IP Library Granted Patent US 7,654,617
Granted Patent B2
US 7,654,617 · App. 12/134,386 · Granted Feb 2, 2010

Flexible chair seat

Assignee: Mity-Lite, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,654,617
App. No.
12/134,386
Granted
Feb 2, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A chair seat for flexibly supporting the buttocks of a user seated thereon. The chair seat includes a seat surface having a pair of adjacent or side-by-side concentric corrugated regions formed therein, and which are configured for flexibly supporting the buttocks of the user by being deflectable with respect to the seat surface. The seat surface further includes a third corrugated region surrounding and concentric with the pair of side-by-side corrugated regions, and which third region is configured for flexibly supporting the hips and thighs of the user while also being deflectable with respect to the seat surface.

Claims (28)

1. A chair seat for flexibly supporting a buttocks of a user seated thereon comprising:

a seat surface;

a pair of adjacent concentrically corrugated regions formed in the seat surface and disposed side-by-side and configured for flexibly supporting the buttocks of the user, the pair of adjacent concentric corrugated regions being deflectable with respect to the seat surface;

a third corrugated region surrounding the pair of corrugated regions and configured for flexibly supporting the hips and thighs of the user, the third corrugated region being deflectable with respect to the seat surface;

the corrugated regions comprising alternating rib tops and slot bottoms connected by substantially vertical sidewalls, and the slot bottoms being disposed below the seat surface; and

the corrugated regions comprising a plurality of transverse notch lines extending upwards through the slot bottoms and sidewalls and traversing the plurality of concentrically corrugated regions, wherein the notch lines are configured for facilitating the downward bowing of the seat surface under a load.

2. The chair seat of claim 1 , wherein the rib tops are substantially co-planer with the seat surface in an unloaded state.

3. The chair seat of claim 1 , wherein the width of the rib tops is substantially equal to the width of the slot bottoms.

4. The chair seat of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal length of the plurality of transverse notch lines is radially oriented with respect to one of the pair of adjacent concentrically corrugated regions.

5. The chair seat of claim 1 , wherein the concentrically corrugated regions form a plurality of discrete rows.

6. The chair seat of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of discrete rows are annular.

7. The chair seat of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of discrete rows form complete rings.

8. The chair seat of claim 1 , further comprising a foam covering disposed over the chair surface.

9. A chair for flexibly supporting a buttocks of a user seated thereon comprising:

a seat member further comprising:

a flexible seat surface;

a pair of adjacent concentrically corrugated regions formed in the seat member and disposed side-by-side and configured for flexibly supporting the buttocks of the user;

a third corrugated region surrounding the pair of corrugated regions and configured for flexibly supporting the hips and thighs of the user; and

at least one chair support coupled to the seat member to elevate the seat member to a sitting height;

a back rest coupled to the seat member for resting a back portion of the user thereon;

the corrugated regions comprising alternating rib tops and slot bottoms connected by substantially vertical sidewalls, and the slot bottoms being disposed below the seat surface; and

the corrugated regions comprising a plurality of transverse notch lines extending upwards through the slot bottoms and sidewalls and traversing the plurality of concentrically corrugated regions, wherein the notch lines are configured for facilitating the downward bowing of the seat surface under a load.

10. The chair of claim 9 , wherein the width of the rib tops is substantially equal to the width of the slot bottoms.

11. The chair of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of transverse notch lines are configured with a radially-orientated length.

12. The chair of claim 9 , wherein the concentrically corrugated regions form a plurality of discrete rows.

13. The chair of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of discrete rows are annular.

14. The chair of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of discrete rows form complete rings.

15. The chair of claim 9 , further comprising a low-density foam covering disposed over the seat member and back member.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2022
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: MITY-LITE, INC.; BRODA USA, INC.; MITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 059448/0258 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: MITY-LITE INC.; BRODA USA INC.; HOLSAG CANADA; BRODA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; MITY HOLDINGS OF DELAWARE INC.; MITY, INC.; BROAD ENTERPISES ULC; BRODA GP ULC
To: ECLIPSE BUSINESS CAPITAL LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 059258/0559 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2017
From: MITY-LITE, INC.; BRODA USA, INC.; MITY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 043626/0847 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2016
From: MITY, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 040805/0020 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2016
From: MITY-LITE, INC.; BRODA USA, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 040804/0022 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2016
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MITY-LITE, INC.; BRODA USA, INC.; MITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 040805/0896 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2015
From: MITY-LITE, INC.; MITY, INC.; BRODA USA, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 034862/0104 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: FIFTH THIRD BANK
To: MITY-LITE, INC.
Reel/Frame 034549/0968 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 8, 2012
From: MITY-LITE, INC.
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK
Reel/Frame 027675/0371 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2012
From: CIT LENDING SERVICES CORPORATION
To: MITY-LITE, INC.
Reel/Frame 027659/0247 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT PATENTS Recorded Dec 14, 2011
From: MITY-LITE, INC.
To: CIT LENDING SERVICES CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027380/0083 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2008
From: FARNSWORTH, ORRIN C.
To: MITY-LITE, INC.
Reel/Frame 021355/0355 →
Continuity (1)
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