JP2007508891A - Reclining mechanism for seated furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

  Seated furniture (1) comprising a frame (5, 6, 7), a support member (2, 3) adapted to provide support to a user during use, and the support member being attached to the frame (5, 6 , 7) and a recliner mechanism (4) coupled to the housing, wherein the recliner mechanism is positioned on one of the support member (2, 3) or the frame (5, 6, 7). And an extension (11) of the frame (5, 6, 7), positioned on the other of the support member or frame, wherein the housing is in a cavity (10) defined by a cavity wall An extension part accommodating the extension part, and a biasing means (12) installed between the extension part (11) and at least a part of the cavity wall inside the cavity, By tilting the members (2, 3) , A rotation is caused between the cavity (10) and the extension portion (11), whereby the extension portion engages with the biasing means (12), and the biasing means (12) is rotated. Seating furniture characterized by the ability to generate an anti-recovery urging force.

Description

  The present invention relates to furniture, but not exclusively, especially for use in seats or chairs that allow tilt adjustment of the seat back or back of the seats or chairs and / or base. It relates to the recliner mechanism.

  Seated furniture such as chairs, seats or sofas may have a fixed configuration, although the base of the seat (hereinafter referred to as the seat base, base or simply the seat) (although it may also include a cushion). ) Not only immovable but not tiltable with respect to the frame of the furniture item. Similarly, within the seating furniture stationary frame item, the seat back of the chair is also substantially stationary, so the furniture item is not easily adjustable to the changing seating position of the user. Thus, after long periods of use in such stationary items of seated furniture, the user often becomes uncomfortable and / or changes the seating position. The changed seating position is not supported by the structure of the seating furniture and may eventually lead to posture problems, for example back pain.

  The seating furniture may further have various adjustability so that the seat and / or back of the chair can be adjusted relative to the chair frame to fit the user's posture or sitting position. It is. For example, many office chairs have many features that can be changed by the user, including adjusting the angle of the seat and the back of the seat. Typically, a complicated mechanism is provided to lock the seat and / or seat back in place once the proper angle has been achieved by the user. A spring or alternative biasing mechanism to provide resistance over its operating range to seat and / or back movement, so that the user does not lose complete support during the adjustment process. mechanism) is usually required.

  Thus, existing mechanisms for adjusting the seat and / or back of seated furniture items are relatively complex and therefore expensive to manufacture and purchase. Less complicated and easier to manufacture and therefore can be incorporated into seated furniture without much cost at the end of the market, so that the user of the seat is seated It would be advantageous to provide a recliner mechanism for seated furniture items that is intended to provide improved comfort and support.

  The object of the present invention is therefore to provide at least some means for overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks or addressing the above-mentioned problems, or at least to provide a useful option for the public.

  Thus, all references, including any patents or patent applications cited within this application, are incorporated herein by reference. No reference is admitted to constitute prior art. The discussion of the reference states what the author claims, and Applicant reserves the right to question the accuracy and appropriateness of the cited document. A number of prior art publications are mentioned in this application, but such references form part of the common general knowledge in the technical field, either in New Zealand or elsewhere. It will be clearly understood that it is not admissible.

  The term “comprise” is recognized to have an exclusive or comprehensive meaning under various jurisdictions. For the purposes of this specification, the term “comprising” shall have a comprehensive meaning unless otherwise stated. That is, the term should be considered to include the inclusion of other non-specific components or elements, as well as the components directly referred to by the term. This interpretation is equally valid when the terms “comprised” or “comprising” are used with respect to two or more steps within a method or process. It is.

In one embodiment, the present invention is generally seated furniture,
Frame,
At least one support member adapted to provide support to the user during use;
A recliner mechanism that couples the support member to the frame, the recliner mechanism comprising:
A housing positioned on one of the support member or the frame;
An extension of the frame positioned on the other of the support member or the frame, wherein the housing houses the extension in a cavity defined by a cavity wall;
Biasing means disposed between at least a portion of the cavity wall and the extension within the cavity;
The tilting movement of the support member causes a rotation between the cavity and the extension portion, whereby the extension portion engages with the biasing means, and the biasing means is provided with a recovery property that resists the rotation. It may be seated furniture characterized in that power is generated.

  Although the housing / cavity and extension may be positioned on the support member and frame, respectively, or vice versa, the present invention provides a housing positioned on the support member for clarity and readability. This will be described with reference to FIG. It will be appreciated that this is merely exemplary and that the invention is not limited to this configuration.

  Preferably, the extension portion of the frame is stationary relative to at least a portion of the frame to which the support member is coupled.

  According to one embodiment, the biasing means comprises an elastic material, preferably an elastically compressible or stretchable material.

