US7097247B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seating unit with adjustable lumbar device
Assignee: Steelcase Inc
•
Filing: 2004-05-14
•
Granted: 2006-08-29
•
Expires: 2024-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A seating unit includes a back support with a perimeter frame defining an opening, and a plurality of resilient members spanning the opening. An upholstery cover extends over and covers the resilient members and a front of the perimeter frame. A bow-tie-shaped lumbar device is positioned between the cover and sides of the perimeter frame for vertical adjustment. The lumbar device includes a body with end sections defining a greater dimension than a middle of the body. Upper and lower edges of the end sections are thin and serve to wedgingly slip between the cover and the resilient members in a manner leading the middle over irregular surfaces between the resilient members. A thick area between the upper and lower edges causes a change in lumbar support force and shape as the lumbar device is adjusted. Handles are attached to the body by stretchable fabric.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Battey
- 👤 Eric Johnson
- 👤 Jonathan B. Hadley
- 👤 Gordon J. Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:50
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C1/00; A47C1/02; A47C1/031; A47C1/032; A47C1/03255; A47C7/00; A47C7/36; A47C7/38; A47C7/40; A47C7/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A seating unit comprising: a back support; a back cover located on a front surface of the back support but separable therefrom at least in a lumbar area of the back cover; and a lumbar device adjustably positioned between the back support and the back cover, the lumbar device including a shape-changing member for changing a shape of the lumbar area during vertical adjustment, and further including handles that track along edges of the back support and still further including a nonmetal stretchable elastic material that connects the handles to respective ends of the shape-changing member, whereby vertical movement of the lumbar device causes a shape change of the back cover for providing improved lumbar support to a seated user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A seating unit comprising: a back support; a back cover located on a front surface of the back support but separable therefrom at least in a lumbar area of the back cover; and a lumbar device adjustably positioned between the back support and the back cover, the lumbar device including a shape-changing member for changing a shape of the lumbar area during vertical adjustment, and further including handles that track along edges of the back support and still further including a nonmetal stretchable elastic material that connects the handles to respective ends of the shape-changing member, whereby vertical movement of the lumbar device causes a shape change of the back cover for providing improved lumbar support to a seated user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The seating unit defined in claim 1 , wherein the lumber device includes a wire attached to the shape-changing member and that extends horizontally across the shape-changing member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The seating unit defined in claim 2 , wherein the third wall portions define a groove for receiving the wire and further include friction tabs that snap-attach the wire to the shape-changing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The seating unit defined in claim 3 , wherein the shape-changing member comprises a thermoformed panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The seating unit defined in claim 4 , including handles that are operably connected by stretchable material to ends of the shape-changing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The seating unit defined in claim 5 , wherein the handles slidably engage and track non-parallel edges of the back support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
A seating unit comprising: a back support; a back cover located on a front surface of the back support but separable therefrom at least in a lumbar area of the back cover; and a lumbar device adjustably positioned between the back support and the back cover, the lumbar device including a longitudinally, non-stretchable flexible panel configured to slidingly engage the front surface of the back support and a rear surface of the back cover, respectively, and still further including handles that track along edges of the back support and yet still further including stretchable material that connects the handles to respective ends of the the flexible panel, whereby vertical movement of the lumbar device causes a shape change of the back cover for providing improved lumbar support to a seated user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
A seating unit comprising: a back support; a back cover located on a front surface of the back support but separable therefrom at least in a lumbar area of the back cover; and a lumbar device adjustably positioned between the back support and the back cover, the lumbar device including a longitudinally, non-stretchable flexible panel configured to slidingly engage the front surface of the back support and a rear surface of the back cover, respectively, and still further including handles that track along edges of the back support and yet still further including stretchable material that connects the handles to respective ends of the the flexible panel, whereby vertical movement of the lumbar device causes a shape change of the back cover for providing improved lumbar support to a seated user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The seating unit defined in claim 7 , wherein the flexible panel comprises a thermoformed panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A seating unit comprising: a back support including side frame members and horizontally extending resilient members spaced in a vertical direction in a lumbar area of the back support; a back cover shaped to cover at least a front of the side frame members; and a lumbar device positioned between the back cover and the resilient members for affecting lumbar support, the lumbar device having a body with end sections connected by a middle section, upper and lower edges of the vertical end sections being relatively thin and defining a larger vertical dimension than the middle section forming wedges and shaped to guide the upper and lower edges of the middle section over the resilient members as the lumbar device is vertically adjusted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A seating unit comprising: a back support including side frame members and horizontally extending resilient members spaced in a vertical direction in a lumbar area of the back support; a back cover shaped to cover at least a front of the side frame members; and a lumbar device positioned between the back cover and the resilient members for affecting lumbar support, the lumbar device having a body with end sections connected by a middle section, upper and lower edges of the vertical end sections being relatively thin and defining a larger vertical dimension than the middle section forming wedges and shaped to guide the upper and lower edges of the middle section over the resilient members as the lumbar device is vertically adjusted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The seating unit defined in claim 9 , including handles that slidably engage and track non-parallel edges of the back support as the lumbar device is vertically adjusted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The seating unit defined in claim 10 , including elastic stretchable sections connecting the handles to the body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The lumbar device defined in claim 9 , wherein the resilient members comprise wires.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The seating unit defined in claim 9 , wherein the body includes upper and lower edges that are curvilinear to define a bow tie shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The seating unit defined in claim 13 , wherein the upper and lower edges are relatively thin and areas therebetween have a thicker dimension.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The seating unit defined in claim 9 , wherein the body is a flexible plastic panel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The seating unit defined in claim 15 , wherein the body is thermoformed to include first walls on a front side and second walls on a rear side and third walls interconnecting the first and second walls, the third walls maintaining a spacing of the first and second walls.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The seating unit defined in claim 16 , wherein the body includes a groove, and wherein the wire snaps into the groove.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The seating unit defined in claim 9 , including handles attached to ends of the body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The seating unit defined in claim 18 , wherein the handles each includes a grip that engages one of the side frame members and further including stretchable elastic material that connects each grip to an end of the body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The seating unit defined in claim 19 , wherein the elastic material is stretched and causes the handle to frictionally engage the side frame members in a manner holding the lumbar device in a selected position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The seating unit defined in claim 9 , wherein the lumbar device is visible in the back support.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The seating unit defined in claim 9 , wherein the lumbar device is visible between the resilient members.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The seating unit defined in claim 9 , including a handle attached to each end of the body that engages a mating slot in the side frame members.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The seating unit defined in claim 9 , wherein the body is symmetrical about a vertical centerline and a horizontal centerline.
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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) | 2009-08-28 | 2010-02-27 | 2010-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-08-28 | 2014-02-27 | 2014-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-08-28 | 2018-02-27 | 2018-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |