Chair arm assembly

An energy mechanism, comprising:

• a spring generating a spring force upon deformation of the spring;
• an enclosure having first and second opposite ends with openings therethrough, the enclosure housing at least a portion of the spring therein;
• a fitting including a first connector, the fitting extending through the opening at the second end of the enclosure and having an inner portion disposed inside the enclosure, and wherein the first connector is disposed outside the enclosure, the enclosure including a non-movable integral retaining structure at the second end engaging the fitting such that an axial tension force applied to the first connector of the fitting causes an axial tension force on the enclosure;
• an actuator extending through the opening at the first end of the enclosure, the actuator having a first portion disposed inside the enclosure and operably engaging the spring, and a second portion extending out of the first end of the enclosure to transmit a spring force outside the enclosure, the actuator being movable in a first direction from an initial position wherein the spring is deformed a fixed initial amount and generates a fixed, non-adjustable initial spring force acting on the actuator, to a second position wherein the spring is deformed a second amount and generates a second spring force that is greater than the initial spring force;
• wherein the spring is, in use, supported in a partially stressed condition within the enclosure after being prestressed to deform the spring to the fixed, non-adjustable initial amount of deformation to generate the fixed, non-adjustable initial spring force, such that an applied force acting on the actuator must be at least as great as a predetermined non-adjustable initial force to shift the actuator in the first direction from its initial position, wherein the non-adjustable initial spring force is within a predefined range;
• and
• wherein the second portion of the actuator includes a second connector that is spaced apart from the first connector a distance that is not adjustable when the actuator is in its initial position.