IP Library Granted Patent US 11,857,083
Granted Patent B2
US 11,857,083 · App. 17/977,500 · Granted Jan 2, 2024

Chair having a flexible support member

Inventors: Keith Robert Machin (Hopkins, MI); Mark Schneider (Alto, MI); David O. Morton (Grand Rapids, MI); Ryan Jerome Ramos (Milwaukee, WI); Mark Spoelhof (Grand Rapids, MI); Jamie Payne (Grand Rapids, MI); Daniel George Parker (Grand Rapids, MI)
Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
A47C7/42A47C5/04A47C7/62A47C7/64A47C3/04A47C7/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,857,083
App. No.
17/977,500
Granted
Jan 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seating unit includes a chair with a backrest and a hook assembly. The backrest includes a rear surface having an outwardly protruding rim. The hook assembly comprises a cover plate and a weldment, and the cover plate may include a hook being integrally formed on an exterior face. The hook assembly is configured to be securely coupled on or within the outwardly protruding rim of the backrest, and a secure coupling between the hook assembly and the backrest is formed via insertion of a fastening member, which is inserted through an apertures on a bottom surface of the cover plate, such that the fastener is aligned substantially parallel to the rear surface.

Claims (37)

1. A seating unit comprising:

a backrest extending substantially vertically above a seat;

a support member that extends along a bottom surface of the seat and a rear side of the backrest; and

a frame joining the seat, the support member, and one or more legs of the seating unit together,

wherein the support member includes a plurality of arms, each of the arms including a horizontal portion that extends along the bottom surface of the seat, an upright portion that extends along the rear side of the backrest, and a transition portion that extends curvilinearly upward from the horizontal portion to join the horizontal portion with the upright portion,

wherein each of the arms extends to a distal end, the distal end secured to the frame at an attachment location,

wherein each of the arms extends rearward from the distal end in a series of convergences toward and divergences away from a central longitudinal plane of the seat, and

wherein the distal ends of the arms extend laterally beyond a maximum amplitude of the convergences and divergences.

2. The seating unit of claim 1 , wherein the series of convergences and divergences comprises at least one of a plurality of convergences or a plurality of divergences.

3. The seating unit of claim 1 , wherein the series of convergences and divergences comprises a plurality of convergences and a plurality of divergences.

4. The seating unit of claim 1 , further comprising a passageway disposed proximate a rear end of the seat, each of the arms extending within the passageway proximate the transition portion.

5. The seating unit of claim 4 , wherein a lower end of the passageway comprises a cross-piece of the frame.

6. The seating unit of claim 4 , wherein the passageway comprises crossbeams connecting a pair of the one or more legs.

7. The seating unit of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the horizontal portion of each of the arms is sinusoidal or serpentine.

8. A support member for a seat assembly, comprising:

a plurality of arms, each of the arms including a horizontal portion, an upright portion, and a transition portion that extends curvilinearly upward from the horizontal portion to join the horizontal portion with the upright portion,

wherein each of the arms extends to a distal end, the distal end configured to be secured to a frame of a seat assembly at an attachment location of the frame,

wherein each of the arms extends rearward from the distal end in a series of convergences and divergences away from a central longitudinal plane of the support member, and

wherein the distal ends of the arms extend laterally beyond a maximum amplitude of the convergences and divergences.

9. The support member of claim 8 , wherein the series of convergences and divergences comprises at least one of a plurality of convergences or a plurality of divergences.

10. The support member of claim 8 , wherein the series of convergences and divergences comprises a plurality of convergences and a plurality of divergences.

11. The support member of claim 8 , wherein each of the arms is configured to extend within a passageway disposed proximate a rear end of a seat of the seat assembly, the passageway located proximate the transition portion of each of the arms.

12. The support member of claim 11 , wherein a lower end of the passageway comprises a cross-piece of the frame.

13. The support member of claim 11 , wherein the passageway comprises crossbeams connected to a pair of legs of the seat assembly.

14. The support member of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the horizontal portion of each of the arms is sinusoidal or serpentine.

15. A method of assembling a seating unit, comprising the steps of:

providing a backrest, a seat, a frame, and a support member comprising a plurality of arms, each of the arms including a horizontal portion, an upright portion, and a transition portion that extends curvilinearly upward from the horizontal portion to the upright portion;

coupling a distal end of the horizontal portion of each of the arms to the frame at an attachment location; and

coupling the upright portion of the support member with a rear side of the backrest,

wherein each of the arms extends rearward from the distal end in a series of convergences and divergences away from a central longitudinal plane of the support member, and

wherein the distal ends of the arms extend laterally beyond a maximum amplitude of the convergences and divergences.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the series of convergences and divergences comprises at least one of a plurality of convergences or a plurality of divergences.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the series of convergences and divergences comprises a plurality of convergences and a plurality of divergences.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the arms is configured to extend within a passageway disposed proximate a rear end of a seat of the seating unit, the passageway located proximate the transition portion of each of the arms.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein a lower end of the passageway comprises a cross-piece of the frame.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the passageway comprises crossbeams connected to a pair of legs of the seating unit.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the horizontal portion of each of the arms is sinusoidal or serpentine.

Assignments (2)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: AMQ SOLUTIONS, LLC; HALCON FURNITURE LLC; SMITH SYSTEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY; STEELCASE INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074944/0368 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2026
From: AMQ SOLUTIONS, LLC; HALCON FURNITURE LLC; SMITH SYSTEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY; STEELCASE INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074944/0784 →