JP3999454B2 - Bending link mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bending link mechanism that can be suitably used as a mechanism component that supports a movable part of furniture.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, various types of chairs have been developed and used. As a part of such diversification of chairs, recently, it has been considered that the back is constituted by an upholstery that stretches across the upper frame, the lower frame, and the upper and lower frames.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the type in which a part of the chair is movable has a function of tilting the back and a function of locking the back seat as its basic functions. And when applying these functions to a chair having a back of such a tension type, there are a link element that supports the back seat so that it can be locked, and a link element that supports the back so that it can tilt through the upper frame. I need it.
[0004]
However, since these link elements need to secure a movable allowance, they are arranged at positions that appear in the appearance of the chair. Therefore, if the link elements are designed in a random manner, the appearance of the chair is impaired. In particular, the link element that supports the back so as to be tiltable via the upper frame is disposed at a position that is easily noticeable, and must provide elasticity necessary for the back to return from the back tilt position. Therefore, how to incorporate the elastic body and the relative arrangement of the link element for tilting the back and the link element for locking are important keys for constructing the overall appearance of the chair. .
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a folding link mechanism that can be suitably applied to various furniture that needs to support a good appearance of the movable part in a similar manner, including such a chair.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the present invention takes the following measures.
[0007]
That is, the bending link mechanism of the present invention includes a pair of bendable link elements, and is arranged at a position that appears on the exterior of the furniture body to elastically support the movable part of the furniture body. An accommodation space is formed in a part of the link element, and an elastic body is disposed between the link elements while being positioned in the accommodation space. When the link element is bent, the elastic body is in the accommodation space. It is configured so that it can be deformed and accumulate elastic force , and one link element supports the back seat of the chair, which is a movable part, so that it can be locked, and one end side is rotatably supported, The other link element supports the back of the chair, which is a movable part, so as to be able to tilt with respect to the seat, and maintains an unfolded state when one link element rotates, and is integrated with the one link element. And a mode of rotating in the direction of bending with respect to the one link element when the rotation of one link element is prohibited, the one link element and the other Rin Each element is provided with a recess, and when the pin is inserted over both the recesses, the other link element rotates together with the one link element, and when the pin is removed, It is characterized by being in a state of rotating in the direction of bending with respect to the link element .
[0008]
With such a configuration, when the present invention is applied to a portion that supports the movable part while the crossing angle of the other link element changes with respect to the one link element, an accommodation space in which an elastic body is formed in the link element It can be accommodated inside and not exposed to the outside. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately support the operation of the movable part without impairing the appearance of the furniture, and at the same time to provide an effective restoration function to the movable part.
[0009]
In order to sufficiently apply the elastic force, a coil spring is adopted as the elastic body, and this coil spring is arranged in the link element with the axial direction substantially matching the longitudinal direction of the link element. It is desirable.
[0010]
In order to effectively prevent both the link elements from appearing together and complicating the appearance of the furniture, the main part appearing on the appearance of both link elements is continuously apparently single when not in the folded state. It is preferable that it is comprised so that the link shape of this may be exhibited.
[0011]
In order to improve the built-in stool, it is effective to provide the accommodation space so as to open downward.
[0012]
As a specific embodiment, one link element is rotatably supported at one end side, and the other link element maintains a state where it is not bent when one link element rotates. In this way, it is possible to selectively take the mode of rotating integrally with the one link element and the mode of rotating in a bending direction with respect to the one link element when rotation of the one link element is prohibited. Are listed.
[0013]
As a specific example of application to a chair having such a configuration, the back seat of the chair, which is a movable part, is supported by one link element so that it can be locked, and the back of the chair, which is a movable part, is tilted by the other link element. Those that are supported as possible.
[0014]
In particular, in such a configuration, the back includes an upper frame, a lower frame, and a tension material stretched between the upper and lower frames, and the other link element supports the back so as to be tiltable through the upper frame. Effective in case.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a chair 1 showing an embodiment of the present invention. The chair 1 basically includes a leg body including a base leg 2 and a support base 3, and a seat 4 and a back 5 supported by the support base 3. As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, it has at least a back seat locking function for interlocking and locking the seat 4 and the back 5 and a back tilting function for tilting only the upper part of the back 5.
[0017]
More specifically, the support base 3 is a long one, and the lower end of the support base 3 constituting the base leg 2 is fitted to the lower end of the support base 3 so as to extend obliquely forward.
[0018]
The seat 4 is formed by mounting a cushion body or the like on a seat receiver 4a having a frame shape.
