EP1079714B1 - Seat with tilting seating surface - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to seats requiring a lift of the seat for dimensional and / or normative constraints, in particular intended to equip the rooms receiving the public (amphitheatres, cinemas, theaters, conference rooms, theaters, multipurpose rooms, etc. ...).

Conventionally, the seats with tilting seat comprise at least one base having a substantially longitudinal axis and which is optionally fixed a backrest, and relative to which is determined a horizontal axis, the seat comprising a first portion projecting forwards relative to the horizontal axis and essentially intended to receive the bed of a user, and a second portion projecting towards the base.

As we know, a tilting seat must stand alone when the seat is not used and this, imperatively and unfailing over time to remain in compliance with the rules and standards for the layout of rooms open to the public and, in particular, to comply with safety standards.

The tilting seat must perform an automatic angular rotation movement of the order of 80 to 110 degrees around the axis horizontal above when the seat thus equipped is not used, so as to adopt a substantially vertical position.

For this purpose, either the second part of the seat is provided with a counterweight, so as to overcome the gravity forces generated by the first part, or a spring is added, for example a spiral spring on the horizontal axis or a coil spring connecting one of the parts of the seat to the base, or even a metal leaf spring actuated by an off-axis shaft, so that the spring is bandaged when opening the seat and restores the energy stored to close the seat when the user gets up.

In all cases, there is provided a set of elastic stops, for example of rubber, to brake and stop the angular rotation movement of the seat at the end of the race. This set of stops necessarily entails a thickening of the seat at the closing mechanism, which results in a residual opening of the seat and therefore an additional space of the seat when the seat is raised.

A lift by inertia remains, in any case, sluggish and may not be done properly due to a simple untimely friction of the seat or friction at the axis of rotation.

The various spring means for lifting are, for their part, subjected to mechanical fatigue, since the spring remains in tension when the seat is open in the position of use of the seat. This results in a relatively short durability and significant maintenance of each seat to regularly change the spring means.

Obviously, it also results in such means a substantial acceleration of the angular movement of the seat which then collide at full angular speed end stops. The seat then bangs at the end of the race against the stops provided for this purpose, which causes an unacceptable sound slam from then, for example in an amphitheater so equipped, that the speaker did not finish his lecture or that the show continues.

In addition, the arrival at high angular speed of the seat on the elastic stops results in significant wear of the latter, and these are therefore wear parts that must be changed regularly to have substantially constant characteristics.

Moreover, the residual opening of each seat in the raised position is also a function of the wear of the stops, and therefore the use of each seat. This results in a residual opening different from one seat to another, and quickly a misalignment of the raised seats of the same row of seats. This is unsightly and can lead to a problem with respect to the safety standards that determine the required width of the aisle between the seat and the tablet or seat facing it.

Moreover, these seats are, as we have just said, subject to a number of very restrictive standards, since they are used in public places, and among them, the sustainability factor is very important. . Durability factor means the number of opening-closing cycles before substantial deterioration of the residual opening of the seat. Thus, it is known that a seat equipped with a lifting means of the spring seat generally does not support more than 40,000 cycles before maintenance or exchange of the lifting means.

The document US-A-3 594 037 describes an aircraft flight attendant seat comprising an actuating cylinder, but whose seat passes from the vertical to the horizontal and vice versa along an axis of rotation that is not materialized. essentially mobile. The backrest accompanies the seat in its movement and is not fixed. The seat is referenced to the ground, since the problem of steps of different heights, as in an amphitheater, does not arise in an airplane.

The invention lies in this context and its primary purpose is to obviate the aforementioned drawbacks, while respecting the standards in force.

The invention also aims to significantly increase the durability factor, that is to say the number of opening-closing cycles of the seat without degradation, so as to reduce the maintenance requirements of the seats.

The invention also aims to eliminate the requirement of a set of stops fitted to each seat to avoid any additional residual opening due to wear of these stops.

According to the invention, the seat frame encloses a gas cylinder whose end is fixed to the base and the other end is fixed to a portion of the seat.

The axis of rotation of the seat according to the invention is fixed, and the seat is referenced relative to the base and not with respect to the ground. In addition, the file is fixed.

As those skilled in the art will readily understand, the gas cylinder overcomes the problems of angular acceleration and squeaks inherent spring systems or gravity, and, therefore, allows a return to speed substantially constant and controlled seating.

The implementation of a pneumatic cylinder for modifying the seat of a surface is however well known as such in the art.

Thus, US-A-4,534,594 discloses an aircraft chair whose leg portion is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder.

