US20050082889A1

US20050082889A1 - Chair assembly

Info

Publication number: US20050082889A1
Application number: US10/689,125
Authority: US
Inventors: Sung-Tsun Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-08
Filing date: 2003-10-17
Publication date: 2005-04-21
Also published as: DE20315435U1

Abstract

A chair assembly includes a main body including an adjusting base, a support frame, and a backrest support rack. The support frame has two opposite sides each formed with a slide slot having a wall formed with a plurality of fixing holes and each having a first end formed with an arcuate positioning recess. The backrest support rack has a horizontal section provided with an adjusting rod slidably mounted in the slide slot and detachably locked in either one of the fixing holes and provided with a fixing rod detachably locked in the positioning recess. Thus, the chair assembly can function as the office chair and the computer chair, thereby enhancing the versatility of the chair assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chair assembly, and more particularly to a chair assembly that can function as the office chair and the computer chair, thereby enhancing the versatility of the chair assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional office chair comprises a stand, a support frame mounted on the stand, a seat mounted on the support frame, an L-shaped backrest support rack having a horizontal section mounted on the support frame, and a backrest mounted on a vertical section of the backrest support rack. A conventional computer chair comprises a stand, a support frame mounted on the stand, a seat mounted on the support frame, an inclined support rack having a first section mounted on the support frame, and a resting cushion mounted on a second section of the support rack. In operation, the user is seated on the computer chair, with his hip being rested on the seat, and with his knees being rested on the resting cushion, so that the user has the optimum seating attitude when operating the computer. However, the conventional office chair or computer chair only has a single function, thereby limiting the versatility of the chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a chair assembly that can function as the office chair and the computer chair, thereby enhancing the versatility of the chair assembly.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a chair assembly, wherein the adjusting rod of the backrest support rack is locked in either one of the fixing holes of the slide slot, so that the inclined angle of the backrest support rack can be adjusted by adjusting the relative position between the adjusting rod of the backrest support rack and the fixing holes of the slide slot, and the inclined angle of the backrest can be adjusted arbitrarily to fit users of different heights.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a chair assembly, wherein the fixing rod of the backrest support rack is locked in the positioning recess of the support frame, so that the load applied on the backrest and the backrest support rack is entirely distributed to the support frame, thereby preventing the fixing rod from being broken due to a stress concentration.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a chair assembly, wherein when the seat is disposed at an inclined state, the user's center of gravity is inclined forward, so that the user's weight is absorbed by the backrest so as to decrease the user's burden, thereby enhancing the user's working efficiency when operating the computer.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a chair assembly, comprising a main body including:

