Adjustment mechanism for a chair and method for replacing a telescoping cylinder in a reconfigurable chair

Abstract

A chair, which has a cylinder for controlling the configuration of a chair or the seat height of a chair, is operated by a flexible cable. The flexible cable is attached to an adjustment member that is not fixedly attached to the cylinder, thereby permitting the cylinder to be replaced without replacing the adjustment member.

1 . A chair comprising: 
 a) a telescoping cylinder having a first end connected to a first portion of the chair, a second end distal to the first end and connected to a second portion of the chair, and a valve provided on the first end of the cylinder, whereby when the cylinder telescopes, the first portion of the chair is moved with respect to the second portion of the chair;    b) an adjustment member having a moveable member that is operably connected to the valve when the adjustment member is mounted to the cylinder and the moveable member is removably mounted to the cylinder;    c) a flexible cable extending between the actuator and the adjustment member and the moveable member is operable by movement of the flexible cable to open the valve; and,    d) an actuator operable by a person and drivingly connected to the adjustment member.    
   
   
       2 . The chair as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the adjustment member has a housing configured to be mounted to the cylinder.  
   
   
       3 . The chair as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the adjustment member has a first portion having the moveable member, the housing is non-removably mounted to the cylinder and the first portion is removably mounted to the housing.  
   
   
       4 . The chair as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the housing includes a sleeve sized to receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       5 . The chair as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the sleeve is sized to slidingly lockingly receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       6 . The chair as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the first portion and the housing are secured together by mechanical engagement members.  
   
   
       7 . The chair as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the mechanical engagement members comprise screws.  
   
   
       8 . The chair as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the adjustment member comprises a first portion having the moveable member and the portion having the moveable member is not permanently affixed to the cylinder.  
   
   
       9 . The chair as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the adjustment member has a housing configured to be removably mounted to the cylinder and a first portion having the moveable member connected to the housing.  
   
   
       10 . The chair as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the housing includes a sleeve sized to receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       11 . The chair as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the sleeve is sized to slidingly receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       12 . The chair as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the adjustment member is made of plastic.  
   
   
       13 . The chair as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the adjustment member is made by molding.  
   
   
       14 . An adjustment mechanism for a chair having a telescoping cylinder, the telescoping cylinder comprising a valve actuated via a flexible cable, a first end connected to a first portion of the chair and having the valve, and a second end distal to the first end and mounted to a second portion of the chair, the first portion of the chair is moveable with respect to the second portion of the chair, the adjustment member comprising a moveable member that is operated by movement of the flexible cable to open the valve wherein at least a portion of the adjustment member having the moveable member is removably mounted to the cylinder.  
   
   
       15 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the adjustment member has a housing configured to receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       16 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the housing includes a sleeve sized to receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       17 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the adjustment member comprises a first portion having the moveable member and a second portion adapted to be fixedly mounted to the cylinder, the first portion being removably mountable to the second portion.  
   
   
       18 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the first and second portions are secured together by mechanical engagement members.  
   
   
       19 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the mechanical engagement members comprise screws.  
   
   
       20 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the second portion of the adjustment member comprises a housing configured to receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       21 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the housing includes a sleeve sized to receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       22 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the sleeve is sized to slidingly lockingly receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       23 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the adjustment member has a housing configured to be removably mounted to the cylinder and a first portion having the moveable member connected to the housing.  
   
   
       24 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the housing includes a sleeve sized to receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       25 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the sleeve is sized to slidingly receive therein the first end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       26 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the adjustment member is made of plastic.  
   
   
       27 . The adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the adjustment member is made by molding.  
   
   
       28 . A method of servicing a chair having a flexible cable that acts via an adjustment member to actuate a telescoping cylinder, the telescoping cylinder having a first end having a valve and a distal end, the method comprising: 
 a) disconnecting the adjustment member from the cylinder and disengaging the distal end of the cylinder from the chair; and,    b) connecting the adjustment member to a replacement cylinder and engaging the distal end of the replacement cylinder with the chair.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the adjustment member has a sleeve and step (a) comprises sliding the first end of the cylinder out of engagement with the sleeve.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the chair has a seat shroud and the method further comprises removing the seat shroud to access the cylinder prior to sliding the cylinder out of engagement with the adjustment member.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the cylinder comprises part of a seat height adjustment mechanism and extends upwardly from a floor engaging chair base and step (a) includes removing the distal end from the floor engaging chair base.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the adjustment mechanism is mounted to a seat support having a lower surface and step (b) further comprises passing the first end of the replacement cylinder through the lower surface of the seat support prior to sliding the first end of a replacement cylinder into engagement with the adjustment member.