US 11,857,083 B2
Chair having a flexible support member
Keith Robert Machin, Hopkins, MI (US); Mark Schneider, Alto, MI (US); David O. Morton, Grand Rapids, MI (US); Ryan Jerome Ramos, Milwaukee, WI (US); Mark Spoelhof, Grand Rapids, MI (US); Jamie Payne, Grand Rapids, MI (US); and Daniel George Parker, Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Assigned to Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed by Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/977,500.
Application 17/977,500 is a continuation of application No. 17/320,994, filed on May 14, 2021, granted, now 11,510,495.
Prior Publication US 2023/0046483 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. A47C 5/04 (2006.01); A47C 3/04 (2006.01); A47C 7/42 (2006.01); A47C 7/62 (2006.01); A47C 7/64 (2006.01); A47C 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A47C 7/42 (2013.01) [A47C 5/04 (2013.01); A47C 7/62 (2013.01); A47C 7/64 (2013.01); A47C 3/04 (2013.01); A47C 7/006 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.