Chair control

Claim 2

A chair control comprising: meaNs for supporting a seat, for operable, rotatable mounting on a chair base, for tilting about a generally horizontal axis; torsion means mounted for twisting movement about a generally vertical axis; means for translating the horizontal axis tilting movement of said seat support means to rotational movement about a generally vertical axis, and for applying said vertical axis rotation to said torsion means to initiate said twisting movement.

Claim 3

The chair control of claim 1 in which said means for translating said tilting movement comprises: a cam operably connected to said seat supporting means; a follower lever operably connected at one end to said torsion means and at the other end, operably abutting said cam, whereby tilting of said seat support means causes said cam to move said follower lever and thereby twist said torsion means.

Claim 4

The chair control of claim 2 which comprises: a ball bearing positioned between said cam and said follower lever for minimizing friction therebetween; means being provided for holding said ball bearing in position between said cam and said follower lever.

Claim 5

A chair control comprising: a housing for operably mounting on a chair base; means for supporting a seat, mounted on said housing for tilting movement about a generally horizontal axis; a spindle operably connected to said housing and depending downwardly therefrom; a torsion rod mounted in said spindle for twisting movement about a generally vertical axis, one end of said torsion rod being fixed against rotation with respect to said spindle and the other end being free to rotate with respect to said spindle; means for translating tilting movement about a horizontal axis to rotational movement about a vertical axis, said means operably connecting said seat supporting means to said torsion rod whereby tilting of said seat supporting means causes twisting of said torsion rod.

Claim 6

A chair control comprising: a housing for operably mounting on a chair base; means for supporting a seat, mounted on said housing for tilting movement about a generally horizontal axis; a spindle operably connected to said housing and depending downwardly therefrom; a torsion rod mounted in said spindle for twisting movement about a generally vertical axis, one end of said torsion rod being fixed against rotation with respect to said spindle and the other end being free to rotate with respect to said spindle; means for translating tilting movement about a horizontal axis to rotational movement about a vertical axis, said means operably connecting said seat supporting means to said torsion rod whereby tilting of said seat supporting means causes twisting of said torsion rod.

Claim 7

The chair control of claim 4 in which said translating means operably connecting said seat supporting means to said torsion rod comprises: a cam operably connected to said seat supporting means; a follower lever operably connected at one end to said torsion rod and operably abutting said cam at its other end, whereby tilting of said seat supporting means causes said cam to move said follower lever and thereby twist said torsion rod.

Claim 8

The chair control of claim 5 in which said free end of said torsion rod is positioned at the top of said spindle, said free end being mounted in a rotatable bushing and being fixed against rotation with respect thereto; said follower lever being connected to said rotatable bushing and thereby being operably connected to said torsion rod.

Claim 9

The chair control of claim 5 in which a ball bearing is positioned between said cam and said follower lever for minimizing the friction therebetween; said ball bearing being positioned within a recess in one of said cam and said follower lever whereby its position therebetween is maintained.

Claim 10

The chair control of claim 4 in which said spindle is rotatably mounted in said housing and which comprises: means for adjusting the angular rotational position of said spindle with respect to said housing whereby a pretension can be applied to said torsion rod before said seat is tilted.

Claim 11

The chair control of claim 5 in which said spindle is rotatably mounted in said housing and which comprises: means for adjusting the angular rotational position of said spindle with respect to said housing whereby a pretension can be applied to said torsion rod before said seat is tilted.

Claim 12

The chair control of claim 9 in which said means for adjusting the angular rotational position of said spindle comprises: a pretension adjustment lever operably connected to said spindle and extending laterally therefrom within said housing; a screw threadably mounted within said housing with its end in abutment with the end of said lever; said screw being mounted with respect to said lever and said cam being mounted with respect to said follower lever such that Said screw and said cam act as opposing forces with respect to the twisting of said torsion rod.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 in which said pretension adjustment lever is connected to a cap which is rotatably mounted within said housing; said cap being keyed to said spindle whereby rotation of said cap causes corresponding rotation of said spindle; said free end of said torsion rod being mounted within a bushing and being fixed against rotation with respect to said bushing; said bushing being rotatably mounted within said cap; said follower lever being connected to said bushing whereby said follower lever is operably connected to said torsion rod.

Claim 14

A chair control comprising: a housing of generally U-shaped cross section having sides and a bottom; an axle being rotatably mounted between said sides; means for supporting a seat being operably connected to said axle; a hollow spindle being operably connected to said bottom of said housing and depending downwardly therefrom; a torsion rod mounted within said spindle and having one end fixed against rotation with respect to said spindle and having a free end extending from the top of said spindle, being rotatable with respect thereto; a cam lever connected to said axle and depending downwardly therefrom; a follower lever being operably connected to said free end of said torsion rod and extending laterally therefrom; said ends of said cam lever and said follower lever operably abutting whereby rotation of said axle causes said cam lever to initiate rotation of said follower lever and imparts a twisting motion to said torsion rod.

Claim 15

A chair control comprising: a housing of generally U-shaped cross section having sides and a bottom; an axle being rotatably mounted between said sides; means for supporting a seat being operably connected to said axle; a hollow spindle being operably connected to said bottom of said housing and depending downwardly therefrom; a torsion rod mounted within said spindle and having one end fixed against rotation with respect to said spindle and having a free end extending from the top of said spindle, being rotatable with respect thereto; a cam lever connected to said axle and depending downwardly therefrom; a follower lever being operably connected to said free end of said torsion rod and extending laterally therefrom; said ends of said cam lever and said follower lever operably abutting whereby rotation of said axle causes said cam lever to initiate rotation of said follower lever and imparts a twisting motion to said torsion rod.

Claim 16

The chair control of claim 12 in which said seat supporting means is mounted to be freely rotatable on said axle; said seat supporting means and said axle being operably connected by means of a lever being connected at one end to said axle and being fixed against rotation with respect thereto and being operably connected at its other end to said seat supporting means whereby tilting of said seat supporting means causes rotation of said axle; means being provided for adjusting the angular orientation of said lever with respect to said seat supporting means whereby the pretension on said torsion rod can be adjusted.

Claim 17

The chair control of claim 12 in which a ball bearing is positioned between said cam and said follower lever for minimizing the friction therebetween; said ball bearing being positioned within a recess in one of said cam and said follower lever whereby its position therebetween is maintained.