EP1698254B1 - Seating furniture with backrest and armrest - Google Patents

Abstract

The furniture has an arm rest (19) supported about a swivellable axis which is horizontally and parallelly directed to a backrest (17). A locking mechanism is integrated in the arm rest and is locked in swivelling positions. The lock is removed by actuation of pusher arranged under the arm rest, is raised in removed condition and is lowered to an off-swivellable position. The arm rest is locked in each position by releasing the pusher.

Description

The invention relates to a chair with a backrest and at least one armrest, in particular an office chair or a chair for room seating. In chairs, an armrest serves to support an arm and possibly separate it from two adjacent seats in a row of chairs. A height adjustment of the armrest is used to adapt comfort to different sized people. An Armstützenverschwenkung serves to alternatively grant a comfortable seat width by folding away the armrest or possibly separate by a folding out of the armrest adjacent seats and create an armrest.

From the US-A-5,702,157 is a customizable armrest for a vehicle seat known. This armrest is pivotally mounted about a horizontal, directed parallel to the backrest pivot axis. For height adjustment, it can be locked in a plurality of pivoting positions with an integrated in the armrest locking device. The locking device comprises a fixedly arranged on a support part of the backrest axle body. The armrest is arranged on the axle body with a hub enclosing the axle body and can be pivoted about the axle body. On Achskörper latching teeth are formed and a latch is hinged to the armrest. This latch can be in several positions of the armrest with the latching teeth engaged and are brought by folding away the armrest up against the spring force of the latch against the axle body pulling spring out of engagement. By this upward folding away the armrest, the latch is pivoted so far that the spring is guided past the pivot axis of the latch and she keeps this in the pivoted position. When folding down the armrest, the latch is pivoted back to the axle in the lowest position of the armrest, so that the spring pulls the latch against the locking teeth on the axle. The armrest can now be pivoted only upwards, wherein the latch skips a latching tooth to the other. To be able to lower the armrest again, it must first be swung back upwards. For height adjustment the Einrastmöglichkeiten between the latch and the Einrastzähnen be limited to a pivot angle of a few degrees. The armrest is only in a position parallel to the backrest position upwards folded away. The armrest can not be locked in the folded-away position. The pivot axis of the armrest is so far behind, that the wegschwwenkte armrest is located approximately in the plane of the backrest.

From the US-A-4,466,664 is a vehicle seat with a tilt-adjustable backrest and an armrest known. The armrest is arranged on the backrest and designed to fold away upwards. It can be locked in a plurality of rotational positions relative to the backrest. The lock can be released by pressing a pusher against a spring force. The pusher is arranged on the outside of the armrest and can be pressed in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation. In the depressed position, the lock is released.

From the utility model DE-U-82 23 491 is an armrest of a vehicle seat known, which is hinged down. According to the description, a lock by lifting the armrest, train forward on the armrest or actuation of a handle, not shown, is solvable. In one embodiment, a pawl with a locking tooth is present, which cooperates in a plurality of rotational positions with a Rasisegment in the manner of a dead center. The armrest is therefore like the armrest according to the US-A-5,702,157 from a locked down rotational position in the next upwards. In the upper end position, the pawl is pivoted to a position in which a spring holds the pawl in the unlatched position. Now the armrest can be swiveled down. In a lowermost position, which is not entirely in the plane of the backrest, the pawl pivots back into the locking position, in which the locking tooth is pressed when pivoting the armrest of the spring in each recess of the locking segment.

A disadvantage of these vehicle seats is that they are not location-independent chairs, but are firmly mounted in a vehicle. Seating, on the other hand, are location-independent, mobile chairs and therefore have to meet different requirements than vehicle seats. So seating must be adapted to the conditions at the place of use such as table height, installation in rows, adjacent furniture, etc., while the environment of vehicle seats is immutable.

With respect to a locking device for the pivotable in different rotational positions armrest is in the known seats of disadvantage that this do not allow the armrest with the armrest arm down to lower and swing away. The armrest must be swung away through an area above the armrest, where the user of the chair holds his arm. The well-known, in several rotational positions lockable armrests are namely wegschwenkbar only upwards or must first be pivoted in an upward position in order to swing it down can. This implies that the user unpleasantly turns his arm hanging over the armrest upwards in order to pivot the armrest under his armpit area with his hand, or evasively takes his arm of the armrest in front of his upper body, which causes the armrest to pivot away therefrom Arm completely impossible.

Object of the present invention is to provide a seat with armrest, wherein the armrest is technically simple and comfortable for the user with the armrest using the arm height adjustable and wegklappbar. The object of a further development of the invention is to integrate a control panel for a back adjustment in the armrest.

The invention solves the problem of a technically simple and easy-to-use height adjustment by the features of claim 1.

In an inventive seating with a seat, a backrest and at least one about a horizontal, parallel to the backrest pivot axis adjustable and swung down armrest, a locking device is integrated in the armrest. By means of this locking device, the armrest can be locked in a plurality of rotational positions. By actuating a manually operable pusher (27), it is solvable. To make handling the armrest comfortable, the pusher is located under the armrest.

A preferred locking device for locking the armrest in different pivotal positions is achieved in that an axle body is arranged on the support part, the armrest with a hub comprises the axle body and thus is pivotable about the axle body, and on the axle body Einrastzähne or Einrastnuten are formed and in the armrest a RastkIinke is articulated, which latch, for example, by spring force, can interact in several positions with the Einrastzähnen or Einrastnuten.

Such a latch is, optionally against the spring force, from the Einrastnuten and therefore detachable from the axle, so that the armrest can be pivoted. The armrest therefore engages with a hub fixedly arranged on the support member axle body, which defines the pivot axis for the armrest. The integrated in the armrest locking device comprises the axle with engagement teeth or Einrastnuten, a hinged to the armrest latch, which can take a engaging in the Einrastzähne or grooves of the axle body taking pivot position, and the manually operable pusher for pivoting the latch from the engagement taking position in the released position.

However, it is also expedient to perform a reversal of this locking device, in which the latch is articulated on the axle and in the hub opening latching teeth or Einrastnuten are provided, which can interact releasably with the latch.

For the height adjustment, the latching possibilities between the latching pawl and the latching teeth or grooves are advantageously limited to a pivot angle of at least 10 and at most 35 degrees, preferably at least 15 and at most 30 degrees, and particularly preferably from 20 to 25 degrees. Since the height adjustment is achieved by pivoting, larger differences in angle result in a tendency of the armrest, which is no longer pleasant.

However, the armrest can also be folded away. After releasing the lock, the armrest can thus be pivoted to parallel to the direction of the backrest and conveniently locked in this position. For locking Einrastzähne or grooves on the axle (or possibly on the hub) can be provided which can cooperate in this folded-away position of the armrest with the latch. The armrest is according to the invention folded down. Thanks to the pivot axis is located behind the seat of the seat, the pivoted armrest is located approximately in the plane of the backrest.

To release the lock a spring-loaded pusher is provided in the armrest, which is in engagement with the latch. Upon actuation of the pusher, therefore, the latch is pivoted. It thus comes out of engagement with the Latch teeth or grooves. However, if the pusher is released, it springs back until the pawl rests on the axle body, or snaps into place.

The latching teeth or grooves are preferably provided only at the locations at which a lock may also be desirable, ie in a pivoting range of 15 to 35 degrees and in the pivoted-away position of the armrest. In between, the surface of the axle body is cylindrical and thus offers the latching pawl no latching possibility. This simplifies the pivoting away of the armrest.

For example, in a row of chairs for seating in a hall, the armrest may be provided on one side only of the seating surface. In office chairs each such a height-adjustable armrest is preferably arranged on both sides of the seat. The fold-away arm support also expands the possibilities for providing armrests on stackable chairs.

For integration of a control panel for a backrest adjustment in the armrest, a hole is conveniently provided centrally in the axle, in which a sleeve is rotatably mounted. The sleeve is engaged with an adjustment mechanism of the back part. Adjusting mechanisms, which are operable by a rotational movement of the sleeve are known both for the altitude and the curvature of the cross support of the prior art.

