Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5957534?dq=Frischling
Timestamp: 2015-05-05 14:34:11
Document Index: 636217080

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 31', 'art 32', 'arts 31', 'art 33', 'art 33', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 64', 'art 63', 'art 62', 'art 63', 'art 62', 'art 64', 'art 63', 'art 62', 'arts 62', 'art 62', 'art 63', 'art 62', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'arts 31', 'art 33', 'art 33', 'art 33', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 228', 'art 237', 'art 237']

Patent US5957534 - Chair - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn office-type chair which provides for synchronous differential tilting of the seat and back assemblies, with the seat assembly being constructed such that the front lip thereof does not significantly lift upon rearward tilting. The chair incorporates a tilt control mechanism formed by a control body...http://www.google.com/patents/US5957534?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5957534 - ChairAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5957534 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/850,534Publication dateSep 28, 1999Filing dateMay 2, 1997Priority dateJun 10, 1994Fee statusPaidAlso published asEP0763991A1, EP0763991A4, US6116688, US6425633, US6588845, US6820936, US20020190556, US20040095007, WO1995034233A1Publication number08850534, 850534, US 5957534 A, US 5957534A, US-A-5957534, US5957534 A, US5957534AInventorsLarry A. Wilkerson, Richard N. Roslund, Jr.Original AssigneeHaworth, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (39), Non-Patent Citations (5), Referenced by (10), Classifications (13), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetChair
US 5957534 AAbstract
1. In an office-type chair having a base, a pedestal assembly projecting upwardly from said base, and a seat-back arrangement connected to an upper end of said pedestal assembly, said seat-back arrangement including a generally horizontally enlarged seat assembly and a back assembly projecting upwardly from and adjacent a rear edge of said seat assembly, said seat assembly including a control housing therein which is fixed to an upper end of the pedestal, said seat-back arrangement also including a rear tilt control mechanism for permitting at least the back assembly to be tilted rearwardly away from a normal upright position into a rearwardly tilted position, the tilt control mechanism including an upright which is at least partially positioned within said back assembly and is tiltable rearwardly relative to said control housing, said seat-back arrangement also including an inner shell connected to said upright and said control housing for supporting seat and back cushions, said shell being a semi-rigid but resiliently flexible sheet having a generally L-shaped elevational configuration which defines seat and back shell parts which respectively overlie the control housing and upright and which are integrally joined together by an arcuate shell part, comprising the improvement wherein said shell is connected to both said upright and said control housing solely by cooperating parts formed integrally with the shell, the control housing and the upright so as to fixedly connect the shell at least adjacent upper and front ends thereof to the respective upright and control housing, the shell being of a unitary construction such that the connection of said shell to said control housing and upright is free of separate or independent fasteners, said shell being fixed securely to said control housing solely adjacent a front portion of said control housing, said shell being fixed to said upright solely adjacent a top portion of said upright, said seat and back shell parts respectively having a rear portion disposed rearwardly of said front portion of said control housing and a lower portion disposed below said top portion of said upright, said rear portion and said lower portion together with said arcuate part being free of fixed securement to either said control housing or said upright.
2. A chair according to claim 1, wherein the cooperating parts include a first front pair of cooperating stop parts which are formed on and cooperate directly between a front portion of the seat shell part and the front portion of the control housing for preventing the seat shell part from moving forwardly relative to the control housing, and a second front pair of cooperating latch parts which also cooperate directly between said front portions for vertically securing the front portion of the seat shell part to the front portion of the control housing to prevent vertical movement therebetween, each of said first and second front pairs including a first part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the front portion of the seat shell part and a second part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the front portion of the control housing.
3. A chair according to claim 2, including a third front pair of flange parts engaging the front portion of said shell to the front portion of the control housing such that said shell is rotatable rearwardly to a secured position overlying the control housing, said cooperating latch parts being mutually secured together in response to said rearward rotation of said shell to said secured position.
