Patent US6874852B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6874852B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lumbar support
Assignee: Formway Furniture Ltd
•
Filing: 2001-09-17
•
Granted: 2005-04-05
•
Expires: 2021-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A back portion ( 16 ) for a chair ( 10 ) includes a peripheral frame ( 34 ) defining an opening therein. A lumbar support portion ( 36 ) is disposed in the opening. The lumbar support portion ( 36 ) comprises a substantially rigid panel ( 207 ). Two hinge devices ( 214 ) are hingedly mounted on opposite sides of the peripheral frame ( 34 ). The lumbar support portion ( 207 ) is mounted on the peripheral frame by the two hinge devices ( 214 ). Each hinge device has a biasing device ( 226 ) associated with it to bias the hinge devices ( 214 ) forwardly relative to the peripheral frame ( 34 ). A cushion ( 540 ) may be mounted atop the lumbar support portion ( 207 ). The cushion has a first substantially planar sheet ( 542 ) of resiliently flexible material and a second substantially planar sheet ( 544 ) of resiliently flexible material. The first and second sheets are separated by a plurality of spaced webs ( 546 ) of resiliently flexible material.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian Colin Footitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:29
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C1/00; A47C1/02; A47C1/022; A47C1/023; A47C1/03; A47C1/0307; A47C1/031; A47C1/032; A47C1/03205; A47C1/03255; A47C31/00; A47C31/12; A47C31/126; A47C7/00; A47C7/002; A47C7/004; A47C7/006; A47C7/02; A47C7/029; A47C7/22; A47C7/28; A47C7/282; A47C7/36; A47C7/40; A47C7/46; A47C7/462
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A chair back comprising: a peripheral frame comprising opposing sides, a top, and a bottom which bound an opening, the peripheral frame having a front face which faces the back of a user during use; a resiliently flexible fabric material directly connected to the opposing sides of the peripheral frame, the resiliently flexible fabric material being drawn taut so that the resiliently flexible fabric material extends directly between the opposing sides and across the opening while passing over at least a portion of the front face of the peripheral frame; a lumbar support portion disposed in the opening, the lumbar support portion comprising a lumbar support panel which is biased forwardly to support a lumbar region of a user through the resiliently flexible fabric material when the user applies rearward force against the resiliently flexible fabric material; two hinge devices hingedly supported by the peripheral frame, the lumbar support portion being in connection with the two hinge devices to mount the lumbar support portion to the peripheral frame; and a biasing device associated with each hinge device to bias the hinge devices forwardly relative to the peripheral frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A chair back comprising: a peripheral frame comprising opposing sides, a top, and a bottom which bound an opening, the peripheral frame having a front face which faces the back of a user during use; a resiliently flexible fabric material directly connected to the opposing sides of the peripheral frame, the resiliently flexible fabric material being drawn taut so that the resiliently flexible fabric material extends directly between the opposing sides and across the opening while passing over at least a portion of the front face of the peripheral frame; a lumbar support portion disposed in the opening, the lumbar support portion comprising a lumbar support panel which is biased forwardly to support a lumbar region of a user through the resiliently flexible fabric material when the user applies rearward force against the resiliently flexible fabric material; two hinge devices hingedly supported by the peripheral frame, the lumbar support portion being in connection with the two hinge devices to mount the lumbar support portion to the peripheral frame; and a biasing device associated with each hinge device to bias the hinge devices forwardly relative to the peripheral frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 1 wherein each hinge device has a first part being hingedly supported by the peripheral frame about a hinge axis and a second part pivotally mounted to the first part about a pivot axis, the second part being in connection with the lumbar support panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pivot axis between the first and second parts is transverse to the hinge axis of the first part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lumbar support portion is adjustable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lumbar support portion is slidably mounted to the hinge devices to effect the height adjustment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 5 wherein the lumbar support portion is provided with two spaced tracks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 6 wherein forward portions of the hinges incorporate gliders with the gliders of each hinge device retained within a respective one of the tracks for sliding movement therealong.