CA2166310A1 - Chair control mechanism - Google Patents
Chair control mechanismInfo
- Publication number
- CA2166310A1 CA2166310A1 CA 2166310 CA2166310A CA2166310A1 CA 2166310 A1 CA2166310 A1 CA 2166310A1 CA 2166310 CA2166310 CA 2166310 CA 2166310 A CA2166310 A CA 2166310A CA 2166310 A1 CA2166310 A1 CA 2166310A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lever
- base plate
- bracket
- chair
- cam
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C3/00—Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats
- A47C3/02—Rocking chairs
- A47C3/025—Rocking chairs with seat, or seat and back-rest unit elastically or pivotally mounted in a rigid base frame
- A47C3/026—Rocking chairs with seat, or seat and back-rest unit elastically or pivotally mounted in a rigid base frame with central column, e.g. rocking office chairs; Tilting chairs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/36—Support for the head or the back
- A47C7/40—Support for the head or the back for the back
- A47C7/44—Support for the head or the back for the back with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame
- A47C7/441—Support for the head or the back for the back with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame with adjustable elasticity
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/36—Support for the head or the back
- A47C7/40—Support for the head or the back for the back
- A47C7/44—Support for the head or the back for the back with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame
- A47C7/443—Support for the head or the back for the back with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame with coil springs
Landscapes
- Chairs Characterized By Structure (AREA)
Abstract
A chair control mechanism is disclosed which includes a base plate suitable for mounting a chair seat, the base plate having a pair of spaced apart flanges projecting downwardly from the seat mounting surface, a bracket having two opposite sides and a bottom portion, the sides pivotally mounted to the flanges of the base plate, the bottom of the bracket adapted for accepting a pneumatic cylinder, a pair of aligned orifices are located one in each of the bracket sides for accepting opposite ends of a lever, the lever having a cam thereon, the pneumatic cylinder having an actuator valve extending into the bracket such that the lever cam actuates against the valve, the additional orifices located on the bracket sides such that the lever is free to slidably engage said base plate flange to prohibit pivotal movement of the chair seat.
Description
- 21 6631 o t "IMPROVEMENT8 IN OR RELATING TO A CHAIR CONTROL MECHANISM"
THE PRESENT Ihv~ ON relates to chair control mechanisms.
More specifically, the invention relates to office or posture chair mechanisms. In particular the invention relates to mechanisms which control the height and tilting movement of office chairs with a single component.
Office or posture chairs are known in the art.
These chairs oftentimes have mechanisms for altering the seat and backrest height, the angle of the seat and backrest to name a few and promote efficiency in the workplace while also promoting good health. Many of these mechanisms have numerous critical moving arts and therefore have an increased incidence of failure. Moreover, due to their complexity, these mechanisms are often prohibitively expensive for offices with limited budgets or for the individual who works out of the home.
A few representative complex chair control devices are disclosed in US-A-4,364,605, US-A-4,328,943 and US-A-4,555,085. US-A-4,364,605 discloses a device suitable for use on a posture chair. The device uses one lever to control three pneumatic cylinders. One cylinder controls backrest tilt, a second cylinder controls set tilt, and a third cylinder controls seat height. Using three pneumatic cylinders to control three distinct motions increases the cost of such a device.
US-A-4,328,943 discloses another chair control device which also uses one lever to adjust height and tilt of the chair seat. The described chair control mechanism incorporates a base plate mounted on the underside of the ~S~ ' 2l663lo - :~
chair seat, the base plate having a pair of spaced apart flanges projecting downwardly from the base plate. The mechanism further incorporates a bracket having two opposite upstanding side flanges and a bottom portion. The side flanges of the bracket are pivotally mounted to the flanges of the base plate to allow the base plate to tilt relative to the bracket. The bottom of the bracket is adapted for accepting a pneumatic cylinder which has an actuator valve extending into the bracket. A lever is provided which can be manipulated to actuate the valve.
However, the device uses an actuator block to actuate the height and tilt adjustment means in conjunction with the lever. Thus, the actuator bloc~ is an additional critical moving part adding increased likelihood for failure of the mechanism.
