Patent ID: 9648956
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: A47C

Claim:
1. A flexible back for a seating unit, the flexible back having a lumbar region and a thoracic region, the flexible back configured for attachment to a seating unit having a seat, a first arm and a second arm, wherein when the back is attached to a seating unit, the back defines a plurality of discrete flexible zones disposed between the first and second arms, the flexibility of the flexible zones of the flexible back being independent of the first and second arms, the flexible back comprising: a plurality of flexible finger elements, each of the plurality of flexible fingers being formed of an elastomeric material and having a distal end and adapted to be flexible independently of the other flexible finger elements, the plurality of flexible finger elements cooperatively defining the lumbar region and a thoracic region, wherein a first flexible zone of the plurality of discrete flexible zones defines at least a portion of the lumbar region of the back and a second flexible zone of the plurality of discrete flexible zones defines a portion of the back extending from the lumbar region through at least a portion of the thoracic region of the back, and wherein the first flexible zone has a first flexibility and the second flexible zone has a second flexibility, the second flexibility being greater than the first flexibility; a flexible retainer defining an uppermost and continuous edge of the back connecting at least two of the flexible finger elements proximate their distal ends and limiting the independent flex of the at least two flexible finger elements, the flexible retainer having a third flexibility, the third flexibility being greater than the second flexibility, wherein when a load is applied to at least one flexible finger element, the flexible retainer distributes at least a portion of the load to at least one adjacent flexible finger element; and wherein the elastomeric material of which the flexible finger elements are formed has a first durometer and the retainer is comprised of a material having a second durometer, the second durometer being a lower durometer than the first durometer.