EP1845822A1

EP1845822A1 - Support element for seating furniture

Info

Publication number: EP1845822A1
Application number: EP06706631A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Josef GLÖCKL
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-03
Filing date: 2006-02-03
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-03
Also published as: DE202005001741U1; EP1845822B1; CN101137308A; DK1845822T3; JP4956444B2; US20080143162A1; JP2008531075A; US8075056B2; DE102005005089A1; WO2006082083A1; WO2006082083A9; EP1845822B2; CN101137308B

Abstract

An office chair has a seating element with an upright tubular element (3) and a base, the seating element being connected to the base by means of the support element (1) so as to be swiveled and reset. Rubber buffers (19, 24) are provided between a connecting element (2) of the base, ring discs (11) and (17) and a tubular element (8) extending from the seating element downward and allow an oscillating movement of the seating element. The rubber buffers at least partially enclose the connecting element (2), thereby retaining the same. A pneumatic spring (4) allows to adjust the height of the seat. A thumb screw (16) allows to adjust the restoring force by compressing the rubber buffers (19, 24) to a greater or lesser extent.

Description

Support element for a chair

Description:

The invention relates to a support element for a chair, in particular for an office chair, wherein the seat has a seat part with a connection element and a foot part. Moreover, the invention relates to a chair, in particular an office chair, with the support element.

For people who spend a lot of time sitting, there is often due to lack of movement to a degeneration of the back muscles and posture damage. This results in back pain and may cause serious health problems. Particularly affected are people who work in a sitting position. Employment, for example on a computer, does not consistently occupy a conscious sitting position. In addition, the mobility of conventional office chairs is essentially limited to the height adjustment by means of a gas spring and the suspension of the backrest. Dynamic sitting is only possible to a very limited extent.

For this reason, ergonomic seating was developed, with the help of the

Users can take a more favorable sitting posture. In addition, some of these seating furniture allow for movements, thereby training and strengthening the

Back muscles achieved while sitting and a one-sided load of

Back can be prevented.

Thus, from the prior art ergonomic seating known, the

Allow movements of the seat part with a number of different degrees of freedom.

The seat can do this, for example, via a spring with a leg or a

Stand surface to be connected, wherein the spring allows a vertical resilient movement or a lateral inclination of the seat.

The document EP 1 106 111 A1 shows a bar stool with a return device.

Between a seat part and a foot part are an intermediate part with a central

Pillar and a spring construction arranged. The intermediate part is tiltable and recoverable supported at its lower end in the foot. The restoring device, which returns the seat from a lateral inclination back to the basic position, is designed as a vibrating metal. The restoring force can be adjusted by pre-tensioning with the aid of an adjusting nut.

The user of the barstool can perform dynamic pendulum and swinging motion. By continuously changing the posture, an ergonomically favorable effect is achieved.

However, the mechanical systems shown, which allow such a flexible dynamic sitting, are usually complex to manufacture and expensive.

An uncomplicated retrofitting of existing office chairs with these systems is also impractical.

It would also be desirable to allow a quick and easy optimal adjustment of the restoring forces. Especially with office chairs by several

Persons should be used alternately, a quick adjustment is required.

Based on this, it is the object of the present invention to provide a support member for an office chair, which allows soft oscillating movements of the seat part relative to the foot part and thus a dynamic and ergonomically favorable sitting. The support member should also for retrofitting to existing

Office chairs and a simple and individual setting of the

Allow restoring forces. , , This object is achieved by a connecting device with the features of

Claim 1 and a chair with the features of claim 19.

In the support element according to the invention for a chair, in particular for a

Office chair, the seating being a seat part with a connecting element and a

Has foot part, the foot part by means of an elastic Rüekstellelements tiltable and recoverable held on the connection element.

In particular, the foot part has a connecting part, which is at least partially encompassed by the elastic return element to the foot part on

To hold connecting element. In this way, a gimbal can be realized.

The elastic return element is preferably formed so that the connection part of the foot part can be clamped by the elastic return element.

The elastic return element is in particular between an upper

Stop element and the connection part of the foot part, and between a lower

Stop element and the connection part of the foot part arranged.

The stop elements may be attached to the connection part of the seat part. The

Connection can be rigid. However, at least one of the

Height adjustable stop elements be attached to the connection element.