  Similarly, it will be readily appreciated that the biasing means may be configured to apply a recovering reaction force to the action of stretching or compression. The extension part may, for example, be at least partially surrounded by the biasing means or may be fixed to the biasing means, the biasing means also being fixed to the cavity wall. Therefore, any rotation of the extension portion causes the biasing means to stretch, and in turn causes a reactive and resilient biasing force that resists the rotation.

  The invention will be described hereinafter with reference to compressible biasing means. Nevertheless, this is for exemplary purposes only and does not exclude the present invention from the use of stretchable biasing means. Preferably, the biasing means has a cylindrical or tubular shape.

In another embodiment, the invention is generally seated furniture comprising:
Frame,
At least one support member adapted to provide support to the user during use;
A recliner mechanism that couples the support member to the frame, the recliner mechanism comprising:
A housing positioned on the support member, the housing having a cavity containing an extension of the frame;
Biasing means assembled between the cavity wall and the extension,
The biasing means comprises an elastically compressible integral material;
The seating furniture is characterized in that the compressed state of the urging means is adjusted in accordance with the movement while the cavity is moved around the extended portion by the tilting movement of the support member. It's okay. Preferably, the extension portion of the frame is plate-shaped and the biasing means is located between at least one side of the extension portion and the cavity wall.

  Alternatively, at least one end of the extension portion of the frame has a rod-like shape, and the biasing means is positioned around the extension portion.

  Preferably, the cavity in the housing is substantially triangular when viewed in cross section.

  Alternatively, the cavity in the housing has two opposed triangular portions joined to each other at a common top, in a constricted configuration in cross-section, ie, generally “bow tie” shape.

  Preferably, the plate-like extension portion extends in the longitudinally narrow cavity, and is pivotable in the lateral direction around a pivot point in the center of the cavity.

  Alternatively, the rod-like extension portion extends in the cavity in which the center is constricted in the lateral direction, and can be pivoted in the longitudinal direction around the pivot point at the center of the cavity.

  Preferably, the urging means is provided around both ends of the end portion of the extension portion of the frame having a rod shape.

  Preferably, the housing is integral with the support member.

  Alternatively, the housing can be coupled to the support member.

  Alternatively, the housing comprises a first section formed integrally with the support member and a second section connectable to the first section, the cavity comprising the first section and the second section. Formed between the section.

  Preferably, the support member has a sheet.

  Alternatively, the support member has a seat back.

  Preferably, the support member comprises stopper means adapted to contact the frame.

  Alternatively, the frame includes stopper means adapted to contact the support member.

  Preferably, the biasing means is formed of an elastomer material or natural rubber.

  Preferably, the biasing force provided by the biasing means is adjustable by changing the length of the elastomeric or natural rubber material in the cavity.

  Alternatively, the biasing force provided by the biasing means can be adjusted by changing the density of the elastomeric or natural rubber material in the cavity.

  Further embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description below. The following description is given by way of example only and will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Referring to the drawings, in particular in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, a chair or seat 1 according to the invention is shown being used by a user in three different positions. The chair has a support member that provides support to the user during use. The support member has a seat back 2 and a seat or seat base 3.

  Since FIG. 1A shows a leaning user, the seat back portion 2 is inclined backward, and the front end portion of the seat 3 is inclined downward. In FIG. 1B, since the seat is in the “neutral” position and the user's torso is substantially vertical, the seat back 2 is also substantially vertical and the seat 3 is substantially horizontal. In FIG. 1C, since the user leans forward slightly, the seat back portion 2 is not substantially in contact with the user and is in a position similar to the position shown in FIG. 1B. On the other hand, the seat 3 is inclined forward in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1A.

  Thus, the series of views in FIGS. 1A-C shows the range of motion of the chair back 2 and seat 3 incorporating the recliner mechanism 4 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The recliner mechanism 4 may be associated with the seat back 2 or the seat 3 or alternatively, as shown, the seat back 2 and the seat 3 may both have an associated recliner mechanism 4. Please note that. Furthermore, although the present invention will be described with respect to a standard four-legged chair, the present invention may be equally utilized in, for example, office chairs, sofas, stools, benches, or even comfort furniture such as sofas. I want you to understand.

  The seat 1 includes a frame having a seat back support portion 5, a seat base support portion 6, and legs 7. The frame may be constructed, for example, from a metal such as solid or hollow tubular steel, from wood, or even from a suitable sturdy plastic material.

