Chair

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11969094-B2
Application number	US-202017617390-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2020
Priority date	Jun 11, 2019
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A chair includes a base, a receptacle coupled to an upper end of the base, and a seat shell forming a seat surface. The seat shell is supported by the receptacle. The chair also includes a back shell forming a back surface. The back shell is connected to the seat shell on both sides of the seat surface and on both sides of the back surface. The back shell includes an extension extending from the back surface to the receptacle under the seat shell. The extension is elastically deformable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chair comprising:
a base;
a receptacle coupled to an upper end of the base;
a seat shell forming a seat surface and having a front edge and a rear edge, the seat shell supported by the receptacle;
a back shell forming a back surface configured to engage a user, the back shell connected to the seat shell on both sides of the seat surface and on both sides of the back surface, the back shell including an extension extending from the back surface to the receptacle under the seat shell, the extension being elastically deformable;
a first lateral connecting strut spaced apart from the extension and connecting a first side of the seat shell to a first side of the back shell; and
a second lateral connecting strut spaced apart from the extension and connecting a second side of the seat shell to a second side of the back shell;
wherein the rear edge of the seat shell is spaced apart from the back surface of the back shell to form a gap therebetween; and
wherein the extension is positioned between the first lateral connecting strut and the second lateral connecting strut.

2. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the seat shell and the back shell are connected in an articulated manner to each other on both sides of the seat surface and on both sides of the back surface by two joints.

3. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the seat shell and the back shell are integrally formed as a single piece.

4. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the back shell and the extension are integrally formed a single piece.

5. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a carrying pillar having the upper end and a lower end, a plurality of feet extending radially outward from the lower end of the carrying pillar, and a caster coupled to each foot.

6. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a plurality of legs.

7. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes a first pin and a second pin, the first pin positioned adjacent a forward end thereof, the second pin positioned adjacent a rearward end thereof.

8. The chair of claim 7 , further comprising a tilt housing secured to the bottom surface of the seat shell, wherein the base defines a vertical axis, and wherein the tilt housing defines a first track that receives the first pin and a second track that receives the second pin, the first track extending along a first longitudinal axis that is oriented at a first angle relative to the vertical axis, the second track extending along a second longitudinal axis that is oriented at a second angle relative to the vertical axis, the second angle being different than the first angle.

9. The chair of claim 8 , wherein the first pin is slidable in the first track and the second pin is slidable in the second track when a force is applied to the back shell.

10. The chair of claim 9 , wherein the seat surface rises as the first pin slides in the first track and the second pin slides in the second track.

11. The chair of claim 8 , further comprising a first bearing coupled to the first pin and positioned within the first track, and a second bearing coupled to the second pin and positioned within the second track.

12. The chair of claim 11 , wherein each of the first bearing and the second bearing has a square cross-sectional shape.

13. The chair of claim 8 , wherein the first pin and the second pin are located on a first side of the receptacle,
wherein the receptacle includes a third pin and a fourth pin located on a second side of the receptacle that is opposite the first side, the third pin positioned adjacent the forward end thereof, the fourth pin positioned adjacent the rearward end thereof, and
wherein the tilt housing defines a third track that receives the third pin and a fourth track that receives the fourth pin, the third track extending along a third longitudinal axis that is oriented at the first angle relative to the vertical axis, the fourth track extending along a fourth longitudinal axis that is oriented at the second angle relative to the vertical axis.

14. The chair of claim 8 , wherein the tilt housing includes one or more ribs extending toward the receptacle, and wherein the receptacle includes one or more slots that receive the ribs as the tilt housing moves relative to the receptacle.

15. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the extension has a distal end opposite from the back surface, and wherein the distal end is fastened to the receptacle.

16. The chair of claim 15 , wherein the rear edge of the seat shell is spaced a first distance from the back surface of the back shell when in the upright position, and wherein the rear edge of the seat shell is spaced a second distance from the back surface of the back shell when in the backwardly inclined position, the first distance being greater than the second distance.

17. The chair of claim 15 , wherein the seat surface rises as the chair moves from the upright position to the backwardly inclined position such that a user seated on the seat surface generates a second counter force to return the chair to the upright position.

18. The chair of claim 1 , wherein the chair is movable from an upright position to a backwardly inclined position when a force is applied to the back shell, wherein in the backwardly inclined position, the extension is elastically deformed in such a manner that the extension generates a counter force to return the chair to the upright position.

19. A chair comprising:
a base defining a vertical axis;
a receptacle coupled to an upper end of the base;
a seat shell forming a seat surface and a bottom surface; and
a back shell forming a back surface, the back shell including an extension extending from the back surface to the receptacle under the seat shell; and
a tilt housing secured to the bottom surface of the seat shell;
wherein either the receptacle or the tilt housing includes a first pin and a second pin, the first pin positioned adjacent a forward end thereof, the second pin positioned adjacent a rearward end thereof;
wherein the other of the receptacle or the tilt housing defines a first track that receives the first pin and a second track that receives the second pin, the first track extending along a first longitudinal axis that is oriented at a first angle relative to the vertical axis, the second track extending along a second longitudinal axis that is oriented at a second angle relative to the vertical axis, the second angle being different than the first angle;
wherein the chair is movable from an upright position to a backwardly inclined position when a force is applied to the back shell, wherein in the backwardly inclined position, the extension is elastically deformed in such a manner that the extension generates a counter force to return the chair to the upright position.

20. The chair of claim 19 , wherein the first pin is slidable in the first track and the second pin is slidable in the second track when a force is applied to the back shell.

21. The chair of claim 20 , wherein the seat surface rises as the first pin slides in the first track and the second pin slides in the second track.

22. The chair of claim 19 , further comprising a first bearing coupled to the first pin and positioned within the first track, and a second bearing coupled to the second pin and positioned within the second track.

23. The chair of claim 19 , wherein the first pin and the second pin are located on a first side of either the receptacle or the tilt housing,
wherein either the rece

Assignees

• Millerknoll Inc

Inventors

• Schmitz Johann Burkhard
• Zwick Carola
• Zwick Roland

Classifications

• A47C1/032 Primary

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

• A47C3/12

  with shell-shaped seat and back-rest unit, e.g. having arm-rests · CPC title

• A47C7/44

  with elastically-mounted frame · CPC title

• A47C5/12

  of plastics, with or without reinforcement · CPC title

• A47C3/00 Primary

  Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats (A47C1/00, A47C4/00 take precedence) · CPC title