Chair construction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10674826-B2
Application number	US-201815879879-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2018
Priority date	Sep 21, 2012
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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, and wherein a lateral distance between the pair of slots changes along a length of the pair of slots such that movement of the end portions between the first and second positions causes at least one of the end portions to slide with respect to the central portion.

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 the lumbar assembly includes at least one biasing member configured to bias the lumbar assembly in a forward direction.

5. The chair back assembly of claim 4 , wherein the frame assembly includes a back frame including a pair of substantially vertical side portions, and a pair of side extensions separate from the side portion, and wherein the lumbar assembly is sandwiched between the side portions and the side extensions.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

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

10. The chair back assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly includes a first side and a second side spaced from the first side, the first and second sides including the pair of slots, and wherein the lumbar assembly is configured to abut at least one of the first side and the second side of the frame assembly to laterally center the lumbar assembly with respect to the frame assembly as the lumbar assembly is vertically adjusted.

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 separate from and spaced from one another and 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 member.

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.

18. An office chair assembly comprising the chair back assembly of claim 11 .

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.

20. An office chair assembly comprising the chair back assembly of claim 19 .

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Norman Christopher J
• Deevers Nickolaus William Charles
• Quigley Todd
• Dinneweth Mark J

Classifications

• A47C7/24

  Upholstered seats (A47C7/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47C1/03

  the parts being arm-rests · CPC title

• B60N2/6027

  by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like · CPC title

• A47C7/46 Primary

  with special, e.g. adjustable {, lumbar region support} profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs · CPC title

• A47C7/462

  adjustable by mechanical means · CPC title