- an adjusting base;
- a support frame mounted on the adjusting base and having two opposite sides each formed with a slide slot having a wall formed with a plurality of fixing holes and each having a first end formed with an arcuate positioning recess; and
- a backrest support rack movably mounted on the support frame and having a first section provided with an adjusting rod slidably mounted in the slide slot of the support frame and detachably locked in either one of the fixing holes of the slide slot and provided with a fixing rod detachably locked in the positioning recess of the support frame.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a chair assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective assembly view of the chair assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a side plan operational view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a partially cut-away front plan cross-sectional view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 is a schematic operational view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a schematic operational view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 11 is a schematic operational view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 6; and
FIG. 12 is a schematic operational view of the chair assembly as shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a chair assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body 1 including an adjusting base 10, a support frame 12 mounted on the adjusting base 10 and having two opposite sides each formed with a slide slot 13 having a wall formed with a plurality of fixing holes 15 and each having a first end formed with an arcuate positioning recess 19, and a substantially L-shaped backrest support rack 14 movably mounted on the support frame 12 and having a first section provided with an adjusting rod 16 slidably mounted in the slide slot 13 of the support frame 12 and detachably locked in either one of the fixing holes 15 of the slide slot 13 and provided with a fixing rod 18 detachably locked in the positioning recess 19 of the support frame 12.
The first section of the backrest support rack 14 is movably mounted between the two opposite sides of the support frame 12. In addition, the adjusting rod 16 is mounted on a distal end of the first section of the backrest support rack 14, and the fixing rod 18 is mounted on a mediate portion of the first section of the backrest support rack 14.
The main body 1 further includes a seat support rack 20 adjustably mounted on the support frame 12, a seat 11 mounted on the seat support rack 20, a backrest 17 adjustably mounted on a second section of the backrest support rack 14, and an adjusting member 70 mounted on the support frame 12 to control a vertical displacement of the adjusting base 10.
The seat support rack 20 has a bottom provided with a first pivot base 25 pivotally mounted on the support frame 12. Each of the two opposite sides of the support frame 12 has a mediate portion formed with a pivot hole 22 for pivotally mounting the first pivot base 25 of the seat support rack 20.
The chair assembly further comprises a control device 30 mounted between the support frame 12 and the seat support rack 20 so as to adjust the inclined angle of the seat 11.
Each of the two opposite sides of the support frame 12 has a second end formed with a through hole 21, and one of the two opposite sides of the support frame 12 is formed with two opposite elongated slits 23 each located beside the through hole 21.
The control device 30 includes a substantially U-shaped pivot member 31 movably mounted on the support frame 12 and having two opposite sides each extended through a respective one of the two elongated slits 23 of the support frame 12, a mounting member 36 secured on one of the two opposite sides of the support frame 12 and formed with a receiving hole 34 for mounting the two opposite sides of the pivot member 31, a pivot pin 33 extended through the through hole 21 of one of the two opposite sides of the support frame 12, the pivot member 31 and the through hole 21 of the other one of the two opposite sides of the support frame 12, a screw member 42 screwed on a threaded distal end of the pivot pin 33 and rested on the other one of the two opposite sides of the support frame 12, an adjusting member 41 pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 33 and having an end pivotally mounted on the seat support rack 20, and a control lever 45 pivotally mounted on the mounting member 36 and having an end pivotally mounted on the pivot member 31, so that the pivot member 31 is moved by pivot of the control lever 45 to urge on or detach from the adjusting member 41.
The control device 30 further includes an elastic member 38 mounted on the pivot pin 33 and urged between one of the two opposite sides of the support frame 12 and the pivot member 31 to press the pivot member 31 to urge the adjusting member 41.
The control device 30 further includes two mounting tubes 39 each mounted on the pivot pin 33 and each located between the adjusting member 41, the pivot member 31 and the other one of the two opposite sides of the support frame 12 respectively, and two washers 40 each mounted on the pivot pin 33 and each located between the adjusting member 41 and a respective one of the two mounting tubes 39.
Preferably, the pivot member 31 is formed with a through hole 32 for mounting the pivot pin 33. Preferably, the adjusting member 41 is made of a plurality of laminated plates. Preferably, the adjusting member 41 is formed with an oblong slot 44 mounted on the pivot pin 33 for adjusting the inclined angle of the seat 11.
The bottom of the seat support rack 20 is provided with a second pivot base 26, and the end of the adjusting member 41 is formed with a pivot hole 43 for pivotally mounting the second pivot base 26 of the seat support rack 20.