4. A chair according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second parts of the cooperating latch parts is resiliently deflectable so as to provide snap fitting securement of said shell to the control housing.
5. A chair according to claim 1, wherein the cooperating parts include a first top pair of cooperating stop parts which are formed on and cooperate directly between a top portion of the back shell part and the top portion of the upright for preventing the back shell part from moving upwardly relative to the upright, and a second top pair of cooperating latch parts which also cooperate directly between said top portions for horizontally securing the top portion of the back shell part to the top portion of the upright to prevent horizontal movement therebetween, each of said first and second top pairs including a first part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the top portion of the back shell part and a second part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the top portion of the upright.
6. A chair according to claim 5, wherein the cooperating parts include a first front pair of cooperating stop parts which are formed on and cooperate directly between a front portion of the seat shell part and the front portion of the control housing for preventing the seat shell part from moving forwardly relative to the control housing, and a second front pair of cooperating latch parts which also cooperate directly between said front portions for vertically securing the front portion of the seat shell part to the front portion of the control housing to prevent vertical movement therebetween, each of said first and second front pairs including a first part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the front portion of the seat shell part and a-second part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the front portion of the control housing.
7. A chair according to claim 5, wherein said first and second pairs of the cooperating parts permit sliding movement of said shell along a frontward facing surface of said upright to a secured position, said stop parts being mutually secured together in response to positioning of said shell in said secured position.
8. A chair according to claim 1, wherein a first front pair and a second front pair of cooperating parts are formed on and cooperate directly between a front portion of the seat shell part and the front portion of the control housing, each of the first and second front pairs of cooperating parts including a first part integrally formed on the front portion of the seat shell and a corresponding second part integrally formed on a front portion of the control housing, one of said first parts on said control housing defining a rearward facing surface disposed in an opposing relation with a forward facing surface of the corresponding second part and the other of said first parts defining a forward facing surface disposed in an opposing relation with an opposing rearward facing surface of the corresponding second part to respectively limit forward and rearward movement of the seat shell part relative to the control housing.
9. A chair according to claim 8, wherein one of said first and second parts is a stop block which is substantially non-deflectable to prevent forward displacement of said shell relative to said control housing.
10. A chair according to claim 8, wherein one of said first and second parts is a resiliently flexible projection which snap lockingly secures said shell to said control housing.
11. In an office-type chair having a base, a pedestal assembly projecting upwardly from said base, and a seat-back arrangement connected to an upper end of said pedestal assembly, said seat-back arrangement including a generally horizontally enlarged seat assembly and a back assembly projecting upwardly from and adjacent a rear edge of said seat assembly, said seat assembly including a housing which is fixed to an upper end of the pedestal, said seat-back arrangement also including a rear tilt control mechanism for permitting at least the back assembly to be tilted rearwardly away from a normal upright position into a rearwardly tilted position, the tilt control mechanism including an upright member which is connected to said back assembly and is generally tiltable rearwardly relative to said housing, said seat-back arrangement also including an inner shell connected to said upright and said housing for supporting seat and back cushions, said shell being a semi-rigid but resiliently flexible sheet having a generally L-shaped elevational configuration which defines seat and back shell parts which respectively overlie the housing and upright and which are integrally joined together by an arcuate shell part, comprising the improvement wherein said shell is connected to both said upright and said housing solely by cooperating parts formed integrally with the shell, the housing and the upright so as to fixedly connect the shell at least adjacent upper and front ends thereof to the respective upright and housing, said shell being fixed to said housing solely adjacent the front portion thereof, said shell being fixed to said upright solely adjacent the upper portion thereof, said seat and back shell parts respectively having rear and lower portions thereof which together with said arcuate part are free of fixed securement to either said housing or said upright, the rear portion of said seat shell part being flexible downwardly relative to the front portion thereof in response to rearward tilting of the back assembly.
12. A chair according to claim 11, wherein the cooperating parts include a first front pair of cooperating stop parts which are formed on and cooperate directly between a front portion of the seat shell part and a front portion of the housing for preventing the seat shell part from moving forwardly relative to the housing, and a second front pair of cooperating latch parts which also cooperate directly between said front portions for vertically securing the front portion of the seat shell part to the front portion of the housing to prevent vertical movement therebetween, each of said first and second pairs including a first part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the front portion of the seat shell part and a second part which is fixedly and integrally joined to a front portion of the housing.
13. A chair according to claim 11, wherein said upright includes a lower portion having an upwardly facing support surface thereon which is disposed within a rear portion of said seat assembly, said seat shell part being positioned over said support surface and having a bearing part integrally fixed thereon and projecting downwardly for slidable engagement with said support surface.
14. A chair according to claim 11, wherein the cooperating parts includes a first top pair of cooperating stop parts which are formed on and cooperate directly between a top portion of the back shell part and a top portion of the upright for preventing the back shell part from moving upwardly relative to the upright, and a second top pair of cooperating latch parts which also cooperate directly between said top portions for horizontally securing the top portion of the back shell part to the top portion of the upright to prevent horizontal movement therebetween, each of said first and second top pairs including a first part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the top portion of the back shell part and a second part which is fixedly and integrally joined to a top portion of the upright.
15. A chair according to claim 14, wherein the cooperating parts include a first front pair of cooperating stop parts which are formed on and cooperate directly between a front portion of the seat shell part and a front portion of the housing for preventing the seat shell part from moving forwardly relative to the housing, and a second front pair of cooperating latch parts which also cooperate directly between said front portions for vertically securing the front portion of the seat shell part to the front portion of the housing to prevent vertical movement therebetween, each of said first and second front pairs including a first part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the front portion of the seat shell part and a second part which is fixedly and integrally joined to a front portion of the housing.
16. A chair comprising:a base; a pedestal assembly projecting upwardly from said base; a seat-back arrangement which is connected to an upper pedestal portion of said pedestal assembly and includes a fixed body that is fixed to the upper pedestal portion and an upright pivotally connected to a rear portion of the fixed body so as to be tiltable relative to the fixed body in a direction rearwardly away from a normal upright position into a rearwardly tilted position, the seat-back arrangement further including an inner shell connected to said upright and said fixed body for supporting seat and back cushions, said shell being a semi-rigid but resiliently flexible one-piece plastic sheet having a generally L-shaped elevational configuration which defines seat and back shell parts which respectively overlie the fixed body and upright and which are integrally joined together by an arcuate shell part; said shell being connected to both said upright and said fixed body solely by cooperating parts formed integrally with the shell, the fixed body and the upright so as to fixedly connect the shell at least adjacent upper and front portions thereof to the respective upright and fixed body; said fixed body including a front body portion spaced a substantial distance forwardly of said upper pedestal portion, the front portion of said seat shell part being fixedly secured to said front body portion such that a rear portion of the shell that is disposed rearwardly of said front body portion resiliently flexes in response to said rearward tilting of said upright, said rear portion of the seat shell part being enlarged rearwardly relative to said front portion and being flexibly joined to said front portion by a flexing hinge portion extending widthwise of said seat shell part so as to facilitate deflection of the rear portion relative to the front portion, said shell being fixed securely to said fixed body solely adjacent the front body portion of said fixed body, said shell being fixed to said upright solely adjacent an upper portion of said upright, said seat and back shell parts respectively having said rear portion and a lower portion thereof which together with said arcuate part are free of fixed securement to either said fixed body or said upright. 17. A chair according to claim 16, wherein said hinge portion has a reduced thickness relative to said front and rear portions so as to facilitate flexing.
18. A chair according to claim 17, wherein seat shell part includes rearwardly extending ribs integrally formed on the seat shell part which are notched in the region of the hinge portion to define the reduced thickness thereof.
19. A chair according to claim 18, wherein said upright includes a lower portion having an upwardly facing support surface thereon which is disposed within a rear portion of said seat-back arrangement, said seat shell part being positioned over said support surface and having a bearing part integrally fixed thereon and projecting downwardly in slidable engagement with said support surface.
20. A chair according to claim 16, wherein said hinge part is disposed forwardly a substantial distance from said upper pedestal portion.
21. A chair comprising:a base; a pedestal assembly projecting upwardly from said base; a seat-back arrangement which is connected to an upper pedestal portion of said pedestal assembly and includes a fixed body that is fixed to the upper pedestal portion and an upright pivotally connected to a rear portion of the fixed body so as to be tiltable relative to the fixed body in a direction rearwardly away from a normal upright position into a rearwardly tilted position, the seat-back arrangement further including an inner shell connected to said upright and said fixed body for supporting seat and back cushions, said shell being a semi-rigid but resiliently flexible one-piece sheet having a generally L-shaped elevational configuration which defines seat and back shell parts which respectively overlie the fixed body and upright and which are integrally joined together by an arcuate shell part; said shell being connected to both said upright and said fixed body solely by connection means for fixedly connecting the shell at least adjacent upper and front ends thereof to the respective upright and fixed body, said connection means comprising cooperating parts which are formed integrally with the shell, the fixed body and the upright and which define front and upper connections between said shell and said fixed body and upright respectively that are free of separate or independent fasteners, at least one of said front and upper connections being a snap fit connection, said shell being fixed to said housing solely adjacent the front portion thereof, and said shell being fixed to said upright solely adjacent the upper portion thereof, said seat and back shell parts respectively having rear and lower portions thereof which together with said arcuate part are free of fixed securement to either said housing or said upright, the rear portion of said seat shell part being flexible downwardly relative to the front portion thereof in response to rearward tilting of the back assembly. 22. A chair according to claim 21, wherein said cooperating parts includes a first front pair of cooperating latch parts for preventing vertical movement of the front portion of the shell relative to the front portion of the fixed body, said first front pair comprising a first part on one of said fixed body and said seat shell part and a second part on the other of said fixed body and said seat shell part, said first part being a resiliently flexible projection which is snap lockably engageable with said second part on said fixed body.
23. A chair according to claim 22, wherein said cooperating parts includes a second pair of cooperating flange parts closely proximate a front edge of said fixed body which prevent rearward movement of said shell relative to said fixed body.
24. A chair according to claim 23, wherein said cooperating flange parts define a rotation axis closely proximate a front edge of said fixed body about which said shell is rearwardly rotatable into a secured position overlying said fixed body, said first part of the latch parts being snap lockable with said second part in response to rotation of said shell into said secured position.
25. A chair according to claim 22, wherein said cooperating parts include a top plurality of cooperating latch parts which cooperate directly between said top portions in snap fit engagement for horizontally securing the top portion of the back shell part to the top portion of the upright to prevent horizontal movement therebetween.
26. A chair according to claim 21, wherein the cooperating parts include a first top pair of cooperating stop parts which are formed on and cooperate directly between a top portion of the back shell part and a top portion of the upright for preventing the back shell part from moving upwardly relative to the upright, said first top pair including a first part which is fixedly and integrally formed with the top portion of the back shell part and a second part which is integrally formed with a top portion of the upright, said first and second parts of said first top pair being resiliently snap lockable into engagement one with the other in response to movement of the shell relative to the upright.
27. A chair according to claim 21, wherein the cooperating parts include a first top pair of cooperating stop parts which are formed on and cooperate directly between a top portion of the back shell part and a top portion of the upright for preventing the back shell part from moving upwardly relative to the upright, and a second top pair of cooperating latch parts which also cooperate directly between said top portions for horizontally securing the top portion of the back shell part to the top portion of the upright to prevent horizontal movement therebetween, each of said first and second top pairs including a first part which is fixedly and integrally joined to the top portion of the back shell part and a second part which is fixedly and integrally joined to a top portion of the upright.
28. A chair comprising:a base; a pedestal assembly projecting upwardly from said base; a seat-back arrangement which is connected to an upper pedestal portion of said pedestal assembly and includes a fixed body that is fixed to the upper pedestal portion and an upright pivotally connected to a rear portion of the fixed body so as to be tiltable relative to the fixed body in a direction rearwardly away from a normal upright position into a rearwardly tilted position, the seat-back arrangement further including an inner shell connected to said upright and said fixed body for supporting seat and back cushions, said shell being a semi-rigid but resiliently flexible sheet having a generally L-shaped elevational configuration which defines seat and back shell parts which respectively overlie the fixed body and upright and which are integrally joined together by an arcuate shell part; said shell being connected to both said upright and said fixed body solely by cooperating parts formed integrally with the shell, the fixed body and the upright so as to fixedly connect the shell at least adjacent upper and front ends thereof to the respective upright and fixed body, said upper end of said shell and said upright having first said cooperating parts disposed thereon such that said upper end fixedly connects to said upright upon relative movement of said upper end relative to a frontward facing surface of said upright to a secured position in engagement with said upright, said front end of said shell and said fixed body having second said cooperating parts disposed thereon such that said front end fixedly connects to said fixed body upon relative movement of said shell to a generally horizontal secured position in engagement with said fixed body, said second cooperating parts including cooperating flange parts which pivotally connect said shell and a front portion of said fixed body together and permits rearward rotating of said seat shell part to said secured position overlying said fixed body, and cooperating front snap connector parts which snap fittingly engage said shell with said fixed body when said seat shell part is in said secured position. 29. A chair according to claim 28, wherein said movement of said shell relative to said upright is in a downward direction along said frontward facing surface to said secured position, said first cooperating parts include upper snap connector parts which snap fittingly engage said shell with said fixed body in response to downward movement of said shell to said secured position.
30. A chair according to claim 29, wherein the first cooperating parts includes a first top pair of cooperating parts which are formed on and cooperate directly between a top portion of the back shell part and a top portion of the upright when the back shell part is disposed in the secured position for preventing the back shell part from moving upwardly relative to the upright, and a second top pair of cooperating parts which also cooperate directly between said top portions for horizontally securing the top portion of the back shell part to the top portion of the upright to prevent horizontal movement therebetween when the back shell part is disposed in the secured position, each of said first and second top pairs including a first part which is fixedly joined to the top portion of the back shell part and a second part which is fixedly joined to a top portion of the upright.
31. A chair according to claim 28, wherein said shell is fixed to said fixed body solely adjacent the front portion thereof, said shell being fixed to said upright solely adjacent the upper portion thereof, said seat and back shell parts respectively having rear and lower portions thereof which together with said arcuate part are free of fixed securement to either said fixed body or said upright, the rear portion of said seat shell part being flexible downwardly relative to the front portion thereof in response to rearward tilting of the back assembly.
32. A chair according to claim 28, wherein a first top pair and a second top pair of cooperating parts are formed on and cooperate directly between a top portion of the back shell part and a top portion of the upright, each of the first and second top pairs of cooperating parts including a first part integrally formed on the top portion of the back shell part and a corresponding second part integrally formed on a top portion of the upright, one of said first parts on said upright defining an upward facing surface disposed in an opposing relation with a downward facing surface of the corresponding second part and the other of said first parts defining a downward facing surface disposed in an opposing relation with an opposing upward facing surface of the corresponding second part to respectively prevent upward and downward movement of the back shell part relative to the upright.
33. A chair according to claim 28, wherein said connection of said shell to said fixed body and upright is free of separate or independent fasteners.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/702,120, filed Aug. 23, 1996, now abandoned which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/258,020, filed Jun. 10, 1994, now abandoned.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair according to the pesent invention.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 6--6 in FIG. 4 and showing the pivot shaft arrangement.
