EP2366310B1 - Seating furniture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a chair according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular an ergonomic seating in the form of a stool, in particular a stackable ergonomic seating.

Sitting is less of a burden than standing, but long-lasting sitting still causes physical discomfort, especially in the area of the spine and especially in the pelvic and lumbar areas. Active movement during sitting, in as many directions as possible, and in many variations, is known to better provide the intervertebral discs with better elasticity, straighten the spine, strengthen the back muscles, and the like. During such movements, which occur especially in the pelvic area, the upper body can still be kept relatively quiet, so that the seated person, for example, can continue to work on a work table.

In order to enable such active movements while sitting, various ergonomic seating has already been proposed. In many cases, these seats have a movably mounted seat and possibly also a movably mounted backrest. The mechanisms for these movable seat and backrests are usually relatively complex and complicated.

In addition, for example, the documents disclose DE 296 03 988 U1 . US 3,312,437 A . US 2005/0151403 A1 and US 2007/0138850 A1 each stool-like seating with an at least partially convex, central foot part, around which the seating can be tilted or tilted.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved ergonomic chair with a simple structure, which preferably also has a good stackability.

This object is achieved by a chair with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

The seat according to the invention comprises a seat for providing a seat, wherein the seat or its seat is at least partially concave; a substantially circular base plate for placing the chair on a floor, wherein the foot plate is at least partially convex and the ground-facing side of the base plate is at least partially formed as an anti-slip surface; and a central part which connects the seat to the footplate and whose vertical central axis extends centrally through the footplate.

The seat with seat, base plate and central middle section forms a simply constructed stool. The foot plate is at least partially convex, so that the entire stool can tilt on this base plate, swing or commute. The seating itself can therefore be substantially rigid and thus easily formed, in particular, no complicated joints or the like tilting mechanisms must be integrated. The (in plan view) circular base plate allows tilting of the stool in all directions. In order to be able to ensure a secure sitting on the floor despite the actually unstable state of the seat, the floor facing, i. the side facing away from the seat of the foot plate at least partially formed as anti-slip surface. In this way it can be ensured that the stool does not slip on the floor under the user even when tilted.

Furthermore, the seat or at least its seat is at least partially concave. The concavity of the seat provides a comfortable and - especially in the tilted state of the chair - safe seating surface and on the other hand allows the stacking of several stools each other, the convex base plate of a chair can be safely accommodated in the concave seat of another chair. In addition, the concave design of the seat offers the opportunity to put the chair upside down or stable overhead on the floor.

The "anti-slip surface" of the floor facing side of the base plate should cause static friction of the foot plate with the ground at least in the loaded state of the chair so that the seating remains stable even in the tilted state in place on the floor. If necessary, this "anti-slip surface" can be matched to the type of floor to be expected (tiles, stone, parquet, carpet, etc.) and can be achieved by the type of material, the structure of the surface, by a coating of the surface and the like. The static friction effect achieved with this "anti-slip surface" should be present in particular in the loaded state of the seat and at room temperature. The floor-facing side of the foot plate is at least partially, preferably in the entire region of the convex curvature or even completely provided with this anti-slip surface.

The "convexity" of the footplate means that the footplate, more specifically its side facing away from the floor or facing away from the seat (lower or side), is arched towards the floor. In order to achieve a symmetrical tilting effect for the seating, the convexity should be provided substantially in the center of the footplate. The convexity need not necessarily extend over the entire footplate to its edge. In principle, completely or only partially curved base plates, foot plates with only a single curvature or with a plurality of bulges and the like are conceivable within the scope of the invention. The convexity may be completely or partially rectilinear and / or curved.

