초록 ▼

A chair includes a base and a seating structure rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position. A foot support is disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure. The foot support is rotatably coupled to the seating structure and

A chair includes a base and a seating structure rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position. A foot support is disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure. The foot support is rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base. A control mechanism is operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical distance between the foot support and the seat. The control mechanism includes a control handle operably coupled to the seating structure. The control handle rotates with the seating structure when the seating structure is rotated and moves vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is vertically moved between the first position and the second position.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A chair comprising: a base; a seating structure rotatably coupled to the base about a vertical axis and independently vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the seating structure is rotatable about the vertical axis independent of

What is claimed is: 1. A chair comprising: a base; a seating structure rotatably coupled to the base about a vertical axis and independently vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the seating structure is rotatable about the vertical axis independent of any vertical movement of the seating structure between the first and second positions; a foot support disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure and rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base, wherein the foot support is vertically moveable relative to the base free of any rotation about the vertical axis relative to the base, wherein the base comprises a support column with an upper portion coupled to the seating structure and rotationally coupled to the foot support, wherein the foot support and the upper portion of the support column move vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is moved between the first position and the second position; and a control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical distance between the foot support and the seating structure without rotating the seating structure, the control mechanism comprising a control handle operably coupled to the seating structure such that the control handle rotates with the seating structure while the foot support remains non-rotatably stationary when the seating structure is rotated, and wherein the control handle moves vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is vertically moved between the first position and the second position. 2. The chair of claim 1, wherein the seating structure is a seat. 3. A chair comprising: a seating structure rotatably coupled to a base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position; a foot support disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure and rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base; a control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical distance between the foot support and the seating structure, the control mechanism comprising a control handle operably coupled to the seating structure such that the control handle rotates with the seating structure when the seating structure is rotated and moves vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is vertically moved between the first position and the second position; and wherein the base comprises a support column with an upper portion coupled to the seating structure and rotationally coupled to the foot support, wherein the foot support and the upper portion of the support column move vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is moved between the first position and the second position, wherein the support column comprises a vertically extendable spring. 4. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a lead screw operably coupling the foot support to the control mechanism. 5. A chair comprising: a base; a seating structure rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position; a foot support disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure and rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base; and a control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical distance between the foot support and the seating structure, the control mechanism comprising a control handle operably coupled to the seating structure such that the control handle rotates with the seating structure when the seating structure is rotated and moves vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is vertically moved between the first position and the second position, the control mechanism further comprising a lead screw operably coupling the foot support to the control mechanism, and a control shaft comprising a first and second end, the first end comprising the control handle and the second end operably coupled to a first gear wheel; and a second gear wheel operably coupling the first gear wheel to the lead screw, such that rotation of the control shaft causes vertical movement of the foot support. 6. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a support tube vertically disposed over at least a portion of the support column. 7. The chair of claim 6, wherein the foot support comprises a center aperture, the center aperture disposed around the support tube, and the foot support is adapted to slide up and down the support tube. 8. The chair of claim 1, further comprising: a housing disposed around at least a portion of the control mechanism; and a top cap non-rotatably coupled to the foot support, wherein the housing rotates with respect to the top cap when the seating structure is rotated. 9. The chair of claim 8 wherein the housing comprises a pin operably coupled to the seating structure to allow the housing to rotate with respect to the top cap when the seating structure is rotated. 10. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member, the biasing member operably coupled to the seating structure and to the base to bias the seating structure toward a forward position with respect to the base. 11. The chair of claim 8 wherein the top cap comprises a first surface, further comprising a second surface and a biasing member operably coupled to the second surface, the second surface adapted to slide along the first surface, the biasing member biasing the seating structure toward a forward position. 12. The chair of claim 11 wherein the first and second surfaces are ramped and the first surface faces upward and the second surface faces downward. 13. The chair of claim 12, further comprising an engaging member comprising the second surface, the engaging member coupled to the biasing member and vertically moveable with respect to the housing. 