JP2003265264A - Chair and its headrest device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to smoothly execute rotary operation of a headrest and improve durability of a headrest device mounting the headrest rotatably to an elevating body. <P>SOLUTION: A forward bearing part 40c is disposed in the elevating body 40. A backward bearing part 46a is disposed in an outer shell 46 of the headrest 41. An intermediate member 51 intervenes between both bearing parts 40c, 46a and a support shaft 52 penetrates through these. The posture of the headrest 41 can be changed by connecting a protrusion 57 of the forward bearing part 40c to an uneven part 58 provided in the intermediate member 51. Movement of the headrest is smooth and its durability can be improved since the intermediate member 51 can be manufactured with a nylon resin, metal, and the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chair and its headrest device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is widely practiced to provide a headrest device on a chair. In particular, in the case of an automobile chair (seat), the headrest device is an essential equipment to prevent whiplash in a rear-end collision. Of course, the office chair also has a headrest.

However, in the conventional chair, the headrest is fixedly attached to the backrest, or at most, the height is adjustable so that the headrest can be supported by the headrest (especially the front and rear supporting positions). There was a problem that it was not possible to match the physique and taste of the person who sat down.

In this regard, the applicant of the present application discloses, for example, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-280527 that the headrest is rotatably attached to a receiving portion attached to the backrest so that the side posture of the headrest can be adjusted. did.

According to the invention disclosed in this prior application, for example, the head support position is moved to the hand side in the working position and is moved rearward in the rocking position, depending on the situation and preference of the seated person. Since the head support position can be adjusted, the usability of the chair can be greatly improved.

[0006]

In order to be able to adjust the posture of the headrest in side view as in the prior application, it is inevitable that the headrest can be held in a rotated state. In that case, if an engaging means (or a locking means) that engages the protrusion and the recess by utilizing elastic deformation of the member is adopted, the posture change can be adjusted with one touch. Be beneficial.

On the other hand, in the case of the prior application, the headrest is
It consists of an inner shell made of synthetic resin, a cushion stretched in front of this inner shell, and an outer shell placed behind the inner shell, while the receiving part is a post attached to the back and this post. It was equipped with a height-adjustable synthetic resin lifting body, and the outer shell was rotatably attached to the lifting body.

In this case, since the outer shell of the headrest and the elevating / lowering body of the receiving portion are both made of synthetic resin, by forming an engaging means such as a protrusion and a groove (hole) on the surface where the both are overlapped, the outer member is formed. It is possible to adjust the shell to rotate in steps.

The headrest rotation adjusting means is required to have characteristics such as smoothness of rotation, certainty of maintaining posture, and durability. On the other hand, various demands are made on the materials for the outer shell and the lifting body, such as cost, ease of molding, and ease of recycling.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a headrest device that meets such a demand.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a headrest device comprising a headrest for supporting the head of a seated person from the rear, and a receiving portion to which the headrest is rotatably mounted. An intermediate member is interposed at a position where the receiving portion overlaps and moves relative to each other, and the rotational posture of the headrest can be adjusted by the relative movement restricting action between the headrest and the intermediate member or between the receiving portion and the intermediate member. It has become.

According to the invention of claim 2, in claim 1,
The receiving portion includes a column attached to the backrest and an elevating body that is height-adjustably attached to the column, and the elevating body is provided with a forward bearing portion extending toward the front side of the chair. There is.

On the other hand, the headrest has an inner shell made of synthetic resin to which a cushion is attached, and an outer shell arranged behind the inner shell. The outer shell has a rearward-facing bearing extending rearward. The rearward facing bearing portion is attached to the frontward facing bearing portion by a support shaft extending in the left-right direction in a front view of the chair.

A plate-shaped intermediate member is interposed between the front bearing portion of the elevating body and the rear bearing portion of the outer shell, and the plate intermediate member is provided at a portion where the front bearing portion and the rear bearing portion overlap. By interposing, the intermediate member is immovably fixed to either one of the forward bearing portion and the backward bearing portion, and the other portion of the forward bearing portion and the backward bearing portion and the intermediate member,
Engaging means is provided for holding the state in which the rearward bearing portion is rotated stepwise about the support shaft.

