초록 ▼

An office chair is provided with includes a chair arm assembly on each opposite side thereof for supporting the arms of a user. The arm assemblies each include a latching assembly to permit adjustment of the height of an arm cap thereof while maintaining the arm cap at a selected elevation. The latc

An office chair is provided with includes a chair arm assembly on each opposite side thereof for supporting the arms of a user. The arm assemblies each include a latching assembly to permit adjustment of the height of an arm cap thereof while maintaining the arm cap at a selected elevation. The latch assembly is engageable with an inner liner provided within a support post. Further, the armrest assembly has a plurality of interconnected and relatively movable plates which permit adjustment of the angular orientation of the arm cap along with adjustment of the arm cap in the front-to-back direction and the side-to-side direction.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A chair comprising a telescoping position adjustment assembly which includes a body supporting surface thereon, said position adjustment assembly comprising: a hollow support post having a post wall with a plurality of longitudinally spaced locking recesses;a support column which is slidably inse

1. A chair comprising a telescoping position adjustment assembly which includes a body supporting surface thereon, said position adjustment assembly comprising: a hollow support post having a post wall with a plurality of longitudinally spaced locking recesses;a support column which is slidably insertable within a hollow interior of said support post, said support column comprising a column body having an exterior surface which is disposed closely adjacent to an interior surface of said post wall,said column body including a chamber extending therethrough which includes an installation window on one side thereof and a latch window on another side thereof wherein said latch window is disposed closely adjacent to and moves over said locking recesses defined in said post wall; anda locking mechanism carried by said column body and releasably engagable with said locking recesses to releasably fix the position of said column body relative to said post wall and define the position of said body supporting surface, said locking mechanism comprising a cassette assembly which snap fits within said chamber through said installation window, said cassette assembly including a cassette housing with snap locking connector parts which snap-fittingly engage said column body to fix said cassette housing within said chamber, said cassette housing including a resiliently-biased slidable latch which is movable sidewardly within said housing and projectable out of said latch window for releasable engagement with a respective one of said locking recesses, said locking mechanism further including a manual actuator which is engagable with said slidable latch to effect releasing of said slidable latch from said locking recesses. 2. The chair according to claim 1, wherein said cassette assembly is pre-assembled with said slidable latch snap-fittingly restrained within said cassette housing prior to mounting within said chamber of said column body. 3. The chair according to claim 2, wherein a resilient biasing member is disposed within said cassette assembly between said cassette housing and said slidable latch. 4. The chair according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises an elongate lever extending longitudinally through a hollow interior of said column body, said lever having an engagement end disposed adjacent to said cassette assembly wherein said cassette assembly engages said engagement end and prevents removal of said lever after said cassette assembly is snapped into said column body. 5. The chair according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises an elongate lever disposed within said column body and having a first end disposed adjacent an upper end of said support column and a second end engaged with said slidable latch. 6. The chair according to claim 5, wherein said first end defines a handpiece disposed for manual actuation by a user to effect vertical movement of said support column relative to said support post to effectively adjust a vertical height of the body supporting surface. 7. The chair according to claim 6, wherein said slidable latch has a portion disposed to engage said second end of said lever such that vertical movement of said lever upon manipulation of said handpiece thereof displaces said slidable latch sidewardly to effect release of said slidable latch from a selected one of said locking recesses. 8. The chair according to claim 6, wherein said slidable latch comprises a pair of pin-shaped members which project sidewardly from opposite sides thereof, and said second end of said lever is generally fork-shaped and is defined by a pair of spaced-apart legs, said slidable latch being disposed between said legs with said pin-shaped members engaged with the respective said legs, said legs defining respective cam surfaces thereon which, when said handpiece is lifted vertically by a user, cause deflection of said slidable latch sidewardly and out of said one of said locking recesses to effect release of said slidable latch therefrom. 9. The chair according to claim 6, wherein said slidable latch defines therein an upwardly-opening pocket and said second end of said lever includes a stop flange which engages downwardly within said pocket when said slidable latch is engaged within a selected one of said locking recesses. 