JP7385407B2 - Chair - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a chair equipped with an operating member for controlling a movable member such as a gas cylinder.

2. Description of the Related Art Among chairs, types in which the leg pillars are constructed with gas cylinders and the height of the seat can be adjusted are widely used. The gas cylinder can be switched between a free telescopic state and a non-retractable locked state by operating a push valve.In this type of chair, the gas cylinder is located somewhere on the chair. An operating member for releasing the lock is provided.

Although the operating member is often placed on the side of the seat, Patent Document 1 discloses that a button-shaped operating member that can be pushed upward is provided on the lower surface of the elbow rest. In Patent Document 1, the operating member is provided at the front end of a rotary lever, and when the operating member (button) is pushed upward, the lever rotates, and the movement of the lever is caused by pushing via a wire inserted into a tube. The signal is transmitted to the valve pushing member.

As mentioned above, the operating member for unlocking the gas cylinder is often placed on the side of the seat, but if the operating member is provided on the elbow rest as in Patent Document 1, the user can move his/her hand down to the side of the seat. It has the advantage of being easy to operate since it is no longer necessary.

Furthermore, when adjusting the height of the seat, the user must maintain the height of the seat in a half-sitting position and operate the operating member with one hand, but the operating member is located on the side of the seat. However, if the operating member is provided on the elbow rest, the user can operate the operating member while holding the elbow rest in a natural state, making it possible to adjust the seat height in a stable manner. There are also advantages to doing so.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-105293

Now, in Patent Document 1, an operating cable is arranged inside the elbow support in order to transmit the movement of the operating member to the gas cylinder. Therefore, the elbow support must have a hollow structure. In this case, in Patent Document 1, the elbow support has a structure that is integrated with the backrest and has a large front and back width, so it can be said that even if it is formed into a hollow structure, there will not be many problems with strength or aesthetics.

On the other hand, when the side support body provided with the operation member is placed in front of the backrest, if the side support body is formed into a hollow structure and the operation cable is placed inside the side support body, the size of the side support body becomes large due to the need to ensure strength. There are concerns that the design may be more likely to be restricted by the use of cables, and that it may take more time and effort to install the operating cables.

The present invention was made in response to this current situation, and includes a side support body arranged on the side of the seat independently of the backrest, and an operation member for adjusting the height etc. on this side support body. The present invention aims to provide an improved structure for a chair provided with a chair.

The present invention includes various configurations, typical examples of which are specified in each claim. Among these, the invention of claim 1 constitutes a generic concept,
"Comprising a seat, left and right side supports disposed on the left and right sides of the seat, and an operation member disposed at the upper end of the side support for operating the movable member of the chair,
A long groove is formed on the outer surface of the side support, in which an operating cable for transmitting the movement of the operating member to the movable member is disposed , and the long groove is closed by a groove cap,
The left and right side supports each include a plate-shaped support section with a planar cross-sectional shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and an upper horizontal section that is longitudinally longitudinal and provided at the upper end of the support section. A knob that rotates about the axis of the upper horizontal part as the operating member is attached to the front end of the upper horizontal part of one side support of the body so as to be exposed in front of the upper horizontal part. , the long groove is formed on the front surface of the support column in the one side support,
The rear ends of the left and right upper horizontal parts are aligned in the same front-back position, and the front ends of the knob and the front end of the other upper horizontal part are aligned in the front-rear position.
The structure is as follows.

As a development example of claim 1, claim 2:
"An upper support frame, to which the backrest is attached, is attached to the rear of the upper horizontal portion of the left and right side supports so as to extend rearward."
The structure is as follows.

The invention of claim 3 is, in claim 1 or 2 ,
"A holder is disposed inside the long groove to which the groove cap is irremovably engaged."
The structure is as follows.

The invention of claim 4 is based on any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
"A base that supports the seat directly or via a seat support member is fitted onto the upper end of the pillar,
The column portion of the side support has a base portion that wraps around toward the base, a tip portion that fits into an engagement hole formed in the base is formed in the base portion, and the long groove is formed in the base portion. The groove cap extends to the distal end, and the proximal end of the groove cap enters into the engagement hole of the base,
Furthermore, a protective cover is attached to the upper horizontal portion, and the upper end of the groove cap is held by the protective cover so as not to be able to move forward.
The structure is as follows.

◎Effect of Claim 1 In the present invention, since the operation cable is disposed in the long groove formed on the outer surface of the side support, the side support can be formed into a solid structure by, for example, a die-cast product. It is possible. This makes it possible to ensure the necessary strength while making it as slim as possible. Therefore, freedom of design can be improved.

Now, if the side support body is made up of multiple members and has a hollow structure , and the operating cable is placed inside it, the multiple members are separated and the operating cable is placed, and then the multiple members are separated. It is necessary to fix the members with screws, etc., and therefore, it takes time and effort to attach the operating cable. Additionally, if the side support is hollow and has a single structure, it is necessary to insert the operating cable from one end to the other, which also requires time and effort to install the operating cable. . In contrast, in the present invention, since the operating cable can be fitted into the long groove from the outside, the operating cable can be quickly attached.

