US6086153A — Chair with reclineable back and adjustable energy…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 195 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; and the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position, wherein the side pivot includes an adjustable pivot member constructed to change a location of the fulcrum on the lever when the pivot member is adjusted.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 195 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; and the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position, wherein the side pivot includes an adjustable pivot member constructed to change a location of the fulcrum on the lever when the pivot member is adjusted.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the base assembly includes a base frame that incorporates the housing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the pivot member and the lever include interfacing surfaces, at least one of the interfacing surfaces being curvilinear.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The chair defined in claim 3 wherein the interfacing surfaces include intermeshing teeth.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The chair defined in claim 4 wherein the lever comprises an L-shaped bell crank, and the fulcrum is located generally along an intermediate portion of one leg of the L-shaped bell crank.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the lever and the pivot member are pivoted about vertical axes and are movable in a common horizontal plane that provides compact positioning within the control housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 51 words

The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the spring is supported by the control housing and engaged by the lever in a configuration that causes the free end of the spring to simultaneously move toward the one supported end and also move along a fore/aft direction during recline of the back.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 236 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position; the spring being supported by the control housing and engaged by the lever in a configuration that causes the free end of the spring to simultaneously move toward the one supported end and also move along a fore/aft direction during recline of the back; and the lever both longitudinally compressing the spring and causing the spring to bend laterally in a non-linear manner during recline of the back.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 236 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position; the spring being supported by the control housing and engaged by the lever in a configuration that causes the free end of the spring to simultaneously move toward the one supported end and also move along a fore/aft direction during recline of the back; and the lever both longitudinally compressing the spring and causing the spring to bend laterally in a non-linear manner during recline of the back.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 147 words

In a chair having a control housing including a pivot member, a reclineable back operably connected to the control housing for movement between upright and reclined positions, and an energy source in the control housing for biasing the back toward the upright position, the improvement of an adjustable back tension control comprising: the pivot member being adjustable; and a lever engaging the energy source and the pivot member, the lever being operably connected to the back for biasing the back toward the upright position, the lever and the pivot member having non-slip interfacing surfaces, at least one of which is curvilinear, so that the interfacing surfaces engage to define a shifting fulcrum as the lever is rotated during recline of the back, and further so that the fulcrum changes location as the pivot member is adjusted to change a moment arm over which the energy source operates.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 147 words

In a chair having a control housing including a pivot member, a reclineable back operably connected to the control housing for movement between upright and reclined positions, and an energy source in the control housing for biasing the back toward the upright position, the improvement of an adjustable back tension control comprising: the pivot member being adjustable; and a lever engaging the energy source and the pivot member, the lever being operably connected to the back for biasing the back toward the upright position, the lever and the pivot member having non-slip interfacing surfaces, at least one of which is curvilinear, so that the interfacing surfaces engage to define a shifting fulcrum as the lever is rotated during recline of the back, and further so that the fulcrum changes location as the pivot member is adjusted to change a moment arm over which the energy source operates.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The chair defined in claim 9 wherein the lever comprises a bell crank having a leg that is pivotally engaged at an intermediate location by the pivot member to define the fulcrum.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

The chair defined in claim 10 wherein the lever pivots in a horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis to provide for compact positioning in the control housing.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

The chair defined in claim 11 including a link and a seat-engaging bracket operably connected to the lever by the link so that the lever biases the seat-engaging bracket and the seat in a rearward direction.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 48 words

The chair defined in claim 10 wherein the pivot member is pivoted to the control housing at a pivot location spaced from the interfacing surface of the pivot member, the interfacing surface of the pivot member being arcuately shaped and defining a constant radius from the pivot location.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 14 words

The chair defined in claim 13 wherein the interfacing surfaces have teeth that engage.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chair defined in claim 14 wherein the interfacing surface of the lever also has a curvilinear shape.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The chair defined in claim 9 including an adjustment mechanism for angularly adjusting the pivot member to change a length of the moment arm.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The chair defined in claim 16 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an overtorque device to prevent overtorquing by a user when adjusting the pivot member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

The chair defined in claim 9 wherein the chair includes a seat operably positioned on the control housing and interconnected between the lever and the back.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 14 words

The chair defined in claim 9 wherein the interfacing surfaces have teeth that engage.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 86 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly; a component comprising one of a reclineable back and a movable seat pivoted to the base assembly for movement between first and second positions; and a spring with one end supported on the base assembly and another end operably connected to the component, the spring having a length and, when the component is moved from the first position to the second position, being simultaneously longitudinally compressed along the length and also laterally bent in a direction transverse to the length.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 86 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly; a component comprising one of a reclineable back and a movable seat pivoted to the base assembly for movement between first and second positions; and a spring with one end supported on the base assembly and another end operably connected to the component, the spring having a length and, when the component is moved from the first position to the second position, being simultaneously longitudinally compressed along the length and also laterally bent in a direction transverse to the length.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

The chair defined in claim 20 including a lever having a first end contacting the another end of the spring and a second end linked to the component.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The chair defined in claim 21 wherein the lever is pivoted to the base assembly.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 13 words

