Chair with articulating backrest

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10299595-B2
Application number	US-201715619183-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2017
Priority date	Jun 11, 2016
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A chair having an articulating backrest that deforms when reclined to support an occupant's head or shoulders. A backrest assembly includes a mesh insert secured to a frame, which includes an upper frame section and a lower frame section interconnected by a pair of articulated joints. A push arm pivotally connects to the chair's seat assembly and to the backrest's upper frame section. As the chair reclines, the push arm restricts the angular movement of the upper frame section relative to a floor. The lower frame section moves forward relative to the upper frame section. Consequently, an angle formed between the lower frame section and the upper frame section decreases during recline, thereby supporting the chair occupant's head or shoulders. Optionally, a tensioning member may connect the mesh insert to the push arm to offset any loss of tension caused by the deformation of the frame during reclined.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chair comprising:
a seat assembly including a seat;
a backrest assembly comprising an articulating backrest operatively connected to a backrest support, wherein the articulating backrest comprises a mesh insert secured to a frame, wherein the frame comprises an upper frame section and a lower frame section interconnected by a pair of articulated joints, and wherein the backrest support is pivotally connected to the seat assembly and pivotally connected to the lower frame section; and
a push arm pivotally connected to the seat assembly and pivotally connected to the upper frame section such that the push arm causes the articulating backrest to deform as the chair is reclined.

2. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the mesh insert comprises a unitary mesh insert secured to the upper frame section and the lower frame section.

3. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the articulating backrest deforms when the chair reclines to decrease an angle between the upper frame section and the lower frame section, wherein a line substantially parallel to the upper frame section and a line substantially parallel to the lower frame section intersect at an intersection point to form the angle.

4. The chair of claim 3 , further comprising a tension member having a first end secured to the upper frame section and a second end secured to the mesh insert to maintain tension in the mesh insert when the chair is in a reclined state.

5. The chair of claim 3 , further comprising a tension member having a first end secured to an upper end of the push arm and a second end secured to the mesh insert to maintain tension in the mesh insert when the chair is in a reclined state.

6. The chair of claim 5 , further including a second tension member having a first end secured to an upper end of the push arm and a second end secured to the mesh insert.

7. The chair of claim 6 , wherein the mesh insert includes a first mesh panel, a second mesh panel, a third mesh panel, a first seam interconnecting the first mesh panel and the second mesh panel, and a second seam interconnecting the second mesh panel and the third mesh panel, and wherein the second end of the tension member is attached to the first seam and the second end of the second tension member is attached to the second seam.

8. The chair of claim 5 , wherein the pair of articulated joints each comprises a flexible connector.

9. The chair of claim 8 , wherein each of the flexible connectors comprises a longitudinal recess having a portion of the mesh insert disposed therein.

10. The chair of claim 8 , wherein each of the flexible connectors comprises a sinusoidal member formed of a flexible material.

11. The chair of claim 10 , wherein the sinusoidal member is at least partially housed within a sleeve.

12. The chair of claim 5 , wherein the backrest support comprises a U-shaped member having a base and two ends, wherein the base is pivotally connected to the seat assembly and each of the ends is pivotally connected to the lower frame section of the articulating backrest.

13. A chair comprising:
a seat assembly;
a backrest assembly comprising an articulating backrest operatively connected to a backrest support, wherein the articulating backrest includes a mesh insert secured to a frame, wherein the frame comprises an upper frame section and a lower frame section interconnected by a pair of articulated joints, and wherein the backrest support is pivotally connected to the seat assembly and pivotally connected to the lower frame section; and
a push arm pivotally connected to the seat assembly and pivotally connected to the upper frame section such that the push arm causes the articulating backrest to deform as the chair is reclined.

14. The chair of claim 13 , wherein the articulating backrest deforms when the chair reclines to decrease an angle between the upper frame section and the lower frame section, wherein a line substantially parallel to the upper frame section and a line substantially parallel to the lower frame section intersect at an intersection point to form the angle.

15. The chair of claim 14 , further comprising a tension member having a first end secured to an upper end of the push arm and a second end secured to the mesh insert to maintain tension in the mesh insert when the chair is in a reclined state.

16. The chair of claim 15 , wherein the pair of articulated joints each comprises a flexible connector.

17. The chair of claim 16 , wherein each of the flexible connectors comprises a longitudinal recess having a portion of the mesh insert disposed therein.

18. The chair of claim 16 , wherein each of the flexible connectors comprises a sinusoidal member formed of a flexible material.

19. The chair of claim 18 , wherein the sinusoidal member is at least partially housed within a sleeve.

20. A chair comprising:
a seat assembly;
a backrest assembly pivotally connected to the seat assembly, the backrest assembly comprising an articulating backrest having a mesh insert secured to a frame, wherein the frame comprises an upper frame section and a lower frame section interconnected by a pair of articulated joints;
a push arm pivotally connected to the seat assembly and pivotally connected to the upper frame section such that the push arm causes the articulating backrest to deform as the chair is reclined; and
a tension member secured to the push arm and the mesh insert to maintain tension in the mesh insert when the chair is reclined.

21. The chair of claim 20 , wherein the articulating backrest deforms when the chair reclines to decrease an angle between the upper frame section and the lower frame section, wherein a line substantially parallel to the upper frame section and a line substantially parallel to the lower frame section intersect at an intersection point to form the angle.

22. The chair of claim 21 , wherein the pair of articulated joints each comprises a flexible connector.

23. The chair of claim 22 , wherein each of the flexible connectors comprises a longitudinal recess having a portion of the mesh insert disposed therein.

24. The chair of claim 22 , wherein each of the flexible connectors comprises a sinusoidal member formed of a flexible material.

Assignees

• Humanscale Corp

Inventors

• Diffrient Niels
• Sortor James
• Smith Shaun
• Vardar Mesve
• Theesfeld Jeff
• Brechbill Cory

Classifications

• A47C7/40

  for the back · CPC title

• A47C7/445

  with bar or leaf springs · CPC title

• A47C3/026

  with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs; Tilting chairs · CPC title

• A47C7/448

  with resilient blocks · CPC title

• A47C7/44

  with elastically-mounted frame · CPC title