JPH08393A - Adjustment device for breadthwise space between chair armrests - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and surely adjust a breadthwise space between armrests in a good balance while the user is seated with his/her elbows on the armrests. CONSTITUTION:When a motor is rotated via a switch, the rotation thereof causes the interlocked right and left symmetrical motion of respective armrests 4 fastened to the ends of a support member 6 through an interlock means. Also, the reverse motion of both armrests 4, if desired, can be realized by reversing the motor via the switch. Consequently, a user can symmetrically move the right and left armrests 4 at equal intervals simply via the one-hand operation of the switch, with his/her arm placed on one or both of right and left armrest 4. Thus, the breadthwise space between both armrests 4 can be easily and property adjusted in a good balance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a width adjustment device for armrests used in chairs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as the width adjustment device for armrests used in chairs, there are Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-42452 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-30929.
The support member extending inward from the lower part of each of the left and right armrests is fixed or movable in the width direction by rotating a screw on the lower surface of the seat to adjust the width spacing of the armrests.

[0003]

In these inventions, when the width of the armrest is adjusted, the screw on the lower surface of the seat that fixes the movement of the support member in the width direction is tightened by the rotating operation to support the support member. The movement in the width direction was fixed.

For this reason, it is difficult to operate while sitting on a chair, and since it is necessary to stand up from the chair and operate from the lower side of the chair, the operability is poor and the user rests his arm on the armrest. Since it is not possible to adjust the left and right positions of the armrest as it is, it is difficult to adjust the armrest to the proper position.

Further, the adjustment of the width intervals of the left and right armrests can be performed separately for the left and right sides and only by visual observation, so that the left and right positions of the armrests are difficult to balance.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and allows a user to adjust the width of the armrest easily and surely in good balance while keeping the armrest on the armrest. An object is to provide a width interval adjusting device.

[0007]

In the armrest width adjustment device for a chair according to the present invention, support members extending from the left and right armrests of the seat are fitted to the lower surface of the seat so as to be slidable from side to side. It is characterized in that the support member is symmetrically interlocked with the seat in the left-right direction by interlocking means by driving a motor capable of forward and reverse drive through at least the switch portion.

In the chair armrest width interval adjusting device according to the present invention, the interlocking means is connected to the rack having a predetermined length formed on each of the supporting members and the drive shaft of the motor.
A pinion that meshes with each of the racks at the same time is preferable.

The width adjustment device for the armrest of the chair according to the present invention is provided with a guide bar parallel to the supporting member from the armrest, and is fitted so as to be slidable right and left below the seat surface. It is preferable to move in the left-right direction.

In the chair armrest width interval adjusting device of the present invention, each supporting member is supported by at least two guide blocks fixed to the lower part of the seating surface, and a rack having a predetermined length is formed on the supporting member. It is preferable that only the guide blocks are moved in the left-right direction.

In the chair armrest width interval adjusting device of the present invention, it is preferable that the switch portion of the motor is provided at a predetermined position of the armrest.

[0012]

When the motor is rotated via the switch, the rotation of the motor causes the armrests fixed to the end portions of the supporting member to interlock with each other symmetrically in the left-right direction via the interlocking means. If you want to move both armrests in the opposite direction, you can reverse the rotation of the motor via the switch. Therefore, the user can move the left and right armrests by equal widths in symmetrical directions by simply operating the switch with one hand while placing the hand on either one or the left and right armrests, so that the width intervals of both armrests can be balanced. , Can be adjusted easily and surely.

Since the interlocking means is a pinion which is connected to the rack formed on the support member and has a predetermined length and the drive shaft of the motor and meshes with the racks at the same time, at least one motor is used as an armrest. Can be linked symmetrically in the left-right direction.

A guide bar parallel to the support member is provided from the armrest, and the guide bar is fitted so as to be slidable right and left below the seat surface.
Since the armrest moves in the left-right direction along with the support member, the armrest cannot rotate in the axial direction of the support member. Further, deviation of the engagement between the pinion and the rack is prevented.

