EP3403535B1 - Armrest, in particular for an office chair - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an armrest, in particular for an office chair.

Adjustable armrests are known from the prior art. As a rule, they have a rotary, longitudinal and / or transverse adjustment mechanism. Armrests with a particularly large number of individual adjustment options, however, are usually of a complicated construction and have a great many interacting construction elements.

Out US 2016/316917 A1 a height adjustable armrest for an office chair is known, which has a mounted on the armrest, rotatable about a first axis of rotation arm support carrier. A mounted on the Armauflagenträger armrest is rotatable about a second, spaced from the first axis of rotation axis of rotation and relative to the Armauflagenträger linearly displaceable.

An object of the present invention is to improve the handling of an armrest. In particular, the armrest should be individually and very variable adjustable.

This object is achieved in a structurally particularly simple manner by an armrest according to claim 1. The armrest according to the invention comprises a preferably height-adjustable armrest column, mounted on the armrest column, rotatable about a first axis of rotation Armauflagenträger and mounted on the Armauflagenträger armrest which is rotatable about a second axis of rotation and relative to the Armauflagenträger is linearly displaceable, wherein the two axes of rotation are spaced apart. A first core idea of the invention is thus to combine two rotational movements about spaced apart rotary axes with a linear displacement. As a result, can be provided with particularly simple means an individual and particularly variable adjustable armrest.

According to the invention, it is possible for the user of the chair by means of a switching mechanism to selectively set different functional states of the armrest. The switching mechanism is designed for switching between at least two functional states of the armrest and / or the armrest carrier, wherein each functional state allows or predetermines a specific range of rotation and / or a certain number of rotational positions of the armrest and / or the armrest carrier.

For actuating the switching mechanism, a preferably manually operable actuating element is provided according to the invention, in particular in the form of a pushbutton. According to the invention the actuating element is arranged on or in the Armauflagenträger that it is not operable in all positions of Armauflagenträgers and / or the armrest, especially if the actuator is only accessible and operable when the Armauflagenträger and / or the armrest a certain rotational position and / or when the armrest has a certain displacement position. In this way, an unintentional actuation of the actuating element and thus an undesired switching of the functional state can be avoided. An unintentional actuation of the actuating element is prevented in one embodiment of the invention in that the actuating element is only accessible when the armrest is in a maximum displaced displacement position.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

As particularly advantageous for a particularly variable adjustability in conjunction with a compact design, embodiments of the invention have been found in which the two axes of rotation are not arranged coaxially to each other and / or in which the two axes of rotation are parallel to each other, that is not to each other or against each other are pivoted, and / or in which the two axes of rotation are arranged vertically, in particular so that the rotations of Armauflagenträger and Armauflage done in horizontally lying planes, and / or in which the two axes of rotation horizontally spaced apart, so not only vertically but also horizontally offset from one another.

In order to be able to transfer the armrest into as many positions as possible, it is advantageous if the first axis of rotation connects a first, in particular rear, region of the armrest carrier to the armrest column and the second axis of rotation connects the armrest to a second, in particular front, region of the armrest carrier second area is spaced from the first area. The information "back / front" or "up / down" or "vertical / horizontal", etc., always refer to the normal state of use of the office chair with the chair standing on a horizontal floor.

For a particularly universal adjustability of the armrest Armauflagenträger and armrest are preferably designed such that they are independently rotatable about the respective axes of rotation. The rotatability of a component is in other words independent of the rotation or the rotational position of the other component. For the same reason is preferably also the linear displaceability of the armrest regardless of the rotation or the rotational position of the armrest or Armauflagenträgers.

In order to ensure a high level of operating safety despite the particularly large number of possible positions of the armrest, limiting means for limiting the range of rotation of the armrest and / or the rotary area of the armrest support are provided according to a second core idea of the invention in a preferred embodiment of the invention. These limiting means are designed such that rotational and / or linear movements of the components, which lead to an undesirable, unsafe or uncomfortable position of the armrest, can not be adjusted.

To be particularly advantageous in connection with the second core idea of the invention, it has been found that the limiting means for limiting the rotation range of the armrest and / or the rotational range of Armauflagenträgers are combined with a switching mechanism, said switching mechanism preferably for selecting from each other different rotational ranges and / or serves to switch between these rotation ranges. In this way The rotation functionality of the armrest can be set user-specifically in a very user-friendly manner.

