EP2080451B1 - Pivotable arm rest for a chair and chair with pivotable arm rest - Google Patents

Abstract

The pivoting arm rest has a pivoting section (2) opposite to a chair, and a rotating section (40) that is twisting opposite to the pivoting section. A carrier element (200) is provided for rotating carrier of the pivoting section at the chair. A blocking element (7) is provided, which is designed such that the pivoting section of the arm rest is swiveled only against the chair when the rotating section of the armrest adopts a pre-defined position opposite to the pivoting section.

Description

The invention relates to a pivotable backrest for a chair and a chair with swivel armrest, in particular a hospital chair, for example a shower wheelchair, as it is known under the product name Flexo by the company Invacare.

Armrests are naturally attached to the sides of a chair. The front ends of such armrests are often inwardly bent, particularly in sick chairs, to ensure that the person sitting in the chair can not fall forward. Even with substantially straight running armrests are sometimes provided to the center of the chair extending attachments, such as writing pads in school chairs or chairs for lecture halls.

In order to facilitate access to such chairs backrests of the type in question are arranged pivotably. In particular, they can be pivoted in a substantially vertical direction relative to the chair. For this purpose, the armrest has a pivotable part, which is articulated pivotably on the chair, preferably in a substantially vertical direction, so that a folding up of the armrest is made possible. Such a chair is for example from the JP 2005 000556 A known.

An end extending from the armrest towards the middle of the chair or a corresponding attachment, for example in the form of a book rest, can likewise often be folded up in the case of such chairs. This is on the pivoting part of the armrest arranged rotatable part which is rotatable relative to the pivotable part. This rotatable part can for example be a bent end of the armrest itself or else another component to which a component extending towards the center of the chair is attached. If now this rotatable part of the armrest is rotated relative to the pivotable part, the part of the armrest extending towards the middle or the relevant attachment part likewise pivots, preferably upwards, in order thus likewise to facilitate access to the chair.

In chairs of the type in question, there is the problem that a pivoting of the pivotal part, when the rotatable part is in a position in which extending towards the chair center component extends towards the chair center and not folded up or out is, when swinging the armrest in the area of the head, in particular the face of the person sitting in the chair can get. This can lead to injuries, in particular in the case of sick and old persons and thus in particular in hospitals.

Such a chair with an armrest and a device for supporting a small table on the armrest is in the DE 199 05 001 A1 disclosed.

The invention has for its object to perform an armrest of the type in question or such a chair so that injury when operating the armrest can be avoided.

This object is achieved by an armrest according to claim 1 and a chair according to claim 10.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The armrest according to the invention is attached to a chair, such as a hospital chair, pivotally mounted. It has a relative to the chair pivotable part and a rotatable part which is rotatable relative to the pivotable part. For pivotal mounting of the pivotable part of the chair, a bearing element is provided.

The pivotable armrest according to the invention has a locking element that is designed so that the pivotable part of the armrest is pivotable relative to the chair only when the rotatable part of the armrest with respect to the pivotable part assumes a defined predetermined position. Such a defined predetermined position is in particular such a position in which does not occupy a position during vertical pivoting of the pivotable part of the rotatable part, which could endanger or injure a person sitting in the chair.

The blocking element has a locking pin which protrudes into a bore of a chair-side pivot bearing element in a pivoting preventing blocking position.

As a blocking element, a coupling shaft is preferably provided with a polygon. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this polygon is designed as a square. The polygon, designed for example as a square, cooperates with a correspondingly executed recess of a locking disk. The number of edges thus determines the number of positions in which the rotatable part of the armrest can be fixed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention with a polygon designed as a square, the rotatable part of the armrest can thus occupy four defined positions relative to the pivotable part. Preferably, pivoting of the pivotable part of the armrest is only possible in one of these four positions of the rotatable part.

The rotatable part of the armrest is preferably fixedly connected to the locking disk.

