CHAIR CONSTRUCTION

• US 20180177301A1
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Published: 06/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Norman, Christopher J., Deevers, Nickolaus William Charles, Quigley, Todd, Dinneweth, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,674,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03 the parts being arm-rests conversion into a bed A47C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0305 by peg-and-notch or pawl-and-ratchet mechanism
• 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 7/24 Upholstered seats A47C7/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/28 with tensioned springs, e.g. of flat type
• 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 7/465 by pulling an elastic cable
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/467 adjustable by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6027 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like

Abstract

A chair back assembly includes a frame assembly including a pair of slots extending through the frame assembly, a first location positioned between the pair of slots, and a pair of second locations located outward of an outer periphery of the frame assembly, and a vertically adjustable lumbar assembly configured to support a lumbar area of a seated user and including a central portion and a pair of end portions slidably engaging the central portion, the central portion located in the first location and the end portions located in the second locations, wherein the pair of end portion are slidably moveable within the slots between a first position and a second position that is different than the first position.

Claims

1. A chair back assembly, comprising:

a frame assembly including a pair of slots extending through the frame assembly, a first location positioned between the pair of slots, and a pair of second locations located outward of an outer periphery of the frame assembly; and

a vertically adjustable lumbar assembly configured to support a lumbar area of a seated user and including a central portion and a pair of end portions slidably engaging the central portion, the central portion located in the first location and the end portions located in the second locations, wherein the pair of end portions are slidably moveable within the slots between a first position and a second position that is different than the first position.

2. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein pair of end portions each include a handle configured to be grasped by a user.

3. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly includes a substantially rigid back from that includes the pair of slots.

4. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein a lateral distance between the pair of slots changes along a length of the pair of slots.

5. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein the lumbar assembly includes at least one biasing member configured to bias the lumbar assembly in a forward direction.

6. The chair back assembly of claim 5, wherein the frame assembly includes a back frame including a pair of substantially vertical side portions, and a pair of guide members separate from the side portion, and wherein the lumbar assembly is sandwiched between the side portions and the guide members.

7. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein chair back assembly further comprises a substantial flexible back shell member having a forwardly-facing surface configured to support a seated user.

8. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein the lumbar assembly is configured to abut the frame assembly to laterally center the lumbar assembly with respect to the frame assembly as the lumbar assembly is vertically adjusted.

9. The chair back assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly includes a frame member defining a central opening, and wherein the lumbar assembly is positioned with the central opening.

10. An office chair assembly comprising the chair back assembly of claim 1.

18. An office chair assembly comprising the chair back assembly of claim 1.

20. An office chair assembly comprising the chair back assembly of claim 1.

11. A chair back assembly, comprising:

a frame assembly including a first side and a second side laterally spaced from the first side; and

a lumbar assembly, comprising;

a shell including a forward surface configured to support a seated user, a rear surface opposite the forward surface, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a pair of interior pockets extending between the first end and the second end; and

a pair of leaf springs located within the pair of interior pockets, wherein the pair of leaf springs extend between the first end and the second end of the shell and are configured to bias the forward surface of the shell in a forward direction, and wherein the forward surface of the shell overlays a majority of the pair of leaf springs.

12. The chair back assembly of claim 11, wherein the shell entirely overlays the pair of leaf springs.

13. The chair back assembly of claim 11, wherein the shell includes a front shell member and a rear shell member coupled to one another.

14. The chair back assembly of claim 11, wherein the lumbar assembly is configured to be vertically repositioned with respect to the frame assembly.

15. The chair back assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

a substantially flexible back shell member configured to support a seated user.

16. The chair back assembly of claim 15, wherein the frame assembly includes a substantially rigid frame.

17. The chair back assembly of claim 16, wherein the frame member defines a central opening, and wherein the lumbar assembly is positioned within the central opening.

19. A chair back assembly, comprising:

a substantially rigid frame including a first side including a first slot extending therethrough and second side laterally spaced from the first side and including a second slot extending therethrough, wherein a lateral distance between the pair of slots changes along a length of the pair of slots, and wherein the frame defines a central opening;

a substantially flexible back shell member coupled to the frame and configured to support a seated user; and

a vertically adjustable lumbar assembly, comprising;

a lumbar shell including a forward surface configured to support a lumbar area of a seated user, a rear surface opposite the forward surface, a central portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a pair of interior pockets extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the lumbar shell is positioned within the central opening of the frame;

a pair of handles slidably coupled to the first end and the second end and configured to be grasped by a user, wherein the pair of handles are positioned outside of the central opening of the frame;

including central portion and a pair of end portions slidably engaging the central portion, the central portion located in the first location and the end portions located in the second locations, wherein the pair of end portion are slidably moveable within the slots between a first position and a second position that is different than the first position; and

a pair of leaf springs located within the pair of interior pockets, wherein the pair of leaf springs extend between the first end and the second end of the lumbar shell and are configured to bias the forward surface of the lumbar shell in a forward direction.