[0019]
The spine 5 includes an upper frame 5m, a lower frame 5n, and a stretched fabric 5b stretched between the upper and lower frames 5m and 5n, and is continuous from the rear edge of the seat 4 in appearance. It has a rising shape. The backrest surface is cushioned by using the tension of the tension member 5b.
[0020]
Next, a configuration for realizing each function will be described.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the back seat locking function includes the back 5 and the seat 4 in the normal use position (shown in FIG. 1) in which the seating surface 4b is substantially horizontal and the last in which the seating surface 4b tilts backward. It is a function of tilting and moving in conjunction with an inclined position (shown in FIG. 2), and a four-sided link-like locking mechanism K1 interposed between the support base 3, the back 5 and the seat 4 is provided. The function is realized using it.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the locking mechanism K1 causes the support base 3 to function as the lower link member 6a, the seat support 4a to function as the upper link member 6b, and the lower support member 5c to function as the rear link member 6c. A dedicated front link member 6d is disposed between the front end portions of the base 3 and the seat support 4a, and the end portions of the four link members 6a to 6d are coupled to each other via support shafts t1 to t4, respectively. In each of the connecting points, a quadrangular unequal square is formed.
[0023]
In this embodiment, a locking operation switching mechanism K2 for switching the locking mechanism K1 between an operable state and an inoperable state is provided. The locking operation switching mechanism K2 is configured by using a gas spring GS1 that can be switched between a free and retractable free state and a locked state in which the length is fixed. One end of the gas spring GS1 is connected to the support 3 The other end of the front link member 6d is pivotably coupled to a portion displaced from the coupling point with the support base 3. In the present embodiment, in a state where the gas spring GS1 is set free, a force that causes the front link member 6d to move forward is applied by the extension force so that the back 5 and the seat 4 are urged forward. It is. The gas spring GS1 can be switched between the locked state and the free state through an operation lever (not shown) provided on the side of the chair, and the operable state in which the back 5 and the seat 4 can be locked. The back 5 and the seat 4 can be switched to an inoperative state in which the back 5 and the seat 4 can be fixed at a desired angle.
[0024]
The back tilting function is performed between the first posture in which only the upper portion of the back 5 is erected (shown in FIG. 1) and the second posture in which the back is most inclined with respect to the seating surface 4b (shown in FIG. 3). This is a function that can be tilted with the back tilt mechanism K3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the back tilting mechanism K3 is mainly composed of an upper support portion 5d provided so as to be tiltable with the lower support portion 5c described above as a scaffold, and the upper support portion 5d. Is mainly formed along a portion corresponding to the backrest surface, and the upper frame 5m is connected to the upper end thereof. Specifically, the lower support portion 5c is mainly composed of a pair of left and right first link elements 51, and the upper support portion 5d is mainly composed of a pair of left and right second link elements 52. As described above, the element 51 is rotatably supported by the support base 3 via the support shaft t2 extending in the horizontal and horizontal directions at the base end, whereas the second link element 52 is shown in FIGS. As described above, the base end is rotatably connected to the first link element 51 via the support shaft t5 extending horizontally and horizontally. More specifically, the first link element 51 is provided with a slit 51a that opens to the distal end side, and the second link element 52 is provided between the outer wall 51b and the inner wall 51c defined through the slit 51a. The projecting wall 52a provided at the base end of the first link element 51 is inserted and the inner wall 51c of the first link element 51 and the projecting wall 52a of the second link element 52, which are provided higher than the outer wall 51b, are overlapped to overlap the support shaft. They are connected via t5. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the set part of the support shaft t5 is between the support shafts t1 and t2 constituting the four-sided link mechanism K1, and the back is tilted backward by this back tilting function. The tilt center (t5) of the back 5 in this case is different from the tilt center (t2) of the spine 5 when the back 5 is tilted backward together with the seat 4 by the back seat locking function.
[0025]
In addition, the first link element 51 is formed with a housing space 51d having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom, and the housing space 51d is open downward and in the slit 51a. Then, a retainer 51e1 provided on one end side is pressed against the inner end of the first link element 51 in the accommodating space 51d, and the coil spring S1 is accommodated by making the axial direction substantially coincide with the longitudinal direction of the first link element 51. Then, a support shaft t6 is inserted into the retainer 51e2 on the other end side of the coil spring S1 so as to penetrate the projecting piece 52b provided below the projecting wall 52a of the second link element 52. Then, when the second link element 52 is pivoted with respect to the first link element 51 with the support shaft t5 as a fulcrum, the coil spring S1 is within the accommodation space 51d as shown in FIGS. The elastic force can be accumulated by deformation in the compression direction.
