Chair

Claim 2

In an improved chair having a seat member, a back rest member, and a chair base, said back rest member being tiltable relative to said base, the improvement comprising: control means for tensioning said back rest member; said seat member including an inner shell and an outer cover member enclosing the bottom portion of said inner shell; said control means having a relatively flat profile and being anchored to said shell and being operable independently of said cover to provide tension for said back rest when mounted on said shell; the contour of said cover deviating downwardly from the contour of said shell to define a generally hidden space therebetween; said control means being positioned within said generally hidden space whereby its visual appearance is precluded when said chair is viewed in profile.

Claim 3

The improved chair according to claim 1 wherein said inner shell includes an opening therein to permit a portion of said control means to be recessed within said shell to lower the overall cross-sectional profile of said control means and shell.

Claim 4

The improved chair according to claim 2 wherein said back rest member is interconnected to said tension control means by a support element; said cover member includes means defining an elongated opening to permit rotational movement of said support element in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis without contacting said cover member.

Claim 5

The improved chair according to claim 3 wherein said base includes a spindle connected to a spindle holder anchored to said shell said cover including a downwardly depending dome for enclosing said spindle holder and generally the top of said spindle, said elongated cover opening extending into said domed portion; said chair spindle extending through said opening, said cover member and domed portion completely enclosing said spindle holder and upper end of said spindle to preclude its visual appearance when said chair is viewed in profile.

Claim 6

The improved chair according to claim 1 wherein said back rest member is tiltable reLative to said seat member, said tension control means includes a joint having a first element mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis relative to the remainder of said control means, said first joint element being operatively associated with said back rest so that said back rest and first joint element rotate jointly, bias means opposing said rotation.

Claim 7

The improved chair according to claim 5 wherein said joint has an overall cylindrical configuration mounted horizontally with respect to said seat member, said first joint element mounted co-axially relative to the remainder of said tension joint and including a generally horizontal and radially projecting arm adapted for interaction with a bracket, said bracket mounted for rotation about said joint axis and interconnected to said back rest member, said tension joint providing a relatively low profile compared to the seat profile for enclosure between said shell and cover member.

Claim 8

The improved chair according to claim 6 wherein said first joint element includes stop means for limiting the tiltable movement of said back rest member to prevent overstressing said tension joint.

Claim 9

The improved chair according to claim 7 wherein said stop means is comprised of a pair of spaced arms integral with said bracket and extending from each end of said cylindrical tension joint, said arms including a stop face on each outer end thereof for abutting against a portion of said tension control means to limit the tilting of said back rest.

Claim 10

The improved chair according to claim 6 wherein said back rest member includes a support element extending therefrom, said bracket including a trackway for receipt of said back rest support element, said back rest support element being slidable within said trackway to permit fore and aft adjustment of said back rest relative to said seat member, said bracket including means for clamping said back rest element to said bracket at desired fore and aft positions.

Claim 11

The improved chair according to claim 6 wherein said tension joint includes means for adjusting the pre-tension in the joint in opposition to the tilting of said back rest member.

Claim 12

The improved chair according to claim 10 wherein said adjustment means includes a set-screw threadable through said arm for abutment against said bracket for adjusting the pre-tension between said bracket and said first joint element.

Claim 13

The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said back rest member is interconnected to said tension control means by a support element, said cover having means defining an opening to permit pivotal movement of said support element in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis without contacting said cover member.

Claim 14

The improved chair according to claim 12 wherein said chair base includes an upstanding spindle connected to a spindle holder anchored to said shell and said cover member includes a downwardly depending dome for enclosing said spindle holder, said domed portion including a portion of said cover opening for receipt of a chair spindle, said cover member and domed portion completely enclosing said spindle holder and upper end of said spindle to pre-clude its visual appearance when said chair is viewed in profile.

Claim 15

The chair improvement according to claim 12 wherein said tension control means includes manual adjustment means for controlling the amount of preset tension in said tension means, said adjustment means being positioned within the confines of said cover member but accessible through said cover opening.