US-A-4,555,085 also discloses a tilt and height control mechanism for a chair. The described arrangement uses a lever in conjunction with a slide member. As in the device of US-A-4,338,943, the lever- does not directly actuate the height or tilt control means.
All of the above-described mechanisms are complicated in that they require numerous or expensive moving parts. The more critical moving components which a device utilises, the higher the incidence of failure of the device and oftentimes the higher the cost of the device.
What is needed in this field is a mechanism which has few critical moving parts and is inexpensive to manufacture.
According to this invention there is provided a chair control mechanism for controlling the height and tilt of a chair seat, comprising a base plate suitable for mounting a chair seat, said base plate having a pair of spaced apart flanges projecting downwardly from said base O~ S~
THE PRESENT Ihv~ ON relates to chair control mechanisms.
More specifically, the invention relates to office or posture chair mechanisms. In particular the invention relates to mechanisms which control the height and tilting movement of office chairs with a single component.
Office or posture chairs are known in the art.
These chairs oftentimes have mechanisms for altering the seat and backrest height, the angle of the seat and backrest to name a few and promote efficiency in the workplace while also promoting good health. Many of these mechanisms have numerous critical moving arts and therefore have an increased incidence of failure. Moreover, due to their complexity, these mechanisms are often prohibitively expensive for offices with limited budgets or for the individual who works out of the home.
A few representative complex chair control devices are disclosed in US-A-4,364,605, US-A-4,328,943 and US-A-4,555,085. US-A-4,364,605 discloses a device suitable for use on a posture chair. The device uses one lever to control three pneumatic cylinders. One cylinder controls backrest tilt, a second cylinder controls set tilt, and a third cylinder controls seat height. Using three pneumatic cylinders to control three distinct motions increases the cost of such a device.
US-A-4,328,943 discloses another chair control device which also uses one lever to adjust height and tilt of the chair seat. The described chair control mechanism incorporates a base plate mounted on the underside of the ~S~ ' 2l663lo - :~
chair seat, the base plate having a pair of spaced apart flanges projecting downwardly from the base plate. The mechanism further incorporates a bracket having two opposite upstanding side flanges and a bottom portion. The side flanges of the bracket are pivotally mounted to the flanges of the base plate to allow the base plate to tilt relative to the bracket. The bottom of the bracket is adapted for accepting a pneumatic cylinder which has an actuator valve extending into the bracket. A lever is provided which can be manipulated to actuate the valve.
However, the device uses an actuator block to actuate the height and tilt adjustment means in conjunction with the lever. Thus, the actuator bloc~ is an additional critical moving part adding increased likelihood for failure of the mechanism.
US-A-4,555,085 also discloses a tilt and height control mechanism for a chair. The described arrangement uses a lever in conjunction with a slide member. As in the device of US-A-4,338,943, the lever- does not directly actuate the height or tilt control means.
All of the above-described mechanisms are complicated in that they require numerous or expensive moving parts. The more critical moving components which a device utilises, the higher the incidence of failure of the device and oftentimes the higher the cost of the device.
What is needed in this field is a mechanism which has few critical moving parts and is inexpensive to manufacture.
According to this invention there is provided a chair control mechanism for controlling the height and tilt of a chair seat, comprising a base plate suitable for mounting a chair seat, said base plate having a pair of spaced apart flanges projecting downwardly from said base O~ S~
2 1 C 6 3 1 ~
plate, a bracket having two opposite sides and a bottom portion, said sides being pivotally mounted to said flanges of said base plate to allow said base plate to tilt relative to said bracket, said bottom of said bracket being adapted for accepting a pneumatic cylinder, which has an actuator valve extending into said bracket, and a control lever to actuate the valve, wherein the mechanism further comprises a pair of aligned orifices, one in each of said bracket sides for accepting opposite ends of the lever, said lever having a cam thereon, said cam being located between the sides of said bracket, the lever being located such that said lever cam directly contacts and actuates against said valve, and such that said lever is free to directly slidably engage one said base plate flange to prohibit tilting movement of said base plate.
The mechanism may further comprise a spring means for providing a restoring force against said tilting movement of the base plate.
