A seat with self-stowage capability is provided. The seat includes a seat pan lever which is rotatable between stowed and open positions, a fixed seat structure and an elastic assembly. The fixed seat structure includes an annulus. The elastic assembly includes a damper and an arc-spring disposable within the annulus to permit first rotations of the seat pan lever from the stowed position to the open positions and to urge second rotations of the seat pan lever from the open positions to the stowed position.

A retractable seat assembly which can be attached to a vertical structure and which, in the upright position, presents a profile which is relatively thin and in any event poses virtually no impediment to going very close to the vertical structure. The retractable seat assembly having a rear support, a seat, a front support, and a biaser which releasably biases said seat to the generally upright position.

A retractable seat assembly which can be attached to a vertical structure and which, in the upright position, presents a profile which is relatively thin and in any event poses virtually no impediment to going very close to the vertical structure. The retractable seat assembly having a rear support, a seat, a front support, and a biaser which releasably biases said seat to the generally upright position.

A chair according to the present invention has a reference position P located midway in a front-back direction in a movable range of a seat 2. The chair includes a return force generation mechanism 4 configured to generate a return force in a direction to return the seat 2 moved from the reference position P at least in the front-back direction to the reference position P. The return force generation mechanism 4 includes an elastic member 40 configured to increase the return force in the direction to return the seat to the reference position P as the amount of movement of the seat from the reference position P increases.

A piece of seating and supporting furniture with or without an armrest, comprising an upright and a basic seat and supporting structure (seat and structure) arranged thereon such that it can be pivoted about at least one horizontal axis, wherein the seat and structure has a seat surface which, in a first end position of pivoting about the horizontal axis, is arranged substantially in a horizontal plane, wherein the seat surface, in a second pivoting end position, is arranged transversely to the horizontal plane, wherein the seat and structure has a supporting surface arranged on a side of the seat and structure spaced apart from the seat surface. In another embodiment, a first end of a spring is connected to the upright, a second end of the spring is connected to the seat and structure, and the spring assists pivoting of the seat and structure about the horizontal axis.

Mobile folding restaurant booth style benches are provided, which may be arranged in opposed pairs to form restaurant style booths. An individual bench incorporates a mechanism for shifting the weight of the bench between a mobile base, which may be supported by swivel casters, and a stationary base, which may be supported by non-slip feet, actuated by pivoting a bench seat down from a folded storage position to an unfolded seating position. The weight shifting mechanism may include an engagement member, which is initially spaced apart from an actuator at a folded angle of the seat, and which contacts and begins transmitting force and movement to the actuator at a partially unfolded angle of the seat. Preferably, the bench further includes a biasing component that biases the stationary base upward relative to the mobile base, a locking mechanism that resists a force provided by the biasing component to retain the bench seat in the unfolded seating position, contoured shells or other covers for the seat and a seat back, and a back panel extending vertically above the seat back.

Mobile folding restaurant booth style benches are provided, which may be arranged in opposed pairs to form restaurant style booths. An individual bench incorporates a mechanism for shifting the weight of the bench between a mobile base, which may be supported by swivel casters, and a stationary base, which may be supported by non-slip feet, actuated by pivoting a bench seat down from a folded storage position to an unfolded seating position. The weight shifting mechanism may include an engagement member, which is initially spaced apart from an actuator at a folded angle of the seat, and which contacts and begins transmitting force and movement to the actuator at a partially unfolded angle of the seat. Preferably, the bench further includes a biasing component that biases the stationary base upward relative to the mobile base, a locking mechanism that resists a force provided by the biasing component to retain the bench seat in the unfolded seating position, contoured shells or other covers for the seat and a seat back, and a back panel extending vertically above the seat back.

A chair having a separately configured seating assembly and backrest that move together upon reclining movement of a user. The seat assembly can be pivoted between a lowered, seating position and a raised, nesting position. The backrest can be pivoted between an upright position and a reclined position. The seat assembly includes a seat that is movable along seat frame sub-assembly that includes a pair of glide tracks upon the reclining movement of the backrest. A bias member of the seat assembly urges the seat into a retracted position and the backrest into an upright position. The seat assembly is pivotally mounted to the support frame of the chair such that the entire seat assembly can be pivoted to a raised, nesting position. The seat assembly can also be pivoted to a lowered, seating position to allow multiple chairs to be stacked.

A support for a piece of seating furniture provides an additional degree of freedom of movement. The support has a connecting unit fitted on a main body that connects to a supporting element of an underframe. The connecting unit has a mounting device for the supporting element, in particular a mount for the upper end of the supporting element. The connecting unit is fitted on the main body such that it is possible to alter the inclination of the main body relative to the supporting element. For that purpose the main body has a preferably convex contact base, which in the fitted state is contacted by a contact head of the connecting unit, with the abutment forming a non-planar contact rather than a contact over a surface area, in particular a punctiform contact.

A chair having a separately configured seating assembly and backrest that move together upon reclining movement of a user. The seat assembly can be pivoted between a lowered, seating position and a raised, nesting position. The backrest can be pivoted between an upright position and a reclined position. The seat assembly includes a seat that is movable along seat frame sub-assembly that includes a pair of glide tracks upon the reclining movement of the backrest. A bias member of the seat assembly urges the seat into a retracted position and the backrest into an upright position. The seat assembly is pivotally mounted to the support frame of the chair such that the entire seat assembly can be pivoted to a raised, nesting position. The seat assembly can also be pivoted to a lowered, seating position to allow multiple chairs to be stacked.