Chair with conforming seat

• US 20030137171A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimball International Incorporated (HNI Corporation)
• Inventors: Hatcher, Stephen D., Schweikarth, Derek, Deimen, Michael L., Hasenour, Joseph G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,811,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/18 Chairs or stools with rotatable seat adjustable in height by rotation A47C3/24
• 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

Abstract

A task chair including a seat support structure, and a seat supported by the seat support structure and having a seating surface which may ergonomically conform to a seated user. The seating surface includes rigid and flexible portions connected to one another, the flexible portions allowing resilient flexing of the seating surface to create conformance zones which dynamically support a seated user in an ergonomic manner.

Claims

1. A chair, comprising:

seat support structure; and

a seat supported by said seat support structure, said seat including a flexible portion and at least one rigid portion, said seat resiliently movable between a first position in which said seat has a substantially flattened shape, and a second position in which opposite sides of a front portion of said seat are flexed downwardly about a central portion of said seat to form a saddle-like shape.

2. The chair of claim 1, wherein said flexible portion is made from one of a flexible urethane material and a flexible silicone material.

3. The chair of claim 2, wherein said rigid portion is embedded within said flexible portion, said flexible portion at least partially surrounding said rigid portion.

4. The chair of claim 2, wherein said rigid portion is made from one of a metal, a rigid plastic material, and wood.

5. The chair of claim 1, wherein said seat support structure comprises a rigid support member disposed centrally beneath said seat, said rigid support member supporting said central portion of said seat in said second position, wherein said opposite sides of said seat flex downwardly about said rigid support member.

6. The chair of claim 1, wherein said rigid portion comprises two rigid members disposed along opposite sides of said seat.

7. The chair of claim 1, wherein said flexible portion occupies an area of said seat which is normally disposed beneath the ischium of a user seated upon said seat.

8. The chair of claim 1, wherein said rigid portion includes a cutout which is positioned in an area of said seat which is normally disposed beneath the ischium of a user seated upon said seat, said flexible portion at least partially filling said cutout.

9. The chair of claim 1, wherein said seat support structure comprises a flex lockout mechanism, said flex lockout mechanism moveable between a first position in which said lockout mechanism prevents flexing of said seat and a second position in which said lockout mechanism permits flexing of said seat.

10. The chair of claim 1, wherein said seat support structure includes a caster wheel assembly having a height-adjustable pneumatic cylinder extending upwardly therefrom, said cylinder including an upper end operably supporting said seating surface.

11. The chair of claim 1, wherein said seat support structure includes a pair of uprights disposed on opposite sides of said seat, and a backrest pivotally connected to said uprights.

12. A chair, comprising:

seat support structure; and

a seat supported by said seat support structure, said seat formed of a flexible material having at least one rigid member embedded therein, said seat resiliently movable between an unflexed position and a flexed position in which opposite sides of a front portion of said seat are flexed downwardly about a central portion of said seat to provide a saddle-like shape.

13. The chair of claim 12, wherein said seat support structure comprises a rigid support member disposed centrally beneath said seat, said rigid support member supporting said central portion of said seat in said flexed position wherein said opposite sides of a front portion of said seat flex downwardly about said rigid support member.

14. The chair of claim 12, wherein said flexible portion is made from one of a flexible urethane material and a flexible silicone material, said material molded around each of said rigid members.

15. The chair of claim 12, wherein said flexible portion occupies an area of said seat which is normally disposed beneath the ischium of a user seated upon said seat.

16. The chair of claim 12, wherein said seat support structure comprises a flex lockout mechanism, said flex lockout mechanism moveable between a first position in which said lockout mechanism prevents flexing of said seat and a second position in which said lockout mechanism permits flexing of said seat.

17. A chair, comprising:

seat support structure including a rigid support member; and

a seat supported by said seat support structure, said seat comprising;

a flexible portion disposed centrally within said seat, said flexible portion supported by said rigid support member;

a rigid portion disposed along each side portion of said seat opposite said flexible portion, said seat resiliently movable between an unflexed position and a flexed position in which said side portions of said seat flex downwardly about opposite sides of said flexible portion to form a saddle-like shape.

18. The chair of claim 17, wherein said flexible material is one of a flexible urethane material and a flexible silicone material, said rigid portions embedded within said flexible material.

19. The chair of claim 17, wherein said flexible portion occupies an area of said seat which is normally disposed beneath the ischium of a user seated upon said seat.

20. The chair of claim 17, wherein said seat support structure comprises a flex lockout mechanism, said flex lockout mechanism moveable between a first position in which said lockout mechanism prevents flexing of said seat and a second position in which said lockout mechanism permits flexing of said seat.