The mounting member 36 is formed with an elongated hole 47, each of the two opposite sides of the pivot member 31 is formed with a through hole 34, the end of the control lever 45 is formed with a through hole 48, and the control device 30 further includes a positioning pin 35 extended through the elongated hole 47 of the mounting member 36, the through hole 34 of the pivot member 31 and the through hole 48 of the control lever 45, and a C-shaped snap 50 secured on a distal end of the positioning pin 35 and rested on the mounting member 36.
In operation, referring to FIG. 4, when the adjusting rod 16 of the backrest support rack 14 is rested on a front end of the slide slot 13 of the support frame 12 and the fixing rod 18 of the backrest support rack 14 is locked in the positioning recess 19 of the support frame 12, the backrest 17 and the backrest support rack 14 are disposed at an upright state, so that the chair assembly can function as the office chair.
Referring to FIG. 5, the backrest support rack 14 is lifted to detach the fixing rod 18 of the backrest support rack 14 from the positioning recess 19 of the support frame 12, so that the adjusting rod 16 of the backrest support rack 14 can slide from the front end to the rear end of the slide slot 13 of the support frame 12, and the backrest support rack 14 is disposed at a horizontal state.
Referring to FIG. 6, the backrest support rack 14 is moved, so that the adjusting rod 16 of the backrest support rack 14 is moved into and locked in either one of the fixing holes 15 of the slide slot 13. Then, the backrest support rack 14 is pivoted about the adjusting rod 16 to move downward to the position as shown in FIG. 6 where the fixing rod 18 of the backrest support rack 14 is detached from the positioning recess 19 of the support frame 12 and the adjusting rod 16 of the backrest support rack 14 is locked in either one of the fixing holes 15 of the slide slot 13, so that the backrest support rack 14 is disposed at an inclined state. Thus, the chair assembly can function as the computer chair.
Referring to FIG. 7, the user is seated on the chair assembly, with his hip being rested on the seat 11, and with his knees being rested on the backrest 17, so that the user has the optimum seating attitude ergonomically when operating the computer. In addition, the main body 1 further includes a plurality of braking wheels 60 mounted on the bottom of the adjusting base 10.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, when the control lever 45 is pivoted on the mounting member 36 to move upward, the pivot member 31 is driven by pivot of the control lever 45 to move toward the mounting member 36 and compress the elastic member 38, thereby releasing the adjusting member 41 from the pivot member 31, so that the adjusting member 41 is movable on the pivot pin 33. At this time, the seat support rack 20 is pivoted relative to the support frame 12, and the adjusting member 41 is moved by the seat support rack 20, so as to adjust the inclined angle of the seat 11 as shown in FIG. 10.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 9, after the inclined angle of the seat 11 is adjusted already as shown in FIG. 10, the control lever 45 is pivoted on the mounting member 36 to move downward so as to release the pivot member 31, so that the pivot member 31 is pushed by the restoring force of the elastic member 38 to move toward the adjusting member 41 so as to press the adjusting member 41, thereby retaining the adjusting member 41 in place. Thus, the seat support rack 20 and the seat 11 are fixed without movement.
In such a manner, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, when the seat 11 is disposed at an inclined state, the user's center of gravity is inclined forward, so that the user's weight is absorbed by the backrest 17, so as to decrease the user's burden, thereby enhancing the working efficiency when operating the computer.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the adjusting rod 16 of the backrest support rack 14 is locked in either one of the fixing holes 15 of the slide slot 13. When the adjusting rod 16 is locked in the fixing hole 15 located adjacent to the rear end of the slide slot 13 of the support frame 12, the backrest support rack 14 has a maximum inclined angle. Thus, the inclined angle of the backrest support rack 14 can be adjusted arbitrarily by adjusting the relative position between the adjusting rod 16 of the backrest support rack 14 and the fixing holes 15 of the slide slot 13.
Accordingly, the adjusting rod 16 of the backrest support rack 14 is locked in either one of the fixing holes 15 of the slide slot 13, so that the inclined angle of the backrest support rack 14 can be adjusted by adjusting the relative position between the adjusting rod 16 of the backrest support rack 14 and the fixing holes 15 of the slide slot 13, and the inclined angle of the backrest 17 can be adjusted arbitrarily to fit users of different heights. In addition, the fixing rod 18 of the backrest support rack 14 is locked in the positioning recess 19 of the support frame 12, so that the load applied on the backrest 17 and the backrest support rack 14 is entirely distributed to the support frame 12, thereby preventing the fixing rod 18 from being broken due to a stress concentration. Further, when the seat 11 is disposed at an inclined state, the user's center of gravity is inclined forward, so that the user's weight is absorbed by the backrest 17 so as to decrease the user's burden, thereby enhancing the user's working efficiency when operating the computer.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A chair assembly, comprising a main body including:

