EP3515250B1 - Seating furniture - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture with a rocker mechanism and a rocker mechanism for such a piece of furniture.

Seating furniture typically has a seat with a seat and a base. A seat that can be tilted in relation to the horizontal enables active, dynamic and therefore ergonomic sitting for the user. For this purpose, it is known to arrange a so-called rocking mechanism between the base and the seat, which is designed in such a way that it enables the seat surface of the seat to be inclined relative to the horizontal in one or more directions.

The EP 1 584 266 B1 discloses such a rocking mechanism which enables the seat surface to be inclined relative to the horizontal both in a front / rear direction of the seat surface and in a right / left direction of the seat surface. For this purpose, the rocking mechanism has a pressure plate with a first conicity in the front / rear direction of the seat surface, via which the seat can be inclined in the front / rear direction, and a second conicity in the right / left direction of the seat surface which the seat can be tilted in the right / left direction on.

In the WO 2016/074784 A1 describes a rocking mechanism for an office chair, which has two bearing parts that are movable relative to one another and have correspondingly curved bearing shells for mutual support, which can be tilted or inclined relative to one another in a predetermined angular range by shifting the weight of a user on the seat surface.

The US 2015/0173515 A1 and the CH 698 900 A2 each disclose a piece of seating furniture with a rocker mechanism which has a lower bearing block attached to the base and an upper bearing block firmly connected to the seat, the lower bearing block having a convexly curved lower bearing surface on its upper side facing the upper bearing block and the upper bearing block on its lower side facing the lower bearing block has a concavely curved upper bearing surface, the lower bearing surface of the lower bearing block and the upper bearing surface of the upper bearing block having matching radii of curvature and wherein the upper bearing block is displaceable along the upper bearing surface relative to the lower bearing block.

The invention is based on the object of creating a simply constructed and smooth rocking mechanism for a piece of furniture with a pedestal that has a support column with a gas spring that can be actuated by a user by means of an actuating lever.

This problem is solved by the teaching of the independent claims. Some advantageous refinements of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The seating furniture according to the invention has a seat with a seat surface, a base frame which has a support column with a gas spring, the gas spring being actuatable by a user by means of an actuating lever, and a rocker mechanism. The rocker mechanism is arranged between the pedestal and the seat and is designed in such a way that it enables the seat surface of the seat to be inclined relative to the horizontal. The rocker mechanism has a lower bearing block, which is attached to the pedestal, and an upper bearing block, which is firmly connected to the seat. The seating furniture is characterized according to the invention in that the lower bearing block has a convexly curved lower bearing surface on its upper side facing the upper bearing block and the upper bearing block has a concavely curved upper bearing surface on its lower side facing the lower bearing block, the lower bearing surface of the lower Bearing block and the upper bearing surface of the upper bearing block have substantially matching radii of curvature and wherein the upper bearing block is displaceable along the upper bearing surface relative to the lower bearing block. In addition, the rocker mechanism according to the invention also has an intermediate element between the lower bearing surface and the upper bearing surface, which is placed on the lower bearing surface and has a reduced sliding resistance on its upper side facing the upper bearing surface or is provided on the upper bearing surface and on its lower one Bearing surface facing lower side has a reduced sliding resistance to reduce a sliding resistance between the lower and the upper bearing surface during a relative movement between the lower and the upper bearing block, wherein the intermediate element has a stop for a movement of the operating lever for the gas spring of the support column.

The seating furniture of the invention with the specially designed rocking mechanism allows the user to sit ergonomically.

The rocking mechanism of the chair according to the invention is simple and has a few components. This allows the weight of the rocker mechanism and the entire seating furniture to be reduced.

As a result of the relative displacement of the two curved bearing surfaces of the two bearing blocks with respect to one another, the seat surface can be tilted easily and is therefore comfortable for the user. The displacement of the two curved bearing surfaces of the two bearing blocks against each other is also relatively low-wear compared to conventional designs of the rocker mechanism, so that the rocker mechanism can have a long service life.

The seating furniture is preferably an office chair or a student chair. In addition, the seating furniture is preferably designed as a swivel chair. The seat has a seat surface and preferably also a backrest. The seat surface and backrest can then be designed as a common component or as two separately designed, interconnected components.