If a seat is equipped with only a single armrest, so conveniently in the backrest, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the altitude of the cross support is available. If two armrests are provided, an adjustment mechanism can advantageously be provided both for the vertical position and for the curvature of the cross support.

The control panel is advantageously constructed as follows: In the sleeve, which is rotatably mounted in the axle body, there is a driver fork. The driver fork and the axial opening in the sleeve in which the driver fork is inserted are non-circular in cross section to the axis of the opening, in particular polygon. A preferred opening has a hexagonal cross-section. It is essential that the driver fork with respect to a rotation about a common axis against each other are non-rotatable. The driver fork is slidably mounted in this opening along the axis. The driving fork is about a pivot axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation and opening axis on a rotary hinged. The rotary wheel is located on the front side of the axle body. This rotary wheel can now be raised in the axial direction counter to a spring force retaining the driver fork from this adjacent position. At a distance from the axle body, which corresponds to the diameter of the rotary wheel, the rotary wheel can be pivoted about the pivot axis by 90 degrees. In this position, it is easily graspable and rotatable to adjust the adjustment mechanism of personal preference accordingly.

The latch and the pusher are preferably integrated in the armrest, in an upwardly open plastic channel which forms a support rib of the armrest and is covered in the finished state by a cover, optionally a padded cover. Pusher and latch can both be rotatably mounted in the two side walls of the channel and are deprived thanks to these side walls any view and accidental engagement.

The engagement teeth or grooves on the axle are advantageously formed in an insert, and for locking in the folded-down position on the underside of the circumference in the axle itself. The insert has expediently a greater hardness than the material of the axle body.

In a support part, which carries the armrest and the backrest, holes for securing the backrest, and threaded holes for attaching the axle body, and a bore for the sleeve of the control panel are conveniently formed. The support member is in turn attached to a support for the entire chair or seat, or on the seat.

Brief description of the figures:

Fig.1

einen Bürostuhl mit einer verschwenkbaren Armstütze in abgeklappter Stellung,

Fig. 2

einen Bürostuhl mit einer verschwenkbaren Armstütze in tiefer Stellung,

Fig. 3

einen Bürostuhl mit einer verschwenkbaren Armstütze in mittlerer Stellung,

Fig. 4

einen Bürostuhl mit einer verschwenkbaren Armstütze in hoher Stellung,

Fig. 5

einen Detailausschnitt der Anlenkung der Armstütze,

Fig. 6

den Detailausschnitt gemäss Fig. 5, bei welchem das Drehrad ausgezogen ist,

Fig. 7

den Detailausschnitt gemäss Fig. 5, bei welchem das Drehrad umgeklappt ist,

Fig. 8

eine Schnittdarstellung durch die Betätigangsmechanik in der Armstütze,

Fig. 9

eine Explosionsdarstellung der Teile der Betätigungsmechanik,

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Detailansicht der Betätigungsmechanik.

It shows:

Fig.1

an office chair with a swiveling armrest in folded down position,

Fig. 2

an office chair with a swiveling armrest in low position,

Fig. 3

an office chair with a pivoting armrest in the middle position,

Fig. 4

an office chair with a pivoting armrest in a high position,

Fig. 5

a detail of the articulation of the armrest,

Fig. 6

the detail according to Fig. 5 in which the rotary wheel is pulled out,

Fig. 7

the detail according to Fig. 5 in which the rotary wheel is folded,

Fig. 8

a sectional view through the Betätigangsmechanik in the armrest,

Fig. 9

an exploded view of the parts of the actuating mechanism,

Fig. 10

a detailed perspective view of the actuating mechanism.

The office chair 11 shown in the figures has a support frame 13, a seat surface 15, a backrest 17 and two armrests 19. The armrests are, as in FIGS. 2 to 4 shown, lockable in different pivot positions. In FIG. 1 is the right armrest in a folded down position, in FIG. 2 in a deep support position, in FIG. 3 in a medium support position and in FIG. 4 locked in a high support position. Armrests 19 and backrest 17 are attached to a support member 21, which in turn is arranged on the support frame 13. The seat 15 and the front of the backrest 17 are upholstered. In the armrest 19, both a mechanism for the pivoting and locking of the armrest as well as an operating mechanism for the adjustment of a cross-post adjustment mechanism is integrated.

