Seating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10143308-B2
Application number	US-201615218958-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2016
Priority date	Jul 23, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A seating device includes a base and a seat post extending from the base. The seat post has a first end adjacent the base, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. The seating device further includes a seat supported by the seat post above the base and a first rocking assembly coupled to the base and the first end of the seat post. The first rocking assembly is operable to angularly displace the seat post relative to the base. The seating device further includes a second rocking assembly coupled to the seat and the second end of the seat post. The second rocking assembly is operable to angularly displace the seat relative to the seat post.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seating device comprising:
a base;
a seat post extending from the base, the seat post having a first end adjacent the base, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;
a seat supported by the seat post above the base;
a first rocking assembly coupled to the base and the first end of the seat post, the first rocking assembly operable to angularly displace the seat post relative to the base; and
a second rocking assembly coupled to the seat and the second end of the seat post, the second rocking assembly operable to angularly displace the seat relative to the seat post,
wherein the first rocking assembly restricts the seat post to only move forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base with respect to a user seated in the seat.

2. The seating device of claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to support the seating device on a support surface, wherein the first rocking assembly pivots the seat post between a first position, in which the longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the support surface, and a second position, in which the longitudinal axis is obliquely angled relative to the support surface.

3. The seating device of claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the seat defines a plane, wherein second rocking assembly pivots the seat between a first position, in which the longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the plane, and a second position, in which the longitudinal axis is obliquely angled relative to the plane.

4. The seating device of claim 1 , wherein the first rocking assembly and the second rocking assembly move independently of each other.

5. The seating device of claim 1 , wherein the seat post is vertically adjustable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

6. The seating device of claim 1 , wherein the seat includes a back support.

7. The seating device of claim 1 , wherein the first rocking assembly includes
a first cam coupled to the first end of the seat post, and
a first cam follower coupled to the base and engaging the first cam, wherein the second rocking assembly includes
a second cam coupled to the seat, and
a second cam follower coupled to the second end of the seat post and engaging the second cam.

8. The seating device of claim 7 , wherein the first cam and the first cam follower each include engagement elements that are meshed together to inhibit slippage between the first cam and the first cam follower, and wherein the second cam and the second cam follower each include engagement elements that are meshed together to inhibit slippage between the second cam and the second cam follower.

9. The seating device of claim 8 , wherein the engagement elements of the first cam, the first cam follower, the second cam, and the second cam follower are teeth.

10. The seating device of claim 7 , wherein the first rocking assembly includes a first energy storage member coupled to the first cam and the first cam follower to urge the first cam follower into engagement with the first cam, and wherein the second rocking assembly includes a second energy storage member coupled to the second cam and the second cam member to urge the second cam follower into engagement with the second cam.

11. The seating device of claim 10 , wherein the first energy storage member and the second energy storage member are composed of an elastomeric material.

12. The seating device of claim 7 , wherein the first rocking assembly includes a first rigid link coupled to the first cam and the first cam follower to limit displacement of the first cam follower relative to the first cam, and wherein the second rocking assembly includes a second rigid link coupled between the second cam and the second cam follower to limit displacement of the second cam follower relative to the second cam.

13. A seating device comprising:
a base supported on a ground surface;
a seat post extending from the base, the seat post having a first end adjacent the base, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;
a seat supported by the seat post above the base;
a first member configured to be coupled to the first end of the seat post;
a second member configured to be coupled to the base, wherein the first member is movable relative to the second member to change an orientation of the seat post relative to the base between a first angle relative to the ground surface and a second angle relative to the ground surface that is different than the first angle;
a rigid link coupled between the first member and the second member to limit movement of the first member relative to the second member; and
an energy storage member coupled to the first member and the second member to urge the seat post toward the first position.

14. The seating device of claim 13 , wherein the energy storage member is composed of an elastomeric material.

15. The seating device of claim 13 , wherein the first member is a cam having a cam surface with a first series of engagement elements formed on the cam surface.

16. The seating device of claim 15 , wherein the second member is a cam follower having a planar surface with a second series of engagement elements intermeshed with the first series of engagement elements of the cam surface.

17. The seating device of claim 16 , wherein the cam surface is convex toward the cam follower.

18. A seating device comprising:
a base;
a plurality of wheels coupled to the base for supporting the base on a support surface;
a seat post extending from the base, the seat post having a first end adjacent the base, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;
a seat supported by the seat post above the base;
a first rocking assembly operable to angularly displace the seat post relative to the base, the first rocking assembly including
a first cam coupled to the first end of the seat post,
a first cam follower coupled to the base and engaging the first cam, and
a first energy storage member coupled to the first cam and the first cam follower to maintain contact between the first cam and the first cam follower; and

a second rocking assembly operable to angularly displace the seat relative to the seat post, the second rocking assembly including
a second cam coupled to the seat,
a second cam follower coupled to the second end of the seat post and engaging the second cam, and
a second energy storage member coupled to the second cam and the second cam follower to maintain contact between the second cam and the second cam follower.

19. The seating device of claim 18 , wherein the first rocking assembly includes a first rigid link coupled to the first cam and the first cam follower to limit displacement of the first cam relative to the first cam follower, and wherein the second rocking assembly includes a second rigid link coupled to the second cam and the second cam follower to limit displacement of the second cam relative to the second cam follower.

Assignees

• Miller Herman Inc

Inventors

• Walker Brock
• Goetz Mark

Classifications

• A47C3/18

  Chairs or stools with rotatable seat (adjustable in height by rotation A47C3/24) · CPC title

• A47C7/50

  Supports for the feet or the legs (reclining or easy chairs having coupled adjustable supporting parts including a leg-rest or foot-rest A47C1/034; reclining or easy chairs having coupled adjustable supporting parts including a head-rest in combination with a leg-rest or foot-rest A47C1/037) · CPC title

• A47C3/0252

  connected only by an elastic member positioned between seat and base frame · CPC title

• A47C1/032 Primary

  the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest (A47C1/035 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47C3/30 Primary

  with vertically-acting fluid cylinder · CPC title