European patent EP-A-0 269 528 describes a bed of which some elements are adjustable by means of a jack. The cylinder is a self-locking device with a compensation mass that can take into account the weight of the person resting on this bed.

WO-A-95/14412 also discloses a backrest and bifurcator bed comprising a lockable pneumatic cylinder for locking in the chosen position.

Also known are devices with gas cylinders under pressure for assisted recovery of the trunk door or a hatchback of a motor vehicle.

The problems posed here, namely the smooth raising (at a substantially constant rotation speed) of the seat of a seat to avoid spurious end-of-stroke noise, and a frankness with respect to the issues of premature wear of some components to reduce the maintenance requirements of the seats, do not find a solution suggested in the aforementioned documents.

The present invention thus relates to a seat with a tilting seat around a horizontal axis, intended in particular for equipping rooms which are open to the public, such as amphitheatres and / or theaters, comprising at least one base having a substantially longitudinal axis and which is optionally attached a file, and relative to which is determined a horizontal axis, the seat comprising a first portion projecting forwardly relative to the horizontal axis, and a second portion projecting from the horizontal axis towards the base.

According to the invention, the frame encloses a gas cylinder whose one end is fixed to the base and the other end is fixed to the second part of the seat.

Preferably, the distance between the horizontal axis and the longitudinal axis of the base is between 2 and 15 cm approximately.

The horizontal axis is carried by an intermediate piece projecting from the longitudinal axis of the base to which it is attached.

Advantageously, an opening is made in the base facing the second part of the seat, so as to accommodate at least partially this second part.

• les Figures 1 et 2 représentent schématiquement en coupe dans l'axe longitudinal du piétement un siège pour amphithéâtre conforme à l'invention, respectivement avec l'assise ouverte et avec l'assise relevée ;
• la Figure 3 illustre schématiquement un mode de fixation de l'assise au piétement ;
• la Figure 4 représente schématiquement en coupe longitudinale un siège conforme à l'invention ;
• la Figure 5 illustre plus en détails la liaison entre l'assise et le piétement ;
• les Figures 6 et 7 illustrent un autre mode de réalisation d'un siège non compris dans l'invention, notamment pour équiper une salle de spectacles, selon lequel la partie arrière de l'assise est abaissée pour déterminer la position ouverte ou d'utilisation du siège ;
• la Figure 8 représente schématiquement en vue arrière un siège conforme à l'invention, notamment pour équiper un théâtre, mettant en oeuvre deux piétements chacun étant pourvu d'un mécanisme de relevage, et
• la Figure 9 illustre la mise en oeuvre de l'invention pour la réalisation d'un fauteuil pour un théâtre ou équivalent.

The invention will be understood by them, and other objects, advantages and features thereof will appear more clearly on reading the following description of preferred embodiments given as non-limiting and to which three drawing boards. are annexed to which:

• Figures 1 and 2 show schematically in section in the longitudinal axis of the base a seat for amphitheater according to the invention, respectively with the open seat and with the raised seat;
• Figure 3 schematically illustrates a method of fixing the seat base;
• Figure 4 shows schematically in longitudinal section a seat according to the invention;
• Figure 5 illustrates in more detail the connection between the seat and the base;
• Figures 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of a seat not included in the invention, in particular to equip a theater, according to which the rear portion of the seat is lowered to determine the open position or use from the headquarters ;
• 8 is a schematic rear view of a seat according to the invention, particularly for equipping a theater, using two legs each having a lifting mechanism, and
• Figure 9 illustrates the implementation of the invention for the production of a chair for a theater or equivalent.

Referring now to the Figures which have just been briefly described, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown in cross-section a tilting seat of the type comprising a single base 12, for example cylindrical, having an axis longitudinal 14 forming an angle determined with the vertical. This seat illustrates a first embodiment given for illustrative purposes. Of course, several other neighboring embodiments can be made with more or less padding of the seat and back depending on the type of use of the seat. Similarly, armrests (not shown) may be provided.

The angle β of the leg with the vertical, between 0 to about 15 degrees and preferably equal to about 10 degrees, promotes the comfort of the user, since the base 12 has a backrest 16 also inclined and recessed relative at seat 20, with a very ergonomic position. In addition, this inclination also promotes safety since it allows to obtain a seat which, when the seat 20 is raised, does not include parts protruding from the base, which increases all the space made free for the passage in front of the seat. For example, the footprint can be reduced to just 13 cm.

In the example shown in Figure 2, the raised position of the front portion of the seat 20 is the position in which the seat is not used.