The connection part of the seat part will in particular be designed as a downwardly extending standpipe.

The connecting part of the foot part is preferably connected to the outside of the elastic

Return element in contact. However, with a suitable training of the

Supporting element also embracing the connection part from the outside possible.

The elastic return element may comprise at least two outwardly extending flanges, between which the connecting part of the foot part is arranged. This prevents in particular contact with the stop elements.

The elastic return element comprises in particular at least two separate parts, which are each formed angled, wherein the connecting part of the foot part rests in the angled recesses. With this design, an approximately more stressed restoring element can be easily replaced when the element is worn. In addition, a more durable rubber compound can be used for a more stressed element. The elastic return element preferably has at least one rubber buffer. In another embodiment, the elastic return element is formed integrally as a sleeve with support shoulders arranged at both ends, and the attachment part of the foot part lies in the recess between the shoulders. The one-piece rubber buffer may be provided with one or more indentations, in which the rubber material could escape in a loaded state.

The elastic return element can be made of at least one elastomer, in particular polyurethane or natural rubber. The material can also be cast with a helical compression spring. The elastic return element has cavities in the material and / or recesses at the contact surfaces to adjacent components to allow a change in the shape of the elastic member. With a load of the seat part can be displaced in this way, material in the cavities. The recesses can be formed so that a targeted movement and a restoring force for ergonomically favorable sitting is possible. The support element has in particular means for adjusting and for changing the restoring force of the elastic return element.

The support element preferably comprises an actuating device for setting and changing the restoring force of the elastic return element. In particular, the restoring force of the elastic return element can be adjusted or changed continuously. In addition, the restoring force of the elastic return element can be adjusted or changed in stages. The means are designed in particular for changing the distance between an upper stop element and a lower stop element. The distance between the stop elements is variable to adjustably deform the elastic element. The change in the spacing of the stop elements can be adjustable, for example, by a wing nut arranged at the lower end of the rigid element. The distance between the stop elements can also be adjusted by a cam arranged between a flange and a stop element.

The means may alternatively be designed to change the distance between the connection part of the foot part and the connection element of the seat part. Thus, at least one conical element can be arranged displaceably on a pipe section in order to set the restoring force of the elastic return element or change. Also, the radius of the rigid member may be variable to adjust the restoring force of the elastic return element or change.

The means may also be designed for compressing the elastic return element from the outside.

The object is also achieved by a chair, in particular an office chair, with a seat part and a foot part, wherein the seat part has a support element as previously described.

The seat includes in particular a height-adjustable gas spring, with the

Seat part is connected.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the present

Embodiments. Show it:

1 shows a side view of a support element for an office chair in section;

2 shows a second embodiment of the support element;

3 shows a side view of a part of a third embodiment of the

Supporting member;

Fig.4. a fourth embodiment of the support member;

5a shows a fifth embodiment of the support element; and

Fig. 5b uses a support member according to the fifth embodiment

Hose clamp in a sectional view A-A according to Fig.5a. Fig. 5c shows an alternative arrangement of the hose clamp on the support element.

Fig. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the support joint in the side view

Fig. 7 shows a seventh embodiment of the support joint in the side view

Fig. 8 shows an eighth embodiment of the support joint in the side view

In Figure 1, a support member 1 for a not further illustrated seat device with a leg, as is known from conventional office chairs, shown in a vertical sectional view.

The support element 1 has a trained as a five-star base foot. The foot part is connected via a connecting element 2 and an elastic element 19, 24 with a centrally downwardly extending piece of pipe 8. The support member 1 for the seat part comprises a standpipe 3 and a height-adjustable gas spring 4. Rotary movements of the seat part relative to the foot part 2 can be made possible by the use of a corresponding bearing.

The gas spring 4 has in the usual way a mounting rod 5, the free

End 6 in a spring-elastic element 7, here a rubber cylinder 7, embedded is. The blanket cylinder 7 is pressed into a pipe section 8, which has a welded bottom 9 at its lower end. By operating an actuating element, such as a lever, the seat height can be variably adjusted.

The end of the mounting rod 5 presses on a load from above on the blanket cylinder 7 and compresses it together. In this way, the effect of a deep suspension, the hardness depends on the choice of the hardness of the rubber. At the upper end of the pipe section 8, an annular disc 11 is welded, through the circular opening 12, the mounting rod 5 is passed. On the annular disc 11, a cone-shaped pipe section 12 is welded, in which the standpipe 3 is pressed.

