JP2011019877A - Chair - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a seat of a chair having the seat and a seat mechanism to turn laterally. <P>SOLUTION: The chair includes a seat and a seat mechanism. This seat mechanism includes a pair of lateral supporting arms each of which reacts independently from the other. These supporting arms are supported respectively by a spring mechanism. A seat is mounted on these supporting arms. One side of the seat can move independently from the other side of the seat when the seat turns laterally. Furthermore, an adjusting means is provided to adjust the strength of both the spring mechanisms at the same time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a chair provided with a seat part and a seat part mechanism. This seat mechanism enables a lateral pivoting movement of the seat.

  It is known from practice that it is possible to turn the seat in all directions. In this case, the swivel joint exists in the center near the vertical center axis passing through the seat surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This mechanism, however, has the disadvantage that the seat always requires user assistance in order to prevent unintentional tilting. In many cases, it is possible to adjust the flexibility of the stiffness of the seat, but this limits the mobility and thus the adaptability to the movement of the user's body.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a chair that enables a side turning motion. Here, the rotation axis extends parallel to the thigh of the user at the center of the seat. Here, the seat is divided into a plurality of parts in the direction of the rotation axis. The left and right sides of each part always perform a reverse swivel movement around the rotation axis.

  A further chair is shown in US Pat. This chair is characterized by a right half seat and a left half seat which are supported so as to be elastic independently of each other.

  A further chair is known from US Pat. This chair has a halved seat portion. Each of these seat portions is pivotable about an axis extending generally parallel to the user's thigh. This chair is intended to allow you to sit comfortably even for long periods of time.

  Patent document 5 is disclosing the chair provided with a seat part and a seat part mechanism. This seat mechanism comprises two side support arms that react independently of each other. Each of these support arms is supported via a spring mechanism. The seat is attached to these support arms. During the side-turning movement of the seat, one side of the seat can move independently from the other side of the seat.

European Patent No. 1051931 US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/195882 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-151033 US Pat. No. 5,713,632 European Patent Application No. 1946676

  In light of this current state of the art, the present invention is based on the problem of allowing easy adjustment of the swivel movement of the chair.

  According to the invention, this problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

  The chair according to the present invention comprises a seat and a seat mechanism. This seat mechanism comprises two side support arms that react independently of each other. Each of these support arms is supported via a spring mechanism. Seats are attached to these support arms. One side of the seat can move independently from the other side of the seat during the side-turning movement of the seat. Furthermore, adjusting means are provided for adjusting the hardness of both spring mechanisms together.

  Thus, both support arms can pivot independently of each other, but the stiffness of both assigned spring mechanisms can be adjusted together via the adjusting means.

  Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

  According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat comprises a seat surface and a backrest, the backrest and seat surface being movable relative to each other. Furthermore, both support arms are preferably pivotally mounted on the base support at the front end of the seat.

  In a further embodiment of the invention, each spring mechanism comprises a spring element, and the adjusting means are formed such that adjustment of the stiffness of the spring mechanism can be performed without changing the tension of the spring element. It has become so. For example, both spring elements are connected to a respective load transmission element, each load transmission element being assigned to the load transmission element and a pivoting movement of the support arm on the guide rail. This is achieved by operatively contacting (Wirkkontakt: active contact) so that the position of the load transmitting element changes and at the same time the tension of the spring element changes. Here, in particular for the adjustment of the spring mechanism, a guide rail can be provided that can be adjusted or pivoted about the pivot axis. In this case, the pivot axis of the guide rail is arranged such that the guide rail pivots without changing the tension of the spring element by adjusting the hardness of the spring mechanism.

  In order to adjust both guide rails together, the adjusting means includes a movable adjusting wedge and a rotatable threaded rod (Gewindestange: threaded rod). The adjustment wedge is adjustable via a threaded rod.

  According to a further embodiment of the invention, at least one of the two support arms is attached to a rotatably mounted hollow shaft so that relative rotation is not possible. This hollow shaft is in operative contact with a spring mechanism assigned to the support arm at one end of the hollow shaft. A hollow shaft passes through the adjusting means. In this way, the adjusting means can be realized very compactly.

