BACK SUPPORT FOR A SEAT

• US 20090236887A1
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synergy Product Development, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Synergy Product Development, Inc.
• Inventors: Lu, Shunjie, Chu, Zooey C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/284.300
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/405 with double backrests
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/465 by pulling an elastic cable

Abstract

An self adjusting back support assembly for a seat is provided comprising a plurality of pivotally adjustable back support members juxtaposed one another such that each of said back support members is able to pivot about an axis contained wholly within an adjacent back support member allowing the back support assembly to adopt a serpentine contour substantially following a contour of an occupant'"'"'s back.

Claims

1. ) A seat, comprising:

a base assembly;

a seat assembly interconnected to said base assembly;

a back support assembly extending upwardly from one of said base assembly and said seat assembly, said back support assembly having a first end and a second end and including a back support having a first end coupled to a first end of said back support assembly, and a second end coupled to said second end of said back support assembly, said back support including a plurality of back support members juxtaposed in a linear manner between said first and second ends of said back support assembly each of said plurality of back support members having a longitudinal surface for interacting with an adjacent back support member;

a clamping assembly disposed within said back support assembly for selectively placing said plurality of back support members in and out of compression relative to one another and selectively fixing a relative position of each back member relative to an adjacent back member; and

at least one biasing member disposed within said back support assembly for providing a resistive and restoring force to said plurality of back members.

2. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of back members further include a plurality of transverse passages for receiving at least one of said clamping assembly and said at least one biasing member there through.

3. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal surface of each of said plurality of back members include one of ridges and channels adapted to engage a corresponding opposite structure in an adjacent back member.

4. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal surface of each of said plurality of back members further include a plurality of longitudinal splines.

5. ) The seat as defined in claim 1l wherein said longitudinal surface of a first plurality of said back members further include at least one of a groove and ridge disposed at an angle to said longitudinal surface.

6. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein a first plurality of said back members include at least one convex surface.

7. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein a first plurality of said back members include at least one concave surface.

8. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein a first plurality of said back members include circular cylindrical bodies.

9. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein a first plurality of said back members include rectangular solid bodies.

10. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein a first plurality of said back members include polygonal solid bodies.

11. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein a first plurality of said back members include at least two opposing concave surfaces.

12. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said clamp member includes one of a cable and rod extending through said plurality of back members.

13. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, further including means for placing said clamp member under tension.

14. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one biasing member includes one of a leaf spring, a coil spring, a rod spring, and a blade spring.

15. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lateral support members extending from a plurality of said plurality of back members.

16. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one biasing member includes one of a leaf spring, a coil spring, and a rod spring, and blade spring lateral in relation to said clamping member.

17. ) The seat as defined in claim 1, further comprising a lateral support extending from each end of one or more of said back support members.

18. ) The seat as defined in claim 2, wherein said plurality of transverse passages include at least one central passage extending vertically through each support member, and a least one outboard passage extending through each support member and generally parallel to said at least one central passage.

19. ) The seat as defined in claim 4, wherein said plurality of splines on each support member are adapted to engage said plurality of splines on a juxtaposed member.

20. ) The seat as defined in claim 5, wherein said at least one of a circumferential groove and ridge includes a frustum-shaped cross section.

21. ) The seat as defined in claim 5, wherein said second plurality of said back members further include at least one of a circumferential groove and ridge.

22. ) The seat as defined in claim 6, wherein said at least one of a circumferential groove and ridge includes a frustum-shaped cross section.

23. ) The seat as defined in claim 12, wherein said clamping member extends through an intermediate portion of said plurality of back members.

24. ) The seat as defined in claim 12, wherein said clamping member extends through an end portion of said plurality of back members.

25. ) A back assembly for a seat, comprising:

a frame assembly adapted to be connected to one of a seat assembly and a base assembly of the seat, said frame assembly having an upper end and a lower end;

a back support assembly having a length greater than said frame assembly and having a first end attached to an upper end of said frame assembly, and a second end attached to a lower end of said frame assembly, said back support assembly comprising a plurality of back members arranged in linear juxtaposed relationship along the length of said back support assembly;

a tensioning assembly extending through each of said back members for selectively placing said plurality of back members in and out of compression relative to one another; and

at least one biasing member extending through each of said back members for providing a resistive and restoring force to said back support assembly.

26. ) The back assembly for a seat as defined in claim 25, further comprising lateral supports extending from opposite ends of said back members.

27. ) The back assembly as defined in claim 25, wherein said frame assembly comprises:

a first leg member adapted to be attached to one of a seat assembly and a base assembly of the seat, and a second leg member extending generally upright from said first leg member; and

first and second coupling flanges disposed at opposite ends of said second leg member.

28. ) The back assembly as defined in claim 27, wherein said back support assembly comprises:

an upper anchor member for attaching said back support assembly to said first coupling flange; and

a lower anchor member for attaching said back support assembly to said second coupling flange.

29. ) The back assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said back support assembly further comprises:

a first plurality of back members disposed intermediate said upper anchor member and said lower anchor member; and

a second plurality of back members disposed intermediate said upper anchor member and said lower anchor member and juxtaposed in alternating linear spaced relationship to one another.

30. ) The back assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said back support assembly further comprises a plurality of substantially similar back members juxtaposed one another in a linear fashion between said upper anchor member and said lower anchor member, each said back member having one of a convex and a concave surface.

31. ) The back assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said back support assembly further comprises interference structures defined on said back members.

32. ) A back member for a back assembly, comprising:

a back member having a body including one of a convex and a concave surface for engaging an adjacent back member; and

a plurality of passages extending through said body of each back member for receiving at least one of a biasing member and a tensioning member;

33. ) The back member as defined in claim 32, further comprising at least one interference structure defined in a surface of said body.

34. ) The back member as defined in claim 32, further comprising a width of said body being greater than a height of said body and said height being greater that a depth of said body.

35. ) The back member as defined in claim 32, further comprising a lateral support extending from each end of said body.

36. ) A back support assembly for a seat, comprising a plurality of back members disposed juxtaposed one another in linear fashion defining a first end and a second end, a first of said plurality of back members adapted to pivot about an axis contained within a second of said plurality of back members.

37. ) A self adjusting back support assembly for a seat, comprising:

a plurality of pivotally adjustable back members juxtaposed one another wherein each of said back members is able to pivot about an axis contained wholly within an adjacent one of said back members allowing the back support assembly to adopt a serpentine contour substantially following a contour of an occupant'"'"'s back.