(19)
(11) EP 1 319 355 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
02.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/01

(43) Date of publication A2:
18.06.2003 Bulletin 2003/25

(21) Application number: 02027786.9

(22) Date of filing: 12.12.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A47C 7/44, A47C 7/46
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO

(30) Priority: 14.12.2001 US 340673 P

(71) Applicant: KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL INC.
Jasper, Indiana 47549 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Deiman, Michael L.
    Holland , Indiana 47541 (US)
  • Schweikarth, Derek
    Jasper , Indiana 47546 (US)
  • Hatcher, Stephen D.
    Jasper , Indiana 47546 (US)
  • Hasenour, Joseph G.
    St. Anthony , Indiana 47575 (US)

(74) Representative: Riebling, Peter, Dr.-Ing. 
Patentanwalt Postfach 31 60
88113 Lindau
88113 Lindau (DE)

   


(54) Chair with lumbar support and conforming back


(57) A task chair (20) including seat support structure (26), a backrest frame (68, 112, 122, 150) attached to the seat support structure, and a backrest (72a, 72b, 72c, 72d, 72e) supported by the backrest frame. The backrest includes a back support surface (94a, 94b, 94c, 94d, 94e) which may ergonomically conform to a seated user when the user shifts positions while sitting in the chair. The back support surface includes rigid (80a, 80b, 80c, 80d, 80e) and flexible portions (90a, 90b, 90c, 90d, 90e) connected to one another, the flexible portions allowing resilient flexing of the back support surface to create conformance zones which dynamically support the back of a seated user in an ergonomic manner.






Search report