  According to a further embodiment of the invention, the seat is connected to the seat mechanism only in the front region of its seat surface. Furthermore, the seat can be held on the support arm by a ball joint. Here, the first ball joint and the second ball joint are arranged in the lower region of the seat back, and the third ball joint and the fourth ball joint are the front region of the seat surface of the seat. Is placed inside. Further, the seat mechanism can be pivoted about the first ball joint and the second ball joint, and the seat and the seat surface are supported by the seat back by pivoting the back of the seat back. It can be formed to be coupled to each other so as to rise relative to the arms. Of course, instead of a ball joint, an alternative connecting element with a similar degree of freedom, for example a rubber bumper, can also be used.

  Further advantages and embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below based on the description of several examples and the drawings.

It is a top view of the chair by a 1st Example. It is a rear view of the chair by the 1st example. It is a side view of the chair by the 1st example. It is a rear view of the chair in an upright position. It is a rear view of the chair in the position inclined to the side. It is a side view of the chair in a normal position. It is a side view of the chair in the position inclined back. Figure 6 is a side view of a chair in a tilted position with means according to a second embodiment. Figure 6 is a side view of a chair in a tilted position with means according to a second embodiment. Figure 6 is a side view of a chair in a tilted position with means according to a second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial side cross-sectional view of a chair with the illustrated spring mechanism. It is sectional drawing of the chair in the area | region of a spring mechanism (light hardness adjustment). Fig. 2b is a view of the spring mechanism according to Fig. 2b with the adjusting wedge shown. It is sectional drawing of the chair in the area | region of a spring mechanism (heavy hardness adjustment). 2b is a view of the spring mechanism according to FIG. 2d with the adjustment wedge shown. FIG. It is a rear view of the chair in the area | region of a spring mechanism.

  The chair shown in FIGS. 1 a to 1 g according to the first embodiment consists essentially of a seat 1, a seat mechanism 2 and a base support 3. The seat itself includes a seat surface 10 and a backrest 11. The seat surface and the backrest can move relative to each other. Here, this relative mobility is possible through a suitable swivel or bending zone. The seat surface 10 and the backrest 11 can be formed integrally or as separate parts.

  The base support usually includes an arbitrarily formed base and serves to hold the seat and the seat mechanism.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the seat mechanism 2 comprises two side support arms 20, 21 that react independently of each other. The seat 1 is attached to these support arms. Both supporting arm portions 20 and 21 are provided so as to be able to turn or turn around the rotation axis 22. The swiveling or rotating shaft 22 is arranged on the base support 3 such that the swiveling or rotating shaft 22 is arranged on the basic support at the front end of the seat, i.e. generally in the region of the user's knee axis. Is held in.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the seat 1 is mounted on the support arms 20 and 21 by ball joints. Here, the first ball joint 23 and the second ball joint 24 are arranged in the lower region of the backrest 11, and the third ball joint 25 and the fourth ball joint 26 are arranged in the front region of the seat surface 10. Has been. Each of the ball joints 23, 24 and 25, 26 is arranged symmetrically with respect to the central plane 4 of the chair. The distance of the first ball joint 23 and the second ball joint 24 to the user's hip joint axis is preferably less than 0.2 m. Furthermore, the distance a of both ball joints is 0.1 m to 0.5 m.

  Furthermore, the seat surface 10 is in the region of the third ball joint 25 and the fourth ball joint 26 and / or the backrest 11 is in the region of the first ball joint 23 and the second ball joint 24, The support arms 20 and 21 are held so as to be movable. In a specific embodiment, the third ball joint 25 and the fourth ball joint 26 are movable. This occurs when the backrest turns backwards or forwards, as can be seen from FIGS. 1f and 1g. Due to the pivoting motion of the backrest, not only the seat surface moves forward, but also the backrest 11 pivots about each of the first ball joint 23 and the second ball joint 24. The backrest 11 and the seat surface 10 are further coupled to each other such that the seat surface rises relative to the support arm by pivoting the backrest backwards. This rise of the seat surface occurs especially in the rear part of the seat surface. Here, by simultaneously lowering the support arm portion, the rear portion of the seat surface 10 is moved downward as a whole.