The invention also relates to a chair incorporating a control mechanism as described above, the chair comprising a seat to which the base plate is mounted and a pedestal accepting the pneumatic cylinder.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a chair control mechanism of the present invention with a chair seat and pedestal mounted thereon, N~D Si FIGURE 2 is a side view of the chair control mechanism of Figure 1, FIGURE 2 is a side view of the chair control mechanism of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the chair control mechanism of Figures 1 and 2, FIGURE 4 is a cross-section of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2, FIGURE S is a cross-section of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2 with the lever actuating the valve of the pneumatic cylinder, FIGURE 6 is a cross-section of the mechanism of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2 further illustrating the horizontal motion of the lever necessary to inhibit pivotal movement of the chair seat, FIGURE 7 is a cross-section of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2 further illustrating the rotational movement of the lever, and FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 7.
The present invention provides a novel and elegant solution in the form of a height and tilt control chair mechanism. A single component selectively controls both the height and the tilt of the chair seat. Thus, the preferred embodiment of the invention is inexpensive to manufacture and the reduced number of moving critical parts decreases the probability of device failure. More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a base plate which is suitable for the 216631 ~ - ~
mounting of a chair seat. The base plate has a pair of spaced apart flanges projecting downwardly from the chair seat mounting surface. A bracket adapted to be supported by the pedestal of the chair having two opposite sides and a bottom portion is provided. The sides of the bracket are pivotally mounted to the downwardly projecting flanges of the base plate so that the bottom of the bracket is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the base plate. The pivotal attachment of the base plate with the bracket allows . -9 , the base plate to tiltably ~ove against the restoring foTce of a spring means mounted between the brac~et and the base plate.
The bottom of the bracket has an opening for accepting a pneumatic cylinder which provides a height adjustment means for the chair. A pair of aligned orifices are placed one in each of the bracket sides for accepting opposite ends of a lever.
The additional orifices located on the sides of the bracket are oriented to slidably allow one end of the lever to protrude through the bracket and actuate a base plate flange thus prohibiting tilt of the base plate. The lever thus provides a loc~ing apparatus for the device. The lever has a cam thereon which extends inside and between the sides of the brac~et. h -pneumatic cylinder contains an actuator valve which extends into the bracket such that the cam actuates against the valve to allow height adjustment of the pneumatic cylinder. The lever and cam allows actuation of the pneumatic valve in either of three ways. First, rotating the lever forward or second, rotating the lever bac~ward causes depression or actuation of the pneumatic cylinder valve. Third, simply depressing the lever also causes depression of the valve. Thus, a chair control mechanism is disclosed which uses a single lever to selectively actuate both the height and the tilt controls of the chair.
The chair control mechanism generally indicated at 10 in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is shown in its intended environment, that is, mounting a chair seat of a posture chair of the type used by secretaries and others on the mechanism.
.t~ - i The chair shown in Fig 1 has a pedestal 52 supporte~d b~
casters 54 which support the chair relative to the floor and allow easy rolling movement of the chair along the floor. A
chair column 56 is comprised of a tube 58 positioned centrally on the pedestal 52. The tube 58 accepts a ~as or pneumatic spring 30 which is adjustable in length and allows adjustment of the seat 14 height- Pneumatic or gas springs or cylinders are commonly known in the art and are disclosed in U.S. r~tc..~s 4,364,605;L4,328,943;~4,555,085 which are hereby incorporated by reference. A chair control device 10 which is described more fully below is secured to the upper end of the pneumatic cylinder 30 and is also secured to the underside of a chair -seat 14. The device 10 allows the chair seat 14 to tilt forward or bac~ward, and also controls the actuation valve of 15 a pneumatic cylinder.
The chair control mechanism 10 comprises a base plate 12, preferably comprised of sheet steel. The base plate 12 is formed in any shape including but not limited to a rectangle or sc~lare. The base plate 12 need not be planar, but planar is shown here for ease of explanation. The base plate 12 includes a pair of spaced apart downwardly projecting flanges 16. About sécuring bores 74 are provided on the base plate 12 in spaced apart relation to provide passage therethrough of fastening screws 23 which allow securing of the base plate 12 to the 2S chair seat 14.
