Tilt control mechanism for a chair

US5772282A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Herman Miller, Inc. · US

Inventors

• William E. Stumpf · Minneapolis, US
• Rodney C. Schoenfelder · Shakopee, US
• Donald Chadwick · Los Angeles, US
• Carolyn Keller · Holland, US
• Timothy P. Coffield · Grand Rapids, US
• Randy J. Sayers · Belding, US
• Jeffrey W. Bruner · Greensboro, US
• George A. Miles · West Olive, US
• Eric Cammenga · Holland, US
• Philip E. Crossman · Grand Rapids, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 7, 1995
• Grant date: Jun 30, 1998
• Expiry date: Jun 7, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T442/3024
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the tilt range of a chair and the resistance to tilting of the chair including a torsion spring mounted to an axle, a tilt rate adjustment mechanism, a forward tilt limiter and a rearward tilt limiter. The tilt rate adjustment mechanism includes an outer sleeve member mounted to the spring. An arm extends radially outward from the sleeve and operably engages a block member threadably attached to a screw. A first and second gear member are actuated to rotate the screw so as to move the block member which thereby moves the arm a desired amount to adjust the initial return torque of the spring. The forward tilt limiter includes an arm extending outwardly from the axle. The arm operably engages a pivot member pivotally attached to a tilt control housing. The rearward tilt limiter also includes an arm extending outwardly from the axle. The arm operably engages a cam member pivotally attached to the tilt control housing.