Body support member with lattice structure
AssigneeSteelcase Inc.
InventorsNickolaus William Charles Deevers, Carl V. Forslund, III, John Richard Hamilton, Kurt R. Heidmann, James Ludwig, Bruce Smith, Aaron Michael Porterfield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A body support structure includes a structural lattice structure having a first stiffness, and a compressive lattice structure supported by the structural lattice structure and having a second stiffness less than the first stiffness. A skin lattice structure is supported by the compressive lattice structure, wherein the skin lattice structure is resistant to shear deformation in response to a normal force and is expandable in a direction transverse to the normal force.
Claims23
A body support structure comprising:
- a field array comprising a plurality of spaced apart support members arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein each of the rows has the same number (n1) of support members, and wherein each of the columns has the same number (n2) of support members, wherein at least one of the rows has a first width and at least another one of the rows has a second width, wherein the first and second widths are different, wherein at least one of the columns has a first length and at least another one of the columns has a second length, wherein the first and second lengths are different;
- a perimeter array defining a closed ring surrounding the field array, wherein the perimeter array comprises first and second rows of spaced apart support members connected to opposite outermost end rows of the field array, and first and second columns connected to opposite outermost end columns of the field array, wherein the first and second rows and the first and second columns of the perimeter array are connected, and wherein the first and second rows of the perimeter array comprise (n1) support members and wherein the first and second columns of the perimeter array comprise (n2) support members;
- and
- wherein the support members in the field array and perimeter array are connected.
A body support structure comprising:
- a field array comprising a plurality of spaced apart support members arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein each of the rows has (n1) support members, and wherein each of the columns has (n2) support members, wherein the outermost periphery of the field array comprises (n3) support members, wherein n3=2*n1+(2*(n2−2)), wherein at least one of the rows has a first width and at least another one of the rows has a second width, wherein the first and second widths are different, wherein at least one of the columns has a first length and at least another one of the columns has a second length, wherein the first and second lengths are different;
- a perimeter array defining a closed ring surrounding and connected to the field array, wherein the perimeter array comprises first and second rows of spaced apart support members connected to opposite outermost end rows of the field array, and first and second columns connected to opposite outermost end columns of the field array, wherein the first and second rows and first and second columns of the perimeter array have (n4) support members, wherein n4=(2*n2)+(2*n1);
- and
- wherein the support members in the field array and perimeter array are connected.
A body support structure comprising:
- a plurality of spaced apart support members defining opposite first and second surfaces, wherein adjacent support members define openings between sides of the adjacent support members;
- a plurality of spaced apart base members defining opposite first and second surfaces, wherein the first surfaces of the base members face toward and are spaced apart from the second surfaces of the support members such that the plurality of support members and the plurality of base members define a space therebetween, wherein each of the base members underlies at least portions of the openings defined by at least two adjacent support members, and wherein adjacent base members define openings between sides of the adjacent base members;
- and
- a plurality of connector legs extending across the space, connecting each base member with the at least four adjacent support members, and connecting each support member with at least four adjacent base members, at least some of the connector legs have a different length than other connectors legs, wherein the spaces between at least some of the connected support members and base members are different than the spaces between other connected support members and base members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.