Peter R Pearce

US Patent:

D456627, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Oct 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

29/149338

Inventors:

Peter J. Pearce - Woodland Hills CA
Bruce M. Smith - Grand Rapids MI
Dale M. Groendal - Jenison MI

Assignee:

Steelcase Development Corporation - Caledonia MI

International Classification:

0601

US Classification:

D 6366

US Patent:

D457007, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Oct 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

29/149387

Inventors:

Peter J. Pearce - Woodland Hills CA
Bruce M. Smith - Grand Rapids MI
Dale M. Groendal - Jenison MI

Assignee:

Steelcase Development Corporation - Caledonia MI

International Classification:

0601

US Classification:

D 6368, D6379, D6380

US Patent:

D457739, May 28, 2002

Filed:

May 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

29/123873

Inventors:

Peter J. Pearce - Woodland Hills CA
Bruce M. Smith - Grand Rapids MI
Dale M. Groendal - Jenison MI

Assignee:

Steelcase Development Corporation - Caledonia MI

International Classification:

0601

US Classification:

D 6366

US Patent:

6412869, Jul 2, 2002

Filed:

May 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/321275

Inventors:

Peter Jon Pearce - Woodland Hills CA

Assignee:

Steelcase Development Corporation - Caledonia MI

International Classification:

A47C 300

US Classification:

297294, 297295, 2973002, 29745265, 2973004, 297239

Abstract:

A synchrotilt chair includes a base, a back, a seat, and a pair of parallel links pivoted to a rear of the base and to a bottom of the back to form a four-bar linkage arrangement. A spring arrangement includes leaf springs that extend between each link and the base to bias the link and in turn the back and seat toward an upright position, with the back and seat pivoting with a synchronous motion upon recline of the back. The base, the back, the seat, and the links are shaped to receive identical chairs along a stacking direction to form a densely nested stacked arrangement for compact storage. The base has a distinctive horizontal U-shaped mid-frame structure defining a plurality of corners, and further having up legs and down legs extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from each of the corners, with the pair of links attached to the two rearmost ones of the up legs. The base (and also separately the back and the seat structures) are injection molded as single pieces from a reinforced polymeric material in a manner that provides a lightweight, yet surprisingly rigid and sturdy construction. Armrests are pivoted to the back and have a shape configured to allow nested stacking while also providing excellent comfort, durability, and style.

US Patent:

D461327, Aug 13, 2002

Filed:

Jul 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

29/144844

Inventors:

Peter J. Pearce - Woodland Hills CA
Bruce M. Smith - Grand Rapids MI
Dale M. Groendal - Jenison MI

Assignee:

Steelcase Development Corporation - Caledonia MI

International Classification:

0601

US Classification:

D 6368

US Patent:

D463920, Oct 8, 2002

Filed:

Jul 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

29/144860

Inventors:

Peter J. Pearce - Woodland Hills CA
Bruce M. Smith - Grand Rapids MI
Dale M. Groendal - Jenison MI

Assignee:

Steelcase Development Corporation - Caledonia MI

International Classification:

0601

US Classification:

D 6366

US Patent:

6536841, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

May 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/578568

Inventors:

Peter J. Pearce - Woodland Hills CA
Kurt R. Heidmann - Grand Rapids MI
Robert J. Battey - Kentwood MI
Dale M. Groendal - Jenison MI
Bruce M. Smith - Grand Rapids MI

Assignee:

Steelcase Development Corporation - Caledonia MI

International Classification:

A47C 1032

US Classification:

297316, 297320, 2973004, 2973013, 297296

Abstract:

A synchrotilt chair includes a base, a back, a seat, and a link(s) pivoted to a rear of the base and to a bottom of the back to form a four-bar linkage arrangement. A spring arrangement includes a resilient member at one of the joints of each link to bias the link and in turn the back and seat toward an upright position, with the back and seat pivoting with a synchronous motion upon recline of the back. In one form, the chairs are nestable and stackable for dense storage. In another form, the chairs are desk-type pedestal chairs. Several of the structural support members of the chair are gas-assisted injection molding to form a hollow tubular shape that is lightweight, strong, and dimensionally-accurate. Armrests are pivoted to the back and have a shape configured to allow nested stacking while also providing excellent comfort, durability, and style. Also, the armrests are movable to remote storage positions to provide unobstructed side access to the seat of the chair.

US Patent:

6786548, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Sep 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/255322

Inventors:

Peter J. Pearce - Woodland Hills CA
Kurt R. Heidmann - Grand Rapids MI
Robert J. Battey - Kentwood MI
Dale M. Groendal - Jenison MI
Bruce M. Smith - Grand Rapids MI

Assignee:

Steelcase Development Corporation - Caledonia MI

International Classification:

A47C 1032

US Classification:

297316, 297294, 297296, 297320

Abstract:

A synchrotilt chair includes a base, a back, a seat, and a link(s) pivoted to a rear of the base and to a bottom of the back to form a four-bar linkage arrangement. In one form, the chairs are nestable and stackable for dense storage. In another form, the chairs are desk-type pedestal chairs. Several of the structural support members of the chair are gas-assisted injection molding to form a hollow tubular perimeter frame that is lightweight, strong, and dimensionally-accurate A flexible panel is integrally molded between opposing sides of the perimeter frame. Armrests are pivoted to the back and have a shape configured to allow nested stacking while also providing excellent comfort, durability, and style. Also, the armrests are movable to remote storage positions to provide unobstructed side access to the seat of the chair.