Patent JPS5645289A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5540481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chair with zero front rise control
Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc
•
Filing: 1994-05-02
•
Granted: 1996-07-30
•
Expires: 2014-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A structural support shell for a tilt-back chair has a back portion, a seat portion, and a flexible compression zone extending between the back and seat portions in an integrally molded, one-piece unit. The chair has a base with a recline control pivoting recline control lever. The seat portion of the shell is fixed to the base and the back portion of the shell is fixed to the recline control lever. The flexible compression zone provides a simplified construction for an ergonomic chair design having an effective axis of rotation between the back portion and seat portion which is located above the seat portion, forward of the back portion, and generally adjacent to the hip joints of a seated user.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles P. Roossien
- 👤 Dale M. Groendal
- 👤 James E. Massey
- 👤 Robert M. Scheper
- 👤 Douglas A. Smith
- 👤 David C. Pugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:41
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C3/00; A47C3/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S297/00; Y10S297/01; Y10S297/02; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/14; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49876; Y10T29/49947; Y10T29/49948; Y10T29/49963; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/60; Y10T403/608; Y10T403/70; Y10T403/7005; Y10T403/7007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A chair comprising: a base; a lever pivotally connected with said base and adapted to rotate between an upright position and a reclined position, said lever having a terminal end away from said base; a control operatively connected with said lever and adapted to bias said lever toward said upright position; a back support shell connected with said lever, said back support shell being adapted to support at least a portion of the back of a user, a portion of said back support shell extending in a direction toward said base from said terminal end of said lever; and a seat support shell having a front portion, having an opposing back portion, and being adapted to support at least a portion of the buttocks of a user; said front portion being fixed to said base; said back portion extending generally toward said back support shell from said front portion, being free of said base to flex relative to said front portion, and being connected with said back support shell so said back portion flexes and deflects relative to said front portion when said back support shell rotates with said lever between said upright position and said reclined position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A chair comprising: a base; a lever pivotally connected with said base and adapted to rotate between an upright position and a reclined position, said lever having a terminal end away from said base; a control operatively connected with said lever and adapted to bias said lever toward said upright position; a back support shell connected with said lever, said back support shell being adapted to support at least a portion of the back of a user, a portion of said back support shell extending in a direction toward said base from said terminal end of said lever; and a seat support shell having a front portion, having an opposing back portion, and being adapted to support at least a portion of the buttocks of a user; said front portion being fixed to said base; said back portion extending generally toward said back support shell from said front portion, being free of said base to flex relative to said front portion, and being connected with said back support shell so said back portion flexes and deflects relative to said front portion when said back support shell rotates with said lever between said upright position and said reclined position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The chair as defined in claim 1 wherein said front portion of said seat support shell includes at least one of a tab which overlaps a portion of said base and a slot adapted to receive a portion of said base to fasten said front portion to said base in fixed relation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The chair as defined in claim 2 wherein said front portion of said seat support shell is fastened to said base in fixed relation by at least one fastener, said at least one fastener extending at least partially into each of said base and said front portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair as defined in claim 2 wherein said chair further includes at least one hinge member interconnecting said back support shell and said back portion of said seat support shell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The chair as defined in claim 4 wherein said back support shell, said seat support shell, and said at least one hinge member are formed in one piece as a unitary shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The chair as defined in claim 5 wherein said unitary shell has a first side and an opposing second side, a first of said at least one hinge member is located near said first side, and a second of said at least one hinge member is located near said second side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair as defined in claim 6 wherein said unitary shell further includes a transition zone extending between said back support shell and said back portion of said seat support shell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair as defined in claim 7 wherein said unitary shell is formed of a resilient resin material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair as defined in claim 1 wherein said chair further includes at least one hinge member interconnecting said back support shell and said back portion of said seat support shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The chair as defined in claim 9 wherein said back support shell, said seat support shell, and said at least one hinge member are formed in one piece as a unitary shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The chair as defined in claim 10 wherein said unitary shell has a first side and an opposing second side, a first of said at least one hinge member is located near said first side, and a second of said at least one hinge member is located near said second side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair as defined in claim 11 wherein said unitary shell further includes a transition zone extending between said back support shell and said back portion of said seat support shell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair as defined in claim 12 wherein said unitary shell is formed of a resilient resin material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
228 words
A chair comprising: a base; a lever pivotally connected with said base and adapted to rotate between an upright position and a reclined position, said lever having a terminal end away from said base; a control operatively connected with said lever and adapted to bias said lever toward said upright position; a back support adapted to support at least a portion of the back of a user, a portion of said back support extending generally toward said base from said terminal end of said lever; means for connecting said back support with said lever; a seat support having a front portion and an opposing back portion, and being adapted to support at least a portion of the buttocks of a user, said back portion extending generally toward said back support from said front portion; means for fastening said front portion of said seat support to said base to preclude rotation and translation of said front portion relative to said base and whereby said back portion of said seat support is free of said base to flex relative to said front portion; and means for interconnecting said back portion of said seat support with said back support so said back portion flexes and deflects relative to said front portion of said seat support when said back support rotates with said lever between said upright position and said reclined position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
228 words