The lower bearing block of the rocker mechanism is attached to the base, i.e. motion-proof connected to this. The attachment can be designed to be detachable or permanent. The upper bearing block of the rocker mechanism is fixed directly or indirectly (e.g. via a seat support), i.e. motion-proof connected to the seat. The connection can be designed to be detachable or permanent.

The seat surface of the seat defines in particular a front / rear direction and a right / left direction. The rocking mechanism enables the seat surface to be inclined relative to the horizontal in at least one direction (e.g. front / rear direction of the seat surface), preferably in several directions (e.g. both in the front / rear direction and in the right / left direction of the seat surface ). The inclination of the seat surface in several directions can preferably be continuous in the circumferential direction take place (e.g. gyro-like movement), alternatively only in different discrete directions.

According to the invention, the rocker mechanism also has an intermediate element which is arranged between the lower bearing surface and the upper bearing surface. The intermediate element of the rocker mechanism is placed on the lower bearing surface (e.g. placed loosely or attached to the lower bearing surface) and has a reduced sliding resistance on its upper side facing the upper bearing surface or is provided on the upper bearing surface and has a lower bearing surface facing the lower bearing surface Side a reduced sliding resistance. This intermediate element reduces a sliding resistance between the lower and the upper bearing surface in the event of a relative movement between the lower and the upper bearing block. Such an intermediate element enables the seat surface to be tilted particularly smoothly and with little noise. In addition, such an intermediate element can extend the service life of the rocker mechanism.

Preferably, the intermediate element of the rocking mechanism is convexly curved on its upper side and concavely curved on its lower side facing the lower bearing surface. The radii of curvature of the upper and lower sides of the intermediate element preferably match the radii of curvature of the upper and lower bearing surfaces of the bearing blocks.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rocker mechanism also has a housing in which the lower bearing block and the upper bearing block are at least partially received. The housing protects the components of the rocker mechanism against dirt and damage and protects the user from being trapped between the moving parts of the rocker mechanism.

The housing of the rocker mechanism is preferably firmly connected to the upper bearing block and can be moved relative to the lower bearing block.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the housing of the rocker mechanism has a housing opening for leading through the actuating lever for the gas spring of the support column.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rocker mechanism furthermore has at least one elastic element which generates a spring action which is directed against the relative movement between the lower and the upper bearing block. The elastic element dampens the inclination movement of the seat surface in the various directions and assists in returning the seat surface to the neutral position. The elastic element also enables a stop-free inclination limitation and thus an elimination of impact noises when the seat surface is strongly inclined. The elastic element is preferably in the form of a spring block, i. a block made of an elastic material. Thus, the spring effect can be achieved by compressing the elastic element and the abutment-free inclination limitation can be achieved by the maximum compression of the elastic element. The at least one elastic element is preferably designed as an annular spring block or as a plurality of spring blocks arranged in a ring.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, this at least one elastic element of the rocker mechanism is arranged between the lower bearing block and the housing. The lower bearing block preferably has a circumferential projection and the elastic element is arranged between a lower side of this circumferential projection facing away from the upper bearing block and a lower housing wall.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rocker mechanism enables different maximum angles of inclination in different directions of inclination. For example, the rocking mechanism enables the seat surface to be inclined relative to the horizontal in the front / rear direction of the seat surface by a maximum of about 8 ° and the seat surface of the seat to be inclined relative to the horizontal in the right / left direction of the seat surface by a maximum of about 3.5 °.

The invention also relates to a rocker mechanism itself, which can be arranged between a pedestal, which has a support column with a gas spring that can be operated by a user by means of an operating lever, and a seat of a chair and is designed in such a way that it inclines the seat surface of the seat in relation to the horizontal in several directions. The rocking mechanism of the The invention is configured as above in connection with the seating furniture of the invention and offers the same advantages.

Fig. 1

eine Perspektivansicht eines Sitzmöbels gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung; und

Fig. 2

eine Schnittansicht einer Wippmechanik gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

The above and further advantages, features and possible applications of the invention can be better understood from the following description of various exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In it show, mostly schematically:

Fig. 1

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

Fig. 2

a sectional view of a rocker mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an example of an office or school chair as seating furniture 10 of the invention.

