JP2005185620A - Device for adjusting height of armrest or the like of chair - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce assembly labor, number of parts and the like of a support post cover by attaching an operating member which is a separate member from an operation lever to the support post cover having an integral structure in such a manner that it can cooperate with the operation lever. <P>SOLUTION: The device for adjusting the height of the armrest or the like of the chair is provided with a hollow armrest support post 2 which has engaging slots 18 in several stages and guide holes 17 which communicate with the engaging slots 18. A hollow armrest support bar 3 is fitted to the armrest support post 2 in vertically slidable manner. An engaging pin 28 to be selectively engaged in an engaging slot 18 is inserted in a lower part of the armrest support bar 3. The operation lever 15 which cooperates with the engaging pin 28 is contained in the armrest support bar 3 in a turnable manner back and forth and with being always energized by an energizing means 25 backward. The armrest support bar 3 is provided with the tubular support post cover 5. The operating member 16 which cooperates with the upper end of the operation lever 15 and can detach the engaging pin 28 from the engaging slot 18 by pushing the operation lever 15 backward is fitted in a holding hole 11 provided in the front of the upper end of the support post cover 5 in a slidable manner back and forth. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a height adjusting device such as an armrest of a chair.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an armrest height adjusting device that can adjust the height of an armrest (elbow rest) of a chair according to a difference in arm position depending on a physique of a seated person, work contents, and the like. There is something.
JP 2000-279268 A (FIGS. 2 to 5 etc.)

  In the conventional armrest height adjusting device described in the above-mentioned patent document, the engaging pins are selectively engaged with and disengaged from the upper and lower engaging grooves provided on the height adjusting plate in the armrest strut, An operation part for adjusting the height of the elbow rest in a stepwise manner is formed integrally with the upper end of the operation lever whose lower end is linked to the engagement pin, facing diagonally forward and downward, and on the support cover. Since it protrudes slightly from the opening and is continuously arranged so that it can be pushed from the front, it is necessary to make the strut cover have a left and right divided structure, which increases the number of assembly steps and the number of parts.

  Further, when the support column cover is made of synthetic resin, it is necessary to form the left and right covers separately, which increases the manufacturing cost of the mold and increases the manufacturing cost of the cover.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and by attaching an operation member that is separate from the operation rod to an integral structure column cover so as to be linked to the operation rod, the assembly of the column cover is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a height adjusting device such as an armrest of a chair, which can reduce the number of man-hours and the number of parts, and can reduce the manufacturing cost of the cover.

According to the present invention, the above problem is solved as follows.
(1) In the upper end portion of a hollow armrest strut having a plurality of upper and lower engaging grooves opening forward on both left and right side surfaces, and a guide hole facing in the vertical direction communicating with each engaging groove in front of them. A hollow elbow pad support rod with an elbow pad attached to the upper end is slidably fitted up and down, and the left and right ends are selectively engaged with the locking grooves at the lower part of the elbow pad support rod. An engaging pin that is movably inserted in the front-rear direction is inserted into the elbow pad support rod, and an operating rod that has a lower end linked to the engaging pin and directed in the vertical direction is moved forward and backward with the intermediate portion as the center. The engaging pin is always urged and accommodated in a direction in which the engaging pin is engaged with the locking groove by the urging means, and the upper outer peripheral surface of the armrest strut and the elbow rest are supported on the elbow rest supporting rod. A cylindrical column cover that can cover the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion from the armrest column in the support rod is provided. An operation that is linked to the upper end portion of the operation rod in a holding hole provided in the front surface of the upper end portion of the column cover, and that allows the engagement pin to be detached from the locking groove by pushing the operation rod rearward. The member is prevented from slipping forward by the retaining means and is slidably fitted back and forth.

(2) In the above item (1), the retaining means has an engaging claw that protrudes from the rear end of the operation member and engages with both side edges of the opening of the holding hole in the support cover at the front end. A pair of left and right elastic engagement pieces.

(3) In the above item (1) or (2), a pressing piece projects from the rear end surface of the operating member, and the rear end of the pressing piece is inserted through the elbow pad support rod and the front surface of the upper end of the operating rod. By abutting, the operating rod is pushed backward.

