Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
MULTI-POSTURE CHAIR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to chairs, and more particularly to a
chair
configured to provide multi-posture seating.
[0002] Various designs for office chairs have been developed, offering
ergonomic
improvements to individuals who spend much of their workday at a desk in a
seated position.
Many chairs include a height adjustment for moving the seat portion of the
chair up and down
so as to accommodate individuals of different heights and sizes and/or the
height of the desk
being utilized. Other chairs are designed such that the angle of the seat
portion can be tilted
and adjusted to the individual's preference. Generally, office chairs are
designed to support
an individual in a sitting position; however, stools that have a wide range of
height
adjustability have been used to give a user the ability to work in either a
sitting or a standing
posture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides the comfort and adjustability
characteristics of
a task chair while also converting to a stand-up perch. More particularly, the
present
invention provides an office-type chair including a base, a height-adjustable
pedestal that
projects generally vertically upward, and a seat-back arrangement including a
seat assembly
and a back assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat surface and a flange
extending from
a forward edge of the seat surface at an angle relative to the seat surface.
The seat assembly
is adapted to pivot between a first generally horizontal position and a second
generally
vertical position. In the first position the seat surface is generally
horizontal and functions as
LEGAL_23571798 1 - I -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
a task chair, and in the second position the seat surface is generally
vertical and the flange
functions as a perch.
[0004] In one embodiment, in the first position the flange is angled rearward,
such
that a lower edge of the flange is positioned rearward of the forward edge of
the seat surface.
[0005] In one embodiment, the seat assembly includes a seat pan, a pivot rod
disposed along a rear portion of the seat pan, and a ramp disposed at a rear
corner of the seat
pan. The pivot rod is disposed within the carrier and is adapted to be
received within the end
cap channel and to travel along the channel as the seat assembly transitions
from the first
position to the second position.
[0006] In another embodiment, the chair includes a pair of spaced armrests
pivotally
mounted to the seat assembly, each armrest is pivotal between a first armrest
position and a
second armrest position. The chair is positionable in a seated position and a
perched position.
In the seated position the seat surface and armrests are in their respective
horizontal and first
armrest positions and the chair functions as a task chair. In the perched
position, the seat
surface and armrests are in their respective vertical and second armrest
positions and the chair
functions as a perch.
[0007] In another embodiment, the armrests pivot about a horizontal axis. In
the first
armrest position, a first surface defines a seated arm resting surface, and in
the second
position, a second surface defines a perched arm resting surface.
[0008] These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will
be
more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the
current
embodiments and the drawings.
[0009] Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is
to be
understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to
the details of
construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following
description or
LEGAL 23571798.1 - 2 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other
embodiments
and may be practiced or may be carried out in alternative ways not expressly
disclosed
herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used
herein are for
the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of
"including" and
"comprising" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed
thereafter and
equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
Further, enumeration
may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise
expressly stated,
the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to
any specific order
or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as
excluding
from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might
be combined
with or into the enumerated steps or components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an office-type chair according to one
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a seated position;
[0011] Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the chair of Fig. 1;
[0012] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chair, illustrating an intermediate
position;
[0013] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the chair, illustrating a perched
position;
[0014] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an end cap of the chair of Fig. 1;
[0015] Fig. 6 is a detail, cross-sectional view of a pivot mechanism of the
chair,
taken along line VI-VI of Fig. 1 and illustrating a seated position;
[0016] Fig. 7 is a detail, cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of Fig.
1,
illustrating an intermediate position;
[0017] Fig. 8 is a detail, cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of Fig.