In the present case, it is provided in particular to assign the armrest support several functional states, while the range of rotation of the armrest and thus their rotation can not be determined by certain functional states, but instead should always be unlimited free. However, it is also possible instead of the rotation of the Armauflagenträgers the rotation of the armrest by the definition of functional states to determine more precisely, in particular limit. It is also possible to provide this with both components, ie both the armrest support and the armrest. The mechanisms and means described here in connection with the rotatability of the armrest support about the first axis of rotation can also be used correspondingly in connection with the rotatability of the armrest about the second axis of rotation.

It has been found that it is particularly advantageous for the handling of the armrest when adjusting the armrest when the Armauflagenträger is rotatable in a first functional state within a defined range of rotation relative to the armrest column, while the Armauflagenträger in a second functional state in a defined rotational position is fixed to the armrest column.

Preferably, the defined rotation range in the first functional state is at most 90 °. If the range of rotation of the armrest support can be limited, measures can be implemented which improve the usability of the armrest. For example, the rotation can be limited for safety reasons, eg. B. too strong screwing the armrest inwards, i. in the direction of the body of the chair user, to avoid and / or over-tightening of the armrest to the outside, i. from the body of the chair user away, for example, during standing, restrict.

The defined rotational position of the Armauflagenträgers in the second functional state is preferably a single rotational position, ie the Armauflagenträger can not rotate in the second functional state, for example, to limit the number of adjustable Armauflagenstellungen for safety reasons. Leaving the range of rotation of the first functional state and blocking the rotation of the armrest support in the second Functional state, for example, is advantageous if the armrest is to be brought into a well-defined starting position, for example, to produce a desired parallelism of the attached to both sides of the office chair armrests. Preferably, the defined rotational position, in which the armrest support is fixed to the armrest column in the second functional state, is outside the defined range of rotation of the first functional state.

Due to the possibility to select different rotational ranges, in particular by switching between two functional states, which can assign a defined range of rotation of the Armauflagenträgers between 0 ° and 360 ° by suitable design measures in principle each functional state, the individual positioning of the Armauflagenträgers relative to the pretend fixed armrest column. In connection with the rotation of the armrest against the armrest support by 360 ° and the linear displaceability of the armrest relative to the armrest support basically any position of the armrest can be adjusted relative to the armrest column or certain positions of the armrest can be excluded.

• Fig. 1 die Armlehne von links,
• Fig. 2 die Armlehne von vorn,
• Fig. 3 die Armlehne von rechts,
• Fig. 4 die Armlehne von unten,
• Fig. 5 die Armlehne von oben,
• Fig. 6 den Lagerkopf der Armlehnensäule,
• Fig. 7 den Armauflagenträger von unten,
• Fig. 8 den auf dem Lagerkopf angeordneten Armauflagenträger,
• Fig. 9 die fertig montierte Armlehne mit Armauflage,
• Fig. 10 und 11 die Armlehne von links wie in Fig. 3, jedoch mit unterschiedlich weit vorn und hinten plazierten Armauflagen,
• Fig. 12 bis 16 die Armlehne von oben wie in Fig. 5, jedoch mit unterschiedlich weit vorn und hinten plazierten und teilweise gedrehten Armauflagen bzw. Armlehnenträgern,
• Fig. 17 den auf einer Ebene abgewickelt dargestellten Umschaltmechanismus (1. Funktionszustand),
• Fig. 18 den auf einer Ebene abgewickelt dargestellten Umschaltmechanismus (2. Funktionszustand).

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Hereby show:

• Fig. 1 the armrest from the left,
• Fig. 2 the armrest from the front,
• Fig. 3 the armrest from the right,
• Fig. 4 the armrest from below,
• Fig. 5 the armrest from above,
• Fig. 6 the bearing head of the armrest column,
• Fig. 7 the armrest support from below,
• Fig. 8 arranged on the bearing head Armauflagenträger,
• Fig. 9 the fully assembled armrest with armrest,
• 10 and 11 the armrest from the left as in Fig. 3 , but with armrests placed differently far fore and aft,
• Fig. 12 to 16 the armrest from above as in Fig. 5 but with armrests or armrest carriers placed at different front and rear and partly rotated
• Fig. 17 the unwound switching mechanism shown on a level (1st functional state),
• Fig. 18 the unwound on a level shown switching mechanism (2nd functional state).

All figures show the invention not to scale, while only schematically and only with their essential components. The same reference numerals correspond to elements of the same or comparable function.

