Ashley Furniture Industries has been granted a patent for an adjustable lumbar support system for chairs. The system includes an actuator mounted between the lumbar support base and the chair frame, allowing for additional support to be provided to the user by extending the extension shaft of the actuator. The system also features a metal cross bar, a bracket system, a single swing arm, and an actuator system with an electric motor. The actuator and swing arm are aligned and positioned forwardly and rearwardly with respect to each other. GlobalData’s report on Ashley Furniture Industries gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData, Ashley Furniture Industries's grant share as of September 2023 was 84%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Adjustable lumbar support system for a chair
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11723472B1) describes an adjustable lumbar support system for furniture. The system includes a metal crossbar secured to the seat back frame of the furniture, with a bracket system centrally mounted to the crossbar. The bracket system defines two pivot axes, and a single swing arm is pivotally coupled to the bracket system at one of the pivot axes. The swing arm is fixedly attached to a lumbar support base.
The system also includes an actuator system with an electric motor that is extendable and retractable. The actuator system is pivotally coupled to the swing arm at the other pivot axis. By extending and retracting the actuator, the swing arm and lumbar support base can be moved forwardly and rearwardly. When viewed from the front, the actuator and swing arm are in alignment and positioned forwardly and rearwardly with respect to each other.
The patent also describes additional features of the adjustable lumbar support system. The top portion of the swing arm may have two knuckles at the pivot axis. The bracket system may comprise two plates welded to the crossbar, with a stop limiting the rotation of the swing arm towards the back side of the seat back frame. The plates are spaced such that the knuckles of the swing arm can be positioned outwardly from the brackets, and the first end portion of the actuator system fits within the brackets. Pins are used to secure the swing arm and actuator system to the brackets.
The patent further describes a seating unit that incorporates the adjustable lumbar support system. The seating unit includes a seat back extending upwardly from a seat base, with the lumbar support system positioned centrally between the left and right sides of the seat back frame. The swing arm and actuator system are both centrally positioned with respect to the seat back frame. By extending and retracting the actuator system, the position of the lumbar support base can be adjusted.
Overall, this patent describes an adjustable lumbar support system that can be incorporated into furniture, providing customizable lower spine support. The system allows for easy adjustment of the lumbar support base, enhancing comfort and ergonomics for users.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