In addition, if the side support body is hollow and has a single structure, depending on the size of the hollow part, it may not be possible to insert the operation cable into the side support body while connected to the operation member. It is necessary to insert the operating cable into the side support and then connect the operating member to one end of the cable, which can be time-consuming. However, in the present invention, the long groove is opened outward. Therefore, even when the operating cable is connected to the operating member, the operating cable can be inserted into the long groove. It also has excellent workability in this respect.

Since the side supports are arranged on the left and right sides of the seat, it is preferable that the lateral thickness (or lateral width) be as small as possible in view of the aesthetic requirement of suppressing the bulge of the chair in the lateral direction as much as possible. In this respect, the present invention can meet the aesthetic requirements.

In claim 2, the backrest is attached to the upper horizontal portion of the side support via the upper support frame, so that when the seated person leans against the backrest, a backward bending force is applied to the column portion of the side support. However, since the support column has a longitudinal longitudinal cross-sectional shape, it exhibits high resistance to the bending force exerted by rocking. Therefore, high strength can be ensured while maintaining a clean design.

In addition, in the present invention, the knob as an operating member is exposed in front of the upper horizontal part and is easily visible, so even a first-time user will not have to worry about the trouble of finding where the knob is. You can quickly operate the knob . In this respect, it is also user-friendly.

Furthermore, since the knob does not move even if a person firmly grasps the upper horizontal part, there is no possibility of an unexpected situation where a person accidentally operates the movable member when sitting or leaving the seat while holding the upper horizontal part. Does not occur. Therefore, it is also excellent in safety.

Since the long grooves are formed on the front surface of the support column, stress is not concentrated on the long grooves due to bending force during rocking, and the support column can maintain high strength. Further, since the knob is exposed from the front end of the upper horizontal part, it is possible to easily attach the operating member to the upper horizontal part with the operating cable attached to the knob in advance. Therefore, the effort required to attach the knob and the operating cable can be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, if the operating member is configured as a rotary knob as in the present invention , it will not rotate even if a person's finger tips strongly touch it, and the knob will only rotate when a twisting operation is performed. In other words, the knob will not rotate even if a large external force is simply applied to it. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a person from accidentally operating the knob. In addition, if it is a rotary type, the operation cable can be connected by fitting the ball provided at one end of the wire into the ball holding groove and winding it up, so other parts such as levers are not required. It is. Therefore, the structure can also be simplified.

Since the front and back positions of the unit consisting of the knob and one upper horizontal part to which it is attached are aligned with the front and rear positions of the upper horizontal part to which the knob is not installed, only one upper horizontal part Even with the knobs, the design is harmonious and there are no aesthetic issues. It is also possible to provide a dummy member with the same shape as the knob in the upper horizontal portion where the knob is not provided, and in this case as well, it is possible to unify the design at the left and right upper horizontal portions and prevent deterioration of the aesthetic appearance.

◎Effect of Claim 3 The groove cap can be fixed by screwing, for example, or can be fitted into the long groove by utilizing its own elastic deformation, but in the case of screwing, the head of the screw is exposed. There is a risk that the aesthetic appearance may be spoiled, and if the attachment is made using only its own elastic deformation, the attachment strength may become unstable.

In this regard, when the holder is used as in claim 3 , the groove cap is forcibly engaged with the holder using elastic deformation, so that the groove cap can be firmly prevented from slipping out without using screws. It can be fixed as Therefore, it can be firmly fixed without spoiling the aesthetic appearance.

◎Effect of Claim 4 Since the groove cap is elongated, it is easy to roll over and come off from its ends. However, when the structure of Claim 4 is adopted, both ends of the groove cap are held in a way that cannot be separated from the support, so there is no chance of it coming off. There is no need to worry about this, and the fixed state can be maintained firmly. Since the groove cap is held using the base and the protective cover, which are elements of the chair, to prevent it from falling out, there is no problem of increased costs due to an increase in the number of parts. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the groove cap from coming off while reducing costs.

Figures illustrating the appearance of the chair according to the first embodiment, in which (A) is a perspective view seen from the upper front, (B) is a partial front view, (C) is a perspective view seen from the upper back, and (D) is a perspective view seen from the upper front. It is a perspective view seen from the rear lower part. (A) is a plan view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a rear view. (A) is a partial side view in a state before locking, and (B) is a side view in a locking state. It is a figure which shows the connection structure of an upper support frame, (A) is a perspective view from which the protective cover was separated, (B) is a perspective view from which the upper support frame was separated. It is a figure which shows the connection structure of an upper support frame, (A) is an exploded perspective view seen from the front upper part, and (B) is an exploded perspective view seen from the rear upper part. It is a VI-VI sectional view of FIG. 2(A). Figures illustrating modified examples of the support structure of the backrest; (A) is an exploded perspective view seen from the back; (B) is an exploded perspective view; (C) is an exploded perspective view of some members seen from the front; (D ) is a perspective view of the upper horizontal portion, and (E) is a sectional view of the same portion as FIG. 6(A). (A) and (B) are separated perspective views of the lock release operation part of the pedestal seen from the upper front, and (C) is a partial perspective view of the right side support seen from below. (A) is an isolated perspective view of the lock release operation unit seen from the front and below, (B) is a perspective view of the groove cap seen from behind, (C) is a perspective view of the groove cap holder, and (D) is a perspective view of the groove cap. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. These are diagrams showing the lock release operation part, (A) is a perspective view seen from the front upper part, (B) is a perspective view seen from the rear lower part, and (C) is a perspective view seen from the rear upper part with some parts separated. Figures 1 and 2 (D) are perspective views of the gripping cap seen from behind, and (E) are perspective views showing the procedure for attaching the wire. 10A is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 10(A), in which (A) is a diagram in a locked state and (B) is a diagram in an unlocked state. Figures showing the lock release mechanism of the gas cylinder, (A) is a perspective view with the lever separated, (B) is a perspective view with the base omitted, (C) is a perspective view of the end of the cable, and (D) is a perspective view. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a lever and a cable.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In the following, words such as front and back and left and right are used to specify directions, but these directions are based on the state seen from a person sitting normally on a chair. The front view direction is a direction facing the seated person.