The blocking element has a locking pin, which protrudes into a bore of a chair-side pivot bearing element in a pivoting preventing blocking position. Such a chair-side pivot bearing element may be executed in an armrest according to the invention, which is designed as a separately tradable goods, for attachment to any chair. In a chair, especially for receiving the armrest according to the invention is executed, such a chair-side pivot bearing element may already be fixed.

The blocking element, embodied for example as a coupling shaft, can be displaceably mounted within the pivotable part of the armrest and be biased by means of a compression spring in the direction of the locking disk. The displacement of the locking element or the coupling shaft can take place via an outer protective sleeve. By pressing the externally accessible protective cover, the blocking element or the coupling shaft can be moved counter to the force of the compression spring, so that the example executed as a square polygon emerges from the recess of the locking disc. The fixedly connected to the locking disk rotatable part of the armrest can be rotated in this position of the locking element and, once he has reached one of the predefined possible positions are fixed in this position by the outer protective sleeve released and thus the locking element or the coupling shaft through the Force of the compression spring is moved back in the direction of the locking disc, so that the example executed as a square polygon enters the recess of the locking disc and fixes the relevant position of the rotatable part of the armrest.

The blocking element or the coupling shaft may have a bore for receiving a cylindrical pin. This cylinder pin allows a partial penetration of the polygon of the coupling shaft, which is designed as a square, for example, into the recess of the locking disk only in a predetermined position. In this position, in which the cylinder pin can penetrate into a correspondingly executed recess of the locking disk, the polygon penetrates almost completely into the recess of the locking disk. This arrangement causes only in this one position, in which the blocking element is moved completely in the direction of the locking disk, the locking pin from the bore of the chair-side pivot bearing element emerges. Only in this one position of the rotatable part of the armrest relative to the pivotal part of the armrest thus pivoting of the pivotable part of the armrest relative to the chair is possible.

It is understood that the described components can also be designed so that a pivoting of the pivotable part of the armrest relative to the chair in a plurality of predetermined positions of the rotatable part of the armrest relative to the pivotable part of the armrest is possible. It is also understood that not only four, but also almost any other number of predetermined positions of the rotatable part of the armrests relative to the pivotable part of the armrest are possible. For example, if six defined positions are provided, the polygon is designed accordingly as a hexagon. In this case, for example, two corresponding recesses could be formed in the locking disk, so that in two predetermined positions of the hexagon running in this case, the full-length completely into the recess of the locking disk, which would be executed in this case according to the hexagon, penetrate, which thereby would allow two recesses would be formed in the end face of the locking disk, so that the cylinder pin can penetrate into two positions in the respective wells.

The invention will be explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. The illustration in the figures is designed for the purpose of better clarity and to display corresponding details in each case enlarged or reduced, so that overall no uniform scale is met.