1,
illustrating a perched position;
LEGAL23571798 1 - 3 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
[0018] Figs. 9A-C are bottom views of the chair, illustrating limited rotation
of a
support base of the chair;
[0019] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an office-type chair according to a
second
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a seated position;
[0020] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the chair, illustrating a perched
position;
[0021] Figs. 12A-12E are perspective views of the chair, illustrating the
transition
between the seated and perched positions; and
[0022] Figs. 13A-13E are side view of the chair, illustrating the transition
between
the seated and perched positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring to Figs. 1-4, an office-type chair 10 is shown in accordance
with
one embodiment of the present invention. The chair 10 is a multi-posture chair
that is
configured to be positioned into multiple seating arrangements, including a
sitting or seated
position and a leaning or perched position. Both the seated and perched
positions can be
adjusted to different heights as desired. The different seated and perched
positions enable a
worker or employee to assume multiple physical positions during the work day,
which may
increase the employee's level of comfort. The chair 10 can also be used in
conjunction with a
height adjustable table, which are increasing in popularity along with
attention to improved
ergonomics, allowing both sitting and perched postures to be supported with a
single chair
solution.
[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the multi-posture chair 10 includes a
support
base 12, a height-adjustable and upwardly projecting pedestal 14, and a seat-
back
arrangement 16 that includes a seat assembly 18 and a back assembly 20. The
seat assembly
18 includes a seat surface 22 and a perch flange 24. In one embodiment, the
flange 24
LEGAL23571798 1 - 4 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
extends down from a lower surface 25 of the forward edge 26 of the seat
assembly 18, and is
positioned at an angle a relative to an underside of the seat surface 22, as
shown in Fig. 1.
Stated differently, the flange 24 may be angled relative to vertical, such
that a lower edge 28
of the flange 24 is positioned rearward of the forward edge 26 of the seat
assembly 18. In
one embodiment, the angle a may be varied from application to application,
depending on the
desired characteristics of the perch seating surface, which is described in
more detail below.
In an alternative embodiment, the flange 24 may extend substantially vertical,
such that the
angle a is approximately 90 degrees.
[0025] The support base 12 is rotatably mounted, via the pedestal 14, to the
seat
back arrangement 16 and seat assembly 18, and includes a number of radially
extending arms
30, each having a caster 32 mounted to a distal end thereof. In the exemplary
embodiment,
four arms 30 and casters 32 are illustrated; however, more or fewer arms and
casters are
contemplated. Additionally, the casters 32 may be reverse braking casters that
resist
movement when weight is applied to the caster 32, as are commercially
available and known
to those skilled in the art. The arms 30 are arranged in a configuration that
is symmetrical
about one axis and asymmetrical about a second, substantially perpendicular
axis. This
arrangement of the support base 12 increases the stability of the chair 10,
particularly when
used in the perched configuration. In particular, rotation of the support base
12 (relative to
the seat back arrangement 16) may be limited within a range to ensure
stability given the
asymmetrical base support 12. Referring to Figs. 9A-C, an exemplary range of
rotation is
shown, where the seat back arrangement 16 may be rotated 60 in either
direction. Of course,
a lesser or greater degree of rotation is contemplated.
[0026] The pedestal 14 includes a vertical adjustment mechanism (not shown)
for
vertically adjusting the height of the chair 10. The vertical adjustment
mechanism may
include a conventional hydraulic adjustment mechanism such as the type known
to those
LEGAL23571798 1 - 5 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
skilled in the art for use in office chairs, wherein a first lower sleeve fits
telescopically within
a second upper sleeve, and the upper sleeve is vertically movable with respect
to the lower
sleeve. Alternatively, the support base may be in the form of a substantially
flat panel.
[0027] According to one embodiment, in a seated position A, shown in Figs. 1
and
2, the seat assembly 18 is positioned in a first, generally horizontal
position and the chair 10
functions as a task chair. In this first, seated position A, the seat surface
22 of the seat
assembly is configured to receive the user's buttocks in a seated posture, and
the back
assembly 20 includes a front seating surface 34 that is configured to receive
the user's back.
[0028] Referring now to Fig. 4, in a second, perched position C, the seat
assembly
18 is positioned in a second, generally vertical position and the chair 10
functions as a perch.