Each of the supporting members is supported by at least two guide blocks fixed to the lower part of the seat surface, and the rack formed on the supporting member to a predetermined length is moved in the left-right direction only between the guide blocks. By doing
The lateral movement range of the support member is limited, and the support member fitted in the guide block does not deviate. Since the switch part of the motor is provided at a predetermined position of the armrest, the user can adjust the width interval of the armrest with one hand while sitting and with the elbow attached to the armrest.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a chair to which the present invention is applied. Armrests 4 composed of an elbow pad 2 and an elbow base 3 are erected on the left and right of a seat surface 1, respectively. Further, a switch portion 20 is formed on the upper surface of the elbow pad 2 on one side.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, from the armrests 4 and 4, support rods 6 and 6'as support members are extended below the seat surface 1 in parallel with each other while always keeping a constant distance. The guide blocks 5 and 5 are fixed to the lower surface of the seat frame 7 of the seat surface 1 by bolts so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. Reinforcing members 8 are vertically provided on the lower surface of the seat frame 7 in the front-rear direction, and a back rod of a backrest is tiltably supported by a rear portion thereof (not shown). Further, a mounting plate 9 is mounted by bolts at predetermined positions below the reinforcing members 8 and 8.

Above the supporting members 6 and 6 ', as shown in FIG. 3 in particular, guide rods 10 and 10' as reinforcing members are provided.
Is slidably fitted in the guide blocks 5, 5.
The guide rod 10 has a support rod 6 ′, and the guide rod 10 ′ has the same length as the support rod 6 and is fixed to a fixed plate 11 in the armrest 4. This makes the armrest 4,
4 are support rods 6 and 6'and guide rods 10 and 10 ', respectively.
With this, the guide blocks 5 and 5 are supported so as not to rotate and to slide left and right.

As shown in FIG. 4, a gear box 15 having a speed reducing means is attached to the lower surface of the attachment plate 9, and a motor 16 is fixed below the gear box 15. The drive shaft 17 of the motor 16 is extended above the through-hole 18 formed in the mounting plate 9 via a speed reducing means (not shown) formed of a plurality of gears in the gear box 15, and further at its tip. Is equipped with a pinion 19.

Further, mounting plates 13 and 13 'are attached to the support rods 6 and 6'between the guide blocks 5 and 5, respectively.
4 and is fixed by the mounting plates 13 and 1
Racks 12, 1 having straight teeth formed continuously on 3 '
The bolt 14 so that the 2'is screwed into the pinion 19 at the same time.
Fixed through. In this way, the racks 12 and 12 'are screwed into the pinion 19 at the same time,
The interlocking means of the support rods 6 and 6'is configured. Further, the racks 12 and 12 ′ can be moved by a predetermined distance between the guide blocks 5 and 5, and have a predetermined length so that they can be screwed into the pinion 19 even at an arbitrary position.

An energizing cord (not shown) extending from the motor 16 is fixed to a predetermined position on the lower surface of the seat frame 7 via the switch portion 20 on the upper surface of the armrest 2 of one of the armrests 4. Connected to a battery (not shown).

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be explained. When the width between the armrests 4 and 4 of the chair in the state shown in FIG. 1 is to be widened using the motor 16, the switch of the switch unit 20 arranged at a predetermined position on the upper surface of one of the armrests 2 is pressed. By this, the motor 16
Rotates, and the rotational force is transmitted to the drive shaft 17 via a gear (not shown) as a speed reduction means, and the pinion 19 mounted on the drive shaft 17 rotates.

The pinion 19 has racks 12, 1
Since 2'is screwed, the rotation of the pinion 19 is converted into a linear motion via the racks 12 and 12 ', and the rack 1
Reference numerals 2 and 12 'respectively move symmetrically in the left-right direction on the tangent line of the outer circumference of the pinion 19. Therefore, racks 12, 1
With the movement of 2 ', the support rods 6, 6'and the guide rods 10,
Since 10 'is interlocked, the width intervals of the armrests 4, 4 can be widened.