(1).Outline of the chair First, the outline of the chair will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the chair includes a leg device 1, a seat 2, and a backrest 3 as basic elements. The leg device 1 has a structure in which a leg column 5 made of a gas cylinder is erected at the center of a grounding body 4 having a plurality of (five) branch arms, and a caster is provided at the tip of each arm. Therefore, this embodiment is applied to a rotating chair.

As shown in FIG. 1(D), a base 6 having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom (and when viewed from above) is fixed to the upper end of the pedestal 5. As shown in FIG. A seat support member 7 is attached to the base 6 so as to be slidable back and forth, and the seat 2 is attached to the upper surface of the seat support member 7. The base 6 is, for example, an aluminum die-cast product, and the seat support member 7 is, for example, a synthetic resin molded product.

The seat support member 7 is urged to the backward position by a spring, which is an example of an elastic body, and when the seated person's body becomes flexible during rocking, the seat 2 and the seat support member 7 are pushed by the buttocks and move forward. obtain. In FIG. 3(B), a state in which the seat 2 is moved forward is displayed. As can be understood from the comparison between FIGS. 3A and 3B, in this embodiment, the seat support member 7 and the seat 2 move forward while rising slightly.

The chair includes an upper support frame 8 arranged at a position higher than the seat 2 so as to surround the seated person from behind. Therefore, the upper support frame 8 includes left and right side parts (forward arm parts) 8a located on the left and right sides of the seated person and the backrest 3 when viewed from the front, and a rear part located behind the seated person and the backrest 3 when viewed from the front. 8b, and the backrest 3 is connected to the rear portion 8b so as to be able to freely tilt backward.

Naturally, the backrest 3 is placed in front of the rear portion 8c. The upper support frame 8 is manufactured from a metal pipe such as a steel pipe, but it can also be manufactured from a square steel pipe or a metal round bar or square bar.

The backrest 3 of the embodiment is curved so as to bulge backward (concave forward) in a plan view so as to support the body of the seated person from behind, and the rear part 8b of the upper support frame 8 It is curved to follow the curve of 3.

That is, in plan view, the rear portion 8b of the upper support frame 8 and the rear surface of the backrest 3 have similar shapes. Furthermore, the side portion 8a is also curved so as to be concave toward the backrest 3 in plan view. Therefore, the upper support frame 8 as a whole is curved in a shape close to an arc, and as clearly shown in FIG. 2, there is a gap of a certain distance between the upper support frame 8 and the backrest 3. . Moreover, the upper support frame 8 is in a horizontal position as a whole.

The left and right forward arm portions 8a of the upper support frame 8 are connected to side supports 9 disposed on the left and right sides of the seat 2 so as to be tiltable backward. The side support body 9 is, for example, an aluminum die-cast product, and has a vertically longitudinal plate-shaped support portion 9a, and an upper horizontal portion 9b that is front and rear longitudinally formed integrally with a plate shape and is integrally formed at the upper end thereof. . A forward-facing arm portion 8a of the upper support frame 8 is connected to the rear portion of the upper horizontal portion 9b so as to be able to tilt backward against elasticity. The upper horizontal portion 9b is covered with an elastomer-based protective cover 10.

A base 9c that wraps around below the seat 2 is integrally formed at the lower end of the support column 9a of the side support 9. 1(D) and FIG. 2(B)), and the tip portion is fixed to the base 6 with a bolt.

As mentioned above, the pedestal 5 is made of a gas cylinder, and when the gas cylinder is unlocked, the heights of the seat 2 and the backrest 3 can be adjusted freely. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C, for example, a knob for unlocking the gas cylinder is provided on the upper horizontal portion 9b of the right side support 9, as an example of an operating member. 12 is attached so as to be rotatable around the axis of the upper horizontal portion 9b. The knob 12 can be rotated in either the left or right direction, and the gas cylinder is unlocked when rotated in either direction.