(4) In the above item (3), the front surface of the operating rod with which the pressing piece abuts is an arc-shaped linking groove recessed backward, and the rear end of the pressing piece is an arc-shaped convex surface.

(5) In any one of the above items (1) to (4), a protrusion is provided on the rear surface of the intermediate portion of the operation rod so as to contact the inner surface of the rear portion of the elbow pad support rod. Rotate back and forth.

(6) In any one of the above items (1) to (5), the urging means stands up diagonally forward and upward from the lower end of the operating rod, and the upper end is in contact with the inner surface of the front portion of the elbow rest supporting rod. A piece.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation member that is slidably fitted back and forth in the holding hole of the column cover is linked to the upper end portion of the operation rod that is accommodated in the elbow support support rod so as to be pivotable back and forth. In addition, since the operating rod is pushed backward by the operation of pushing the operating member so that the engaging pin can be detached from the locking groove, the strut cover has a two-part structure as in the prior art. There is no need, and an integral strut cover made of synthetic resin or the like can be used, so that the number of assembling steps and the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the engaging claw is held in the cover only by fitting the operating member into the holding hole from the front of the column cover by elastically deforming the elastic engaging piece inward. Since the elastic member is elastically engaged with the side edge of the opening of the hole and is prevented from coming off, the operation member can be attached to the support cover very easily.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the operation member and the operation rod can be easily linked, and the pressing amount of the operation member can be small.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the operating member is pushed and operated to rotate the operating rod, the contact surfaces smoothly slide and no sliding occurs on the contact surfaces. The operating rod can be reliably rotated.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since it is not necessary to pivotally attach the operating rod using a pin or the like, it is possible to reduce the number of assembling steps and the number of parts of the operating rod.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, it is not necessary to separately provide a biasing means such as a spring, so that the number of assembling steps and the number of parts can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Embodiments that are considered to be the best of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a main part of an armrest of a chair to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the main part when the elbow rest is raised, and FIG. 3 is a main part. FIG.

  The armrest (1) has an armrest strut (2) whose lower end is fixed to a seat or the like of a chair (not shown) so that it stands up with its upper part tilted slightly forward (hereinafter, described with the left side of FIG. 1 as the front). And an elbow rest support rod (3) fitted to be movable up and down through the height adjusting device of the present invention described later, and the lower surface of the central portion in the front-rear direction at the upper end. An attached elbow rest (4) and a strut cover (5) are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the armrest strut (2) is formed of an elliptical cross-section metal pipe opened at both upper and lower ends, and the opening at the lower end is closed by a cap (6).

  The armrest strut (2) is fixed to a chair base or the like by a bracket (7) (see FIG. 3) fixed to the inner surface of the lower end portion thereof.

  The elbow rest support rod (3) is made of a metal pipe having a rectangular tube cross-section with an open lower end, and a disk-shaped substrate (8) for attaching the elbow rest (4) is fixed to the upper end. ing.

  The strut cover (5) is formed of a synthetic resin in an elliptical cross section that can be fitted to the armrest strut (2) with a slight gap, and the substrate (8) can be fitted to the upper end portion thereof. An enlarged diameter portion (5a) having a size is formed, and an engaging step portion (9) capable of contacting the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of the substrate (8) is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper end portion.

  The locking step portion (9) is formed with a pair of left and right female screw holes (10) for screwing the upper end of the column cover (5) to the substrate (8).

  A frame-shaped piece (12) having a substantially rectangular holding hole (11) communicating with the inside of the support cover 5 is projected forward from the front surface of the upper end of the column cover (5).

Next, the armrest height adjusting device of the present invention will be described.
The height adjusting device is fitted into the armrest strut (2) from above and has a rectangular guide hole (13) that holds the elbow rest support rod (3) slidably up and down at the center of the opposing surface. A guide sleeve (14) made of synthetic resin having a left and right split structure, an operating rod (15) accommodated in the elbow rest support rod (3) from below, and a frame-like piece (5) of the column cover (5) And an operation knob (16) slidably fitted in the holding hole (11) of 12).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide sleeve (14) has a substantially elliptical cross section in plan view, and divides the dividing line (L) facing in the front-rear direction into two equal parts. The center line is shifted in the left-right direction so that it can be divided into two at a point symmetrical with respect to the guide sleeve (14).

