Body support member with lattice structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11974676-B2
Application number	US-202217718546-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2022
Priority date	Sep 18, 2019
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A body support structure includes a structural lattice structure having a first stiffness, and a compressive lattice structure supported by the structural lattice structure and having a second stiffness less than the first stiffness. A skin lattice structure is supported by the compressive lattice structure, wherein the skin lattice structure is resistant to shear deformation in response to a normal force and is expandable in a direction transverse to the normal force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A body support structure comprising:
a structural lattice structure having a first stiffness;
a compressive lattice structure supported by the structural lattice structure, wherein the compressive lattice structure has a second stiffness less than the first stiffness, wherein the compressive lattice structure is compressible in response to a first normal force applied thereto; and
a skin lattice structure having at least a portion overlying and supported by the compressive lattice structure, wherein the skin lattice structure is resistant to shear deformation in response to a second normal force applied thereto, and wherein the skin lattice structure is expandable in a direction transverse to the second normal force applied thereto in response to the second normal force being applied thereto.

2. A body support structure comprising:
a structural lattice structure having a first stiffness;
a compressive lattice structure supported by the structural lattice structure, wherein the compressive lattice structure has a second stiffness less than the first stiffness, wherein the compressive lattice structure is compressible in response to a first normal force applied thereto; and
a skin lattice structure supported by the compressive lattice structure, wherein the skin lattice structure is resistant to shear deformation in response to a second normal force applied thereto, and wherein the skin lattice structure is expandable in a direction transverse to the second normal force applied thereto in response to the second normal force being applied thereto, wherein the compressive lattice structure comprises a pair of spaced apart beams defining an opening therebetween, and wherein the skin lattice structure is coupled to the compressive lattice structure and spans across the opening.

3. The body support structure of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the skin lattice structure overlying the opening is not supported by any other structure.

4. The body support structure of claim 2 wherein the compressive lattice structure comprises a cross member connecting the beams and positioned proximate a front of a seat portion.

5. A body support structure comprising:
a structural lattice structure having a first stiffness;
a compressive lattice structure supported by the structural lattice structure, wherein the compressive lattice structure has a second stiffness less than the first stiffness, wherein the compressive lattice structure is compressible in response to a first normal force applied thereto, wherein the compressive lattice structure comprises a cellular matrix comprising a first portion having at least one layer of unit cells and a second portion having a plurality of layers of unit cells, wherein the second portion has more layers of unit cells than the first layer, and comprising a transition between the first and second portions; and
a skin lattice structure supported by the compressive lattice structure, wherein the skin lattice structure is resistant to shear deformation in response to a second normal force applied thereto, and wherein the skin lattice structure is expandable in a direction transverse to the second normal force applied thereto in response to the second normal force being applied thereto.

6. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein the compressive lattice structure comprises an interior core lattice and a face lattice connected to the core lattice and defining an outermost surface of the compressive lattice structure.

7. A body support structure comprising:
a structural lattice structure having a first stiffness;
a compressive lattice structure supported by the structural lattice structure, wherein the compressive lattice structure has a second stiffness less than the first stiffness, wherein the compressive lattice structure is compressible in response to a first normal force applied thereto;
a skin lattice structure supported by the compressive lattice structure, wherein the skin lattice structure is resistant to shear deformation in response to a second normal force applied thereto, and wherein the skin lattice structure is expandable in a direction transverse to the second normal force applied thereto in response to the second normal force being applied thereto; and
a non-lattice structure positioned between portions of the structural lattice structure such that the structural lattice structure is discontinuous.

8. The body support structure of claim 7 wherein the non-lattice structure comprises a solid or tubular structure.

9. A body support structure comprising:
a structural lattice structure having a first stiffness, wherein the structural lattice structure defines at least a portion of a base, a seat support connected to the base and a back frame connected to one of the base or seat support;
a compressive lattice structure supported by the structural lattice structure, wherein the compressive lattice structure has a second stiffness less than the first stiffness, wherein the compressive lattice structure is compressible in response to a first normal force applied thereto; and
a skin lattice structure supported by the compressive lattice structure, wherein the skin lattice structure is resistant to shear deformation in response to a second normal force applied thereto, and wherein the skin lattice structure is expandable in a direction transverse to the second normal force applied thereto in response to the second normal force being applied thereto.

10. The body support structure of claim 9 wherein the base comprises a pedestal having a floor-engaging portion.

11. The body support structure of claim 10 further comprising a strut disposed between the base and one of the seat support or back frame.

12. A body support structure comprising:
a structural lattice structure having a first stiffness, wherein the structural lattice structure defines at least a portion of a base, a seat support connected to the base and a back frame connected to one of the base or seat support, wherein the base comprises a pedestal having a floor-engaging portion;
a compressive lattice structure supported by the structural lattice structure, wherein the compressive lattice structure has a second stiffness less than the first stiffness, wherein the compressive lattice structure is compressible in response to a first normal force applied thereto;
a skin lattice structure supported by the compressive lattice structure, wherein the skin lattice structure is resistant to shear deformation in response to a second normal force applied thereto, and wherein the skin lattice structure is expandable in a direction transverse to the second normal force applied thereto in response to the second normal force being applied thereto; and
a strut disposed between the base and one of the seat support or back frame, wherein the strut comprises:
spaced apart first and second end portions coupled to the base and the one of the seat support or back frame respectively; and
an intermediate compressive lattice structure connected to the first and second end portions;
wherein the first and second end portions are moveable between a nominal position and a compressed position, wherein the intermediate compressive lattice structure is compressible between a nominal configuration and a compressed configuration corresponding to the nominal and compressed positions, wherein the intermediate compressive lattice structure applies a biasing force to the first and second end portions when in the compressed configuration.

13. The body support structure of claim 9 wherein a front portion of the seat support is pivotally coupled to the base at a flex re

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Deevers Nickolaus William Charles
• Forslund Iii Carl V
• Hamilton John
• Heidmann Kurt R
• Ludwig James
• Smith Bruce
• Porterfield Aaron Michael
• Tracy Sharon L
• Noll Paul

Classifications

• A47C7/029 Primary

  of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions · CPC title

• A47C5/12 Primary

  of plastics, with or without reinforcement · CPC title

• A47C7/16

  Seats made of wooden, plastics, or metal sheet material; Panel seats · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• A47C7/282

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