Patent · US Expired

Tilt control for chair

US6015187A · kind A · utility

83Cited by
37References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 30, 1998
Grant dateJan 18, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 30, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA47C1/03272
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A tilt control mechanism for an office chair includes a spring arrangement which permits forward and rearward tilting of the chair while also urging the chair to a normal upright position. The spring arrangement includes front and rear springs which act in combination such that the upward acting forces acting on the chair can be varied during use. The forces being applied by the front spring are adjusted by a side-actuated tension adjustment mechanism which incorporates a wedge block for adjusting the spring forces. Further, the rear springs provide a variable spring force such that the spring force is maximized when in the normal position but is decreased substantially once the chair is fully reclined. This reduction in spring force allows a user to maintain the chair in the fully reclined position with significantly less force than was required to tilt the chair rearwardly while a sufficient spring force continues to be applied by the front spring to urge the chair to the normal position.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.