The present disclosure relates to furniture, particularly seating, and more particularly upholstered seating for home furnishing or hospitality furnishing purposes, capable of motion among multiple positions.
Shoppers for home furnishing have traditionally been provided with three principle options when in search of upholstered seating. The first type is stationary seating. Stationary chairs have been known for centuries and have been designed in a vast array of styles to meet the owner's preferred aesthetic. Stationary chairs, however often do not meet more modern desires for comfort when used continuously for a long period of time.
The second and third types of upholstered chairs, gliders, and recliners respectively, may be combined into the category of motion seating, which is seating designed to be capable of achieving at least two distinct positions. Gliders, which can include rocking chairs, are designed to receive the user, and are capable of forward and backward oscillating motion. Typically, the angle between the seat cushion and the back cushion is fixed in a glider or rocker style chair. Rocking motion has been shown to provide several physical and mental health benefits, including increased balance, improved muscle tone, and pain management/reduction. Rocking is also well-known to help sooth colic in babies.
Reclining furniture, on the other hand, is able to adjust the angle between the seat cushion and the back cushion to allow the user to assume a reclined position, often with the assistance of a footrest extending from below a recliner style chair. Reclining reduces the load on the spine and surrounding musculature. This enables the human back to rest, invoking general physical and mental relaxation. Recliners, however, typically do not provide the oscillating motion available from a glider. Further, while powered recliners can often provide infinite adjustment of the reclining angle, these seats do not conform naturally to the user as the user shifts in the chair.
There is a desire to create a seat, particularly an upholstered chair for furnishing a home or hospitality environment, that can naturally adjust to the position of the user without complex motors or actuators while combining the benefits of reclining furniture and gliding furniture.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a seat includes a chassis, a seat frame, a seat cushion, a backrest, a first swing arm, and a second swing arm. The seat cushion is pivotably attached to the seat frame and the backrest is pivotably attached to the seat frame. The first swing arm has a top end and a bottom end. The top end is pivotably attached to the chassis at a first stationary pivot joint and the bottom end is pivotably attached to the seat frame at a first floating pivot joint. The second swing arm has a top end and a bottom end. The top end is pivotably attached to the chassis at a second stationary pivot joint and the bottom end is pivotably attached to the set frame at a second floating pivot joint such that the seat frame is capable of a swinging motion relative to the chassis along a forward to backward direction of the seat.
In embodiments, the first swing arm is forward of the second swing arm. A distance between the first stationary pivot joint and the first floating pivot joint may be greater than a distance between the secondary pivot point and the second floating pivot joint. A predetermined distance between the first and secondary stationary pivot points may be greater than a predetermined distance between the first and second floating pivot joints.
In some embodiments, the seat frame has a forwardmost and a rearwardmost position relative to the chassis. The seat frame may be biased towards the forwardmost position. The seat may include a spring that is configured to bias the seat frame to the forwardmost position.
In certain embodiments, the seat includes a damper that is configured to limit the swinging motion of the seat frame relative to the chassis in at least one direction. The damper may include a stop and a cushioner. The cushioner may be formed form a resilient material and may include a hollow portion with a convex exterior wall. The convex exterior wall may be configured to be inverted by the stop to slow motion of the seat frame in the at least one direction. The cushioner may define an aperture that is configured to receive a bolt to attach the cushioner to the chassis. The aperture may be offset from a centerline of the cushioner. The centerline may be parallel with the forward to backward direction of the seat. The cushioner may be mounted to the chassis such that a peripheral wall thereof that does not contact the stop is able to deform to further absorb energy from the stop.
In particular embodiments, the backrest is pivotably attached to the seat frame with a pivot assembly. The pivot assembly may be biased towards an upright position.
In embodiments, the seat includes a resilient hinge that is formed as a unitary body from a resilient polymer. The seat cushion may be pivotably attached to the seat frame by the resilient hinge. The resilient hinge may have a neutral position and may include a first pair of abutment surfaces that are configured to control a range of motion in a first direction relative to the neutral position. The resilient hinge may include a second pair of abutment surfaces that are configured to control a range of motion in a second direction relative to the neutral position opposite the first direction. The resilient hinge may be attached to the seat frame such that the first direction is the backward direction and the second direction is the forwards direction. A range of motion in the backward direction relative to the neutral position may be less than a range of motion in the forward direction relative to the neutral position.
In some embodiments, the resilient hinge may include an upper surface that is attached to the seat frame and a lower surface that is attached the seat cushion. In the neutral position, the upper surface may form an angle with the lower surface between 5 degrees and 15 degrees.
In particular embodiments, the seat includes a base with the chassis attached to the base. The base may be configured to allow the chassis to rotate relative to the base about a vertical axis. The seat cushion may be capable of motion relative to the seat frame, the backrest may be capable of motion relative to the seat frame, and/or the seat frame may be capable of motion relative to the chassis without motors.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a seat includes a chassis, a seat frame, a seat cushion, a backrest, and a resilient hinge. The seat frame is attached to the chassis and the seat cushion and the backrest are each attached to the seat frame. The resilient hinge formed as a unitary body and may be formed from a resilient polymer. The seat cushion and/or the backrest is pivotably attached to the seat frame with the resilient hinge.
In embodiments, the seat cushion is pivotably attached to the seat frame by the resilient hinge and the backrest is pivotably attached to the seat frame by another resilient hinge.
In some embodiments, the resilient hinge has a neutral position and includes a first pair and a second pair of abutment surfaces. The first pair of abutment surfaces may be configured to control a range of motion in a first direction relative to the neutral position. The second pair of abutment surfaces may be configured to control a range of motion in a second direction relative to the neutral position opposite of the first direction. The resilient hinge may be attached between the seat frame and the seat cushion such that the first direction is a reward direction and the second direction is a forward direction. A range of motion in the rearward direction relative to the neutral position may be less than a range of motion in the forward direction relative to the neutral position.
In certain embodiments, the seat frame is connected to the chassis with a front joint and a rear joint. Each of the front and rear joint may be selected from the group consisting of a swing arm and a roller and track combination. The seat frame may be capable of a swinging motion relative to the chassis along a forwards and backward direction of the seat. The front joint may include a front swing arm and the rear joint may include a rear swing arm. The front swing arm may have a top end pivotably attached to the chassis at a first stationary pivot joint and a bottom end pivotably attached to the seat frame at a first floating pivot joint. The rear swing arm may have a top end pivotably attached to the chassis at a second stationary pivot joint and a bottom end pivotably attached to the seat frame at a second floating pivot joint.
In another embodiment, a seat includes a chassis, a seat frame, a seat cushion, a backrest, and a damper. The seat frame is engaged with the chassis and is capable of a swinging motion relative to the chassis along a forward to backward direction of the seat. The seat cushion is attached to the seat frame and the backrest is attached to the seat frame. The damper is configured to limit the swinging motion of the seat frame relative to the chassis in at least one direction. The damper includes a stop and a cushioner. The cushioner is formed form a resilient material and includes a hollow portion with a convex exterior wall that is configured to be inverted by the stop to slow motion of the seat frame in the at least one direction.
In embodiments, the cushioner includes an aperture defined therethrough that is configured to receive a bolt to attach the cushioner to the chassis. The aperture may be offset rom a centerline of the cushioner. The centerline may be parallel with the forward to backward direction of the seat. The cushioner may be mounted to the chassis such that a peripheral wall thereof that does not contact the stop is able to deform to further absorb energy from the stop.
In some embodiments, the seat frame has a forward most and a rearward most position relative to the chassis. The seat may include a spring that biases the seat frame toward the forward most position. The stop may engage the cushioner in the rearward most position. The seat may be pivotably attached to the seat by a resilient hinge. The resilient hinge may be formed as a unitary body from a resilient polymer.
