Steelcase Inc.

Edward L Tyler

Jeffrey A Hall

Dale M Groendal

Duane F Nagel

Daniel P Beemer

David A Shipman

Scott H Russell

Thomas R Maas

Timothy H Schipper

Steven E Wiersma

Jeffery A Musculus

Paul P Hausner

Gary P Frantz

Larry L Rillema

Larry D Fox

Robert J Doornbos

James L Brandt

A chair includes a base, a seat operably supported on the base for depth adjustment, and a back operably supported by an upright that extends from the base for recline. The back includes a structural back support, a rear cover covering a rear side of the back support, and a front/lower concave cover covering the upright between a rear of the seat and below the back support to provide a one-piece back and seat appearance. The concave cover defines a concavity shaped to receive a rear of the seat to facilitate depth adjustment, but so that the one-piece back and seat appearance is maintained. The concave cover further includes upwardly extending tabs that engage a lower marginal edge of the back support to facilitate assembly. A flexible sheet covers a front side of the back, and includes a lower portion that wraps around the lower marginal edge and onto a rear surface of the back support, and the concave cover includes an upwardly facing flange that overlaps the lower marginal edge of the back support to trap the lower portion against the lower marginal edge. A vertically adjustable lumbar support is operably mounted on the back support for vertical movement, and handles are provided that move along vertical side edges of the back along a path that is non-parallel the vertical path of the lumbar support.

Chair back construction

A module is provided for communicating utilities to a worksurface or the like from a remote source. The module includes a housing which is pivotally mounted within an aperture in the worksurface. The housing has a hollow interior for receiving one of a plurality of utility connector modules, such as an electrical or communication receptacle. The housing is pivotable between an open position wherein the receptacle is exposed and accessible, and a closed position wherein the receptacle is substantially hidden or retracted. In the preferred embodiment, the housing naturally moves to a closed position so that the receptacles are protected by an upper surface on the housing that is contoured to direct any spilled fluids away from the receptacle when the housing is in the closed position. Also in the preferred embodiment, the receptacles are oriented so that any spilled fluids flow away from the receptacles. Further, the preferred module assembly is constructed to generally set in an aperture in a worksurface panel in a hanging fashion, thus facilitating installation, maintenance and repair.

Worksurface utilities module

Growing community of inventors

Caledonia, MI, United States of America

Edward L Tyler