The seat 20 is fixed to the base 12 by means of an intermediate piece 22 defining a fixed horizontal axis 24 around which the seat 20 will turn. The distance between this fixed horizontal axis 24 and the longitudinal axis 14 of the base 12 is between 2 and 15 cm approximately, depending on the value chosen for the angle β.

The piece 22 also makes it possible to fix the angle of opening of the seat 20 and to recover the forces generated by the weight of the user.

The seat 20 consists of two parts integral with each other. A first portion 32 having, for example a double curve and / or padding, protrudes forwardly of the horizontal axis 24 and is here intended to receive the bed of the user when the seat 20 is open. The second portion 30 projects from the fixed horizontal axis 24 towards the base 12 and is connected to the lifting mechanism 40.

As best seen in Figure 5, the second portion 30 of the seat 20 projects into the base 12 through an opening 42 formed therein. The length of the portion of the second portion 30 penetrating into the opening is, of course, less than the diameter of the base 12.

As those skilled in the art will understand, it is totally useless for the upper and lower edges of this opening 42 to be provided with rubber stops or not, since the abutment opening of the seat 20 is simply constituted by the end of the intermediate piece 22, as mentioned above, while the closure end stop is constituted by the lifting mechanism itself.

The lifting mechanism 40 is constituted by a conventional gas cylinder, one end 48 is fixed to the base 12, and the other end 50 is fixed to the end of the second portion 30 of the seat 20, on which he acts to lift the seat like a lever.

Such a gas cylinder is well known, and it is useless to describe further operation here. The essential advantage of using such a jack is that it provides a rotational movement angular seat 20 does not have an undesirable acceleration of the lift. On the contrary, since the relaxation of the gas it contains slows down the end of the race, which allows the seat 20 not to come crashing against end stops which are, moreover, omitted here , which ensures a silent and effective lifting of the seat 20, or against the seat back.

In addition, such a gas cylinder may comprise a wear or play compensating device, and an additional braking means, both being known per se.

There is shown in Figure 3 a variant of the embodiment. Here, if the horizontal axis 24 is fixed relative to the base 12, the seat 20 is movable relative to this horizontal axis 24. As seen in Figure 3 which shows, in facial section, the junction of the room intermediate 22 and the seat 20, the intermediate piece 22 is constituted by a rail 54 cooperating with a path 56 formed in the lower part of the seat 20 to change the position of the horizontal axis 24 relative to the seat 20 depending on the opening angle of the seat. Thus, it provides a complementary sliding of the seat 20 relative to the axis 24 to further reduce the projected space on the floor of the seat when the seat 20 is raised. The rail 54 may optionally be rotatably mounted relative to the intermediate piece 22 if this is necessary.

Referring now to Figure 4, the seat according to the invention is particularly intended to equip the amphitheatres. It is known that in the amphitheatres, each row of adjacent seats occupies a determined level 64 separated from the previous and subsequent levels 66 by a significant difference in level 62 and often variable. This usually results in a problem that the base of a seat is used to carry the work table 60 of the seat immediately behind him, and it is therefore necessary to adjust the height of the tablet 60 according to the height of the drop 62. problem is solved with the seat of the invention in that the base 12 is telescopically mounted with a first member 70 which carries the seat 20 and the lifting mechanism 40 while taking up the vertical forces, while a second element 72 carries the subsequent shelf 60. In addition, this second element 72 takes the horizontal forces generated by the weight of the user by its fixing 74 provided on the upper bearing 66 in the manner of a buttressing.

It has thus well determined a lift seat designed to equip public rooms, such as amphitheatres and theaters, with the desired benefits, namely a quiet operation, and a simple adaptation to any type of room , which complies with the safety standards in force, and which does not include fast wear parts. In addition, this type of seat can significantly increase the surface of the tablet associated with it because of the small footprint in the ground when the seat is raised.

The tablet 60 can also be, therefore, including its attachment to the base, designed to significantly limit the usual effect of sound box.

It should be noted that, although FIGS. 1 to 5 show the lifting mechanism 40 in the upper part of the base 12, it could equally well be placed in the lower part of the same base 12, with a similar inverted operation.

The reassembly of the seat of the seat according to the invention is therefore at constant and controlled speed, is braked at the end of the race without stops, without significant mechanical aging, with an automatic catching of the game, without squealing or squeaking due to presence of a spring, without rebound or slam of the seat on the backrest, without free rotation as with a means of lifting by counterweight, and with a factor of durability and withstand in time more than twice higher than those of seats with spring lift, and, in particular, compliant with European standard EN 12727 (level 4).

In fact, laboratory tests have shown that the number of opening-closing cycles without significant degradation of the residual opening is increased to more than 100,000, which reduces the maintenance requirements of the seat.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show respectively in the closed and open positions a seat according to another embodiment not included in the invention, according to which the lowered position of the rear portion 30 of the seat 20 corresponds to a position of use of the seat.