It is also possible to attach the elbow pad 13 to the upper horizontal portion 9b of the side support 9, as shown by the dashed line in FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B). As roughly shown in FIG. 1(B), the backrest 3 includes a back inner shell (backboard) 14a made of synthetic resin and a back cushion 14b stretched on the front surface thereof, and the entire backrest 3 is made of cloth or the like. It is covered with a skin material 14c. Therefore, the skin material 14c has a bag shape. Note that the back cushion 14b may extend around to the rear surface of the back inner shell 14a.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, a rectangular recess 15 that opens backward is formed in the lower part of the back inner shell 14a and on the left and right parts, and is arranged in the rectangular recess 15. The backrest 3 is connected to the rear portion 8b of the upper support frame 8 so as to be tiltable backwards by the connecting unit 16. Therefore, the connecting unit 16 includes a support shaft and a spring receiving bracket, and the backrest 3 tilts backward against the elasticity of an elastic body such as resin-based rubber.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, when the seated person leans back against the backrest 3, the upper support frame 8 first tilts backward with respect to the side supports 9, thereby performing the first stage of locking. Next, when the seated person recoils his or her upper body, the backrest 3 tilts backward relative to the upper support frame 8, and a second stage of locking is performed.

Therefore, even if the rotation angle of the upper support frame 8 and the rotation angle of the backrest 3 are not very large, the overall backward tilt angle can be increased. Therefore, although the structure is simple, high comfort can be provided to the seated person. As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 2A, the rotation axis O1 of the backrest 3 is located in front of the rear surface of the backrest 3 and near the lower end of the backrest 3.

(2). Upper support frame attachment structure In this embodiment, the knob 12 is provided on the side support 9 to which the upper support frame 8 is connected. Therefore, prior to explaining the structure related to the knob 12, the connection structure of the upper support frame 8 to the side support body 9 will be explained. The drawings mainly refer to FIGS. 4-6. Here, the left side portion which is not provided with the knob 12 will be explained.

As clearly shown in FIG. 5, a push bracket 18 having left and right upward side plates 18a is fixed to the side portion 8a of the upper support frame 8. The push bracket 18 includes a channel-shaped portion having an upward side plate 18a and a boss portion 19 located behind the channel portion, and the boss portion 19 is welded to the side portion 8a of the upper support frame 8. A flange 20 that corresponds to the front end surface of the upper support frame 8 is integrally formed at the base of the boss portion 19 . The push bracket 18 is made of cast steel.

As shown in FIG. 5, a flat portion 21 is formed approximately at the rear half of the upper horizontal portion 9b of the side support 9, and the flat portion 21 includes a rectangular block portion 22 and a tapped hole 23 located behind the flat portion 21. is formed. A channel-shaped lower receiving bracket 24 having an upward side plate 24a is stacked on the flat part 21, and the lower receiving bracket 24 is fixed to the flat part 21 by a lower screw 25 screwed into the tapped hole 23. has been done. A notch is formed in the front part of the lower receiving bracket 24 to avoid interference with the block part 22, and the side plates 24a of the lower receiving bracket 24 are located on the left and right sides of the block part 22.

An upper receiving bracket 27 having a downward side plate 27a is fitted inside the lower receiving bracket 24. The upper receiving bracket 27 holds the block part 22 from above, and the front parts of the side plates 27a, 24a of the upper and lower receiving brackets 27, 24 and the block part 22 are connected by a left and right longitudinal front shaft 28. A downward hook portion 29 is bent and formed at the front end of the upper receiving bracket 27.

Further, the pushing bracket 18 is inserted into the upper receiving bracket 27, and the rear parts of the side plates 27a, 24a of the upper and lower receiving brackets 27, 24 and the rear part of the side plate 18a of the pushing bracket 18 are aligned with the left and right longitudinal support shafts 30. connected by. An elastic body 31 made of resin-based rubber such as foamed urethane-based elastomer is interposed between the push bracket 18 and the upper receiving bracket 27.

The upper and lower receiving brackets 27 and 24 are fixed unrotatably, while the push bracket 18 is connected by a single support shaft 30, and is attached to the left and right side plates 18a of the push bracket 18, facing toward the front. A sloped portion 32 is formed which becomes lower. Therefore, the upper support frame 8 can deform the elastic body 31 and tilt backward about the axis of the support shaft 30 by the spread angle θ between the inclined portion 32 and the upper fixed spring receiver 27. The elastic body 31 is pre-compressed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper receiving bracket 27, the block part 22, and the front shaft 28 are fixed by a front screw 33 screwed into the front shaft 28 from above, and the push bracket 18 and the support shaft 30 are It is fixed by a rear screw 34 screwed into the support shaft 30 from below.

As clearly shown in FIG. 6, the lower receiving bracket 24 has a downwardly protruding portion 24b into which the head of the lower screw 25 is inserted, and a flat portion of the upper horizontal portion 9b corresponds to the downward protruding portion 24b. 21 is formed with a recess 21a into which the downward protrusion 24b enters.

The upper horizontal portion 9b of the side support 9 is covered with the previously described protective cover 10. As clearly shown in FIG. 5(B), the rear part of the protective cover 10 is a complete cylindrical part 10a, and a downward opening 35 is formed at the rear thereof. Furthermore, inside the protective cover 10, a large number of longitudinal ribs 36 (see FIG. 5(B)) are formed.

In this embodiment, the upper horizontal part 9b of the side support body 9 has a basic function of connecting the upper support frame 8, and the upper horizontal part 9b is used to connect the upper support frame 8 so that the upper support frame 8 can be tilted backward. Since the shaped portion 9b can be used to function as an elbow rest or as a gripping member when the user sits down or stands up, the structure does not become complicated. Therefore, it is possible to suppress costs, maintain simplicity, and have an excellent aesthetic appearance.

