EP1457140B1 - Arm support, particularly for office chairs and swivel chairs - Google Patents

Abstract

The arm rest [2] is mounted on a carrier and can be adjusted relative to a central pillar [4] projecting from the chair. The angle and vertical height and horizontal position may be adjusted to suit the user. The unit has slides [22] and the set position is fixed by screws. A release lever [3] is on the underside.

Description

The invention relates to an armrest, in particular for an office or swivel chair with adjustability in depth. Width and angle according to the preamble of claim 1.

Office chairs or swivel chairs often have approximately at right angles to the backrest arranged armrests, with a backrest associated with the rear dome and a front dome, which are fixed with an armrest stand on the seat frame. It is known, such armrests form height adjustable, so that the user of the chair can adjust the height of the armrests themselves according to his wishes. The position of the armrests in relation to the backrest of the chair in the horizontal plane is not adjustable, whereby a fixed position of the armrests is given. Other positioning, as caused for example by changing positions of the arm with the working hand - such as due to a constant change from the keyboard to the mouse at a computer workstation - does not allow this arrangement.

Such armrests are known for example from the German utility model DE 298 09 099 or DE 299 01 666. These armrests are held aligned on an armrest stand on the seat frame of the chair substantially perpendicular to a backrest, arranged vertically adjustable, and provided with an armrest with Armauflagepolster, which has a back facing the back and facing away from this front dome. This armrest is formed by a hollow body, which is assembled form-fitting from a shell with Armauflagepolster and a lower part with lower plate and is mounted on an upper end plate of the armrest support. However, the adjustment options described there are limited because the locking means allow only limited adjustments.

Thus, the task results in such an armrest so on form that an increase in the number of adjustment and an improvement and simplification of the adjustment is achieved, the production of such armrest should be economical and their use to be designed securely.

This task is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent main claim, the back dependent dependent claims describe advantageous developments and preferred embodiments.

For the longitudinal and transverse adjustment of the longitudinal slide is joined together with a cross slide to the lower part of the armrest so that a cavity between the two is formed. In this cavity, an insert is provided which is fixedly connected to the armrest support, and has the transverse grooves, engage in the provided on the inside of the cross slide guide rails and so define the mobility of the cross slide.

The necessary to attach the insert to the armrest support connecting bolts are guided through corresponding slots in the longitudinal slide or in the slide insert. These longitudinal holes extend in the longitudinal slide in the longitudinal direction of the armrest, while the slots in the carriage insert are perpendicular thereto. Opposite this insert, the lower part is so at least in the longitudinal direction to the armrest and in the transverse direction adjustable.

The longitudinal slide is designed as a latching trough plate whose locking recesses are directed towards the interior of the cavity. With these locking recesses acts at least one locking pin, which has the insert, and which is aligned at right angles to the longitudinal slide. The head of this locking pin engages in one of these locking recesses and fixes the corresponding position of the armrest, including the locking pin is pressed by elastic forces in its rest position in one of the selected locking recesses. Advantageously, the locking pin is designed to be displaceable in the axial direction and pressed with a compression spring supported on the insert into the locking position. The arrangement of the detent recesses, distributed over a region of the inside of the longitudinal slide, ensures that in addition to the longitudinal movement and the transverse movement is fixed by means of the locking pin.

In order to further obtain a pivotability of the armrest, it is advantageous if the insert bridge-like design and the carriage insert is arranged as a separate part in the cavity of the bridge, so that the slide insert in this cavity of the bridge-like insert is rotatable relative to this, wherein this slide insert has the transverse grooves, which cooperate with the guide rails of the cross slide, whereby the armrest follows a pivoting of the cross slide relative to the insert. In order to achieve a fixation of the set position, the slide insert is provided with a second locking pin which extends at right angles thereto. Under the bridge-like recessed part of the insert further locking recesses are provided, which are arranged on a circular path, wherein the radius of the circular path corresponds to the distance of this second locking pin from the center of rotation of the cross slide in the insert. This locking pin is also pressed by elastic force in its rest position. For this purpose, this locking pin is axially movable and provided with a spring supported in the carriage insert. Thus, the lower part thus formed is pivotable about a central axis of the insert and fixed in selected positions.

