Some chairs include a back support that can be adjusted using an angle adjuster. Such chairs may enable the user to set the angle of the back support, while other chairs merely allow the back support to pivot relative to the seat. In many chairs that enable the user to set the angle of the back support, the back support is a single back support and can only be set to a single angle. Further, while the angle of the back support may be changed, the relative lateral position cannot be changed while keeping the back support relatively perpendicular to the seat of the chair. Additionally, many chairs include only a single back support. A single back support, even with a lumbar feature, is often unable to support a variety of body shapes while also following typical movement and/or achieving a neutral posture of the thoracic and pelvic areas of the user. A solution is needed for a mechanism and/or method that is capable of adjusting one or more back supports that are independently movable.
Described herein is a chair that includes one or more back supports. The back supports of the chair are connected to a base of the chair such that each back support is independently movable. The back supports may also be connected in a way such that each back support rotates about the same pivot axis on the chair. Support arms for each of the back supports are shaped and/or arranged in such a way that the support arms of one back support will not interfere with the support arms of another back support so that each back support can be pivoted throughout the typical range of motion for the pelvis through the cervical spine of a user.
An example chair is described herein. The example chair includes a first back support and a second back support. The first back support is connected to a base of the chair with first support arm(s). The second back support is connected to the base of the chair with second support arm(s). The first and second back supports are independently movable and rotatable and/or height adjustable.
A back support adjustment mechanism for a chair is also described. The back support adjustment mechanism includes a first connection point for first support arm(s), the first support arm(s) supporting a first back support. A first adjustment device is coupled to the first support arm(s). The back support adjustment mechanism also includes a second connection point for second connection arm(s), the second support arm(s) supporting a second back support. A second adjustment device is coupled to the second support arm(s). The number of support arms for the first support arm(s) and the second support arm(s) can be one, two, or even more.
Various examples of embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods according to this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary to the understanding of the invention or render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
In the illustrated example construction, the first and second support arms 25, 30 are coupled to the base support 20 at the same pivot axis. That is, each of the first and second support arms 25, 30 pivot around the same axis to adjust an angle of the respective first back support 10 and second back support 15. Any additional support arms for additional back supports may also be coupled to the base support 20 such that the additional support arms rotate about the same pivot axis (e.g., a common axis). In some examples, the first and second support arms 25, 30 are coupled to a single rod or pin, as depicted in the example construction of
The first and second support arms 25, 30 are independently movable such that the first and second back supports 10, 15 can move independently relative to each other through a broad range of motion. That is, the first and second support arms 25, 30 allow independent forward and backward movement of each of the first and second back supports 10, 15 relative to a seat 40 of the chair 5 by adjusting the angle of the respective first and second support arms 25, 30. In some examples, to enable the independent forward and backward movement of the first and second back supports 25, 30, the first support arm(s) 25 are offset from a center of the first back support 10 and positioned on either side of the second back support 15 so that the first and second support arms 25, 30 do not interfere with one another when the first and second back supports 10, 15 are adjusted. The example first and second support arms 25, 30 may also be shaped (e.g., curved, angled, etc.) to allow this independent movement through a broad range of angles without interference. For example, the range of motion for the first and/or the second back support 10, 15 may be a total of 200 degrees, and, for example, may be 20 degrees forward and 180 degrees backward. In the particular illustrated example, the total range of motion for the second back 15 support is 16 degrees, for example 4 degrees in the forward direction (e.g., from a right angle to a horizontal plane) and 12 degrees in the backward direction (e.g., from a right angle to a horizontal plane). Additionally, the second back support 15 is biased about a pivot point in a 4 degree backward tilt and is pivotable 10 degrees in either direction. In the illustrated example, the total range of motion for the first back support 10 is 22 degrees, for example 11 degrees in the forward and 11 degrees in the backward direction. Furthermore, the broad range of motion enabled by the first and second support arms 25, 30 also enables the angle of the first and second support arms 25, 30 to be acute (e.g., less than 90 degrees relative to the seat 40). Thus, one or both of the first and second back supports 10, 15 can be adjusted such that the back support 10, 15 is positioned at least partially over the seat 40 of the chair 5.
Alternatively, a single support arm may be used for the first back support 10 and two offset support arms may be used for the second back support 15 and positioned on either side of the single support arm. In other examples, one support arm may be used for each of the first and second back supports 10, 15 and one or both of the support arms 25, 30 may be curved in a way to prevent interference while also contacting a center portion of each of the back supports 10, 15. In further alternative examples, each of the back supports 10, 15 may be coupled to the base support structure using multiple support arms.
Additionally, each of the first and second back supports 10, 15 may be independently height adjustable. The example first and second support arms 25, 30 may be extendible to adjust the height of the respective first and second back supports 10, 15. In some examples, the first and second back supports include a number of apertures through which a pin is positioned to adjust the height of the respective back supports to different levels, as depicted in the example construction of
In the illustrated example of
While one example method of adjusting the angle of the first and second support arms 25, 30 is described, almost any other known method of adjusting a single back support may be used to adjust two back supports 10, 15 independently. For example, the first and second support arms 25, 30 may be adjusted using knobs (e.g., tension knobs) that a move a cam, which in turn moves each of the support arms 25, 30 to adjust the back support. In this example, the first and second support arms 25, 30 may be adjusted using two separate cams (motorized or manually powered). In some such examples, the respective cams are positioned on separate rods so that the user can adjust the first and second back supports 10, 15 separately from one another by turning the knob. In some examples, the separate pins or rods are aligned on different axis, while the pivot axis of both the first support arm(s) and the second support arm(s) 25, 30 is a common axis which may or may not correspond with one of the axis of the pins or rods. Alternatively, the separate pins or rods are aligned on the same axis, which may also correspond with the common pivot axis of the first support arm(s) and the second support arm(s) 25, 30.
In alternative examples, a single knob adjustment may be moved laterally to a first position to adjust the first support arm(s) 25 or to a second position to adjust the second support arm(s). Using a knob-type adjustment device also enables the back support 10, 15 to be locked in place or not movable without turning the knob so that each back support 10, 15 stays in the position to which the user adjusts each back support. Thus, in some examples, the first and second back supports 10, 15 may be moved individually (e.g., one at a time) while still allowing independent movement of the first and second support arms 25, 30.
In some alternative examples, the angle adjustment of each or both back supports 10, 15 and support arms 25, 30 can be done using a combination of levers and gears. In other alternative examples, the angle of each of the support arms 25, 30 may be adjusted using a combination of clutch disks and corresponding cams. Alternatively, a single adjustment feature may be capable of adjusting both the first and second support arms 25, 30 and, thus, the first and second back supports 10, 15. For example, the knob may operate a cam or other movable feature to adjust both the first and second support arms 25, 30 simultaneously.
In some examples, a chair may include a second back support as described above (e.g., a traditional back support, and in some examples with a curved support member) and a first back support that moves backward and forward using a different method. In these such examples, the first back support is coupled to the seat using a vertical adjustment mechanism (VAM) oriented in a horizontal plane. The VAM moves an inner frame or track member along an outer frame or track member along a pre-determined adjustment length at predetermined intervals. For example, in a VAM with a predetermined length of two inches, each predetermined interval is a quarter inch, resulting in eight different intervals or positions. In other examples, the first and second back supports may move forward and backward simultaneously. In one such example, the first and second back supports are coupled to a seat slider. In other constructions, the first and second back supports may move backward and forward using a series of clutch plates, or any combination of the above.
Additionally,
One or more of the disclosed embodiments, alone or in combination, may provide one or more technical effects including a more customizable chair back to increase the comfort of the user. The technical effects and technical problems in the specification are exemplary and are not limiting. It should be noted that the embodiments described in the specification may have other technical effects and can solve other technical problems.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that references to relative positions (e.g., “top” and “bottom,” “left” and “right”) in this description are merely used to identify various elements as are oriented in the Figures. It should be recognized that the orientation of particular components may vary greatly depending on the application in which they are used.
For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the system, methods, and devices as shown in the various examples of embodiments is illustrative only, and not limiting. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently foreseen, are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements show as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied (e.g. by variations in the number of engagement slots or size of the engagement slots or type of engagement). The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the various examples of embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present inventions. Therefore, the invention is intended to embrace all known or earlier developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/221,647 filed Jul. 14, 2021, entitled “DOUBLE ANGLE BACK SUPPORT ADJUSTMENT,” the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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