Seating arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11083301-B2
Application number	US-201916414058-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2019
Priority date	Jun 1, 2018
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

An arm assembly includes an arm support configured to support an arm of a seated user, an arm stalk extending downwardly from and supporting the arm support, an arm base telescopingly receiving the arm stalk between a first position and a second position and a bearing arrangement positioned between the arm stalk and the arm base. The bearing arrangement includes a bearing member configured to abut the arm base, and a biasing member configured to bias the bearing member from the arm stalk and into abutment with the arm base.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An arm assembly, comprising:
an arm support configured to support an arm of a seated user;
an arm stalk extending downwardly from and supporting the arm support;
an arm base telescopingly receiving the arm stalk such that the arm stalk is movable between a first position and a second position; and
a bearing arrangement positioned between the arm stalk and the arm base, the bearing arrangement comprising
a bearing member configured to abut the arm base; and
a biasing member configured to bias the bearing member from the arm stalk and into abutment with the arm base.

2. The arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing member has a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

3. The arm assembly of either of claim 1 , wherein bearing member comprises an oil-filled plastic.

4. The arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing member comprises polyoxymethylene.

5. The arm assembly of any one of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring.

6. The arm assembly of claim 5 , wherein the spring includes a leaf spring.

7. The arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arm stalk includes a first groove receiving a first end of the biasing member.

8. The arm assembly of claim 7 , wherein the arm stalk includes a second groove receiving a second end of the biasing member.

9. The arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing arrangement is one of a pair of bearing arrangements.

10. The arm assembly of claim 9 , wherein one of the bearing arrangements of the pair of bearing arrangements is positioned on a forward edge of the arm stalk and the other bearing arrangement of the pair of bearing arrangements is positioned on a rearward edge of the arm stalk.

11. The arm assembly of claim 10 , wherein the bearing arrangement positioned on the forward edge of the arm stalk is configured to fill a first gap between the arm stalk and the arm base, and the bearing arrangement positioned on the rearward edge of the arm stalk is configured to fill a second gap between the arm stalk and the arm base, and wherein the second gap is located vertically higher than the first gap.

12. A seating arrangement comprising the arm assembly of claim 1 .

13. The seating arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the seating arrangement comprises an office chair assembly.

14. An arm assembly, comprising:
an arm support configured to support an arm of a seated user;
an arm stalk extending downwardly from and supporting the arm support;
an arm base telescopingly receiving the arm stalk such that the arm stalk is movable between a first position and a second position; and
a control arrangement, comprising:
a lead screw rotatable with respect to one of the arm stalk and the arm base;
a lead nut fixed with respect to the other of the arm stalk and the arm base; and
an actuator movable between an engaged position where the actuator engages the lead screw thereby preventing rotation of the lead screw and preventing the arm stalk from moving between the first and second positions, and a disengaged position where the actuator is disengaged from the lead screw thereby allowing rotation of the lead screw and allowing the arm stalk to move between the first and second positions.

15. The arm assembly of claim 14 , wherein the lead screw is rotatably coupled to the arm support.

16. The arm assembly of claim 14 , wherein the lead nut is fixedly secured to the arm base.

17. The arm assembly of claim 14 , wherein the actuator is pivotably coupled to the arm support.

18. The arm assembly of claim 14 , wherein the actuator selectively engages a relief in the lead screw.

19. The arm assembly of claim 14 , wherein the relief is one of a plurality of reliefs.

20. The arm assembly of claim 14 , wherein the actuator includes a button portion accessible to a user to move the actuator between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

21. The arm assembly of claim 20 , wherein the button portion extends through an aperture in the arm support.

22. The arm assembly of claim 21 , wherein the aperture is located in a downwardly facing surface of the arm support.

23. The arm assembly of claim 20 , wherein the button is positioned forwardly of the stalk.

24. The arm assembly of claim 14 , wherein the actuator includes a biasing member that biases the actuator from the disengaged position toward the engaged position.

25. The arm assembly of claim 24 , wherein the biasing member is integral with a button portion that is accessible to move the actuator between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

26. The arm assembly of claim 14 , wherein the actuator includes an engagement portion that engages the lead screw, and wherein the engagement portion is integral with the biasing member and button portion.

27. A seating arrangement comprising the arm assembly of claim 14 .

28. The seating arrangement of claim 27 , wherein the seating arrangement comprises an office chair assembly.

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Deevers Nickolaus William Charles
• Heidmann Kurt R
• Peterson Gordon J
• Holdredge Russell T
• Brock Nathan

Classifications

• A47C7/004

  for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs · CPC title

• A47C7/006

  with castors · CPC title

• A47C7/40

  for the back · CPC title

• A47C7/54 Primary

  Supports for the arms · CPC title

• A47C1/0303

  adjustable rectilinearly in vertical direction · CPC title