Body support structure
AssigneeSteelcase Inc.
InventorsNickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gary Karsten, Mark Spoelhof
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A body support structure includes a base, a seat and a backrest, with the backrest connected to the base with a torsion leaf spring. The torsion leaf spring may be configured with a plurality of fingers, and/or one or more flex regions. One or more struts may be connected between the seat or backrest and the base. In another aspect, the seat and/or backrest may be supported with one or more links that provide a counter-intuitive motion. In another aspect, a link may be coupled to a support with a flexible blade.
Claims16
A body support structure comprising:
- a base defining a first link;
- a seat defining a second link pivotally connected to the base at a first location;
- and
- a backrest defining a third link pivotally connected to the seat at a second location and fixedly connected to the base at a third location, wherein the third link comprises a flexible portion disposed between the second and third locations, wherein the flexible portion comprises a laterally extending deformable link comprising a first flex region and a second flex region positioned outboard of the first flex region, wherein the backrest is pivotable and translatable relative to the base from an upright position to a reclined position as the flexible portion is deformed between an at-rest configuration and a biased configuration as the second location moves relative to the third location.
A body support structure comprising:
- a base;
- a seat pivotally connected to the base at a first pivot joint;
- a backrest pivotally connected to the seat at a second pivot joint;
- and
- a laterally extending torsion leaf spring having a first portion connected to the base and a laterally spaced end portion connected to the backrest, wherein the torsion leaf spring is bendable about a principal axis and twistable about a laterally extending neutral axis between an at-rest configuration and a biased configuration, wherein the backrest is pivotable and translatable relative to the base from an upright position to a reclined position as the torsion leaf spring is bent and twisted between the at-rest configuration and the biased configuration, wherein the end portion is moveable forwardly as the torsion leaf spring is bent and twisted between the at-rest configuration and the biased configuration, and wherein the torsion leaf spring biases the backrest toward the upright position from the reclined position.
A body support structure comprising:
- a base;
- a seat pivotally connected to the base at a first pivot joint;
- a backrest pivotally connected to the seat at a second pivot joint;
- and
- a laterally extending torsion leaf spring comprising an intermediate portion connected to the base and a pair of end portions laterally spaced on opposite sides of the intermediate portion, wherein the end portions are connected to the backrest, wherein the torsion leaf spring is bendable and twistable between an at-rest configuration and a biased configuration, wherein the backrest is pivotable and translatable relative to the base from an upright position to a reclined position as the torsion leaf spring is bent and twisted between the at-rest configuration and the biased configuration, and wherein the torsion leaf spring biases the backrest toward the upright position from the reclined position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.