GB2087228A - Seat - Google Patents

Abstract

A seat for a person to work in a semi standing-up position having a frame with two legs 1, 2 one of which forms a fixed length or extensible main support and supports the seat member, whilst the other leg 2 is hingedly connected to the main support and acts as a second or auxiliary support, is characterised by the feature that the main support forms the normally rear leg in that, in use, it extends inclinedly to the rear and supports the seat member on the ground on the rear surface, whilst the auxiliary support connected to the main support forms the front leg and is supported on the normally front ground surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A seat The present invention relates to a seat for use by a person working in a semi standing-up position and having a V- or T-shaped frame and comprises two legs, one of which forms a support which carries a seat member, whilst the other leg is hingedly connected to the first mentioned support and also acts as a support.

Seats for persons working in a semi standing position are known of various designs and mainly serve for the semi-upright supporting of raised body portions for greater working heights and also for the purpose of providing increased mobility during working operations in which a frequent change occurs between sitting and standing-up positions. In all these arrangements the major shaft or stem support forms the normally front leg and the minor shaft or stem support connected thereto forms the rear leg of the frame. The main load axis of the known seats emanating from the seat member therefore extends transversely, away from the major shaft.Consequently, considerable tilting forces occur towards the rear in the direction towards the minor shaft support which considerably impair the stability of the seat and cannot be eliminated even with corresponding counter-acting, costly frame structures.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a seat, wherein the above mentioned deficiencies are eliminated or reduced.

In accordance with the present invention this object is attained in that the major support forms the rear leg in that it carries and supports the seat member on the rear surface of the ground extending towards the rear, whilst the minor support is connected to the front surface of the major support and forms the front leg with respect to the normal position of use. This arrangement causes the axis of the major support to coincide directly with the main load axis of the seat for standing-up work, so that harmful tilting forces are optimally avoided or minimized. Moreover, the seat for standing work or its frame owing to the coincidence of main load axis and major support axis may also be made simply and resistant to stress.

Also according to the present invention is a seat as claimed in claim one of the appended claims.

A favourable further development of the invention is obtained in that the auxiliary support is adapted to be secured in the opened-out position of use and in the folded-up position of non-use by means of a securing device located on the hinge joint of the auxiliary support.

A further favourable development form may herewith be obtained by a particularly stress-resistant and simple to adjust connection of the auxiliary support in that the hinge joint is located in a bifurcated bearing strap or bracket of the main support and the securing device has stop grooves which are formed at the hinge-side end of the auxiliary support and co-operate with a catch which is displaceably mounted in the bearing strap and subject to spring action is retained alternately in engagement in one of the stop grooves, and that the catch is adapted to be disengaged from the stop grooves by means of a handle.

Another simple and functionally reliable development of the adjustable support leg a further inventive feature may be realised by the feature that the hinge joint is located in a bifurcated bearing strap of the main support and the securing device having stop grooves which are formed in the bifurcated bearing strap and co-operate with a catch which is displaceably mounted in the bifurcated end of the auxiliary support and adapted to be respectively disengaed from and engaged in the stop grooves by means of a hook displaceable in the auxiliary support.

A particularly stable and functionally reliable securing of the extension length of the main support carrying the seat member is obtained according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in that the main support is comprised of an outer tubular member and an inner telescopic tube and that therein a stop bar, anchored in the main support by means of a cross bolt, is displaceably mounted and co-operates with a stop ball which by means of a catch pawl is retained in a ball cage in the stop engagement position against the action of a spring and disengageable from its stop engagement position by means of a release bar connected to the catch pawl.

The manufacture, assembly and repair of the telescopic and securing mechanism of the main support may be simplified in another preferred embodiment of the invention in that the ball cage subject to the action of the spring is positively supported against the catch pawl, whereby the spring, on the one hand, abuts against the ball cage and, on the other hand, abuts against the lower end of the release bar displaceably guided in the telescopic tube.

Finally, the control of the telescopic and securing mechanism may be realised without extra expenditure in components owing to a preferred further development of the invention in that the catch pawl is connected by a crosswise forked socket connection with the release bar and has a recess for the backlash and a control edge for the engagement of the stop ball in the apertures of the stop bar.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat for a person to work in a semi standing-up position in the opened-out position of use; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the seat of Figure 1 in the folded position of non-use; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the hinged support connection and adjustment device; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a modified hinged support connection ad adjustment device; Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-section through the main support; and Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of the seat member arrangement for the main support.

A seat for a person working in a semi standing-up position is illustrated having a V-shaped or T-shaped frame comprised of two leg members (1 and 2). One leg member (1) of the frame forms a major shaft or main support 1 and the other leg or member (2) forms minor shaft or auxiliary support 2 pivotally or hingedly mounted on the main support 1. Both the main support 1 and the auxiliary support 2 may be T-shaped, for example, with an upwardly extending shaft 1a or 2a and having a T-shaped portion formed with foot member 1b or 2b at the ground end. The support 1 and/orthe support 2 may, however, alternatively have any optional shape and, for example, may be U- or V-shaped. The support 1 supporting seat member 3 may be telescopic or of fixed length.If the support 1 is telescopic, the saddleshaped seat member 3 may at its upper end be rigidly mounted or pivotally mounted by means of a hinge pin 4 (Figure 6). With a pivotal arrangement of the seat member 3 the latter may be hinged upwards from its supporting stopped position resting against edge 5a of a strap or bracket 5 secured to the upright 1, in order to move the seat into its folded position as shown in Figure 2 where it is arranged as flat as possible for save-saving stowage. Moreover, the main support 1 when of telescopic construction is preferably comprised of two tubular members, namely a normally stationary tube 1c and a telescopically displaceable tube 1 d and in its given telescoped condition be adjustably secured continuously or in stages by means of a suitable securing device, for example, by means of a device F shown in Figure 5 and as described further below.If the main support 1 is not telescopic, but formed only fixed, the seat member 3 is simply displaceably guided on the upright 1 in a manner not shown in detail.

As shown especially in Figure 1, the support 1 supporting the seat member 3 forms the normally rear limb member of the V-shaped or T-shaped seat frame with respect to the normal position of a person seated on the seat. In this position of use of the seat the seat member 3 proceeding therefrom is supported by the ground via main support 3 inclined to the rear on the rear surface R. The body of the seated person therefore assumes a seated position as indicated in Figure 1. The support 2 is thus located on the front side or surface V of the support 1 and is connected thereto on a pivot or pin 6. In this manner the axis H of the main load on the seat coincides with the axis of the support 1. Consequently the tilting forces endangering the stability of the seat is optimally avoided or minimised and the seat made resistant to stress with simple means.

The support 2 is preferably securable at least in the opened out supporting or position of use and in the folded position of non-use of the seat in accordance with Figures 1 and 2 by means of a securing device 7.

This securing device according to Figure 3 for example, may have a catch pin 2c adjacent to the two pins 6 and adapted to co-operate with two stop recesses 10', 10" - one of which corresponds with the folded position of non-use (Figure 2). The stop recesses 10', 10" are mounted preferably encased fork 11 secured to the support 1. If the catch pin 8 is disengaged from the stop recesses 10', 10" by displacement of a slider 12 by means of a handle 1 2a let into the support 2 in the direction towards the pin 6, the support 2 may then be pivoted. The locking of the support 2 is effected by the reverse actuation of the slider 12 or the handle 12a.

In a modified form of the securing device 7 for securing the support 2 in accordance with Figure 4, two stop recesses 110', and 110" - associated with the two pivot positions of the seat according to Figures 1 and 2 - are formed in bifurcated support end 2c above the supporting joint 6, whilst the catch pin 8 is guided transversely displaceable in two slots 9 of the encased bifurcation of the strap 11 of the support 1 and retained in stop engagement by a spring 14 in the given stop recess 110' or 110". If the catch pin 8 is disengaged by actuation of a release lever 15 by displacement in the direction of the arrow 16 against spring force, the support 2 may then be pivoted. On release of the lever 15 the catch pin 8 again engages under spring action in the given stop recess 110' or 110" and so secures the support 2.By means of a angled spring 160 which, when the support 2 is folded-up, positively strikes against fork base 2d of the fork end 2c of the support 2, an additional supporting safeguard may be obtained in at least one position. The spring 160, however, may also act additionaliy or on its own as finger guard.