Claim 16

In an improved chair having a base, a seat member, and a control means for controlling the tilt of at least a portion of said chair, the improvement comprising: said seat member including an internal shell and cover member for enclosing at least the bottom portion of said shell; said control means being secured to said shell and being operable independently of said cover to provide tension for said back rest when mounted on said shell; said cover including portions depeNding downwardly below said shell and enclosing said control means so that it is recessed within the underside of said seat member to preclude its visual appearance when said chair is viewed in profile; said downwardly depending portions defining an opening spaced from said shell thorugh which chair support means can pass; chair support means passing through said opening and being operably connected to said shell.

Claim 17

In an improved chair having a base, a seat member, and a control means for controlling the tilt of at least a portion of said chair, the improvement comprising: said seat member including an internal shell and cover member for enclosing at least the bottom portion of said shell; said control means being secured to said shell and being operable independently of said cover to provide tension for said back rest when mounted on said shell; said cover including portions depeNding downwardly below said shell and enclosing said control means so that it is recessed within the underside of said seat member to preclude its visual appearance when said chair is viewed in profile; said downwardly depending portions defining an opening spaced from said shell thorugh which chair support means can pass; chair support means passing through said opening and being operably connected to said shell.

Claim 18

The chair of claim 15 comprising: said shell having an opening therein to permit recessably mounting said control means to said shell, said control means being at least partially recessed within said opening when mounted to said shell.

Claim 19

The chair of claim 15 in which: said downwardly depending portions define a dome, projecting below the level of said shell.

Claim 20

The chair of claim 15 in which said opening spaced from said shell is sufficiently large to permit free access to said control means therethrough.

Claim 21

The chair of claim 2 in which said opening comprises an aperture through said inner shell; mounting brackets spanning generally the top of said aperture and being joined to said inner shell; said control means being mounted to said mounting brackets.

Claim 22

The chair of claim 20 in which each of said mounting brackets includes downwardly offset end portions, said end portions being joined to the outwardly disposed surface of said inner shell.

Claim 23

The chair of claim 16 in which said opening comprises an aperture through said inner shell; mounting brackets spanning generally the top of said aperture and being joined to said inner shell; said control means being mounted to said mounting brackets.

Claim 24

The chair of claim 21 in which each of said mounting brackets includes downwardly offset end portions, said end portions being joined to the outwardly disposed surface of said inner shell.

Claim 25

In a chair control for a tiltable chair back including a support housing for supporting the chair seat, a mounting bracket for supporting the chair back and a torsion member having inner and outer members with a rubber body therebetween, the improvement comprising: the ends of said inner member extending beyond the ends of said outer member and of said rubber body and being joined to said support housing in a non-rotatable manner with respect to said support housing; said mounting bracket including a side arm at each side thereof, each side arm being rotatably mounted on the exposed ends of said inner member, between said support housing and an end of said outer member; means operably connecting said outer member to said mounting bracket whereby tilting of said mounting bracket is resisted by torsion generated through said rubber body, between said inner and outer members.

Claim 26

In a chair control for a tiltable chair back including a support housing for supporting the chair seat, a mounting bracket for supporting the chair back and a torsion member having inner and outer members with a rubber body therebetween, the improvement comprising: the ends of said inner member extending beyond the ends of said outer member and of said rubber body and being joined to said support housing in a non-rotatable manner with respect to said support housing; said mounting bracket including a side arm at each side thereof, each side arm being rotatably mounted on the exposed ends of said inner member, between said support housing and an end of said outer member; means operably connecting said outer member to said mounting bracket whereby tilting of said mounting bracket is resisted by torsion generated through said rubber body, between said inner and outer members.

Claim 27

The chair control of claim 23 which comprises: said support housing includes a spindle holder positioned adjacent said torsion member, on a side opposite said mounting bracket; at least one of said mounting bracket side arms including an ear projecting past said torsion member into engagement with said spindle holder; said spindle holder including a slot therein for receiving said ear, said slot being sufficiently large to allow tilting of said mounting bracket until said ear engages a portion of said spindle holder to limit further tilting.

Claim 28

The chair control of claim 23 in which said means operably connecting said outer member to said mounting bracket comprises: a lever extending from said outer member and having a screw member threadably mounted near the end thereof; said screw member engaging said mounting bracket, allowing pretension adjustment by being threadably mounted in said lever.