At the lower end portion 14 of the pipe section 8, an external thread 15 is provided, on which a wing nut 16 is screwed. A second annular disc 17 is pushed onto the pipe section 8 and is located on top of the wing nut 16. Between the first annular disc 11 and the tube piece 8 and the foot part 2, a flange-shaped rubber buffer 19 is provided which has a tapered annular groove 20 at the top and an outer annular groove 22 in the knee region 21. An identical rubber buffer 24 is clamped between the second annular disc 17 and the tubular piece 8 and the lower portion of the foot part 2. Between the rubber buffer 24 and the foot part 2, a sliding washer 25 is additionally provided to distribute the pressure pad of the narrow underside of the foot part 2 over a larger area. By means of the wing nut 16, the horizontal travel of the suspension can be adjusted. In this way, the setting of the restoring forces can be selected individually for pendulum movements of the seat part.

Each of the rubber bumpers 19, 24 is formed substantially annular to engage around the pipe section 8. However, it can also be provided interruptions. The outwardly extending flanges engage between the upper ring disk 11 and the connecting part 2 of the foot part or between the sliding disk 25 and the lower annular disk 17. The connection part 2 of the foot part is clamped in this way between the flanges. As a result, a simple gimbal is realized to allow movement of the seat part relative to the foot part with multiple degrees of freedom. In addition, the structure is simple. The rubber buffers 19, 24 are easily replaceable or retrofitted. The rubber buffers 19 and 24 thus serve as a suspension for the pipe section 8 fixed standpipe 3. Thus, with the seat of the office chair circular and Pendulum movements are carried out, resulting in a significant discharge and

Strengthening the back leads.

Between the seat part and the foot part is only on the rubber buffers 19, 24th

Contact. The support element 1 absorbs both vertical and oscillating movements of the user.

The support element 1 described is simple in construction. So are the rubber buffers at

Need replaceable. In addition, existing office chairs are easy to retrofit. In a simplified embodiment can be dispensed with the wing nut 16, in which case the second annular disc 17 is also attached to the pipe section 8.

The rubber pads 19 and 24 and the rubber cylinder 7 are made of a suitable

Elastomer, for example of polyurethane (PU) or natural rubber. In the

Use of natural rubber is this preferably with the

Mounting rod 5 vulcanized directly in the pipe section 8. The polyurethane or the

Natural rubber can also be cast together with a helical compression spring.

The interaction of the depth suspension with the adjustable pendulum movement enables a movement with a large number of degrees of freedom. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the support element 1 can be produced particularly cost-effectively, so that a conversion of existing chairs, such as office chairs and the like, is particularly attractive. The support element 1 can of course also be used for new office chairs, in which case the standpipe 3 can be welded directly to the first annular disc 1. The cone-shaped pipe section 12 can then be omitted.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the support element 1 with a

Connecting device shown in the setting of the restoring forces at

Oscillations by changing the distance between a rigid with the

Pipe piece 8 connected support flange 26 and a height-adjustable upper

Ring disc 27 takes place. The height adjustment of the annular disc 27 on the pipe section 8 is accomplished by means of an adjusting device, of which, however, in the figure 2 for

Simplification only schematically a cam 28 is shown. The cam 28 is, for example, between the height-adjustable annular disc 27 and the

End flange 30 is arranged.

In the direction indicated in the figure position of the cam 28 is the upper

Ring disc 27 in its maximum height on the pipe section 8. This means that the Rubber buffers 19 and 24 are maximally relieved. In this setting, a relatively soft lateral pendulum movement of the seat part relative to the foot part is possible. By rotating the cam 28 by means of a suitable actuator, the annular disc 27 can be further displaced downwards, whereby the rubber pads 19 and 24 are pressed together. In this way, the return device is set harder. A pendulum motion then requires the user then a higher effort. The rubber bearing is compressed in the direction of the vertical axis of the pipe section 8 to adjust the hardness of the rubber bearing for the lateral pendulum movement. The representation of the height adjustment by the cam 28 in Figure 2 is greatly simplified. For example, several cams may be provided at different locations between the annular disc 27 and the end flange 30. In addition, as a rule, the cam 28 can be adjusted by turning a handwheel with a certain gear ratio to allow accurate and continuous deformation of the rubber buffers 19 and 24 and the restoring forces. Alternatively, a graduated adjustment of the altitude of the annular disc 27, for example by a jagged cam or by means of a lever with ratchet locking conceivable.

Figure 3 shows a portion of a support member 1 with an adjustment for the restoring force, the sake of clarity, the rubber buffers and the connection part of the foot part 2 are not shown. In this embodiment, the hardness of the rubber bearing is adjusted by the arrangement of a height-adjustable cone 31 on the pipe section 8. In addition, a further cone 32 fixed or also adjustable in height can be arranged on the pipe section 8. The lower cone 32 can perform an independent movement and / or a relative movement to the upper cone 31. Depending on the altitude of the cone / Koni the pipe section 8 (not shown) rubber buffers are deformed, which change the elastic properties of the return device with respect to the lateral deflection of the rubber bearing. For adjustment and adjustment of the position of the cone 31, 32 and the Koni 31, 32 the skilled person various possibilities are known, which should not be mentioned in detail at this point. As an actuating element, for example, a handwheel or a lever with ratchet locking serve. Thus, an adjustment of the restoring forces is convenient and quick to carry out. FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the support element 1 with the connection device. In this embodiment, both stop flanges 26 and 27 are fixed at a predetermined distance from each other. A deformation of the rubber buffer 19 and 24 is accomplished here by means of a radial force on the rubber buffers 19 and 24. The radial distance of a wall piece 33 can be variably adjusted according to a desired adjustment of the hardness of the rubber bearing. The wall piece 33 may be formed, for example, in the form of two half-cylinders whose distance from each other is variable. FIG. 5a shows a further possibility for adjusting the restoring force of the rubber mount. The connecting device has hose clamps 34 and 35 which are arranged between the upper stop flange 26 and the connecting part 2 of the foot part and / or the lower stop flange 27 and the connecting part 2 of the foot part or the sliding disk 25.

It would also be conceivable to design the connection part 2 of the foot part such that its inner radius is adjustable in order to adjust the distance to the pipe section 8. In this way, the elastic element could be more or less compressed from the outside and so the restoring force can be adjusted.

One of the hose clamps 34 used in the embodiment according to FIG. 5a in section A-A is shown in FIG. 5b. By turning a dial 36, the circumference of the press ring 37 of the hose clamp 34 can be changed. With a reduction in the circumference, the rubber bumpers 19 and / or 24 are squeezed inwardly, whereby the hardness of the rubber bearing can be adjusted in total.

In order to still allow a pendulum motion, the hose clamps 34, 35 must be relatively flexible in the vertical direction. Alternatively, the hose clamps 34, 35 could also be formed flat and, for example, fitted in a groove 38 in the rubber buffers 19 and 24, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 5c. Since in this case there is sufficient freedom of movement between the connecting part 2 of the foot part and the fixed flange 26 for carrying out the oscillating movement, the flat-shaped hose clamp 34 can here consist of a relatively rigid material.

It is also conceivable to arrange a hose clamp on the outer region of the bow-shaped connecting part 2 of the foot part, provided that the one or more brackets are formed so that a radial displacement is possible. Overall, the features that have been described with respect to the individual embodiments, combined to allow the simplest possible and accurate adjustment of the restoring forces.

FIG. 6 also shows a further exemplary embodiment of a support element 1 according to the invention in a side view. The upper area with the standpipe construction up to the first annular disk 11 is identical.

At the lower end portion 14 of the pipe section 8, an external thread 15 is also provided here, on which a wing nut 16 is screwed. Also, a second annular disc 17 is pushed onto the pipe section 8 and is located on the top of the wing nut 16.