  The concave guide (13a) facing the up and down direction formed on the opposing surface of the pair of left and right semi-cylindrical pieces (14a) and (14a) in the guide sleeve (14) has a guide hole (17) facing the up and down direction, A plurality of upper and lower engaging grooves (18) having a U-shape in a rear side view that opens forward are formed so as to communicate with each other.

  The left and right semi-cylindrical pieces (14a) are armrest struts (19) and recessed holes (20) provided on the upper and lower opposing surfaces of the front and rear portions of the left and right semi-cylindrical pieces (14a) in a state where they are positioned and fitted to each other. 2) The downward movement of the armrest strut (2) is prevented from moving downward by engaging the outward flange (21) formed in the upper end and press-fitted into the upper end of the armrest strut (2).

  The operating rod (15) is formed of a synthetic resin into a plate shape having a length substantially equal to the vertical dimension of the elbow pad support rod (3). It is slightly smaller than the dimension between the opposing surfaces in 3a), and the dimension in the front-rear direction is a dimension that can move with sufficient margin in the elbow rest support rod (3).

  On the front surface of the upper end of the operation rod (15), there is formed a link groove (22) that is recessed in a rear view, and is supported by elbow pads on both front and rear sides slightly above the center in the vertical direction. Arc-shaped convex surfaces (23) and (23) which are in contact with or close to the inner surfaces of the front plate (3b) and the rear plate (3c) of the flange (3) are integrally formed.

  At the lower end of the operating rod (15), a thin part (24) is formed with the front part slightly cut away, and at the lower end, an elastic piece that stands up obliquely forward upward with the upper end widened in a cylindrical shape. (25) are integrally connected.

  The upper end of the elastic piece (25) is elastically deformed slightly rearward when the operating rod (15) is housed in the elbow rest support rod (3), so that the front plate (3b) of the elbow rest support rod (3) is It is intended to contact the inner surface.

  The operation rod (15) accommodated in the elbow support rod (3) is placed in the lower side of the operation rod (15), that is, in the shaft hole (26) drilled in the upper portion of the thin wall portion (24). Front and rear convex surfaces in the elbow rest support rod (3) by inserting the engagement pin (28) through the long hole (27) facing in the front-rear direction formed in the lower part of the both side plates (3a) It is supported so that it can be rotated back and forth around (23).

  In this accommodated state, as shown in FIG. 1, the operating rod (15) has a convex surface when the upper end of the elastic piece (25) is pressed against the inner surface of the front plate (3b) of the elbow rest supporting rod (3). (23) is biased counterclockwise when viewed from the side, and the rear surface of the lower end of the operating rod (15) abuts the inner surface of the rear plate (3c) of the elbow rest supporting rod (3) and the engagement pin ( 28) is located at the rear end of the long hole (27).

Further, the upper part of the operating rod (15) above the convex surface (23) is biased forward, opposite to the lower portion, and is close to the inner surface of the front plate (3b) of the elbow rest supporting rod (3).
The left and right ends projecting from the long hole (27) of the engagement pin (28) are engaged with either of the locking grooves (18) formed in the left and right semi-cylindrical pieces (14a) of the guide sleeve (14). It comes to match.

  The operation knob (16) is made of synthetic resin, and elastic engagement pieces (29) having outward engagement claws (29a) at the front end are integrally formed on the left and right sides of the rear end surface. Yes. The left and right engaging claws (29a) are arranged on the left and right sides of the opening in the cover when the operating knob (16) is elastically deformed inward by the elastic engaging piece (29) and fitted into the holding hole (11). The two side edges are elastically engaged to be prevented from coming off.

  At the center of the rear end surface of the control knob (16), an opening (30) drilled in the upper end of the front plate (3b) of the elbow rest support rod (3) is inserted, and the arcuate convex surface of the rear end is formed. A pressing piece (31) that comes into contact with the linkage groove (22) at the upper end of the operating rod (15) is integrally projected.

