Compliant seating structure

Abstract

A seating structure includes a shell having a central portion, opposite outer peripheral edges laterally spaced from opposite sides of the central portion, and at least one biasing array disposed between each of the opposite sides of the central portion and a respective outer peripheral edge. Each of the biasing arrays includes a plurality of spaced apart support members and at least one connector connecting adjacent support members within each array. The biasing array may include a plurality of biasing arrays, with at least one connector connecting adjacent biasing arrays. A second shell may be connected to the outer peripheral edges of the first shell, with an open space defined there between. Each of the opposite outer peripheral edges is independently deflectable in response to a load being applied to the second shell.

1 - 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . A seating structure comprising:
 a shell comprising at least one biasing array comprising a plurality of laterally spaced and nested U-shaped support members, wherein each of the support members comprises at least one end portion connected to a peripheral edge of the shell.   
     
     
         66 . The seating structure of  claim 65  wherein each of the U-shaped support members comprises a longitudinal portion and a pair of lateral portions extending laterally outwardly from opposite ends of the longitudinal portion, wherein the lateral portions define the at least one end portion. 
     
     
         67 . The seating structure of  claim 65  wherein the U-shaped members are separated at least in part by slots and are connected with spaced apart support members. 
     
     
         68 . The seating structure of  claim 65  wherein the U-shaped members are defined by a continuous, serpentine member. 
     
     
         69 . The seating structure of  claim 65  wherein the shell comprises a central portion, wherein the biasing array is positioned between the central portion and the peripheral edge. 
     
     
         70 . The seating structure of claim wherein the biasing array comprises a first biasing array and the peripheral edge comprises a first peripheral edge, and further comprising a second biasing array positioned between the central portion and a second peripheral edge positioned on an opposite side of the central portion relative to the first peripheral edge. 
     
     
         71 . The seating structure of  claim 65  wherein the biasing array further comprises a first hockey stick shaped support element positioned between an outermost U-shaped support element and the peripheral edge. 
     
     
         72 . The seating structure of  claim 71  wherein the first hockey stick shaped support element is coupled to and transitions into the outermost U-shaped support element. 
     
     
         73 . The seating structure of  claim 71  wherein the biasing array further comprises a second hockey stick shaped support element positioned inboard of an innermost U-shaped support element. 
     
     
         74 . The seating structure of  claim 65  wherein the shell comprises an opening framed by an outermost U-shaped element. 
     
     
         75 . The seating structure of  claim 65  wherein the shell comprises a bottom portion having an opening positioned below the biasing array. 
     
     
         76 . The seating structure of  claim 69  further comprising a pair of arms extending laterally and in opposite direction from one end of the central portion and a pair of second arms extending laterally and in opposite directions from an opposite end of the central portion, wherein the at least one biasing array is disposed between the first and second arms on a respective side of the central portion. 
     
     
         77 . The seating structure of  claim 65  wherein the shell comprises a first shell, and further comprising a second shell connected to the outer peripheral edges of the first shell, the first and second shells defining an open space there between across a span between the outer peripheral edges. 
     
     
         78 . The seating structure of  claim 77  wherein the open space is free of any connection between the first and second shells. 
     
     
         79 . The seating structure of  claim 77  wherein the second shell comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced strips defined by longitudinally spaced slots. 
     
     
         80 . The seating structure of  claim 77  wherein the at least one connector extends into the open space defined between the first and second shells and defines a living hinge. 
     
     
         81 . The seating structure of  claim 77  wherein the central portion and the plurality of support members of the first shell define a substantially flush outer surface facing away from the second shell. 
     
     
         82 . The seating structure of  claim 65  wherein the shell defines part of a backrest or a seat. 
     
     
         83 . A seating structure comprising:
 a shell comprising a central portion, an outer peripheral edge and at least one biasing array comprising a plurality of spaced apart support members defined by a continuous serpentine element extending between the central portion and the outer peripheral edge, the serpentine element defining a plurality of longitudinal slots between the support members.   
     
     
         84 . The seating structure of  claim 83  wherein at least some of the support members have a U-shape.