A chair comprising: a base; a lever pivotally connected with said base and adapted to rotate between an upright position and a reclined position, said lever having a terminal end away from said base; a control operatively connected with said lever and adapted to bias said lever toward said upright position; a back support adapted to support at least a portion of the back of a user, a portion of said back support extending generally toward said base from said terminal end of said lever; means for connecting said back support with said lever; a seat support having a front portion and an opposing back portion, and being adapted to support at least a portion of the buttocks of a user, said back portion extending generally toward said back support from said front portion; means for fastening said front portion of said seat support to said base to preclude rotation and translation of said front portion relative to said base and whereby said back portion of said seat support is free of said base to flex relative to said front portion; and means for interconnecting said back portion of said seat support with said back support so said back portion flexes and deflects relative to said front portion of said seat support when said back support rotates with said lever between said upright position and said reclined position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The chair as defined in claim 14 wherein said front portion of said seat support shell includes at least one of a tab which overlaps a portion of said base and a slot adapted to receive a portion of said base to fasten said front portion to said base in fixed relation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The chair as defined in claim 15 wherein said front portion of said seat support shell is fastened to said base in fixed relation by at least one fastener, said at least one fastener extending at least partially into each of said base and said front portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair as defined in claim 16 wherein said chair further includes at least one hinge member interconnecting said back support shell and said back portion of said seat support shell.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The chair as defined in claim 17 wherein said back support shell, said seat support shell, and said at least one hinge member are formed in one piece as a unitary shell.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The chair as defined in claim 18 wherein said unitary shell has a first side and an opposing second side, a first of said at least one hinge member is located near said first side, and a second of said at least one hinge member is located near said second side.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair as defined in claim 19 wherein said unitary shell further includes a transition zone extending between said back support shell and said back portion of said seat support shell.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair as defined in claim 20 wherein said unitary shell is formed of a resilient resin material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair as defined in claim 14 wherein said chair further includes at least one hinge member interconnecting said back support shell and said back portion of said seat support shell.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The chair as defined in claim 22 wherein said back support shell, said seat support shell, and said at least one hinge member are formed in one piece as a unitary shell.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The chair as defined in claim 23 wherein said unitary shell has a first side and an opposing second side, a first of said at least one hinge member is located near said first side, and a second of said at least one hinge member is located near said second side.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair as defined in claim 24 wherein said unitary shell further includes a transition zone extending between said back support shell and said back portion of said seat support shell.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair as defined in claim 25 wherein said unitary shell is formed of a resilient resin material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
224 words
A chair comprising: a base; a lever pivotally connected with said base and adapted to rotate between an upright position and a reclined position, said lever having a terminal end away from said base; a control operatively connected with said lever and adapted to bias said lever toward said upright position; and a one piece structural shell having a back support connected with said lever, said back support being adapted to support at least a portion of the back of a user, a portion of said back support extending in a direction toward said base from said terminal end of said lever; having a seat support with a front portion and an opposing back portion, said seat support being adapted to support at least a portion of the buttocks of a user, said front portion being fixed to said base to preclude rotation and translation of said front portion relative to said base, said back portion extending generally toward said back support from said front portion and being free of said base to flex relative to said front portion; and having a flexible zone interconnecting said back portion of said seat support with said back support so said back portion flexes and deflects relative to said front portion when said back support rotates with said lever between said upright position and said reclined position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
224 words
A chair comprising: a base; a lever pivotally connected with said base and adapted to rotate between an upright position and a reclined position, said lever having a terminal end away from said base; a control operatively connected with said lever and adapted to bias said lever toward said upright position; and a one piece structural shell having a back support connected with said lever, said back support being adapted to support at least a portion of the back of a user, a portion of said back support extending in a direction toward said base from said terminal end of said lever; having a seat support with a front portion and an opposing back portion, said seat support being adapted to support at least a portion of the buttocks of a user, said front portion being fixed to said base to preclude rotation and translation of said front portion relative to said base, said back portion extending generally toward said back support from said front portion and being free of said base to flex relative to said front portion; and having a flexible zone interconnecting said back portion of said seat support with said back support so said back portion flexes and deflects relative to said front portion when said back support rotates with said lever between said upright position and said reclined position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
57 words
The chair as defined in claim 27 wherein said front portion of said seat support of said one piece structural shell includes at least one of a tab which overlaps a portion of said base and a slot adapted to receive a portion of said base to fasten said front portion to said base in fixed relation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
The chair as defined in claim 28 wherein said front portion of said seat support of said one piece structural shell is fastened to said base in fixed relation by at least one fastener, said at least one fastener extending at least partially into each of said base and said front portion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chair as defined in claim 29 wherein said chair further includes at least one hinge member interconnecting said back support of said one piece structural shell and said back portion of said seat support of said one piece structural shell.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
The chair as defined in claim 30 wherein said unitary shell has a first side and an opposing second side, a first of said at least one hinge member is located near said first side, and a second of said at least one hinge member is located near said second side.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair as defined in claim 31 wherein said unitary shell is formed of a resilient resin material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chair as defined in claim 27 wherein said chair further includes at least one hinge member interconnecting said back support of said one piece structural shell and said back portion of said seat support of said one piece structural shell.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
The chair as defined in claim 33 wherein said unitary shell has a first side and an opposing second side, a first of said at least one hinge member is located near said first side, and a second of said at least one hinge member is located near said second side.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair as defined in claim 34 wherein said unitary shell is formed of a resilient resin material.
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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) | 1999-07-30 | 2000-01-29 | 2000-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-30 | 2004-01-29 | 2004-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-30 | 2008-01-29 | 2008-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |