Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGRO'JND OF THE INVENTION
The present inventor has heretofore invented chairs
havin~,~ seats that automatically s~ide bacXward and fors~ard and
backs that tilt backward independently of movements of the seat,
such inventions being described and shown in U. S. Patent
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No. 3,982,785 granted September 28, 1976, for "Chair,"
and U. S. Patent No. 4,084,850 granted April 18, 1978, for
"Chair." Those chairs automatically adjust in configuration
by sliding of the seat and tilting of the back to support
the sitter anatomically in various poslures between sitting
upright and relaxing backward.
Various chairs, some of whlch have only been
proposed and others of which have been commercialized, have
included contoured backs consisting of upper and lower portions
that intersec~ at an angle, but such chairs ha~e, as far as is
known, involved upper and lower angularly related portions
that are fixed and unadjustable, or are adjustable to fixe~
configurations, and they are, therefore, co~fortable in only a
single sitting posture.
Persons who spend long hours sitting, as many
office workers do, frequently change their sitting position,
because sitting in a single position for long periods-of time
is tiring and indeed mày become painful because fatigue and, on
occasion, impairment of blood circulation, compel shifting
position from time to time. Although the chairs of the prior
patent and application referred to above contribute greatly to
imp.oved comfort in a variety of sitting postures, the upper
ends of the backs of those chairs are relatively low and do not
support the upper parts of the back of persons sitting in them.
SU~MARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided, in accordance with the present
invention, a chair having a back that is somewhat higher than
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the backs of the chairs of the prior patents referred to above
and which, therefore, provides more support for the upper part
of the back of a person sitting in the chair. ~lore importantly,
the chair back, according to the present invention, is
constructed in two parts, both of ~hich articulate relative
to a back-supporting frame member of a chair and the upper part
of which is mounted on the lower part for articulation. The
lower back is mounted on the frame member for backward tilting
about a first horizontal, transverse axis, the mechanism by which
the lower back is moulited on the frame member being constructed
to yieldably restrain the seat in a relatively upright position
against such backward tilting. The upper back is mounted on
the lower back for backward tilting about a horizontal, transverse
axis spaced a sub~tantial distance above the axis about which
the lower back tilts and also includes a mechanism that yieldably
restrains the upper back in a relatively upright position in
which the upper back is inclined slightly forward at an angle
relative to the lower back.
A chair back, in accordance with the present
invention, provides comfortable support in-various Sitting
postures between an upright sitting position, in which the
upper part of the backbone of the person sitting in the chair
curves slightly forward relative to the lower portion, and a
leaning back position in which the backbone tends to arch back.
To this end, the axis about which the lower back tilts is
located substantially above the seat at a location corresponding
to about the middle of the back of an adult human sitting in
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the chair. The lower back is vertically and transversely
co-extensive with the major portion of the middle part of
the back of an adult human, and the upper back is vertically
and transversely co-extensive with the major portion of the
upper part of the back of an adult hwnan in the region where
the spine curves forward when such h~nan is sitting upright
and straightens when such human arches his back backward.
In the latter case, the upper back tilts rearwardly~ relative
to the lower back, and both the upper back and lower back tilt
0 rearwardly, relative to the back-supporting frame member, as
a unit. A chair having the articulated double back of the
present invention should also have a seat that slides forward
and backwardj inasmuch as conformity of the chair configuration
to the anatomical posture of the person sitting in it should
involve movements of both the seat and back.
In a preferred embodiment, the mechanisms for
mounting the lower back on the back-supporting member of the
frame and for mounting the upper back on the lower back are
substantially identical articulating resilient coupling
~O assemblies, each of which has an upper part and a lower part
connected to each other for articulation. The upper part of
the frame member is hollow and receives telescopically the
lower member of the coupling assembly and the lower back has a
downwardly opening socket which receives the upper member of the
~5 coupling assembly. Similarly, the lower back has an upwardly
opening socket receiving the lower part of the upper coupling
assembly, and the upper back has a downwardly open socket
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receiving the upper part. The parts of the coupling assembly
between the upper and lower back are enclosed within a flexible
tube which extends and contracts in conformity with relative
movements of the upper and lower back.
; A desirable, though not essential, feature of a
chair back, according to the invention, is the mounting of
the lower back and upper back on the bac~ support for vertical
adjustment as a unit, thus to permit the height of the back
relative to the seat to be adjusted to suit the user.