The chair control device 10 includes a bracket 18 supported by a pneumatic cylinder 30. The bracket 18 which has two opposite sides 20 and 22 and a bottom portion 24 is shown in Figures 3 and 8.
2l663lo Base plate flanges 16 are provided with a pair of bores 26 disposed opposite and in alignment with one another. Bracket 18 is also provided with bores in the sides 20 and 22 disposed opposite and in alignment with one another. When assem~ling S the chair control device 10 the flange bores 26 and the bracket 18 bores 76 are aligned and a bolt 60 (shown best in Figures 3 through 8) is placed through the aligned bores. The bracket 18 is pivotally mounted to the base plate 12 by bolt 60 allowing the chair seat 14 to tiltably move forward or backward relative to the pneumatic cylinder 30.
The mounting of the bracket 18 to the flanges 16 is done in a manner to allow the bottom portion 24 of the bracket 18 to be in spaced apart relation to the bottom surface of the base plate 12. The bracket 18 is adapted to receive a pneumatic cylinder 30 by placing an opening 28 in the bottom portion 24 of the bracket 18. Bracket 18 may additionally include a downwardly protruding portion 32 containing another opening 34 therein. The opening 34 also accepts the pneumatic cylinder 30~ ~e ~wo spaced apart openings 28 and 34 together cooperate to ensure that the bracket 18 always remains perpendicular and stationary relative to the pneumatic cylinder 30.
A spring 62, shown best in Figures 4 and 8, is terminally mounted to the base plate 12 by a central bolt 78 which extends through the central portion of the spring and is screwably connected to the center of the tension adjuster 66. Spring 62 extends through the bottom portion 24 of bracket 18 through bracket opening 70 and abuts spring plate 80. Spring plate 80 attaches to bracket 18 via tabbed portions 82 which insert into slit openings 84 in the bracket sides 20 and 22. The spring 62 .
provides a resilient force by urging a~ains~ gpring pl~e 8 and provides a force agai~st which the base plate 12 tilts.
Tension adjuster 66 is preferably cup-shaped, however a wing nut or similar component may serve as the tension adjuster 66 as well. Rotating the tension adjuster 66 toward the brac~et 18 increases the tension on the spring 62 impinging upon the tilting cf the base plate 12.
The bracket sides 20 and 22 contain additional aligned oppositely disposed orifices 38 and 40 for accepting opposite ends of a lever 42. The lever 42 is placed into and slid through t~e first orifice 38, through the inside of the bracket 18 and is placed into the second orifice 40. The lever 42, in -combination with a flange 16, provide a locking apparatus for prohibitinq the tilting of the chair seat 14. The lever 42 is harizonta~ly slidable such that the first end 44 of the lever 42 may pr~trude through the second orifice 40 and ac~ua~e against the base plate flange 16. When the first lever end 44 extends ~rough the bracket 18 to ~ tc the flange 16, the first leve~ end 44 prohibits pivotal movement of the chair seat 14. Fig;re~ 4, 5, and 7 illustrate the lever end 44 in a locked po~ition. By pulling the lever handle 50 away from the mechani~ as shown in Figure 6, the first lever end 44 no longer c ~c~c~ against the seat support flange 16 and the base plate 12 is free to pivot.
Flanges 16 preferably include cut-out portions 86 and 88.
First c~t portion 86 is preferably larger than second cut portion 88 so that the second end 90 of lever 42 never contacts flange 1~ even during rocking of the base plate 12 relative to the brac~t 18. Second cut 88 is smaller than first cut 86 to ~E~ S~EE~
ensure that the first end 44 of lever 42 contacts th~ flan~e 16 to prevent rocking of the base plate 12 relative to bracket 18.
Lever 42 also contains a cammed portion 68. In the preferred embodiment the lever 42 is flattened, for example by stamping or grinding, to provide the cam 68. The cam 68 is located between the first end 44 and the second end 90 of the lever~ 42 and is placed within the sides 20 and 22 of the bracket 18. Pneumatic cylinder 30 contains an actuator valve 36 which extends from the top of the cylinder in a manner commonly known in the art. When the valve 36 is depressed, it allows height adjustment of the pneumatic cylinder 30. The cam 68 of the lever 42 is situated so that the cam 68 actuates the valve 36 of the pneumatic cylinder 30.