In the detail sections according to FIGS. 5 to 10 the mechanics for the pivoting of the armrests 19 and the operation of the cross-post adjustment mechanism is shown in more detail. The arm support 19 is composed of a support rib 23 and a cover 25 arranged thereon. In the underside of the support rib, a pusher 27 is provided, with which the arm support can be released from the locked position. On the pivot axis of the armrest 19, a circular rotary wheel 29 is shown. How out Fig. 6 As can be seen, the wheel is pulled out and can, as in FIGS. 7 and 10 shown, tilted. By turning the rotary wheel in its camp, or about the pivot axis of the armrest, the mechanism for adjusting the cross-support can be adjusted in a known manner.

Based on FIGS. 8 to 10 In the following, the composition and the function of the mechanism are described in detail. The support rib 23 of the arm support 19 terminates in a frame with a circular opening, which frame is referred to below hub 31. This hub 31 is seated on an axle body 33, which fits into the hub and on which the hub 31 is pivotally mounted. The axle body 33 is on the support member 21 with four Bolts 35 attached. He has a central bore 37 and on its circumference Einrastnuten 39 in which a latch 41 can engage.

The latching grooves 39 for the locking of the armrest in the variously high folded support positions are formed in an insert 40. The insert 40 is made of a stronger material than the axle body 33. The latching grooves 39 'for locking the armrest in the folded down position are formed in the material of the axle body, since the armrest must absorb lower forces in this position than in the pre-folded support positions.

The latch 41, which can engage in the latching grooves 39, is mounted on an axis 43 (FIG. Fig. 5 to 8 and 10 ) stored in the support rib 23. It is operable with the pusher 27. The support rib 23 is formed as an upwardly open channel, in the interior of pushers 27 and latch 41 are arranged ( Figures 9 and 10 ).

In FIGS. 8 and 10 the carrier rib 23 is shown cut so that the pusher 27 arranged therein is visible in connection with the latching pawl. The pusher is arranged pivotably about the axis 45 in the support rib. He has a projecting on a first side spring 47, which rests on a transverse wall 49 in the channel of the support rib. Opposite the spring, the pusher 27 has two lugs 51 and 53. The upper lug 51 limits the range of motion of the pusher up and down and pushes the pawl 41 into engagement with the axle body 33. The lower lug 53 locks against the pawl and locks it in the locked position. When unlocking the lower nose 53 raises the latch from the engaging position by pressing against a lever 55. If the pusher 27 is pressed, first the lower lug 53 is raised so that it lies next to a blocking surface of the pawl. If the movement continues, so the lower nose 53 presses against the lever 55 of the latch 41 and lifts it until the upper nose 51 is present at the bottom of the cover 25. During this movement, the spring 47 is tensioned. When the pusher is released again, the lower nose 53 presses against the latch 41 and presses it against the axle body 33. As soon as the latch engages in a position with the axle, the lower nose 53 can pivot past the locking surface of the latch, until the upper nose 51 abuts the lever 55. The blocking surface and the opposite surface of the pusher are approximately tangent to a circular path about the axis 45, so that no jamming can occur.

The latch 41 and the axle body 33 can engage with each other in various positions.

From the FIG. 8 is also apparent that in the bore 37 of the axle 33, a driver fork 57 is arranged. The Mitnehmergabel 57 is articulated at its outer end on the rotary wheel 29. How out FIG. 9 it can be seen, the driving fork is axially displaceably mounted in a sleeve 61. Thanks to a polygonal cross-section of the driving fork and sleeve, the sleeve rotates with the driving fork. With its inner end, the sleeve 61 is engaged with a reclining mechanism 59 for the Lendensttitze the backrest. With a tension spring, not shown, the driving fork is connected at its inner end to the sleeve or on the axis of the adjusting mechanism 59th

The axle body 33 has on the insert 40 a series of latching grooves 39 on its front side. But just such locking grooves or a recess for an insert could be present on the rear side so that identically formed parts can be arranged as axle body left and right of the chair. At the axle body two projections 63 are formed, between which the carrier part 21 is arranged. These projections secure together with four screws the axle body against rotation relative to the support member. For the fixation of the folded armrests on the axle body this also has latching grooves 39 'on its underside. The Einrastnuten 39 'allow the locking of the armrest only in one position, while the Einrastnuten 39 allow locking in at least three positions.

