Modular chair construction and method of assembly

Patent 5630649 Issued on May 20, 1997. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 26, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

217584

D299799

D309383

D311286

D312003

D312536

D318184

362796

446080

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Inventors

Assignee

Steelcase Inc.

Application

No. 452665 filed on 05/26/1995

US Classes:

297/344.19, Gas or hydraulic cylinder297/344.12Vertically adjustable

Examiners

Primary: Nelson, Milton Jr.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Price, Heneveld, Cooper, DeWitt & Litton

Foreign Patent References

105955 EP. 10/12/1982
2145329 GB 03/12/1985

International Class

A47C 001/02

Abstract

A chair construction and method for building a chair having selected features are provided. The construction includes a plurality of interchangeable different components including different base assemblies, back assemblies, seats, arms, and chair controls that can be selected to provide different features on a "customized" chair. The different chair controls are constructed from a selected one of a plurality of interchangeable energy modules and a selected one of a plurality of interchangeable seat support modules. All components include standardized connections for engaging the related components, and further include various mechanisms and designs so that by selecting particular components, a chair having various features and appearances can be provided. For example, the plurality of interchangeable seat support modules include a non-adjustable seat support module, a seat-angle-adjustable seat support module, and a seat-depth-adjustable seat support module. Also, the plurality of interchangeable chair control modules include a non-lockable energy module, a back lockable energy module, and a multi-position backstop energy module, each connectable to a selected one of the aforementioned seat support modules. The modularity of these components facilitates assembly including on-site assembly, repair, and post-assembly upgrading of the chair. Further, the seat support is connected by removable pivot pins to allow assembly, retrofit and/or modification in the field. The tension adjustment mechanism, the seat height actuator mechanism, and the pivot connections are constructed for durability, performance, assembleability, compactness of design, and to minimize the number of and complexity of parts. The method includes selecting modules from a menu of interconnectable/interchangeable modules to construct a chair control, and further selecting modules from a menu of interchangeable components to construct a chair having selected features.

Other References

Exibit A is a product catalog entitled "Northfield Furniture Components," dated Oct. 1991, published by EST Company, a division of Leggett & Platt, Inc. of Sante Fe Springs, California, disclosing various chair controls and chair components
Exhibit B is a product brochure entitled "Relax Armrest," publication date unknown, published by RH Form AB, Bodafors, Sweden, disclosing an armrest
Exhibit C is a product brochure entitled "The Chair Works," publication date unknown, published by The Chair Works, Inc., College Station, Texas, disclosing chairs having armrests
Exhibit D is a product brochure entitled "Comforto^.RTM.," publication date unknown, published by Haworth, Europe, disclosing various chairs with arms
Exhibit E is a product brochure entitled "Office Views," publication date unknown, published by Sitag International, Irvine, California, disclosing various chairs with arms
Exhibit F is a service assembly pictorial, published in 1993, by Steelcase Inc., assignee of the present invention, disclosing a method of of partially diassembling a chair and adjusting a screw set in a chair height actuator lever to eliminate looseness in the lever
Exhibit G is a drawing provided by Steelcase Inc., disclosing the prior art structure of the chair height actuator lever in Exhibit F. In "note 7," the drawing discloses a method of adjusting the pneumatic cylinder set screw to contact the spacer pin on the pneumatic cylinder during assembly to eliminate looseness in the lever
Exhibit H is a drawing provided by Steelcase Inc., disclosing a prior art structure including a rubber torsion spring arrangement for a chair back support. The torsion spring arrangement includes a threaded adjustment member that threadably engages a torque arm on the torsion spring, the adjustment member including an end that abuts an upper chair structure
Exhibit I are product brochures entitled "Synchro-tilt 5000 Series, " publication date unknown, published by Northfield Metal Products Ltd., a division of Leggett & Platt, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, disclosing synchrotilt controls. Page 4 discloses angular synchrotilt movements of a control
Exibit J are drawings of a prior art chair control assembly manufactured by Steelcase Inc., the non-modular chair control including an internally adjustable pivot arm and nut for a pneumatic chair height adjustment actuator, and a non-modular seat support/stretcher that is pivotally supported by a pivot axle on slide bearings
Exhibit K is a catalog entitled "Sensible Seating," copyright 1993, published by Hon Company, Muscatine, Iowa, disclosing various chairs including, on the sixth page, a quick attach, adjustable arm moveable side-to-side and up-and-down
Exhibit L is a product brochure entitled "Hon Group List Pricer," including a cover page and pp. 64, 90 and 98, published Jul. 10, 1994, published by Hon Company, Muscatine, Iowa, disclosing various chair movements and also disclosing a quick attach, adjustable arm moveable side-to-side and up-and-down
Exibit M includes ten photographs and two pages of sketches disclosing a known armrest construction manufactured by Hon Company, Muscatine, Iow