In certain embodiments, the seat frame is connected to the chassis with a front joint and a rear joint that are configured to facilitate the swinging motion. Each of the front and rear joints may be selected from the group consisting of a sing arm and a roller and track combination. The seat frame may be capable of a swinging motion relative to the chassis along a forward to backward direction of the seat. The front joint may include a front swing arm and the rear joint may include a rear swing arm. The front swing arm may have a top end pivotably attached to the chassis at a first stationary pivot joint and a bottom end pivotably attached to the seat frame at a first floating pivot joint. The rear swing arm may have a top end pivotably attached to the chassis at a second stationary pivot joint and a bottom end pivotably attached to the seat frame at a second floating pivot joint.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiments, when considered in conjunction with the drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are described below and illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. The embodiments described provide examples and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments, and modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such other embodiments, modifications and improvements are within the scope of the present invention. Features from one embodiment or aspect may be combined with features from any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. For example, any individual or collective features of method aspects or embodiments may be applied to apparatus, product or component aspects or embodiments and vice versa.
The chair 10 may be the type that is typically covered in whole or in part by leather or fabric upholstery for furnishing a home or a hospitality environment such as a hotel or business reception area. The chair 10 is shown supported by an optional swivel base 14 that may allow the chair 10 to rotate about a vertical axis normal to a floor upon which the chair is resting. The vertical axis is the Z-axis in
By ignoring the optional swivel base 14, the chair 10 can be described as having a stationary assembly 20 intended to be stationary relative to the floor. The stationary assembly 20 may include a pair of arms 24 fixed to a chassis 28 (
The chassis 28 may include a base plate for mounting to the optional swivel base 14 and a pair of lateral flanges formed with or attached to the base plate. Where the flanges are separate from and attached to, such as by a plurality of bolts, the base plate, thin gaskets made of rubber or even paper may be provided to avoid metal on metal contact.
As discussed in further detail below, the motion assembly 30 is configured to permit one or more types of motion relative to the floor and the stationary assembly 20. Permitted motion can include a swinging motion of one or both of the seat cushion 32 and backrest 34. As used herein, a “swinging motion” is motion that provides at least some magnitude of translation along a forward and backward direction of the chair 10. The forward and backward direction corresponds with the X-axis as illustrated in
Permitted motion can also include rotational motion of one or both of the seat cushion 32 and the backrest 34 relative to the stationary assembly 20 or each other. As used herein, “rotational motion” is motion that provides angular movement around a rotational axis as if around a pin. Rotational motion does not itself provide for translation. In the illustrated embodiments provided herein, each of the rotational axes is substantially perpendicular to the forward to backward direction and lies along a plane parallel with the floor. Rotational axes generally extend parallel with the Y-axis as illustrated in
Turning to
The motion assembly 30 includes the seat cushion 32 and the backrest 34 (
The chair frame 40 is attached to the chassis 28 and configured for allowing swinging motion of the chair frame 40 relative to the chassis, and therefore swinging motion between the stationary assembly 20 and the motion assembly 30 (
Turning to
As will be understood from
Returning to
In the illustrated embodiment, the front swing arm 60 is about 8.7 cm long, the rear swing arm 64 is about six cm long, the stationary pivot joints 68, 76 are about nineteen cm apart and the floating pivot joints 72, 80 are about fourteen cm apart. The example embodiment may be stated more generally as a front swing arm 60 that is longer, as measured between pivot joints, than a rear swing arm 64, and a distance between stationary pivot joints 68, 76 that is longer than a distance between floating pivot joints 72, 80. The example embodiment may be further generalized as swing arms of different lengths that are not parallel to one another as defined by the segments connecting the pivot joints of the swing arms respectively.
The example geometry has been found to provide an advantageous swing motion for the chair frame 40 relative to the chassis 28. The swing motion of the illustrated embodiment is designed to provide a significant rocking component, where the angle between the seat cushion 32 and backrest 34 can remain constant while the forward end of the seat is raised and the top end of the backrest 34 is lowered. Thus, while the four-bar system 90 is described herein as providing a swinging motion, the sitter may experience a sensation more strongly associated with rocking backward on the rear legs of a conventional stationary chair than a clearly perceived forward and backward translating motion.
The chair 10 is designed to be balanced in the neutral position with and without an occupant. Balance occurs because the chair 10 is designed to position the center of gravity of the sitter CG in substantial vertical aligned with the balance point B of the motion mechanism 30 when the sitter assumes an active, upright posture. The four-bar system 90 is also designed for allowing the substantial vertical alignment of the center of gravity CG and the balance point B to be maintained even as the front of the seat cushion 32 rises and the top of the backrest 34 lowers during a first portion of the rearward swing of the four-bar system 90.
The cushioner 108 may be a unitary body formed of resilient hyper elastic material, such as elastomeric polymers, for example Hytrel® 5556 available from DuPont. The unitary body may have an attachment portion 120 configured for use to join the cushioner 108 to the chassis 28. The attachment portion 120 may include an aperture 124 for receiving a bolt. In one embodiment, the aperture 124 is offset from the central axis C of the cushioner 108. The central axis C of the cushioner 108 may bisect the surface of the distal end 116 of the stop 104. The unitary body may also have a head portion 130. The head portion 130 is designed to be hollow. The head portion 130 is an oval or elliptical shape, which provides an initially convex exterior receiving wall 134.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the chair frame 40 releases in a forward direction, the resilient properties of the material forming the receiving wall 134 are intended to return the receiving wall to its natural convex shape.
To return the sitter from the reclined position of
Returning to
As shown in
The resilient hinge 150 is configured as a solid state hinge designed as a unitary body for replacing multiple component assemblies. The resilient hinge 150 is made from a resilient material capable of flexing under the influence of external forces and returning to an initial position upon removal of the external forces. In one embodiment, the resilient hinge 150 is made from resilient hyper elastic material, such as elastomeric polymers, for example Hytrel® 7246 available from DuPont. Hytrel® may be preferred because of its hyper elastic properties and resistance to creep, such that the resilient hinge 150 will continue to return to the neutral position after a significant number of use cycles.
The resilient hinge 150 may be formed of a unitary construction with a process such as injection molding or additive manufacturing.
The resilient hinge 150 of
In order to control the magnitude of pivoting motion between the upper mass 162 and the lower mass 166, each mass is provided with a forward abutment surface 174U, 174L and a rearward abutment surface 178U, 178L. Relative to the neutral position shown in
Returning to
In one embodiment, the pivot assembly 200 is a spring biased pivot assembly that includes one or more torsion springs 204. The torsion springs 204 are configured to bias the backrest 34 to the neutral, upright position shown in
In addition to the macro posture adjustments illustrated by comparing
The ability for the user to create the desired macro and micro posture adjustments is impacted by the center of gravity of the chair 10 as well as the center of gravity of the user. The ability of the user to provide pressure on the chair 10, as well as the overall height and weight of the user can result in slight differences in the user experience when sitting in the chair. For this reason, various aspects of the chair 10 may be adjusted to offer a chair 10 that is tuned to the user. For example, users under about 5′8″ tall may benefit from a different sized chair than those users 6″ tall and above. Changes to the chair to fit the shorter user in a smaller chair may include reducing the height of the backrest 34, reducing the depth of the seat cushion 32, and reducing the height of the chassis 28 above the ground. Additionally, the arms (
Many of the components and assemblies described above may be useful individually in various chair embodiments to provide improved form and function over the prior art in terms of simplicity, manufacturability, durability, and cost. Perceived quality, attributable to low noise, reduced racking, and soft stops, can also be improved using the individual components and assemblies described above. Examples of advantageous individual components and assemblies include the four-bar system 90, damper 100, resilient hinge 150, and pivot assembly 200.
In addition, the individual components and assemblies described above combine in whole or in part to create a motion chair 10 that is able to allow the user to achieve a significant number of seating positions configured to associate with the human form as the result of the motion and application of force by the user, without requiring motors or otherwise powered mechanisms.
The chair 300 may be most notably distinct from the chair 10 of
As possibly best shown in
In another distinction between the chair 10 (
Although the above disclosure has been presented in the context of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/381,068, filed Apr. 11, 2019, which claimed the benefit of, and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/656,608, filed Apr. 12, 2018. The entire contents of each of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62656608 | Apr 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 16381068 | Apr 2019 | US |
Child | 17186859 | US |