Further, since the upper horizontal portion 9b of the side support body 9 is long in the front-rear direction, a space for arranging members can be secured when the upper support frame 8 is connected so as to be tiltable backward. Therefore, the upper support frame 8 can be connected to the upper horizontal portion 9b with the necessary strength.

(3).Modified example of the attachment structure of the upper support frame FIG. 7 shows a modified example of the form of the upper horizontal portion 9b, the connection structure of the upper support frame 8, etc. In this modification, first, the upper horizontal portion 9b is square, and the block portion 22 is U-shaped in plan view. Further, although this embodiment also has upper and lower receiving brackets 27 and 24, it does not include the front shaft 28 shown in FIG. 5. The upper receiving bracket 27 is formed with an upwardly bulging portion 27b that holds the elastic body 31 so that it cannot be displaced.

Further, in this modification, the protective cover 10 is opened forward, and a portion in front of the opening 35 is divided by a front slit 10c that opens downward. The front surface of the protective cover 10 is covered with a front cap 37 made of resin. The front cap 37 is integrally formed with a lower rib 37a that protrudes backward and an upper rib 37b that has a larger width in the left and right directions than the lower rib 37a.

On the other hand, a wall 10d overlapping the front surface of the upper horizontal part 9b is formed at the front part of the protective cover 10, and a front cap 37 is formed between the wall 10d of the protective cover 10 and the upper horizontal part 9b of the side support body 9. The front slits 10c and 9f are formed into which the upper ribs 37b of the front slits 10c and 9f fit. An engaging claw 37c is formed at the rear end of the upper rib 37b of the front cap 37, and the engaging claw 37c engages with an engaging portion 9g formed inside the upper horizontal portion 9b. Thereby, the front cap 37 is held so that it cannot be removed.

The upper half of the lower rib 37a of the front cap 37 fits into the front slit 10c of the protective cover 10. The lower half of the lower rib 37a of the front cap 37 is an umbrella portion that spreads from side to side, and the portions of the protective cover 10 on both sides of the front slit 10c are covered from below by the umbrella portion of the lower rib 37a. ing. Therefore, even if a person's fingertip hits the front part of the protective cover 10 from below, the protective cover 10 will not be turned over.

The protective cover 10 is manufactured by injection molding, and since it has a forward opening and has a front slit 10c, it can be manufactured in a state where it can be easily cut out. Since it is covered with the lower rib 37a, it is possible to prevent it from turning over due to contact with a person's fingertips. The protective cover 10 is molded using a mold and then elastically deformed to be cut out, and the presence of the front slit 10c allows the protective cover 10 to be deformed into a state where it can be easily cut out.

(4). Arrangement structure of pedestal lock release cable Next, the lock release operation means for the pedestal 5 and the configuration related thereto will be explained. The drawings refer primarily to FIGS. 8-11.

As shown in FIGS. 8(A) and 9(A), a long groove 39 that is closed with a groove cap 38 is formed on the front surface of the side support 9 over the entire length. An operating cable 40, partially shown in FIG. 8, is arranged. The side support body 9 is an aluminum die-cast product, while the groove cap 39 is a synthetic resin molded product. Therefore, the groove cap 39 is made of a resin having a metallic color with the same appearance as aluminum, or is coated with a metallic color. The groove cap 39 may be divided into a plurality of members.

The operation cable 40 is well known and includes a tube 41 and a wire 42 slidably inserted into the tube 41. Both ends of the wire 42 are exposed outside the tube 41, and the exposed portion is A ball 43 is fixed to the tip. Further, a locking body 44 having an annular groove is fixed to both ends of the tube 41. As described above, when the knob 12 is rotated, one end of the wire 42 is pulled, and the pedestal 5 is unlocked.

For example, as clearly shown in FIG. 8(D), the groove cap 38 includes an inward protrusion 38a fitted into a long groove 39, and the protrusion 38a connects to a plurality of holders 45 arranged at appropriate intervals in the long groove 39. It is held between the left and right sides. As clearly shown in FIG. 8(C), the holder 45 is disposed in the wide portion 39a of the long groove 39, and the protrusion 38a of the groove cap 38 is also tightly fitted into the long groove 39. Since the groove cap 38 has a protrusion 35a, a flange is formed on the outside of the protrusion 35a. On the other hand, the long groove 39 is formed with a stepped portion into which a flange is fitted.

As clearly shown in FIG. 9(C), the holder 45 has a pair of clamping parts 45a that sandwich the protrusion 38a, and as shown in FIG. 9(D), the base is attached to the bottom of the long groove 39 by a screw 46. is fixed. The holding portion 45a is formed into a frame shape with openings on the left and right sides, and is tightly fitted into the long groove 39. There is a gap between the substrate of the holder 45 and the protrusion 38a of the groove cap 38, in which the operating cable 40 can be placed.

The holding portion 45a of the holder 45 has a frame shape, and an engagement hole 45b is formed inside. On the other hand, the groove cap 38 is formed with an engaging claw 45c that is forcibly fitted into the engaging hole 45b of the holder 45. Therefore, the groove cap 38 is held irremovably. A portion of the long groove 39 into which the holder 45 is fitted is formed to have a wide width without a stepped portion.

