Zoned suspension seating structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11825957-B2
Application number	US-202017088282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2020
Priority date	Jan 16, 2015
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A body support structure including a backrest, a seat connected to the backrest, and a suspension material connected to the backrest or the seat. The suspension material includes elastomeric filaments with monofilaments and multifilaments. The suspension material further includes a first zone with a first stiffness, a second zone with a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and a transition zone positioned between the first zone and the second zone.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A body support structure comprising:
a backrest;
a seat connected to the backrest; and
a suspension material connected to the backrest or the seat and comprising filaments, the suspension material having a first zone, a second zone, and a first transition zone positioned between the first zone and the second zone,
wherein the first zone has a first stiffness, the first transition zone has a range of stiffness that varies between a second stiffness that is less than the first stiffness and a third stiffness that is less than the second stiffness, and the second zone has a fourth stiffness less than the third stiffness.

2. The body support structure of claim 1 , wherein the suspension material includes monofilaments and multifilaments.

3. The body support structure of claim 1 , wherein the first zone is larger than the transition zone.

4. The body support structure of claim 1 , wherein the first zone has a first density of suspension material, the second zone has a second density of suspension material less than the first density, and a density of suspension material in the transition zone varies between the first density and the second density.

5. The body support structure of claim 1 , wherein the first transition zone includes monofilaments having a first elastic modulus and monofilaments having a second elastic modulus.

6. The body support structure of claim 1 , wherein the suspension material is connected to a seat having a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges, and wherein the first zone is proximate the front edge and the first transition zone extends between the side edges.

7. The body support structure of claim 1 , further comprising a second transition zone and a third zone, wherein the second transition zone has a range of stiffness that varies between a fifth stiffness that is less than the fourth stiffness and a sixth stiffness that is less than the fifth stiffness, and the third zone has a seventh stiffness less than the sixth stiffness.

8. The body support structure of claim 7 , wherein the second transition zone is positioned between the second zone and the third zone.

9. The body support structure of claim 7 , wherein the suspension material is connected to a seat having a front edge and wherein the first transition zone extends from the front edge to the second transition zone.

10. The body support structure of claim 7 , wherein the first zone has a triangular configuration.

11. The body support structure of claim 1 , wherein the transition zone includes higher modulus monofilaments and lower modulus monofilaments in a single region.

12. A body support structure comprising:
a frame defining a seat or a backrest having an opening extending in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction;
a suspension material connected to the frame and extending over the opening, the suspension material having a first zone where the stiffness of the suspension material varies in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction to create a boundary of the first zone, and wherein the boundary of the first zone extends at an oblique angle to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

13. The body support structure of claim 12 , wherein the suspension material includes monofilaments and multifilaments.

14. The body support structure of claim 12 , wherein the boundary is curved.

15. The body support structure of claim 12 , wherein first zone includes a shoulder region of the backrest.

16. The body support structure of claim 12 , wherein the suspension material includes a second zone having a stiffness that is greater than the entire stiffness of the first zone.

17. The body support structure of claim 16 , wherein the second zone is adjacent a front edge of the seat and the first zone is a transition zone positioned between the second zone and a third zone, and wherein the third zone has a stiffness less than the first zone.

18. The body support structure of claim 16 , wherein second zone is a longitudinally extending center region of the backrest and the first zone is positioned between the center region and a side edge of the backrest.

19. The body support structure of claim 18 , wherein the first zone is positioned between the second zone and a third zone, and wherein the third zone has a third stiffness less than the second stiffness.

20. The body support structure of claim 12 , wherein the first zone includes higher modulus monofilaments and lower modulus monofilaments in a single region.

Assignees

• Miller Herman Inc
• Millerknoll Inc

Inventors

• Aldrich John F
• Walker Brock
• Bruner Jeff
• Bhagwat Adwait
• Mcgraw Ethan
• Chadwick Don

Classifications

• A47C5/00 Primary

  Chairs of special materials · CPC title

• A47C7/282

  with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes · CPC title

• A47C7/40

  for the back · CPC title

• A47C31/006

  Use of three-dimensional fabrics · CPC title

• A47C31/02 Primary

  Upholstery attaching means · CPC title