  The pivoting movement of the backrest 11 to the rear is therefore realized by pivoting or pivoting movement of the support arms 20, 21 about the rotation axis 22. The movement of the ball joints 25 and 26 further allows the angle between the seat surface 10 and the backrest 11 to be increased when the user rests on the back of the chair.

  According to the second embodiment, the ball joints 25 and 26 are arranged at a distance A from the turning or rotating shaft 22. The seat surface 10 is held so that it can move forward or backward relative to the ball joints 25, 26. Backward movement is possible without resistance, while forward movement is limited by the boundary 27. The boundary 27 can be formed by a stop that is stiff or tends to flex under pressure.

  FIGS. 1i to 1j show that the seat can be tilted or moved down (Abwippen: luffing down) without resistance, without having to rotate the backrest around the ball joints 23,24. Is shown. The angle α1 between the seat surface 10 and the backrest 11 can therefore be kept constant in this up and down movement.

  The rotation of the backrest 11 also always occurs simultaneously with the movement of the seat surface relative to the ball joints 25 and 26. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 1 h, the ball joints 25 and 26 are in contact with the boundary 27, so that it is impossible for the backrest to rotate independently about the joints 23, 24 from this position. Therefore, it is necessary for the seat surface itself to be pushed downward by the pressure applied to the ball joints 25 and 26 at the boundary 27 and tilt downward.

  This arrangement results in mechanical synchronization (β1-β2 / α2-α1) of the seat surface inclination and the backrest inclination, which is effective only in one direction. For the user, this provides the following advantages: First, one advantage is that when the user sits on a chair, the user can feel comfortable cushioning without leaving the backrest by free vertical movement. A further advantage is that even if the user rests on the back of the chair, the inclination of the seating surface and the inclination of the backrest can be mechanically synchronized in a predetermined process.

  In connection with the feature that the right and left sides of the seat move independently, this second embodiment of the present invention allows the user to move laterally by tilting only one side of the seat surface without leaving the user back. Can react to weight shift.

  Both support arms 20, 21 are respectively pushed through the appropriate spring mechanisms 40, 41 to the normal position according to FIG. 1f, ie to the upright position.

  Both support arms can be swiveled together, i.e. synchronously, without pivoting or rotating axis 22 or can be pivoted independently of each other about pivoting or rotating axis 22. As described above, the seat can be turned laterally by being able to turn independently. For example, this is shown in FIG. 1e in comparison with the upright position according to FIG. 1d. In addition to the supporting arm parts 20 and 21 that react independently of each other, the seat part itself also has one side of the seat part, i.e. the left side or the right side, independently of the other side of the seat part during the lateral turning movement It is configured to be able to move. In other words, the entire seat is not tilted sideways, and in particular, the seat, particularly the right and left halves of the seat surface, move independently. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivoting or rotating shaft 22 is formed as a rigid body, and the joint to the seat also allows only a generally horizontal movement of the seat, but the lowering of the seat in its front region Is not possible. Therefore, in the side turn of the seat, as shown in FIG. 1e, the seat, especially the seat surface, becomes twisted. Of course, during this movement, in addition, a pivoting and / or twisting of the backrest can occur simultaneously.

  In FIG. 2a again, a generally detailed side view of the chair is shown. In FIG. 2 a, in particular, the spring mechanisms 40, 41 stored in the basic support 3 can be seen. The illustrated chair is, for example, an office chair provided with a rotating base 5.

  Both supporting arm portions 20 and 21 are supported via spring mechanisms 40 and 41, respectively. In this way, both support arms can react independently of each other, so that one side of the seat can be independent of the other side of the seat during the lateral pivoting movement of the seat. Can move. Both spring mechanisms are constructed identically and are substantially rigid on the spring elements 42, 42 ', the load transmitting elements 43, 43' connected to the spring elements and the respective support arms, respectively. It consists of connected load levers (Lasthebel: load lever) 44, 44 'and one guide rail 45 each. In the following, the spring mechanism 40 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The spring element 42 is held by a spring retainer 46, one end of which is supported by a thrust bearing 47 of the base support 3 and the other end is supported by a flange 46 a of the spring retainer 46. A load transmitting element 43 is attached to the opposite end of the spring retainer 46. This load transfer element can be formed, for example, by one or more cylinders or rollers. Since the spring retainer 46 is freely guided within the opening of the thrust bearing 47, the spring retainer 46 can follow the position change of the load transmitting element 43.

