Comfort surface for seating
US7334845B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47C31/04
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A seating unit includes a perimeter frame, a flexible seating surface supported by the frame, and parallel elongated resilient force-distributing members coupled to the seating surface to control a contour of the seating surface when supporting a seated user. The resilient force-distributing members are bendable along their length and are sufficient in number and distribution to substantially reduce localized deflection of the seating surface and thereby reduce pressure point contact felt by the seated user. The resilient force-distributing members can be wire rods, long strips, or other resilient material with memory. The resilient force-distributing members can be supported on opposing sides of the perimeter frame in various ways to reduce inward pressure on the opposing sides during flexure of the resilient force-distributing members, such as by providing on ends of the resilient force-distributing members one or more rotatable pivots, sliding support at ends of the resilient force-distributing members, stretchable rubber supports, and/or elastic fabric.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.