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 7 wherein each track of the lumbar support portion is in the form of a C-channel and the gliders of each hinge device comprise two spaced substantially spherical projection receivable in the associated C-channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 8 wherein the base of each C-channel has an undulating surface to define seats for the substantially spherical projections in the dips of the undulations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 9 wherein a resiliently flexible ripple strip is seated in the base of each C-channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 8 wherein the base of each C-channel has a series of spaced slots, the slots defining seats for the substantially spherical projections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 6 wherein two spaced tracks are integrally molded on the rearward side of the panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 1 wherein the peripheral frame includes a back beam disposed in a position corresponding approximately to the lumbar spine of an adult seat occupant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 13 wherein the back beam is an integrally molded part of the peripheral frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 13 wherein the hinge devices are mounted to the back beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 15 wherein the hinge devices are arranged to converge towards each other forwardly of the back beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 15 wherein the biasing devices comprise two springs, each mounted between the associated hinge device and the back beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A chair as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the springs are adjustable to adjust the spring force towards a forward most position of the lumbar support panel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The chair back as claimed in 17 wherein each spring is an elongate spring extending towards the center of the back beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 19 wherein the ends of the springs remote from the hinge devices are disposed at a common locus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 20 wherein the spacing of the ends of the springs from the back beam is adjustable.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The chair back as claimed in claim 21 wherein a slidable spacer is provided having a plurality of seats to receive the end of the springs, each of the seats being such as to space the ends of the springs a variable amount from the back beam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
97 words
A chair back according to claim 1 wherein said lumbar support panel of the lumbar support portion comprises a cushion which contacts the resiliently flexible fabric material from behind, said cushion comprising: a substantially planar first sheet of resiliently flexible material; a substantially planar second sheet of resiliently flexible material; and a plurality of spaced webs separating the first sheet and the second sheet, wherein the webs comprise a first portion connected to the first sheet and a second portion connected to the second sheet, the first and second portions extending at an angle to each other.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A chair back as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the peripheral frame comprises a back face opposite the front face, the panel of the lumbar support being openly viewable from the back face of the peripheral frame.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A chair back as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the biasing devices are adjustable to adjust the biasing force towards a forward most position of the lumbar support panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US226082A
Cited
US272579A
Cited
US323060A
Cited
US614235A
Cited
US3124092A
Cited
US662247A
Cited
US662647A
Cited
US1120686A
Cited
US1976793A
Cited
US2063732A
Cited
US2071974A
Cited
US2471024A
Cited
US2590995A
Cited
US2612211A
Cited
US2845997A
Cited
US2796918A
Cited
US2858572A
Cited
US2833339A
Cited
US2804129A
Cited
US2962764A
Cited
US2887692A
Cited
US3009578A
Cited
US3015148A
Cited
US2991124A
Cited
US3041109A
Cited
US3112987A
Cited
US3030640A
Cited
US3115678A
Cited
US3208085A
Cited
US3165359A
Cited
US3107991A
Cited
US3214314A
Cited
US3434181A
Cited
US3222698A
Cited
US3301931A
Cited
US3279849A
Cited
US3319274A
Cited
US3273877A
Cited
US3298743A
Cited
US3314721A
Cited
US3399926A
Cited
US3534129A
Cited
US3431022A
Cited
US3546724A
Cited
US3399883A
Cited
US3620568A
Cited
GB1222908A
Cited
US3589967A
Cited
US3712666A
Cited
US3652126A
Cited
US3826456A
Cited
US3740792A
Cited
US3770235A
Cited
US3950026A
Cited
US4040661A
Cited
US3942835A
Cited
US3937518A
Cited
US4019777A
Cited
US3974532A
Cited
US4043592A
Cited
US4054317A
Cited
US4017118A
Cited
US4159847A
Cited
US4123104A
Cited
US4158899A
Cited
GB1603355A
Cited
GB1603356A
Cited
NZ184194A
Cited
US4122568A
Cited
US4143910A
Cited
US4191422A
Cited
US4202581A
Cited
US4390204A
Cited
US4145020A
Cited
US4159148A
Cited
US4154478A
Cited
US4285545A
Cited
US4205878A
Cited
US4265482A
Cited
US4328993A
Cited
US4380352A
Cited
WO1980002791A1
Cited
GB2055173A
Cited
GB2068717A
Cited
US4411469A
Cited
GB2057257A
Cited
DE2940641A1
Cited
US4353595A
Cited
EP0032839A2
Cited
US4418958A
Cited
US4408797A
Cited
US4295681A
Cited
US4533174A
Cited
US4406496A
Cited
US4345733A
Cited
US4390206A
Cited
DE3017163A1
Cited
US4299645A
Cited
US4415203A
Cited
US4362334A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-04-04 | 2008-10-04 | 2009-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-04 | 2012-10-04 | 2013-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-04 | 2016-10-04 | 2017-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |