Seating apparatus with reclining movement

• US 8,061,775 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
• Original Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
• Inventors: Diffrient, Niels
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARRETT, ERIKA P
• Application Number:
  US11/425,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 297/285, 297291-293, 297340-341, 2973001-3005
• US Class Current: 297/300.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03272 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03294 slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/033 the coupling member being a flexible strip
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/48 of freely-rotatable type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part

Abstract

The invention provides a seating apparatus having a reclining movement with a corresponding seat lift movement. The apparatus further provides a seating support surface having increased comfort comprising a shaped diaphragm with a series of calculated openings provided throughout.

Claims

1. A seating apparatus comprising:

a) a chair pedestal;

b) a base mounted on the chair pedestal, the base including two upwardly curved extensions;

c) a seat support having a top surface for receiving a seat and a bottom surface;

d) a plurality of rollers attached to the base;

e) a plurality of curved ramps for movably interacting with the plurality of rollers, said ramps being attached to the bottom surface of the seat support;

a back rest support pivotally attached to the upwardly curved extensions;

g) a curved support positioned between, and rigidly connected to, the seat support and the back rest support, wherein the curved support functions as a spring;

h) a back rest tiltably attached to the back rest support; and

i) a seat attached to the top surface of the seat support.

2. The seating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat support, the back rest support, and the spring component comprise a single, integral component.

3. A seating apparatus comprising:

a) a base;

b) a curved support bar having an upper backrest support portion and a lower seat support portion interconnected by a curved portion, wherein the upper backrest support portion is pivotally attached to the base to define a fulcrum about which the curved support bar pivots;

c) one or more ramps attached to the base; and

d) one or more rollers attached to the curved support bar for interacting with the one or more ramps.

4. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, comprising one ramp and one roller for interacting with the ramp.

5. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, comprising two or more ramps and two or more rollers for interacting with the ramps.

6. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the base includes one or more upwardly curved extensions.

7. The seating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the backrest support portion of the curved support bar is pivotally connected to the one or more upwardly curved extensions.

8. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rollers are spherical in shape.

9. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the one or more ramps comprise curved ramps.

10. The seating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the curve of the curved ramps has a radius of about 7 inches to about 9 inches.

11. The seating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the curve of the curved ramps comprises an incline varying over a range of about 8°

to about 30°

.

12. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rollers have a non-uniform shape, and the one or more ramps are substantially linear in shape.

13. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the curved portion of the curved support bar is resilient and functions as a spring.

14. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a back rest tiltably attached to the backrest support portion of the curved support bar.

15. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a seat attached to the seat support portion of the curved support bar.

16. The seating apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the seat is supported entirely by the interaction between the one or more ramps and the one or more motion-facilitating components.

17. The seating apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the seat is slidably attached to the seat support portion of the curved support bar.

18. The seating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising one or more friction-inducing components for interacting with the one or more rollers.

19. A seating apparatus comprising:

a) a chair pedestal;

b) a base mounted on the chair pedestal, the base including two upwardly curved extensions;

c) a seat support having a top surface for receiving a seat and a bottom surface;

d) a plurality of rollers attached to the bottom surface of the seat support;

e) a plurality of curved ramps for movably interacting with the plurality of rollers, said ramps being attached to the base;

f) a back rest support pivotally attached to the upwardly curved extensions;

g) a curved support positioned between, and rigidly connected to, the seat support and the back rest support, wherein the curved support functions as a spring;

h) a back rest tiltably attached to the back rest support; and

i) a seat attached to the top surface of the seat support.

20. A seating apparatus comprising:

a) a base having a left and right upwardly curved extensions;

b) a first support bar, the first support bar comprising;

i. a first backrest support portion pivotally attached to the left upwardly curved extension;

ii. a first seat support portion; and

iii. a first curved portion, wherein the first curved portion interconnects the first backrest support portion and the first seat support portion;

c) a second support bar, the second support bar comprising;

i. a second backrest support portion pivotally attached to the right upwardly curved extension;

ii. a second seat support portion; and

iii. a second curved portion, wherein the second curved portion interconnects the second backrest support portion and the second seat support portion;

d) one or more ramps attached to the first and second seat support portions;

e) one or more motion-facilitating components attached to the base, wherein the one or more motion-facilitating components engage the one or more ramps.

21. The seating apparatus of claim 20, wherein the one or more ramps comprises a first ramp attached to the first seat support portion at a first position.

22. The seating apparatus of claim 20, wherein the one or more ramps comprises a second ramp attached to the first seat support portion at a second position, wherein the second position is spaced apart from the first position.

23. The seating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more ramps further comprises a third ramp attached to the second seat support portion at a third position.

24. The seating apparatus of claim 23, wherein the one or more ramps further comprises a fourth ramp attached to the second seat support portion at a fourth position, wherein the fourth position is spaced apart from the third position.

25. The seating apparatus of claim 24, wherein the one or more motion-facilitating components comprises a first motion-facilitating component engaging the first ramp;

a second motion-facilitating component engaging the second ramp;

a third motion-facilitating component engaging the third ramp; and

a fourth motion-facilitating component engaging the fourth ramp.

26. A seating apparatus, comprising:

a) a base comprising an upwardly curved extension;

b) a curved bar support comprising a backrest support portion and a seat support portion interconnected by a curved portion, wherein the backrest support portion is pivotally attached to the base'"'"'s upwardly curved extension;

c) one or more ramps attached to the curved support bar;

d) one or more rollers attached to the base for interacting with the one or more ramps; and

e) a back rest tiltably attached to the backrest support portion of the curved support bar.

27. The seating apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the one or more rollers are spherical in shape.

28. The seating apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the one or more ramps are curved.

29. The seating apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the radius of curvature of the one or more ramps is about 7 inches to about 9 inches.

30. The seating apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the degree of curvature of the one or more ramps varies over a range of about 8°

to about 30°

.

31. The seating apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the one or more rollers have a non-uniform shape, and the one or more ramps are substantially linear in shape.

32. The seating apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the curved portion of the curved support bar functions as a spring.

33. The seating apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising a seat attached to the seat support portion of the curved support bar.

34. The seating apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the seat is supported entirely by the interaction between the one or more rollers and one or more ramps.

35. The seating apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the seat is slidably attached to the seat support portion of the curved support bar.

36. The seating apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising one or more friction-inducing components operatively engaging the one or more rollers.

37. A seating apparatus, comprising:

a) a base comprising an upwardly curved extension;

b) a curved support bar comprising a backrest support portion and a seat support portion interconnected by a curved portion, wherein the backrest support portion is pivotally attached to the base'"'"'s upwardly curved extension;

c) one or more ramps attached to the base;

d) one or more rollers attached to the curved support bar for interacting with the one or more ramps; and

e) a back rest tiltably attached to the backrest support portion of the curved support bar.

38. The seating apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the one or more rollers are spherical in shape.

39. The seating apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the one or more ramps are curved.

40. The seating apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the radius of curvature of the one or more ramps is about 7 inches to about 9 inches.

41. The seating apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the degree of curvature of the one or more ramps varies over a range of about 8°

to about 30°

.

42. The seating apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the one or more rollers have a non-uniform shape, and the one or more ramps are substantially linear in shape.

43. The seating apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the curved portion of the curved support bar functions as a spring.

44. The seating apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising a seat attached to the seat support portion of the curved support bar.

45. The seating apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the seat is supported entirely by the interaction between the plurality of rollers and plurality of ramps.

46. The seating apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the seat is slidably attached to the seat support portion of the curved support bar.

47. The seating apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising one or more friction-inducing components operatively engaging the one or more rollers.

48. A seating apparatus comprising:

a) a base;

b) a curved support bar having an upper backrest support portion and a lower seat support portion interconnected by a curved portion, wherein the upper backrest support portion is pivotally attached to the base to define a fulcrum about which the curved support bar pivots, and wherein the curved portion of the curved support bar functions as a spring;

c) one or more ramps attached to the curved support bar; and

d) one or more motion-facilitating components attached to the base for interacting with the one or more ramps.

49. The seating apparatus according to claim 48, comprising one ramp and one motion-facilitating component for interacting with the ramp.

50. The seating apparatus according to claim 48, comprising two or more ramps and two or more motion-facilitating components for interacting with the ramps.

51. The seating apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the base includes one or more upwardly curved extensions.

52. The seating apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the backrest support portion of the curved support bar is pivotally connected to the one or more upwardly curved extensions.

53. The seating apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the one or more motion-facilitating components comprise rollers.

54. The seating apparatus according to claim 53, wherein the rollers have a non-uniform shape, and the one or more ramps are substantially linear in shape.

55. The seating apparatus according to claim 53, wherein the rollers are spherical in shape.

56. The seating apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the one or more ramps comprise curved ramps.

57. The seating apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the radius of curvature of the one or more ramps is about 7 inches to about 9 inches.

58. The seating apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the degree of curvature of the one or more ramps varies over a range of about 8°

to about 30°

.

59. The seating apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising a back rest tiltably attached to the backrest support portion of the curved support bar.

60. The seating apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising a seat attached to the seat support portion of the curved support bar.

61. The seating apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the seat is supported entirely by the interaction between the one or more ramps and the one or more motion-facilitating components.

62. The seating apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the seat is slidably attached to the seat support portion of the curved support bar.

63. The seating apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising one or more friction-inducing components for interacting with the one or more motion-facilitating components.

64. A seating apparatus comprising:

a) a base;

b) a curved support bar having an upper backrest support portion and a lower seat support portion interconnected by a resilient curved portion, wherein the upper backrest support portion is pivotally attached to the base to define a fulcrum about which the curved support bar pivots;

c) one or more ramps attached to the base; and

d) one or more rollers attached to the lower seat portion of the curved support bar, wherein the one or more rollers are in operative engagement with the one or more ramps such that the one or more rollers ascend the one or more ramps to lift the lower seat portion as the curved support bar pivots about the fulcrum when a user reclines.

65. The seating apparatus according to claim 64, further comprising one or more friction cups and a biasing mechanism for biasing the one or more friction cups into frictional engagement with the one or more rollers.

66. A seating apparatus comprising:

a) a base;

b) a curved support bar having an upper backrest support portion and a lower seat support portion interconnected by a resilient curved portion, wherein the upper backrest support portion is pivotally attached to the base to define a fulcrum about which the curved support bar pivots;

c) one or more ramps attached to the lower seat portion of the curved support bar; and

d) one or more rollers attached to the base, wherein the one or more rollers are in operative engagement with the one or more ramps such that the one or more rollers ascend the one or more ramps to lift the lower seat portion as the curved support bar pivots about the fulcrum when a user reclines.

67. The seating apparatus according to claim 66, further comprising one or more friction cups and a biasing mechanism for biasing the one or more friction cups into frictional engagement with the one or more rollers.

68. A seating apparatus comprising:

a) a base;

b) a curved support bar having an upper backrest support portion and a lower seat support portion interconnected by a resilient curved portion, wherein the upper backrest support portion is pivotally attached to the base;

c) one or more ramps attached to one of the curved support bar and the base;

d) one or more rollers attached to the other of the curved support bar and the base, wherein the one or more rollers operatively engage the one or more ramps to provide a means for lifting the lower seat support portion as a user reclines; and

e) one or more friction cups frictionally engaging the one or more rollers.