The free mobility of the armrest is disturbing in some cases, so there is a need to lock this free mobility. For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment, a blocking device is provided with which at least the longitudinal and transverse movement of the locking pin can be locked in its axial mobility. For this purpose, the locking pin is guided with its end opposite the latching head by the insert or the carriage insert so that this end emerges on the body of the insert at least when changing the Armauflagen position. To prevent this emergence is a blocking lever is provided which has a backdrop that can be adjusted by moving or pivoting so that the free end of the locking pin gets up or goes free. Is this end on, the locking pin can not be lowered, and the detent position is blocked; if the detent pin is released, it can be lowered, so that the detent head can slide during a movement out of the initially set detent recess and engage in a new detent recess.

An economical production of this armrest is made possible by all or at least some of the individual parts as plastic injection-molded parts are formed. This allows a rational and so cost-effective production, which leads to dimensionally stable parts. The dimensional stability thus ensured also ensures that the assembly of the armrest can be carried out economically.

Fig. 1:

Armauflage (Ansicht - persp. Schema);

Fig. 2:

Armauflagen-Unterteil (Untersicht):

Fig. 3:

Armauflage (Querschnitt);

Fig. 4a:

Armauflage, Raststifte blockiert (Querschnitt),

Fig. 4b:

Armauflage, Raststifte entsperrt (Querschnitt);

Fig. 5:

Armauflage, Zusammenstellung in Art einer Explosionsdarstellung.

The essence of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 5; show it

Fig. 1:

Armrest (view - persp. Diagram);

Fig. 2:

Armrest base (soffit):

3:

Armrest (cross section);

Fig. 4a:

Armrest, locking pins blocked (cross-section),

Fig. 4b:

Armrest, locking pins unlocked (cross section);

Fig. 5:

Armrest, compilation in the manner of an exploded view.

An armrest for an office or swivel chair is placed with an armrest 2 on an armrest support 1, which is attached by means of an armrest holder 4 to the frame of the rotary or office chair (not shown in detail). As a rule, while the armrest support 1 is inserted into the armrest holder 4 that a height adjustment mechanism (not shown in detail) allows adjusting the altitude of the armrest to the height of the user. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the armrest holder 4 is sleeve-shaped and takes the armrest support 1 in the manner of a telescopic guide. The height adjustment mechanism is arranged in the armrest holder 4 and can be triggered with the release lever 3.

The armrest support 1 has at its led out of the armrest holder 4, free end on an upper end plate 1.1, which is provided with means for fastening the armrest 2. This armrest 2 is fixed with fastening screws 2.3 on the longitudinal slide 22 of the lower part 20. The armrest 2 itself is provided with the cushion support 2.1 and a circumferential overlap 2.2. In the cavity created thereby, the means for adjusting the armrest 2 in the direction of depth "T" or width "W" and the pivot angle Housed "Z". In the lower part 20, an insert 30 is arranged, which is screwed on the mounting screws 1.2 with the upper end plate 1.1 Armrestenträgers 1, said fixing screws 1.2 through slots 28 in the bottom of the insert 30th are guided. This insert 30 is so - apart from the height adjustment - to be regarded as quasi-frame-fixed. The lower part 20 of the armrest 2 is freely movable relative to this insert 30, its storage can be regarded as floating.

In order to achieve this floating mounting of the lower part 20 on the insert 30, this has an insert piece receptacle 26 which is covered with the longitudinal slide 22. This longitudinal slide 22 is screwed by means of the lower part screws formed by 4 lower part screws 21 to the lower part holder 26, wherein the lower part screws 21 extend through aligned in the longitudinal direction of the arm rest 2 slots 23. Thus, a longitudinal movement of the longitudinal slide 22 is achieved with respect to the insert piece receptacle 26, wherein the longitudinal slide 22 is provided with side guides 25.

In order to fix the set position, the insert piece 26 facing the inside of the longitudinal slide 22 is provided with locking recesses 24 which cooperate with at least one corresponding locking head on the insert 30 so that the latching noses pressed under the action of elastic forces in the corresponding detent recesses 24 become. If a force is exerted on the armrest, the locking head gives way, the fixation is canceled and the armrest 2 can be moved freely. In the illustrated embodiment, a first locking pin 35 is provided on the insert piece 30, which is arranged at right angles to the insert piece 30 projecting. The cooperating with the longitudinal slide 22 end of this locking pin 35 is formed as a latching head 36, while the opposite free pin end 37 is guided by the body of the insert so that the locking pin is movable in its axial direction.

