20. The control assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the seat support structure is pivotably coupled to the base structure and rotates between the upright and reclined positions.