The groove cap 38 can be attached to the support column 9a only by fitting the protrusion 38a into the long groove 39, but in this case, due to variations in dimensions due to differences in molding shrinkage of the groove cap 38, the long groove There is a risk that variations may occur in the strength of fitting into 39. On the other hand, if a holder 45 made of synthetic resin is used in combination as in the embodiment, even if the groove cap 38 has variations in size, it can be firmly fixed by utilizing the engagement with the holder 45.

As described above, the side support 9 has a base portion 9c that wraps around below the seat 2. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9(A) and 9(D), the groove cap 38 is formed over the entire length of the side support 9, but the groove cap 38 is formed over the entire length of the side support 9. A portion corresponding to the tip portion (fitting portion) 9e that fits into the matching hole 11 is composed of only the protrusion 38a and does not include a flange portion.

This is because the tip end 9e of the base 9c of the side support 9 is tightly fitted into the engagement hole 11 (see FIG. 1(D)) formed in the base 6, so the groove cap 38 is also engaged. The flange portion is cut out at the portion that fits into the hole 11. Since the protrusion 38a is fitted into the engagement hole 11 of the base 6, the groove cap 38 is held at its lower portion so that it cannot be removed forward.

(5).Basic structure of the knob The lock release operation section includes the aforementioned knob 12 as a main member, and the wire 42 is pulled by rotation of the knob 12. The knob 12 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIG. The operating section 48 is covered with a cap 50 made of a soft material such as rubber.

For example, as clearly shown in FIG. 10(A), a plurality of recesses 52 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the operating portion 48 of the knob 12, which are separated by a plurality of vertical ribs 51 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The recess 52 is partitioned into the front and back by a horizontal rib 53 that is long in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, as clearly shown in FIG. 10(D), a protrusion 54 is formed on the inner surface of the cap 50 to fit into the recess 52 of the operating portion 48.

The cap 50 is forcibly attached to the operating section 48 against its elasticity, and because the group of protrusions 54 are fitted into the group of recesses 52, the cap 50 cannot rotate relative to the operating section 48. The front is held in such a way that it cannot be pulled out. Furthermore, since the cap 50 is made of rubber, when the user picks it up with his or her fingers and rotates it, the user's fingers will not slip. Note that by forming knurling-like unevenness on the outer peripheral surface of the cap 50, the anti-slip effect can be further improved.

Further, the outer diameter of the cap 50 and the outer diameter of the protective cover 10 are substantially the same, and therefore, the outer diameter of the cap 50 and the protective cover 10 appear to be connected in series. Therefore, it has excellent aesthetic appearance.

The boss portion 49 has a smaller diameter than the operating portion 48, and a bearing bush 56 made of resin with low friction and excellent wear resistance is fitted into a portion of the boss portion 49 near the knob 12. . Therefore, the boss portion 49 is rotatably held by the upper horizontal portion 9b of the side support body 9 via the bearing bush 56. That is, due to the presence of the bearing bush 56, the knob 12 can be easily rotated (the boss portion 49 does not come into contact with the upper horizontal portion 9b made of aluminum, so it has excellent wear resistance). Although the bearing bush 56 has a C-shape with a cut off top, it may also be formed into an annular (cylindrical) shape.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, an annular groove 57 is formed in a portion of the boss portion 49 behind the bearing bush 56, and a downward hook formed at the front end of the upper receiving bracket 27 is formed in this annular groove 57. The section 29 is fitted from above. Therefore, the knob 12 is held by the downward hook portion 29 of the upper receiving bracket 27 so as not to be movable back and forth. Since there is a slight gap between the downward hook portion 29 and the annular groove 57, rotation of the knob 12 is not inhibited.

As a means for holding the knob 12 in a rotatable manner without allowing it to be removed, for example, it is also possible to employ a special screw screwed into the upper support frame 8 and insert the tip of the screw into the annular groove 57. By utilizing the downward hook portion 29 of the upper receiving bracket 27 as in the embodiment, the number of parts can be reduced.

The operating part 48 of the knob 12 has a larger diameter than the boss part 49, and comes into contact with the upper end of the groove cap 38 and the lower surface of the bearing bush 56, as shown in FIGS. A head portion 38b is formed. The head portion 38b protrudes toward the front, and has a narrow engagement protrusion 38c formed on its front end surface, into which a groove 58 formed at the front end of the protective cover 10 is fitted. . Therefore, the head portion 38b of the groove cap 38 is held by the protective cover 10 so that it cannot be removed from the front.

The groove cap 38 is held at a plurality of positions by the holder 45 while its upper and lower parts are held so that they cannot be removed from the long groove 39 in the forward direction. Therefore, although it has a simple structure in which it is fitted into the long groove 39 from the front, it can be firmly held so that it does not come off in the front.

The rear ends of the left and right upper horizontal parts 9b are in the same longitudinal position, and the front ends of the left upper horizontal part 9b and the front ends of the knob 12 arranged on the right are in the same position. Therefore, it has excellent aesthetic appearance. When the knob 12 is provided only on one upper horizontal portion 9b as in the embodiment, it is also possible to provide a dummy knob that does not rotate and has the same appearance as the knob 12 on the other upper horizontal portion 9b. .

