EP1674002A1 - Sitzeinheit - Google Patents

Sitzeinheit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1674002A1
EP1674002A1 EP05028305A EP05028305A EP1674002A1 EP 1674002 A1 EP1674002 A1 EP 1674002A1 EP 05028305 A EP05028305 A EP 05028305A EP 05028305 A EP05028305 A EP 05028305A EP 1674002 A1 EP1674002 A1 EP 1674002A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
backrest
seat part
seating unit
footrest
unit according
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05028305A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Vincent Haelvoet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nv Grovi
Original Assignee
Nv Grovi
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nv Grovi filed Critical Nv Grovi
Publication of EP1674002A1 publication Critical patent/EP1674002A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
    • A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
    • A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
    • A47C1/034—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts including a leg-rest or foot-rest
    • A47C1/035—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts including a leg-rest or foot-rest in combination with movably coupled seat and back-rest, i.e. the seat and back-rest being movably coupled in such a way that the extension mechanism of the foot-rest is actuated at least by the relative movements of seat and backrest

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a seating unit, comprising a seat part, a backrest which can be placed in a sitting position and a reclining position and a footrest which can be placed in a folded-in and in a folded-out position, in which a mechanism is provided in order to transmit the movements of the backrest to the seat part and to the footrest so that, by moving the backrest from the sitting position to the reclining position, the angle of inclination of the seat part is changed and the footrest is moved from the folded-in to the folded-out position, and in which the movements of the backrest are transmitted to the footrest via a transmission mechanism with a transmission ratio greater than 1.
  • This patent application relates in particular to a relaxing chair.
  • Chairs or seats which are intended for use as garden furniture (inter alia garden chairs) or for use in the nursing profession (nursing homes, hospitals and the like) or for use in connection with a medical or paramedical profession, or for installation in a means of transport (e.g. buses, trains, aeroplanes and the like) are also covered by the scope of the invention.
  • seating unit is used in its broadest sense to denote any device on which an individual can sit and/or lie. Therefore, chairs, sofas and beds are also within the scope of the invention.
  • connection engages near the pivot point of the footrest, this pivot point has to absorb a relatively large load. Consequently, this pivot point will be more susceptible to wear and/or defects resulting from the excessive load.
  • connection engages at a great distance from the pivot point of the backrest, a mechanism is produced which takes up a relatively large amount of space in terms of height. As the mechanism should be incorporated into the chair in such a manner that it is invisible, the seat part will have to be made relatively high. This considerable limits the freedom of design of new seating unit models.
  • the points of engagement of the connection thus have to be selected as a function of the desired angular displacement, so that adverse effects relating to the overall height and the load on the pivot point cannot be prevented or can only be prevented to an insufficient degree.
  • the seat part is incorporated into the mechanism in such a manner that it is moved backwards if the backrest is brought into the reclining position. By moving the seat part backwards, the footrest is moved into its folded-out position. If the backrest is returned to the sitting position, the seat part is moved forwards again.
  • the disadvantage of this kind of mechanism is that the various movements of the seat part lead to a forward or backward shift of the centre of gravity. In order to be able to guarantee the stability of the chair at each point in time, this should be taken into account when designing a seating unit of this type.
  • German patent DE 10 73 175 B describes a chair having the features described in the first paragraph of the present description. Via a connecting rod, the backrest is connected to a rotatable arm, which is in turn connected to the footrest via a first rod and to the seat part via a second rod.
  • the mechanism which is situated underneath the seat part thus comprises three rods and a rotatable arm, so that there is a relatively large mechanism underneath the seat part of this known chair. This limits the freedom of design if the mechanism is to be incorporated into the seat part in such a manner that it is invisible.
  • the movements of the backrest are transmitted to the seat part and to the footrest via the same rotatable arm, as a result of which the pivot point of the rotatable arm is also subjected to a relatively great load.
  • the distance between the point of engagement of the connecting rod and the pivot point of the rotatable arm also has to be sufficiently large to enable the required force to develop in order to move both the seat part and the footrest, as a result of which the installation of the mechanism into a seat part of limited height is difficult to achieve.
  • a seating unit having the features indicated in the first paragraph of this patent application in which the seat part and the backrest are directly connected to one another and are rotatable about respective fixed shafts which are spaced apart, so that a rotation of the backrest causes a rotation of the seat part.
  • Such a mechanism can be of compact design in terms of height and the mechanism may be arranged at a small distance from the bottom of the seat.