The seating furniture 10 has a seat 12 with a seat surface 12a and a backrest 12b. In this exemplary embodiment, the seat surface 12a and the backrest 12b are designed in the form of a common seat shell; In other embodiments of the invention, seat surface 12a and backrest 12b can also be designed as separate components that are connected to one another. In this embodiment, the seat 12 is made of a plastic material; In other embodiments of the invention, other materials or combinations of materials can also be used.

The seat 12 is fastened to a seat support 13 and carried on a base frame 14. In this exemplary embodiment, the base frame 14 has a base 16 with several arms and castors 18. In the middle of the base 16, the base frame 14 has a support column 20. The support column 20 is equipped with a gas spring so that the seating furniture 10 is height-adjustable.

A rocker mechanism 24 is located between the base frame 14 and the seat 12 or the seat support 13. This rocker mechanism 24 enables the seat surface 12a of the seat 12 to be inclined in several directions with respect to the horizontal, in particular also in a front / rear direction of the seat surface 12a and a right / left direction of the seat surface 12a (optionally continuously in the circumferential direction or in discrete directions), so that ergonomic sitting can be achieved for a user of the chair 10.

The structure and the mode of operation of such a rocking mechanism are referred to below in a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention Fig. 2 explained in more detail.

Fig. 2 shows an upper end of the support column 20 of the pedestal 14, which is equipped with a gas spring, and an inner end of a corresponding actuating lever 22 for the gas spring, with which a user can operate the gas spring to the length of the support column 20 and thus the height of the To change seat 12a according to his wishes.

The rocker mechanism 24 has a lower bearing block 26 made of metal, for example. This lower bearing block 26 is fastened to the upper end of the support column 20, for example placed by means of a press fit. On its upper side facing the seat surface 12a, the lower bearing block 26 has a central projection 27 which is provided with a convexly curved lower bearing surface 28. This lower bearing surface 28 is designed, in particular, as a spherical shell section with a predetermined radius of curvature.

The rocker mechanism 24 also has an upper bearing block 30, for example made of metal. The seat support 13 and thus the seat 12 are fastened to this upper bearing block 30, for example by means of a screw connection. On its lower side facing the lower bearing block 26, the upper bearing block 30 is designed with a central recess 31 which is provided with a concavely curved upper bearing surface 32. This upper bearing surface 32 is designed, in particular, as a spherical shell section with a predetermined radius of curvature which essentially corresponds to the radius of curvature of the lower bearing surface 28 of the lower bearing block 26. The upper bearing surface 32 is preferably designed as a full-surface bearing surface (in contrast to, for example, annular bearing surfaces).

As in Fig. 2 shown, the lower and upper bearing surfaces 28, 32 are slightly spaced from one another. In this preferred exemplary embodiment, an intermediate element 34 in the form of a sliding cap is inserted between the lower bearing surface 28 on the lower bearing block 26 and the upper bearing surface 32 on the upper bearing block 30.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2 the intermediate element 34 is placed on the lower bearing surface 28 of the lower bearing block 26. The intermediate element is convexly curved on its upper side facing the upper bearing surface 32 and concavely curved on its lower side facing the lower bearing surface 28. The radii of curvature of the intermediate element 34 essentially coincide with the radii of curvature of the bearing surfaces 28, 32. The upper side of the intermediate element 34 preferably forms an at least almost full-area bearing surface.

The central projection 27 of the lower bearing block 26 is formed with at least one recess 38. The intermediate element 34 is formed on its lower side with at least one projection 36 which can engage in the at least one recess 38. The intermediate element 34 can thus be fastened to the projection 27 of the lower bearing block 26 by a press fit. Alternatively or additionally, for example, an adhesive connection can be used. Alternatively, the intermediate element 34 can also be placed loosely on the lower bearing surface 28 or loosely placed on the lower bearing surface 28 and then glued to it.

On its upper side, the intermediate element 34 has a reduced sliding resistance. I.e. the sliding resistance between the upper side of the intermediate member 34 and the upper bearing surface 32 is reduced compared to the sliding resistance between the upper bearing surface 32 and the lower bearing surface 28. For this purpose, the intermediate element 34 is preferably made of a plastic material; in addition, the upper side of the intermediate element 34 can be specially machined and / or coated.