The present invention also includes a chair, which comprises:
It is provided with a leg portion, a seat portion and a back portion supported by the leg portion, and the headrest device according to claim 1 or 2 is attached to the back portion.

[0016]

According to the present invention, since the intermediate member can mainly perform the posture holding function of the headrest, the headrest and the receiving portion are suitable materials for playing the role of the intermediate member. It is possible to use a material that places importance on other factors such as moldability.

Thus, the function of changing the posture of the headrest such as the smoothness of the rotation of the headrest, the certainty of maintaining the posture, the durability, and the like are ensured in a state where the demand for the cost and workability of the entire headrest device is met. can do.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

(1). Outline of Chair First, an outline of the chair will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a right side view of the chair (swivel chair), FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG.
Is a rear view.

The chair is provided with legs 2 on which leg columns (gas cylinders) 1 are erected, a seat portion 3, an armrest device 4, a back portion (may be called back portion) 5, and a headrest device 6. There is. A base 7 that opens upward is fixed to the upper ends of the leg columns 1, and an intermediate member 8 that spreads like a wing in a front view and a seat portion 3 are disposed above the base 7.

Although not described in detail, the seat portion 3 has a structure in which a cushion is stretched on a seat plate (seat inner member) made of synthetic resin. The part is attached to the intermediate member so as to be movable back and forth.

A front portion of the swing frame 9 is connected to a substantially middle portion of the base 7 in the front-rear direction by left and right longitudinal shafts. Further, a middle portion of the swing frame 9 in the front-rear direction is connected to a rear portion of the intermediate member 8 by a shaft. In the present embodiment, the seat portion 3 is adapted to move backward while tilting backward (that is, to synchronize) in conjunction with the rearward tilting of the back portion 5. And are elastically supported by a spring built in the base 7.

The back portion 5 is arranged on the back frame (back strut) 11 attached to the swing frame 9, the back portion plate (back inner member) 12 arranged on the front side of the back frame 11, and the back side of the back frame 11. A back cover (back outer member) 13 is provided, and a lumbar support mechanism 15 is attached to the back frame 11. Back plate 12
A cushion 14 is stretched on the front surface of the.

Next, the structure of the back portion 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. To do. 4 is a front view of the back portion 5 with the back plate 12 omitted, FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of the back portion, FIG. 6A is a partially cutaway plan view, and FIG. .

The back frame 11 is provided with left and right columns 11a, and the left and right columns 11a are connected by an upper stay 11b and a lower stay 11c. Back frame 11
The left and right struts 11a of the
It is fitted into a and fixed with screws. In addition, the lower stay 11 c is provided with a forward facing protrusion 16 provided on the back cover 13.
It is fixed with a screw.

A horizontal rib 17 is formed on the upper portion of the back cover 13 so as to project forward and to the left and right, and a pair of left and right downward-opening tubular portions 18 are formed in a continuous state with the horizontal rib 17. The upper end of the post 11a of the back frame 11 is fitted into the downward opening tubular portion 18 and is fixed with a screw.

On the upper portion of the back plate 12, horizontal strips 19 are formed on the left and right sides, which are located above the horizontal ribs 17 of the back cover 13.
Is projected rearward, and a cylindrical upper mounting portion 20 is projected downward at both left and right ends of the horizontal piece 19, and the cylindrical upper mounting portion 20 is connected to the horizontal rib 17 of the back cover 13 to form a cylindrical upper portion. It is fitted into the receiving portion 21 from above.

Further, an engaging claw 22 which is hooked and engaged with the lower end surface of the upper receiving portion 21 is integrally provided at the tip of the upper mounting portion 20. Therefore, the upper mounting portion 20 is attached to the upper receiving portion 2
When fitted in 1, the back plate 12 is held upward so that it cannot be pulled out. The back plate 12 can be removed by pushing the back plate 12 upward while pushing the engaging claws 22 from the outside to the inside.