The valve 36 is actuated by the lever cam 68 in any of three alternate methods. Figures S and 7 illustrate these three methods of actuation. First, in Figure 5, the lever 42 is shown depressed which causes the cam portion 68 of the lever to depress the valve 36 of the pneumatic cylinder 30 allowing height adjustmen~ of the pneumatic cylinder 30 and therefore height adjustment of the chair seat 14. Second, Figure 7 illustrates that lever 42 may be rotated forwardly or third, may be rotated rearwardly. Rotating the lever either direction causes the cam 68 to actuate the pneumatic cylinder valve 36 allowing height adjustment of the cylinder.
Besides depression of the actuator valve 36, lever cam 68 serves an additional function. First orifice '8 is preferably elongated and is placed in the bracket side 20 in a vertical orientation as shown in Figure 2. In order to place lever 42 through the first orifice 38, one must rotate the lever to AMENDED SHEET
align the flattened cam portion 68 of the lever 42 with,,the first orifice 38. During insertion of the levur c~m 68 the-cam 68 is vertical. Once the cam 68 is through the orifice 38 the lever 42 is rotated until the cam 68 is horizontal. Thus, one can no longer slide the lever 42 out of the first orifice without first rotating the lever 42. Cam 68 contributes to prohibit disassembly of the lever 42 from bracket 18.
Likewise, with respect to the second orifice 40, the cam serves a similar purpose to that just described. Second orifice 40 is preferably substantially round in diameter. The size of the second orifice 40 is sufficient to accept the lever end 44 but not large enough to accept the cam 68. Thus, the lever 42 is slidable to engage the flange 16 to impinge tilting of the base plate 12. However, one cannot slide the lever lS completely through the brac~et 18.
Ai~/lENv'D SH~T
plate, a bracket having two opposite sides and a bottom portion, said sides being pivotally mounted to said flanges of said base plate to allow said base plate to tilt relative to said bracket, said bottom of said bracket being adapted for accepting a pneumatic cylinder, which has an actuator valve extending into said bracket, and a control lever to actuate the valve, wherein the mechanism further comprises a pair of aligned orifices, one in each of said bracket sides for accepting opposite ends of the lever, said lever having a cam thereon, said cam being located between the sides of said bracket, the lever being located such that said lever cam directly contacts and actuates against said valve, and such that said lever is free to directly slidably engage one said base plate flange to prohibit tilting movement of said base plate.
The mechanism may further comprise a spring means for providing a restoring force against said tilting movement of the base plate.
The invention also relates to a chair incorporating a control mechanism as described above, the chair comprising a seat to which the base plate is mounted and a pedestal accepting the pneumatic cylinder.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a chair control mechanism of the present invention with a chair seat and pedestal mounted thereon, N~D Si FIGURE 2 is a side view of the chair control mechanism of Figure 1, FIGURE 2 is a side view of the chair control mechanism of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the chair control mechanism of Figures 1 and 2, FIGURE 4 is a cross-section of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2, FIGURE S is a cross-section of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2 with the lever actuating the valve of the pneumatic cylinder, FIGURE 6 is a cross-section of the mechanism of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2 further illustrating the horizontal motion of the lever necessary to inhibit pivotal movement of the chair seat, FIGURE 7 is a cross-section of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2 further illustrating the rotational movement of the lever, and FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 7.
The present invention provides a novel and elegant solution in the form of a height and tilt control chair mechanism. A single component selectively controls both the height and the tilt of the chair seat. Thus, the preferred embodiment of the invention is inexpensive to manufacture and the reduced number of moving critical parts decreases the probability of device failure. More specifically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a base plate which is suitable for the 216631 ~ - ~
mounting of a chair seat. The base plate has a pair of spaced apart flanges projecting downwardly from the chair seat mounting surface. A bracket adapted to be supported by the pedestal of the chair having two opposite sides and a bottom portion is provided. The sides of the bracket are pivotally mounted to the downwardly projecting flanges of the base plate so that the bottom of the bracket is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the base plate. The pivotal attachment of the base plate with the bracket allows . -9 , the base plate to tiltably ~ove against the restoring foTce of a spring means mounted between the brac~et and the base plate.