The projection 36 of the intermediate element 34 protruding into the recess 38 of the projection 27 of the lower bearing block 26 is used, as in FIG Fig. 2 illustrates, at the same time as a stop for the inner end of the actuating lever 22 for the gas spring of the support column 20. The intermediate element 34 thus limits the travel of the actuating lever 22 and prevents its stop against the lower bearing block 26. In this way, can Noises caused by the striking of the actuating lever 22 and the lower bearing block 26, which are usually both made of metal, can be avoided.

The lower bearing block 26 and the upper bearing block 30 are surrounded by a housing 40. The housing 40 is made of metal or plastic, for example. The housing 40 is part of the rocker mechanism 24 and is attached to the upper bearing block 30.

In addition, the housing 40 has a housing opening 44 for the passage of the actuating lever 22 for the gas spring.

The lower bearing block 26 has a circumferential projection 43 and the housing 40 has a lower housing wall 45 as the lower limit of the housing 40. The rocker mechanism 24 also has at least one elastic element 42, which in this exemplary embodiment is designed as an annular spring block made of an elastic material. This elastic element 42 is positioned between the lower side of the circumferential projection 43 of the lower bearing block 26 and the lower housing wall 45 of the housing 40.

When the user shifts his weight on the seat surface, the upper bearing block 30 of the rocker mechanism 24, which is firmly connected to the seat surface 12a via the seat support 13, moves along its upper bearing surface 32 relative to the intermediate element 34 and thus relative to the lower bearing block 26 the seat surface 12a relative to the horizontal.

Because of the intermediate element 34 between the two corresponding bearing surfaces 28, 32, this inclination movement is easy and quiet.

During this tilting movement, the housing 40 of the rocker mechanism 24, which is firmly connected to the upper bearing block 30, is also moved relative to the lower bearing block 26. This has the consequence that the elastic element 42 is compressed on one side and thus generates a spring force directed against the inclination. The maximum inclination is determined by the maximum compression of the elastic element 42. A stop of the housing 40 against the lower bearing block 26 is through the elastic Element 42 also prevented. In addition, the elastic element 42 assists in returning the seat surface 12a to the neutral position.

The elastic element 42 can also have different elastic properties, in particular different maximum degrees of compression, along its circumference. It is thus possible in a simple manner for the seat surface 12a to have different maximum angles of inclination in different directions of inclination. For example, the rocker mechanism 24 enables the seat surface 12a of the seat 12 to be inclined relative to the horizontal in the front / rear direction of the seat surface 12a by a maximum of about 8 ° and the seat surface 12a of the seat 12 to be inclined relative to the horizontal in the right / left Direction of the seat surface 12a by a maximum of about 3.5 °.

REFERENCE LIST

10

Seating

12

Seat

12a

Seat

12b

backrest

13

Seat support

14th

Pedestal

16

Base

18th

Casters

20th

Support column, especially with gas spring

22nd

Operating lever, especially gas spring lever

24

Rocking mechanism

26th

lower bearing block

27

head Start

28

convexly curved lower bearing surface

30th

upper bearing block

31

Recess

32

concave curved upper bearing surface

34

Intermediate element

36

head Start

38

Recess

40

casing

42

elastic element, especially spring block

43

all-round projection

44

Housing opening

45

lower case wall

Claims (15)

1. A seating furniture (10), comprising:

   a seat (12) having a seat surface (12a);

   a pedestal (14) comprising a pillar (20) having a gas spring, wherein the gas spring is operable by a user by means of an operating lever (22); and

   a tilt mechanism (24) disposed between the pedestal (14) and the seat (12) and configured to allow tilting the seat surface (12a) of the seat (12) relative to the horizontal,

   wherein the tilt mechanism (24) comprises a lower bearing block (26) mounted on the pedestal (14) and an upper bearing block (30) fixedly connected to the seat (12), wherein

   the lower bearing block (26) comprises a convexly curved lower bearing surface (28) on its upper side facing towards the upper bearing block, and the upper bearing block (30) comprises a concavely curved upper bearing surface (32) on its lower side facing towards the lower bearing block, the lower bearing surface (28) of the lower bearing block (26) and the upper bearing surface (32) of the upper bearing block (30) having substantially identical radii of curvature, and the upper bearing block (30) being moveable relative to the lower bearing block (26) along the upper bearing surface (32), and

   the tilt mechanism (24) further comprises an intermediate element (34) disposed between the lower bearing surface (28) and the upper bearing surface (32), which intermediate element is set on the lower bearing surface (28) and has a reduced sliding resistance at its upper side facing towards the upper bearing surface (32) or is provided at the upper bearing surface (32) and has a reduced sliding resistance at its lower side facing towards the lower bearing surface (28), for reducing a sliding resistance between the lower and upper bearing surfaces (28, 32) in a relative movement between the lower and upper bearing blocks (26, 30), wherein the intermediate element (34) comprises a stop for movement of the operating lever (22) for the gas spring of the pillar (20).
2. The seating furniture according to claim 1, wherein
   the intermediate element (34) of the tilt mechanism (24) is convexly curved on its upper side and is concavely curved on its lower side facing towards the lower bearing surface (28).
3. The seating furniture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
   the tilt mechanism (24) further comprises a housing (40) in which the lower bearing block (26) and the upper bearing block (30) are at least partially contained.
4. The seating furniture according to claim 3, wherein
   the housing (40) of the tilt mechanism (24) is fixedly connected to the upper bearing block (30) and is movable relative to the lower bearing block (26).
5. The seating furniture according to claim 3 or 4, wherein
   the housing (40) of the tilt mechanism (24) has a housing opening (44) for passage of the operating lever (22) for the gas spring of the pillar (20).
6. The seating furniture according to any of preceding claims, wherein
   the tilt mechanism (24) further comprises at least one elastic element (42) generating a spring effect opposing the relative movement between the lower and upper bearing blocks (26, 30).
7. The seating furniture according to claim 6 in connection with any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the at least one elastic element (42) of the tilt mechanism (24) is disposed between the lower bearing block (26) and the housing (40).
8. The seating furniture according to any of preceding claims, wherein
   the tilt mechanism (24) allows different maximum tilt angles in different tilt directions.
9. A tilt mechanism (24) to be disposed between a pedestal (14) comprising a pillar (20) having a gas spring being operable by a user by means of an operating lever (22) and a seat (12) of a seating furniture (10), and configured to allow tilting the seat surface (12a) of the seat (12) relative to the horizontal, comprising:

   a lower bearing block (26) to be mounted on the pedestal (14) and an upper bearing block (30) to be fixedly connected to the seat (12),

   wherein the lower bearing block (26) comprises a convexly curved lower bearing surface (28) on its upper side facing towards the upper bearing block, and the upper bearing block (30) comprises a concavely curved upper bearing surface (32) on its lower side facing towards the lower bearing block, the lower bearing surface (28) of the lower bearing block (26) and the upper bearing surface (32) of the upper bearing block (30) having substantially identical radii of curvature, and the upper bearing block (30) being moveable relative to the lower bearing block (26) along the upper bearing surface (32), and

   an intermediate element (34) disposed between the lower bearing surface (28) and the upper bearing surface (32), which intermediate element is set on the lower bearing surface (28) and has a reduced sliding resistance at its upper side facing towards the upper bearing surface (32) or is provided at the upper bearing surface (32) and has a reduced sliding resistance at its lower side facing towards the lower bearing surface (28), for reducing a sliding resistance between the lower and upper bearing surfaces (28, 32) in a relative movement between the lower and upper bearing blocks (26, 30), wherein the intermediate element (34) comprises a stop for movement of the operating lever (22) for the gas spring of the pillar (20).
10. The tilt mechanism according to claim 9, wherein
    the intermediate element (34) is convexly curved on its upper side and is concavely curved on its lower side facing towards the lower bearing surface (28).
11. The tilt mechanism according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising:
    a housing (40) in which the lower bearing block (26) and the upper bearing block (30) are at least partially contained.
12. The tilt mechanism according to claim 11, wherein
    the housing (40) is fixedly connected to the upper bearing block (30) and is movable relative to the lower bearing block (26).
13. The tilt mechanism according to claim 11 or 12, wherein
    the housing (40) has a housing opening (44) for passage of the operating lever (22) for the gas spring of the pillar (20).
14. The tilt mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 12, further comprising:
    at least one elastic element (42) generating a spring effect opposing the relative movement between the lower and upper bearing blocks (26, 30).
15. The tilt mechanism according to claim 14 in connection with any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the at least one elastic element (42) is disposed between the lower bearing block (26) and the housing (40).

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