A support shaft 24 is integrally provided on the lower portion of the back cover 13 via left and right bracket plates 23, while a lower portion of the back plate 12 is engaged with the support shaft 24 from the back side. The claws 25 are formed integrally. For this reason,
The part of the back plate 12 that hits the waist of the seated person can be deformed so as to be pushed out to the front side. Further, the back portion 13 is formed with a large number of slits 26 for facilitating deformation.

The lumbar support mechanism 15 includes a back plate 12
It is intended to allow the seated person to take a correct posture in accordance with his / her physique by projecting forward, particularly around the part of the seated person that abuts the waist. Slide case 27 attached to the upper and lower sides and left and right slide cases 2
A connecting plate 28 for integrally connecting the seven, a pressing arm 29 for pushing out the back plate 13, an interlocking shaft 30 for rotating the left and right pressing arms 29 together, and the left and right pressing arms 2
A handle 31 and the like for rotating, moving up and down 9, and the like are provided, but since they are not directly related to the present invention, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(2). Overview of Headrest Device Next, the headrest device 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the outline will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 is a front view, (A) of FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged front view, (B) is a sectional view taken along line BB of (A), and (C) is (A).
9 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 9, FIG. 9A is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

The headrest device 6 is provided with a pillar 33 made of a metal pipe such as a steel pipe or a round bar, and the pillar 33 is inserted from above into a pair of upper and lower cylindrical portions 34 provided on the back cover 13. Has been done.

As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the column 33
A bush 35 made of synthetic resin is fixed to the lower end of the with screws 36, and the bush 35 is fitted into a mounting hole 37 formed in the lower stay 11c of the back frame 11. A pair of left and right claws 38 is formed on the bush 35, and the claws 38 are forcibly fitted into the mounting holes 37 to hold the column 33 upward so that it cannot be pulled out.
Further, the downward movement is blocked by the screw 36.

The bush 35 is attached to the support column 33 after the support column 33 is inserted into the tubular portion 34 of the back cover 13. Alternatively, the bush 35 may be inserted into the mounting hole 37 from below, and then the support column 33 may be fitted into the bush 35 and fixed with the screw 36.

The headrest support column 37 has, in order from the bottom,
A spacer 39 having an upward-opening U-shape in a front view and a lifting body 40 are fitted together, and a headrest 41 is attached to the lifting body 40. The presence of the spacer 40 enhances the stability of the column 37 and reinforces the left and right headrest columns 37.

Although not described in detail, an appropriate number of hook-shaped claws are provided on the spacer 40 so as to project downward, and the claws are fitted into the engaging holes formed in the horizontal ribs 17 of the back cover 13. The spacer 39 is attached to the back cover 13.

The elevating body 40 is made of a highly versatile synthetic resin such as polypropylene (may be made of metal or the like), and the left and right slide portions 37 fitted to the support columns 37.
It includes a and a connecting portion 37b that connects the upper and lower mid-height portions.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a slide portion 37
Left and right outward vertical grooves 42 that fit into the columns 37 are formed in a, and a large number of irregularities 43 are formed in the vertical grooves 42, while the columns 33 engage with the irregularities 43. A stopper 44 made of synthetic resin or the like is attached by screwing. Therefore, when a certain amount of vertical force is applied to the elevating body 40, the left and right columns 33 are flexibly deformed and the height of the elevating body 40 can be adjusted.

The elevating body 40 is not limited to the shape shown in the drawing, but may have various shapes. Further, the lifting body 40 may be completely fitted into the column 37.

The part of the column 37 where the lifting body 40 moves up and down is loosely curved in a forward concave shape in a side view. Therefore, the vertical groove 42 of the lifting body 40 is also curved with the same curvature as that of the support column 33. The radius of curvature of the curve is, for example, 500 m
About m is preferable.

(4). Mounting Structure of Headrest Next, the mounting structure of the headrest 41 to the elevating body 40 will be described with reference to the drawings starting from FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view, FIG. 11 (A) is a front view showing a part by phantom lines, FIG. 10 (B) is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.
1A is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII, FIG. 13 is an isolated perspective view, FIG. 14 is an isolated side view, FIG.
11 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of FIG. 11, FIG. 17 is a partially partially cutaway plan view, and FIG. 18 (A) is a partial side sectional view.
(B) is a development sectional view seen from the BB view direction of (A).