As in the Fig. 1 to 5 illustrated, the armrest 1 comprises a height-adjustable, in particular telescopically constructed armrest column 2, which at its upper end with a bearing head concludes. For the height adjustment of the armrest 1, an actuating lever 4 is provided, which projects through an open towards the outside opening of the armrest column 2. The armrest column 2 can be fastened to the base of the office chair (not shown) by means of a armrest carrier 5 which leads out horizontally at its lower foot end.

The armrest 1 comprises a arranged on the bearing head 3 of the armrest column 2, about a first, vertical axis of rotation 6 in a first direction of rotation 7 rotatable Armauflagenträger 8. In addition, the armrest 1 comprises a mounted on the Armauflagenträger 8 Armauflage 9, which is a second, vertical Rotary axis 10 in a first direction of rotation 11 rotatable by 360 ° and relative to the Armauflagenträger 8 in a direction of displacement 12 along the Armauflagenlängsrichtung 13 is linearly displaceable.

The armrest column 2 thus carries the armrest support 8, while the armrest support 8 in turn carries the armrest 9. Here, the first ("rear") axis of rotation 6 connects a rear portion 14 of the armrest support 8 with the armrest column 2 and the second ("front") axis of rotation 10 connects the armrest 9 with a front portion 15 of the Armauflagenträgers eighth

For the linear displacement of the underside 16 of the armrest 9 and 8 on the top 17 of the Armauflagenträgers suitable, cooperating connecting means are provided. More specifically, the linear displacement of the armrest 9 along a provided on the bottom 16 of the armrest 9, extending in Armauflagenlängsrichtung 13 groove 18 which forms with suitable, engaging in the groove 18 connecting elements (not shown) of the Armauflagenträgers 8 a linear sliding guide. These connecting elements are preferably direct above the second axis of rotation 10 arranged construction elements. The displacement movement is preferably carried out using an actuatable without a trigger button latching mechanism, for example, in the groove 18 suitable latching steps (not shown) are provided which cooperate with a latching element (not shown) of the Armauflagenträgers 8.

The two axes of rotation 6, 10 are not mutually pivoted or against each other and are not arranged coaxially with each other. Instead, they lie parallel to one another and are horizontally spaced apart from each other, so that they are placed not only vertically but also horizontally offset from one another. Since they are vertical, the rotations of Armauflagenträger 8 and Armauflage 9 take place in horizontal planes.

In a normal position, see Fig. 1 to 5 , the armrest 9 is above the Armauflagenträger 8 such that overlap the central longitudinal axes 21, 22 of these components. Here, it is assumed that the central longitudinal axis 21 of the armrest 9 is predetermined due to the elongated shape of the armrest 9, while the course of the central longitudinal axis 22 of the Armauflagenträgers 8 by the position of the two axes of rotation 6, 10 is determined, through which extends this central longitudinal axis 22.

In a first functional state of the rotary portion 23 of the Armauflagenträgers 8 is limited in the case shown here exemplary 60 ° inwards and 30 ° outwards, so that the Armauflagenträger 8 within a defined range of rotation of plus 60 ° / minus 30 ° starting from the normal position is rotatable relative to the armrest column 2. With In other words, the Armauflagenträger 8 can be pivoted up to 60 ° to the outside and up to 30 ° inwards. The pivotability within this range of rotation is preferably trigger button free. In other words, pivoting of the armrest support 8 within this rotation range 23 does not require a release button or the like. Preferably, the adjustment is done rasterized, which means that 8 cooperating locking elements are provided both on the armrest column 2 and on the Armauflagenträger that form an actuatable without a trigger button latching mechanism. In order to realize the latched rotary movement latching steps 24 are preferably provided, which cooperate with a latching element (not shown), wherein the latching element can be moved without actuation of a trigger button or the like against the resistance and deformation of a latching step to the next. Preferably, the latching steps 24 are provided on both sides with identical run-on slopes, so that both the outward and the return movement can be handled with equal effort. The 360 ° rotation of the armrest 9 about the second axis of rotation 10 is preferably carried out taking defined locking positions, for which purpose at a suitable location on the Armauf position carrier 8 and on the armrest 9 cooperating locking elements, including latching steps 25, are provided, the one Form without a trigger button operable latching mechanism.

If such a "free" movement within the predetermined range of rotation 23 of the first functional state is not desired, but instead the rotation of the Armauflagenträgers 8 are completely blocked, then a change of the functional state is provided according to the invention. For this purpose, the Armauflagenträger 8 leaves the first rotary portion 23 and is rotated in a blocked position 26, in which the Armauflagenträger 8 is fixed relative to the armrest column 2, so that no rotation of the Armauflagenträgers 8 about the first axis of rotation 6 more is possible. In this second functional state of the Armauflagenträger 8 is set in a single defined rotational position 26 outside the defined range of rotation 23 of the first functional state of the armrest column 2. The rotation of the Armauflagenträgers 8 is blocked.