FIG. 8 is a view of the bottom side of the seat part of chair shell, which view is shown flat for convenience in illustration.
FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged, fragmentary sectional views take respectively along lines 9--9 and 10--10 in FIG. 7.
FIGS. 11 and 12 are enlarged, fragmentary sectional views taken respectively along lines 11--11 and 12--12 in FIG. 8.
FIGS. 14 and 15 are views which respectively correspond FIGS. 9 and 10 but show the back part of the chair shell engaged with the upright.
FIGS. 16 and 17 are views which respectively correspond FIGS. 11 and 12 but show the seat part of the chair shell engaged with the front lip part of the control body.
FIG. 19 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 19--19 in FIG. 20.
FIG. 20 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 20--20 in FIG. 19.
FIG. 22 is an enlarged elevational view showing the tilt control mechanism which cooperates between the upright and the control body, which view is taken generally along line 22--22 in FIG. 4.
FIGS. 24, 25 and 26 are fragmentary sectional views respectively taken along lines 24--24, 25--25 and 26--26 in FIG. 22, with FIGS. 24 and 25 also showing in dotted lines the tilt lock plate in its locked position.
FIG. 27 is an elevational view taken generally along line 27--27 in FIG. 4 and illustrating the lift cylinder control mechanism.
FIGS. 28 and 29 are views taken respectively along lines 28--28 and 29--29 in FIG. 27.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a chair according to the present invention. The chair, as is generally conventional, includes a generally L-shaped seat-back assembly 11, with the basic components thereof being a seat bottom subassembly 12 and a back subassembly 13. A pair of arms 14 are disposed adjacent opposite sides of the chair and connect the seat and back subassemblies. A height-adjustable pedestal assembly 15 has the upper end thereof connected to the seat subassembly substantially at the middle thereof, and the lower end of the pedestal assembly 15 is secured to a conventional multi-leg base 16, the latter typically being supported on a plurality of casters.
The chair 10 of the present invention also includes a one-piece chair shell 29 (FIGS. 2A and 5) which mounts on the control mechanism 21 and is covered by a suitable cushion (not shown) in a conventional manner so as to permit support of a chair occupant. The chair shell 29 has a back part 31 which is disposed in front of and is fixedly secured to the upper portion of the upright 23, and also includes a seat part 32 which is positioned on top of and has the front portion thereof fixedly secured to the control body 22. The back and seat parts 31 and 32 are in turn joined together by an intermediate arcuate part 33 which is of a generally concave configuration so as to open outwardly or forwardly of the chair. This part 33 is readily flexible so as to permit the back part 31 of the chair shell to hingedly flex or pivot relative to the seat part 32.
The channel-shaped cross section of the base part 64 is extended upwardly both through the arcuate part 63 and the upper part 62, with the depth of the channel part progressively decreasing throughout the arcuate part 63, whereby the depth of the channel-shaped cross section throughout the top part 62 is rather shallow. Similarly, the top or base wall 65 of the base part 64 continues into and defines a smoothly curved top or base wall 71 which extends throughout the arcuate part 63, and this base wall 71 in turn joins to the base or front wall 72 associated with the upper part 62. This base wall 72 terminates at a free upper edge 73 of the upright. The base walls 71 and 72 associated with the arcuate parts 62 and 63 have a strengthening channel 74 formed therein, which strengthening channel extends longitudinally along the centerline of the upright from the free upper edge 73 downwardly through the upper part 62 and thence downwardly through a majority of the arcuate part 63. This strengthening channel results in formation of a rear wall 76 which is generally parallel with but spaced downwardly or rearwardly from the respectively adjacent base wall, such as rearwardly from the front wall 72 of the top part 62. Due to the provision of the strengthening channel, the front wall 72 of the top part has a pair of sidewardly spaced front wall portions 77 which are disposed adjacent opposite sides of the upright, which front wall portions 77 project downwardly and extend similarly through a majority of the arcuate portion 63 and, adjacent the lower part of the arcuate portion where it joins to the base part, define thereon upwardly-facing slide surfaces or tracks 78.
