Adjustment mechanism with torque limiting and anti-loosening features

Abstract

An adjustable chair seat with a locking mechanism that is torque limiting and resistant to loosening. The chair includes a seat pan, a seat plate, a rotatable fastener and two rings. The seat pan and seat plate have openings for receiving the fastener. The fastener includes a cup handle and a threaded insert. The threaded insert is engaged with the seat pan through an opening in the seat pan while the seat plate is sandwiched between the seat pan and the fastener. When being rotated, the cup handle slips relative to the threaded insert after a predetermined resistance is reached so as to cease the application of torque to the threaded insert. One of the rings is keyed to rotate with the fastener and the other ring is keyed to remain non-rotatable. The first ring includes an array of cantilevered teeth where each tooth has a first surface disposed at a smaller angle from a horizontal reference plane and a second surface which is disposed at a greater angle from the horizontal reference plane. This arrangement results in the requirement of a lesser torque to tighten the fastener than to loosen the fastener.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . A chair back fabric comprising: 
 an open weave structure having a plurality of multifilament material strands positioned in a first direction and a plurality of monofilament material strands positioned in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction, wherein each of said plurality of monofilament material strands crosses over, in front view, selected ones but not all of said multifilament material strands.    
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 2  wherein: 
 each of said plurality of said monofilaments material strands has a fineness of 730 denier.    
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 2  wherein: 
 said open weave structure has a pattern wherein each of said plurality of said monofilament material strands crosses over a first multifilament material strand and not the next several multifilament material strands.    
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said open weave structure has a pattern wherein each of said plurality of said monofilament material strands crosses over a first multifilament material strand and not the next seven multifilament material strands.    
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 5  wherein: 
 said open weave structure has a pattern where a first monofilament material strand of said plurality of monofilament material strands crosses over a first multifilament material strand and not the next seven multifilament material strands, and a second monofilament material strand positioned adjacent to said first monofilament material strand crosses a second multifilament material strand positioned adjacent to said first multifilament material strand and not the next seven multifilament material strands, and a third monofilament material strand positioned adjacent to said second monofilament material strand crosses a third multifilament material strand positioned adjacent to said second multifilament material strand and not the next seven multifilament material strands, said pattern continuing to repeat the one in eight crossovers.    
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 5  wherein: 
 each of said plurality of said monofilaments material strands has a fineness of 730 denier.    
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 4  wherein: 
 said open weave structure has a front side and a rear side; and    said open weave structure has a shine on said rear side and a soft comfortable feel on said front side.    
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 8  wherein: 
 said front side has a more finished and pleasing esthetic.    
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 9  wherein: 
 each of said plurality of said monofilaments material strands has a fineness of 730 denier.    
     
     
         11 . A chair back fabric comprising: 
 an open weave material structure having a front side and a rear side, said material having a shine on said rear side and a soft comfortable feel on said front side.    
     
     
         12 . The fabric of  claim 11  wherein: 
 said front side has a more finished and pleasing esthetic.    
     
     
         13 . The fabric of  claim 12  wherein: 
 said open weave material structure includes a plurality of multifilament strands positioned in a first direction and a plurality of monofilament strands positioned in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction, wherein each of said plurality of monofilament strands crosses over, in front view, selected ones but not all of said multifilament strands.    
     
     
         14 . The fabric of  claim 13  wherein: 
 each of said plurality of said monofilaments material strands has a fineness of 730 denier.    
     
     
         15 . The fabric of  claim 14  wherein: 
 said open weave structure has a pattern wherein each of said plurality of said monofilament material strands crosses over a first multifilament material strand and not the next seven multifilament material strands.    
     
     
         16 . A chair back fabric comprising: 
 an open weave material structure placed in tension, said material being flexible and being capable of dissipating heat from the back of a person using the chair.    
     
     
         17 . The fabric of  claim 16  wherein: 
 said open weave material structure has a front side and a rear side; and    said material structure has a shine on said rear side and a soft comfortable feel on said front side.    
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 17  wherein: 
 said front side has a more finished and pleasing esthetic.    
     
     
         19 . The fabric of  claim 18  wherein: 
 said open weave structure has a plurality of multifilament material strands positioned in a first direction and a plurality of monofilament material strands positioned in a second direction, the second direction being generally perpendicular to the first direction; and    each of said plurality of monofilament material strands crosses over, in front view, selected ones but not all of said multifilament material strands.    
     
     
         20 . The fabric of  claim 19  wherein: 
 said open weave structure has a pattern where each of said plurality of said monofilament material strands crosses over a first multifilament material strand and not the next seven multifilament material strands.    
     
     
         21 . The fabric of  claim 20  wherein: 
 each of said plurality of said monofilaments material strands has a fineness of 730 denier.    
     
     
         22 . A chair back fabric comprising a monofilament material warp structure; and 
 a multifilament material weft structure, said warp and said weft structures having a pattern wherein a strand of said monofilament material warp structure crosses over a first strand of said multifilament weft structure and not over the next several strands of said multifilament weft structure.    
     
     
         23 . The fabric of  claim 22  wherein: 
 said material structure has a front side and a rear side, and    said material structure has a shine on said rear side and a soft comfortable feel on said front side.    
     
     
         24 . The fabric of  claim 23  wherein: 
 said front side has a more finished and pleasing esthetic.    
     
     
         25 . The fabric of  claim 24  wherein: 
 said monofilament material warp structure has a fineness of 730 denier.    
     
     
         26 . The fabric of  claim 24  wherein: 
 said material structure is placed in tension, said material structure being flexible and being capable of dissipating heat from the back of a person using the chair.    
     
     
         27 . The fabric of  claim 26  wherein: 
 said monofilament material warp structure has a fineness of 730 denier.