Knoll Gmbh

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Arkady Golynsky

Gregory P Allison

Robert A Melhuish

Donald A Wimmer

Donald T Chadwick

Hendrik Richard Van Hekken

Ron K Watson

Robert E Reuter

Wallace C Bullwinkle

Robert E Anderson

Bryan B Bray, Jr

Larry L Hoff

Al Schmidt

A chair having a seat rotatably attached to a tilt spring portion of a tilt mechanism such that the tilt spring is activated by movement of the seat. A backrest and/or the seat can be rotatably connected to the tilt mechanism by parallel arm arrangements which permit the seat and backrest to tilt relative to each other. A tilt limiter can have a magnetic member which facilitates full movement of the tilt limiter between free and locked positions, and which creates an audible indication of full movement of the tilt limiter. The seat/backrest can be made from a flexible mesh material secured to a rigid overmolding which surrounds and is attached to an inner frame of the seat/backrest wherein an outer surface of the overmolding forms an outer surface of the seat/backrest frame and attachment of the overmolding causes the inner frame to stretch the mesh to a final condition.

Office chair

A height adjustment mechanism is disclosed that includes a pedestal height variability mechanism. The pedestal height variability mechanism includes a first member and a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism is configured to hold the first member in a first position. The first member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The biasing mechanism has a first portion attached to the first member adjacent the first end of the first member. The biasing mechanism also has a second portion attached to the first member adjacent to the second end of the first member. Preferably, a second member is also provided that is moveably attached to the first member. The second member may be configured such that movement of the second member actuates height adjustment of a chair.

Height adjustment mechanism for a chair

A preference control mechanism is provided that includes a housing, a shuttle, a sub shuttle and at least one resilient member. The housing has a channel. The shuttle has a cavity. The shuttle is moveable within the channel of the housing from a first position to at least one second position. The sub shuttle is moveable within the channel of the housing and is moveable independent of the shuttle. The one or more resilient members have a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is attached to the shuttle and the second end is attached to the sub shuttle. The preference control mechanism is configured for attachment to at least one chair component. Chairs may also be designed to include one or more embodiments of the preference control mechanism.

Preference control mechanism

A support member configured for attachment to a back assembly and a chair component is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment of the support member may be included in a chair that includes a base, a back assembly and the support member. The back assembly includes an extension attached to a back frame. The extension is attached to the base such that the back assembly is moveable relative to the base. The support member is attached to the extension and the base. The support member is more rigid than the extension. Preferably, the extension is composed of elastomeric material.

Support member

Lumbar support

The present invention discloses an overload protection mechanism for a cable actuated feature on an office chair. The overload protection device allows a person seated in the chair to move a handle to actuate the particular feature of the chair, for example, a reclining backrest, even when the seated person's weight on the backrest prevents the backrest locking mechanism from engaging or disengaging. The movement of the handle causes the cable to move even when the locking mechanism connected to the opposite end of the cable is unable to engage or disengage. The mechanism stores the motion of the cable in a spring device connected to the movement actuators by a rack and pinion gear system. When the binding is released from the actuators, the mechanism moves as originally intended, motivated by the force of the decompressing springs.

Cable control with overload protection device

A keyboard support includes one or more retractable auxiliary support platforms. The keyboard support is constructed of a keyboard platform and a bottom plate which include complementary interior surfaces which form one or more pockets therebetween into which the auxiliary support platforms are slidably retracted. Each auxiliary support platform further includes a top plate and a slider plate. The top plate has a top surface which matches that of the keyboard platform to provide a uniform appearance. The profile of the auxiliary support platforms generally matches that of the pockets so as to be substantially hidden when in the fully retracted position. The top plate is rotatable with respect to the slider plate, and also the keyboard support, so as to enlarge the useable work surface of the auxiliary support platform. When extended, the auxiliary support platform top surface is generally flush with that of the top surface of the keyboard platform, separated only by the relative small thickness of the keyboard platform, because of the pockets formed in the keyboard support.

Keyboard support with retractable auxiliary support platforms

A chair tilt control mechanism for a pedestal base chair having a chair control housing mounted on the pedestal chair base and pivotally supporting a chair seat support member. A laterally movable front stop member retained within the chair control housing is movable and contacts the front flange of the chair seat support member and limits the pivotal movement of the chair seat support member to predetermined angular positions with respect to the chair control housing and the floor supporting the chair. Also disclosed is a lever member adapted to lock the chair seat support member in one or more predetermined angular positions. Also disclosed is a hollow plastic pivot pin for pivotally connecting a chair control housing to a chair seat support member.

Chair seat tilt adjustment and locking mechanism

A mechanism for adjusting the angular position of the seat back relative to the chair seat on an office chair. A chair back support member attached to the seat back has a curved lower end. A chair seat support member attached to the chair seat has a curved rear end adapted to receive the curved lower end of the chair back support member. A first curved gear segment member having a plurality of closely spaced teeth is secured to the rear of the curved lower end of the chair back support member. A second curved gear segment member having a plurality of closely spaced teeth is retained within a spring loaded housing attached to the curved rear end of the chair seat support member. A lever which contacts the second curved gear segment member moves the teeth of the second curved segment member in or out of engagement with the teeth of the first curved segment member allowing the user to angularly adjust the chair back relative to the chair seat and to lock it into the selected angular position.

Chair back support adjustment mechanism

Disclosed is a tilt control mechanism for a knee tilt chair that permits the chair to be locked in a number of intermediate tilt positions, as well as in a full upright and a fully reclined position. A portion of a pivotal chair seat support member is a curved flange that is provided with a plurality of spaced openings. The chair control housing contains a lock block slidably supported on guides. An actuator shaft attached to the chair control housing has a cam member attached to the shaft. A quarter turn of the actuator shaft causes the cam member to move the lock block to a forward position adjacent the curved flange. With the lock block in the forward position, one of a plurality of spring loaded pins in the lock block, is allowed to enter one of the openings in the curved flange thereby locking the chair support member of the chair into a predetermined tilt position. Reversal of the actuator shaft allows the lock block to move rearwardly and disengages the spring loaded pin from the opening in the curved flange and allows the tilt position of the chair to be changed by the user.

Tilt control mechanism for chairs

Disclosed is a knee tilt control mechanism for a pedestal type of chair. The control mechanism has a main torsion spring member secured to the control housing designed to resist pivotal movement of the chair seat about a pivot point on the housing. The chair control mechanism includes one or more lever arms attached at one end to the pivot point pins and attached at the other end to a link member. The link member has a pin adapted to slide within a retaining groove or slot in the chair control housing and is connected to the chair pivot point with a tension spring. The lever arm, link and tension spring supply a restoring force which when coupled to the torque force produced by the main spring, results in a restoring force that is nonlinear and is comfortable to the user for all positions of the chair.

Torque control mechanism for chairs

Disclosed is knee tilt chair control mechanism for a pedestal base chair having a chair control housing mounted on the pedestal chair base and pivotally supporting a chair seat support member having a cam surface formed along a portion of the bottom surface thereof. A torsion spring is secured to the chair control housing and is adapted to resist the pivotal movement of the chair seat support member. The torsion spring has a lever arm adapted to move along the cam surface during the pivotal movement of the chair seat support member and thereby make a more effective use of the torsion spring and a chair more comfortable to the user.

Growing community of inventors

Allentown, PA, United States of America

Arkady Golynsky