A pair of L-shaped latches 116 (FIGS. 7 and 9) are integrally fixed to and project outwardly in cantilevered relation from the rear surface 104. Each latch 116 is disposed generally in downwardly spaced relation from the respective stop flange 114. The L-shaped latches 116 are also uniformly positioned on opposite sides of the centerline 111, and each latch includes an arm 117 which is integral with and cantilevered outwardly from the rear surface 104. This arm 117, which can be resiliently deflected, has a retainer flange 118 cantilevered downwardly therefrom in generally parallel relation to the rear surface 104.
Considering now the seat part 32 of the chair shell 29, and referring to FIG. 8, this seat part again is defined generally between side edges 128 which smoothly and roundly merge into a front edge 129. A generally U-shaped rib pattern 131 is provided integrally on and projects outwardly from the rear or bottom surface 139 of the seat part 32. This U-shaped rib pattern 131 opens generally rearwardly away from the front edge 129, and includes generally parallel side ribs 132 which at their front ends are joined together by a front rib 133 extending perpendicularly therebetween. These ribs 132 and 133 cooperate to define a open region or channel 134 therebetween, which channel is bounded by the bottom surface 139. A plurality of cylindrical retainer hubs 135 are associated with the U-shaped rib pattern and extend along the side and front edges of the seat part 32. These retainer hubs 135 are formed generally similar to the hubs 121 described above, and are used in a conventional-manner to cooperate with fasteners associated with a bottom cover or pan (not shown) which encloses the bottom side of the chair seat.
A generally L-shaped latch 144 (FIGS. 8 and 12) is integrally joined to and projects outwardly in cantilevered relation from the bottom surface 139. This latch is disposed generally on the longitudinal centerline 111, and is spaced somewhat rearwardly from the U-shaped stop blocks 141. The latch 144 has an elongate arm 145 which projects downwardly from the bottom surface and possesses limited resiliently. This arm 145 at its lower end is provided with a retainer flange 146 which is cantilevered toward the front edge so as to be disposed in generally parallel but downwardly spaced relationship from the bottom surface 139. This flange has a ramplike cam surface 146A formed thereon.
As to the arcuate shell portion 33, which portion joins the back and seat parts 31 and 32 together, the rear surface of this arcuate shell part 33 is free of any outwardly protruding reinforcement ribs or the like. That is, this,arcuate shell part 33 is of generally uniform thickness throughout both the longitudinal and widthwise extend thereof. This thus permits this arcuate part 33 to readily flex, and thereby permits the back part 31 to readily angularly flex (i.e., tilt) relative to the seat part 32.
The intermediate upright portion 228 of the actuator rod is longitudinally slidably guided and confined within a channel 232 which is formed on and projects generally vertically of the bracket 224. This channel is defined generally between parallel side walls 233, with the upper end of this channel being closed by a stop plate 234 which is positioned close to the top wall 65. The bracket 224 is preferably constructed of a plastics material so as to facilitate the slidable support of the intermediate rod part 228 within the channel, and at the same time the top stop plate 234 is engageable with the inner rod portion 229 for defining the uppermost position of the actuator rod. This uppermost position as illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 22 and defines the "release" position for the tilt lock mechanism 211.
The bottom tab 221 on the lock plate also mounts thereon and is surrounded by a plastic sleeve part 237, the latter being retained on the tab due to the securement of the spring to the tab adjacent the free end thereof. This sleeve part 237 has a plastic flange 236 projecting outwardly and upwardly therefrom. Flange 236 is disposed so as to be contacted by the rod portion 229 when the actuator rod is pivoted downwardly into a "locking" position substantially as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 22.
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AND SUCCESSORS;REEL/FRAME:032606/0875Effective date: 20140403Dec 27, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Mar 23, 2007FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Mar 10, 2003FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services