• Fig.1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer schwenkbaren Armlehne in einer Stellung, in der der drehbare Teil in eine senkrechte Stellung, bezogen auf einen Stuhl(nicht gezeigt), verschwenkt ist,
• Fig. 2 eine Explosionszeichnung der Armlehne in der Stellung gemäß Fig. 1 in einer Ansicht in Richtung der Schwenkachse S,
• Fig. 3 eine Darstellung gemäß Fig. 2 in einer Ansicht senkrecht zu Schwenkachse S,
• Fig. 4 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Armlehne gemäß Fig. 1 in einer Stellung, in der der drehbare Teil in eine waagerechte Stellung, bezogen auf einen Stuhl(nicht gezeigt), geschwenkt ist,
• Fig. 5 eine Draufsicht der Darstellung gemäß Fig. 4 in der Ebene senkrecht zur Schwenkachse S,
• Fig. 6 einen Explosionszeichnung des Armhebels in der Stellung gemäß Fig. 4 in einer Ansicht in Richtung der Schwenkachse S,
• Fig. 7 eine Schnittdarstellung des Armhebels in der Stellung gemäß Fig. 4 in Richtung der Schwenkachse,
• Fig. 8 ein stuhlseitiges Schwenklagerelement,
• Fig. 9 einen schwenkbaren Teil der Armlehne
• Fig. 10 eine Rastscheibe,
• Fig. 11 eine Kupplungswelle,
• Fig. 12 ein armlehnenseitiges Lagergehäuse in einer radialen Ansicht,
• Fig. 13 das Lagergehäuse gemäß Fig. 12 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,
• Fig. 14 eine perspektivische Darstellung des drehbaren Teils der Armlehne,
• Fig. 15 eine Darstellung der Zuordnung der Rastscheibe zum drehbaren Teil der Armlehne,
• Fig. 16 eine Schnittdarstellung, in einer Ansicht in Richtung der Schwenkachse S, eines Teils der Armlehne in einer Stellung, in der ein Verdrehen des drehbaren Teils möglich und ein Verschwenken des schwenkbaren Teils nicht möglich ist,
• Fig. 17 eine Schnittdarstellung, in einer Ansicht in Richtung der Schwenkachse S, eines Teils der Armlehne in einer Stellung, in der ein Verdrehen des drehbaren Teils nicht möglich und ein Verschwenken des schwenkbaren Teil möglich ist,
• Fig. 18 eine Darstellung gemäß Fig. 17, wobei die Armlehne verschwenkt ist,
• Fig. 19 eine Schnittdarstellung eines Teils der Armlehne in einer Stellung, in der ein Verschwenken des schwenkbaren Teils nicht möglich und ein Verdrehen des drehbaren Teils ebenfalls nicht möglich ist, dargestellt in eine Richtung senkrecht zur Schwenkachse S,
• Fig. 20 eine Schnittdarstellung eines Teils der Armlehne in einer Stellung, in der ein Verschwenken des schwenkbaren Teils nicht möglich und ein Verdrehen des drehbaren Teils möglich ist, dargestellt in eine Richtung senkrecht zur Schwenkachse S,
• Fig. 21 eine Schnittdarstellung eines Teils der Armlehne in einer Stellung, in der ein Verdrehen des drehbaren Teils nicht möglich und ein Verschwenken des schwenkbaren Teils möglich ist, dargestellt in eine Richtung senkrecht zur Schwenkachse S.

In the drawings show:

• Fig.1 a perspective view of a pivoting armrest in a position in which the rotatable part in a vertical position, relative to a chair (not shown), is pivoted,
• Fig. 2 an exploded view of the armrest in the position according to Fig. 1 in a view in the direction of the pivot axis S,
• Fig. 3 a representation according to Fig. 2 in a view perpendicular to the pivot axis S,
• Fig. 4 a perspective view of the armrest according to Fig. 1 in a position in which the rotatable member is pivoted to a horizontal position with respect to a chair (not shown),
• Fig. 5 a plan view of the illustration according to Fig. 4 in the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis S,
• Fig. 6 an exploded view of the arm lever in the position according to Fig. 4 in a view in the direction of the pivot axis S,
• Fig. 7 a sectional view of the arm lever in the position according to Fig. 4 in the direction of the pivot axis,
• Fig. 8 a chair-side pivot bearing element,
• Fig. 9 a swiveling part of the armrest
• Fig. 10 a locking disk,
• Fig. 11 a coupling shaft,
• Fig. 12 an armrestside bearing housing in a radial view,
• Fig. 13 the bearing housing according to Fig. 12 in a perspective view,
• Fig. 14 a perspective view of the rotatable part of the armrest,
• Fig. 15 a representation of the assignment of the locking disk to the rotatable part of the armrest,
• Fig. 16 a sectional view, in a view in the direction of the pivot axis S, a part of the armrest in a position in which a rotation of the rotatable member is possible and a pivoting of the pivotable member is not possible
• Fig. 17 a sectional view, in a view in the direction of the pivot axis S, a part of the armrest in a position in which a rotation of the rotatable member is not possible and pivoting of the pivotable part is possible,
• Fig. 18 a representation according to Fig. 17 with the armrest pivoted,
• Fig. 19 a sectional view of a part of the armrest in a position in which a pivoting of the pivotal part is not possible and a rotation of the rotatable part is also not possible, shown in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis S,
• Fig. 20 a sectional view of a portion of the armrest in a position in which a pivoting of the pivotable member is not possible and a rotation of the rotatable member is possible, shown in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis S,
• Fig. 21 a sectional view of a portion of the armrest in a position in which a rotation of the rotatable member is not possible and a pivoting of the pivotable member is possible, shown in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis S.

In the following, the structure of the swivel armrest will be described first. For the sake of simplicity, a chair on which the armrest is fastened, not described. Fig. 8 shows a chair-side pivot bearing member 100 that can be attached with a recess 101 on a tubular chair element (not shown). It is understood that a functionally identical element can be attached directly to a chair.

The terms vertical and horizontal refer to a conventional position of a chair on a horizontal floor.

The chair-side pivot bearing member 100 cooperates with a armrest-side bearing housing 200, which in the FIGS. 12 and 13 is shown. The armrest-side bearing housing 200 is attached to a first end of a pivotable part 2 of the armrest. The pivotable part 2 of the armrest is substantially tubular and has a slot 2a (see, eg Fig. 6 ). In the tube interior of the pivotable part 2, a compression spring 3 and a coupling shaft 7 are inserted. The coupling shaft 7 (see Fig. 11 ) has a bore 73 through which an actuating pin 8 can be guided, which is held by a screwed into a threaded bore 74 of the coupling shaft 7 threaded pin 10. The coupling shaft 7 further has a locking pin 75, which is insertable into a bore 102 of the chair-side pivot bearing element 100, and a guide pin 76 which is in engagement with a guide 21 of a locking disk 20.

The locking disk 20 ( Fig. 10 ) is fixedly connected to a rotatable part 40 of the armrest. The rotatable part 40 of the armrest is in Fig. 14 shown as a component which consists of a bent pipe section and two adjoining straight pipe sections. This component may be surrounded by a foam shell 5, as in the Fig. 1 to 6 shown. It is understood that the rotatable part can also consist of any other component which is rotatable relative to the pivotable part 2 and depending on the intended use corresponding attachments.

In the ready state, a square 71 of the coupling shaft 7 engages in a correspondingly executed recess 22 of the locking disk 20, wherein the coupling shaft 7 is biased by the compression spring 3.

On the pivotable part 2, a reinforcing sleeve 6 is attached, which has two slots 2a of the pivotable part 2 corresponding slots 6a. On the reinforcing sleeve 6, a protective sleeve 4 is slidably disposed. The protective sleeve 4 has two holes 4a, which are provided for receiving the actuating bolt 8. The actuating bolt 8 connects the protective sleeve 4 with the coupling shaft 7, so that the coupling shaft 7 can be moved from the outside by means of the protective sleeve 4 within the pivotable part 2 within the limits of the slots 2a and 6a.

The rotatable member 40 has a right angle angled extension part 41 which extends perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotatable member 40. The recess 22 of the locking disc 20 for receiving the square 71 of the coupling shaft 7 is arranged with respect to the rotatable member 40 so that two longitudinal sides of the recess 22 substantially square with rounded corners extend in the direction of the extension 41.

The coupling shaft 7 is in connection with the actuating pin 8 and the slots 2a and 6a with respect to the position of the square 71 to the pivotal part 2 and thus fixedly arranged on the dm pivotable part 2, for example, welded armrests side layer housing 2 also in terms of the chair side Swivel bearing element 100 extending pivot axis set. The coupling shaft 7 can thus axially within the pivotable part 2 only over a certain range moved but not twisted. The end points of the axial displacement are determined via the actuating pin 8 by the dimensions of the slots 2a and 6a. In a first end position, in the Figures 16 and 20 is illustrated, the square 71 of the coupling shaft 7 is outside the recess 22 of the locking disk 20. The rotatable member 40 can thus be rotated relative to the pivotable member 20, so that the bent end 41 and the outer end 52 (FIGS. Fig. 1 ) can be pivoted. In this position, in which such pivoting or rotation of the rotatable member is possible, the locking pin 75 extends into the bore 102 of the chair-side pivot bearing element 100. A pivoting of the pivotable part of a chair (not shown) upwards is thus in this position the coupling shaft 7 not possible.