In this perched position C, the seat assembly 18 and back assembly 20 are
folded together
and arranged such that the flange 24 is positioned to support the user's
buttocks in a
substantially standing, semi-seated, or leaning posture. As stated above, in
the illustrated
embodiment, the flange 24 is angled, therefore the lower edge 28 of the
seating surface
provided by the flange 24 is lowered relative to horizontal (by an angle
complementary to
angle a). When in the perched position C, it has been found that angling the
lower edge 28 of
the flange 24 down may provide the user a comfortable leaning, or perched,
posture. It is
contemplated that angle a may be an acute angle. More specifically, angle a
may be
approximately 70 to 85 . Further, in the perched position C, what portion of
the front
seating surface 34 of the back assembly 20 that extends above the flange 24
may support the
user's back. The flange 24 has a length defined generally between the lower
surface 25 of the
seat assembly 18 and the lower edge 28 of the flange 24. The flange length is
generally
sufficient to support a substantial portion of a person when the chair is in
the perched
position. In one embodiment, the flange length may extend at a desired ratio
with respect to
the length of the seat surface 22 (defined generally between the front surface
34 of the back
LEGAL_23571798 1 - 6 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
assembly 16 and the forward edge 26 of the seat assembly 18). For example, in
the
embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4, the perch length is about 47% of the seat
surface length, and
in the embodiment shown in Figs. 11-13 (discussed in more detail below), the
perch length is
about 58% of the length of the seat surface. In other words, a sufficient
perch length for
supporting a person in the perched position ¨ without being too heavy for a
user to pivot ¨ is
generally between about 40% and about 65% of the length of the seat support,
and more
particularly between about 50% and about 60% of the length of the seat
support.
[0029] Referring now to Fig. 2, the back assembly 20 may include an elongated
pocket or carrier 50 disposed on a lower portion thereof. The carrier 50
extends substantially
the width of the chair 10, and has a generally hollow and U-shaped cross-
section defining an
opening 52 at a top portion thereof. An end cap 54 is positioned at each
lateral end of the
carrier 50, closing off the ends of the carrier 50. The end caps 54 have
substantially the same
cross-sectional shape as the carrier 50, yet they are not hollow. Referring to
Fig. 5, the end
caps 54 each include, in mirror image relationship to one another, a channel
56 and an angled
guide 58. The channel 56 extends vertically along the forward surface of the
end cap 54.
The angled guide 58 is quadrilateral-shaped protruding member that includes an
angled face
60 on a forward surface thereof. Further, the angled guide 58 is positioned
interior to the
channel 56, also on the forward surface of the end cap 54.
[0030] Referring now back to Fig. 2, the seat assembly 18 includes a seat pan
70
configured to provide structural support for the seat assembly 18. The seat
pan 70 includes
armrest supports 72 that extend up therefrom, on which armrests 74 are
mounted. Armrests
74 may be vertically adjustable, as is conventional. Additionally, the seat
pan 70 includes a
pivot rod 76 disposed along a rear edge 71 of the seat pan 70 and extending
beyond the lateral
sides of the seat pan 70. The seat pan 70 also includes a wedge 78 that is
disposed at a rear
corner of the seat pan 70. The wedge is an elongated member and has a ramped
surface 80
LEGAL 23571798.1 - 7 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
on an upper face thereof. A second wedge 78 may be included in the opposite
rear corner of
the seat pan 70.
[0031] Perhaps as best seen in Fig. 4, a stability bar 90 is included on the
underside
of the seat pan 70 for providing additional stability to the seat assembly 18,
particularly when
in the perched position C. The stability bar 90 is an elongated L-shaped
member that is
affixed by any suitable means to the underside of the seat pan 70. The
stability bar 90 is
disposed in the fore-aft direction, with its short leg, referred to herein as
support leg 92,
positioned near the rearward edge 71 of the seat pan 70.
