Patent ID: 6010189
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
A chair control mechanism for use on a chair having a base on which a seat and backrest are supported, the seat presenting a front which is opposite the backrest, the mechanism comprising:a housing supported on the base;a seat bracket supported on the housing for pivotal movement about a horizontally extending front pivot axis between an upright position and a reclining position;a backrest bracket supported on the housing for pivotal movement about a horizontally extending rear pivot axis between an upright position and a reclining position, the backrest bracket being linked to the seat bracket and presenting a front end forward of said rear pivot axis that moves toward the housing when the brackets are pivoted toward the upright position and away from the housing when the brackets are pivoted toward the reclining position, said front end having a downwardly extending shoulder;a spring assembly connected to the housing and the backrest bracket and biasing the brackets toward the upright position;a travel stop positioned on a lower surface of said housing between the housing and the front end of the backrest bracket, the stop including a plurality of steps of varying heights;a lever connected to said housing and having a rotational axis; anda pawl operatively connected to and extending radially from the lever and engaging the travel stop, the lever being movable to shift the stop in fore and aft directions between a plurality of positions in which different ones of the steps are interposed between the lower surface of said housing and the shoulder of the front end of the backrest bracket to limit the travel of the brackets toward the upright position.