IP Library Granted Patent US 12,446,697
Granted Patent B2
US 12,446,697 · App. 18/196,452 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Lower-back supporting apparatus, backrest supporting frame and seating unit

Inventors: Saijun Cai (Jiangsu, CN); Xiaohong Li (Jiangsu, CN); Gang Song (Jiangsu, CN)
Assignee: Remacro Technology Co., Ltd.
A47C7/462
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,446,697
App. No.
18/196,452
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a lower-back supporting apparatus, a backrest supporting frame, and a seating unit. The lower-back supporting apparatus includes a lower-back supporting plate; a lower mounting plate; two supporting structures, provided between the lower-back supporting plate and the lower mounting plate, hinged to the lower-back supporting plate and the lower mounting plate, respectively; and an extendable and retractable part, including an extendable and retractable end hinged to the lower-back supporting plate or the supporting structure, so as to drive the lower-back supporting plate away or close to the lower mounting plate. The lower-back supporting plate may be lifted and lowered by cooperating the extendable and retractable part with the supporting structure; the volume of lower-back supporting apparatus may be effectively reduced by adopting the extendable and retractable part; the whole of the extendable and retractable part is easy to maintain and replace.

Claims (32)

1. A lower-back supporting apparatus, comprising:

a lower-back supporting plate ( 1 );

a lower mounting plate ( 5 );

two supporting structures, provided between the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) and the lower mounting plate ( 5 ), hinged to the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) and the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) respectively; and

an extendable and retractable part ( 4 ), comprising an extendable and retractable end hinged to the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) or the supporting structures, so as to drive the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) away or close to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ),

wherein each of the supporting structures comprises a first link ( 2 ) and a second link ( 3 ) hinged to each other, two restricting protrusions ( 221 ) are provided on the first link ( 2 ), wherein the second link ( 3 ) and a hinge point between the first link ( 2 ) and the second link ( 3 ) are located between the two restricting protrusions ( 221 ); and

one of the following conditions (a), (b), or (c) is met:

(a) both first links ( 2 ) of the two supporting structures are hinged to the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ), and both second links ( 3 ) of the two supporting structures are hinged to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ); or

(b) both second links ( 3 ) of the two supporting structures are hinged to the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ), and both first links ( 2 ) of the two supporting structures are hinged to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ); or

(c) the first link ( 2 ) of one of the supporting structures is hinged to the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ), the second link ( 3 ) thereof is hinged to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ), the second link ( 3 ) of another one of the support structures is hinged to the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ), and the first link ( 2 ) thereof is hinged to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ).

2. The lower-back supporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the extendable and retractable part ( 4 ) is provided between any two of the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ), the lower mounting plate ( 5 ), the first link ( 2 ), and the second link ( 3 ), so as to drive the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) away or close to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ); or

the extendable and retractable part ( 4 ) is provided between two first links ( 2 ) or two second links ( 3 ), so as to drive the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) away or close to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ).

3. The lower-back supporting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the extendable and retractable part ( 4 ) is any one of a cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric pusher.

4. The lower-back supporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first link ( 2 ) comprises a body part ( 21 ) and a restricting part ( 22 ) connected to each other;

the hinge point between the first link ( 2 ) and the second link ( 3 ) is defined as the first hinge point ( 31 ), wherein the restricting protrusion ( 221 ) and the first hinge point ( 31 ) are both located on the restricting part ( 22 );

a convex arch ( 224 ) is provided on an outer side of the first link ( 2 ), and a concave arch ( 222 ) is provided on an opposite side of the convex arch ( 224 ), wherein the convex arch ( 224 ) and the concave arch ( 222 ) are both located on the restricting part ( 22 ); and

at least one of the restricting protrusions ( 221 ) is provided on the convex arch ( 224 ).

5. The lower-back supporting apparatus according to claim 1 , when the condition (a) or (b) is met:

wherein ends of the two first links ( 2 ) hinged to the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) near the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) are frictionally abutted, and ends of the two second links ( 3 ) hinged to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) near the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) are frictionally abutted; or

ends of the two second links ( 3 ) hinged to the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) near the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) are frictionally abutted, and ends of the two first links ( 2 ) hinged to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) near the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) are frictionally abutted.

6. The lower-back supporting apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a distance between the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) and the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) is defined as H; the H is between 55 and 250 millimeters when the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) is away or close to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ).

7. The lower-back supporting apparatus according to claim 1 , when the condition (c) is met:

wherein respective ends of the first link ( 2 ) and the second link ( 3 ) hinged to the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) near the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) are frictionally abutted; and

respective ends of the first link ( 2 ) and the second link ( 3 ) hinged to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) near the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) are frictionally abutted.

8. The lower-back supporting apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein a distance between the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) and the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) is defined as H; the H is between 55 and 250 millimeters when the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) is away or close to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ).

9. The lower-back supporting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) and the lower mounting plate ( 5 ) is defined as H; the H is between 55 and 250 millimeters when the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) is away or close to the lower mounting plate ( 5 ).

10. The lower-back supporting apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein an extending direction of the lower-back supporting plate ( 1 ) is defined as a width direction; the lower-back supporting apparatus along the width direction is between 180 and 440 millimeters.

11. A backrest supporting frame, comprising a fixing frame ( 6 ) and the lower-back supporting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the fixing frame ( 6 ) comprises two lateral plates ( 61 ) connected by a crossbeam; and

the lower-back supporting apparatus is provided between the two lateral plates ( 61 ) and fixedly mounted on the crossbeam by the lower mounting plate ( 5 ).

12. The backrest supporting frame according to claim 11 , further comprising a headrest structure ( 7 ) provided between the two lateral plates ( 61 ) and located on an upper side of the lower-back supporting apparatus.

13. A seating unit, comprising the backrest supporting frame as claimed in claim 11 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2023
From: CAI, SAIJUN; LI, XIAOHONG; SONG, GANG
To: REMACRO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063636/0440 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202222789877.6 · Oct 21, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Related Publication 20240130533A1 · Apr 25, 2024
Related Publication 20240225293A9 · Jul 11, 2024
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