The bottom of the bracket has an opening for accepting a pneumatic cylinder which provides a height adjustment means for the chair. A pair of aligned orifices are placed one in each of the bracket sides for accepting opposite ends of a lever.
The additional orifices located on the sides of the bracket are oriented to slidably allow one end of the lever to protrude through the bracket and actuate a base plate flange thus prohibiting tilt of the base plate. The lever thus provides a loc~ing apparatus for the device. The lever has a cam thereon which extends inside and between the sides of the brac~et. h -pneumatic cylinder contains an actuator valve which extends into the bracket such that the cam actuates against the valve to allow height adjustment of the pneumatic cylinder. The lever and cam allows actuation of the pneumatic valve in either of three ways. First, rotating the lever forward or second, rotating the lever bac~ward causes depression or actuation of the pneumatic cylinder valve. Third, simply depressing the lever also causes depression of the valve. Thus, a chair control mechanism is disclosed which uses a single lever to selectively actuate both the height and the tilt controls of the chair.
The chair control mechanism generally indicated at 10 in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is shown in its intended environment, that is, mounting a chair seat of a posture chair of the type used by secretaries and others on the mechanism.
.t~ - i The chair shown in Fig 1 has a pedestal 52 supporte~d b~
casters 54 which support the chair relative to the floor and allow easy rolling movement of the chair along the floor. A
chair column 56 is comprised of a tube 58 positioned centrally on the pedestal 52. The tube 58 accepts a ~as or pneumatic spring 30 which is adjustable in length and allows adjustment of the seat 14 height- Pneumatic or gas springs or cylinders are commonly known in the art and are disclosed in U.S. r~tc..~s 4,364,605;L4,328,943;~4,555,085 which are hereby incorporated by reference. A chair control device 10 which is described more fully below is secured to the upper end of the pneumatic cylinder 30 and is also secured to the underside of a chair -seat 14. The device 10 allows the chair seat 14 to tilt forward or bac~ward, and also controls the actuation valve of 15 a pneumatic cylinder.
The chair control mechanism 10 comprises a base plate 12, preferably comprised of sheet steel. The base plate 12 is formed in any shape including but not limited to a rectangle or sc~lare. The base plate 12 need not be planar, but planar is shown here for ease of explanation. The base plate 12 includes a pair of spaced apart downwardly projecting flanges 16. About sécuring bores 74 are provided on the base plate 12 in spaced apart relation to provide passage therethrough of fastening screws 23 which allow securing of the base plate 12 to the 2S chair seat 14.
The chair control device 10 includes a bracket 18 supported by a pneumatic cylinder 30. The bracket 18 which has two opposite sides 20 and 22 and a bottom portion 24 is shown in Figures 3 and 8.
2l663lo Base plate flanges 16 are provided with a pair of bores 26 disposed opposite and in alignment with one another. Bracket 18 is also provided with bores in the sides 20 and 22 disposed opposite and in alignment with one another. When assem~ling S the chair control device 10 the flange bores 26 and the bracket 18 bores 76 are aligned and a bolt 60 (shown best in Figures 3 through 8) is placed through the aligned bores. The bracket 18 is pivotally mounted to the base plate 12 by bolt 60 allowing the chair seat 14 to tiltably move forward or backward relative to the pneumatic cylinder 30.
The mounting of the bracket 18 to the flanges 16 is done in a manner to allow the bottom portion 24 of the bracket 18 to be in spaced apart relation to the bottom surface of the base plate 12. The bracket 18 is adapted to receive a pneumatic cylinder 30 by placing an opening 28 in the bottom portion 24 of the bracket 18. Bracket 18 may additionally include a downwardly protruding portion 32 containing another opening 34 therein. The opening 34 also accepts the pneumatic cylinder 30~ ~e ~wo spaced apart openings 28 and 34 together cooperate to ensure that the bracket 18 always remains perpendicular and stationary relative to the pneumatic cylinder 30.