) Although various resilient articulating linkages
may be used effectively to mount the lower back on the frame and
the upper back on the lower back, another aspect of the present
invention involves a particularly effective coupling assembly
which is useful not only in articulating double backs embodying
lS the invention but in chairs of the type to which the patents
referred to above relate. The coupling assembly comprises a
first part joined to the back-supporting member, a second part
joined to the chair back, an axle joining the two parts for
pivotal movement relative to each other and a spring reaction
plate mounted on the axle. Each of the aforementioned parts and
the reaction plate have spaced-apart surfaces facing each other,
and compression springs are engaged between the facing surface
of each part and the corresponding facing surface of the
reaction plate. The springs yieldably restrain the parts in a
first predetermined position with stop surfaces associated with
the parts and the reaction plate in engagement. Upon compression
of the springs under a force tending to tilt the back backward,
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the parts articulate about the axle to a limit backward-
tilted position established by engagement of stop surfaces
on the parts and the reaction plate. The compression springs
are, preferably, blocks of an elastomeric material,
`5 such as polyurethane. The above-described coupling assembly
is of relatively si~ple construction, highly durable, and
quiet in operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figs. 1 through 5 are top~ front, bottom, back
o and side views, respectively, of one embodiment of a chair
having the articulated double back according to the present
invention;
Figs. 6 through 10 are topj front, bottom, back
and side views, respectively, of another chair having the
articulated double back:
Fig. 11 is a side view in cross section of the
double articulating back of both of the chairs of Figs. 1
through 10, the section being taken generally along the plane
designated by lines 11-11 in Figs. 2 and 7 and in the direction
O of the arrows, the lower back and upper back being shown in
their upright, restrained positions;
Fig. 12 is a side view in cross section of the
chair back taken along the same plane as Fig. 11 but showing
the upper and lower backs tilted to their rearwardmost limit
S positions;
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Fig. 13 is a partial rear elevational view
of another chair back embodying the invention;
Fig. 14 is a side view in cross section of the
chair back of Fig. 13 shown in the upright position, the
i section being taken along the lines 14-14 of Fig~ 13 and in
the direction of the arrows;
Fig. 15 is a side cross-sectional view o~ the
chair back of Figs. 13 and 14 and showing the lower back
tilted backward about the lower axis and the upper back tilted
) backward about the upper axis;
Fig. 16 is a partial rear view of another
embodiment, a portion being broken away in section along
lines 16-16 of Fig. 17 to show one of the resilient articulate
coupling assemblies; ;
Fig. 17 is a side view in cross section of the
embodiment of Fig. 16 taken along the lines 17-17 of Fig. 16
and in the direction of the arrows, the double articulating
back being shown in its upright, resiliently restrained position;
and
0 Fig. 18 is a side cross-sectional view similar
to Fig. 17 except that the lower and upper backs are tilted
backward as a unit about the lower axis.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The two chairs shown in Figs. 1 to 10 of the
drawings are the same except that the chair shown in Figs. 1 to
5 does not have arms, while the chair shown,in Figs. 6 to 10
has arms that are parts of the seat supports and back supports.
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Both of the chairs have a caster base 10 having a post 12,
a transverse beam-like member 14 located under the seat and
mounted on the post 12 and a seat 16 t:hat is mounted to slide
backward and forward on à pair of spaced-apart seat supporting`
~ members of the chair frame, which mem~ers are not visible in
the drawings. The arrangement by which the seats of the two
chairs are mounted on the frame members for backward and
forward movement is essentially the same as the arrangement
described and shown in the specification and drawings of
0 U. S. Patent No. 4,084,850 referred to above (see Figs 5A and
5B and the corresponding description). The chair shown in
Figs. 1 to 5 includes an L-shaped metal tubular frame member
at each side, the lower horizontal leg of each of which is a
seat supporting member and the upper, generally vertical leg
of each of which is a back supporting member. The exposed
parts of the tubular metal frame members are enclosed within
flexible, extensible sleeves 18 (also as described in Patent
No. 4,084,850). The only difference between the chair shown
in Figs. 6 to 10 and the chair shown in Figs. 1 to 5 involves
0 the substitution of generally S-shaped tubular frame members
(concealed within similarly shaped flexi~le, extensible
coverings 20) in the chair of Figs. 6 to 10 for the L-shaped
frame members in the chair of Figs. 1 to 5. Although the
construction of the chairs of Figs. 1 to 10 of the drawings,
!5 as described up to this point, forms no part of the present
invention and is the subject matter of the aforementioned
Patent No. 4~084~850l~the present invention is used to best
advantage in chairs that have a seat that slides backward and
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forward, notably the chairs described and shown in the prior
patents of the presen~ inventor referre~ to above.
The backs 22 of both of the chairs shown in
Figs. 1 to 10 are identical and are articulated double backs
; constructed in accordance with the present invention. The
articulated double back 22 consists of a lower back 24 and
an upper back 26. Both the lower and upper back are
preferably molded from a suitable high-impact strength plastic
and are contoured vertically and horizontally to provide
comfort to the back of a person sitting in the chair. Both
the lower and upper backs may be padded and upholstered,
and each may also be constructed in metal by molding or stamping~
The details of the shape, material and finish of the upper and
lower backs are susceptible of numerous variations and
modifications.
The lower back 24 is mounted on the upper ends
of the tubular side frame members that are enclosed within
the extensible covers 18 or 20, as the case may be. More
particularly, the upper ends 27 of the side frame members of
0 the chairs receive parts of a pair of identical articulating
resilient coupling assemblies 28 (see Figs. 11 and 12), and
the upper back 26 is mounted on the lower back by another
pair of coupling assemblies 30. Parts of the assemblies 28
and 30 are received within sleeves 32 formed along the sides
of the lower back 24, and parts of the upper assemblies 30 are
received within sleeves 34 formed along the sides of the
upper back 26. The lower coupling assemblies 28 are identical
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` to the upper coupling assemblies 30, the upper assemblies 30,
. however, being installed in an inverted position as compared
to the lower assemblies 28. Moreover, the coupling assemblies
28 and 30 are substantially the same as coupling assemblies
;i shown in Figs. 18 and 19 of Patent No. 4,084,850 (referred to
above) and described in the specification of that application.
Each coupling assembly 28 or 30 includes a
tubular casing 36 which receives in one end an annular
retainer 38 having at its free end an annular rib 40, the
) retainer 38 being fastened, such as by- crimping, in the casing
36. A connecting rod 42 extends through the casing 36 and
retains one end of a compression spring 44 by way of a retainer
: ring 46 backed up by a washer 48 and a pair of nuts 50. The
: other end of the compression spring 44 engages the inner end
i of the retainer 38. The other end of the connecting rod 42 has
a hemispherical head 52 whlch is engaged by a seat 54 on another
retainer 56 which is fastened, such as by rivets 58 to the upper
end 27 of the side frame members, in the case of each lower
coupling assembly 28, and to a tubular extension piece 60
D received within the sleeve 34 of the upper back 26, in the case
of each upper assembly 30. The annular rib 40 of the retainer 38
mates with an annular groove 62 in the second retainer 56. An
annular cushion 63 is installed on a seat adjacent the rib 40
on the retainer 38.
The spring 44 of each coupling assembly 28 and 30
is preloaded and yie:Ldably draws the retainer rings 38 and 56
into engagement with the rib 40 seated in the mating groove 62,
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as shown in Fig. 11. Thus, in the absence of an application
of forces to the upper back 26 or lower back 24 sufficient
to overcome the preloaded forces in the springs, the
articulated double back will be yieldably restrained in the
position shown in Fig. 11.
A force applied to the front of the lower back 24
by the back of a person sitting in the chair who leans back
in the chair will, if of a sufficient magnitude to overcome
the forces in the compression springs 44 of the lower coupling
I assemblies 28, automatically "break" the assemblies 28 in that
the retainer 38 and all parts associated with it, including the
lower back 24, will pivot about the rear portion of the rib 40
of the retainer 38 (see Fig. 12). Thus, the lower back 24
will tilt backward relative to the frame members. The extent
of backward tilting is limited by a spacer sleeve 64 which
limits the extent of movement of the spring retainer ring 46
relative to the retainer 38 as the retainer 38 rocks away from
the retainer 56. Articulation of the lower back 24 relative
to the chair frame takes place automatically whenever the
person sitting in the chair leans back to assume a relaxed
posture. The spring forces in the lower coupling assemblies 28
are, however, sufficient to provide firm support for the back
` of the person when he sits upright and leans back without trying
to slump into a relatively relaxed, leaning-back posture.
The lower coupling assemblies 28 will automatically restore
the back to an uprig~ht position when the person resumes an
upright posture.
