US6991291B2 — Back construction for seating unit having spring …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 167 words

A seating unit comprising: a base assembly; a seat on the base assembly; a back support operably interconnected to the base assembly for movement between an upright position and a reclined position, the back support including a back frame and a back shell; the back frame having a first attachment coupling an upper area of the back shell to the back frame, and a plurality of pivotal second attachments for pivotally coupling the lower area of the back shell to the back frame; the back shell having front and rear surfaces and comprising a resiliently flexible polymeric sheet shaped to and adapted to support a back of a seated user, the back shell having a semi-rigid lower area, a flexible area disposed above the lower area, and a semi-rigid upper area disposed above the area; and a force-generating mechanism pressing on the rear surface of the back shell so as to bias the flexible area of the back shell forwardly so as to support a seated user.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 167 words

A seating unit comprising: a base assembly; a seat on the base assembly; a back support operably interconnected to the base assembly for movement between an upright position and a reclined position, the back support including a back frame and a back shell; the back frame having a first attachment coupling an upper area of the back shell to the back frame, and a plurality of pivotal second attachments for pivotally coupling the lower area of the back shell to the back frame; the back shell having front and rear surfaces and comprising a resiliently flexible polymeric sheet shaped to and adapted to support a back of a seated user, the back shell having a semi-rigid lower area, a flexible area disposed above the lower area, and a semi-rigid upper area disposed above the area; and a force-generating mechanism pressing on the rear surface of the back shell so as to bias the flexible area of the back shell forwardly so as to support a seated user.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the back shell includes edge strips in the flexible area and horizontal slots starting inboard of the edge strips and extending horizontally in the flexible central area.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The seating unit defined in claim 2 , wherein the first attachment includes at least one top pivot.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the force-generating mechanism provides a non-adjustable force.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the force-generating mechanism includes a transverse leaf spring extending horizontally across the back frame.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the force-generating mechanism includes a coil spring pressing on a rear surface of the flexible area.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 38 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the seat is operably connected to the back frame and movably supported on the base assembly for forward movement upon recline of the back frame toward the reclined position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the back frame is located separate from and spaced rearwardly from the back shell in a position external to the back shell.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the back frame has an inverted U shape.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the back frame is spaced rearwardly from the back shell and defines an open area through which flexure of the back shell is visible.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the back shell has a multi-curved shape such that in a vertical cross section the flexible area forms a forwardly protruding convex shape and in a horizontal cross section the flexible area forms a rearwardly protruding concave shape.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the force-generating mechanism includes at least two different energy sources biasing the flexible area forwardly.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the force-generating mechanism includes only a single energy source biasing the flexible area forwardly.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the back shell includes forwardly extending flanges on each side that are connected to the back frame.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

The seating unit defined in claim 14 , wherein the back shell includes a belt bracket attached along its lower edge and that includes the forwardly extending flanges.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the back support includes at least one cushion on a front face of the back shell.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 150 words

A back construction for a seating unit comprising: a unitary back frame; a compliant back including a back shell formed from a resiliently flexible polymeric sheet having a flexible forwardly-protruding lumbar support section that can be flexed to a plurality of different shapes, said back shell further having a shape that is generally concave when viewed in a horizontal section and generally convex when viewed in a vertical section, said lumbar support section including a plurality of vertically spaced apart slots extending generally horizontally across a portion of the lumbar support section and terminating prior to the perimeter edge of said sheet; at least two connections pivotally connecting the compliant back to the back frame; and a force-generating mechanism pressing on a rear surface of the back shell and constructed to provide a biasing force that biases the lumbar support section forward to provide support for a seated user's back.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 150 words

A back construction for a seating unit comprising: a unitary back frame; a compliant back including a back shell formed from a resiliently flexible polymeric sheet having a flexible forwardly-protruding lumbar support section that can be flexed to a plurality of different shapes, said back shell further having a shape that is generally concave when viewed in a horizontal section and generally convex when viewed in a vertical section, said lumbar support section including a plurality of vertically spaced apart slots extending generally horizontally across a portion of the lumbar support section and terminating prior to the perimeter edge of said sheet; at least two connections pivotally connecting the compliant back to the back frame; and a force-generating mechanism pressing on a rear surface of the back shell and constructed to provide a biasing force that biases the lumbar support section forward to provide support for a seated user's back.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The back construction defined in claim 17 , wherein the horizontal slots start inboard of the edge strips and extend horizontally completely across a flexible central area of the lumbar support section.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