A spring 62, shown best in Figures 4 and 8, is terminally mounted to the base plate 12 by a central bolt 78 which extends through the central portion of the spring and is screwably connected to the center of the tension adjuster 66. Spring 62 extends through the bottom portion 24 of bracket 18 through bracket opening 70 and abuts spring plate 80. Spring plate 80 attaches to bracket 18 via tabbed portions 82 which insert into slit openings 84 in the bracket sides 20 and 22. The spring 62 .
provides a resilient force by urging a~ains~ gpring pl~e 8 and provides a force agai~st which the base plate 12 tilts.
Tension adjuster 66 is preferably cup-shaped, however a wing nut or similar component may serve as the tension adjuster 66 as well. Rotating the tension adjuster 66 toward the brac~et 18 increases the tension on the spring 62 impinging upon the tilting cf the base plate 12.
The bracket sides 20 and 22 contain additional aligned oppositely disposed orifices 38 and 40 for accepting opposite ends of a lever 42. The lever 42 is placed into and slid through t~e first orifice 38, through the inside of the bracket 18 and is placed into the second orifice 40. The lever 42, in -combination with a flange 16, provide a locking apparatus for prohibitinq the tilting of the chair seat 14. The lever 42 is harizonta~ly slidable such that the first end 44 of the lever 42 may pr~trude through the second orifice 40 and ac~ua~e against the base plate flange 16. When the first lever end 44 extends ~rough the bracket 18 to ~ tc the flange 16, the first leve~ end 44 prohibits pivotal movement of the chair seat 14. Fig;re~ 4, 5, and 7 illustrate the lever end 44 in a locked po~ition. By pulling the lever handle 50 away from the mechani~ as shown in Figure 6, the first lever end 44 no longer c ~c~c~ against the seat support flange 16 and the base plate 12 is free to pivot.
Flanges 16 preferably include cut-out portions 86 and 88.
First c~t portion 86 is preferably larger than second cut portion 88 so that the second end 90 of lever 42 never contacts flange 1~ even during rocking of the base plate 12 relative to the brac~t 18. Second cut 88 is smaller than first cut 86 to ~E~ S~EE~
ensure that the first end 44 of lever 42 contacts th~ flan~e 16 to prevent rocking of the base plate 12 relative to bracket 18.
Lever 42 also contains a cammed portion 68. In the preferred embodiment the lever 42 is flattened, for example by stamping or grinding, to provide the cam 68. The cam 68 is located between the first end 44 and the second end 90 of the lever~ 42 and is placed within the sides 20 and 22 of the bracket 18. Pneumatic cylinder 30 contains an actuator valve 36 which extends from the top of the cylinder in a manner commonly known in the art. When the valve 36 is depressed, it allows height adjustment of the pneumatic cylinder 30. The cam 68 of the lever 42 is situated so that the cam 68 actuates the valve 36 of the pneumatic cylinder 30.
The valve 36 is actuated by the lever cam 68 in any of three alternate methods. Figures S and 7 illustrate these three methods of actuation. First, in Figure 5, the lever 42 is shown depressed which causes the cam portion 68 of the lever to depress the valve 36 of the pneumatic cylinder 30 allowing height adjustmen~ of the pneumatic cylinder 30 and therefore height adjustment of the chair seat 14. Second, Figure 7 illustrates that lever 42 may be rotated forwardly or third, may be rotated rearwardly. Rotating the lever either direction causes the cam 68 to actuate the pneumatic cylinder valve 36 allowing height adjustment of the cylinder.
Besides depression of the actuator valve 36, lever cam 68 serves an additional function. First orifice '8 is preferably elongated and is placed in the bracket side 20 in a vertical orientation as shown in Figure 2. In order to place lever 42 through the first orifice 38, one must rotate the lever to AMENDED SHEET
align the flattened cam portion 68 of the lever 42 with,,the first orifice 38. During insertion of the levur c~m 68 the-cam 68 is vertical. Once the cam 68 is through the orifice 38 the lever 42 is rotated until the cam 68 is horizontal. Thus, one can no longer slide the lever 42 out of the first orifice without first rotating the lever 42. Cam 68 contributes to prohibit disassembly of the lever 42 from bracket 18.