The rotatable member 40 can be fixed in four defined rotational positions, each achieved by a rotation of 90 degrees. In three of these positions, the coupling shaft 7 with the square 71 does not penetrate completely into the recess 22 of the locking disk 2, since the cylinder pin 9 abuts against the end face 23 of the locking disk. Such a position of the coupling shaft 7 is in Fig. 19 shown. In such a position, the square 71 of the coupling shaft 7 is partially inserted into the recess 22 of the locking disk 20 and the locking pin 75 is partially inserted into the bore 102 of the chair-side pivot bearing member 100. This means that both a rotation of the rotatable part 40 and a pivoting of the pivotable part 2 is not possible. Only in one of the four possible locking positions of the coupling shaft 7 is a complete penetration of the square 71 of the coupling shaft 7 in the recess 22 of the locking disc 20 allows, namely, when the cylinder pin 9 enters the recess 24 of the locking disc 20. This position is in the Figures 17 and 21 shown. In this position, a rotation of the rotatable member 40 by the engagement of the square 71 in the recess 22 of the locking disc 20 is not possible. However, a pivoting of the pivotable part 2 relative to the chair is possible because in this position the locking pin 75 lies outside the bore 102 of the chair-side pivot bearing element 100.

Preferably, the arrangement is chosen so that this position corresponds to a position of the angled portion 41, which can not lead to a risk of injury of a person sitting in the chair person, for example, in the case of a pivoting of the armrest Fig. 1 shown position.

Swivel axis S

swiveling part

2

Long hole

2a

compression spring

3

Schutztülle

4

two holes

4a

foam case

5

slots

6a

reinforcing sleeve

6

clutch shaft

7

actuating pin

8th

straight pin

9

Set screw

10

locking disc

20

guide

21

recess

22

face

23

deepening

24

Rotatable part

40

extension part

41

Outer end

52

square

71

drilling

73

threaded hole

74

locking pin

75

spigot

76

Chair-side pivot bearing element

100

recess

101

drilling

102

Armrest side bearing housing

200

Claims (10)

1. Pivotable arm rest for a chair, wherein the arm rest comprises a part (2) pivotable with respect to the chair and a rotating part (40) which can be rotated with respect to the pivotable part (2),
   with a pivot bearing element (100, 200) for pivotably mounting the pivotable part (2) at the chair, and
   with a locking element (7) which is designed such that the pivotable part (2) of the arm rest can only be pivoted with respect to the chair when the rotating part (40) of the arm rest assumes a defined predetermined position with respect to the pivotable part (2),
   characterized in that
   the locking element (7) comprises a locking bolt (75) which projects into a bore (102) of a pivot bearing element (100) on the side of the chair in a locking position preventing pivoting.
2. Arm rest according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element is designed as a clutch shaft (7) with a polygonal part (71).
3. Arm rest according to claim 2, characterized in that the polygonal part is a square (71).
4. Arm rest according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the square (71) cooperates with a correspondingly designed recess (22) of a locking disk (20).
5. Arm rest according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking disk (20) is firmly connected to the rotating part (40) of the arm rest.
6. Arm rest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (7) is movably retained within the pivotable part (2) of the arm rest and is pretensioned towards the locking disk (20) by means of a pressure spring (3).
7. Arm rest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (7) can be moved via an external protective bushing (4).
8. Arm rest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (7) comprises a bore (72) for receiving a straight pin (9).
9. Arm rest according to claim 8, characterized in that the straight pin (9) rests in an indentation (24) of the locking disk (20) in a position of the locking element (7) permitting the pivotable part to pivot.
10. Chair with a pivot bearing element (100) on the side of the chair and an arm rest according to the preceding claims 1 to 9.

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