Next, when the width between the armrests 4 and 4 is to be narrowed, the motor 16 is rotated in the reverse direction through the switch of the switch section 20 in the opposite direction to the racks 12 and 12 '. To move, support rods 6, 6'and guide rods 1
0 and 10 'are also moved in the opposite directions, and armrests 4, 4
The width between can be narrowed. Further, when the power of the motor 16 is turned off, even if a force is simply applied from the outside in the expansion / contraction direction of the armrests 4 and 4, the pinion 19 is in a substantially locked state by the speed reducing means composed of a plurality of gears. Since the pinion 19 does not rotate, the support rods 6 and 6'do not move.

As described above, the motor 16 is driven by operating the switch portion 20 provided at a predetermined position on the upper surface of one of the elbow pads 2, and the armrests 4 and 4 are simultaneously moved in equal widths and in good balance. Not only can it be moved symmetrically in the left-right direction, but when the motor 16 is stopped, it can be securely fixed at any position without locking. Therefore, the user can easily set the width intervals of the armrests 4 and 4 in a well-balanced manner with one hand while keeping the hands on the elbow pads 2 and 2 without bothering the user while sitting.

Further, since the electric motor 16 and the battery as a driving source thereof can be arranged below the seat surface 1,
It is possible to reduce the weight of the armrests 4 and 4 that are moving parts. Also, by using the electric motor 16,
The switch unit 20 can be installed at any position on the chair, and even if the switch unit 20 is arranged in the armrests 4 and 4 that move in the left-right direction as in the present embodiment, the switch unit 20 and the motor 16 have a highly flexible energization. Because it is connected with a cord, armrest 4,
It does not adversely affect the movement of 4.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention is applicable even if there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. include.

For example, support rods 6 and 6'as support members
Can be slid to the left and right with respect to the guide blocks 5, 5,
In addition, the armrests 4, 4 are fitted so as not to rotate in the axial direction.
It is also possible to eliminate the need to separately arrange the guide rods 10 and 10 'by fixing the guide rods.

[0029]

According to the width adjustment device for the armrest of the chair of the present invention, when the motor is rotated through the switch, the rotation of the motor causes the armrest fixed to the end of the supporting member through the interlocking means. Interlock symmetrically in the left-right direction. If you want to move both armrests in the opposite direction, you can reverse the rotation of the motor via the switch. Therefore, the user can move the left and right armrests by equal widths in symmetrical directions by simply operating the switch with one hand while placing the hand on either one or the left and right armrests, so that the width intervals of both armrests can be balanced. , Can be adjusted easily and surely.

[0030]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a chair according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Seat Surface 2, 2 Elbow Pad 3, 3 Elbow Base 4, 4 Armrest 5, 5 Guide Block 6, 6'Support Rod (Support Member) 7 Seat Frame 8, 8 Reinforcing Material 9 Mounting Plate 10, 10 'Guide Rod 11 Mounting plate 12, 12 'Rack 13 Mounting plate 14 Bolt 15 Gear box 16 Motor 17 Drive shaft 18 Through port 19 Pinion 20 Switch part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A motor in which support members extending from left and right armrests of a seat are slidably fitted to the lower surface of the seat and the support member can be driven forward and backward through at least a switch portion. The armrest width adjustment device for a chair is characterized in that it is interlocked with each other symmetrically in the left-right direction with respect to the seat by the interlocking device. 2. The interlocking means is a rack formed on the support member and having a predetermined length, and a pinion that is connected to a drive shaft of a motor and meshes with each of the racks at the same time. A width adjustment device for the armrest of the chair. 3. A guide rod is provided parallel to the support member from the armrest, slidably fitted below the seat surface, and moved in the left-right direction with the support member. Alternatively, the width adjustment device for the armrest of the chair according to item 2. 4. Each support member is supported by at least two guide blocks fixed to the lower part of the seat surface, and a rack formed on the support member for a predetermined length moves in the left-right direction only between the guide blocks. The width adjustment device for the armrest of the chair according to claim 2 or 3. 5. The chair armrest width interval adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the switch portion of the motor is provided at a predetermined position of the armrest.