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the headrest 41 is provided with an outer shell 46 and an inner shell 47 that are overlapped with each other in the front-rear direction, and a cushion 48 stretched on the front surface of the inner shell 47. It is concave forward in plan view and convex forward in side view (to fit a person's head). The cushion 48 is covered with a cloth. Inner shell 4
7 and the outer shell 46 are made of a highly versatile material such as polypropylene.

As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the outer shell 46 has a hook-shaped first upward facing portion in a lateral middle portion and an upper end portion, and a lateral side portion and a vertical midway height portion, respectively. Engaging claws 49 project forward and these first engaging claws 49 are fitted from below into a first engaging hole 50 formed in the inner shell 47.

Left and right slide portions 40a of the lifting body 40
While a front bearing portion (bracket portion) 40c is provided on the upper end of the outer shell 46, the outer shell 46 has a rear bearing portion 46a positioned on the left and right outside of the front bearing portion 40c.
Are integrally provided, and the front bearing portion 40c and the lifting body 4 are provided.
A plate-shaped intermediate member 51 is interposed between the two and 0, and a support shaft 52 is passed through the three members. Left and right front bearings 40c
Are integrally connected by a cylindrical portion 41d.

The intermediate member 51 is made of a material having excellent strength and slipperiness such as nylon resin or engineering plastic, and as can be easily understood from FIGS. 15 and 16, the rearward facing bearing portion 46a of the outer shell 46 is formed. A tubular portion 53 that fits into the tube is integrally provided, and a cap 54 is attached to the tubular portion 53.

As an example of engaging means, the protrusions 5 that are fitted to each other are provided on the outer circumference of the bearing portion 53 and the inner circumference surface of the cap 54.
5, 56 are formed. Further, the bearing portion 53 is formed in two pieces so as to be elastically deformed easily when the cap 54 is attached and detached. The cap 54 has both a role of a cover for the support shaft 52 and a function of preventing the support shaft 52 from coming off.

Forward bearing 40c of the lifting body 40
On the tip end of the above, one engaging projection 57 projecting toward the intermediate member 51 is provided as a part of the attitude changing engaging means, while the engaging projection 57 is fitted to the intermediate member 51. The uneven portion 58 is formed so as to extend around the axis of the support shaft 52.

The intermediate member 51 is the outer shell 46.
Is held immovably relative to the rearward bearing portion 46a, and therefore, the rearward bearing portion 46a is formed with a holding portion 59 so as to surround the intermediate member 51 from the front side.

Further, the rearward bearing portion 46a is formed with a hollow portion opening to the front surface of the outer shell 46 and the holding portion 59, and the intermediate member 51 is fitted into the hollow portion 60 from the holding portion 59. By providing the stopper piece 61, the intermediate member 51 is held non-rotatably around the axis of the support shaft 52, and is held so as not to be separated from the rearward bearing portion 46a.

The rear end portion of the intermediate member 51 is fixed to the rearward bearing portion 46a with a screw. Further, the rib 62 provided in the hollow portion 60 of the rearward-facing bearing portion 46a and the groove 63 formed in the intermediate member 51 are fitted together to prevent the displacement of the intermediate member 51.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16, an intermediate member 51
A locking claw 65 extending downward from a watermark hole 64 formed in the outer shell 46 is provided at the front end portion of the second engaging claw 6 provided on the inner shell 47.
6 is engaged.

As described above, the outer shell 46 is the first
It is held so as not to move upward by the engaging claw 49, and is held so as not to move downward due to the catching engagement between the locking claw 65 and the second engaging claw 66. , Outer shell 46 and inner shell 4
7 and 7 are held inseparable.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a fan-shaped notch 67 is formed on the outer surface of the forward bearing 40c, while the intermediate member 51 has a projection 6 which fits into the notch 67.
8 are provided. This is for restricting the rotation range of the headrest 41. As the rotation range regulating means, the head of the screw provided on the intermediate member 51 may be fitted into the notch 67.

In the above-described structure, the chair user applies a certain amount of force to the headrest 41 while sitting on the chair to apply a certain amount of force to the bearing portions 40c and 46a.
The posture can be adjusted by rotating the headrest 41 by utilizing the wire break deformation such as the above.

The posture adjusting function is mainly performed by the intermediate member 51. Since the intermediate member 51 can be made of a material such as nylon resin in consideration of slipperiness, strength, durability, etc., the headrest 41 is rotated. The operation can be performed smoothly, and the durability of the headrest device as a whole can be improved. The intermediate member 51
Can be fixed to the forward bearing 40c.

When the locking claws 65 provided on the intermediate member 51 and the second engaging claws 66 of the inner shell 47 are engaged with each other as in the present embodiment, the intermediate member 51 is more firmly attached to the outer shell 46. There is an advantage that can be fixed to.

Further, since the outer shell 46 is surrounded by the bank portion 47a formed on the peripheral edge of the inner shell 47, even if the outer shell 46 is attached only to the claws, both shells 46,
It can hold 47 firmly and is also beautiful.

(5). Others The present invention can be embodied in various ways other than the above embodiment. For example, the pillars of the headrest are not limited to metal pipes, but can be made of sheet metal, shaped steel, or synthetic resin, and the shape can be freely set as needed.

The intermediate member may be made of metal such as sheet metal or die cast. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a headrest device that does not include a lifting body. Further, various structures can be adopted for the means for rotatably attaching the headrest to the lifting body or the like.

The posture holding means of the headrest is not limited to the fitting of the projections and depressions as in the embodiment, but the posture can be held by simple friction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a right side view of a chair.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a chair.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the chair.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a back portion with a back plate omitted.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of a back portion.

FIG. 6 (A) is a plan view of a back part of the female part, and FIG. 6 (B) is a separated plan view.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the headrest device.

[FIG. 8] (A) is a partially enlarged front view of the headrest, and (B) is
(A) is a sectional view taken along the line BB of (A), and (C) is a sectional view taken along the line CC of (B).

9A is a plan sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
It is a BB sectional view.

FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view of a headrest device.

[FIG. 11] (A) is a front view showing the cushion by an imaginary line,
(B) is a sectional view taken along the line BB of (A).

12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view.

14 is a separated side view Q. FIG.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a main part.

16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a partially partially cutaway plan view.

18 (A) is a partial side sectional view, and FIG. 18 (B) is a developed sectional view of (A) seen from the BB direction.

[Simple explanation of symbols]

3 seats 5 back 6 Headrest device 11 back frame 33 Headrest support column 40 Lifting body 41 headrest 46 Outer shell 47 Inner shell 48 cushion 51 Intermediate member 52 spindle 54 cap 57 protrusions 58 uneven part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A headrest for supporting a seated person's head from the rear, and a receiving portion to which the headrest is rotatably attached, and an intermediate member at a portion where the headrest and the receiving portion overlap and move relative to each other. A headrest device for a chair, in which the pivoting posture of the headrest can be adjusted by the relative movement restricting action between the headrest and the intermediate member or between the receiving portion and the intermediate member. 2. The receiving portion includes a support column attached to a backrest, and an elevating body attached to the column so that the height thereof can be adjusted. The elevating body extends forward and extends toward the front side of the chair. While the bearing portion is provided, the headrest includes an inner shell made of synthetic resin to which a cushion is attached, and an outer shell arranged behind the inner shell. An extending rearward-facing bearing portion is provided, and the rearward-facing bearing portion is attached to the forward-looking bearing portion by a support shaft extending in the left-right direction in a front view of the chair. A plate-shaped intermediate member, and a plate-shaped intermediate member at the portion where the front bearing and the rear bearing overlap. The intermediate member is immovably fixed to either one of the front bearing portion and the rear bearing portion, and the support shaft is attached to the other portion of the front bearing portion and the rear bearing portion and the intermediate member. The headrest device according to claim 1, further comprising engaging means for holding a state in which the rearward-direction bearing portion is rotated stepwise around the center. 3. A chair comprising a leg portion, a seat portion and a backrest portion supported by the leg portion, and the headrest device according to claim 1 or 2 attached to the backrest portion.