Claim 29

In a chair control for a chair having a tiltable member and a mounting bracket for supporting said tiltable member being tiltably mounted to a non-tiltable support housing, said control including a torsion member having inner and outer members joined by a rubber body therebetween, the improvement comprising: the ends of said inner member extending beyond the ends of said ouTer member and of said rubber body and being joined to said support housing in a non-rotatable manner with respect to said support housing; said mounting bracket being rotatably mounted on the exposed ends of said inner member, between said support housing and the ends of said outer member; means operably connecting said outer member to said mounting bracket whereby tilting of said mounting bracket is resisted by torsion generated through said rubber body, between said inner and outer members.

Claim 30

In a chair control for a chair having a tiltable member and a mounting bracket for supporting said tiltable member being tiltably mounted to a non-tiltable support housing, said control including a torsion member having inner and outer members joined by a rubber body therebetween, the improvement comprising: the ends of said inner member extending beyond the ends of said ouTer member and of said rubber body and being joined to said support housing in a non-rotatable manner with respect to said support housing; said mounting bracket being rotatably mounted on the exposed ends of said inner member, between said support housing and the ends of said outer member; means operably connecting said outer member to said mounting bracket whereby tilting of said mounting bracket is resisted by torsion generated through said rubber body, between said inner and outer members.

Claim 31

The chair control of claim 26 which comprises: said support housing includes a spindle holder positioned adjacent said torsion member, on a side opposite said mounting bracket; at least one of said mounting bracket side arms including an ear projecting past said torsion member into engagement with said spindle holder; said spindle holder including a slot therein for receiving said ear, said slot being sufficiently large to allow tilting of said mounting bracket until said ear engages a portion of said spindle holder to limit further tilting.

Claim 32

The chair control of claim 26 in which said means operably connecting said outer member to said mounting bracket comprises: a lever extending from said outer member and having a screw member threadably mounted near the end thereof; said screw member engaging said mounting bracket, allowing pretension adjustment by being threadably mounted in said lever.

Claim 33

The chair of claim 27 in which said spindle holder comprises a generally tubular member having top and bottom walls joined by sidewalls; both said top and bottom walls being adapted to receive said spindle and to be secured thereto; said slot being in one of said sidewalls.

Claim 34

In a chair control for a chair having a tiltable member and a mounting bracket for supporting said tiltable member being tiltably mounted to a non-tiltable support housing, said control including a torsion member having inner and outer members joined by a rubber body therebetween, the improvement comprising: one of said inner and outer members being joined to said support housing in a non-rotatable manner with respect to said support housing; said mounting bracket being rotatably mounted on said torsion member; means operably connecting the other of said inner and outer members to said mounting bracket whereby tilting of said mounting bracket is resisted by torsion generated through said rubber body; said support housing including a spindle holder positioned adjacent said torsion member, and a side opposite said mounting bracket; said spindle holder including rigidly interconnected top and bottom walls, both said top and bottom walls being adapted to receive a spindle and to be secured thereto; said mounting bracket including an ear projecting past said torsion member into said spindle holder, between said top and bottom walls whereby said spindle holder acts in conjunction with said ear to provide means for limiting fore and aft tilting of said tiltable member.

Claim 35

In a chair control for a chair having a tiltable member and a mounting bracket for supporting said tiltable member being tiltably mounted to a non-tiltable support housing, said control including a torsion member having inner and outer members joined by a rubber body therebetween, the improvement comprising: one of said inner and outer members being joined to said support housing in a non-rotatable manner with respect to said support housing; said mounting bracket being rotatably mounted on said torsion member; means operably connecting the other of said inner and outer members to said mounting bracket whereby tilting of said mounting bracket is resisted by torsion generated through said rubber body; said support housing including a spindle holder positioned adjacent said torsion member, and a side opposite said mounting bracket; said spindle holder including rigidly interconnected top and bottom walls, both said top and bottom walls being adapted to receive a spindle and to be secured thereto; said mounting bracket including an ear projecting past said torsion member into said spindle holder, between said top and bottom walls whereby said spindle holder acts in conjunction with said ear to provide means for limiting fore and aft tilting of said tiltable member.

Claim 36

The chair control of claim 30 in which said top and bottom walls are rigidly interconnected by spaced sidewalls, at least one of said sidewalls including a slot therein through which said ear projects.