EP0808116B1 - Pendulating stool - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP96/00376 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 5, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 5, 1997 PCT Filed Jan. 30, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/24274 PCT Pub. Date Aug. 15, 1996The device concerns a rocking stool comprising a seat surface 1 and a support structure 6 having a base 3, wherein arranged at the base end of the support structure 6 is a contact means 5 which can be pressed against the floor when the rocking stool is loaded and which is arranged centrally beneath the seat surface and which serves as a support in the rocking movement. The contact surface is pressed against the floor when the stool is loaded by virtue of elastic deformation of the support devices arranged on the support structure 6 and thus provides such a good frictional connection between the rocking stool and the floor that a travel movement of the rocking stool during the rocking movement is prevented.

Description

The invention relates to a swivel stool with a seat part, an intermediate part and a foot part, wherein at the latter held the intermediate part tiltable and resettable is and from a central column and a spring construction consists.

Such is known from the generic DE-A-42 10 098 Pendulum stool known. The intermediate part is in the embodiment 1 from a coil spring and one arranged concentrically within the coil spring Rod, which is fixed at its upper end to the seat part is connected and at the lower end via a washer as well as a screw-on nut preloads the coil spring. Furthermore, the intermediate part consists of two one inside the other sliding hollow cylinders, which the coil spring surrounded and of which the lower hollow cylinder over an elastically flexible element is connected.

However, this swivel stool exhibits due to its constructive Construction of the intermediate piece no possibility for the height adjustment of the seat part.

Another swivel stool is known from DE-GM 75 31 129. However, this is less a stool than being forced to work seat for working people are standing in the workplace. This work seat points one adjustable in height and with every movement of the person using the saddle seat. An over a ball joint located on a disc base enables the Pendulum movement and one integrated in the base Tension spring mechanism causes the automatic reset in the neutral location. The height adjustment of the seat and a limited suspension take place in the intermediate part integrated gas pressure spring.

This work seat or swivel stool has the disadvantage that he only over limited in the longitudinal axis of the intermediate piece the gas spring cushioned and thus swinging around the longitudinal axis of the intermediate piece is not possible.

The object of the invention is so a stool to further develop that it allows active dynamic sitting, and the possibility of integrating a height adjustment of the seat part creates. Active dynamic Sitting means that in addition to the pendulum motion Swinging during normal sedentary work in the Longitudinal axis of the intermediate piece in the deflected state allows becomes.

This object is achieved in that in Force flow of the seat weight between the seat part and the Foot section the central pillar and the spring construction in Are connected in series and between the central column and the spring construction is formed a bearing guide.

By designing the intermediate part as a central pillar and as a spring construction and due to the compact arrangement of central pillar and spring construction, just like through the bearing management for the relative movement occurring here between the central column and the spring construction, it is possible with the dimensions of a stool a resilient movement in the longitudinal axis of the intermediate part to create the a comfortable active-dynamic while sitting Swing guaranteed over a long travel.

The central pillar and the are advantageous Spring construction arranged concentrically, here the Spring construction a dynamic and a static spring mount have between which a spring clamped is. The warehouse management is conveniently between the central column and the static spring mount.

The central pillar is advantageously as one in it Length adjustable spring column, such as a gas spring and has at least one vertical guideway which interacts with the warehouse management.

The camp management conveniently includes one in height arranged two-part storage, being as bearing elements preferably balls or rollers are used.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the Bearing elements pressed spring-loaded against the guideway. When using non-spring loaded Bearing elements are in the pendulum and swinging movement Manufacturing inaccuracies are noticeable and have an impact very annoying when sitting actively and dynamically.

It is favorable to have at least two bearing elements per storage to be arranged on the guideway.

The bearing elements are advantageously in Bearing element receptacles held, the bearing element receptacles either via compression springs, or via an elastic deformable area, or over an elastic deformable projection the bearing elements on the guideway to press. The compression springs or the elastically deformable The area or the projections press the bearing elements radially inwards.

The guideway is advantageously designed as a tube, its first end with the lower end of the spring column and its second end with the dynamic end of the spring holder connected is.