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- When the person sitting in the chair relaxes
~- quite far back and arches his back, the upper part of his back
will apply a force to the upper back 26~ which will cause
the upper coupling assemblies to "break" in the same manner
-~ as the lower assemblies and as depicted in Fig. 12. Removal
of a backward force on the upper back 26 will permit the
upper assemblies 30 to restore the upper back to the upright
position, as shown in Fig. 11. Forcing the upper back of the
chair to tilt backward tenses the muscles in the neck and back,
3 and releasing that tension when returning to a normal position
distends the muscles and has a soothing effect. The annular
cushion 63 in all o~ the coupling assemblies quiets and absorbs
- any shock o~ an abrupt restoration of the lower back 24 or upper
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back 26 to the upright positions of Fig. 11.
i In the same manner as described in U. S.Patent ~ ¦
No. 4,084,850 referred to above, the extensible, flexible
sleeve 18 or 20 covering each of the side frame members of
the chair extends and retracts in accordance with the articulation
of the lower back 24 relative to the back-supporting frame
members. An extensible, flexible covering 66 encloses the
parts of the upper coupling assemblies 30 between the sleeves 32
of the lower back 24 and the sleeves 34 of the upper back 26.
The ends of the coverings 66 ~ave flanges 68 and 70 which are
received in grooves 72 and 74 on annular flanges 76 and 78
surrounding the openings of the sleeves 34 and 32.
The profi:Les of the upper edge of the lower back
and the lower edge of the upper back are of substantially
complementary shapes, and the transverse contours of the front
surfaces of the upper and lower backs are contiguous. The
vertical contours of t:he upper back intersect corresponding
contours of the lower back at an angle, the upper back being
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more upright than the lower back in the normal upright
position. As described above, articulation occurs in two
stages, depending on the posture assumed by the person
sitting in the chair. The first staqe involves backward
5 tilting of the lower and upper backs as a unit when the
person leans back to relax in the chair but does not arch
backward. The second stage, tilting of the upper back
relative to the lower back, occurs when the person arches his
or her back, thus straightening the upper part of his or her
0 spine and "breaking" the upper articulating coupling.
The embodiment shown in Figs. 13 to 15 is
similar in many respects to those of Figs. 1 to 12. The
principal differences are, first, the provision of a centrally
located back support structure, the articulating couplings being
correspondingly located in generally the lateral center of
the double back, and, second, provision for adjusting the
height of the double back assembly as a unit relative to the
seat.
The chair frame includes a pair of closely spaced,
0 centrally located back support members 100 in the form of steel
tubes suitably joined rigidly to other parts of the frame,
` suc~ as by connection to the seat supporting structure. The
upper end of each back support tube receives the lower part
of a lower resilient articulating coupling assembly 102. The
four (two lower and two upper) coupling assemblies of the chair
of Figs. 13 to 15 are identical to each other except in one
respect and, in all material respects are the same as the
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coupling assemblies of the emboidments of Figs. 1 to 10.
The description above of the coupling assemblies and how
they work is applicable to the coupling assemblies of the
double back of Figs~ 13 to 15 and need not be repeated.
The rear face of the lower back 104 includes a
pair of vertical hollow bosses 106 and 108 (see Fig. 13)
extending the full height on either side of the vertical
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center line, except that they merge near the vertical center,
as may be seen ih Fig. 13. Each boss 106 or lOB defines
an elongated downwardly opening lower socket 110 in which the
upper part of the lower coupling assembly 102 is received
and an upwardly open upper socket 112 in which the lower part
of an upper resilient articulating assembly 114 is received
and secured.
By comparing Figs. 11 and 12 with Figs. 14 and 15,
the following differences between the two versions will be
discerned. First, the upper tubular parts o the lower coupling
assemblies 102 of the embodiment of Figs. 14 and 15 are much
longer; second, the upper assemblies 114 are inverted (to leave
room for the long upper tubular parts 116 of the lower assemblies
102 in the sockets for a reason that will soon become apparent;
third, the lower back is no'; fastened to the upper parts 116 of
the lower coupling assemblies 102; fourth, a lock screw 118 with
a large hand knob passes through a threaded metal sleeve (not
shown) in the common center part of the bosses 106 and 108 and
works against a lock shoe (also not shown) that selectively
engages the upper parts 116 of the lower coupling assemblies.
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When the lock screw is loosened, the lower back 104 and
the upper back 102 can be slided as a unit up or down on
the part 116 (within, of course, the limits of adjustment)
to suit the person who uses the chair and locked at the
desired height above the seat by retightening the lock
screw. This is a desirable, though not essential, feature,
and while it has been used in some types of seating,
especially secretarial chairs, is believed to be unique as
applied to a chair back shaped vertically to match the spine
~10 and constructed to adjust automaticallv to changes in the
shape of the spine when the person sitting in the chair
changes his or her sitting posture.
