# US 11,076,696 B2 · Seat, in particular an office chair > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,696 B2 - Document ID: US11076696B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/829,528 - Filed: 2020-03-25 - Published: 2020-07-16 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-08 - Assignees: Haworth, Inc. - Applicants: Haworth, Inc. - Inventors: Armin Sander; Martin Potrykus - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076696B2 ## CPC - A47C 1/02: Reclining or easy chairs - A47C 1/023: the parts being horizontally-adjustable seats - A47C 1/03255: {with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs} - A47C 7/004: {for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs} - A47C 7/006: {with castors} - A47C 7/02: Seat parts - A47C 7/40: for the back - A47C 7/445: {with bar or leaf springs} - A47C 7/46: with special, e.g. adjustable {, lumbar region support} profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs - A47C 7/54: Supports for the arms - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS ## Abstract The invention relates to a seat (1), in particular an office chair, comprising a seat support (3) for a seating surface (6) and comprising a backrest support (4) of a backrest (5), which is held on the seat support (3) so as to be able to move in a tiltable manner to the side, wherein the backrest support (4) comprises two support arms (4a, 4b) which are configured to be flexible and/or articulated laterally and spaced apart from one another. Preferably, the seating surface (6) and/or the backrest (5) comprises a curved seat shell and/or backrest shell (6a, 5a) provided with a cover (6b, 5b) with a number of flexible curved ribs (15, 16) on the edge of the shell, wherein the cover is stretched by the seat shell and/or backrest shell (6a, 5a) such that when the cover (6b, 5b) is loaded, the bending of the curved ribs (15, 16) is altered. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible backrest support for an office chair comprising: a shell having a plurality of laterally extending ribs separated from one another by a plurality of slots, the plurality of ribs defining free ends thereof; and a cover including a fold-over peripheral edge, the free ends of the plurality of ribs received within the fold-over peripheral edge, the cover spaced from a surface of the shell along a widthwise cross section of the shell, wherein the cover is held in tension when the free ends of the plurality of ribs are received within the fold-over peripheral edge of the cover such that when a force is applied rearward against the cover, the free ends of the plurality of ribs flex forward. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The backrest support of claim 1, wherein the flexible shell includes at least one backrest support arm extending vertically to support the backrest support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The flexible backrest support of claim 2, wherein the at least one backrest support arm includes a pair of the backrest support arms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The flexible backrest support of claim 3, wherein one of the pair of backrest support arms includes a first lateral side and the plurality of ribs includes a first set of ribs extending from the first lateral side, and the other of the pair of backrest support arms includes a second lateral side and a second set of ribs extending from the second lateral side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The flexible backrest support of claim 4, wherein the backrest support arms each include an upper end connected by a horizontally extending connecting element, and wherein the plurality of ribs includes a third set of ribs extending vertically upward from the connecting element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The flexible backrest support of claim 4, wherein when the cover is loaded, bending of the plurality of ribs is altered. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The flexible backrest support of claim 4, wherein the cover includes a first fold-over lateral edge and a second fold-over lateral edge, and wherein the first set of ribs is held by the first fold-over lateral edge and the second set of ribs is held by the second fold-over lateral edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The flexible backrest support of claim 7, wherein the backrest support arms and ribs are formed integrally as a one piece shell. ### Claim 9 A flexible backrest support for an office chair comprising: a shell having a plurality of laterally extending curved ribs separated by a plurality of slots, the plurality of ribs defining free ends thereof and having front and rear surfaces; and a cover extending around the free ends of the plurality of ribs, from the front surface to the rear surface of the plurality of ribs, the cover spaced from a surface of the shell along a widthwise cross section of the shell, wherein the cover includes a fold-over peripheral edge and the free ends of the plurality of ribs are received within the fold-over peripheral edge, and the cover is held in tension such that when the cover is loaded, bending of the plurality of ribs is altered. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The flexible backrest support of claim 9, wherein the cover is fixedly attached to the free ends of the plurality of ribs. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The flexible backrest support of claim 10, wherein the cover is more flexible than the shell and is substantially non-stretchable relative to the range of bendable movement of the ribs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The flexible backrest support of claim 11, wherein the cover is made of a plastic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The flexible backrest support of claim 11, wherein the cover is made of a woven fabric. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The flexible backrest support of claim 9, wherein the backrest support is coupled to a seat support by at least one upwardly extending support arm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The flexible backrest support of claim 14, wherein the at least one support arm includes a pair of spaced apart support arms; one of the pair of support arms includes a first lateral side and the plurality of ribs includes a first set of ribs extending from the first lateral side, and the other of the pair of support arms includes a second lateral side and a second set of ribs extending from the second lateral side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The flexible backrest support of claim 15, wherein a loading on the cover is capable of causing the plurality of ribs to bend asymmetrically, such that the first set of ribs bends to a different degree than the second set of ribs, depending on the position of the loading on the cover.