# US 11,432,650 B1 · Chair seat to base mounting assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,650 B1 - Document ID: US11432650B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/822,525 - Filed: 2020-03-18 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-01 - Assignees: Steelcase Inc. - Applicants: Steelcase Inc. - Inventors: Sean M. Corcorran; Keith Robert Machin; Cody Jay Holstege; William Carey; Larry Cheng; Elger Oberwelz; Thomas Overthun; Lukas Martin Scherrer; Joerg Christoph Student; David J. Battey; Nickolaus William Charles Deevers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432650B1 ## CPC - F16M 11/22: with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs (F16M11/42 takes precedence) - A47B 83/02: Tables combined with seats {(folding or stowable tables with separable parts combined with seats A47B3/063; foldable table and seat units A47B3/14)} - A47C 3/30: with vertically-acting fluid cylinder - A47C 7/004: {for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs} - A47C 7/62: Accessories for chairs - A47C 7/626: {directly under the seat} - A47C 7/68: Arm-rest tables {; or back-rest tables} - A47C 7/70: of foldable type - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS ## Abstract A seating unit for use in a space including a supporting floor surface, the seating unit comprising a seat structure comprising a mounting bracket having a female connector, a tablet assembly comprising a support arm having a mounting collar on an end and a base having a lower end to be supported by the floor surface and including a base mounting assembly and wherein the base mounting assembly comprises a cup attached to the base, a base tube having a first end inserted into the cup and a second end extending through the mounting collar and mateably engaging the female connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seating assembly comprising: a base including at least a first leg member and having a top end; a seat structure mounted at the top end and having a seat having a top surface; a support arm having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the base adjacent the top end and below the seat with the support arm extending laterally from the first end past a lateral extent of the seat and upward to the second end at a height above the top surface; a tablet member mounted to the second end of the support arm to rotate about a first vertical axis to any position between and including an outward position with respect to the support arm and an inward position with respect to the support arm, the tablet member including a front edge, wherein, when viewed in top plan view: (i) in the outward position, the tablet member extends from the second end with the front edge forming an acute angle with respect to the support arm; and (ii) in the inward position, the tablet member extends from the second end toward the first end with the front edge substantially parallel to the support arm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The seating assembly of claim 1 wherein, when viewed in top plan view, in the inward position, the tablet overlaps a central portion of the seat and, in the outward position, the tablet overlaps an edge portion of the seat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The seating assembly of claim 2 wherein the tablet member has an undersurface that is mounted to the second end of the support arm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The seating assembly of claim 3 wherein a portion of the undersurface adjacent the front edge of the tablet member is mounted to the second end of the support arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The seating assembly of claim 4 wherein the tablet member has a length dimension along the front edge between first and second lateral edges and wherein a portion of the undersurface adjacent the front edge and the first lateral edge of the tablet member is mounted to the second end of the support arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The seating assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat is centered on a second vertical axis and forms a centerline perpendicular to a rear edge that passes through the second vertical axis and wherein the first end of the support arm is mounted to the seat along the second vertical axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The seating assembly of claim 6 wherein the first end of the support arm is mounted to the seat for at least partial rotation about the second vertical axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The seating assembly of claim 7 wherein rotation of the support arm about the second vertical axis is restricted to positions between and including first and second positions in which the second end of the support arm remains forward of the rear edge of the seat in every position between and including the first and second positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The seating assembly of claim 7 wherein the support arm rotates is restricted to rotation within an approximately 110 degree range between the first and second positions and wherein the tablet is restricted to rotation within an approximately 60 degree range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The seating assembly of claim 7 wherein the seat includes first and second lateral edges that extend forward from the rear edge and wherein the first position is a side position wherein the second end of the support arm is located to a side of the first lateral edge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The seating assembly of claim 10 wherein the seat includes a front edge opposite the rear edge and wherein the second position is a front position wherein, when viewed in top plan view, the support arm extends parallel to the centerline of the seat. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The seating assembly of claim 11 wherein, when viewed in top plan view, with the support arm in the side position and the tablet in the outward position, the front edge of the tablet member is substantially parallel to the centerline of the seat and overlaps only an edge portion of the seat. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The seating assembly of claim 6 wherein the seat structure is mounted to the base for rotation about the second vertical axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The seating assembly of claim 13 wherein the seat structure is mounted to the base for 360 degrees of rotation about the second vertical axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The seating assembly of claim 1 further including casters at a bottom end of the base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The seating assembly of claim 15 wherein the base further includes a storage pan mounted spaced below the seat and supported by the casters, the pan having an upper surface forming a storage space. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The seating assembly of claim 16 further including at least a second leg member, the first and second leg members extending upward from the pan to support the seat structure above the storage space and pan. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The seating assembly of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the tablet member is substantially horizontal. ### Claim 19 A seating assembly comprising: a base including a plurality of leg members that meet at a top end of the base and casters that support the leg members for movement on an ambient floor surface; a seat structure mounted at the top end and having a seat, the seat having a top surface and a central first vertical axis and forming a centerline that extends from a rear edge through the first vertical axis; a support arm having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the base adjacent the top end and below the seat for rotation through a limited range of angles about the first vertical axis to any position between and including a side position with the second end extending to a lateral side of the seat and a front position with the second end extending to a front side of the seat; a tablet member mounted to the second end of the support arm to rotate about a second vertical axis to any position between and including an outward position with respect to the support arm and an inward position with respect to the support arm, the tablet member including a front edge, wherein, when viewed in top plan view: (i) in the outward position, the tablet member extends from the second end with the front edge forming an acute angle with respect to the support arm; and (ii) in the inward position, the tablet member extends from the second end toward the first end with the front edge substantially parallel to the support arm. ### Claim 20 A seating assembly comprising: a base including a plurality of leg members that meet at a top end of the base and casters that support the leg members for movement on an ambient floor surface; a seat structure mounted at the top end for rotation through 360 about a first vertical axis and having a seat, the seat forming a centerline that extends from a rear edge through the first vertical axis; a support arm having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the base adjacent the top end and below the seat for rotation through a limited range of angles about the first vertical axis to any position between and including a side position with the second end extending to a lateral side of the seat and a front position with the second end extending to a front side of the seat; a tablet member mounted to the second end of the support arm to rotate about a second vertical axis to any position between and including an outward position with respect to the support arm and an inward position with respect to the support arm, the tablet member including a front edge, wherein, when viewed in top plan view: (i) in the outward position, the tablet member extends from the second end with the front edge forming an acute angle with respect to the support arm; and (ii) in the inward position, the tablet member extends from the second end toward the first end with the front edge substantially parallel to the support arm.