  Next, the procedure for adjusting the height of the elbow rest (4) will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 6, the elbow pads (4) and the column cover (5) are omitted, and the elbow pad support rods (3) are indicated by two-dot chain lines for convenience.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, for example, when the elbow rest (4) is positioned at the lower limit and the operation knob (16) is in a non-operation state (state shown in FIG. 1), as described above, the operation rod (15 ) Is urged counterclockwise about the convex surface (23) by the elastic repulsive force of the elastic piece (25), and the engaging pin (28) enters the lowermost locking groove (18). doing.

  When the operating knob (16) is pushed in this state, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the linkage groove (22) at the upper end of the operating rod (15) is pressed by the rear end of the pressing piece (31). Thus, the operating rod (15) is forcibly rotated clockwise around the convex surface (23) while elastically deforming the elastic piece (25) backward.

As a result, the engagement pin (28) moves to the front end portion of the long hole (27) and is separated from the lowermost locking groove (18) and positioned in the guide hole (17).
When the elbow rest (4) is pulled up in this state, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the engaging pin (28) moves upward along the guide hole (17). The elbow rest support rod (3) and the operation rod (15) can be raised integrally with respect to the armrest strut (2).

If the hand is released from the operation knob (16) at the desired position, the operation pin (15) is rotated counterclockwise by the repulsive force of the elastic piece (25), so that the engagement pin (28) is long. It moves backward in the hole (27), enters the nearest locking groove (18), and is locked and held.
Thereby, the height of the elbow rest (4) is arbitrarily adjusted (see FIG. 2).

  As described above, in the height adjusting device of the above-described embodiment, in the middle part in the vertical direction of the operating rod (15) for selectively engaging / disengaging the engaging pin (28) with the locking groove (18), The convex surface (23) (23) which contacts the inner surface of the front plate (3b) and the rear plate (3c) of the elbow rest support rod (3) is formed, and the operation knob ( 16) Since the operating rod (15) can be rotated around the convex surface (23) by pressing it in accordance with 16), the operating lever is pivotally mounted using a pin as before. There is no need, and the number of assembling steps and the number of parts of the operation rod (15) can be reduced.

  In addition, an elastic piece (25) integrally formed at the lower end of the operating rod (15) is used as the biasing means for constantly biasing the engagement pin (28) toward the locking groove (18). Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a biasing means such as a spring.

  Moreover, when the operating rod (15) is accommodated in the elbow pad support rod (3), the elastic piece (25) is slightly elastically deformed, and the reaction force causes the rear surface of the lower end of the operating rod (15) to Since the contact support rod (3) is pressed against the inner surface of the rear plate (3c), the operation rod (15) is prevented from falling from the elbow support support rod (3), and the long hole (27) The engagement pin (28) can be easily inserted with the shaft hole (26) aligned.

  At the rear end of the operation knob (16), a pair of left and right elastic engagement pieces (29) having an outward engagement claw (29a) at the front end are projected, and the holding hole (11) of the column cover (5) When the operation knob (16) is inserted into the front from the front, both the locking claws (29a) are elastically engaged with both side edges of the opening of the holding hole (11) in the cover and are prevented from being detached. Since the rear end of the pressing piece (31) protruding from the rear surface of the knob (16) comes into contact with the linkage groove (22) at the upper end of the operating rod (15), the operation of installing the operating knob (16) And the operation work with the operation rod (15) are extremely easy, and the support cover (5) can be formed as an integral molded product, thereby reducing the number of parts.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
In the above embodiment, the guide hole (17) and the upper and lower multi-stage locking grooves (18) are provided in the guide sleeve (14) fitted in the armrest strut (2). The sleeve (14) may be omitted, and the sleeve (14) may be provided directly on the left and right sides of the armrest support (2).

  In this case, the vertical dimension of the column cover (5) should be large so that the guide hole (17) and the locking groove (18) are not exposed even when the elbow rest (4) is raised to the upper limit. Is preferred. At this time, the shape of the elbow rest support rod (3) may be a shape that can move up and down in the armrest column (2).

