Body support assembly and methods for the use and assembly thereof

Abstract

A body support assembly includes a seat assembly and backrest assembly supported by a tilt control assembly. Methods of using and assembling the body support assembly are provided.

1 - 130 . (canceled) 
     
     
         131 . A body support assembly comprising:
 a body support member rearwardly reclinable relative to a base, the body support member having a front and a rear spaced apart in a longitudinal direction;   a recline stop member comprising a first end connected to the body support member and a second end defining a stop portion; and   a recline limiter comprising at least first and second longitudinally spaced stop surfaces, wherein the at least first and second stop surfaces are angularly spaced about a longitudinal axis, wherein the recline limiter is rotatably mounted to the base about the longitudinal axis, wherein the recline limiter is rotatable about the longitudinal axis between a first position, wherein the stop portion engages the first stop surface, and a second position, wherein the stop portion engages the second stop surface.   
     
     
         132 . The body support assembly of  claim 131  wherein the recline stop member comprises a spherical ball shaped housing. 
     
     
         133 . The body support assembly of  claim 132  wherein the ball shaped housing comprises a socket, wherein at least one of the stop surfaces is formed in the socket. 
     
     
         134 . The body support assembly of  claim 132  wherein the ball shaped housing comprises a plurality of teeth formed on an outer surface thereof, and further comprising a rack supported by and laterally moveable relative to the base, wherein the rack is laterally moveable between at least first and second positions, wherein the rack engages the plurality of teeth and moves the ball shaped housing between the first and second positions as the rack is moved between first and second positions. 
     
     
         135 . The body support assembly of  claim 134  further comprising an actuator rotatable supported by the base and coupled to the rack. 
     
     
         136 . The body support assembly of  claim 135  wherein the actuator comprises a lead screw threadably engaged with the rack. 
     
     
         137 . The body support assembly of claim  137  wherein the recline limiter further comprises a third stop surface longitudinally spaced from the first and second stop surfaces, wherein the stop portion engages the first stop surface to prevent recline of the body support member relative to the base, wherein the stop portion engages the second stop surface to provide for full recline of the body support member relative to the base, and wherein the stop portion engages the third stop surface to provide for an intermediate recline of the body support member relative to the base. 
     
     
         138 . The body support member of  claim 137  further comprising a spring having a first end connected to the body support member and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first end and defining an engagement member, wherein the engagement member and the stop portion are moveable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction in response to the spring being extended or retracted. 
     
     
         139 . The body support member of  claim 138  wherein the engagement member engages the first stop surface. 
     
     
         140 . The body support assembly of  claim 138  wherein the engagement member comprises a longitudinally extending slot, wherein the stop member is disposed in and moveable in the slot relative to the spring. 
     
     
         141 . The body support assembly of  claim 131  wherein the body support member comprises a link connected to the base, wherein the first end of the recline stop member is coupled to the link. 
     
     
         142 . The body support assembly of  claim 141  wherein the link comprises a rear link, and further wherein the body support member comprises a front link connected the base, a seat support connected to upper ends of the front and rear links, and a support platform connected to lower ends of the front and rear links, wherein the support platform is connected to the base, and wherein the support platform, seat support, front link and rear link define a four-bar linkage. 
     
     
         143 - 161 . (canceled) 
     
     
         162 . A body support assembly comprising:
 a body support member reclinable relative to a base; and   a recline limiter assembly interfacing between the body support member and the base to limit the recline of the body support member relative to the base, the recline limiter assembly comprising a recline limiter having at least two rotational degrees of freedom.   
     
     
         163 . The body support assembly of  claim 162  wherein the recline limiter assembly comprises a stop member having a first portion interfacing with the body support member and a stop portion interfacing with the recline limiter. 
     
     
         164 . The body support assembly of  claim 162  wherein the base comprises a socket, and the recline limiter comprises an outer ball shape, wherein the recline limiter is received in the socket. 
     
     
         165 . The body support assembly of  claim 164  wherein the outer ball shape is at least partially spherical. 
     
     
         166 . The body support assembly of  claim 163  wherein the recline limiter comprises at least first and second stop surfaces, wherein the recline limiter is moveable between at least a first position, wherein the stop portion engages the first stop surface, and a second position, wherein the stop portion engages the second stop surface, and wherein the recline limiter is rotatable relative to the base about both longitudinal and lateral axes. 
     
     
         167 . A body support assembly comprising:
 a body support member reclinable relative to a base; and   a recline limiter assembly interfacing between the body support member and the base to limit the recline of the body support member relative to the base, the recline limiter assembly comprising a stop member having a first end operably coupled to the body support member and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first member and operably engageable with a recline limiter; and   a spring connected to the body support member and disposed around the stop member, the spring having a first end operably coupled to the body support member and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first end and operably engageable with the recline limiter, wherein the second end of the spring is moveable relative to the second end of the stop member.   
     
     
         168 - 170 . (canceled) 
     
     
         171 . The body support assembly of  claim 167  wherein the recline limiter is rotatable about a longitudinal axis defined by the stop member to a plurality of rotational positions, and further comprising a spring bushing connected to the second end of the spring, wherein the spring bushing comprises a first radially extending portion engageable with a first stop surface on the recline limiter positioned in a first rotational position, and wherein the first radially extending portion is longitudinally moveable relative to the first stop surface when the recline limiter is positioned in a second rotational position, and wherein the stop member comprises a second radially extending portion engageable with a second stop surface on the recline limiter when the recline limiter is the first rotational position, wherein the second stop surface is longitudinally spaced from the first stop surface. 
     
     
         172 . The body support assembly of  claim 171  wherein the second radially extending portion is moveable in a slot formed in the spring bushing.