Chairs and seats – Movable bottom – Tiltable
Patent
1997-06-30
1999-05-04
Brown, Peter R.
Chairs and seats
Movable bottom
Tiltable
297326, 2974631, A47C 102
Patent
active
058995307
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a control mechanism for a seating unit. In one embodiment, this invention relates to an actuating mechanism including a button which may be positioned in the arm of a chair, such as a pedestal-type office chair, for adjusting the inclination from the horizontal of the seat member of the chair. In another embodiment, this invention relates to an actuating mechanism including a button which may be positioned in the arm of a chair, such as a pedestal-type office chair, for adjusting the inclination of the chair back member. In another embodiment, the button is movable between a first position and a second position and may be retained in both the first position and the second position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many chairs which are used in a commercial environment, such as office chairs, chairs for computer data entry operators and chairs for operators of industrial plant process control equipment, are adjustable so that the chair will provide comfortable support to the user for an extended period of time. Accordingly, such chairs typically have a mechanism for adjusting the height of the chair. In addition, the chairs may include a mechanism for permitting the back support member of the chair to tilt relative to the seat member. Further, the chairs may provide a mechanism to permit the seat member of the chair to tilt so that the chair may be rocked backwards and/or forwards.
Typically, office chairs comprise a wheeled base, the seat member of the chair (which may include a back rest member) and a support leg extending between the wheeled base and the seat member. The height adjustment mechanism may employ a telescoping pneumatic cylinder which forms a part of, or may consist of, the support leg. These cylinders have a valve release pin provided thereon. The cylinder is generally in a locked condition but, when the valve release pin is depressed, the cylinder is unlocked typically permitting it to telescopically extend upwardly due to the force exerted by the pressurized fluid in the cylinder or contract downwardly due to, for example, a user sitting in the chair.
One mechanism which has been utilized to provide a tilt mechanism for the seat member of a chair comprises mounting the seat member on the support leg. A spring is provided so as to bias the seat member to the horizontal position. When the user leans backwardly in the chair, the users exerts a force greater than the biasing force of the spring thus causing the seat member to tilt rearwardly. An arm member positioned under the seat member may be used to lock the chair into the at rest, horizontal position. One disadvantage with this design is that the chair may not be fixed in an inclined position. Accordingly, if the user wishes to maintain the chair in an inclined position, they must continuously exert pressure against the spring.
Buchacz (U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,484) discloses an adjustable sitting device. The seat and/or back rest member of this device are turnable about an axis that is essentially coincident with an imaginary axis through the hip joints of the user. Slide members are provided so that the seat and back rest members of the chair are mounted for slidable movement with respect to each other. Movement of these members is controlled by locking means which interacts with the slide members and a gas cylinder.
Ishida (U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,714) discloses a rocking movable chair. The chair has a leg portion on which is mounted a circular arc surface. The seat member is mounted for travel along the circular arc surface. A spring is provided to bias the seat member in one direction during the rocking movement. A locking device utilizing a gas cylinder is provided to lock the rocking movement at a desired position.
Meiller et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,065) discloses an office chair, the back rest member of which and the seat member of which may be adjusted by means of gas spring unit. Meiller et al discloses a locking member which utilizes a single actuating lever to adjust the inclination of t
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Brown Peter R.
da Costa Philip Mendes
Global Upholstery Company
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