Steelcase Inc.

Michelle R Johnson

Kurt R Heidmann

Gordon J Peterson

Robert J Battey

Robert M Scheper

Larry DeKraker

Glenn A Knoblock

Arnold B Dammermann

David S Teppo

Charles P Roossien

Michael J Yancharas

James P Steffens

Edward H Punches

James A Perkins

Kevin A Ekdahl

Daniel P Beemer

Gregory S Beda

Diane L Ellis

Edward H Punchies

Gardner J Ii Klaasen

Kevin A Edkahi

A seating unit is provided having a base assembly, a back frame pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions, and a seat slidably supported on the base assembly and pivoted to the back frame so that the seat moves forwardly and its rear moves forwardly and downwardly with the back frame upon recline. A flexible back is connected to the back frame at top and bottom locations and is provided with lumbar adjustment for improved lumbar force/support and shape. A seat is provided with seat depth adjustment and with active and passive thigh flex support. The seat includes a front section adjustably and/or flexibly supported on a rear section for optimal comfort while supporting a seated adult user's thighs, With the rear section being configured to carry a majority of the weight of a typical seated adult user. A novel energy mechanism is provided that includes a moment arm shift adjuster for adjusting the spring tension on the back frame. The moment arm shift adjuster is readily adjustable and includes an overtorque device to prevent damage to components of the energy mechanism.

Seating unit with novel seat construction

A chair is provided having a base assembly, a back frame pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions, and a seat slidably supported on the base frame and pivoted to the back assembly so that the seat moves forwardly and its rear moves forwardly and downwardly with the back frame upon recline. A flexible back is connected to the back frame at top and bottom locations and is provided with lumbar adjustment for improved lumbar force/support and shape. A seat is provided with seat depth adjustment and with active and passive thigh flex support. The seat includes a front section adjustably and/or flexibly supported on a rear section for optimal comfort while supporting a seated adult user's thighs, with the rear section being configured to carry a majority of the weight of a typical seated adult user. A novel energy mechanism is provided that includes a moment arm shift adjuster for adjusting the spring tension on the back frame. The moment arm shift adjuster is readily adjustable and includes an overtorque device to prevent damage to components of the energy mechanism.

Chair with novel seat construction

A chair including a seat support, a seat movably supported on the seat support for movement between a raised position permitting sliding depth adjustment of the seat and a lowered position preventing adjustment, and a detent device for securely holding the seat in the raised position while the seat is being slidable adjusted. A rack is formed integrally on or attached to the bottom of the seat shell. The detent device includes a seat support bracket attached to a top of a chair control, and a pair of moldings attached to opposite sides of the bracket. The moldings each include upwardly facing teeth for selectively engaging the racks to hold the seat in a selected, depth adjusted position. A resilient finger on each molding is adapted to engage a ridge on the seat shell for selectively holding the seat in either a raised position or in a lowered position. The seat shell engages mating structure on the seat support bracket to permit guided sliding of the seat when in the raised position for depth adjustment, and to prevent cocking and twisting of the seat shell during the depth adjustment.

Chair with adjustable seat

Growing community of inventors

Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Michelle R Johnson