[0026]
It should be noted that the main part appearing in the external appearance of both link elements 51, 52, that is, the outer wall 51b of the first link element 51 and the outer wall 52c of the second link element 52 are continuous in an L shape when not in the bent state. Apparently, it is configured to exhibit a single link shape. At that time, adjacent boundary portions of the outer walls 51b and 52c of both link elements 51 and 52 are provided with edge portions 51b1 and 52c1 that are cut obliquely with respect to the axial direction in parallel with a minute gap therebetween. Interference between the outer walls 51b and 52c can be avoided when the shaft 52 rotates in the folding direction with the support shaft t5 as a fulcrum from a non-bending state that is linearly continuous with the first link element 51. ing.
[0027]
As described above, in the chair of the present embodiment, the first link element 51 supports the back 5 and the seat 4 of the chair so as to be rockable, and the second link element 52 can tilt the back 5 of the chair via the upper frame 5m. It is something to support. In this embodiment, the second link element 52 rotates integrally with the first link element 51 as shown in FIG. 2 while maintaining the unfolded state when the first link element 51 rotates. In order to be able to take a locking mode and a back tilting mode in which the first link element 51 rotates in a bending direction as shown in FIG. A tilting operation switching mechanism K4 is provided.
[0028]
This back tilting operation switching mechanism K4 switches between a state in which the second link element 52 constituting the upper support portion 5d is prohibited from rotating and the state in which the second link element 52 constituting the lower support portion 5c is prohibited. It is. Specifically, in the first link element 51 and the second link element 52, which are deviated from the support shaft t5, the concave portions 5c1 as shown in FIG. 5d1 is provided, and the pin 7 is inserted across the recesses 5c1 and 5d1 to be inoperable, and the pin 7 is pulled out to be operable.
[0029]
When the pin 7 is inserted across each of the through holes 5d1, 5c1 and is in an inoperable state in which the spine 5 cannot be tilted, the locking operation is enabled through the opening / closing operation of the gas spring GS1, and the pin 7 is In an operable state where the two link elements 5d come out of the through hole 5d1 and the back 5 can be tilted, the gas spring GS1 is closed to prohibit the locking operation.
[0030]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the bending link mechanism K5 is configured by the pair of foldable link elements 51 and 52, and is arranged at a position appearing on the appearance of the chair body so as to function as a mechanism part of the chair 1. . An accommodation space 51d is formed in a part of the first link element 51, and the coil spring S1 is accommodated between the link elements 51 and 52 while being positioned in the accommodation space 51d. At the time of bending, the coil spring S1 is deformed in the accommodation space 51d and accumulates elastic force in a direction to cancel the bent state.
[0031]
Thus, the bending link mechanism K5 of the present embodiment supports the spine 5 that is a movable part while the crossing angle of the second link element 52 changes with respect to the first link element 51. In the present embodiment, the coil spring S1 is accommodated in the accommodating space 51d formed in the first link element 51 so as not to be exposed to the outside, so that the appearance of the chair 5 is not impaired. It is possible to appropriately support the tilting operation, and at the same time, it is possible to provide an effective restoration function for standing the back 5 in the first posture.
[0032]
In particular, the coil spring S1 is adopted as an elastic body for standing the spine 5 as described above, and the first spring link S1 is arranged such that the axial direction of the coil spring S1 is substantially matched with the longitudinal direction of the first link element 51. Since it is accommodated in the element 51, a suitable elastic force can be secured by giving an appropriate length to the coil spring S1 within a range not exceeding the longitudinal dimension of the first link element 51.
[0033]
In addition, the main part appearing in the appearance of both link elements 51 and 52, that is, the outer wall 51b of the first link element 51 and the outer wall 52c of the second link element 52 are apparently single in succession. Since it is comprised so that the one link shape may be exhibited, it can avoid effectively that both link elements expose and the appearance of a chair is complicated.
[0034]
At this time, since the accommodation space 51d is opened downward, the coil spring S2 can be easily attached from below, and the built-in stool can be effectively improved.
[0035]
In particular, in the chair of the present embodiment, the first link element 51 is supported so as to be rotatable at one end side, and the second link element 52 is not bent when the first link element 51 rotates. And a mode of rotating integrally with the first link element 51 and a mode of rotating in a bending direction with respect to the first link element 51 when rotation of the first link element 51 is prohibited. Therefore, the back 5 and the seat 4 of the chair 1 are supported so as to be rockable via the first link element 51, and the back 5 of the chair 1 is tilted via the second link element 52. If supported in a possible manner, it is possible to achieve both a locking function and a back tilting function appropriately.