  The configuration and operation of the recliner mechanism 4 associated with the seat base 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The seat base 3 may be constructed of a suitable flexible plastic material such as polypropylene and may be contoured to receive the user's buttocks and upper thighs. The sheet could further be formed from wood or metal such as plywood. Both the wood and metal may be appropriately (and more permanently) deformed with respect to the user's body shape.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, it can be seen that the recliner mechanism 4 comprises two parts: a first section 8 and a second section. The first section 8 is formed integrally with the seat base 3 whereas the second section 9 is formed separately and is connected to or attached to the first section 8. Have been adapted. However, the recliner mechanism 4 may be formed from a unitary component adapted to be attached to the seat base 3, or alternatively may be completely integral with the seat base 3. . Alternatively, the recliner mechanism 4 may be formed from an aluminum extrusion, or from pressure formed steel or cast steel, and these materials may be molded in a plastic sheet base 3.

  3A to 3C show the operation of the recliner mechanism associated with the seat base 3 in detail. In FIG. 3A, the front end portion of the sheet base 3 is inclined downward in the same manner as the positions shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C. In FIG. 3B, the seat base 3 is in a stationary position where no user is seated on the seat. In FIG. 3C, the seat base 3 is in a position similar to that shown in FIG. 1B where the user is normally seated.

  2 and 3A-C, it can be seen that the recliner mechanism 4 comprises a housing having a cavity 10. An extension 11 of the seat support portion of the frame is housed in the cavity 10. The extension portion 11 is substantially immovable with respect to the frame, and is fixed at a fixed position regardless of the seating position of the user and the position of the seat base. In contrast, the housing of the recliner mechanism 4 is attached to the seat base 3 or is integrally formed with the seat base 3, and therefore moves with the seat base 3. Thus, the cavity 10 is effectively moved around the extended portion 11 during the tilting motion of the sheet base 3. It will be understood that once the extension 11 is constrained within the cavity 10, the seat base is effectively coupled to the frame.

  The extension part 11 may comprise a flat plate extending substantially horizontally and laterally below the seat base 3. The housing of the recliner mechanism 4 may extend across the entire width of the seat base 3 in the lateral direction, or may extend over only a portion of the width of the seat base 3. Alternatively, a plurality of separate housings may be aligned laterally with respect to the lower width of the seat base 3 and an extension 11 extends through each housing. The extension 11 may alternatively comprise a rod having a “T” or “I” shape, which extends laterally below the seat base 3 and is mounted vertically. One end is shown in FIGS. 3A-3C and comprises, for example, a steel rod with a short length. It will be appreciated that the extension portion 11 may actually be any shape that can transmit rotational movement between the frame and the housing. Thus, the extension may have a square, rectangular, hexagonal, elliptical or other non-circular cross-section and may be solid or hollow.

  Furthermore, a biasing means 12 is provided in the cavity 10 between the cavity wall and the frame extension 11. The shape of the cavity 10 in FIGS. 3A to 3C is a constricted shape similar to that of a “bow tie”, and the extension portion 11 pivots about the central region 13 of the cavity 10 (although, As mentioned above, it is the cavity that moves or moves about the extension). Thus, the cavity has two lobes that are approximately triangular in shape, these lobes being connected at their top to the pivot point, and the biasing means 12 has an extension portion 11 with a seat base 3. When moving between both side walls of the cavity according to the forward inclination and the backward inclination, the movement of the extension portion 11 is buffered.

  The biasing means 12 is an elastically compressible integral material such as an elastomer or natural rubber. The biasing means 12 in FIGS. 3A-3C may comprise four separate portions of elastomeric material, one on each side of the extension within each lobe forming the cavity. The biasing means 12 may be solid or hollow and may, for example, have a wedge shape so as to substantially match the shape of each half lobe (each half lobe). Therefore, the flat plate forming the extended portion 11 extends through the cavity 10 in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction), and the cavity is swiveled laterally around the swivel point.

  Alternatively, the biasing means 12 may be formed in a tubular shape that can be easily slid over the end of the rod forming the end portion of the extension portion 11. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the biasing means 12 may comprise two tubular sections of elastomeric material, each section forming an end portion of the extension portion 11. Positioned over each end of the rod. In this case, the rod forming the extension may extend laterally into the cavity and pivot in the longitudinal direction about the pivot point of the cavity.

  The biasing means 12 acts to buffer the movement of the extension when the user tilts the seat base forward and backward in its rest position. The biasing means further provides a restoring force to assist in returning the seat base to its rest or neutral position when the seat is compressed.

  The configuration and operation of the recliner mechanism 4 related to the seat back 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5A to 5C.

