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:
Feb. 25, 2003
Filed:
May. 25, 2000
Douglas C. Ball, Senneville, CA;
Leon Goldick, Beaconsville, CA;
Alain Deslauriers, Ile Laval, CA;
Jeff G. Sokalski, Montreal, CA;
Steelcase Development Corporation, Caledonia, MI (US);
Abstract
A chair includes a base having a control, and a seat and a back tilt bracket pivoted to the control for synchronous movement. An extension is adjustably supported on the back tilt bracket and is pivotally connected to a back support structure and a backrest frame in a four-bar linkage arrangement. The extension is adjustable to change the angular position of the back when in the rest position, and further provides a back tilt axis that is located rearward of a rear edge of the seat, which provides a unique back movement upon recline that is more rearward and less downward than most synchrotilt chairs. The back support structure includes a spine assembly pivoted to a rear end of the extension and extends upwardly. Armrests are operably supported on the spine assembly for vertical adjustment by an armrest mount, and a handle on the armrests is operably connected to a latch on the armrest mount for easy adjustment of the armrests. The arrangement of the backrest frame, the spine assembly, the back tilt bracket and the seat with side supports provides a unique synchronous movement that, among other things, pivots the armrests at an angular rate between a rate of the seat and the back during recline of the back. The back includes a flexible back shell having a lumbar section, a lumbar slide slidably engaging a rear surface of the back shell and operably supported thereagainst for changing a vertical shape of the lumbar section, and lumbar side arms engaging a rear surface of the back shell and also operably supported thereagainst for changing a horizontal shape of the lumbar section. A method related to the above is also contemplated.