Field of the Invention

[1] This invention relates generally to control assemblies for chairs.

Background of the Invention

[2] Chair control assemblies of various configurations exist for height adjustment, tilt, armrest position control and the like.

[3] The present chair control system is of a particular configuration to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[4] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[5] There is provided herein a multi-way cable tensioning system for chair control. The chair may comprise four legs each terminating at a respective wheel assembly. The wheel assembly may be locked in a default state such that the chair remains immobile in use.

[6] However, the system may comprise locking cables leading to each wheel assembly to selectively unlock the wheels to move the chair.

[7] The system may comprise a junction box fastened to an underside of the seat having a cable clutch therein. The locking cables may be connected to the cable clutch such that the locking cables tension when the cable clutch is displaced with respect to the junction box.

[8] A lateral control lever may extend laterally from underneath the seat which may comprise a handle which disengages the wheel assemblies for manoeuvring the chair when pulled upwardly. In this way, the user may easily and conveniently unlock the wheel assemblies while seated, such as when adjusting one's position at a dinner table, kitchen work bench or the like for example.

[9] The control lever may comprise a shaft which is rotatably engaged by the junction box and a radial member interfacing the shaft and the cable clutch such that pulling the handles upwardly rotates the shaft causing the radial members to push the cable clutch forwardly.

[10] The system may comprise auxiliary means for unlocking the wheel assemblies also. The system may comprise an auxiliary control cable which may interface the junction box to selectively tension the locking cables when tensioned. The auxiliary control cable may engage the cable clutch opposite the locking cables such that tensioning of the auxiliary control cable displaces the cable clutch and thereby tensions the locking cables. [11] The auxiliary control cable may be operatively coupled to an auxiliary control lever located at the back of the chair. In this way, the wheel assemblies may be unlocked whilst pushing the chair from the back.

[12] The auxiliary control lever may comprise a displacement bar pivotally coupled that lateral edges thereof to the back. In this regard, the auxiliary control lever may control a single or a pair of control cables. The junction box may comprise single and double auxiliary cable control interfaces for either configuration.

[13] According to one aspect, there is provided a multi-way cable tensioning chair control system comprising at least one locking cable connected at a proximal end by a cable clutch and operably interfacing a wheel assembly at a distal end operable to displace the cable clutch when pulled to tension the at least one locking cable to lock or unlock the at least one respective wheel assembly.

[14] The system may comprise a plurality of locking cables each for a respective wheel assembly and wherein the plurality of locking cables may be all connected by the cable clutch.

[15] The system may comprise four locking cables each for a respective chair leg.

[16] The locking cables may be reticulated within respective chair leg interiors.

[17] The default lock state of each wheel assembly may be locked and unlocked when the locking cables may be tensioned.

[18] Each wheel assembly may comprise a castor wheel.

[19] The castor wheel arrangement may comprise two coaxially adjacent wheels.

[20] The system may further comprise a junction box and wherein the cable clutch may be moveably retained within the junction box.

[21] The control lever may comprise a shaft extending from under the seat, the shaft having a radially offset handle and being rotatably engaged by the junction box such that force applied to the handle rotates the shaft and displaces the cable clutch with respect to the junction box.

[22] The junction box may be located underneath the seat.

[23] The junction box forms upper flanges having apertures for fastening to an undersurface of the seat.

[24] The control lever may extend laterally from underneath the seat.

[25] The control lever may further comprise an oppositely extending further shaft and a respective further handle.

[26] The shaft may comprise a radial member which displaces the cable clutch from a distal end thereof when the shaft rotates. [27] The handle may extend forward, the radial member projects downwardly from the shaft and the at least one locking cable engages the rear of the cable clutch such that pulling the handle upwardly displaces the cable clutch forwardly to tension the at least one locking cable.

[28] The cable clutch may comprise at least one displacement channel and the junction box affixes a travel limiting stub extending therein.

[29] The system may further comprise an auxiliary control cable interfacing the junction box and wherein tensioning the control cable displaces the cable clutch with respect to the junction box to thereby tension the locking cables.

[30] The auxiliary control cable may interface an auxiliary control lever.

[31] The auxiliary control lever may be located at an upper rear surface of a back of the chair.

[32] The auxiliary control cable may be connected to the cable clutch opposite the locking cables such that tensioning the control cable pulls the cable clutch to tension the locking cables.

[33] The auxiliary lever may comprise a displacement bar pivotally coupled from the back at opposite lateral ends thereof and wherein the system may comprise a pair of auxiliary control cables operatively connected from either side of the displacement bar.

[34] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[35] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[36] Figure 1 shows a rear perspective view of a chair comprising a multi-way cable tensioning system for the control thereof in accordance with an embodiment;

[37] Figure 2 shows a rear elevation view of the chair and the cable tensioning system;

[38] Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of the chair and cable tensioning system;

[39] Figure 4 shows an underside magnified view of a junction box of the cable tensioning system in accordance with an embodiment;

[40] Figure 5 shows a top perspective transparent view of the chair and cable tensioning system in accordance with an embodiment;

[41] Figure 6 shows a ghosted view of the junction box in accordance with an embodiment; and

[42] Figure 7 shows a top perspective view of the junction box. Description of Embodiments

[43] Figures 1 - 4 show respective rear perspective, rear elevation, side elevation and underside magnification views of a chair comprising a multi-way cable tensioning system 101 for the control thereof.

[44] Figure 5 shows a transparent view of the chair 100 and the associated cable tensioning system 101. The chair 100 may comprise four legs 102 each terminating at a respective wheel assembly 103. The system 101 further comprises at least one locking cable 104 for controlling a lock state of the at least one respective wheel assembly 103.

[45] The default lock state of the at least one respective wheel assembly 103 may be locked such that the chair 100 is immobile in a default state. Flowever, when the at least one locking cable 104 is tensioned, the lock state of the at least one respective wheel assembly 103 is unlocked. In the embodiment shown, the system 101 may comprise four locking cables 104 for each leg 102.

[46] Each wheel assembly 103 may have a castor wheel arrangement and may comprise two coaxially adjacent wheels 105.

[47] Furthermore, each leg 102 may be hollow such that each locking cable 104 travels within a hollow portion of each respective leg 102. In the embodiments shown, the chair 100 may comprise a hollowed tube metal framework wherein each cable 104 enters the tubular framework at entrance apertures 106 to travel within the leg 102 down to the wheel assembly 103.

[48] The tensioning system 100 may comprise a junction box 107 shown in further detail in associated Figures 6 and 7. The junction box 107 may comprise an upper open-ended enclosure 108 comprising upper opposing horizontal flanges 109 each comprising apertures 110 for screwing to an underside of a seat 117 of the chair 100.

[49] As can be seen from figure 5, the at least one locking cable 104 may operably terminate at a proximal end thereof within the junction box 107. In this way, the junction box 107 may be configured for selectively tension the at least one locking cable 104.

[50] The system 101 may comprise at least one control lever 111 operatively interfacing the junction box 107. The control lever 111 may comprise a shaft 112 and a radially offset handle 113. The shaft 112 may be rotatably engaged through apertures 114 through lateral sides 115 of the junction box 107 such that force applied to the handle 113 rotates the shaft 112 within the junction box 107.

[51] The lever 112 may extend laterally from underneath the seat 111. In a preferred embodiment, the system 101 comprises a pair of oppositely extending control levers 111 each accessible from either side of the seat 116. [52] With reference to Figure 7, the junction box 107 may comprise a cable clutch 117 for engaging the at least one locking cable 104. The control lever 111 displaces the cable clutch 117 with respect to the junction box 107 to selectively tension the at least one locking cable 104.

[53] In the embodiments shown, the cable clutch 117 may comprise a plurality of recesses 118 within which a cable terminus 119 is retained via an adjacent slot 120. Each cable 104 may comprise a sheath terminating at a collar 121 at a rear of the enclosure 108 such that the displacement of the cable clutch 117 pulls the inner cable 122 with respect to the outer sheath 121, thereby tensioning the locking cable 104.

[54] The control lever 111 may displace the cable clutch 117 by way of a radial member 123. In this regard, the handles 113 may face forward and the radial member 123 may project downwardly from the shaft 112. Furthermore, the at least one locking cable 104 may engage the rear of the cable clutch 117. As such, pulling the handle 113 upwardly displaces the cable clutch 117 forwardly to selectively tension the at least one locking cable 104.

[55] The cable clutch 117 may comprise at least one displacement channel 124 and a travel limiting stub 125 operatively engaged therein to control the direction and extent of the travel of the cable clutch 117.

[56] The chair 100 may further comprise a back 126 and an auxiliary lever 127 at the back 126. Furthermore, the system 101 may further comprise at least one auxiliary control cable 128 which is selectively tensioned by the auxiliary lever 127.

[57] With reference to Figure 7, the auxiliary control cable 128 may be engaged by the cable clutch 117 opposite the at least one locking cable 104 such that tensioning the auxiliary control cable 128 pulls the cable clutch 117 to tension the at least one locking cable 104. In this regard, the auxiliary control cable 128 may be similarly retained within a recess and comprises a terminus 119 retained inside of a slot 120. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the system 101 comprises a single control cable 128.

[58] Flowever, the control lever 127 may comprise a displacement bar 129 pivotally coupled from the back 126 at opposite lateral edges thereof. In this regard, the system 101 may comprise a pair of control cables 128 each operatively engaged at opposite sides of the control bar 129.

[59] In this regard, the cable clutch 117 may comprise a central recess 118A for a single control cable 128 and a pair of laterally spaced recesses 118B for a pair of control cables 128. In this way, the junction box 107 may support both configurations of control cable.

[60] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Flowever, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.