The "concave design" of the seat or the seat means that the seat or its seat surface, more precisely the footplate facing away from it (upper or user) side, is curved inwards towards the middle part of the seat. The concavity is preferably provided substantially in the center of the seat. The concavity does not necessarily extend over the entire seat to its edge. In principle, completely or only partially curved seats or seating surfaces are conceivable within the scope of the invention. The concavity may be completely or partially rectilinear and / or curved.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the seat is designed such that its top when inverted, ie upside down seating in the Essentially planar support forms. On this flat edition, the seating can be turned off safely and stably.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the convexity of the base plate and the concavity of the seat or its seat surface are formed such that they can at least partially engage with each other to allow stacking of two or more inverted seats on each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the facing side of the base plate is at least partially formed of a soft plastic. For example, the footplate may be a 2K plastic molding whose bottom facing side is at least partially formed of the soft plastic. For example, elastomers and thermoplastics such as TPE, TPU and flexible PVC are suitable as "soft plastic". In addition to its high coefficient of static friction with the soil, the soft plastic also has the advantage that due to its elasticity, the soil is spared (i.e., not scratched, for example). The soft plastic is intended in particular for the area of the anti-slip surface of the foot plate.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the foot plate protrudes radially beyond the middle part and the outside of this edge of the foot plate is also formed from the soft plastic. In this way, other items can be spared when the stool with its foot plate abuts against them, and the floor can also be spared when the stool is on the side, is pulled obliquely across the floor and the like.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the floor facing side of the base plate on a single convex curvature. In other words, the foot plate is formed substantially in the shape of a ball segment. For example, the convexity of the footplate has a radius of curvature of at least about 40 cm, more preferably at least about 50 cm. The relatively large radius of curvature results in a relatively limited tilting amount, which can prevent the seating from tipping over.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the seat has on its side facing away from the base plate or the bottom at least one recess into which a seat cushion is inserted. The seat can be made in this way of a different material than the seat, whereby the seating comfort can be increased. In this case, this recess of the seat is preferably spaced from the edge of the seat, i. it does not extend over the entire seat. In this way, for example, the seat cushion can be prevented from being scraped out on bottom edges or the like if the chair is pulled over the floor in an inverted state (i.e., overhead),

For example, the seat is essentially circular like the footplate. It is preferred if a diameter of the base plate and a diameter of the seat are substantially equal. This embodiment improves the stackability of the seating.

According to the invention, the seat is at least partially provided with a protruding edge on its underside facing the base plate or the floor. By this edge, the seat can be easily gripped at his seat, both while sitting on the chair and to carry the chair.

This edge on the underside of the seat is preferably fully formed, but it can also be provided only in sections.

It is further provided that this edge on the underside of the seat has a plurality of differently high sections, for example, is formed wave-shaped. This improves the tangibility of the chair to its seat for carrying and sitting. In addition, there is the possibility of hanging adjacent seats when stacked in mutually inverted state each other.

Furthermore, the edge at the bottom of the seat is at least partially directed radially outward. In this case, depending on the design of the Edge - prevents the chair from rolling when lying down.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the middle part is at least partially conical in its region facing the base plate. The conical portion may serve, for example, for supporting or resting a foot when sitting.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Perspektivansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Sitzmöbels gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung von schräg oben;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Perspektivansicht des Sitzmöbels von Fig. 1 von schräg unten;

Fig. 3

eine Seitenschnittansicht des Sitzmöbels von Fig. 1 und 2;

Fig.4

eine schematische Seitenansicht von zwei aufeinander gestapelten Sitzmöbeln von Fig. 1 und 2; und

Fig.5

eine schematische Seitenschnittansicht von fünf aufeinander und ineinander gestapelten Sitzmöbeln von Fig. 1 und 2.

The above and other features, advantages and applications of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of a chair with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show:

Fig. 1

a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a chair according to the present invention obliquely from above;

Fig. 2

a schematic perspective view of the chair of Fig. 1 from diagonally below;

Fig. 3

a side sectional view of the chair of Fig. 1 and 2 ;

Figure 4

a schematic side view of two stacked seating furniture of Fig. 1 and 2 ; and

Figure 5

a schematic side sectional view of five stacked and stacked seating furniture of Fig. 1 and 2 ,

Referring to Fig. 1 to 3 First, the structure and the ergonomics of a chair according to a preferred embodiment will be explained in more detail.

The three main components of the stool-shaped seat 10 are a seat 14, a base plate 20 and a middle part 12 connecting the seat 14 to the base plate 20. The seating 10 is substantially rotationally symmetrical in plan view, ie, both the seat 14 and the foot plate 20 are substantially circular in shape and the central portion 12 is centrally located so that the central vertical axis 13 of the central portion 12 extends centrally through the foot plate 20 and through the seat 14.

The stool 10 can be made in different sizes. For example, stools 10 with different heights of 31 cm, 38 cm and 46 cm and each have a diameter of about 32 cm are conceivable. These numerical values are only exemplary.

As in Fig. 3 illustrated, the central part 12 is formed as a conical hollow body, the narrower region of the seat 14 faces. The conical shape of the central part 12 results in circumferential flanks 15, which extend in the direction of the base plate 20 and on which a user sitting down his / her foot or his / her feet can park. The middle part is preferably made as an injection molded part of a plastic material. Due to the design of the central part as a hollow part, the weight of the entire chair can be kept low so that it can be easily transported even by children.

The seat 14 is also preferably made as an injection molded part of a plastic material and fixedly connected to the central part by screws 16. Alternatively, an adhesive or clamp connection or a combined connection technique are possible.

On the top of the seat 14 facing away from the floor this is provided with a central recess 17. Through this recess 17 through the screws 16 for attaching the seat 14 to the central part 12 are accessible. In the recess 17 of the seat 14, a seat cushion 18 is further used for example of foam (eg PE foam) or other convenient material. The seat cushion 18 may also optionally have a removable (eg attached by Velcro) and thus interchangeable and possibly washable cover. Furthermore, the seat cushion 18 or, if appropriate, the cover can of course also be designed in a different color than the rest of the stool 10, so that different design variations result. The attachment the seat pad 18 in the seat 14 takes place, for example, by gluing, clamping, interference fit and the like.

As in Fig. 3 Recognizable, the recess 17 in the top of the seat 14 is concave, that is curved inwardly, so that the seat cushion used 18 forms a concave seat in the top of the seat 14. This concavity is for a secure sitting especially in a tilted stool 10 advantage. In addition, a flat support is formed by the concave top of the seat 14 when turning the stool 10 (see. Fig. 4 ), on which the stool 10 can be safely and stably parked.

In Fig. 1 and 3 It can be seen that the recess 17 and the seat cushion 18 do not extend to the edge of the seat 14. In this way, the stool 10 can be reversed without the seat cushion 18 is dragging on the ground and is scratched out, for example, at a bottom edge or the like.

On the underside of the seat 14 facing the bottom, the latter is further formed with a peripheral edge 30. This edge extends substantially in the direction of the base plate 20, but is also slightly inclined radially outwards. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 to 3 This edge 30 of the seat is wave-shaped with, for example, eight wave crests. But there are also other numbers of wave crests, other shapes of different heights of the edge and the like possible.

This edge 30 at the bottom of the seat 14 can be easily and comfortably embraced by a user with his / her hand. This is possible both during sitting and for carrying the seat 10. For a comfortable grip of the seat is therefore an edge 30 with rounded or rounded shapes of advantage.

In addition to its function as a handle, this edge 30 on the seat 14 has yet another advantage. If the entire seat 14 formed exactly circular, the stool 10 would easily roll while lying and it could be driven mischief, for example, or even be dangerous. As the edge 30 but something outward is and has portions of different heights, the seating 10 can not roll over this edge 30 away.

At its end facing away from the seat 14 described above, the central part 12 is connected to the already mentioned base plate 20. This foot plate 20 is a (in plan view) substantially circular body with a convex curvature on its bottom facing the outside, in other words, substantially spherical segment-shaped. The connection with the middle part 12 takes place, for example, via screw connections 26, adhesive connections, press fits or the like.

The convexity on the outside of the footplate 20 is centrally provided and preferably extends outwardly over the entire footplate 20. By virtue of this convexity of the foot plate 20, the stool 10, when standing on the foot plate 20, can be tilted in all directions, thereby achieving active dynamic sitting on the stool 10, with the known ergonomic advantages.

In order to prevent the stool 10 from completely falling over when a user sits and moves on it, the convexity of the foot plate 20 is kept relatively low in order to limit the possible angle of inclination. For example, the foot plate 20 is configured substantially in the shape of a circle segment whose radius of curvature is at least about 40 cm, more preferably at least 50 cm. With a diameter of the foot plate 20 of, for example, about 32 cm, this results in a height of the curvature of, for example, at most 3 to 4 cm.

Furthermore, it must be ensured that the seating 10 does not slip under a user, especially not during tipping. For this purpose, the base-facing underside of the base plate 20 is at least partially, preferably completely formed with an anti-slip surface 24.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spherical segment-shaped base plate 20 is manufactured as an injection molded part in 2K technique. In this case, the inner main body 22 is made of a hard plastic material, for example, while the floor facing the outside of a soft plastic such as TPE (thermoplastic elastomers, with their various subgroups), TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer) or soft PVC is formed. This soft plastic forms the anti-slip surface 24, since he - has a large coefficient of static friction with the floor (eg tiles, stone, parquet, carpet) - especially when the seat is loaded by a user and thus prevents slippage of the base plate 20 on the floor. In addition, the soft plastic 24 protects the floor, even if the chair is pulled over the floor.

As in Fig. 3 illustrated, the base plate 20 preferably extends radially beyond the central portion 12, wherein the thus formed edge 28 of the base plate 20 is also formed on its outside with the soft plastic 24. Due to its elasticity, this soft plastic 24 on the edge 28 of the foot plate 28 can prevent or at least restrict damage to other objects to which the seating furniture 10 optionally strikes.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 to 3 For example, the convexity of the foot plate 20 is chosen to be greater than the concavity of the seat 14 (in terms of diameter and depth). But there are also embodiments of the stool 10 possible in which the convexity of the base plate 20 is about as large as or smaller than the concavity of the seat 14 is selected.

Fig. 4 and 5 will now illustrate how the above-described seating 10 can be stacked in an advantageous manner.

As already mentioned above, the upper side of the seat 14 remote from the floor forms a flat support, because of its concavity, when the seating furniture 10 is turned upside down on the floor. On a stool 10 turned over in this way, a second stool 10 can then be stacked, likewise in the inverted state. Since the convex curvature of the base plate 20 of the lower stool 10 at least partially engages in the concave seating surface of the seat 14 of the upper stool 10, a relatively stable stack of seating furniture 10 results, so that they can be stored, tidied up and transported in a space-saving manner.

Due to the specially trained edge 30 on the underside of the seat 10 also an even more compact stackability of this, seating 10 is possible, as explained below.

As in Fig. 5 illustrates, between two stacks of stacked as described above seating 10, another stool 10 are hung. For this purpose, the fifth stool 10 is not reversed, but is hung in its orientation of use with the downwardly projecting edge 30 at its seat 14 in the upstanding edges 30 of the seats 14 of each upper stool 10 of the adjacent stack.

In order to achieve a stable stack and a stable hooking, it is advantageous if the seating 10 each have not only on its underside an edge 30, but if this edge 30 also sections of different heights (eg as a waveform, as shown), so that the hinged fifth stool 10 can not twist.

Out Fig. 5 As a result, the fifth stool 10 can be hooked between two stacks of upturned stools 10 arranged in series. An even more stable bond may result if this additional stool 10 is hooked in the middle between a plurality (three, four or five) stacks of upturned stools 10.

While in Fig. 5 two stacks of two stacked stools 10 are shown with a hinged another stool 10, the seating 10 of the invention can of course be arranged in more than two stacks are stacked on more than two stools 10, in the latter case, several stools 10 are hung over each other between the adjacent stacks, and the like.

• ergonomisches Sitzen durch das mögliche Kippen des Sitzmöbels in alle Richtungen aufgrund der Konvexität der Fußplatte;
• sicheres Verkippen des Sitzmöbels, da es aufgrund der Antirutschfläche an der Fußplatte nicht wegrutschen kann und da es aufgrund der begrenzten Konvexität der Fußplatte nur begrenzt verkippt werden kann;
• bequemes Sitzen durch das Sitzpolster und die konkav geformte Sitzfläche des Sitzes;
• einfaches und bequemes Greifen des Sitzmöbels sowohl im Sitzen als auch zum Tragen durch den Rand an der Unterseite des Sitzes;
• sicheres Abstellen des Sitzmöbels im umgedrehten Zustand durch die Konkavität des Sitzes und damit der planen Auflage;
• kein Wegrollen des liegenden Sitzmöbels durch den radial nach außen gerichteten Rand an der Unterseite des Sitzes und seinen unterschiedlich hohen Abschnitten;
• Stapelbarkeit der Sitzmöbel durch die konkave Oberseite des Sitzes;
• kompakte Stapelbarkeit der Sitzmöbel durch den radial nach außen gerichteten Rand an der Unterseite des Sitzes und seinen unterschiedlich hohen Abschnitten;
• Schonung des Bodens durch den Weichkunststoff der Antirutschfläche der Fußplatte; und
• Schonung anderer Gegenstände durch den Außenrand der Fußplatte mit seinem Weichkunststoff.

The advantages of the stool-like seating furniture of the invention are in particular:

• ergonomic sitting due to possible tilting of the chair in all directions due to the convexity of the footplate;
• safe tilting of the seat, as it can not slip due to the anti-slip surface on the foot plate and because it can only be tilted limited due to the limited convexity of the foot plate;
• comfortable sitting by the seat cushion and the concave seat of the seat;
• easy and comfortable gripping of the seat both while sitting and for carrying by the edge at the bottom of the seat;
• safe parking of the chair in the inverted state by the concavity of the seat and thus the flat support;
• no rolling away of the lying seat by the radially outwardly directed edge at the bottom of the seat and its different heights;
• Stackability of the seating by the concave top of the seat;
• compact stackability of the seating furniture by the radially outwardly directed edge at the bottom of the seat and its different high sections;
• Protection of the soil by the soft plastic of the anti-slip surface of the foot plate; and
• Protection of other objects by the outer edge of the base plate with its soft plastic.

Claims (12)

1. A seating furniture (10), comprising:

   a seat (14) providing a seating surface;

   an essentially circular foot panel (20) for placing the seating furniture (10) on a floor; and

   a middle part (12) connecting said seat (14) to said foot panel (20) and having a vertical center axis (13) running centrally through said foot panel (20),

   wherein said seat (14) or its seating surface is of an at least partially concave configuration being inwardly curved in the direction towards said middle part (12), and

   wherein said foot panel (20) is of an at least partially convex configuration being outwardly curved in the direction towards the floor, and the side of said foot panel (20) facing towards the floor is configured, at least in part, as a non-slip surface (24),

   characterized in that

   said seat (14) is, on its underside facing towards said foot panel (20), provided, at least in part, with a projecting rim (30) which has a plurality of portions of different heights and is at least partially directed radially outward.
2. The seating furniture according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   said seat (14) is configured such that the top side of said seat forms an essentially planar rest when said seating furniture (10) is inverted.
3. The seating furniture according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the convexity of said foot panel (20) and the concavity of said seat (14) or its seating surface are configured such that said foot panel (20) of one seating furniture can engage at least partially with the seat (14) or its seating surface of a further seating furniture so that two inverted seating furnitures (10) are stackable on each other.
4. The seating furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the side of said foot panel (20) facing towards the floor is formed, at least in part, from a soft plastic material.
5. The seating furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   said foot panel (20) projects radially beyond said middle part (12), and the outside of this periphery (28) of said foot panel (20) is also formed from said soft plastic material.
6. The seating furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the side of said foot panel (20) facing towards the floor has a single convex curvature.
7. The seating furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   said seat (14), on its top side facing away from said foot panel (20), comprises at least one recess (17) into which a seating cushion (18) is inserted.
8. The seating furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   said seat (14) has an essentially circular design.
9. The seating furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   a diameter of said foot panel (20) and a diameter of said seat (14) are essentially equal in size.
10. The seating furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
    said rim (30) on the underside of said seat (14) is formed around the entire circumference.
11. The seating furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
    said rim (30) on the underside of said seat (14) is of a wave-shaped design.
12. The seating furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
    said middle part (12), in its region directed towards said foot panel (20), is formed at least partially conically.

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