The chair defined in claim 22 wherein the component comprises the movable seat.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The chair defined in claim 23 including a back frame operably connected to the seat for simultaneous movement therewith.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chair defined in claim 20 wherein the base assembly includes a base frame that incorporates the housing.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 114 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing; a single stored energy source positioned in the control housing providing a compressive force; a back support operably interconnected with said single energy source for movement between upright and reclined positions, said single stored energy source both exerting pretension to bias the back support toward the upright position and providing resistance to tilting of the back support when reclining; and a controller for regulating the pretension of the stored energy source and tilt rate of the back support, the controller including a lever defining an adjustable fulcrum point that can be adjusted without overcoming the compressive force of the said single stored energy source.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 114 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing; a single stored energy source positioned in the control housing providing a compressive force; a back support operably interconnected with said single energy source for movement between upright and reclined positions, said single stored energy source both exerting pretension to bias the back support toward the upright position and providing resistance to tilting of the back support when reclining; and a controller for regulating the pretension of the stored energy source and tilt rate of the back support, the controller including a lever defining an adjustable fulcrum point that can be adjusted without overcoming the compressive force of the said single stored energy source.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

The chair defined in claim 26 including a seat engaging and interconnecting the back support to the energy source.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 145 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing; a seat slidingly supported on the control housing; a back frame pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions and operably attached to the seat so that pivotal movement of the back frame and sliding movement of the seat are synchronized; the control housing defining a relatively thin, horizontally-extending compartment under the seat; and an adjustable energy mechanism operably positioned in the compartment, the adjustable energy mechanism including an extensible energy source, a lever operably connected between the energy source and the seat, and an adjustment member adjustably pivotally supporting the lever for adjustably controlling force transmitted from the energy source through the lever to the seat, the energy source, the lever, and the adjustment member being movable in horizontal directions only so as to operate within the relatively-thin horizontally-extending compartment.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 145 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing; a seat slidingly supported on the control housing; a back frame pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions and operably attached to the seat so that pivotal movement of the back frame and sliding movement of the seat are synchronized; the control housing defining a relatively thin, horizontally-extending compartment under the seat; and an adjustable energy mechanism operably positioned in the compartment, the adjustable energy mechanism including an extensible energy source, a lever operably connected between the energy source and the seat, and an adjustment member adjustably pivotally supporting the lever for adjustably controlling force transmitted from the energy source through the lever to the seat, the energy source, the lever, and the adjustment member being movable in horizontal directions only so as to operate within the relatively-thin horizontally-extending compartment.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 31 words

The chair defined in claim 28 wherein the adjustment member includes a pivot member operably attached to the control housing for shifting the lever to adjust a fulcrum of the lever.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chair defined in claim 28 wherein the base assembly includes a base frame that incorporates the housing.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 145 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing; a seat slidingly supported on the control housing; a back frame pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions and operably attached to the seat so that pivotal movement of the back frame and sliding movement of the seat are synchronized; and an energy mechanism including a spring having a length and an L-shaped torque member with a first leg engaging an end of the spring and a second leg extending generally parallel the length of the spring, the first leg pivotally engaging the control housing at a location spaced from the end of the spring, and the second leg being operably connected to one of the seat and the back frame so that the spring biases the torque member in a manner biasing the back frame toward the upright position.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 145 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing; a seat slidingly supported on the control housing; a back frame pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions and operably attached to the seat so that pivotal movement of the back frame and sliding movement of the seat are synchronized; and an energy mechanism including a spring having a length and an L-shaped torque member with a first leg engaging an end of the spring and a second leg extending generally parallel the length of the spring, the first leg pivotally engaging the control housing at a location spaced from the end of the spring, and the second leg being operably connected to one of the seat and the back frame so that the spring biases the torque member in a manner biasing the back frame toward the upright position.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 35 words

The chair defined in claim 31 wherein the first leg includes a curvilinear surface that both rollingly and pivotally engages structure on the control housing as the back frame moves between upright and reclined positions.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 41 words

The chair defined in claim 32 wherein the structure on the control housing including a pivot member with an interface surface that engages the curvilinear surface on the first leg, the surfaces being configured to positively engage to prevent undesired slippage.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 18 words

The chair defined in claim 31 wherein the base assembly includes a base frame that incorporates the housing.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 186 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; and the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position, wherein the pivot member and the lever include interfacing surfaces, and the interfacing surfaces include intermeshing teeth.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 186 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; and the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position, wherein the pivot member and the lever include interfacing surfaces, and the interfacing surfaces include intermeshing teeth.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 203 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; and the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position, wherein the lever comprises an L-shaped bell crank and the fulcrum is located generally along an intermediate portion of one leg of the L-shaped bell crank.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 203 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; and the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position, wherein the lever comprises an L-shaped bell crank and the fulcrum is located generally along an intermediate portion of one leg of the L-shaped bell crank.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 173 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely and extending longitudinally side-to-side in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; and the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 173 words

A chair comprising: a base assembly including a control housing having opposing side flanges and a side pivot located proximate one of the side flanges; a back pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions; a seat operably supported on the base assembly and connected to the back for coordinated synchronous movement with the back; an energy mechanism for biasing the back toward the upright position, the energy mechanism including an extendable/compressible spring positioned transversely and extending longitudinally side-to-side in the control housing with one end supported on one of the side flanges, and further including a lever pivoted to the side pivot, the lever having a spring-engaging portion engaging a free end of the spring and also having a seat-biasing portion operably connected to the seat; and the side pivot, the spring-engaging portion, and the seat-biasing portion being spaced from each other and arranged so that the spring biases the lever about a fulcrum located generally at the side pivot to bias the back toward the upright position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-11	2004-01-10	2004-07-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-11	2008-01-10	2008-07-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-11	2012-01-10	2012-07-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Chair with reclineable back and adjustable energy mechanism

Abstract

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