  When the support arm portions 20 and 21 are pivoted about the pivot shaft 22, the assigned load levers 44 move together in synchronization to push the load transmission element 43. The load transmitting element changes its position on the guide rail 45, and at the same time the tension of the spring element 42 changes. Accordingly, the support arm 21 pivots in the direction of arrow 48 in FIG. 2b, the load transmitting element 43 moves in the direction of arrow 49, and the spring element 42 is compressed in the direction of arrow 50. When the pressure on the support arm 21 decreases, the spring element 42 pushes the load transmitting element 43 and thus pushes the load lever 44 and the support arm 21 21 back to the neutral position shown in FIG. 2b.

  Adjustment means are provided for adjusting the stiffness of both spring mechanisms together in order to adapt the chair to different weights or habits of the user. A further feature is that the stiffness of the spring mechanism can be adjusted without changing the tension of the spring element 42. This adjustment is performed by adjusting, in particular turning, each of the guide rail 45 and the element 45a comprising the guide rail. In FIG. 2d, each of the guide rail 45 and the element 45a comprising the guide rail is shown in a changed position relative to FIG. 2b.

  In order to prevent adjustment of the guide rail 45 from causing a change in tension of the spring element 42, the rotation axis 45b of the guide rail 45 is when the load transmitting element 43 is in the neutral position shown in FIG. It exists in the area of the load transfer element.

  For turning the guide rail 45, an adjusting means is provided for adjusting the hardness of the spring mechanism. This adjusting means comprises in particular the adjusting wedge 51 and the threaded rod 52 in the embodiment shown (FIGS. 2c and 2e). The rotation of the threaded rod 52 adjusts the adjustment wedge 51 along the threaded rod between the two positions shown in FIGS. 2c and 2e. The adjusting wedge 51 is in direct contact (Beruehrungskontakt: touching contact) with the element 45a provided with the guide rail 45. Adjustment of the adjustment wedge 51 along the threaded rod 52 causes the element 45a to rotate about the axis of rotation 45b (see FIGS. 2b and 2d). In the adjustment of the guide rail 45 according to FIG. 2b, the spring mechanism is adjusted more lightly than in the position according to FIG. 2d. The support arm 21 can therefore be more easily lowered from the neutral position to the appropriate position at the position of the guide rail 45 according to FIG. 2b.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 2 a and 2 f, both spring mechanisms 40, 41 for both support arms 20, 21 are arranged centrally in the base support 3 under the seat surface 10. ing.

  Here, the element 45a is formed to provide a guide rail 45 for the load element 43 of the spring mechanism 40 and a guide rail for the load transmitting element 43 'in the spring mechanism 41. Therefore, only one adjustment wedge 51 that is adjustable via the threaded rod 52 is required.

  It can also be seen from FIG. 2f that each of the load transfer elements 43 and 43 ′ is formed by three rollers or cylinders arranged in the shaft. The two outer rollers are in contact with the load lever 44 and the central roller is in contact with the respective guide rail. Furthermore, it can be seen in FIG. 2f that the pivot 45b of the element 45a is generally in the region of the load transfer elements 43, 43 ′.

  The adjusting means further includes a transmission element 53. This transmission element is connected at one end to the threaded rod 52 via a bevel gear and at the other end is provided with an adjustment element 54, in particular a rotary handle. The transmission element 53 extends outwardly perpendicular to the threaded rod 52 so that the user sitting in the chair can both comfortably and without spending both spring mechanisms. The hardness of 40 and 41 can be adjusted.

  According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection between the element 45a with the guide rail and the adjustment wedge 51 is formed in a self-locking manner, whereby the adjustment element 54 has to be additionally stopped. Absent.

