The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 01, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 27, 1997
Charles P Roossien, Wyoming, MI (US);
David C Pugh, Howard City, MI (US);
Dale M Groendal, Jenison, MI (US);
James E Massey, Wayland, MI (US);
Robert M Scheper, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Duane F Nagel, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Bruce M Smith, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Douglas A Smith, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Brian L Scholten, Jenison, MI (US);
Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
A structural support shell for a tilt-back chair has a back portion, a seat portion, and a flexible compression zone extending between the back and seat portions in an integrally molded, one-piece unit. The chair has a base with a recline control pivoting recline control lever. The seat portion of the shell is fixed to the base and the back portion of the shell is fixed to the recline control lever. The flexible compression zone provides a simplified construction for an ergonomic chair design having an effective axis of rotation between the back portion and seat portion which is located above the seat portion, forward of the back portion, and generally adjacent to the hip joints of a seated user. The chair includes side arms that laterally and then rotatably engage side arm supporting connectors on the chair to facilitate assembly. The chair further includes a one-piece shell having tabs for mateably engaging flanges on the chair seat and back to also facilitate assembly.