(6) Ball pulling structure using a knob For example, as shown in FIG. A ball holding groove 59 that fits into the ball holding groove 59 and a wire insertion groove 60 that communicates with the ball holding groove 59 are open at the rear. A pair of left and right wire holding grooves 61 communicating with the wire holding grooves 60 are formed.

The wire holding groove 61 is open toward the outer periphery of the boss portion 49, but as shown in FIG. It is being sent.

As shown in FIG. 11 (see also FIG. 8(C)), the upper part of the long groove 39 is a wide part 39a, and a locking body provided at the upper end of the tube 41 is attached to a constricted rib 62 formed in the wide part 39a. 44 is fitted and installed.

When the knob 12 is rotated to either the left or right, the ball 43 is pulled upward and the wire 42 is pulled. In this case, if the inner circumferential surface 61a of the wire holding groove 61 is arcuate, the wire 42 will be attached to the vicinity of the ball 43 and the locking body 44, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 11(B). This not only reduces the durability of the wire 42, but also reduces the slidability of the wire 42 with respect to the tube 41, making it difficult to rotate the knob 12 easily. .

On the other hand, if the inner circumferential surface 61a of the wire holding groove 61 is brought closer to the longitudinal center line O2 as in the present embodiment, the bending of the wire 42 is significantly suppressed, so that the durability of the wire 42 can be improved, and This prevents deterioration in the slidability of the wire 42 with respect to the tube 41, and allows the knob 12 to be rotated easily. In the embodiment, since the lower end of the inner circumferential surface 61a of the wire holding groove 61 is rounded, the left and right inner circumferential surfaces 61a form a U-shape (J-shape when only one side is viewed). However, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 11(A), it is also possible to form the inner circumferential surface 61a in a straight line so that the left and right inner circumferential surfaces 61a form a V-shape. be.

In this embodiment, since the knob 12 is provided at the front end of the upper horizontal portion 9b in the longitudinal direction, the user of the chair can rotate the knob 12 in a natural state without raising his or her forearm much. Therefore, the burden on the person can be reduced when adjusting the height of the seat.

Further, since the knob 12 is immediately visible to the seated person, the user can immediately understand its function and operate the knob 12 to adjust the height of the seat 2. In addition, since the knob 12 does not rotate even if a person firmly grasps the upper horizontal portion 9b, the pillar 5 may be locked incorrectly when a person sits down or leaves the seat while holding the upper horizontal portion 9b. There will be no unforeseen circumstances that would result in the cancellation. Therefore, it is also excellent in safety.

It is also possible to adopt a mode in which the knobs 12 are provided on the upper horizontal portions 9b of the left and right side supports 9, and the lock is released when any knob 12 is operated .

The knob 12 is attached in the following steps. First, the operating cable 40 is pulled out from the engagement hole 11 of the base 6, and in this state, the side support 9 is attached to the base 6. Then, after locking the knob 12 to the upper end of the wire 42, the operating cable 40 is fitted into the long groove 39 of the side support 9, and the knob 12 is fitted into the upper horizontal portion 9b, and then the groove cap 38 is inserted into the long groove. 39 and the knob 12, then the protective cover 12 is attached, the ring 63 is fitted, and finally the cap 50 is attached to the knob 12.

At the location where the knob 12 is provided, insert the knob 12 into the upper horizontal portion 9b, fix the upper and lower receiving brackets 27 and 24, and then insert the downward hook portion 29 provided on the upper receiving bracket 27 into the annular shape of the knob 12. It will fit into the groove 57.

As shown in FIGS. 8(A) and 8(C), a small diameter portion 9d is formed at the front end of the upper right horizontal upper portion 9b, and accordingly, a small diameter portion 10b is also formed at the front end of the protective cover 10. has been done. A ring 63 shown in FIG. 8(A) is fitted into the small diameter portion 10b of the protective cover 10. Therefore, the front end of the protective cover 10 is held by the ring 63 so that it cannot be opened.

(7).Lock release mechanism of the leg post in the seat part Just to be sure, we will also explain the structure in which the leg post 5 is unlocked by pulling the wire 42. Refer to FIG. 12 for the drawings.

The base 6 has a shallow tray-like shape that is substantially rectangular in plan view and opens upward. The upper end portion of the pedestal 5 (more precisely, the inner cylinder of the gas cylinder constituting the pedestal 5) is fitted into the substantially central portion of the base 6 from below. A push valve 66 for unlocking is protruded from the upper end of the pedestal 5, and a push valve pushing member 67 for pushing the push valve 66 is arranged on the base 6.

The push valve pushing member 67 has a left and right longitudinal support shaft 69 that is rotatably held by a first bracket 68 fixed to the base 6, and extends forward from the right end of the support shaft 69 toward the top of the push valve 66. an intermediate portion 71 extending forward from the left end of the support shaft portion 69; and a proximal arm portion 72 bent at the rear end of the intermediate portion 71 and extending parallel to the support shaft portion 69. It is equipped with The distal end of the distal arm section 70 is flattened and abuts against the push valve 66 from above.