The rotation of the armrest 9 by 360 ° about the second axis of rotation 10 and the linear displaceability of the armrest 9 along the groove 18, however, remains unchanged regardless of the respective functional state of the Armauflagenträgers 8.

For switching between these two functional states of the Armauflagenträgers 8, a switching mechanism is provided. For actuating the switching mechanism, a manually operable actuating element in the form of a pushbutton 27 is provided, by the actuation of a Drehwinkelbegrenzer moved out of its locked position and thus the rotation angle limit is canceled.

In terms of design, this is achieved, for example, such that a limiting block 29 arranged rotatably on the underside 28 of the arm support carrier 8 is moved on a circular path when the arm support carrier 8 rotates about the first axis of rotation 6, whose center is moved through the first axis of rotation 6 is determined, see Fig. 7 . 17 , In this case, the limiting block 29 abuts at one end of its movement path 30 on the first stop 31 provided in the bearing head 3 of the armrest column 2, fixedly connected to the bearing head 3 end stop 32, while at the other end of its trajectory 30 on the first stop surface 33rd a locking element 34, namely the Drehwinkelbegrenzers the switching mechanism abuts, see Fig. 6 , The arrangement of the end stop 32 on the one hand and the blocking element 34 on the other hand on the circular path of movement 30 thus defines the rotational region 23 of the delimiting block 29 and thus of the arm support carrier 8.

The blocking element 34, which is in both Fig. 6 as well as in Fig. 7 is located to illustrate the interaction of Armauflagenträger 8 and bearing head 3, is against the spring force of a spring element 35 by pressing the push button 27 (in FIGS. 17 and 18 not shown) from its locking position down into the bearing head 3 of the armrest column 2 into movable, see Fig. 18 , whereby the blocking element 34 is removed from the movement path 30 of the limiting block 29. For this purpose, the blocking element 34 is provided with a pressure plate 38, which is located in the installed state below the pushbutton 27 and can be acted upon by this. The limiting block 29 can then be rotated on rotation of the arm support carrier 8 into a position beyond the blocking element 34, into a second turning region 26. In the present case, this second rotation portion 26 is formed such that after releasing the push button 27 and the spring-assisted return of the locking element 34 in the locked position of the limiting block 29 between the second stop 36 of the end stop 32 on the one hand and the second stop surface 37 of the locking member 34 on the other hand so is present that no rotation of the Armauflagenträgers 8 about the first axis of rotation 6 is possible. The armrest support 8 is locked in this state, see Fig. 18 ,

The limiting block 29 of the Armauflagenträgers 8 and the end stop 32 of the bearing head 2 and the movable by the push button 27 locking element 34 thus serve as limiting means in the context of the invention for limiting the rotational range of the Armauflagenträgers. 8

By suitable dimensioning of the limiting block 29 on the one hand and the end stop 32 and the blocking element 34 on the other hand, other functional states can be realized. Thus, it is possible, for example, in addition to a blocked position (or even without such a blocked position) to define two different sized rotation ranges, so that the user can specify whether he wants, for example, a larger or smaller pivoting of Armauflagenträgers 8.

The actuating element in the form of the pushbutton 27 is arranged on the provided with a cover 19 top 17 of the Armauflagenträgers 8 in the region of the first axis of rotation 6, so that it is only accessible and operable when the Armauflagenträger 8 and / or the armrest 9 a certain Have rotational position or when the armrest 9 has a certain displacement position.

To adjust the position of the armrest 9, only the armrest 9 must be gripped and correspondingly rotated via the two axes of rotation 6, 10, if the settings for the rotatability of these axes permit, and, if appropriate, linearly displaced. Since, at least within a functional state of the Armauflagenträgers 8, no release buttons are required, the adjustment of the desired Armauflagenposition is to accomplish a minimum technical effort. The change from a functional state of the Armauflagenträgers 8 to another functional state is possible by simply pressing the push button 27 and screwing the Armauflagenträgers 8 in the respective desired functional position.

For example, the armrest 9 can not only be carried by an armrest support 8 pointing forward in the chair longitudinal direction, see Fig. 1 (Middle position) and Fig. 10 (Extremely forward moved position), but also an extreme rear position of the armrest 9 is possible when the Armauflagenträger 8 is rotated by 180 °, see Fig. 11 (not possible with the above-described rotation angle limit of Armauflagenträgers 8 of 90 °). The armrest 9 can in any position, so in the in Fig. 5 shown front and in the in Fig. 12 shown center position, rotated arbitrarily by 360 °. That means that in Fig. 12 in the chair longitudinal direction pointing backwards wider end of the armrest 9 can also point forward. In a relatively far forward displacement position of the armrest 9, as in Fig. 13 is shown, the push-button 27 is accessible at the top 17 of the Armauflagenträgers and can be operated. The strictly in the chair longitudinal direction pointing, not softened by the normal position position of the armrest 9 can also be maintained when the Armauflagenträger 8 is pivoted inward, see Fig. 14 or when the armrest support 8 is pivoted outwardly, see Fig. 15 , The attached to both sides of the seat armrests 9 are then narrower or farther apart. In Fig. 16 is an unusual, strongly inwardly pivoted position of the armrest 9 with outwardly twisted Armauflagenträger 8 shown to illustrate the various adjustment possibilities of the armrest 1 according to the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

armrest

2

armrests column

3

bearing head

4

actuating lever

5

armrest support

6

first axis of rotation

7

first direction of rotation

8th

Armauflagenträger

9

armrest

10

second axis of rotation

11

second direction of rotation

12

displacement direction

13

Armauflagenlängsrichtung

14

rear area of the armrest carrier

15

front area of the armrest carrier

16

Bottom of the armrest

17

Top of the armrest carrier

18

groove

19

cover

20

(free)

21

Center longitudinal axis of the armrest

22

Center longitudinal axis of the armrest carrier

23

first turning range

24

Raststufen (rear rotation axis)

25

Raststufen (front rotary axis)

26

second turning range (blocked position)

27

Pushbutton, actuator

28

Bottom of the armrest carrier

29

limiting block

30

Trajectory of the boundary block

31

first stop

32

end stop

33

first stop surface

34

blocking element

35

spring element

36

second stop

37

second stop surface

38

printing plate

Claims (7)

1. An armrest (1), in particular for an office chair, comprising a preferably height-adjustable armrest column (2), comprising an arm support carrier (8) which is mounted on the armrest column (2) and which is rotatable about a first rotational axis (6), and comprising an arm support (9) which is mounted on the arm support carrier (8), said arm support (9) being rotatable about a second rotational axis (10) and said arm support (9) being displaceable in a linear manner relative to the arm support carrier (8), wherein the two rotational axes (6, 10) are spaced apart from one another, wherein the armrest (1) comprises a switching mechanism (27, 38, 34) for switching between at least two functional states of the arm support (9) and/or of the arm support carrier (8), wherein each functional state provides a specific rotational range (23) and/or a specific number of rotational positions (26) of the arm support (9) and/or of the arm support carrier (8), and the armrest (1) comprises an actuating element (27), in particular in the form of a push button, for actuating the switching mechanism (38, 34), characterized in that the actuating element (27) is arranged on or in the arm support carrier (8), such that it is not actuatable in all positions of the arm support carrier (8) and/or the arm support (9).
2. The armrest (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two rotational axes (6, 10) are not arranged coaxially and/or wherein the two rotational axes (6, 10) are arranged parallel to one another and/or wherein the two rotational axes (6, 10) are arranged vertically and/or wherein the two rotational axes (6, 10) are spaced apart horizontally from one another.
3. The armrest (1) as claimed claim 1 or 2, wherein the first rotational axis (6) connects a first region (14) of the arm support carrier (8) to the armrest column (2) and wherein the second rotational axis (10) connects the arm support (9) to a second region (15) of the arm support carrier (8), which second region (15) is spaced apart from the first region (14).
4. The armrest (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, comprising limiting means (32, 34) for limiting the rotational range of the arm support (9) and/or for limiting the rotational range (23, 26) of the arm support carrier (8).
5. The armrest (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the actuating element (27) is only actuatable when the arm support carrier (8) and/or the arm support (9) have a specific rotational position and/or when the arm support (9) has a specific displaced position.
6. The armrest (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in a first functional state the arm support carrier (8) is rotatable within a defined rotational range (23) relative to the armrest column (2) and in a second functional state is secured in a defined rotational position (26) to the armrest column (2) .
7. The armrest (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the defined rotational position (26) in which the arm support carrier (8) is secured in the second functional state to the armrest column (2) is outside the defined rotational range (23) of the first functional state.

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