The securing device F (Figure 5) associated with the telescopic support it, 1 d, has a stop bar 18 with apertures 19 located in telescopic tube 1 d and anchored by a cross pin 17. These apertures have funnel-like edges 19a and co-operate with a stop ball 20. The stop ball 20 is retained in a ball cage 21 which is retained in abutment with a pawl 23 under the action of a spring 22. The spring 22 is supported at one end 24a of a release bar 24 displaceably mounted in the telescopic tube 1 d, is drawn onto a lug 23a of the catch pawl 23 and, moreover, is partly inserted in an aperture 23b of this pawl. Bent out of the lower end of the aperture 23b is a control edge 23c adapted to the curvature of the stop ball 20.The cach pawl 23 abuts displaceably against the internal wall surface of the telescopic tube 1 d and is connected to the release rod 24 by means of two bifurcations 23d, 24b telescoped crosswise into each other. On account of this arrangement and develop ment,the sliding-down of the release bar 24 by means of a suitable handle 25 (Figures 1,2) located, for example, below the seat 3, the catch pawl 23 is engaged and carried along in the direction towards the cross pin 17. The control edge 23c is thus caused to pass the stop ball 20 to such an extent until it finds so much yield or play in the aperture that the telescopic tube 1 din the tube support can be slid in and out along the non-displaceable stop bar 18. On releasing the handle 25, the release bar 24 and therewith the catch pawl 23 is again upwardly displaced, whereby the control edge 23c, again takes-up the movement of the apertures 19 and engages therewith to couple the members 21 to 24.

The upright telescopic adjustment device F may also be replaced by any suitable mechanism, for example, a lockable or adjustable spring built into the upright 1.

In its broadest aspect the present invention comprises a frame composed of two supporting legs one of which has seat mounted thereon and, in use, provides a rearwardly inclined major support, whilst the other leg is hingedly connected to the major support and, in use, extends forwardly with respect to normal position of use and also acts as a support suitable feet means being provided for lateral stability.

Claims (8)

1. A seat for a person to work in a semi standing-up position having a frame with two legs of which forms a fixed length or extensible main support and supports the seat member, whilst the other leg is hingedly connected to the main support and acts as a second or auxiliary support, characterised by the feature that the main support forms the normally rear leg in that, in use, it extends inclinedly to the rear and supports the seat member on the ground on the rear surface, whilst the auxiliary support connected to the main support forms the front leg and is supported on the normally front ground surface.

2. A seat as claimed in claim 1, in which the auxiliary support at least in the opened-out position of use and in the folded-up position of non-use of the seat is securable by means of a securing device located on the hinge joint of said support.

3. A seat as claimed in claim 2, in which the hinge joint is located in a fork-shaped bearing bracket or strap of the main support and the securing device having stop grooves which are formed on the hinge-side end of the auxiliary support and adapted to co-operate with a catch which is displaceably mounted in the bearing strap and are alternately retained under spring action in engagement in one of the stop grooves, and in which the catch is disengageable from the stop grooves by means of a lever.

4. A seat as claimed in claim 2, in which the hinge joint is located in a bifurcated bearing bracket or strap of the main support and the securing device has stop grooves which ae formed in the bifurcated bearing strap and co-operate with a catch which is displaceably guided in a bifurcated end of the auxiliary support and adapted by means of a hook displaceable in the support to be disengaged from and engaged in the stop grooves.

5. A seat as claimed in claim 1, in which the main support is comprised of an outer fixed tubular member and an inner tubular extension in which is mounted a stop bar having apertures and anchored in the fixed tube by means of a cross pin; said apertures co-operating with a stop ball which, by means of a catch pawl, is retained in a ball cage against the action of a spring in the stop engagement position and adapted to disengaged from its stop engagement position by displacement of a release bar connected to the catch pawl.

6. A seat as claimed in claim 5, in which the ball cage subject to the action of the spring is positively supported on the catch pawl, whereby the spring abuts on the one hand against the ball cage and on the other hand against the lower end of the release bar displaceably mounted in the telescopic tube and therebysecurable in position by a lug of the catch pawl.

7. A seat as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the catch pawl is connected by a crosswise bifurcated socket connection with the release bar and has a recess for the disengaging movement and a control dge for engaging the stop ball in the apertures of the stop bar.

8. A seat substantialy as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.