The upper back 120 is mounted on the lower
back in a resiliently restrained position more upright
L5 than the lower back in much the same way as in the embodiments
of Figs. 1 to 10. Bosses 122 on the rear wall of the upper
back define downwardly open sockets 124 which receive the
upper parts of the upper resilient articulating assemblies 114.
Flexible, extensible, bellows-like tubes 126 and 128 that
~0 deform as the assemblies articulate conceal and protect the
parts of the double back at the junctures between the upper
back and lower back. Similar extensible tubes 130 and 132
cover the exposed parts of the lower coupling assemblies, extend
or retract to acco~nodate vertical adjustment of the back
~5 and ornament the back frame members.
~- The embodiment of the articulated double back
for chairs shown in Figs. 16 to 18 includes a single, centrally-
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located back-supporting frame member 200 which is tubular
and of generally rectangular cross section and is suitably
joined to some other part of the chair frame. The lower
back 202 is mounted for backward tilting on the upper end
of the frame member 200 by à resilient articulating coupling
assembly 204, and the upper back 206 is mounted fo rearw~rd
tilt-ing relative to the lower back by a second resilient
articulating coupling assembly 208. As is the case with the
embodiment of Figs. 1 to 12, the two coupling assemblies 204
L0 and 208 are ic'entical in structure, with one exception that
is discussed below. Each coupling assembly includes a
tubular lower part 210 and a tubular upper part 212, each of
which is shaped in cross section to be received telescopically
in sockets in the respective members which the assembly
connects. Specifically, the lower part 210 of the lower
assembly 204 is received in the upper end of the back support
200; the upper part 212 of the lower assembly is received
within a socket 214 formed by a boss 216 which projects from
the rear face of the lower back 202; the lower part 210 of the
upper assembly is received in an upwardly open socket 218 in
the upper end of the boss 216; and the upper part 212 of the
upper assembly is received in a downwardly open socket 220
formed in a centrally-located boss on the upper back 206.
The upper ends of the side walls of the lower part
210 of each coupling assembly overlap the lower ends of the
` side walls of the upper part 212, the upper portions of the side
walls of the lower part being deformed inwardly to fit within the
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upper portions of the side walls of the lower part 210.
The overlapping of the side walls permits the two parts 210
- and 212 to be connected by a pin or axle 222 for articulation.
A spring reaction pla~e 224 mounted on the axle 222 engages
i one end of each of two compression springs 226 and 228 in
the form of blocks of an elastomeric material such as a
relatively high durometer polyurethane. The other end of each
~- elastomeric spring engages the front wall of the corresponding
lower or upper part 210 or 212 of the coupling assembly.
A piece at the lower end of the front wall of the lower part
210 is slit and bent inwardly to form a lug or tab 230, and a
simi ar tab 232 is created in the front wall of the upper part
212.
By comparing Figs. 17 and 18, it will be seen that
; the compression springs 226 and 228 yieldably restrain the
two parts 210 and 212 of the coupling assemblies in a pre-
determined position established by engagement between the back
face of the spring reaction plate 22~ and the rear walls of the
tubular parts 210 and 212 with a force determined by the preloading
3 of the springs. ~hen the spring forces are exceeded, the
coupling assembly "breaks'l by pivoting of the upper and lower
parts 212 and 210 about the axle 222. The spring forces balance
; out between the two springs 226 and 228 automatically, inasmuch
as both the upper and lower parts are free to pivot about the
S axle. Tne limit or stop position of rearward tilting of the
lower back relative to the back support is established by engage-
ment by the lugs 230 and 232 in the front walls of the tubular
parts 210 and 212 with the spring reaction plate (see Fig. 18).
.
In a manner similar to that described above,
the upper coupling assembly 208 normally restrains the upper
back in a predetermined position relative to the lower back
but "breaks" when the spring forces axe exceeded to an extent
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determined by engagement between the lugs and the spring
reaction plate.
The height adjustment feature of the embodiment
of Figs. 13 to 15 is also provided in the embodiment of
Figs. 16 to 18. A tubular extension 234 is welded or otherwise
3 joined to the upper tubular part 212 of the lower coupling
assembly 204 and extends up into a socket 236 in the lower
back 202. A lock screw 238 threaded into a threaded sleeve 240
installed in the boss 216 clamps the lower back 202 at a
selected adjusted height (within the limits of adjustment) above
the seat. The extensible bellows-like tubes are provided in
this embodiment as in the other embodiments.
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