14. A chair comprising: a seating structure rotatably coupled to a base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position; a foot support disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure and rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base; a control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical distance between the foot support and the seating structure, the control mechanism comprising a control handle operably coupled to the seating structure such that the control handle rotates with the seating structure when the seating structure is rotated and moves vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is vertically moved between the first position and the second position; wherein the base comprises a support column with an urser portion coupled to the seating structure and rotationally coupled to the foot support, wherein the foot support and the urser portion of the support column move vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is moved between the first position and the second position; a support tube vertically disposed over at least a portion of the support column, the support tube comprising a top portion, a housing disposed around at least a portion of the control mechanism; and a top cap non-rotatably coupled to the foot support and disposed at the top portion of the support tube and affixed thereto, wherein the housing rotates with respect to the top cap when the seating structure is rotated. 15. The chair of claim 14, further comprising a top insert disposed at least in part between the support tube and a spring, the top insert affixed to the top cap. 16. The chair of claim 3 further comprising: a support tube vertically disposed over at least a portion of the spring, the support tube comprising a bottom portion; a bottom cap disposed at the bottom portion of the support tube and connected thereto; and a lead screw operably coupling the foot support to the control mechanism, wherein the lead screw comprises a bottom end rotatably connected to the bottom cap. 17. The chair of claim 16, further comprising a bottom insert disposed at least in part between the support tube and the spring and connected to the bottom cap. 18. A chair comprising: a base; a seat rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position, the seat comprising a top surface with a nadir and a side edge, the side edge defining a vertical plane and the nadir defining a horizontal plane; a foot support disposed a vertical distance from the seat and rotatably coupled to the seat and non-rotatably coupled to the base; a control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical position of the foot support, the control mechanism comprising a control handle with a distal end, wherein the distal end of the control handle is disposed at a horizontal location within 3 inches of the vertical plane defined by the side edge of the seat and a vertical location within 18 inches of the horizontal plane defined by the nadir of the top surface of the seat, and wherein the control handle is operably coupled to the seat such that the control handle rotates with the seat while the foot support remains non-rotatably stationary when the seat is rotated and moves vertically with the seat when the seat is vertically moved between the first position and the second position; and a lead screw operably coupling the foot support to the control mechanism. 19. The chair of claim 18, wherein the distal end of the control handle is disposed at a horizontal location within 2 inches of the vertical plane defined by the side edge of the seat and a vertical location within 15 inches of the horizontal plane defined by the nadir of the top surface of the seat. 20. A chair comprising: a base; a seat rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position, the seat comprising a top surface with a nadir and a side edge, the side edge defining a vertical plane and the nadir defining a horizontal plane; a foot support disposed a vertical distance from the seat and rotatably coupled to the seat and non-rotatably coupled to the base; and a control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical position of the foot support, the control mechanism comprising a control handle with a distal end, wherein the distal end of the control handle is disposed at a horizontal location within 3 inches of the vertical plane defined by the side edge of the seat and a vertical location within 18 inches of the horizontal plane defined by the nadir of the top surface of the seat, a lead screw operably coupling the foot support to the control mechanism, a control shaft comprising a first and second end, the first end comprising the control handle and the second end operably coupled to a first gear wheel; and a second gear wheel operably coupling the first gear wheel to the lead screw, such that rotation of the control shaft causes vertical movement of the foot support. 21. The chair of claim 18, further comprising: a housing disposed around at least a portion of the control mechanism; and a top cap non-rotatably coupled to the foot support, wherein the housing rotates with respect to the top cap when the seat is rotated. 22. The chair of claim 21, wherein the housing comprises a pin operably coupled to the seat to allow the housing to rotate with respect to the top cap when the seat is rotated. 23. A method of adjusting a foot support comprising: providing a chair comprising: a base comprising a support column; a seat supported by the support column and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position; the foot support, wherein the foot support is disposed a vertical distance from the seat and rotatably coupled to the seat and non-rotatably coupled to the base; and a control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support; sitting on the seat; rotating the seat and control mechanism about a vertical axis without moving the seat in a vertical direction; adjusting the control mechanism while sitting on the seat to change the vertical distance between the seat and the foot support without vertically moving or rotating the seat and without rotating the foot support; and moving the seat between the first position and the second position, wherein the foot support moves vertically with the seat as the seat is moved between the first position and the second position. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the control mechanism comprises a control handle, further comprising rotating the seat, such that the control handle rotates with the seat and the foot support does not rotate with the seat. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the control mechanism comprises a control handle, wherein adjusting the control mechanism comprises rotating the control handle.