The invention thus relates in summary to a chair with a seat 15, a backrest 17 and at least one armrest 19. The invention provides a technically simple height adjustment of the armrest by the armrest 19 is pivotally mounted about a horizontal, directed parallel to the backrest pivot axis and with a integrated in the armrest locking 33,39,41 can be locked in a plurality of pivot positions. The lock can be lowered by actuation of a handle disposed under the pusher and lowered in the dissolved state to the wegschwwenkte position, but also raised. The armrest (19) can be locked in any of these positions by releasing the pusher.

Claims (10)

1. A mobile, sitting-furniture piece with
   a sitting surface (15)
   a back rest (17) and
   at least one arm support (19) which may be adjusted in height about a horizontal pivot axis directed parallel to the back rest, and may be pivoted away to the bottom,
   with which sitting-furniture piece
   a locking device (33, 39, 41) is integrated in the arm support,

   - by way of which the arm support may be locked in a plurality of rotation positions, and

   - which may be released by actuation of a press piece (27) which may be actuated by hand,

   characterised in that the press piece (27) is arranged on the underside of the arm support (19).
2. A sitting-furniture piece according to claim 1,
   whose arm support (19) with a hub (31), engages around a pivot body (33) which is firmly arranged on a carrier part and which defines the pivot axis for the arm support,
   whose locking device (33, 39, 41) is integrated in the arm support and comprises

   - the pivot body (33) with locking teeth or locking grooves (39)

   - a locking pawl (41) which is coupled to the arm support and which may assume a pivot position engaging into the locking teeth or locking grooves (39) of the pivot body (33) and

   - the press piece (27) which may be actuated by hand, for pivoting the locking pawl (41) out of the position having engagement.
3. A sitting-furniture piece according to claim 2, characterised in that the locking teeth or locking grooves (39) which cooperate with the locking pawl are designed only in a pivot range for the height adjustment, of at least 15 to at the most 35 degrees, and in the position of the arm support (19) which is pivoted away to the bottom, so that the arm support with the locking device (33, 39, 41) may be locked in a plurality of pivot positions serving for height adjustment, as well as in the position of the arm support (19) which is pivoted away.
4. A sitting-furniture piece according to one of the claims 2 or 3, characterised in that for the height adjustment, the locking possibilities between the locking pawl (41) and the locking teeth or locking grooves (39) are limited to a pivot angle of 20 to 25 degrees.
5. A sitting-furniture piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arm support (19) may be collapsed into a position parallel to the back rest (17).
6. A sitting-furniture piece according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pivot axis of the arm support (19) lies behind the end of the seat surface (15) of the sitting-furniture piece, said end being at the back rest side, so that the arm support (1) which is pivoted away to the bottom, is arranged roughly in the plane of the back rest (17).
7. A sitting-furniture piece according to claim 2, characterised in that the press piece (27) is mounted in a resilient manner, so that on actuation of the press piece (27) against the spring force, the locking pawl (41) comes out of engagement with the locking teeth or the locking grooves (39).
8. A sitting-furniture piece according to one of the claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the locking teeth or locking grooves (39) for the region of the height adjustment, are formed in an insert part (40) on the pivot body (33).
9. A sitting-furniture piece according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an adjustment device (29, 57, 61) is pivotably mounted about an imaged rotation axis, on the pivot axis of the arm support (19), in order to operate an adjustment mechanism (59) in the back rest.
10. A sitting-furniture piece according to claim 9, characterised in that the back adjustment device comprises a rotation wheel (29) for operation, which may be pulled out axially and is tiltably mounted about a tilt axis, said tilt axis being perpendicular to the rotation axis of the back adjustment device.

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