Between the first annular disc 11 and the tubular piece 8 and the foot part 2, a flange-shaped, one-piece rubber buffer 19 'is provided which has a tapered annular groove 20 at the top and bottom and an external annular groove 22 in the knee region 21. As before, a sliding disk 25 is provided between the rubber buffer 19 'and the foot part 2 in order to distribute the pressure support of the narrow underside of the foot part 2 over a larger area. Preferably, the rubber buffer 19 'is formed symmetrically and is thus on the lower side in the region of the sliding disk 25 and the annular disc 17 in its shape identical to the upper side. By means of the wing nut 16, the horizontal travel of the suspension can also be adjusted here. In this way, the setting of the restoring forces can be selected individually for pendulum movements of the seat part. The rubber buffer 19 'is also substantially annular here in order to encompass the pipe section 8. The outwardly extending flanges engage between the upper ring disk 11 and the connecting part 2 of the foot part or between the sliding disk 25 and the lower annular disk 17. The connection part 2 of the foot part is clamped in this way between the flanges. The effects and functions of this rubber buffer 19 'essentially correspond to those of the rubber buffers 19, 24 from FIG. 1. The rubber buffer 19' is easily replaceable or retrofittable. There is only contact via the rubber buffer 19 'between the seat part and the foot part. The support element 1 also absorbs both vertical and oscillating movements of the user. The sleeve member 19 "may have longitudinal slots of suitable length and width for ease of assembly. The embodiment of the support member of Figure 7 corresponds to the shape of the rubber buffer 19 'of the embodiment of Figure 6. In this one-piece rubber element 19' is provided in the region between the connecting part 2 and the pipe section 8, an additional recess of the one-piece rubber buffer 19 '. All the effects on the user and the setting possibilities of the restoring forces essentially correspond to the previous embodiments.

The embodiment of the support member 1 of Figure 8 also corresponds to the shape of the rubber buffer 19 'of the embodiment of Figure 6. In this one-piece rubber buffer 19' is in the area between the connecting part 2 and the pipe section 8 only one, from the knee area 21 to to the sliding disk 25 extending Eibuchtung the one-piece rubber buffer 19 'is provided. All effects on the user and the setting possibilities of the restoring forces correspond substantially to the previous embodiments.

_{* * * *} *

Claims

- 1 patent claims:

1. supporting element (1) for a seating, in particular for an office chair, wherein the seating furniture having a seat part with a connection element (3) and a foot part, characterized in that the foot part by means of an elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) tiltable and resettable to the connection element (3) is held.

Second support element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the foot part has a connection part (2) which is at least partially surrounded by the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) to the foot part on the connection element (3) hold.

3. supporting element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) is formed so that the connecting part (2) of the foot part of the elastic return element (19, 19', 24) can be trapped.

4. Supporting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) between an upper stop element (11) and the connecting part (2) of the foot part, and between a lower stop element (17 ) and the connecting part (2) of the foot part is arranged.

5. Supporting element (1) according to one of the claim 4, characterized in that the stop elements (11, 17) are fastened to the connecting part (3) of the seat part.

6. supporting element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting part (3) of the seat part is designed as a downwardly extending standpipe.

7. supporting element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting part (2) of the foot part with the outside of the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) is in contact.

8. supporting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - 2 -

the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) comprises at least two outwardly extending flanges, between which the connecting part (2) of the foot part is arranged.

9. supporting element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic return element (19, 24) comprises at least two separate parts, which are each formed angled, and abuts the connection part (2) of the foot part in the angled recesses.

10. Supporting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) has at least one rubber buffer.

11. Supporting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) is made at least of an elastomer, in particular polyurethane or natural rubber.

12. Supporting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) has cavities in the material and / or recesses on the contact surfaces to adjacent components to a change in the shape of the elastic element (19, 19 ', 24).

13. Supporting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (1) has means for adjusting and changing the restoring force of the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24).

14 supporting element (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the support element (1) comprises an actuating device for adjusting and changing the restoring force of the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24).

15. Support element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the means for changing the distance between an upper stop element (11) and a lower stop element (17) are formed.

16. Supporting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims 13 or 14, characterized in that - 3 -

the means for changing the distance between the connecting part (2) of the foot part and the connecting element (3, 33) of the seat part are formed.

17. Supporting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the means for compressing the elastic return element (19, 19 ', 24) are formed from the outside.

18. supporting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 or 10 to 17, characterized in that the elastic return element (19 ') is integrally formed as a sleeve with arranged at both ends support shoulders and the connecting part (2) of the foot part in the recess rests between the shoulders.

19. Seating, in particular an office chair, with a seat part and a foot part, characterized in that. the seat part has a support element (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

20. Seating furniture according to claim 19, characterized in that the seating comprises a height-adjustable gas spring (4) which is connected to the seat part.