[0036]
In particular, the chair according to the present embodiment is configured such that the back 5 is composed of an upper frame 5m, a lower frame 5n, and a tension fabric 5b stretched between the upper and lower frames 5m and 5n. Since the back 5 is tiltably supported by the upper frame 5m via the upper frame 5m, the second link element 52 is greatly exposed to the side. For this reason, the effect of apparently integrating the second link element 52 with the first link element 51 is particularly great.
[0037]
The specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is implemented in the form as described above, and has the effects described below.
[0039]
That is, the folding link mechanism of the present invention is configured to elastically support the movable part of the furniture body by arranging a pair of bendable link elements at positions that appear on the exterior of the furniture body. An accommodation space is formed in a part of the link element, an elastic body is accommodated in the accommodation space, and the elastic body is deformed in the accommodation space and accumulates elastic force when the link elements are bent. It is something that can be done.
[0040]
For this reason, the elastic body is preferably concealed in the link element to prevent the appearance of the furniture from being damaged, and the action of the elastic body can be used to appropriately support the movable part in a recoverable state. Become.
[0041]
In particular, when a coil spring is employed as the elastic body and the coil spring is accommodated in the link element and the axial direction is substantially aligned with the longitudinal direction of the link element, the coil spring is relatively Even if it takes a long time, it can be prevented from protruding from the link element, and it is extremely effective as a technique for increasing the elastic force without impairing the appearance.
[0042]
In addition, if the main parts appearing on the external appearance of both link elements are configured so as to present an apparently single link shape when they are not in a folded state, they are compared to the case where they are arranged together. Thus, it becomes possible to make the appearance of furniture uniform and coherent.
[0043]
By adopting a configuration that opens downward in the accommodation space, it is possible to effectively improve the convenience of incorporating the elastic body.
[0044]
As a concrete embodiment, with respect to one link element that can be rotated, the other link element rotates integrally while maintaining an unfolded state, and the direction in which the other link element bends. If it is comprised so that it can selectively take the aspect rotated to the back, it will become very effective as a support means of a chair provided with a back seat locking function and a back tilting function.
[0045]
In particular, in such a configuration, the back includes an upper frame, a lower frame, and a tension material stretched between the upper and lower frames, and the other link element supports the back so as to be tiltable through the upper frame. When applied to a chair, a high effect can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic overall side view showing a chair according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic overall side view showing another state of the chair in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic overall side view showing still another state of the chair in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a relationship between a first link element and a second link element in the same embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a partial bottom view showing the relationship between the first link element and the second link element in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a partial side view showing the relationship between the first link element and the second link element in the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... chair 4 ... movable part (seat)
5 ... Moving part (back)
5b ... tension 5m ... upper frame 5n ... lower frame 51 ... first link element 51d ... accommodation space 52 ... second link element K5 ... bending link mechanism S ... elastic body (coil spring)

Claims (5)

A pair of bendable link elements are provided, which are arranged at positions appearing on the exterior of the furniture body to elastically support the movable part of the furniture body, and form a receiving space in a part of the link elements. The elastic body is positioned between the link elements so as to be positioned in the accommodating space, and when the two link elements are bent, the elastic body can be deformed in the accommodating space to accumulate elastic force. ,
One link element is supported so that the back seat of the chair which is a movable part can be locked, and one end side is supported rotatably.
The other link element supports the back of the chair, which is a movable part, so as to be able to tilt with respect to the seat, and maintains an unfolded state when one link element rotates, and is integrated with the one link element. Configured to selectively take a mode of rotating and a mode of rotating in a bending direction with respect to the one link element when rotation of the one link element is prohibited,
Recesses are provided in one link element and the other link element, respectively, and by inserting a pin over both the recesses, the other link element rotates together with the one link element. A bending link mechanism characterized in that it is rotated in a direction of bending with respect to one link element by being pulled out. The bending link mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is a coil spring arranged with its axial direction substantially matching the longitudinal direction of the link element. The bending link mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main part appearing in the external appearance of both link elements is configured so as to have an apparently single link shape continuously when not in a bent state. 4. The bending link mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the housing space opens downward. The back has an upper frame, a lower frame, and a tension material stretched between the upper and lower frames, and the other link element supports the back to be tiltable through the upper frame. 5. The bending link mechanism according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4.

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