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US 11,589,678 B2Granted
Chairs including flexible frames
AssigneeHNI Technologies Inc.
InventorsJay R. Machael, Douglas A. Schroeder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chair includes a base and a back coupled to the base. The back includes a pair of back supports extending from the base and a back panel coupled to the pair of back supports. Each back support is configured to exhibit a first bending stiffness when bent to a first stop point, and exhibit a second bending stiffness when bent beyond the first stop point, the second bending stiffness being greater than the first bending stiffness.
Claims12
A chair, comprising:
- a base;
- a back coupled to the base, the back including a pair of back supports extending from the base, each back support configured to exhibit a first bending stiffness when bent to a first stop point, and exhibit a second bending stiffness when bent beyond the first stop point, the second bending stiffness being greater than the first bending stiffness;
- wherein each of the back supports includes:
- a first bar including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end fixed to the base;
- a second bar including a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the third end disposed adjacent to the base and movable relative to the base, the third end spaced apart from the first end, the fourth end fixed to the first bar between the first end and the second end;
- and
- a first stop device acting between the second bar and the base to determine the first stop point by limiting an extent of movement of the second bar relative to the base;
- and
- a back panel coupled to the pair of back supports.
6 more elements
A chair, comprising:
- a base;
- a back coupled to the base, the back including a pair of back supports extending from the base, each back support configured to exhibit a first bending stiffness when bent to a first stop point, and exhibit a second bending stiffness when bent beyond the first stop point, the second bending stiffness being greater than the first bending stiffness;
- wherein each of the back supports includes:
- a first bar including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end disposed adjacent to the base and moveable relative to the base;
- a second bar including a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the third end fixed to the base apart from the first end, the fourth end fixed to the first bar between the first end and the second end;
- and
- a stop device acting between the first end and the base to determine the first stop point by limiting the extent of movement of the first end relative to the base;
- and
- a back panel coupled to the pair of back supports.
6 more elements
A chair, comprising:
- a base;
- a back coupled to the base, the back including a pair of back supports extending from the base, each back support configured to exhibit a first bending stiffness when bent to a first stop point, and exhibit a second bending stiffness when bent beyond the first stop point, the second bending stiffness being greater than the first bending stiffness;
- wherein each of the back supports includes:
- a first bar including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end fixed to the base;
- a second bar including a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the third end fixed to the base, the third end spaced apart from the first end, the fourth end disposed adjacent to the first bar between the first end and the second end, the fourth end in sliding engagement with the first bar;
- and
- a first stop device acting between the fourth end and the first bar to determine the first stop point by limiting an extent of the sliding engagement of the fourth end with the first bar;
- and
- a back panel coupled to the pair of back supports.
6 more elements
A chair, comprising:
- a base;
- a back coupled to the base, the back including a pair of back supports extending from the base, each back support configured to exhibit a first bending stiffness when bent to a first stop point, and exhibit a second bending stiffness when bent beyond the first stop point, the second bending stiffness being greater than the first bending stiffness;
- a seat coupled to the base, the seat including:
- a pair of seat supports extending from the base, each of the seat supports configured to independently exhibit a third bending stiffness when bent to a stop point, and exhibit a fourth bending stiffness when bent beyond the stop point, the fourth bending stiffness being greater than the third bending stiffness;
- and
- a seat support surface coupled to the pair of seat supports;
- and
- a back panel coupled to the pair of back supports.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.