  In the operation rod (15) of the above embodiment, convex and concave surfaces (23) are formed on both front and rear surfaces, but the elastic piece (25) is always pressed against the inner surface of the front plate (3b) of the elbow rest support rod (3). In this case, even if the front convex surface (23) is omitted, there is no possibility that the operation rod rattles in the elbow rest support rod (3).

It is a vertical side view of the principal part of the armrest to which this invention is applied. Similarly, it is a vertical side view of the main part when the elbow rest is raised. Similarly, it is an exploded perspective view of the height adjusting device. It is the IV-IV line expansion cross-sectional plan view of FIG. Similarly, it is a VV line expansion transverse plane view. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the point at the time of adjusting an elbow rest height sequentially.

Explanation of symbols

(1) Armrest
(2) Armrest support
(3) Elbow rest support rod
(3a) Side plate
(3b) Front plate
(3c) Rear plate
(4) Elbow rest
(5) Prop cover
(5a) Expanded part
(6) Cap
(7) Bracket
(8) Board
(9) Locking step
(10) Female thread hole
(11) Holding hole
(12) Frame-shaped piece
(13) Guide hole
(13a) Concave guide
(14) Guide sleeve
(14a) Semi-cylindrical piece
(15) Operation 杆
(16) Operation knob (operation member)
(17) Guide hole
(18) Locking groove
(19) Plug
(20) Recessed hole
(21) Outward buttocks
(22) Linkage groove
(23) Convex surface (convex part)
(24) Thin part
(25) Elastic piece
(26) Shaft hole
(27) Long hole
(28) Engagement pin
(29) Elastic engagement piece
(29a) Engaging claw
(30) Opening
(31) Pressing piece
(L) Dividing line

Claims (6)

  In the upper end portion of the hollow armrest strut having a plurality of upper and lower locking grooves opening forward on both left and right side surfaces, and a guide hole facing the vertical direction communicating with each locking groove in front of them A hollow elbow pad support rod attached with an elbow pad is slidably fitted up and down, and the lower left and right ends of the elbow pad support rod are selectively engaged with the locking grooves. The pin is inserted in a movable manner in the front-rear direction, and an operation rod that has a lower end linked to the engagement pin and directed in the up-down direction can be rotated back and forth around the middle portion in the elbow support rod. In addition, the urging means urges and accommodates the engaging pin in a direction in which the engaging pin is always engaged with the locking groove, and the elbow rest support rod includes an upper outer peripheral surface of the armrest strut and an elbow rest support rod. A cylindrical column cover that can cover the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion from the armrest column is provided. An operating member that is linked to the upper end of the operating rod in a holding hole provided in the front surface of the upper end of the column cover, and that allows the engaging pin to be detached from the locking groove by pushing the operating rod rearward. A height adjusting device such as an armrest of a chair, wherein the device is prevented from slipping forward by a retaining means and slidably fitted back and forth.   The retaining means is formed as a pair of left and right elastic engaging pieces that protrude from the rear end of the operation member and have engaging claws that engage with both side edges of the opening of the holding hole in the support cover at the front end. A height adjusting device such as an armrest of a chair according to claim 1.   A pressing piece is provided on the rear end surface of the operation member, and the rear end of the pressing piece is inserted through the elbow pad support rod and brought into contact with the front surface of the upper end of the operation rod. The height adjusting device such as an armrest of a chair according to claim 1 or 2 which is operated.   The height of an armrest or the like of the chair according to claim 3, wherein the front surface of the operating rod with which the pressing piece abuts is an arc-shaped linking groove recessed backward, and the rear end of the pressing piece is an arc-shaped convex surface. Adjusting device.   The convex part which contact | abuts to the rear inner surface of an elbow pad support rod is provided in the rear surface of the intermediate part of the operating rod, and the operating rod rotates back and forth centering on this protrusion. A height adjusting device such as an armrest of the described chair. The armrest of a chair according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the urging means stands as a slanting front upward from the lower end of the operating rod, and the upper end is an elastic piece that comes into contact with the inner surface of the front portion of the elbow rest support rod. Etc. Height adjustment device.

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