US6155643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for adjusting the height of the back-rest of a seat back portion, in particular in office chairs
Assignee: Imarc SpA
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Filing: 1997-09-04
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Granted: 2000-12-05
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Expires: 2017-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A device for adjusting the height of a back-rest of a seat back portion, in particular in office chairs, comprising a guide element rigid with a support plate of a seating portion, a slide for supporting the back-rest, the slide being engagable with the guide element and slidable along it, and means which are elastically selectively engageable with a toothed portion to ensure the stability of the position of the slide relative to said guide. The elastic means are able to slide freely along the passive flanks of teeth of a toothed portion during the raising of the back rest, and are locked by the active flanks after each passage over a tooth.
Inventors
- 👤 Claudio Gorgi
- 👤 Paolo Scagnellato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:27
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/36; A47C7/40; A47C7/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A device for adjusting the height of a back rest of a seat, comprising: a guide element rigid with a support plate of a seating portion, a slide for supporting said back rest, said slide being engagable with said guide element and slidable along it, at least a rectilinear toothed portion with teeth having an active flank and a passive flank, and an elastic member which is selectively engageable with said teeth of said rectilinear toothed portion; wherein said rectilinear toothed portion defines a substantially vertical first way for said elastic members which elastically adheres to said rectilinear toothed portion and which slides freely along said passive flanks of said teeth during the raising of said back rest and is locked by said active flanks after each passage over a tooth and a second way parallel to said first way for the free sliding of said elastic member during the descent of said back rest, said first and second ways being spaced by said rectilinear toothed portion and being connected through a pair of passages placed at both ends of said first and second ways and shaped so as to convey said elastic member towards said first way during the rising of the back rest and toward said second way during the descent of said back rest.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A device for adjusting the height of a back rest of a seat, comprising: a guide element rigid with a support plate of a seating portion, a slide for supporting said back rest, said slide being engagable with said guide element and slidable along it, at least a rectilinear toothed portion with teeth having an active flank and a passive flank, and an elastic member which is selectively engageable with said teeth of said rectilinear toothed portion; wherein said rectilinear toothed portion defines a substantially vertical first way for said elastic members which elastically adheres to said rectilinear toothed portion and which slides freely along said passive flanks of said teeth during the raising of said back rest and is locked by said active flanks after each passage over a tooth and a second way parallel to said first way for the free sliding of said elastic member during the descent of said back rest, said first and second ways being spaced by said rectilinear toothed portion and being connected through a pair of passages placed at both ends of said first and second ways and shaped so as to convey said elastic member towards said first way during the rising of the back rest and toward said second way during the descent of said back rest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An adjustment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elastic member is rigid with said slide and said rectilinear toothed portion is provided on said guide element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An adjustment device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elastic member is rigid with said guide element and said rectilinear toothed portion is provided on said slide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide element consists of a C-shaped section bar with its flanges bent inwards and housing internally an insert consisting of two mutually facing toothed portions with tooth cavities inclined upwards.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An adjustment device as claimed in 4, wherein said insert comprises two parallel seats in which flanges of said C-shaped section bar are guided.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An adjustment device as claimed in 1, wherein said slide consisting of a substantially U-shaped section bar housed within said guide element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An adjustment device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elastic member consists of a U shaped spring and is applied to said slide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An adjustment device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said U shaped spring is provided at its free ends with two appendices bent at 90° and engaging between the teeth of said rectilinear toothed portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An adjustment device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said U-shaped spring is fixed by a rivet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An adjustment device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said guide element comprises an element forming a stop surface for said appendices on termination of their travel along the teeth of said toothed portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic member consists of a U-shaped spring and is applied to said guide element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An adjustment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elastic member is maintained, in absence of external stresses, substantially into touch with a wall of said second way in which said passages come out.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
232 words
A device for adjusting the height of a back rest of a seat, comprising: a guide element rigid with a support plate of a seating portion, a slide for supporting said back rest, said slide being engagable with said guide element and slidable along it, means for adjusting the mutual position of said guide element and said slide, said means comprising at least a rectilinear toothed portion with teeth having an active flank and a passive flank, and elastic means which are selectively engageable with said teeth of said rectilinear toothed portion; wherein said rectilinear toothed portion defines a substantially vertical first way for said elastic means which elastically adhere to said rectilinear toothed portion and which slide freely along said passive flanks of said teeth during the raising of said back rest and are locked by said active flanks after each passage over a tooth and a second way parallel to said first way for the free sliding of said elastic means during the descent of said back rest, said first and second ways being spaced by said rectilinear toothed portion and being connected through a pair of passages placed at both ends of said first and second ways and shaped so as to convey said elastic means towards said first way during the rising of the back rest and toward said second way during the descent of said back rest.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
232 words
A device for adjusting the height of a back rest of a seat, comprising: a guide element rigid with a support plate of a seating portion, a slide for supporting said back rest, said slide being engagable with said guide element and slidable along it, means for adjusting the mutual position of said guide element and said slide, said means comprising at least a rectilinear toothed portion with teeth having an active flank and a passive flank, and elastic means which are selectively engageable with said teeth of said rectilinear toothed portion; wherein said rectilinear toothed portion defines a substantially vertical first way for said elastic means which elastically adhere to said rectilinear toothed portion and which slide freely along said passive flanks of said teeth during the raising of said back rest and are locked by said active flanks after each passage over a tooth and a second way parallel to said first way for the free sliding of said elastic means during the descent of said back rest, said first and second ways being spaced by said rectilinear toothed portion and being connected through a pair of passages placed at both ends of said first and second ways and shaped so as to convey said elastic means towards said first way during the rising of the back rest and toward said second way during the descent of said back rest.
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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) | 2003-12-05 | 2004-06-05 | 2004-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | 2008-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-05 | 2012-06-05 | 2012-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |