Seating system

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, a dining chair is provided having a frame, a seat operably connected to the frame, a backrest operably connected to the frame, a reclining mechanism, and a counterbalance assembly positioned within the backrest, among other components. The backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position. In one or more arrangements, the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force to move the backrest to the upright position in absence of an opposing force.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A seating system, comprising:
 a frame;   a seat;   the seat operably connected to the frame;   a backrest;   the backrest operably connected to the frame;   the backrest having a hollow interior;
 wherein the backrest is operably connected to the frame by a reclining mechanism; 
   wherein the reclining mechanism includes a lower axle that extends through the backrest from side to side;   wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of rollers connected to opposite ends of the lower axle;   wherein the pair of rollers are configured to roll within the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a counterbalance assembly;
 the counterbalance assembly positioned within the hollow interior of the backrest; 
 wherein the backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the frame. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a counterbalance assembly;
 the counterbalance assembly positioned within the hollow interior of the backrest; 
 wherein the backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the frame; 
 wherein the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a counterbalance assembly;   the counterbalance assembly positioned within the hollow interior of the backrest;
 wherein the backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the frame; 
 wherein the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force; 
 wherein the counterbalance force provided by the counterbalance assembly is adjustable. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one torsion spring is configured to move the backrest to an upright position in absence of an opposing force. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side;
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of links connected to opposite sides of the upper axle.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side;
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of links connected to opposite sides of the upper axle;   wherein the pair of links are operably connected to the frame.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side;
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of links connected to opposite sides of the upper axle;   wherein the pair of links are operably connected to the frame;   wherein a counterbalance assembly is configured to rotate the pair of links.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower axle extends outwards form the sides of the backrest. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of rollers are configured to move along a track within the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the backrest includes an access assembly configured to provide access to a counterbalance assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A seating system, comprising:
 a frame;   a seat;
 the seat operably connected to the frame; 
   a backrest;
 the backrest operably connected to the frame; 
 the backrest having a hollow interior;
 wherein the backrest is operably connected to the frame by a reclining mechanism; 
 
   a counterbalance assembly;
 the counterbalance assembly positioned within the hollow interior of the backrest; 
 the counterbalance assembly having a tensioner assembly configured to provide a resistance force to the backrest when a user reclines. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the tensioner assembly is operatively connected to an upper axle of the reclining mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the tensioner assembly is operatively connected to at least one torsion spring of the counterbalance assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the tensioner assembly is configured to apply tension to at least one torsion spring of the counterbalance assembly to move the backrest into an upright position. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the tensioner assembly is configured to apply tension to at least one torsion spring of the counterbalance assembly;
 wherein the at least one torsion spring is configured to applies a bias force to an upper axle of the reclining mechanism to move the backrest into an upright position.   
     
     
         18 . A seating system, comprising:
 a frame;   a seat;
 the seat operably connected to the frame; 
   a backrest;
 the backrest operably connected to the frame; 
 the backrest having a hollow interior;
 wherein the backrest is operably connected to the frame by a reclining mechanism; 
 
   a counterbalance assembly;
 the counterbalance assembly positioned within the hollow interior of the backrest; 
 wherein the backrest includes an access assembly configured to provide access to the counterbalance assembly. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force;
 wherein the counterbalance force provided by the counterbalance assembly is adjustable.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one torsion spring is configured to move the backrest to an upright position in absence of an opposing force. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side;
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of links connected to opposite sides of the upper axle.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side;
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of links connected to opposite sides of the upper axle;   wherein the pair of links are operably connected to the frame.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side;
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of links connected to opposite sides of the upper axle;   wherein the pair of links are operably connected to the frame;   wherein the counterbalance assembly is configured to rotate the pair of links.   
     
     
         25 . A seating system, comprising:
 a frame;   a seat;
 the seat operably connected to the frame; 
   a backrest;
 the backrest operably connected to the frame; 
 the backrest having a front support member and a rear support member; 
 the front support member and the rear support member forming a hollow interior when connected together; 
   a counterbalance assembly;
 the counterbalance assembly positioned within the hollow interior; 
 wherein the backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the frame; 
 wherein the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force to the backrest; 
 wherein the front support member of the backrest is removable from the rear support member to provide access to the counterbalance assembly. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the counterbalance force provided by the counterbalance assembly is adjustable. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the front support member is magnetically connected to the rear support member. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the counterbalance assembly comprises a tensioner assembly configured to provide a resistance force to the backrest when a user reclines. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the counterbalance assembly comprises a tensioner assembly configured to provide a resistance force to the backrest when a user reclines;
 wherein the tensioner assembly is adjustable.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the front support member has at least one magnet component configured to attached to the rear support member;
 the front support member having at least one protrusion configured to hold the magnet components.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a reclining mechanism;
 the reclining mechanism having an upper guide assembly; 
 wherein the upper guide assembly includes a first upper link connected to a first end of a shaft of the counterbalance assembly to a first side of the frame; 
 wherein the upper guide assembly includes a second upper link connected to a second end of the shaft to a second side of the frame; 
 wherein when a horizontal force is applied to an upper portion of the backresr, a forward end of the first upper link and a forward end of the second upper link are moved upward into a locked position. 
   
     
     
         32 . A seating system, comprising:
 a frame;   a seat;
 the seat operably connected to the frame; 
   a backrest;   a reclining mechanism;
 wherein the reclining mechanism operably connects the backrest to the frame; 
 wherein the reclining mechanism is configured to move the backrest between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the frame; 
   a counterbalance assembly;
 wherein the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force to the backrest to move the backrest to the upright position in absence of an opposing force; 
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a lower axle that extends through the backrest from side to side; 
 wherein opposing ends of the lower axle are configured to move along slotted tracks within the frame. 
   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the lower guide assembly includes a pair of rollers connected to opposite ends of the lower axle;
 wherein the pair of rollers are configured to move along the slotted track within the frame.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the backrest has a hollow interior;
 wherein the counterbalance assembly is positioned within the hollow interior of the backrest.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the backrest has a hollow interior;
 wherein the counterbalance assembly includes at least one torsion spring;   wherein the at least one torsion spring of the counterbalance assembly is positioned within the hollow interior of the backrest.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the counterbalance force provided by the counterbalance assembly is adjustable. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side;
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of links connected to opposite sides of the upper axle.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side;
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of links connected to opposite sides of the upper axle;   wherein the pair of links are operably connected to the frame.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes an upper axle that extends across the backrest from side to side;
 wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pair of links connected to opposite sides of the upper axle;   wherein the pair of links are operably connected to the frame;   wherein the counterbalance assembly is configured to rotate the pair of links.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the lower axle extends outwards from the sides of the backrest. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the backrest includes an access assembly configured to provide access to a counterbalance assembly. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the backrest has a front support member and a rear support member;
 wherein the backrest includes an access assembly configured to operably connect the front support member with the rear support member to form a hollow interior;   wherein the counterbalance assembly is positioned within the hollow interior;   wherein the access assembly is configured to permit the front support member to be moved away from the rear support member to provide access to the counterbalance assembly.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the backrest has a front support member and a rear support member;
 wherein the backrest includes an access assembly configured to operably connect the front support member with the rear support member to form a hollow interior;   wherein the access assembly operably connects the front support member with the rear support member with a hinged connection;   wherein the hinged connection is configured to permit the front support member to be moved away from the rear support member to provide access to the counterbalance assembly.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the backrest has a front support member and a rear support member;
 wherein the backrest includes an access assembly configured to operably connect the front support member with the rear support member to form a hollow interior;   wherein the counterbalance assembly is positioned within the hollow interior;   wherein the access assembly includes one or more hook brackets, receiving brackets, and a set of hinge mechanisms.   
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the backrest has a front support member and a rear support member;
 wherein the backrest includes an access assembly configured to operably connect the front support member with the rear support member to form a hollow interior;   wherein the counterbalance assembly is positioned within the hollow interior;   wherein the access assembly includes one or more hook brackets, receiving brackets, and a set of hinge mechanisms;   wherein the set of hinge mechanisms includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a link.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the backrest has a front support member and a rear support member;
 wherein the backrest includes an access assembly configured to operably connect the front support member with the rear support member to form a hollow interior;   wherein the counterbalance assembly is positioned within the hollow interior;   wherein the access assembly includes one or more hook brackets, receiving brackets, and a set of hinge mechanisms;   wherein the set of hinge mechanisms includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a link;   wherein the first bracket, second bracket, and link are configured to permit the front support member to be moved away from the rear support member to provide access to the counterbalance assembly.