On the other hand, a second bracket 74 that rotatably holds a crank lever 73, which has an inverted L shape when viewed from the front, is fixed with screws to a portion of the upper surface of the base 6 located on the opposite side of the first bracket 68 across the pillar 5. has been done. The second bracket 74 has front and rear side plates 74a, and a bearing hole 75 that opens toward the base end arm portion 72 of the push valve pushing member 67 is cut out and formed in the front and rear side plates 74a, and a crank lever is formed in the front and rear side plates 74a. A support shaft 76 provided at 73 is fitted into the bearing hole 75.

The crank lever 73 has an inverted L shape with a lateral portion 73a, and the lateral portion 73a abuts the proximal arm portion 72 of the push valve pushing member 67 from above. The proximal arm portion 72 of the push valve pushing member 67 is also flattened.

A ball holding hole 77 and a wire insertion groove 78 that open backward are formed in the downward part of the crank lever 73, and a wire holding groove 79 that communicates with these and opens downward. The provided ball 80 is fitted into the ball holding hole 77, and the wire 42 is pulled out laterally.

A locking fitting 81 having an annular groove 81a is attached to the other end of the operation cable 40, and the locking fitting 81 is attached to a constricted rib 82 ( (see FIG. 12(A)).

The other end of the operating cable 40 is pulled out from the long groove 39 of the side support 9. When the wire 42 is pulled by the rotating operation of the knob 12, the crank lever 73 rotates, and its horizontal portion 73a pushes the base end arm portion 72 of the push valve pushing member 67 downward. Then, the push valve pushing member 67 rotates, and the push valve 66 of the pedestal 5 is pushed down by the tip arm portion 70. Thereby, the pedestal 5 is unlocked and the height of the seat 2 can be adjusted.

The other end (lower end) of the wire 42 in the operation cable 40 is pulled out from the long groove 39 formed in the side support 9 in a substantially linear posture and is directed toward the second bracket 74 . Therefore, the operating cable 40 has a linear posture when viewed from above. Further, since the side support body 9 is gently curved when viewed from the front, the operation cable 40 is also gently curved. Due to the synergistic effect of the operation cable 40 being linear in plan view and gently curved in front view, there is no sharp bend in the operation cable 40, and therefore the wire Almost no sliding resistance is generated between the tube 42 and the tube 41. As a result, the crank lever 73 can be easily pushed and operated by rotating the knob 12.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 12(B), a plurality of attachment holes 83 through which fixing screws pass are formed at the tip portion 9e of the base portion 9c of the side support body 9, which fits into the engagement hole 11 of the base 6. There is. Furthermore, a stepped portion 84 for positioning is formed on the outside of the tip portion 9e.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various other ways. Further , for example, the upper support frame may be fixed to the side supports. In this case, the backrest may be fixed to the upper support frame, or may be connected so as to be tiltable backwards. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a fixed chair whose seat height can be adjusted.

The present invention can also be applied to an operating member that controls the locking of a backrest, an operating member that controls the movement of a headrest, and the like.

The present invention can be embodied in a chair. Therefore, it can be used industrially.

2 Seat 3 Backrest 5 Pillar (gas cylinder) as an example of a movable member
6 Base 8 Upper support frame 9 Side support 9a Support column 9b Upper horizontal portion 9c Base end 10 Protective cover 12 Knob as operating member 38 Groove cap (lid)
38a Projection 38b Head part 38c Engagement protrusion 39 Long groove 39a Wide part 40 Operation cable 41 Tube 42 Wire 43,80 Ball 45 Holder 48 Operation part 49 Boss part 50 Cap 58 Division groove 59 Ball holding groove 61 Wire holding groove 66 Pillar (Gas cylinder) push valve 67 Push valve pushing member 73 Crank lever

Claims (4)

It has a seat, left and right side supports disposed on the left and right sides of the seat, and an operating member disposed at the upper end of the side support for operating the movable member of the chair,
A long groove is formed on the outer surface of the side support, in which an operating cable for transmitting the movement of the operating member to the movable member is disposed , and the long groove is closed by a groove cap,
The left and right side supports each include a plate-shaped support section with a planar cross-sectional shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and an upper horizontal section that is longitudinally longitudinal and provided at the upper end of the support section. A knob that rotates about the axis of the upper horizontal part as the operating member is attached to the front end of the upper horizontal part of one side support of the body so as to be exposed in front of the upper horizontal part. , the long groove is formed on the front surface of the support column in the one side support,
and the rear ends of the left and right upper horizontal parts are aligned at the same front-back position, and the front ends of the knob and the front end of the other upper horizontal part are aligned in the front-rear position.
Chair. An upper support frame to which a backrest is attached is attached to the rear part of the upper horizontal part of the left and right side supports so as to extend backward ;
A chair according to claim 1. A holder is disposed inside the long groove, and the groove cap is irremovably engaged with the holder.
The chair according to claim 1 or 2 . A base that supports the seat directly or via a seat support member is fitted onto the upper end of the pillar,
The column portion of the side support has a base portion that wraps around toward the base, a tip portion that fits into an engagement hole formed in the base is formed in the base portion, and the long groove is formed in the base portion. The groove cap extends to the distal end, and the proximal end of the groove cap enters into the engagement hole of the base,
Further, a protective cover is attached to the upper horizontal portion, and the upper end of the groove cap is held by the protective cover so as not to be separated from the front.
A chair according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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