an adjusting base;

a support frame mounted on the adjusting base and having two opposite sides each formed with a slide slot having a wall formed with a plurality of fixing holes and each having a first end formed with an arcuate positioning recess; and

a backrest support rack movably mounted on the support frame and having a first section provided with an adjusting rod slidably mounted in the slide slot of the support frame and detachably locked in either one of the fixing holes of the slide slot and provided with a fixing rod detachably locked in the positioning recess of the support frame.

2. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the backrest support rack is substantially L-shaped.

3. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the main body further includes a seat support rack adjustably mounted on the support frame, a seat mounted on the seat support rack, and a backrest adjustably mounted on a second section of the backrest support rack.

4. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the seat support rack has a bottom provided with a first pivot base pivotally mounted on the support frame, and each of the two opposite sides of the support frame has a mediate portion formed with a pivot hole for pivotally mounting the first pivot base of the seat support rack.

5. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a control device mounted between the support frame and the seat support rack so as to adjust and inclined angle of the seat.

6. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the each of the two opposite sides of the support frame has a second end formed with a through hole, and one of the two opposite sides of the support frame is formed with two opposite elongated slits each located beside the through hole, and the control device includes a pivot member movably mounted on the support frame and having two opposite sides each extended through a respective one of the two elongated slits of the support frame, a mounting member secured on one of the two opposite sides of the support frame and formed with a receiving hole for mounting the two opposite sides of the pivot member, a pivot pin extended through the through hole of one of the two opposite sides of the support frame, the pivot member and the through hole of the other one of the two opposite sides of the support frame, a screw member screwed on a threaded distal end of the pivot pin and rested on the other one of the two opposite sides of the support frame, an adjusting member pivotally mounted on the pivot pin and having an end pivotally mounted on the seat support rack, and a control lever pivotally mounted on the mounting member and having an end pivotally mounted on the pivot member, so that the pivot member is moved by pivot of the control lever to urge on or detach from the adjusting member.

7. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the pivot member is substantially U-shaped.

8. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the control device further includes an elastic member mounted on the pivot pin and urged between one of the two opposite sides of the support frame and the pivot member to press the pivot member to urge the adjusting member.

9. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the control device further includes two mounting tubes each mounted on the pivot pin and each respectively located between the adjusting member, the pivot member and the other one of the two opposite sides of the support frame, and two washers each mounted on the pivot pin and each located between the adjusting member and a respective one of the two mounting tubes.

10. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the pivot member is formed with a through hole for mounting the pivot pin.

11. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the adjusting member is made of a plurality of laminated plates.

12. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the adjusting member is formed with an oblong slot mounted on the pivot pin for adjusting the inclined angle of the seat.

13. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the main body further includes a seat support rack adjustably mounted on the support frame and having a bottom provided with a second pivot base, and the end of the adjusting member is formed with a pivot hole for pivotally mounting the second pivot base of the seat support rack.

14. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the mounting member is formed with an elongated hole, each of the two opposite sides of the pivot member is formed with a through hole, the end of the control lever is formed with a through hole, and the control device further includes a positioning pin extended through the elongated hole of the mounting member, the through hole of the pivot member and the through hole of the control lever, and a C-shaped snap secured on a distal end of the positioning pin and rested on the mounting member.

15. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the adjusting rod of the backrest support rack is rested on a front end of the slide slot of the support frame and the fixing rod of the backrest support rack is locked in the positioning recess of the support frame, the backrest support rack is disposed at an upright state.

16. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the backrest support rack is lifted to detach the fixing rod of the backrest support rack from the positioning recess of the support frame, the adjusting rod of the backrest support rack is slidable from a front end to a rear end of the slide slot of the support frame, and the backrest support rack is disposed at a horizontal state.

17. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the fixing rod of the backrest support rack is detached from the positioning recess of the support frame and the adjusting rod of the backrest support rack is locked in either one of the fixing holes of the slide slot, the backrest support rack is disposed at an inclined state.

18. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the main body further includes a plurality of braking wheels mounted on the bottom of the adjusting base.

19. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the backrest support rack has an inclined angle that is adjusted by adjusting the relative position between the adjusting rod of the backrest support rack and the fixing holes of the slide slot.

20. The chair assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first section of the backrest support rack is movably mounted between the two opposite sides of the support frame, the adjusting rod is mounted on a distal end of the first section of the backrest support rack, and the fixing rod is mounted on a mediate portion of the first section of the backrest support rack.