  • the mechanism can be designed such that it has fewer parts and is consequently simpler, inter alia compared to the mechanism known from DE 10 73 175 B. In addition, it is sufficient for the transmission mechanism to develop a smaller force. If this mechanism is designed to have a rotatable arm, the pivot point of said arm is also subjected to a smaller load and the mechanism can be designed to have a limited height.
  • a 'direct connection between the seat part and the backrest' has to be understood as meaning a connection in which the seat part and the backrest are not connected to one another via an intermediate mechanism or via one or more intermediate rotatable connecting elements.
  • a part or element which is fixedly connected to (is secured to) the backrest or the seat part is regarded as being a part which forms part of this backrest or this seat part.
  • the direct connection referred to here may thus also be achieved by connecting the one part (the seat part or the backrest) to an element or intermediate piece which is fixedly connected to (forms part of) the other part (the backrest or the seat part).
  • the additional advantage resulting from the fact that the transmission ratio is greater than 1 is that the movement of the backrest is amplified, as a result of which the location of the points of engagement of the mechanical connection on the backrest and the footrest no longer has to be chosen based on the angular rotations of the backrest and footrest, but instead these points of engagement can now be chosen freely, based on the desired overall height of the mechanism and of the load on the pivot points.
  • the seat part can only be rotated about a fixed shaft and is not displaceable in a forward or backward direction, so that there is no need to take a shift of the centre of gravity into account when designing such a seating unit.
  • the footrest is not hingedly connected to the seat part and folding out is effected by a separate mechanism.
  • This mechanism moves forward during the folding out and a number of rods thereof become visible. This is not only disadvantageous from an aesthetic point of view, but since these rods are also accessible, these systems also leave something to be desired from the point of view of safety.
  • the seating unit is preferably provided with a footrest which is hingedly connected to the seat part.
  • the seating unit according to the invention is preferably designed such that the said transmission mechanism is situated in a central zone under the seat part.
  • the said transmission mechanism preferably comprises a lever arm rotatable in a fixed point, in which a first and a second rod are connected to this lever arm at different distances from this fixed point, and in which the rod is connected to the backrest with the connection point which is closest to the fixed point of rotation while the other rod is connected to the footrest.
  • Such a transmission mechanism is particularly simple and yet sufficiently reliable and efficient.
  • the said transmission ratio is preferably less than 3 and, in a particularly preferable embodiment of the invention, is between 2.3 and 2.7.
  • a transmission ratio of approximately 2.5 is particularly advantageous.
  • the seating unit is designed such that the backrest comprises at least one arm which forms an angle with the plane of the backrest, that this arm is rotatable about a fixed shaft, and that the arm is rotatably connected to the seat part at a connection point which is situated on the side of the backrest relative to the fixed shaft.
  • Each rotation of the backrest is consequently transmitted to the seat part by means which are very simple to produce.
  • the connection point By suitable selection of the connection point, it can be ensured that the maximum displacement of the backrest corresponds to an appropriate inclination of the seat part.
  • the seating unit according to the invention comprises a resilient element which exerts a force on the backrest, as a result of which the latter is forced into the sitting position. Consequently, a user of the seating unit can move effortlessly from the reclining position into the sitting position, thus creating a very user-friendly seating unit.
  • the said resilient element is, for example, a gas spring which can be placed in a locking position in order to keep the movable parts of the seating unit in a fixed position.
  • a manually operable lever is provided in order to move the gas spring in and out of its locking position.
  • the seating unit according to the present invention is a relaxing chair or a chair or seat for use as garden furniture (inter alia garden chairs), for use in the nursing profession or for use in connection with a medical or paramedical profession or for installation in a means of transport for people.
  • garden furniture inter alia garden chairs
  • Figs. 1 and 2 the mechanism of a chair according to the invention is shown in greatly simplified form in order to illustrate its operational principle.
  • the chair comprises three movable parts, i.e. a seat part (1), a backrest (2) and a footrest (3), which are attached to a fixed supporting structure or frame (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2).
  • the seat part (1) is rotatable about a fixed shaft (4).
  • the backrest (2) comprises a fixed supporting arm (5) which is secured to and thus forms part of the backrest (2), and extends towards the front of the chair and is itself rotatable about a second fixed shaft (6).
  • the backrest (2) is consequently rotatable about the fixed shaft (6).
  • this fixed supporting arm (5) is also connected to the seat part (1) at a point (7) located between the fixed shaft (6) and the backrest (2), so that the backrest (2) and the seat part (1) are directly connected to one another.
  • the footrest (3) is hingedly connected to the seat part (1) via an arm (8) which is rotatably connected at a point (9) on the front of the seat part (1).
  • a lever arm (10) which is rotatably connected at a fixed point of rotation (11) is situated under the seat part (1).
  • the lever arm (10) is connected to a first rod (13) which is connected to the backrest (2) at a point (16).
  • the lever arm (10) is connected to a second rod (15) which is connected at a point (17) to the footrest (3).
  • the distance (b) between the said second point (14) and the fixed point of rotation (11) is greater than the distance (a) between the said first point (12) and this point of rotation (11), so that a specific displacement of the first rod (13) is converted into a greater displacement of the second rod (15) by means of the lever arm (10).
  • the lever arm (10) thus acts as a transmission mechanism with a transmission ratio greater than 1.
  • the ratio (b/a) of, on the one hand, the distance (b) between the second point (14) and the fixed point of rotation (11) and, on the other hand, the distance (a) between the first point (14) and the fixed point of rotation (11) is approximately 2.5.
  • the relaxing chair comprises a fixedly connected supporting construction with two side panels (20) which extend on both sides of the seat part (1). Furthermore, the chair also comprises a shaft (4) which extends in the width direction of the chair, between the side panels (20).
  • the seat part (1) of which only the frame is illustrated here, is rotatable about this fixed shaft (4).
  • two forwardly directed slats (21) having upwardly directed end parts are provided.
  • an arm (8) is pivotably attached, each arm (8) in turn being provided in order to be connected to the footrest (3) (not shown in this figure).
  • the arms (8) are hingedly connected to the slat (21), so that the footrest (3) can be rotated from a folded-in position to a folded-out position, and vice versa.
  • the shaft (4) also supports two fixed supports (22) which extend backwards near the ends of the shaft (4).
  • the arms (5) are pivotably connected to the frame of the seat part (1) by means of a cylindrical intermediate piece (24), which is in line with the profiled section (23). This connection is denoted with reference numeral (7).
  • the shaft (4) also has two parallel legs (25) which are directed obliquely downwards.
  • Each leg (25) is connected, near its bottom end, to a respective lever arm (10), in such a manner that the two legs (25) are situated between the two lever arms (10).
  • the lever arms (10) are pivotably mounted on a shaft (11) extending between the lever arms. This shaft (11) is thus a fixed pivot point of the lever arms (10).
  • Each of these lever arms (10) is furthermore connected to a first (13) and a second rod (15).
  • the first (13) and the second rods (15) are pivotably connected at a first point (12) and at a second point (14), respectively, the latter being located further from the shaft (11), of the lever arms (10).
  • the distance between the shaft (11) and the connecting points (12) of the first rods (13) is approximately 4 cm
  • the distance between the shaft (11) and the connecting points (14) of the second rods (13) is approximately 10 cm, so that the transmission ratio is approximately 2.5.
  • the other ends of the first rods (13) are pivotably connected to the downwardly directed parallel platelets (26) which are fixedly connected near the centre of the said profiled section (23).
  • the other ends of the second rods (15) are provided in order to be connected to the footrest (3) via a pivot point (17).
  • a pin (16) runs between the downwardly directed platelets (26) which are provided on the profiled section (23), on which pin (16) the body of a gas spring (27) is mounted.
  • the movable part of this gas spring (27) is mounted on the fixed shaft (11) of the lever arms (10).
  • the backrest (1) is forced into the sitting position.
  • the gas spring (27) can be brought into and out of the locking position and the chair can be retained in the sitting position or the reclining position or in any desired intermediate position.
  • the chair's supporting structure now comprises a fixed bridging plate (29) which extends from the one side to the other side underneath the seat part (1) and has an upright flank on both sides.
  • the fixed pivot points (4), (6) are provided on the upright flanks of this bridging plate (29).
  • Two parallel legs (30) extending obliquely upwards are provided on the centre section of the bridging plate (29).
  • the fixed pivot point (11) of the lever arms (10) is located on a respective leg (30) provided on the bridging plate (29).
  • the movable part of the gas spring (27) is rotatably mounted on a pin (31) which connects the top ends of the legs (30) provided on the bridging plate (29).
  • the footrest (3) is directly connected to the seat part (1) at the pivot points (32).
  • the relaxing chair according to Fig. 3 is suitable for use in the medical profession or the nursing profession (rest homes and the like), while the other embodiment (according to Figs. 4 to 6) is more suitable for use as a typical relaxing chair.
  • the backrest (2) when the gas spring (27) is not in the locking position, the backrest (2) can be tilted backwards, this backrest (2), including the profiled section (23), rotating about the fixed pivot point which is denoted by reference numeral (6).
  • the point (7) where the backrest (2) is connected to the seat part (1) is in this case moved down, so that the seat part (1) is entrained and will rotate about the fixed shaft (4) (Fig. 3) or the fixed pivot points (4) (Fig. 4 to 6) with the same direction of rotation. Consequently, the seat part is moved to a position where it is inclined downwards towards the back (see Figs. 5 and 6).
  • connection point (16), where the body of the gas spring (27) is connected to the movable backrest (2) is kept at a fixed distance relative to the fixed point (11), (31) to which the movable part of the gas spring (27) is connected.
  • this gas spring (27) When the gas spring (27) is taken out of the locking position, this gas spring (27) will exert a force in order to move the backrest (2) into the sitting position, enabling the user to return to the sitting position effortlessly.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chairs For Special Purposes, Such As Reclining Chairs (AREA)
EP05028305A 2004-12-23 2005-12-23 Sitzeinheit Withdrawn EP1674002A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE2004/0633A BE1016703A5 (nl) 2004-12-23 2004-12-23 Zitmeubel.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1674002A1 true EP1674002A1 (de) 2006-06-28