Furthermore, it is favorable between the guideway tube and the spring column, which is preferably a gas spring is designed to arrange a plain bearing bush. At a active-dynamic continuous pendulum swinging motion first springs around the longitudinal axis of the intermediate part Line the spring construction and minimally the gas spring, so that the plain bearing bush primarily in the height adjustment used.

The bearing guide is preferably on a main body arranged in which the inventory are spring loaded and held radially displaceable. Due to the spring-loaded bearing elements, dimensional inaccuracies balanced and there is thus a even, trouble-free and almost silent swinging about the longitudinal axis of the intermediate part.

The main leg body is preferably over a Wedge connection attachable to the foot section.

It is favorable that the distance between the dynamic and the static spring mount can be adjusted. For this purpose there is a rotatable union nut on the main leg base designed as a spring support over which can bias the spring. By biasing the spring the pendulum stool can be adjusted to the weight of the people adjust so that the seat is not uncomfortable when putting it on drops far or slightly. This biasing mechanism is advantageously via a rotatable union nut formed on the main leg body, over which the spring is pre-tensioned by turning the union nut or can be relaxed.

The reset device is conveniently a vibrating metal formed between the intermediate part and the foot part and can be set via a handwheel in the restoring force become. For an ideal pendulum movement it is very favorable that the intermediate piece around a point close to the ground can be tilted in the foot section.

Fig. 1

den Pendelhocker in einer Seitenansicht sowie in einem Halbschnitt,

Fig. 2

den unteren Abschnitt des Zwischenteils aus Fig. 1 in einer größeren Ansicht,

Fig. 3

den Bereich des Zwischenteils mit der Lagerführung,

Fig. 4a

den Querschnitt durch das Zwischenteil im Bereich der Lagerführung,

Fig. 4b

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus der Fig. 4a und

Fig. 4c

eine Ausführungsvariante zu Fig. 4b.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

the pendulum stool in a side view and in a half section,

Fig. 2

the lower section of the intermediate part of Fig. 1 in a larger view,

Fig. 3

the area of the intermediate part with the warehouse management,

Fig. 4a

the cross section through the intermediate part in the area of the bearing guide,

Fig. 4b

an enlarged section of FIGS. 4a and

Fig. 4c

an embodiment of Fig. 4b.

Fig. 1 shows a side view and a half section a pendulum stool, consisting of a seat part 1, a Intermediate part 3 and a foot part 2. The intermediate part 3 has a central column 4 and a spring construction 5 on and can be tilted at its lower end in foot part 2 and resettable. The central pillar 4 is as Height-adjustable spring column 10, usually as a gas spring educated. The seat part 1 is over with the spring column 10 a connector 22 is firmly connected and can a bearing 23 at the lower end of the spring column 10 around the Turn the longitudinal axis of this spring pillar. For height adjustment the seat 1 is a lever 24 on the underside arranged, which when actuated so on the spring column acts that this is adjusted in height in a known manner can be. The central column 4 further comprises a vertical guideway 11, which acts as the spring pillar 10 surrounding tube formed and at the bottom connected to the spring column 10 via the bearing 23 rotatably is.

To achieve the desired active-dynamic Sitting behavior is the central pillar 4 in the power flow Spring construction 5 connected in series.

A reverse arrangement, in which the power flow only over the spring construction and then over the central pillar, is also possible.

The spring structure 5 consists of a static Spring holder 8, a spring 9 and a dynamic Spring mount 7. The dynamic spring mount 7 is fixed connected to the upper end of the guideway 11. For the Relative movement between the central column 4 and the Spring structure 5 is between the spring structure 5 and the guideway 11 a bearing guide 6 is formed. The bearing guide 6 is in the illustrated embodiment of two bearings 12, which in the upper bracket part a main leg body 15 are held. The leg base body 15 forms the lower end of the central column 4 and is on a wedge connection 16 the construction of the foot part 2 attached. Of the Leg base body 15 has in its lower region an external thread on which a union nut 17th is screwed on, which also serves as a support for the Spring 9 is used. Through the union nut 17, the spring 9 are biased and thus the length by which the Seat 1 drops under load, based on the weight of the the person using it.