In order to press the latching head 36 into one of the latching recesses 24, a spring 38 is provided, which is supported on the insert body 30, so that the latching head 36 is pressed in the direction of the longitudinal slide 22.

In the illustrated embodiment, the insert 30 is recessed bridge-like in its center. In the thus formed bridge-like cavity 31, a cross slide 40 is arranged. This is guided in transverse guides 27, for which purpose 40 transverse grooves 41 are provided in the underside of the cross slide, in which the transverse guides 27 engage. Thus, the entire lower part 20 relative to the insert 30 is also movable in the transverse direction, it goes without saying that the geometry of insert 30 and insert receptacle 26 specify the limits of this mobility and need to be adapted.

Advantageously, this bridge-like cavity 31 and the transverse slide 40 inserted therein are (partially) cylindrical, so that the lower part 20 is also pivotable relative to the insert 30 (see Fig. 2). As a result of this embodiment, a further degree of freedom for movability is achieved in the essentially horizontal plane. In order to achieve a fixation of the selected position for this degree of freedom, this cross slide is provided with a second locking pin 45, the locking head 46 cooperate with locking recesses 32 in the bridge-like cavity. These locking recesses 32 are distributed in a circular arc, wherein the radius of the circle corresponds to the distance of the second locking pin 45 from the center of the cavity 31 forming cylinder. In this embodiment, the locking head 46 with one of the locking recesses 32 cooperate so that the pivotal movement is fixed. Again, the locking head 46 is formed by the insert 30 facing the end of the second locking pin 45, while its opposite, free end is guided by the body of the cross slide 40, wherein the locking head 46 by a supported in the cross slide 40 spring 48 in the selected Rastmulden 32 is pressed. The release of the fixation takes place in the same manner as described in connection with the release of the fixation of the longitudinal or transverse movement.

In order to hold the armrest 2 fixed in a selected position, a blocking lever 50 is provided so that its provided at the end of the lever 51 under the or by the body of the insert 30 and the cross slide 40 guided free end / ends of the first Locking pin 35 and / or the second locking pin 45 is so that their free ends 37 and 47 are supported thereon. This support blocks the mobility of the locking pins 35 and 45 in its axial direction, so that when acting on the armrest 2 forces the locking heads 36 and 46 can slide with the corresponding locking recesses 24 and 32, respectively. The free mobility of the armrest 2 is blocked in the degree of freedom associated with this locking pin. To lift this blockade, the blocking lever is displaced so that the lower part of the link 51 comes to rest under the free end 37 and 47 of the locking pin 35 and 45, respectively. In this situation, the respective locking pin can move 35 or 45 in the axial direction, the associated locking head can slide from the associated latching recesses 24 and 32, so that acting on the armrest 2 forces this to change the depth or width displaced in the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction and / or can also be pivoted to change the angular position of the armrest 2.

In the illustration, the blocking lever 50 is pivotable. For this purpose, the blocking lever 50 has a stub shaft 52, which is guided by the insert piece receiving 20 and the upper end plate 1.1 Armrestenträgers 1, and on the form and locks an actuating lever 53 is set so that it is led out on the armrest support 1 and is available as a control element to remove the blockage. It goes without saying that the slide 51 of the blocking lever 50 can also be designed so that the cancellation of the blocking of the longitudinal and transverse movement on the one hand and the pivoting movement on the other hand takes place in different positions of the blocking lever 50. If, for example, in the case of an actuating lever 53 the blocking position is in the middle position, the blocking of the two degrees of freedom of the longitudinal and the transverse movement and with a swiveling to the right can be swung to the right left the blocking of the other degree of freedom of the pivoting movement are repealed. In an analogous manner, this can also be done with a (not shown) sliding lever.