The back construction defined in claim 17 , wherein the force-generating mechanism includes a transverse leaf spring extending horizontally across the back frame.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The back construction defined in claim 17 , wherein the force-generating mechanism includes a coil spring pressing on a rear surface of a flexible central area of the lumbar support section.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The back construction defined in claim 17 , wherein the back shell includes forwardly extending flanges on each side that are connected to the back frame.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The back construction defined in claim 17 , wherein the back frame is located separate from and spaced rearwardly from the back shell in a position external to the back shell.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

The back construction defined in claim 17 , wherein the back frame has an inverted “U” shape.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The back construction defined in claim 17 , wherein the back frame is spaced rearwardly from the back shell and defines an open area through which flexure of the back shell is visible.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

The back construction defined in claim 17 , wherein the force-generating mechanism includes at least two different energy sources biasing the flexible central area forwardly.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 46 words

A seating unit including the back construction defined in claim 17 , and including a base assembly and a seat operably connected to the back frame and movably supported on the base assembly for forward movement upon recline of the back frame toward a reclined position.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 178 words

A seating unit, comprising: a seat; a back frame; a back shell attached to said back frame and having relatively rigid upper and lower areas interconnected by a relatively flexible central area, and including at least one top and one bottom pivotal connection, said at least one top connection proximate said rigid upper area and said at least one bottom connection proximate said rigid lower area, said back shell further having a shape that is generally concave when viewed in a horizontal section and generally convex when viewed in a vertical section; and an active energy mechanism biasing said back shell toward a more convex shape when viewed in a vertical section, said energy mechanism being positioned rearward of the back shell and adapted to press on a rear surface of the back shell, wherein when said back shell is assembled into said seating unit, said pivotal connections allow controlled flexure of said back shell such that said rigid upper and lower areas rotate in opposite directions about their respective pivotal connections as said back shell is flexed.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 178 words

A seating unit, comprising: a seat; a back frame; a back shell attached to said back frame and having relatively rigid upper and lower areas interconnected by a relatively flexible central area, and including at least one top and one bottom pivotal connection, said at least one top connection proximate said rigid upper area and said at least one bottom connection proximate said rigid lower area, said back shell further having a shape that is generally concave when viewed in a horizontal section and generally convex when viewed in a vertical section; and an active energy mechanism biasing said back shell toward a more convex shape when viewed in a vertical section, said energy mechanism being positioned rearward of the back shell and adapted to press on a rear surface of the back shell, wherein when said back shell is assembled into said seating unit, said pivotal connections allow controlled flexure of said back shell such that said rigid upper and lower areas rotate in opposite directions about their respective pivotal connections as said back shell is flexed.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 35 words

The seating unit defined in claim 27 , wherein the back shell includes edge strips and a plurality of horizontal slots starting inboard of the edge strips and extending horizontally across the flexible central area.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

The seating unit defined in claim 27 , wherein the active energy mechanism comprises a force-generating mechanism that includes a transverse leaf spring extending horizontally across the back frame.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 32 words

The seating unit defined in claim 27 , wherein the active energy mechanism comprises a force-generating mechanism that includes a coil spring pressing on a rear surface of the flexible central area.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 41 words

The seating unit defined in claim 27 , including a base assembly, the seat being operably connected to the back frame and movably supported on the base assembly for forward movement upon recline of the back frame toward a reclined position.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 31 words

The seating unit defined in claim 27 , wherein the back frame is located separate from and spaced rearwardly from the back shell in a position external to the back shell.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 17 words

The seating unit defined in claim 27 , wherein the back frame has an inverted “U” shape.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 33 words

The seating unit defined in claim 27 , wherein the back frame is spaced rearwardly from the back shell and defines an open area though which flexure of the back shell is visible.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

The seating unit defined in claim 27 , wherein the active energy mechanism comprises a force-generating mechanism that includes at least two different energy sources biasing the flexible central area forwardly.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 25 words

The seating unit defined in claim 27 wherein the back shell includes forwardly extending flanges on each side that are connected to the back frame.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-01-30	2009-08-01	2010-01-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-01-30	2013-08-01	2014-01-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-01-30	2017-08-01	2018-01-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Back construction for seating unit having spring bias

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