Herman Miller, Inc.

Nicolai Neubert

Claudia Plikat

Carola E M Zwick

Roland R O Zwick

Johann Burkhard Schmitz

John Fredric Aldrich

Douglas M Van De Riet

Roland R Zwick

Shane M Ramsdell

Carola E Zwick

John F Aldrich

James D Slagh

Douglas M VanDeRiet

Christopher C Hill

James Slagh

Chad D Aerts

Burkhard Schmitz

Shane Michael Ramsdell

A tiltable chair including a base, a fulcrum member having a curved support surface, a back support pivotally connected to the base at a pivot axis and pivotable between at least an upright position and a rearward tilt position, and at least one leaf spring having first and second ends, with the first end being restrained by the base. The at least one leaf spring engages the curved support surface of the fulcrum member at a first contact point when the back support is in the upright position and at a second contact point when the back support is in the rearward tilt position, wherein the second contact point is positioned rearwardly on the at least one leaf spring relative to the first contact point. A link member is pivotally connected to the back support at a first pivot location and is pivotally connected to the at least one leaf spring at a second pivot location. The link member defines a vector between the first and second pivot locations and the first pivot location and the pivot axis define a plane. The vector and the plane define a first angle when the back support is in the upright position and a second angle when the back support is in the rearward tilt position, wherein the second angle is closer to ninety degrees than the first angle. A method of using a chair is also provided.

Back support structure

Tilt chair and methods for the use thereof

A support member for a seating structure component includes a first support member having a first plurality of spaced apart fins and a second support member having a second plurality of spaced apart fins. The first support member is secured to the second support member with the first plurality of fins nested between the second plurality of fins.

Support member for a seating structure

A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the back support about a second horizontal axis and moveably supported by a curved track formed on the housing. A leaf spring includes a first end supported by the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. Preferably, a fulcrum member, which includes a support surface having a curvilinear contour, is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. Preferably, a linkage mechanism including a first and second link is adapted to adjust the position of the fulcrum. In another preferred embodiment, a gear housing is removably disposed in said housing and coupled to the fulcrum. In one preferred embodiment, rearward and forward tilt limiters are provided. In various preferred embodiments, the chair further includes a backrest having a plurality of openings, and armrests that are vertically, laterally and pivotally adjustable. In a preferred embodiment, a kit for assembling a seating structure includes a tilt housing having a plurality of connector arrangements comprising at least a first and second connector arrangement, a first seating arrangement having a first mounting arrangement configured to be connected to the first connector arrangement, and a second seating arrangement having a second mounting arrangement configured to be connected to the second connector arrangement.

A control device for an adjustable seating structure including a first adjustment control positioned in an orientation approximating a seat member. The first adjustment control is moveable about a horizontal axis. A second adjustment control is positioned adjacent the first adjustment control in an orientation approximating a backrest member. The second adjustment control is moveable about the horizontal axis. The first adjustment control and the second adjustment control in combination generally resemble a seating structure. A seating structure including the control device is also provided.

Control device for an adjustable seating structure

A kit for assembling a seating structure includes a tilt housing having a plurality of connector arrangements including at least a first and second connector arrangement. A first seating arrangement has a first mounting arrangement configured to be connected to the first connector arrangement. A second seating arrangement has a second mounting arrangement configured to be connected to the second connector arrangement.

Modular tilt housing for a seating structure

Back for a seating structure

Task chair

Growing community of inventors

Berlin, Germany

Nicolai Neubert