In this embodiment, the axis of rotation 24 of the seat 20 is carried by an arm 80, one end 84 is fixed to the base 12 and around which it is mounted for free rotation The rear part or second part 30 here it rises (instead of going down commet in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5), which means that it is the first part 32 of the seat 20 which will go down during the 'lifting' of the seat .

The mechanism, always constituted by a gas cylinder 40, then operates in inverse relation to that of the mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 5, and it is useless to describe it here further. It is fixed to the base 12 by its first end 82 which may advantageously but not necessarily be distinct from the axis 84.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, a lift-up seat having excellent ergonomics and all the essential parameters of which are easily controllable, especially with regard to the opening and closing of the seat, in order to reduce 'clutter and the weight of the latter.

Of course, backrest and seat can be padded at will.

Although it has been shown and described what is currently considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is obvious that the skilled person may make various changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. the present invention as defined below.

In particular, although the base has been described as affecting a substantially cylindrical cross-sectional shape, it is obvious that it could equally well affect a square or triangular shape in section, or even affect the shape of a T or d. a U in cross section, the lifting mechanism is then accessible directly without the need to dismantle the base completely, for example to make the exchange.

However, it is desirable that this lifting mechanism is and remains inaccessible to the user of the seat and its neighbors to avoid pinch-like accidents and any undesirable deterioration.

Similarly, the base has been described as unique and centered in the axis of symmetry of the seat, but it is obvious that the base can be shifted relative to this axis of symmetry, for example for aesthetic reasons, or be constituted two parallel elements of which one receives or both receive a lifting mechanism as schematically shown in Figure 8.

Likewise, the invention can be easily adapted so that the lifting mechanism of the seat is located inside the backrest itself, so as to separate the seat itself from its base in order to separate the problems. related to the base of those related to the seat.

Thus, it is schematically shown in Figure 9 a particular chair intended to equip a theater or equivalent. In this example, the seat has a padded portion 92; it is the same for the backrest which consists of a hard plate 98, for example of wood, and a padding 96. The backrest is fixed to the base 12 by means of a fork 100 and armrests 94 are provided on both sides of the seat.

The lifting mechanism 40 of the seat is here housed between the hard plate 98 and padding 96 of the folder. This gives a very aesthetic chair and all the aforementioned advantages.

Claims (9)

1. A seat having a seat proper that pivots about a horizontal axis (24), which seat is designed in particular to equip public assembly rooms, such as amphitheaters and/or places of public entertainment, said seat including at least one stand having a substantially longitudinal axis (14) and to which a seat back (16) is optionally fastened, and with respect to which a stationary horizontal axis (24) is determined;
   said seat being characterized in that the seat proper (20) comprises two portions that are integral with each other, namely a first portion projecting forwards from the stationary horizontal axis (24) and designed to receive the posterior of the user, and a second portion projecting from the stationary horizontal axis (24) towards the stand (12), said stand (12) enclosing a gas actuator (40) having one end (48) fastened to said stand (12) and the other end (50) fastened to said second portion (30) of said seat proper (20).
2. A seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between said horizontal axis (24) and said longitudinal axis (14) of said stand (12) lies in the range of approximately 2 cm to approximately 15 cm.
3. A seat according to claim 2, characterized in that said horizontal axis (24) is carried by an intermediate part (22) that projects from the longitudinal axis (14) of said stand (12) to which it is fastened.
4. A seat according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that said distance is variable.
5. A seat according to claim 3, characterized in that said intermediate part (22) constitutes a rail (56) co-operating with said seat proper (20) so as to modify the position of said horizontal axis (24) with respect to said seat proper (20) as a function of the angle of opening β of said seat proper (20).
6. A seat according to any preceding claim, characterized in that an opening (42) is provided in said stand (12) facing said second portion (30) of said seat proper (20), so as to receive said second portion (30) at least in part.
7. A seat according to claim 8, characterized in that the length of the fraction of said second portion (30) that penetrates into said opening (42) is less than the diameter of said stand (12).
8. A seat according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said longitudinal axis (14) forms a determined angle β to the vertical, said stand (12) being mounted telescopically, a first element (70) of said stand (12) carrying said seat proper (20) and said actuator (40) while taking up the vertical forces, whereas a second element (72) of said stand (12) takes up the horizontal forces generated by the weight of the user.
9. A seat according to claim 8, characterized in that said second element (72) is suitable for carrying a worktable (30) for a user placed behind said seat.

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