[0032] A pedestal cap 94 is positioned atop the pedestal 14 and mounts the
seat
back arrangement 16 to the pedestal 14. The pedestal cap 94 includes a center
hub 96 that
has an upper surface 98 and a forward surface 100. In seated position A, the
support leg 92
engages the forward surface 100 of the center hub 96, bearing against any
downward force
applied to the seat assembly 18, such as the weight of an occupant. Given that
the stability
bar 90 is affixed to the seat pan 70, when the seat assembly 18 is pivoted up
to the perched
position C, the orientation of the stability bar 90 changes along with the
assembly. In
perched position C, the support leg 92 engages the upper surface 98 of the
center hub 96,
bearing against any downward force applied to the seat flange 24, such as the
weight of an
occupant leaning on the flange 24. Further, the support leg 92 increases the
stability of the
seat assembly 18 by providing resistive force to help maintain the seat
assembly 18 in the
perched position C.
[0033] The seat assembly 18 and seat back assembly 20 may include cushions, as
is
conventional. Additionally, controls may be provided on the chair 10 for
features such as
tilting of the seat back assembly 18 and adjusting the armrest 74 height. The
chair 10 may be
provided with typical stops and controls for releasably maintaining the chair
in the seated
LEGAL_23571798 1 - 8 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
position. Such stops, controls, and other related structure are conventional,
and are not
described or illustrated herein.
Operation
[0034] The multi-position chair 10 is configured to move between the seated
and
perched positions A and C by simply pivoting the seat assembly 18 up or down.
To move the
chair 10 from the seated position A to the perched position C, the user may
pivot the forward
edge 26 of the seat assembly 18 upward, about the pivot rod 76. When the seat
assembly 18
is nearly vertical it is configured to slide down and into the perched
position C. Oppositely,
to move the chair from the perched position C to the seated position A, the
user may pull the
seat assembly 18 up, and then pivot the seat assembly 18 down.
[0035] Referring to Figs. 6-8, a detail, cross-sectional view of the mechanism
that
enables the chair 10 to be transitioned between the seated and perched
positions A and C is
illustrated. In the seated position A, shown in Fig. 6, the pivot rod 76 is
disposed within the
carrier 50, and each end of the pivot rod 76 is adapted to be received within
the end cap 54
channel 56. The ends of the pivot rods 76 are each bounded in the forward and
rearward
directions by a front wall 82 of the carrier 50 and a rear wall 84 of the
channel 56,
respectively.
[0036] Fig. 7 illustrates an intermediate position B between the seated
and perched
positions A and C. In this intermediate position B, the seat assembly 18 is
pivoted somewhat
upward, and the pivot rod 76 remains at the top of the channel 56. The
rearward edge 71 of
the seat pan 70 is received in the carrier 50 through the opening 52. The
pivot rod 76 is
adapted to travel along the channel 56 as the seat assembly 18 transitions
from the seated
position A to the perched position C, as shown in Fig. 8. The pivot rod 76
slides down the
channel 56 until it reaches the bottom of the channel 56 and the ramped
surface 80 of the
wedge 78 abuts the angled face 60 of the angled guide 58. The interaction
between the
LEGAL23571798 1 - 9 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
wedge 78 and the angled guide 58 provides a positive stop and increased
stability for the seat
assembly 18 when in the perched position C.
[0037] The multi-posture chair 10 advantageously allows the user to vary his
or her
physical position throughout the workday, thereby increasing the employee's
comfort.
Moreover, the multi-posture chair 10 very easily transitions between the
seated and perched
positions. Further, as described above, in either of the seated and perched
configurations, the
seat-back arrangement 16 is readily vertically adjustable to change the height
of the sitting or
leaning surface. Accordingly, in addition to providing multiple seating
arrangements, the
chair 10 can accommodate the height of the individual user and/or the
associated work
surface.
[0038] Referring to Figs. 10-13, an office-type chair 200 is shown in
accordance
with a second embodiment of the present invention. Like parts will be
identified with like
numerals increased by 200. The chair 200 is a multi-posture chair that is
configured to be
positioned into multiple seating arrangements, including a sitting or seated
position and a
leaning or perched position.