Family

ID=34923725

Family Applications (1)

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EP05028305A Withdrawn EP1674002A1 (de) 2004-12-23 2005-12-23 Sitzeinheit

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EP (1) EP1674002A1 (de)
BE (1) BE1016703A5 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008022704A1 (de) * 2006-08-22 2008-02-28 Rudolf Thomas Schneider Verwandelbarer sitz-/liegestuhl
EP2250941A3 (de) * 2009-05-12 2011-10-26 Hodry Metallwarenfabrik R.Hoppe Ges.m.b.H & Co. KG Mehrsitziger Fernsehsessel

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1131243A (fr) * 1954-09-20 1957-02-19 Siège de repos avec repose-jambes
DE1073175B (de) 1960-01-14 Wassili Luckhardt, Berlin-Dahlem Sitz- und Liegestuhl mit beim Verschwenken der Rückenlehne gleichzeitig verstellbarem Sitz und ein- und ausschwenkbarer Fußstütze
US3001817A (en) * 1958-02-14 1961-09-26 Anton Lorenz Leg-rest and actuating mechanism
US3086815A (en) * 1959-07-10 1963-04-23 Anton Lorenz Reclining chair of the multiple movement type
GB2275867A (en) * 1993-01-27 1994-09-14 Production Tools Seat recliner mechanism
JP2000152840A (ja) * 1998-11-20 2000-06-06 Shiroki Corp リクライニングチェア

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1073175B (de) 1960-01-14 Wassili Luckhardt, Berlin-Dahlem Sitz- und Liegestuhl mit beim Verschwenken der Rückenlehne gleichzeitig verstellbarem Sitz und ein- und ausschwenkbarer Fußstütze
FR1131243A (fr) * 1954-09-20 1957-02-19 Siège de repos avec repose-jambes
US3001817A (en) * 1958-02-14 1961-09-26 Anton Lorenz Leg-rest and actuating mechanism
US3086815A (en) * 1959-07-10 1963-04-23 Anton Lorenz Reclining chair of the multiple movement type
GB2275867A (en) * 1993-01-27 1994-09-14 Production Tools Seat recliner mechanism
JP2000152840A (ja) * 1998-11-20 2000-06-06 Shiroki Corp リクライニングチェア

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 09 13 October 2000 (2000-10-13) *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008022704A1 (de) * 2006-08-22 2008-02-28 Rudolf Thomas Schneider Verwandelbarer sitz-/liegestuhl
EP2250941A3 (de) * 2009-05-12 2011-10-26 Hodry Metallwarenfabrik R.Hoppe Ges.m.b.H & Co. KG Mehrsitziger Fernsehsessel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE1016703A5 (nl) 2007-05-08

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