Patent US4440372A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4440372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Bellows mounting arrangement for swivel chair
Assignee: Haworth Inc
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Filing: 1981-03-18
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Granted: 1984-04-03
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Expires: 2001-03-18
Abstract
Abstract An extendible and contractible boot is disposed in surrounding relationship to the spindle assembly of a chair. The lower end of the boot is anchored to the pedestal associated with the chair base. The upper end of the boot is supported on the seat assembly by a retainer arrangement which prevents vertical separation between the boot and seat assembly but permits relative rotation therebetween. This retainer arrangement employs a bearing ring, preferably of a split construction, which is snugly and resiliently seated within the upper end of the boot. A retainer plate is secured relative to the spindle and is rotatably supported on the bearing ring.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph M. Wisniewski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:39
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/002; A47C7/004; A47C3/00; A47C3/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631; Y10T403/32729
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
In a chair having a seat means, a pedestal-type base, a spindle assembly vertically joining the base and the seat means for permitting rotation of the latter about an upright axis defined by the spindle assembly, and an elongated extendible and contractible tubular boot disposed between said base and seat means in surrounding relationship to said spindle assembly, said boot having its lower end anchored to said base, the improvement comprising retainer means coacting between said seat means and the upper end of said boot for axially securing said upper end to said seat means while permitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis, said retainer means including a bearing ring snugly and nonrotatably seated within the upper end of said boot, and a retainer member fixed relative to said seat assembly and having an annular portion which is rotatably supported on said bearing ring, said bearing ring and said retainer member having means coacting therebetween for axially securing said bearing ring and said retainer member together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a chair having a seat means, a pedestal-type base, a spindle assembly vertically joining the base and the seat means for permitting rotation of the latter about an upright axis defined by the spindle assembly, and an elongated extendible and contractible tubular boot disposed between said base and seat means in surrounding relationship to said spindle assembly, said boot having its lower end anchored to said base, the improvement comprising retainer means coacting between said seat means and the upper end of said boot for axially securing said upper end to said seat means while permitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis, said retainer means including a bearing ring snugly and nonrotatably seated within the upper end of said boot, and a retainer member fixed relative to said seat assembly and having an annular portion which is rotatably supported on said bearing ring, said bearing ring and said retainer member having means coacting therebetween for axially securing said bearing ring and said retainer member together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A chair according to claim 1, wherein said bearing ring is radially split to facilitate its positioning within the upper end of said boot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A chair according to claim 1, wherein said bearing ring defines therein an annular recess which opens axially upwardly, said bearing ring having an upwardly-facing shoulder defining the bottom boundary of said recess, said bearing ring further having plural circumferentially-spaced locking tabs which define thereon downwardly-facing shoulders which are disposed opposite but spaced upwardly from said upwardly-facing shoulder, the annular portion of said retainer member being axially but rotatably confined between the opposed shoulders.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A chair according to claim 3, wherein the bearing ring is radially split.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A chair according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said locking tabs are integral with said bearing ring and have tapered cam surface means thereon positioned for engagement by the annular portion of said retainer member when the latter is axially inserted into said recess for causing resilient expansion of said bearing ring so that said retainer member can snap into position between the opposed shoulders.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A chair according to claim 5, wherein said bearing ring is formed by at least two independent arcuate segments each having a said locking tab thereon, said segments being surrounded by the upper end of said boot and elastically urged inwardly by said boot so as to effectively form a continuous ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A chair according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein said bearing ring is constructed of a hard, low-friction plastics material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A chair according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said boot comprises an elongated tubular bellows constructed of a rubberlike material and having multiple convolutions, said bearing ring being snugly and nonrotatably seated within the upper convolution of said bellows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A chair according to claim 8, wherein the annular portion of said retainer member comprises an annular platelike washer which is rotatably supported on and by said bearing ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A chair according to claim 9, wherein the bearing ring has axially opposed upper and lower shoulders which are integral with said bearing ring and axially confine said washer therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A chair according to claim 10, wherein said bearing ring has cam means integrally associated therewith and disposed for reacting against the peripheral edge of said washer for causing elastic expansion of said bearing ring so that the washer can be axially inserted into and resiliently snapped between said opposed shoulders.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A chair according to claim 2, wherein said bearing ring is formed by two independent arcuate segments, said segments being surrounded by the upper end of said boot and elastically urged inwardly by said boot so as to effectively form a continuous ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A chair according to claim 12, wherein said boot comprises an elongated tubular bellows constructed of a rubberlike material and having multiple convolutions, said bearing ring being snugly and nonrotatably seated within the upper convolution of said bellows.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A chair according to claim 4, wherein said bearing ring is formed by two independent arcuate segments which are identical and each of which extends through an arcuate extent of approximately 180°, said segments being surrounded by the upper end of said boot and elastically urged inwardly by said boot so as to effectively form a continuous ring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A chair according to claim 14, wherein said boot comprises an elongated tubular bellows constructed of a rubberlike material and having multiple convolutions, said bearing ring being snugly and nonrotatably seated within the upper convolution of said bellows.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-03 | 1987-10-03 | 1988-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-03 | 1991-10-03 | 1992-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-03 | 1995-10-03 | 1996-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |