EP3085277B1 - Office chair - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an office chair with a seat and a backrest, wherein the seat mounted on or on a frame and the backrest are connected to the seat, and the backrest has a support column on which transverse support members are provided and the support column a front support wall and a rear support wall between which front-to-back extending flat ribs extend elastically tiltably attached to the front and rear support walls, and the two support walls approach from bottom to top.

Office chairs with backrests are known in various embodiments. An office chair with support structure in the backrest is made of US 6,986,549 B2 known. The support structure is formed by a kind of spine or support column having front and rear support walls. Between the two support walls are substantially horizontally extending, flat ribs that hold the support walls at more or less large distance. The ribs are connected by joints with the inner surfaces of the two supporting walls and can tilt with respect to these. From the DE 199 16 411 A1 For example, a flexible wedge is known which is used in a backrest (FIG. 20). From the DE 10 2011 117 672 B4 is a backrest for a chair known, having a plurality of the back of a user partially embracing support elements. Such a chair is used, for example, for people restricted in freedom of movement.

The invention has for its object to provide an office chair of the type mentioned, in which the backrest conforms to the back of a user and the backrest in the neck and the loin of the user is still free to move.

This object is achieved in that the backrest projects beyond the upper end of the support column and the lower end of the support column is located at a distance above the seat.

In the office chair according to the invention so the backrest is supported over almost its entire height, but the upper and the lower end of the backrest are not supported by the support column. The unsupported upper and lower portions of the seat back protrude in the manner of wings over the supported central area and may extend the direction of the adjoining portions or may consciously occupy a different inclination by the user.

With preference, the support column over its vertical extent to a constant width. This width can be chosen freely and can be as wide as the width of the backrest. But it may also have a smaller width than the backrest, for example, a width of 15% to 30%, in particular of 20% of the total width of the backrest.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that both support walls are convexly inclined in the direction of a user. The support column with its two support walls thus inclines in the unloaded state with its upper and lower areas away from the user. If the support column is deformed during leaning in its central region, i. pressed slightly, then the upper portion tilts against the neck or head of the user.

This is aided by the fact that the ribs connecting the front to the rear support wall orthogonally open into the front and / or the rear support wall. The connection of rib and support wall is rigid so that a tilt, position or direction change of the front support wall is transmitted to one or more ribs, which then transfer their inclination, position or direction change to the rear support wall, which then correspondingly adjusts and optionally adjacent ribs influenced, which in turn act on the front support wall and deform it, especially in the head area.

In order to be able to distribute the forces and positions of the individual sections of the rear support wall evenly and extensively on the back of a user, several rear support elements are arranged side by side, ie above one another, from bottom to top on the outer surface of the rear support wall and along the support wall. In this case, the plurality of rear support elements are located on the back of a frame surrounding the support column for the backrest. These rear support elements extend over the entire width of the backrest and connect the frame to the support column. The frame and the support column thus form a unit that over the support elements exchange inclination and support forces with each other.

In order to change the curvature and inclination angle of the backrest, the plurality of rear support elements at a distance from each other. The frame is relatively flexible in the areas between the individual support elements, so that it is slightly bent there, i. can be deformed in the vertical. The frame can thus follow the course of the support column and thus the back course of a user.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the plurality of rear support elements taper from the edge in the direction of the support column, in particular whose height is reduced. The taper, which can be done in a reduction in thickness and / or height, causes the support members to be relatively rigid at their edges to which they are connected to the frame, with the central region with which they contact abut the support column and / or are connected to this, are relatively elastic. The support elements can thus bulge out of the plane of the backrest, wherein the vaulting or tilting forces are transmitted to the frame depending on the elasticity of the support elements more or less.

Similarly, a plurality of front support members are arranged side by side on the outer surface of the front support wall and along the support wall from bottom to top. The front and rear support elements on the support pillar at the front and at the rear ensure that areas of the backrest are directed to the rear and other areas to the front, ie towards the front of the user, with the individual areas interacting with each other.

Again, the plurality of front support elements are on the back of a support frame surrounding the frame for the backrest and preferably have a distance from each other. The front and rear support elements are flexible and can be made of steel, especially spring steel, wood, carbon and / or plastic.

In order to be able to introduce the forces of the front and rear support walls of the support column directly into the support elements, the front and rear support elements extend at the level of the ribs, which then extend between the respective front and rear support member.

To even out the forces of the frame, support column and support elements on the back of the user and vice versa, as well as to form a continuous contact surface for the back of a user, the frame and the front support elements are covered by a padding or covering. This covering can be of any type, shape and color.

Another feature is that the office chair has a frame independent of the frame. The frame can therefore be designed as desired and have the rigidity required for an office chair. In the frame, for example, a height adjustment can be accommodated, which can be additionally equipped with a suspension and a damping. Usually this gas springs are used. The elastic element is thus formed by the frame, which serves as a support for the seat and the backrest. Of the Office chair according to the invention thus represents a cantilever.

In an advantageous specialization of the invention, the frame has two support legs. These support legs form the supports for the seat and the holder for the backrest. In this case, any types and shapes of the seat and the backrest can be mounted on the support and the bracket. They can be rigid or flexible and possibly also damped and mounted or secured in different positions on the support and the bracket.

An embodiment of the invention provides that the support legs are connected together at their lower ends. The ends of the support legs can be connected directly or indirectly. In any case, they form a rigid framework and a support base for the frame on which the seat and back support. The frame is a self-supporting unit that is rigid in sections and flexible in other areas.

Advantageously, a cross member is provided for connecting the lower ends of the support legs, in addition, a bridge may be present. The cross member serves as a point of articulation for the upper end of the Gestell and may also have a rotating and / or tilting bearing for the frame, so that it can be adjusted relative to the frame with different angles of inclination.

In a further development of the invention, it is provided that each support leg extends from the frame in the direction of the backrest extending foot, a to the foot adjoining and in the direction of the front edge of the seat extending spring portion, a subsequent to the spring portion and in the direction of the backrest extending and receiving the seat supporting portion and a subsequent to the support portion and the backrest supporting back portion has. The frame thus has a foot connected to the frame, which is followed by a spring section, a support section and finally a rear section. These elements merge into one another via one or more folds.

A particularly preferred variant provides that the frame, in particular the foot and the sections, are cut out of a plate, in particular by means of a laser cutting device, and then folded. When using a laser, high precision finish cuts can be made without overheating the area around the cut and component. The cut-out semi-finished elements can be stored in a space-saving manner and then fed to the bending device. Both the cutting and bending processes can be automated as far as possible.

In order to give the office chair, in addition to its rigidity, a degree of flexibility and impact absorption, the supporting legs are supported by damping elements. These damping elements transmit the impact forces directly or indirectly into the frame. Thus, the characteristics of a cantilever can be combined with the advantages of a certain damping.

In order to optimally damp the cantilever, it the mobility, in particular the tilting ability, but not restrict, the damping elements are supported on the cross member or on the bridge. The forces are thus supported directly on or in the immediate vicinity of the frame. Occurring bending elements within the frame therefore remain minimal.

To stiffen the support legs and maintain their position and position to each other is provided that the support legs are connected to each other by means of a transverse strut, in particular below the seat. The support legs remain in exactly the desired distance from one another and transverse forces do not have to be transmitted through the seat or the fasteners required for this purpose.

Advantageously, the damping elements are supported on the cross brace. Due to the optimal placement of the cross brace on the support legs and a freely selectable position for the damping elements they can be aligned exactly in the direction of the forces occurring.

A high rigidity on the one hand and compliance in the elastic portions of the entire office chair on the other hand is achieved in that the frame made of metal, in particular spring steel. The use of spring steel gives the office chair the characteristics of a cantilever, the office chair also has a rigid frame with suspension and damping and the height adjustment by the Gestellt.

To increase the stiffness in supported areas, such as for the seat and / or the backrest, is the frame with one or more beads and / or Längsabkantungen Mistake. Thus, these rigid areas can be specifically excluded from the suspension.

In order to keep the introduction of heat when joining in adjacent areas as low as possible, it is provided that the individual parts of the frame are welded together by means of a laser welding device. In addition, the elastic properties of the spring steel remain unchanged.

Advantageously, a further decoupling of seat and frame is achieved in that the seat by means of several dampers, in particular rubber buffer, is attached to the frame. As a result, vibrations can be absorbed both in the high and in the low-frequency range on the one hand and on the damper on the other hand.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description in which two particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawing.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Bürostuhls;

Figur 2

eine Rückansicht des Bürostuhls gemäß Figur 2;

Figur 3

einen Detailansicht einer in der Rückenlehne verbauten Stützsäule;

Figur 4

eine Detailansicht eines Abschnitts des Rahmens;

Figur 5

eine Vorderansicht der Rahmens mit Rückenlehne ohne Bespannung;

Figur 6

eine Seitenansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Bürostuhls;

Figur 7

eine vergrößerte Wiedergabe des Ausschnitts VII gemäß Figur 6 von schräg hinten;

Figur 8

eine vergrößerte Wiedergabe des Ausschnitts VII gemäß Figur 6 von hinten;

Figur 9

eine vergrößerte Wiedergabe des Sitzbereiches ohne Sitz;

Figur 10

eine vergrößerte Wiedergabe des Sitzbereiches mit Sitz; und

Figur 11

eine vergrößerte Wiedergabe des Sitzbereiches mit Sitz und Poster.

In the drawing show:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a first embodiment of an office chair according to the invention;

FIG. 2

a rear view of the office chair according to FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 3

a detailed view of a built-in backrest support column;

FIG. 4

a detailed view of a portion of the frame;

FIG. 5

a front view of the frame with backrest without strings;

FIG. 6

a side view of a second embodiment of the office chair according to the invention;

FIG. 7

an enlarged view of the section VII according to FIG. 6 from diagonally behind;

FIG. 8

an enlarged view of the section VII according to FIG. 6 from the back;

FIG. 9

an enlarged view of the seating area without a seat;

FIG. 10

an enlarged view of the seating area with seat; and

FIG. 11

an enlarged view of the seating and poster seating area.

The FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an office chair 10 generally designated, which has a telescopic frame 12 with a foot turnstile 14, a seat 16 and a backrest 18. The frame 12 is connected via a frame 20 both to the seat 16 and to the backrest 18. The lower end 22 of the frame 20 is rotatably and / or tiltably adjustable and / or lockable mounted on the upper end of the frame 12. Furthermore, it can be seen that the seat 16 and the backrest 18 have a covering 24 or padding.

The FIG. 2 essentially shows the back of the backrest 18, the longitudinal sides and at the top Transverse termination of the frame 20 is surrounded. The frame 20 has two support legs 26, they strip-shaped or band-shaped below the backrest 18 extend. In addition, it can be seen that between the two support legs 26, a support column 28 extends, which extends substantially parallel to the support legs 26. The two support legs 26 are detected by a plurality of rear support members 30, wherein the support members 30 have a distance from each other and are tapered in its central region 32 against which the support column 28, by the upper edge 34 in the direction of the straight, horizontally extending lower Edge 36 is cut. As a result, the elasticity of the support elements 30 in the middle region 32 is increased, whereas the support elements 30 are relatively stiff in the region of the support legs 26. The support column 28 has to the upper end of the backrest 18 and to the lower end a distance of 10% to 20%, in particular of 15%, the total height of the backrest 18th

The FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the support column 28 having a front support wall 38 and a rear support wall 40, between which ribs 42 extend. The two support walls 38 and 40 both extend convexly, the convex curvature facing a back of a user of the office chair 10, ie facing forwards. The ribs 42 keep the two support walls 38 and 40 at a distance, wherein the distance decreases from bottom to top, so that the support walls 38 and 40 touch with its upper end. The ribs 42 are rigidly connected to the inner sides of the support walls 38 and 40 and project from the inner wall of the rear support wall 40 orthogonal. In addition, the ribs 42 at constant distances from each other.

In the FIG. 4a a section of a carrying leg 26 is shown, this having alternately thickened portions 44 and tapered portions 46 has. At the tapered portions 46, the rear support members 30 are fixed, the thickness of which is sized to have the same cross section as the thickened portions 44, which is apparent from the FIG. 4b is apparent. The Figure 4c shows a cross section IVc - IVc (according to Figures 2 and 4b ) and there are a portion 46, the end of a rear support member 30 and hinted also the end of a front support member 48 recognizable. The rear support member 30 partially surrounds the tapered portions 46 and has a dovetail groove 50 at the forward broad side of the tapered portion 46. In this dovetail groove 50 engages a dovetail spring 52 of the front support member 48, which is thereby connected to the rear support member 30.

The FIG. 5 shows the seat 16 and the backrest 18 of the office chair 10 from the front, with the covering 24 has been removed. It can be seen that both the rear support element 30 and the front support elements 48, of which only the lowermost is shown, engage behind the support legs 26 on which they are mounted. If the front support element 48 is acted upon in the direction of the support column 28, then the support column 28 is deformed. The support column 28 is supported on the one or more rear support members 30, which in turn are deformed. However, deformation of the support column 28 causes such that adjacent portions of the support column 28 are bulged toward the user, whereby one or more of the front support members 48 are displaced in the direction of the user. The back of a user is optimal supported and the backrest 18 adapted to the course of the back of the user.

The FIG. 6 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the office chair 10, which also has a telescopic frame 12 with a foot turnstile 14, a seat 16 and a backrest 18. The frame 12 is connected via the frame 20 both to the seat 16 and to the backrest 18. The lower end 22 of the frame 20 is rotatably and / or tiltably adjustable and / or lockable mounted on the upper end of the frame 12. Further, it can be seen that the seat 16 has a seat cushion 74 and the seat back 18 has a back pad 76, with the front end 78 of the seat pad 74 following the frame 20 downwardly and supporting the user's knees.

The FIG. 7 shows essentially the frame 20, which has, inter alia, the two support legs 26, they strip-shaped or band-shaped below the seat 16 and behind the backrest 18 extend. The support legs 26 are formed by a foot 82, a spring portion 84, a support portion 86 and a back portion 88. The foot 82 and the individual sections 84 to 88 are strip-shaped or band-shaped cut and folded several times, ie provided with folds 90, 92, 94 and 96.

Out FIG. 8 showing substantially the rear view of the frame 20 and the support legs 26, it can be seen that at each support leg 26, the lower end 22 of the foot 32 is bent over the fold 96 vertically upwards and has a mounting plate 98. The opposite support leg 26, which is formed mirror-symmetrically, So also has a mounting plate 98, so that the mounting plates 98 face each other.

At this attachment plates 98, a cross member 100 is welded by means of a laser welding device and forms the receptacle for the upper end of the frame 12. Side next to the cross member 100 is welded to the two upper edges 102 of the mounting plates 98, a bridge 104, which serves as a support bearing 106 for two damping elements 108 serves. These two damping elements 58 engage on a transverse strut 110, which connect the two support portions 86 of the two support legs 26, which is explained in more detail below, among other things.

The FIG. 9 shows the frame 20 from the front and it can be seen that at the lower end 22 of the frame 20, the two mounting plates 98 are relatively close to each other and are supported by the cross member 100. About the fold 96, the distance of the feet 82 increases toward the rear, being about the fold 90, the distances between the two spring portions 84 forward again increased up to the distance of the two support sections 86. In order to fix their distance, the support portions 86 are provided in the rear third of the cross member 110, wherein between the cross member 110 and the support portions 86 damper 112, in particular rubber buffer, interposed, ie screwed. Along the respective outer longitudinal edge 114 is on the upper side of the support portions 86 each have a clamping strip 126, which is bent inwards at the rear end and extends over the entire width of the support portions 86. Finally, two damper 118 are still screwed on the top of the support portions 86 at the front and at the rear end.

The FIG. 10 shows the seat 16, which is formed deep-drawn shell-shaped, at its side edges upwardly bent pad strips 120 and is open like a blade like a forward. Thus, on this seat 16, as in FIG. 11 shown, the seat cushion 24 are mounted, in particular be clipped, being held laterally from the pad strips 120, wherein the front end 28 of the seat cushion 24 follows the frame 20 along the fold 92 down. It is in FIG. 10 Still recognizable that the seat 16 is screwed by means of the damper 118 to the support portions 86 and holds the support portions 86 at a distance and stiffened.

