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.
Claims22
1-34. (canceled)
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 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 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.
55-103. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.