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US 5,518,294 AGranted
Variable apex back support
AssigneeLigon Brothers Manufacturing Company
InventorsJames T. Ligon, Sr., Stephen P. Porter, Andrew L. Patrias, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single-piece strong, flexible back support for use in seats such as automobile seats or office chairs, includes a central body portion with outwardly extending support fingers such that an arch having a variable apex is formed when the back support is subtended longitudinally. The longitudinal location of an apex and the shape of the arch formed on the back support changes responsively to a load imposed by a person's back. The inventive back support is capable of taking a variety of shapes thereby providing maximum comfort and support regardless of the user's spinal curvature or posture and position relative to the back support.
Claims20
A seat comprising:
- a base member;
- a seatback member attached to one end of said base member, said seatback member having first and second horizontally disposed bars, each having a longitudinal axis and a fixed position relative to a top of said seatback member;
- a single-piece flexible support member having two longitudinal ends, a first longitudinal end having a clamping member rotatably attaching said first end to said first horizontally disposed bar and a second longitudinal end having a holding member pivotably and slidably attaching said second end to said second horizontally disposed bar such that said holding member pivots about and relative to said longitudinal axis of said second horizontally disposed bar;
- and
- means, attached to said support member proximate said longitudinal end, for longitudinally subtending said support member, whereby said support member arches outwardly to support a user's back.
2 more elements
A back support for use within a seatback, comprising:
- a unitary flexible support member including a central body portion having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends, and a plurality of support fingers extending outwardly from said central body portion in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said central body portion;
- said support fingers each have a folded perimeter and a rounded end distal from said central body portion and project generally forward from a plane generally defined by said central body portion when said support member is in a relaxed position such that said rounded end on each said support finger is forward of said plane;
- said first longitudinal end having a clamping member adapted to be rotatably attached to a bar on a seatback wherein said back support is employed;
- said second longitudinal end having a holding member adapted to slidably and pivotally couple said second end to a second portion of the seatback;
- and
- wherein said central body portion said clamping member and said holding member are integrally formed from a single piece of material.
3 more elements
A back support for use within a seatback, comprising:
- a unitary flexible support member including a central body portion having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends, and a plurality of support fingers extending outwardly from said central body portion in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said central body portion;
- said first longitudinal end having a pair of clamping members projecting away from said central body portion and having opposite clamping surfaces such that said clamping members are adapted to rotatably engage a bar on the seatback wherein said back support is employed;
- said second longitudinal end having a holding member adapted to slidably and pivotally couple said second end to a second portion of the seatback;
- wherein said central body portion, said clamping member and said holding member are integrally formed from a sidle piece of material.
1 more element
A back support for use within a seatback, comprising:
- a unitary flexible support member including a central body portion having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends, and a plurality of support fingers extending outwardly from said central body portion in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal is of said central body portion;
- said first longitudinal end having a clamping member adapted to be rotatably attached to a bar on a seatback wherein said back support is employed;
- said second longitudinal end having three holding members, a first said holding member lying in a first plane and at least a second said holding member lying in a second plane that is essentially parallel to said first plane, said first and second planes being spaced apart such that said three holding members are adapted to cooperatively engage a second portion of the seatback wherein said back support is employed such that said holding members may be pivotally and slidably moveable on the second seatback portion;
- and
- wherein said central body portion, said clamping member and said holding member are integrally formed from a single piece of material.
2 more elements
A back support for use within a seatback, comprising:
- a unitary flexible support member including a central body portion having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends, and a plurality of support fingers extending outwardly from said central body portion in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said central body portion;
- said first longitudinal end having a clamping member adapted to be rotatably attached to a bar on a seatback wherein said back support is employed;
- said second longitudinal end having a holding member adapted to slidably and pivotally couple said second end to a second portion of the seatback;
- wherein said central body portion, said clamping member and said holding member are integrally formed from a single piece of material;
- means for longitudinally subtending said support member attached to said support member proximate said second longitudinal end, whereby said support member arches outwardly to support a user's back and wherein said subtending means comprises a flexible cable attached to said support member, a spool, a bar partially disposed within a central bore defined in said spool, a clutch spring surrounding a portion of said bar and engaging said spool, said clutch spring being biased such that said spool and said clutch spring rotate in only one direction about said bar, and a lever handle for rotating said spool about said bar whereby said cable is wound around a portion of said spool to thereby shorten an effective length of said cable, whereby shortening said effective length of said cable longitudinally subtends said support member by drawing said support member second longitudinal end toward said support member first longitudinal end.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.