Claims (15)

1. An arm rest, particularly for an office chair or swivel chair which is adjustable in depth, width and angle and comprises an elbow rail (2) and an arm rest support (1), wherein an insert (30) firmly secured to said arm rest support (1) is disposed in said elbow rail (2) between a longitudinal slide (22) and an insert holder (26), which insert holder (26) has at least one window (28), through which fastening means (1.2) are guided which connect said arm rest support (1) to said insert (30), and said insert holder (25) is displaceable relatively to said insert (30) and is capable of being locked in a selected position with locking means disposed on said insert (30), characterized in that said longitudinal slide (22) and said insert holder (26) are combined in such a manner that a cavity is formed between them, in which said insert (30) firmly secured to said arm rest support (1) is provided, and that the inside of said longitudinal slide (22) has evenly distributed locking grooves (24) which cooperate with at least one latch pin (35) disposed in said insert (30) and extending at right angles thereto as locking means to permit fixation of the adjusted position of said elbow rail (2), said latch pin (35), which is axially displaceable in said insert (30), has a latch head (36) which is pressed into one of said locking grooves (24) by the forced produced by a spring (38) compression mounted in said insert.
2. An arm rest as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said through openings in said longitudinal slide (22) for accommodating said mounting screws (1.2) are in the form of oblong holes (23) extending in the longitudinal direction of said elbow rail (2).
3. An arm rest as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that transverse grooves (41) are provided on said insert (30) and cooperate with cross guides (27) disposed on the base of said insert holder (26) are, cooperation, said through openings provided in said base of said insert holder (26) for said mounting screws (1.2) are in the form of oblong holes (28) extending in the transverse direction relative to said elbow rail (2).
4. An arm rest as defined in claim 3, characterized in that said insert (30) is recessed to form an arch and in the resulting cavity a transverse slide (40) is inserted which exhibits said transverse grooves (41) adapted for cooperation with guide strips (27) on the base of said insert holder (26).
5. An arm rest as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said arched recess (31) of said insert (30) has a partially cylindrical cross section, in which said transverse slide (40) is inserted in such a manner that it can be swivelled about a centre axis.
6. An arm rest as defined in claim 5, characterized in that said transverse slide (40) is provided, for the purpose of arresting the swinging movement, with a second, axially displaceable latch pin (45) which extends at right angles to locking grooves (32) and cooperates therewith, said locking grooves being located below said arched cavity (31) of said insert (30), arranged in a circle, whose radius is equal to the distance of said second latch pin (45) from said centre swivel axis of said transverse slide (40) in said insert (30), which second latch pin (45) is pressed by a resilient force into its locked position in one of said locking grooves (32) in said arched part (31) of said insert (30).
7. An arm rest as defined in claim 6, characterized in that said second latch pin (45) is provided, for the purpose of producing the said resilient force, with a spring (48) compression mounted in said transverse slide (40).
8. An arm rest as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a blocking means is provided by means of which at least said first latch pin (35) designed to stop longitudinal and transverse movement is prevented from moving in an axial direction.
9. An arm rest as defined in claim 8, characterized in that said end (37) of said latch pin (35) which is remote from its latch head (36) is guided through said insert (30) or said transverse slide (40) such that this end (37) projects from said body of said insert (30) or sliding insert (40) respectively at least when said arm rest position is changed, and that a blocking lever (50) is provided which has a rocker arm (51) which can be adjusted by shifting or swivelling such that said free end (37) of said latch pin (35) either stands upright thereon or moves freely past the same.
10. An arm rest as defined in claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that said blocking lever (50) is in said form of a sliding lever.
11. An arm rest as defined in claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that said blocking lever (50) is in said form of a swivelling lever.
12. An arm rest as defined in claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that said rocker arm (51) of said blocking lever (50) is embodied such that in said blocking position all latch pins that are capable of being blocked (35, 45) stand upright on said rocker arm (51), and in said unlocked position at least one of said latch pins (35, 45) and preferably both latch pins (35, 45) are freely movable.
13. An arm rest as defined in claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that said blocking lever (50) has reset means for resetting to the blocking position.
14. An arm rest as defined in claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that said blocking lever (50) embodied as a swivelling lever is provided with a swing shaft (52) which is guided through the upper plate (1.1) of said arm rest support (1) and whose free end is provided with an operating lever (53).
15. An arm rest as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that all or at least some of said individual parts are in said form of injection moulded plastics elements.

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