10. The chair according to claim 9, wherein said slidable latch has a portion disposed to engage said second end of said lever such that vertical movement of said lever upon manipulation of said handpiece thereof displaces said slidable latch sidewardly to effect release of said slidable latch from a selected one of said locking recesses. 11. The chair according to claim 10, wherein said second end of said lever is generally fork-shaped and has a pair of spaced-apart legs, said stop flange being disposed between said legs, and said slidable latch being disposed between said legs and having actuator members engaged with the respective said legs. 12. The chair according to claim 11, wherein said actuator members project sidewardly from opposite sides of said slidable latch, and said legs define respective cam surfaces thereon, which, when said handpiece is lifted vertically by a user, cause deflection of said slidable latch sidewardly and out of one of said locking recesses to effect release of said slidable latch therefrom. 13. A chair comprising a telescoping position adjustment assembly which includes a body supporting surface thereon, said position adjustment assembly comprising: a hollow support post having a post wall with a plurality of spaced locking recesses;a support column slidably insertable within an interior of said support post, said support column comprising a column body defining an installation window on one side thereof and a latch window on another side thereof, said latch window being disposed closely adjacent to said locking recesses defined in said post wall; anda locking mechanism carried by said column body and releasably engagable with selected ones of said locking recesses to selectively fix a position of said column body relative to said post wall and define the position of said body supporting surface, said locking mechanism comprising a cassette assembly which snap fits within an interior of said column body through said installation window, said cassette assembly including a cassette housing which snap-fittingly engages said column body to fix said cassette housing within said interior of said column body, said cassette housing including a resiliently-biased slidable latch which is movable sidewardly within said cassette housing and projectable out of said latch window for releasable engagement with a selected one of said locking recesses, said locking mechanism further including an actuator which is engagable with said slidable latch to effect release of said slidable latch from a selected one of said locking recesses. 14. The chair according to claim 13, wherein said position adjustment assembly includes an armrest assembly mounted on said support column, said armrest assembly defining a surface oriented transversely to said support column for supporting an arm of a user, said actuator being manipulatable by a user to selectively adjust an elevation of said armrest assembly. 15. The chair according to claim 14, wherein said actuator comprises an elongate lever disposed within said column body and having a first end disposed adjacent an upper end of said support column and a second end engaged with said slidable latch. 16. The chair according to claim 15, wherein said first end defines a handpiece disposed for manual actuation by a user to effect vertical movement of said support column relative to said support post to effectively adjust a vertical height of said armrest assembly. 17. The chair according to claim 16, wherein said slidable latch has a portion disposed to engage said second end of said lever such that vertical movement of said lever upon manipulation of said handpiece thereof displaces said slidable latch sidewardly to effect release of said slidable latch from a selected one of said locking recesses. 18. The chair according to claim 16, wherein said slidable latch comprises a pair of pin-shaped members which project sidewardly from opposite sides thereof, and said second end of said lever is generally fork-shaped and is defined by a pair of spaced-apart legs, said slidable latch being disposed between said legs with said pin-shaped members engaged with the respective said legs, said legs defining respective cam surfaces thereon which, when said handpiece is lifted vertically by a user, cause deflection of said slidable latch sidewardly and out of said one of said locking recesses to effect release of said slidable latch therefrom. 19. The chair according to claim 16, wherein said slidable latch defines therein an upwardly-opening pocket and said second end of said lever includes a stop flange which engages downwardly within said pocket when said slidable latch is engaged within a selected one of said locking recesses. 20. The chair according to claim 19, wherein said slidable latch has a portion disposed to engage said second end of said lever such that vertical movement of said lever upon manipulation of said handpiece thereof displaces said slidable latch sidewardly to effect release of said slidable latch from a selected one of said locking recesses. 21. The chair according to claim 20, wherein said second end of said lever is generally fork-shaped and has a pair of spaced-apart legs, said stop flange being disposed between said legs, and said slidable latch being disposed between said legs and having actuator members engaged with the respective said legs. 22. The chair according to claim 21, wherein said actuator members project sidewardly from opposite sides of said slidable latch, and said legs define respective cam surfaces thereon, which, when said handpiece is lifted vertically by a user, cause deflection of said slidable latch sidewardly and out of said one of said locking recesses to effect release of said slidable latch therefrom.