  Both spring mechanisms are provided in the center of the central pivot shaft 22, while both pivot arm portions 20, 21 are located on the outer side. Accordingly, it is necessary to appropriately couple the support arm portion 21 to both the spring mechanisms 40 and 41. This is achieved in the present case by two shafts, in particular hollow shafts 55,56. These shafts are rotatably mounted in an appropriate manner (not shown in detail) in the region of the central shaft 22. At one end of each shaft, the assigned support arm portions 20 and 21 are connected so that relative rotation is impossible. And connected so that relative rotation is impossible. Both load levers thus act as described above with each one of both spring elements 42, 42 '.

  Here, the hollow shaft 56 passes through the transmission element 53 which is formed as a shaft, which results in a very compact arrangement.

  The above-described spring mechanism allows both support arms arranged laterally to move independently of each other. However, the adjusting means described above still adjust the hardness of these spring mechanisms together.

Claims (17)

A chair comprising a seat (1) and a seat mechanism (2), the seat mechanism comprising two lateral support arms (20, 21) that react independently of each other, the support arms Each part is supported via a spring mechanism (40, 41), the seat part (1) is attached to the support arm part, and one side of the seat part is a side of the seat part. It is possible to move independently from the other side of the seat during the turning movement,
A chair, characterized in that adjustment means are provided for adjusting the hardness of both spring mechanisms (40, 41) together.   The chair according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat (1) comprises a seat surface (10) and a backrest (11), the backrest and the seat surface being movable relative to each other.   2. The support arm according to claim 1, characterized in that both support arms (20, 21) are pivotally mounted on a base support (3) at the front end of the seat (1). Chair.   Each of the spring mechanisms (40, 41) includes a spring element (42, 42 '), and the adjusting means can adjust the hardness of the spring mechanism without changing the tension of the spring element. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the chair is formed as follows.   At least one of the both support arm portions (20, 21) is attached to a hollow shaft (55, 56) rotatably provided so as not to be relatively rotatable, and the hollow shaft Is in contact with the spring mechanism (40, 41) assigned to the support arm (20, 21) at one end thereof, and the hollow shaft passes through the adjusting means. The chair according to claim 1, wherein:   Both said spring mechanisms (40, 41) each comprise a spring element (42, 42 ') and a load transfer element connected to said spring element, said load transfer element (43, 43') being assigned The position of the load transmitting element is changed on the guide rail (45) and the tension of the spring elements (42, 42 ') is changed at the same time by the support arm portion and the turning motion of the support arm portion. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the chair is operatively touched.   The chair according to claim 6, characterized in that the load transmitting element (43, 43 ') is formed by at least one roller.   The chair according to claim 6, characterized in that the guide rail (45) is adjustable to adjust the hardness of the spring mechanism.   The chair according to claim 6, characterized in that the guide rail (45) is adjustable to adjust the hardness of the spring mechanism by the adjusting means.   The chair according to claim 6, wherein the guide rail is provided so as to be turnable about a turning axis.   The pivot axis (45b) of the guide rail (45) is arranged such that adjustment of the stiffness of the spring mechanism results in pivoting of the guide rail (45), at which time the tension of the spring element does not change. The chair according to claim 10, wherein   7. The adjustment means according to claim 6, characterized in that the adjustment means comprise a movable adjustment wedge for adjusting together the guide rails (45) of both of the spring mechanisms (40, 41). Chairs.   The chair according to claim 12, characterized in that the adjusting means further comprises a rotatable threaded rod (52), the adjusting wedge (51) being adjustable via the threaded rod.   14. The seat (1) is connected to the seat mechanism (2) only in the front region of its seat surface (10). Chairs.   15. The seat (1) is held on the support arm (20, 21) by a ball joint (23, 24, 25, 26). The chair described in.   A first ball joint (23) and a second ball joint (24) are arranged in the lower region of the seat back (11), and a third ball joint (25) and a fourth ball joint. 2. Chair according to claim 1, characterized in that (26) is arranged in the front area of the seat surface (10) of the seat.   The backrest (11) is pivotable about the first ball joint (23) and the second ball joint (24), and the backrest (11) and the seat surface (10) 17. Chair according to claim 16, characterized in that the seat surfaces are joined to each other so that the seat surface rises with respect to the support arms (20, 21) by turning the backrest backwards.

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