Steelcase Inc.

Donald D Korell

Frederick S Faiks

Jack R Knoblauch

Charles C Pergler

Alexander A Karrip

Bernard J Fries

A chair control in which the chair occupant's body weight is the primary source of energy in reclining the chair and returning the chair to its task position includes a back support link and a front link, each pivotally mounted to a base link. A seat support link is pivotally mounted to and between the front link and the back support link. Pivoting of the links is restrained so that the front link extends upwardly and forwardly from said stationary link. The occupant's weight exerts a downward force on the front link, which exerts a forward force on the seat support link, which in turn exerts a forward force on the back support link providing a task position chair back support. A rearward force exerted on the back support link, as when the occupant reclines is partially counterbalanced by the above described forward force on the back support link so that no additional biasing means are necessary. The preferred embodiment includes biasing means to return the unoccupied chair control to the task position.

Body weight chair control

The specification discloses a chair control employing an open top, generally rectangular drawn cup for housing an energy storage package. An axle secured to and extending between stretchers which are secured to a tilting chair or member thereof, is journaled in the drawn cup and carries the energy storage package. Means for adjusting the preload of the energy package and reducing the likelihood of an energy package failure are provided. First and second interlocking spindle support members are provided which form a cup reinforcing and stress distributing structure roughly box-shaped in cross section. The four outside corners of the cup are strengthened by indented sidewall portions. A strengthening flange is disposed about the periphery of the cup and the axle journaled in the cup, has a relatively large diameter for distributing stress.

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Ada, MI, United States of America

Donald D Korell