Compliant back for seating unit
AssigneeSteelcase Development Corporation
InventorKurt R. Heidmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compliant back for a seating unit includes a rigid upright defining a track, and a flexible back shell configured to support a seated user's upper body, including a top pivot pivotally connected to a top section of the back shell and a pivot/slide member slidably connected to the track of the back shell. A biasing device is operably coupled to the pivot/slide member that biases the pivot/slide member toward a position where the flexible back shell protrudes forwardly to a shape chosen to optimally support a seated user.
Claims17
A back construction for a seating unit comprising:
- a back frame including a rigid upright having top and bottom connections;
- a flexible back shell configured to support a seated user's upper body, including a pivot pivotally connected to one of the top and bottom connections and a pivot/slide member slidably connected to another of the top and bottom connections;
- and
- a spring operably coupled to the pivot/slide member that biases the pivot/slide member toward a position where the flexible back shell protrudes forwardly for optimal lumbar support to a seated user.
A back construction for a seating unit comprising:
- a back frame including a rigid upright having top and bottom connections, the bottom connection including vertically-elongated surfaces defining a track;
- a flexible back shell configured to support a seated user's upper body, including a pivot pivotally connected to the top connection, and a pivot/slide member slidably connected to the bottom connection, the pivot/slide member including a follower slidably engaging the track;
- and that biases the pivot/slide member toward a position where the flexible back shell protrudes forwardly for optimal lumbar support to a seated user.
A seating unit comprising:
- a rigid upright defining a track;
- a flexible back shell configured to support a seated user's upper body, including a top pivot pivotally connected to a top of the rigid upright and a pivot/slide member slidably connected to the track of the rigid upright;
- and
- a spring operably coupled to the pivot/slide member that biases the pivot/slide member toward a position where the flexible back shell protrudes forwardly to a shape chosen to optimally support a seated user.
A seating unit comprising:
- a rigid upright defining a track;
- a flexible back shell configured to support a seated user's upper body, including a top pivot pivotally to a top of the rigid upright and a pivot/slide member slidably connected to the track of the rigid upright;
- and
- a linearly extendable spring attached at one end to the pivot/slide member and at another end to the upright that biases the pivot/slide member toward a position where the flexible back shell protrudes forwardly to a shape chosen to optimally support a seated user.
A back construction for a seating unit comprising:
- a back frame including a rigid upright having top and bottom connections;
- a flexible back shell configured to support a seated user's upper body, including a pivot pivotally connected to one of the top and bottom connections and a pivot/slide member slidably connected to another of the top and bottom connections;
- and
- a biasing device operably coupled to the pivot/slide member that biases the pivot/slide member toward a position where the flexible back shell protrudes forwardly for optimal lumbar support to a seated user, the biasing device being configured to provide a continuous bias and the pivot/slide member being continuously slidable and not held in a fixed position, so that the back sheet flexes and extends as the seated user's upper body flexes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.