GB2082901A - A flexible coupling device between a fixed part and a pivotable and adjustable part - Google Patents

Abstract

A connection between two parts, e.g. a seat frame and back rest 1, comprises a one piece coupling 3 with grooves 2 for the back rest and retaining grooves for rods of the seat frame interconnected by an elastically pivotable intermediate portion 9. Said coupling 3 is able to move freely upwardly on the seat frame rods, but the pin 6 must be released from a ratchet groove by means of an elastic tongue 5, 7 to allow movement of coupling 3 downwardly. The pivotable intermediate portion is made up from disc-like portions interconnected by webs 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A coupling device between a fixed part and an elastic pivotable and adjustable part The invention is related to a coupling device between a fixed part and an elastic pivotable and adjustable part which may have multiple applications for couplings of the said kind and the invention is characteristic in that the coupling device has been molded in one single piece with a selflocking guide for the fixed part and maintaining grooves for the movable part, arranged on opposite external sides of the coupling device and interconnected by means of an elastic resilient intermediate portion.Another feature of the invention is that the guide for the fixed part allows free movement in one direction, whereas the lock must be released manually for movement in the opposite direction by means of an elastic tongue or finger having a locking pin engaging ratchet grooves in the fixed part and by the elastic resilient intermediate portion being formed by lamellated plates having connecting webs forming the link between the movable part and the fixed part.

Purely as an example of one of the many possible applications the invention is hereafter described in a preferred embodiment for adjustably resilient connection of a seat and a back rest for instance on a working or office chair, wherein the seat with back rest support is representing the fixed part and the back rest itself is representing the resilient pivotable and adjustable part which must be adjustable along its support for the varying height in relation to the seat. In the drawings Fig. 1 is showing a connector or coupling device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment as a sideview, Fig. 2 is showing the same embodiment seen from above and Fig. 3 is showing the embodiment in a chair for better understanding of the invention.

The design and function of the invention will be better understood if the coupling device is imagined comprising three sections having three different functions and being made in one integrai piece: one guide section (extreme left on Fig. 1), one resilient intermediate section and one support section (extreme right in Fig. 1).

The movable part, in this case the back rest, is in Fig. 1 only indicated by its frame 1 provided with a shade or hatching and arranged in gripping grooves 2 on the front side of the coupling device 3 with its complementary profiles in a per se known manner. On the other and opposite side of the coupling device 3 a selflocking guide has been provided for the fixed part, in this case a rigid support for the back rest. This support is attached through the seat of the chair and is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but will be seen in Fig. 3 as a tube or rod. Such a support may have many different forms and in the shown embodiment is supposed to comprise two parallel columns being guided in the grooves 4 (Fig. 2) arranged on both sides of the coupling device 3 at its back portion.

Instead of two parallel columns the said support may for instance be one stem having square or rectangular cross section and would in this case be guided in a corresponding hole in the coupling device 3 between those two grooves 4 which in this case will be superfluous. On the back side of the coupling device and above said guiding grooves 4 has been provided a locking tongue or finger 5 having a transverse bore 6 to take up a locking pin (not shown) which in the working position of the finger will engage a groove in the guide column and retain the back rest in the adjusted height above the chair seat.When the back rest shall be adjusted on the column(s) upward movement may be carried out as a pure displacement as the locking tongue or finger 5 with its pin 6 will be forced forwardly and release automatically, whereas a downward movement will press the locking pin into the groove in the column(s) and it will be necessary to use manual release of the lock by pressure on the top end 7 of the tongue 5 during the displacement. It will be understood that owing to this release movement of the locking tongue 5 a possible guiding bore for a central stem must be made sufficiently large to enable such release movement as indicated with the arrow 8.

Between the two described sections of the coupling device 3 will be found the elastically resilient intermediate portion which in the drawing is generally designated 9 and comprises lamellated plates shown in Fig. 1 as a number of three, but this is not critical. These plates are interconnected in their central area by means of webs 10 around which the plates may pivot elastically for adjusting the back rest to the back of the user. This pivotable movement is indicated with the arrows 11 in Fig. 1.

The portion of the coupling device serving as a guide for the column or columns or stem under the locking tongue or finger may be carried out differently without departing from the inventive idea.

1. Coupling device between a fixed part and an elastic pivotable and adjustable part, characterized by a moulded single piece having a selflocking guide for the fixed part and retaining grooves for the movable part arranged on respective exterior sides of the coupling device and interconnected by means of an elastic resilient intermediate portion.

2. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide for the fixed part is allowing free movement in one direction, whereas the lock must be released manually for movement in the opposite direction by means of an elastic tongue or finger having a locking pin engaging a ratchet groove in the fixed part.

3. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic resilient intermediate portion is formed by lamellated

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A coupling device between a fixed part and an elastic pivotable and adjustable part The invention is related to a coupling device between a fixed part and an elastic pivotable and adjustable part which may have multiple applications for couplings of the said kind and the invention is characteristic in that the coupling device has been molded in one single piece with a selflocking guide for the fixed part and maintaining grooves for the movable part, arranged on opposite external sides of the coupling device and interconnected by means of an elastic resilient intermediate portion.Another feature of the invention is that the guide for the fixed part allows free movement in one direction, whereas the lock must be released manually for movement in the opposite direction by means of an elastic tongue or finger having a locking pin engaging ratchet grooves in the fixed part and by the elastic resilient intermediate portion being formed by lamellated plates having connecting webs forming the link between the movable part and the fixed part. Purely as an example of one of the many possible applications the invention is hereafter described in a preferred embodiment for adjustably resilient connection of a seat and a back rest for instance on a working or office chair, wherein the seat with back rest support is representing the fixed part and the back rest itself is representing the resilient pivotable and adjustable part which must be adjustable along its support for the varying height in relation to the seat. In the drawings Fig. 1 is showing a connector or coupling device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment as a sideview, Fig. 2 is showing the same embodiment seen from above and Fig. 3 is showing the embodiment in a chair for better understanding of the invention. The design and function of the invention will be better understood if the coupling device is imagined comprising three sections having three different functions and being made in one integrai piece: one guide section (extreme left on Fig. 1), one resilient intermediate section and one support section (extreme right in Fig. 1). The movable part, in this case the back rest, is in Fig. 1 only indicated by its frame 1 provided with a shade or hatching and arranged in gripping grooves 2 on the front side of the coupling device 3 with its complementary profiles in a per se known manner. On the other and opposite side of the coupling device 3 a selflocking guide has been provided for the fixed part, in this case a rigid support for the back rest. This support is attached through the seat of the chair and is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but will be seen in Fig. 3 as a tube or rod. Such a support may have many different forms and in the shown embodiment is supposed to comprise two parallel columns being guided in the grooves 4 (Fig. 2) arranged on both sides of the coupling device 3 at its back portion. Instead of two parallel columns the said support may for instance be one stem having square or rectangular cross section and would in this case be guided in a corresponding hole in the coupling device 3 between those two grooves 4 which in this case will be superfluous. On the back side of the coupling device and above said guiding grooves 4 has been provided a locking tongue or finger 5 having a transverse bore 6 to take up a locking pin (not shown) which in the working position of the finger will engage a groove in the guide column and retain the back rest in the adjusted height above the chair seat.When the back rest shall be adjusted on the column(s) upward movement may be carried out as a pure displacement as the locking tongue or finger 5 with its pin 6 will be forced forwardly and release automatically, whereas a downward movement will press the locking pin into the groove in the column(s) and it will be necessary to use manual release of the lock by pressure on the top end 7 of the tongue 5 during the displacement. It will be understood that owing to this release movement of the locking tongue 5 a possible guiding bore for a central stem must be made sufficiently large to enable such release movement as indicated with the arrow 8. Between the two described sections of the coupling device 3 will be found the elastically resilient intermediate portion which in the drawing is generally designated 9 and comprises lamellated plates shown in Fig. 1 as a number of three, but this is not critical. These plates are interconnected in their central area by means of webs 10 around which the plates may pivot elastically for adjusting the back rest to the back of the user. This pivotable movement is indicated with the arrows 11 in Fig. 1. The portion of the coupling device serving as a guide for the column or columns or stem under the locking tongue or finger may be carried out differently without departing from the inventive idea. CLAIMS

1. Coupling device between a fixed part and an elastic pivotable and adjustable part, characterized by a moulded single piece having a selflocking guide for the fixed part and retaining grooves for the movable part arranged on respective exterior sides of the coupling device and interconnected by means of an elastic resilient intermediate portion.

2. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide for the fixed part is allowing free movement in one direction, whereas the lock must be released manually for movement in the opposite direction by means of an elastic tongue or finger having a locking pin engaging a ratchet groove in the fixed part.

3. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic resilient intermediate portion is formed by lamellated plates having connecting webs which are representing the flexible connection between the movable part and the fixed part.

4. A coupling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.