Likewise, with respect to the second orifice 40, the cam serves a similar purpose to that just described. Second orifice 40 is preferably substantially round in diameter. The size of the second orifice 40 is sufficient to accept the lever end 44 but not large enough to accept the cam 68. Thus, the lever 42 is slidable to engage the flange 16 to impinge tilting of the base plate 12. However, one cannot slide the lever lS completely through the brac~et 18.
Ai~/lENv'D SH~T
Claims (6)
1. A chair control mechanism for controlling the height and tilt of a chair seat, comprising a base plate(12) suitable for mounting a chair seat, said base plate having a pair of spaced apart flanges(16) projecting downwardly from said base plate, a bracket(18) having two opposite sides(20,22) and a bottom portion(24), said sides being pivotally mounted to said flanges of said base plate to allow said base plate to tilt relative to said bracket, said bottom of said bracket being adapted(28) for accepting a pneumatic cylinder(30), which has an actuator valve(36) extending into said bracket, and a control lever(42) to actuate the valve, characterised in that the mechanism further comprises a pair of aligned orifices(38,40), one in each of said bracket sides(20,22) for accepting opposite ends of the lever(42), said lever(42) having a cam(68) thereon, said cam(68) being located between the sides(20,22) of said bracket(18), the lever(42) being located such that said lever cam(68) directly contacts and actuates against said valve(36), and such that said lever(42) is free to directly slidably engage one said base plate flange(16) to prohibit tilting movement of said base plate(12).
2. The chair control mechanism of Claim 1 further comprising a spring means(62) for providing a restoring force against said tilting movement of said base plate.
3. A chair control mechanism according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 when the lever(42) is mounted to be capable of a rotational movement about its axis, the lever initially having a position in which the cam(68) is spaced from said valve(36), the arrangement being such that rotation of the lever in either direction brings the cam(68) directly into contact with said valve(36) to actuate the vale.
4. A chair control mechanism according to Claim 3 wherein the lever(42) is mounted so that the lever may be depressed, the arrangement being such that when the lever(42) is depressed, the cam portion(68) directly contacts and actuates said valve(36).
5. A chair control mechanism according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the cam portion(68) of the lever(42) has a predetermined shape, one of said pair of aligned orifices(38) having a corresponding predetermined shape so located that in order to insert the lever(42) through the first orifice(38) the lever must be rotated to a position in which the cam portion(68) of the lever(42) is aligned with the orifice(38).
6. A chair incorporating a control mechanism according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the chair comprises a seat(154) two which the base plate(12) is mounted and a pedestal(52) accepting the pneumatic cylinder(30).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US8403693A | 1993-06-28 | 1993-06-28 | |
| US08/084,036 | 1993-06-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2166310A1 true CA2166310A1 (en) | 1995-01-05 |
Family
ID=22182480
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2166310 Abandoned CA2166310A1 (en) | 1993-06-28 | 1994-06-24 | Chair control mechanism |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU7116194A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2166310A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1995000051A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7396081B2 (en) * | 2003-05-16 | 2008-07-08 | Leggett & Platt Canada Co. | Chair height adjustment mechanism |
| US11864661B2 (en) | 2021-05-05 | 2024-01-09 | Steelcase Inc | Body support assembly and methods for the use and assembly thereof |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4328943A (en) * | 1979-06-11 | 1982-05-11 | Knoll International, Inc. | Control mechanism for a chair or the like |
| DE2929428C2 (en) * | 1979-07-20 | 1983-10-20 | Fa. Willibald Grammer, 8450 Amberg | Seat, especially office chair |
| DE8133573U1 (en) * | 1981-11-17 | 1983-05-05 | Fritz Bauer + Söhne oHG, 8503 Altdorf | LOCKABLE LOCKING DEVICE FOR SEAT PARTS OF SEAT FURNITURE |
| IE66891B1 (en) * | 1991-02-15 | 1996-02-07 | Ashfield Eng Co Wexford Ltd | An adjustment mechanism for furniture |
-
1994
- 1994-06-24 AU AU71161/94A patent/AU7116194A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-06-24 WO PCT/US1994/007246 patent/WO1995000051A1/en active Application Filing
- 1994-06-24 CA CA 2166310 patent/CA2166310A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU7116194A (en) | 1995-01-17 |
| WO1995000051A1 (en) | 1995-01-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |