The Comfort Companies, LLC

Anthro Form, LLC

Permobil, Inc.

Boa Technology Inc.

Steven DuFresne

Kevin C Meier

David Michael Hopp

Ross P Peyton

Kent Solberg

Steven B Long

Anthony J Minotte

James Alan Capra

Craig Culver

Adam Karpinski

Anna Hetman

Mark Dutton

Anthony Berg

Chair

An example gas lift cylinder removal device described herein includes a collar assembly having a guide pin, a set screw, and a lead screw. The example cylinder removal device is disposed on a gas lift cylinder and provided proximate to and below a seat plate assembly of an example task chair. Operation of the gas lift cylinder removal tool from a first position to a second position provides a mechanical advantage to impart an upward force on a bushing of the seat plate assembly, thereby displacing the cylinder from the seat plate assembly. An example task chair having the gas lift cylinder removal tool is described herein comprising a support surface, a seat plate assembly, and a base assembly, the seat plate assembly including a bushing, an upper plate and a lower plate.

Gas lift cylinder removal device

A seating configuration is described. The seating configuration includes a first support surface configured to support the Ischial Tuberosities of a user. The first support surface includes a feature to urge a user into an optimal position on the seat. The seating configuration includes a second support surface positioned adjacent a pelvic-sacral-lumbar region of the user. The seating configuration includes a third support surface positioned adjacent a thoracic-cervical region of the user. The first, second, and third support surfaces, respectively, together can be configured to create a natural alignment of a spinal column of the user.

Seat configuration

A chair is described herein. The chair includes a first back support coupled to a base of the chair using one or more first support arms. The chair also includes a second back support coupled to the base of the chair using one or more second support arms. The first and second back supports are independently rotatable about a common axis.

Double angle back support adjustment

An air valve assembly includes a housing defining an internal channel configured to receive a first member, the first member is fluidly connected to an air source, a plunger member positioned in the internal channel and configured to slide relative to the housing, a biasing member positioned in the internal channel and configured to apply a biasing force onto the plunger member, and a sealing member positioned in the internal channel and defining a first inflation aperture, the plunger member slidably received by the first inflation aperture. In a first inflation configuration, the first member is configured to form a magnetic connection with the sealing member and contact the plunger member to overcome the biasing force, the plunger member is configured to responsively slide relative to the first inflation aperture to facilitate a flow of air between the sealing member and the plunger member.

Valve assembly for an air cushion

A multi-position airflow control assembly includes a valve body fluidly connected to at least three inflation zones of a cushion, a control assembly partially received by the valve body, the control assembly including a seal member, and an actuation assembly operably connected to the seal member and configured to rotate the seal member relative to the valve body between at least a first position and a second position. In the first position, the seal member is configured to fluidly isolate the at least three inflation zones from each other. In the second position, the seal member is configured to group the at least three inflation zones into a first group of inflation zones being fluidly connected, and a second group of inflation zones being fluidly connected, the first group of inflation zones being fluidly isolated from the second group of inflation zones.

Multi-position airflow control assembly for an air cushion

A support surface including a cutout on a bottom surface of the support surface. The cutout, which can include a plurality of cutouts, provides a controlled structural collapse of the support surface by varying a stiffness in a cross-section. That is, the area in which the cutouts are positioned collapses more easily than the surrounding area of the support structure, thus making the area with the cutouts perceived as being softer. The cutouts can reduce the peak pressures on the portion of the user's body (for example, the user's ischial tuberosities) that is positioned over the cutouts. The support surface can also include a low-friction interface extending across a top surface of the support surface.

Support surface

A base for a chair is described. The example base for the chair includes a central support coupled to a seat of the chair, a first pair of legs extending radially from the central support, and a second pair of legs extending radially from the central support. The first pair of legs extend in a direction opposite the second pair of legs. A first angle between the first pair of legs is larger than a second angle between the second pair of legs. Respective legs of each of the first pair of legs and the second pair of legs are rotationally fixed relative to the seat of the chair.

4-star base for a chair

An example interchangeable decorative feature described herein includes an interchangeable panel provided on a housing of a task chair. The panel provides aesthetic functionality by allowing a user to customize, modify, personalize, or otherwise alter the design, theme, or aesthetic of the example task chair. The panel is interchangeable and includes a snap fitting coupling the panel to a surface of the chair. An example interchangeable decorative feature described herein additionally or alternatively includes an interchangeable vinyl skin provided on a task chair. The vinyl skin includes an adhesive for adhering the skin to a surface of the example task chair.

Chair having interchangeable decorative feature

A multi-position airflow control assembly includes a valve housing, a valve body received by the valve housing, a plurality of connectors coupled to the valve body, each connector configured to fluidly connect to an inflation zone of a cellular cushion, and a control assembly partially received by the valve body. The control assembly includes a seal member, and an actuation assembly operably connected to the seal member and configured to rotate the seal member relative to the valve body. The seal member is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position.

A seating configuration is described. The seating configuration includes a seat. The seat includes a feature to retain a user in a specific position on the seat. The seating configuration includes a first back support. The first back support is positioned adjacent a posterior pelvic area of the user. The seating configuration includes a second back support. The second back support is positioned adjacent to the thoracic area of the user. The seat, the first back support, and the second back support together can be configured to create a natural alignment of a spinal column of the user.

An air valve assembly includes a housing defining an internal channel, a plunger member positioned in the internal channel and configured to slide relative to the housing, a biasing member positioned in the internal channel and configured to apply a biasing force onto the plunger member, a sealing member defining a first inflation aperture, the plunger member slidably received by the first inflation aperture, a second deflation aperture defined by the housing and in fluid communication with the internal channel, and a deflation control member slidably connected to the housing, the deflation control member configured to selectively seal the second deflation aperture.

A base for a chair is described. The example base for the chair includes a central support coupled to a seat pan of the chair, a first pair of legs extending radially from the central support, and a second pair of legs extending radially from the central support. The first pair of legs extend in a direction opposite the second pair of legs. A first angle between the first pair of legs is larger than a second angle between the second pair of legs.

Growing community of inventors

Hartland, WI, United States of America

Steven DuFresne