Site News  |   Monitor Keywords  |   Monitor Archive  |   Organizer  |   Account Info  |

Chair footring adjustment mechanism

Chair footring adjustment mechanism description/claims

n/a

n/a

The present invention relates to office and/or task chairs, and more particularly, to a height adjustment system for a foot ring of a chair that allows an individual to be comfortably seated in the chair with the foot ring at a desirable position.

It is typically desirable to provide a chair that allows an individual to remain continuously seated, properly oriented, and comfortably positioned in the chair. Office chairs and more particularly task chairs are often purchased with the user and intended use of the chair in mind. Depending on the application, one or more adjustments may be provided at the option of the purchaser.

Office chairs and task chairs used by individuals seated at desks and consoles are often used in a wide variety of applications where the individual is required to remain seated for extended durations of time to perform their required duties. Because of the length of time that many individuals spend seated, it is important that these chairs be properly adjusted for each user to provide enhanced comfort.

To improve the comfort of a particular chair, provisions are usually made for some adjustments to accommodate the physical size of the user. These adjustments may include an adjustment of the height of the seat relative to the base, adjustment of the chair back height, adjustment of the chair back angle, adjustment of the seat angle, and adjustment of the seat depth. In addition, for certain chairs, an adjustment of the height of a foot ring or support with respect to the ground and/or seat may be made. In some office and task chairs, the adjustments may include complex mechanisms having multiple moving parts. As such, the adjustment mechanisms may be prone to malfunction and/or fail to work altogether after a short period of time. Moreover, the particular adjustment mechanisms may include a handle or the like placed just under the seat, where an individual may accidentally trigger the adjustment mechanism and thus have to reposition the seat time and time again.

Thus, in addition to the potential unreliability of an adjustment mechanism, chair adjustments can be tedious and time consuming as the user needs to repeatedly adjust the chair. In view of the above, the need exists for a simple, inexpensive, and effective chair adjustment mechanism that allows the user to adjust the chair's orientation, and wherein the adjustment may not be accidentally triggered.

The present invention advantageously provides a simple, inexpensive, and effective chair adjustment mechanism that allows the user to adjust the chair's orientation. In particular, a height adjustment system for a foot ring coupled to a portion of a chair may include a foot ring that is engageable with a portion of a chair. The foot ring may generally define a disc-like structure having a rounded rim that extends from and/or circumscribes a central opening of the foot ring. The rounded rim may extend from and/or be offset from the central opening by a plurality of spokes.

The present invention may include a support member coupled to a pedestal or wheel base having multiple caster assemblies affixed thereto. The support member may define one or more positioning stations disposed about a surface of the support member for receiving the foot ring at a particular height from the ground and/or a seat cushion affixed to the support member. Each positioning station may include a depression or groove disposed about the support member, such as a plurality of annular grooves circumscribing the support member.

A coupling element may be provided that is engageable with one or more of the positioning stations of the support member, and for further providing for the affixation of the foot ring to the support member. The coupling element may define a first portion and a second portion, where the first and second portions are pivotably coupled to one another. Further, the coupling element may define an engaging structure that is matable and/or engageable with the positioning station of the support member for the affixation thereof. The coupling element may further define a first end and a second end, where the second end has a width and/or diameter larger than that of the first end. Accordingly, the central opening of the foot ring may be slidably positioned over the coupling element and thereby provide a compression fit as the lower end of the central opening is proximate to the flared end of the coupling element.

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 provides an assembly view of an embodiment of a height adjustment system for a foot ring in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a height adjustment system for a foot ring in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 provides an assembled view of an embodiment of a height adjustment system for a foot ring in accordance with the present invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

• What Is a Patent?
• What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?
• What Is a Copyright?
• Patent Laws