The intermediate part 3 is on the wedge connection 16 a reset device 21 is attached to the foot part 2. The Reset device 21 is designed as a vibrating metal and consists of a substantially tubular upper part 25, the upper end of which serves for the wedge connection 16, a lower part 27, which is fixed to an arm 31 of the foot part 2 is attached and one between the upper part 25 and Lower part 27 arranged elastic material 26. The lower part 27 encompasses the upper part 25 in a cup-shaped manner the elastic material 26 not only between the End faces but also arranged between the side walls is. The upper part 25 and the lower part 27 are connected to each other via a screw 29, wherein via an adjusting nut cooperating with the screw 29 28 the reset device 21 biased and thus the Restoring force can be adjusted. In one in FIG. 1 variant shown is between the head the screw 29 and the upper part 25 another elastic Element 30 arranged which the behavior of the Reset device 21 designed softer and more comfortable. The foot part 2 is usually almost closed Ring formed on which centrally over the arm 31st the reset device 21 and thus the intermediate part and the seat part are supported. Deforms under load the arm 31 elastic, so that the swivel stool has a friction-promoting contact device 33 at the lower end the reset device 21 pressed onto the floor becomes.

In the ring-shaped foot part 2 of the swivel stool are castors or balls 34 arranged, which in the load Compress foot section 2. It could also be Rolls or Balls according to DIN standard are used, which in the spring-loaded Condition locked, with light load on Allow moving the pendulum stool and when complete Cushion the load in the foot section 2.

Fig. 2 shows the lower part of the intermediate part 3 as well the reset device 21 of the pendulum stool from FIG. 1 in an enlarged view. With active-dynamic Swinging about the longitudinal axis of the intermediate part 3 arises a relative movement between the guideway 11 and the Spring construction 5. This relative movement is caused by the bearing guide 6 already mentioned above between the spring construction 5 and the guideway 11 allows. This Bearing management 6 is explained in more detail in the following figures. In the extended state, the path of the spring 9 by a stop 35 at the lower end of the vertical Guideway 11 limited. This stop 35 works with one Paragraph on the main leg body 15 together. To the To silence the way upwards is between the main leg body 15 and the stop 35 a rubber ring 36 interposed. To limit the way down is an elastic above the head of the screw 29 Stop 32 provided.

Fig. 3 shows the section of the intermediate part in which the bearing guide 6 is arranged. The warehouse management 6 exists in the illustrated embodiment from two bearings 12, which are held in the leg base body 15 and cooperate with the guideway 11. The bearings 12 have four per level on the circumference of the guideway 11 distributed bearing elements 13, these bearing elements 13 designed either as rollers or as balls could be. (See also Fig. 4a). In the illustrated Embodiment are the bearing elements 13 as Rollers formed, the roller axes on both sides in bearing element receptacles 18 are included. These bearing element recordings 18 are in the leg base body 15 to a certain extent Dimension held radially displaceable and in the direction the guideway 11 spring loaded. For spring loading two versions are shown. In the first variant, the Bearing element receptacles 18 on compression springs 19 at one Stand leg base 15 surrounding pipe 37 and press thus the bearing elements 13 in the direction of the guideway 11. The tube 37 is from above over the upper tubular Area of the main leg body 15 inserted and acts with the leg base body 15 for fixing bearings 12 together.

In the second embodiment, the Bearing element receptacles 18 each have an elastic projection 20, softer due to its elastic deformation also the bearing element receptacles 18 and thus the Bearing elements 13 presses against the guideway 11.

4a shows a section through the one already shown in FIG. 3 described storage 12, Fig. 4b shows an enlarged section from Fig. 4a, this embodiment variant the Spring loading of the bearing elements 13 via compression springs 19, which are supported on the tube 37.

4c shows the same detail as in FIG. 4b, but in a different design variant. In Fig. 4c the bearing receptacles 18 have the elastic projection 20 on, which is also supported on the tube 37 and thus the bearing elements 13 presses against the guideway 11.