[0039] The chair 200 includes a seat pan and/or a seat frame 270 configured to
provide structural support for the seat assembly 218. The chair 200 also
includes a pair of
spaced armrests 274 that are pivotally mounted to the seat assembly 218 for
use in both the
seated and perched positions of the seat assembly 218. In the illustrated
embodiment, each
armrest 274 has a substantially hat-shaped geometry made up of a pivot portion
310, a center
portion 312, and an extending portion 314. Alternative geometries may be used
depending
on the desired armrest application and usage. When the
armrest 274 is oriented in the
position shown in Fig. I2A, the pivot and extending portions 310 and 314 are
substantially
vertical, and the center portion 312 is substantially horizontal and connects
the upper ends of
the pivot and extending portions 310 and 314. Further, the pivot portion 310
of the armrest
LEGAL23571798 1 - 10 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
274 is mounted to the seat frame 270 such that the armrest 274 is pivotable
about a horizontal
axis A, the pivot point of which is positioned near a forward edge 226 of the
seat surface 222.
The lower end of the extending portion 314 is not fixed or mounted to the seat
frame 270.
[0040] The armrests 274 are each pivotal substantially 180 between a first
armrest
position X, shown in Fig. 12A, and a second armrest position Y. shown in Fig.
12E. While
the armrests 274 and seat assembly 218 are independently positionable, the
chair is
configured for the armrests 274 and seat assembly 218 to be cooperatively
positioned in a
seated position A and a perched position C. When the chair 200 is arranged in
the seated
position A, shown in Fig. 12A, the seat surface 222 is positioned
substantially horizontally
and the armrests 274 are positioned in their first armrest position X, such
that the chair 200
functions as a task chair. When the chair 200 is arranged in the perched
position C, the seat
surface 222 is positioned substantially vertically and the armrests 274 are
positioned in their
second armrest position Y, such that the chair 200 functions as a perch or
stool. Additionally,
in the first armrest position X, a first surface 316 of the center portion 312
defines the seated
arm resting surface, and in the second position Y, a second surface 318 of the
extending
portion 314 defines the perched arm resting surface.
[0041] In one embodiment, the chair 200 also includes a coat or purse hook 320
positioned at an upper end of the back assembly 220. The hook 320 can be
formed as a
portion of a seat back frame 322 and includes an opening 324 and arms 326. A
purse, coat,
or other item may be inserted through the opening 324 and hung over the arms
326. The
hook 320 can also function as a handle for moving the chair 200.
Operation
[0042] The multi-position chair 200 is configured to move between the seated
and
perched positions A and C by simply pivoting the seat assembly 218 up or down
and pivoting
the armrests 275 up or down. To move the chair 200 from the seated position A
to the
LEGAL_23571798 1 - 11 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
perched position C, the user may pivot the armrests 274 forward, about the
horizontal axis A,
and then pivot the forward edge 226 of the seat assembly 218 upward, about the
pivot rod
276. Oppositely, to move the chair from the perched position C to the seated
position A, the
user may pivot the seat assembly 218 down and then pivot the armrests 274
rearward.
[0043] The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention.
Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit
and broader
aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be
interpreted in
accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of
equivalents. This
disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be
interpreted as an exhaustive
description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the
claims to the
specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these
embodiments. For
example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described
invention may be
replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar
functionality or otherwise
provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known
alternative
elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the
art, and alternative
elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled
in the art might,
upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed
embodiments include a
plurality of features that are described in concert and that might
cooperatively provide a
collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those
embodiments that
include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits,
except to the extent
otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Features of various
embodiments may be
used in combination with features from other embodiments. Directional terms,
such as
"vertical,- "horizontal,- "top,- -bottom," -front,- "rear,- "upper,- "lower,-
"inner,"
"inwardly," "outer," "outwardly," -forward,- and "rearward" are used to assist
in describing
the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the
illustrations. The use
LEGAL23571798 1 - 12 -
CA 02884846 2015-03-11
of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any
specific
orientation(s). Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example,
using the
articles "a,- "an,- "the- or -said," is not to be construed as limiting the
element to the
singular.
LEGAL23571798 1 - 13 -