  The seat back 2 has a support surface 14 against which the user's back rests during use. The back surface of the seat back portion 2 has a recliner mechanism 4, and the recliner mechanism includes a housing having a cavity 10 as described above with reference to the seat base 3. The housing may be a two-part housing with a first section 8 and a second section 9, as shown in FIG. 4, or attached to the seat back 2 or the seat back 2 may be an integral housing. As in the case of the seat base, the seat back 2 may be formed from a plastic material such as polypropylene, or alternatively from wood such as plywood or even from a metal such as aluminum or steel. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the recliner mechanism 4 may be formed as an aluminum extrusion, or may be formed from pressed or cast steel, these materials being made of plastic sheet back 2. It may be integrally molded inside.

  The housing of the recliner mechanism 4 may extend laterally across the entire width of the seat back 2, or may extend over only a portion of the width of the seat back. A plurality of separate housings may be spaced apart laterally with respect to the width of the seat back, with a plurality of cavities 10 aligned with each other. A sheet frame extension 11 and biasing means 12 extending through the cavity (s) formed in the housing is provided between the cavity wall and the frame extension 11. Yes. In FIG. 4, the biasing means 12 is preferably tubular and formed from an elastomeric material or natural rubber, but it may also be formed without a central opening or in a different shape such as a wedge shape. It can be understood that it may be formed. However, the tubular shape shown in FIG. 4 has been found to give satisfactory results within the present invention.

In FIG. 4, it can be further seen that the shape of the cavity 10 is approximately triangular. Also, unlike the seat base 3, the seat back 2 rest position or the position without a user is at one extreme end of the movement range of the seat back 2 (in contrast, the seat base 3 rest position Will be understood to be between the two extreme ends of the range of motion of the seat base 3). Accordingly, FIG. 5A (and FIG. 4) shows the stationary position of the seat base 3 in a state where the user is not present on the seat.
FIG. 5B shows the position of the housing and the seat back with the user in the standard seating position (ie, slightly reclined), and FIG. 5C shows the almost fully reclined position. The position of the housing and thus the back of the seat is shown.

  The extension portion 11 of the frame may comprise a plate extending laterally from the seat back support portion 4 of the frame, which plate is rigidly coupled to the frame. Thus, the plate does not move even though the housing of the recliner mechanism 4 moves around the plate. From the series of views in FIGS. 5A-5C, as the user further reclines the seat back 2, the volume of the portion of the cavity 10 in which the biasing means 12 is positioned is reduced, and thus biased. It can be seen that the compression state of the means can be changed. Thus, during the entire range of movement of the seat back 2, the biasing means provides some resistance to that movement, or if the seat back moves from its reclined position towards its rest position. The urging means assists in restoring the seat back position when the compression is eased.

  In order to adjust the amount of bias that the biasing means provides to the support members 2, 3, the length of the tube positioned within the cavity 10 is naturally provided by the biasing means 12. It may be adjusted to increase resistance and resilience and to reduce the amount of resistance and resilience provided by shorter length tubes. Although the ultimate limit of the tilting movement of the seat back and base may simply be limited by the compression limit of the biasing means and the shape of the cavity, the stopper will contact the seat back and / or the seat base. The frame may be provided and further movement is stopped before the biasing means reaches its compressible limit, so that premature damage to the biasing means is avoided. Alternatively, the support members 2, 3 may include one or more stoppers positioned to contact the frame during movement.

  6A to 6F show another embodiment of the present invention, and the same constituent members that are the same as those in the above-described embodiment are given the same reference numerals. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the seat base support portion 6 and the pair of legs 7 on each side of the chair 1 are formed by bending from a single continuous tube into an ‘n’ shape. The seat 3 is assembled slightly above the seat support portion 6 in the case of the above-described embodiment, so that the user may pinch his / her finger between the frame and the seat 3 while tilting. Depending on the situation, the possibility of injury is reduced. Further, the stopper 15 is positioned on the sheet base support portion 6 on both sides of the recline mechanism 4, thereby limiting the maximum range of inclination of the seat 3.

  The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A to 7F shows another modified example of the embodiment shown in FIGS. Unlike the conventional quadruped configuration used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A-7F utilizes a skid leg configuration. . This configuration replaces the conventional quadrupeds installed at the corners of a typical seat with a pair of 'C' shaped frames 17 on the opposing surface of the chair 1. The front leg 7 is replaced by a floor contact portion 16 that forms the lower surface of a C-shaped leg 17, which is joined to a standing rear leg portion 17, which is also a seat. Coupled to the base support section 18, the sheet base support section is oriented generally parallel to the floor contact portion 16. In addition to providing a special leg space at the front of the chair, the C-shaped leg configuration eliminates the need to fully lift multiple chairs 1 before stacking one chair on top of another. , Allowing nesting to overlap. This can be particularly practical in schools and similar places.