The two feet 82 and the support portions 86 are due to the cross member 102 and the bridge 104 and the bolted seat 16 and the cross member 110 relatively stiff, whereas the two spring portions 84 are resilient over the entire length and give the Rahen 20 the feature of a cantilever. This also applies in part to the back sections 88, wherein the lower region thereof is elastic, but its upper region is fastened to the backrest 18. The backrest 18 can thus perform low tilting tendencies to the rear.

Claims (20)

1. Office chair (10) with a seat (16) and a backrest (18), wherein the seat (16) is fitted on or to a stand (12) and the backrest (18) is connected to the seat (16), and the backrest (18) has a support column (28) on which are provided support elements (30) running transversely, and the support column (28) has a front support wall (38) and a rear support wall (40), between which there extend flat ribs (42) running from front to rear, which are fixed to the front and rear support wall (38, 40) with flexible tilting capability, and the two support walls (38, 40) converge from bottom to top, characterised in that the backrest (18) extends upwards beyond the upper end of the support column (28), and the lower end of the support column (28) is located with clearance above the seat (16).
2. Office chair according to claim 1, characterised in that the support column (28) has a constant width over its vertical extent.
3. Office chair according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that both support walls (38, 40) have a convex inclination in the direction of a user.
4. Office chair according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that ribs (42) connecting the front and the rear support walls (38, 40) are provided and lead orthogonally into the front and/or the rear support wall (38, 40).
5. Office chair according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, on the outer surface of the rear support wall (40) and along the support wall (40), several rear support elements (30) are arranged next to one another from bottom to top, wherein preferably the several rear support elements (30) abut the rear of a frame (20) for the backrest (18) which encompasses the support column (28).
6. Office chair according to claim 5, characterised in that the several rear support elements (30) have clearance from one another.
7. Office chair according to any of claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the several rear support elements (30) taper from the edge towards the support column (28), in particular they reduce in height.
8. Office chair according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, on the outer surface of the front support wall (38) and along the support wall (38), several front support elements (48) are arranged next to one another from bottom to top, wherein preferably the several front support elements (48) abut the rear of a frame (20) for the backrest (18) which encompasses the support column (28).
9. Office chair according to claim 8, characterised in that the several front support elements (48) have clearance from one another.
10. Office chair according to any of claims 5 to 9, characterised in that the front and rear support elements (30, 48) are flexible.
11. Office chair according to any of claims 5 to 10, characterised in that the front and rear support elements (30, 48) run at the height of ribs (42) which then extend between the respective front and rear support elements (30, 48).
12. Office chair according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the frame (20) and the front support elements (48) are overlaid by a covering (24).
13. Office chair according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the office chair (10) is in the form of a cantilever chair and the seat (16) is connected to the stand (12) via a frame (20), wherein preferably the frame (20) has two support legs (80), and wherein in particular the support legs (80) are joined together at their lower ends.
14. Office chair according to claim 13, characterised in that a cross-piece (100) and/or a bridge (104) are or is provided to join the lower ends of the support legs (80).
15. Office chair according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that each support leg (80) has a foot (82) extending from the stand (12) in the direction of the backrest (18), a spring section (84) adjoining the foot (82) and extending in the direction of the front edge (78) of the seat (16), a support section (86) adjoining the spring section (84) and extending in the direction of the backrest (18) and holding the seat (16), together with a back section (88) adjoining the support section (86) and supporting the backrest (18), wherein preferably the frame, in particular the foot (82) and the sections (4, 86, 88), are cut out from a plate, in particular by means of a laser cutting unit, and then folded.
16. Office chair according to any of claims 13 to 15, characterised in that the support legs (80) are supported by damping elements (108).
17. Office chair according to claims 13 and 16, characterised in that the damping elements (108) are supported on the cross-piece (100) or on the bridge (104), wherein preferably the damping elements (108) are supported on the cross strut (110).
18. Office chair according to any claims 13 to 17, characterised in that the support legs (80) are joined to one another by means of a cross strut (110), in particular below the seat (16).
19. Office chair according to any claims 5 to 18, characterised in that the frame (20) is made of metal, in particular of spring steel.
20. Office chair according to any claims 5 to 19, characterised in that the seat (16) is fastened to the frame (20) by means of several shock absorbers (118).

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