The invention is not based on the illustrated embodiment limited. For example, there is a parallel one Arrangement of spring and central column as telescopic column, between the seat part and foot part when using the Inventory management possible. Regarding the Warehouse management can e.g. several in regular vertical Intervals arranged, each in an angular amount twisted bearing elements can be provided.

Claims (23)

1. A rocking stool having a seat portion (1), an intermediate portion (3) and a base portion (2), wherein the intermediate portion (3) is mounted tiltably and returnably on the base portion and consists of a central pillar (4) and a spring structure (5), characterised in that the central pillar (4) and the spring structure (5) are connected in series in the flow of force of the seat weight between the seat portion (1) and the base portion (2) and a bearing guide (6) is provided between the central pillar (4) and the spring structure (5).
2. A rocking stool as set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the central pillar (4) and the spring structure (5) are arranged concentrically and the spring structure (5) has a dynamic (7) and a static (8) spring mounting, between which a spring (9) is operatively disposed.
3. A rocking stool as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the bearing guide (6) is arranged between the central pillar (4) and the spring structure (5).
4. A rocking stool as set forth in one of claims 1 through 3 characterised in that the central pillar (4) is a spring pillar (10) with at least one vertical guide track (11) co-operating with the bearing guide (6).
5. A rocking stool as set forth in one of claims 1 through 4 characterised in that the spring pillar (20) is adjustable in respect of its length.
6. A rocking stool as set forth in at least one of claims 1 through 5 characterised in that the bearing guide (6) includes an at least two-part bearing means (12) arranged at a spacing in respect of height.
7. A rocking stool as set forth in claim 6 characterised in that at least two bearing elements (13) are arranged on the guide track (11) for each bearing means (12).
8. A rocking stool as set forth in claim 7 characterised in that the bearing means (12) has balls or rollers as bearing elements (13).
9. A rocking stool as set forth in claim 8 characterised in that the bearing elements (13) are pressed under a spring loading against the guide track (11).
10. A rocking stool as set forth in claims 8 through 9 characterised in that the bearing elements (13) are held in bearing element mountings (18).
11. A rocking stool as set forth in claim 10 characterised in that the bearing element mountings (18) press the bearing elements (13) against the guide track (11) by way of compression springs (19).
12. A rocking stool as set torch in claim 10 characterised in that the bearing element mountings (18) have an elastically deformable region and press the bearing elements (13) against the guide track (11) by virtue of the elastic deformation.
13. A rocking stool as set forth in claim 10 characterised in that the bearing element mountings (18) have an elastically deformable projection (20) which presses the bearing elements (13) against the guide track (11).
14. A rocking stool as set forth in one of claims 4 through 13 characterised in that the guide track (11) is a tube whose first end is connected to the lower end of the spring pillar (10) and whose second end is connected to the dynamic spring mounting (7).
15. A rocking stool as set forth in claims 4 through 14 characterised in that a plain bearing bush (14) is arranged between the guide track tube (11) and the spring pillar (10).
16. A rocking stool as set forth in one of claims 1 through 15 characterised in that the bearing guide (6) is arranged on a support leg main body (15).
17. A rocking stool as set forth in claim 16 characterised in that the bearing mountings (18) are radially displaceably held in the support leg main body (15).
18. A rocking stool as set forth in one of claims 16 and 17 characterised in that the support leg main body (15) can be fitted onto the base portion (2) by way of a spline connection (16).
19. A rocking stool as set forth in one of claims 2 through 18 characterised in that the spacing between the dynamic (7) and the static (8) spring mounting is adjustable.
20. A rocking stool as set forth in at least one of claims 16 through 19 characterised in that a rotatable union nut (17) is provided as a spring support means on the support leg main body (15), by way of which nut the spring (9) can be prestressed.
21. A rocking stool as set forth in one of claims 1 through 20 characterised in that a return device (21) in the form of a rubber-metal swing connector is provided between the intermediate portion (3) and the base portion (2).
22. A rocking stool as set forth claim 21 characterised in that the return force of the return device (21) is adjustable.
23. A rocking stool as set forth in at least one of claims 1 through 22 characterised in that the intermediate portion (3) is tiltable about a point near the ground in the base portion (2).

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