  It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example only and modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing a chair incorporating a recliner mechanism according to the present invention utilized by a user in one sitting position. FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing a chair incorporating a recliner mechanism according to the present invention utilized by a user at another sitting position. FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing a chair incorporating a recliner mechanism according to the present invention utilized by a user in yet another sitting position. FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing a sheet base portion of the sheet shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the recliner mechanism shown in FIG. 2 shown in one position with the seat base removed for clarity. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevational view showing the recliner mechanism shown in FIG. 2 in another position with the seat base removed for clarity. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the recliner mechanism shown in FIG. 2 in yet another position with the seat base removed for clarity. FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing a seat back portion of the seat shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the recliner mechanism shown in FIG. 4 in one position with the seat back removed for clarity. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the recliner mechanism shown in FIG. 4 in another position with the seat back removed for clarity. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the recliner mechanism shown in FIG. 4 in yet another position with the seat back removed for clarity. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the chair by this invention. FIG. 6B is a side elevation view of the chair shown in FIG. 6A. It is a lower side top view of the chair shown to FIG. 6A. It is an upper side top view of the chair shown to FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B is a rear elevation view of the chair shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B is a front elevation view of the chair shown in FIG. 6A. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the chair by this invention. 7B is a side elevation view of the chair shown in FIG. 7A. FIG. It is a lower side top view of the chair shown to FIG. 7A. It is an upper side top view of the chair shown to FIG. 7A. FIG. 7B is a rear elevation view of the chair shown in FIG. 7A. FIG. 7B is a front elevation view of the chair shown in FIG. 7A.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Chair or seat 2 Seat back part 3 Seat base part 4 Recline mechanism 5 Seat back part support part 6 Seat base part support part 7 Leg 8 First section 9 Second section 10 Cavity 11 Extension part 12 Energizing means 13 Central area 14 Support surface 16 Floor contact portion 17 Standing rear leg portion 18 Seat base support section 27 C-shaped frame

Claims (21)

Seated furniture,
Frame,
A support member adapted to provide support to the user during use;
A recliner mechanism that couples the support member to the frame, the recliner mechanism comprising:
A housing positioned on one of the support member or the frame;
An extension of the frame positioned on the other of the support member or the frame, wherein the housing houses the extension in a cavity defined by a cavity wall;
Biasing means disposed between at least a portion of the cavity wall and the extension within the cavity;
The tilting movement of the support member causes a rotation between the cavity and the extension portion, whereby the extension portion engages with the biasing means, and the biasing means is provided with a recovery property that resists the rotation. Seating furniture, characterized by the fact that power is generated.   The seating furniture according to claim 1, wherein the extension part of the frame is stationary relative to at least a part of the frame to which the support member is coupled.   3. Seated furniture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the biasing means comprises an elastically compressible or extensible material.   The seating furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the biasing means has a cylindrical shape or a tubular shape.   5. Seating according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the extension part of the frame is plate-shaped and the biasing means is located between at least one side of the extension part and the cavity wall. furniture.   The seating furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one end of the extension portion of the frame has a bar shape and the biasing means is positioned around the extension portion.   The seating furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cavity in the housing is substantially triangular when viewed in cross section.   The seating furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cavity wall structure is constricted at the center when viewed in cross section.   The seating furniture according to claim 8, wherein the plate-like extension portion extends in the cavity in the vertical direction and the center is constricted, and can be turned in the horizontal direction around a turning point in the center of the cavity.   The seating furniture according to claim 8, wherein a bar-like extension portion extends in a lateral direction in a cavity with a narrowed center, and is pivotable in a vertical direction around a pivot point in the center of the cavity.   The seating furniture according to claim 6, wherein the urging means is provided around both ends of the end portion having a rod shape of the extension portion of the frame.   The seating furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the housing is integral with the support member.   The seating furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the housing is connectable to the support member.   The housing includes a first section formed integrally with the support member, and a second section connectable to the first section, and the cavity includes the first section and the second section. The seating furniture according to claim 1, wherein the seating furniture is formed between the two.   The seating furniture according to claim 1, wherein the support member has a seat.   The seating furniture according to claim 1, wherein the support member has a seat back portion.   17. Seated furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support member comprises stopper means adapted to contact the frame.   18. Seated furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the frame comprises stopper means adapted to contact the support member.   The seating furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the biasing means is formed of an elastomer material or natural rubber.   20. Seated furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing force provided by the biasing means is adjustable by changing the length of the elastomeric or natural rubber material in the cavity. . 20. Seated furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing force provided by the biasing means is adjustable by changing the density of the elastomeric or natural rubber material in the cavity.

Images