WO1994000039A1

WO1994000039A1 - Curving device, especially for seat backs

Info

Publication number: WO1994000039A1
Application number: PCT/EP1993/001648
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelm Sen. Schuster; Knud Klingler
Original assignee: Ameu-Management Corp.
Priority date: 1992-06-26
Filing date: 1993-06-28
Publication date: 1994-01-06
Also published as: DE4220995A1; AU4501393A

Abstract

The invention relates to a curving device, especially for seat backs, for an elastic curving component (5) movably arranged on a guide (3) fitted in a frame (1), which can be curved by means of at least one tensioning device by an adjuster (18, 35). According to the invention, the curving component (5) is adjustable in height on the guide (3) by means of a device (26) with an adjuster (18, 34). The adjusters (18, 34, 35) are arranged adjacently on shafts lying one within the other for the height adjustment and the tensioning device of the curving component (5) or there is a single adjuster (18) movable into two engagement positions for the height adjustment and the tensioning device. Between the adjusters (18, 34, 35) and the tensioning device or the height adjustment device there is a freewheel brake (17).

Description

Arching device, in particular for seat backrests

The invention relates to an arching device, in particular for backrests of seats, for an elastic arching element which is movable at least with one end on a guide arranged in a frame and which can be arched by means of at least one tensioning device by means of an adjusting handle.

Such arching devices are such. B. known from PCT / AT 90/00078. This known arching device is very complex in terms of design, since the definition of the respective curvature is carried out by means of frictional forces, so that the adjustment requires a certain amount of force on the one hand, and on the other hand only a very small adjustment is effected per revolution, and it is also structurally so complex that such curvature devices for automobile seats only belong to the extra parts for which a substantial surcharge has to be paid.

For health reasons, however, widespread use of a Wolb device, which enables adaptation to the size and the respective physique of the driver or passenger, would be extremely desirable.

From DE-Al-41 32 318 a seat with a backrest with a separate hip support arranged in the lower region of the backrest is known. A pendulum adjustment shaft with an adapter plate is arranged inside the hip support and is connected to handles which allow the adjustment of the hip support to be regulated in a front and rear position or the position of the adapter plate. The device has a in the adjustment mechanism Braking device in the form of a freewheel brake. In this seat, only the hip support can be adjusted - or adjusted - via a complicated device by means of two handles that are arranged coaxially on the same axis - an adjustment of the curvature of the backrest is not provided. - _

^* .n ^* ? ^* From DE-Al-33 35 596 a seat with a corresponding functioning hip support is known, but which is integrated in the backrest.

From DE-A-28 04 703 a backrest is known which is designed as a pre-curved elastic plate which is adjustable in its curvature on the one hand by means of a Bowden cable arrangement with a twist grip with a threaded spindle guided therein and on the other hand as an entire plate and thus also Backrest is arranged in a height-adjustable manner in a base plate fastened to the seat by means of a rocker arm mechanism. Here, the entire backrest is height adjustable, which makes the arrangement and connection of the seat and backrest complicated and prone to failure.

From DE-A-25 41 559 a back support with two parallel guides for the ends of an upper and a lower cross member is known, which are connected to one another by means of a leaf spring or levers, the leaf spring or the lever serving as a backing support plate has or have. By means of single or double threaded spindles, the cross members can be adjusted together in one direction or towards or away from one another in such a way that the support plate can be adjusted in the vertical as well as in the horizontal direction. To operate the threaded spindles, they are connected to flexible shafts, which are connected at the other end with separately arranged adjusting knobs. Lead screw assemblies are expensive and require maintenance, and they tend to lock in assemblies in moving parts. The object of the invention is to improve a arching device of the type mentioned in such a way that a quick and easy adjustment of the curvature of the arching element of a backrest as well as its height adjustment is possible, the arching device having a simple, maintenance-free and inexpensive construction.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 or claim 2.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the features of the subclaims.

With the free-wheel brake, the curvature or height position set in each case can be locked immediately and since there is practically no friction to be overcome, the curvature or the height adjustment of, for example, can be adjusted without any significant effort, for example by only turning the adjustment handle fully or even half the maximum to the minimum position and vice versa, which increases the adjustment speed and thus enables adaptation for other people quickly. The adjustment is made easier and the device is more compact by arranging the adjustment handles for the curvature adjustment and the height adjustment next to one another on axially arranged axes or by means of a single adjustment handle.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to schematic drawings. It shows:

1 shows a arching device for a backrest with a tensioning device for the arching element using an axle and traction means; Fig. 2 seen the same in side view from line AA in Fig. 1;

3 shows a Wolb device for a backrest with a variant of a tensioning device for the arch element using an axis and a traction means;

Fig. 4 seen the same in side view from line A-A in Fig. 3;

5 shows a Wolb device for a backrest with a further variant of a tensioning device for the Wolbel element using a plate and a Bowden cable arrangement;

Fig. 6 seen the same in side view from line A-A in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 seen the same in plan view from line B-B in Fig. 5;

8 shows a arching device for a backrest with a device for adjusting the height of the arching element using an axis with tension elements,

Fig. 9 seen the same in side view from line A-A in Fig. 8;

10 shows a arching device for a backrest with a tensioning device for the arching element using a Bowden cable and a device for height adjustment using an axis with tension elements and separate adjusting handles in each case;

Fig. 11 seen the same in side view from line AA in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 shows a variant of the arching device with two

Adjusting handles according to FIG 10, in the cutout.

13 shows a arching device for a backrest with a tensioning device for the cloud element and a device for height adjustment, each using Bowden cables and a single adjusting handle which can be moved in two functional positions.

A arching device, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a guide 3 in a frame 1 between two cross struts 2. The guide 3 consists of two rods 4 arranged parallel to one another. A bulging element 5 is arranged on the rods 4. In the exemplary embodiment, the arch element 5 consists of two elastically bendable strips 6 in a parallel arrangement, which are connected to one another by spaced-apart transverse strips 7. The strips 6, 7 can be made of metal or any material with any elastic properties, including a plastic with or without stiffeners.

At the lower and / or upper end 8 or 9, the arch element 5 can have a stiffening plate 10 or a reinforced strip 11. The reinforcement plate 10 and the reinforcement strip 11 preferably have bushes 12 which are arranged on the rods 4 so as to be slidable. The bushings 12 are preferably connected in an articulated manner to the reinforcement plate 10 or the reinforcement strip 11.

The exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. I to 12 all have the basic structure described. However, it is possible to design the guide 3 and the arch element 5 in any other way, for example, the arch element can consist of several parallel strips 6 and have no reinforcement plate 10 or reinforcement strip 11 and also consist of a flexible elastic plate or a frame with wickerwork. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1, 2, the arching device has a tensioning device 13, which consists of an axis 14 and two traction means 15, 16. The traction means 15 and 16 are each fixed with one of their ends on the axis 14, preferably in an opposite arrangement, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The traction means 15, 16 are preferably arranged in the central vertical axis of the arch element 5. They can consist of a rope, a belt, a wire or any other flexible but practically inextensible material. The free ends of the traction means 15, 16 are fastened in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1, 2 at the upper end 8 and at the lower end 9 of the rolling element 5. The axis 14 is rotatably mounted in the frame 1 (not shown), and the bearing can be arranged in a sliding block (not shown) which can be moved up and down in the frame. The axis 14 can also be mounted additionally or alone on the rods 4 of the guide 3. A free-wheel brake 17 is arranged on the end of the axle 14 which is led outwards from the frame 1 and is connected to an adjusting handle 18. The adjusting handle 18 allows the axis 14 to be rotated about its axis in such a way that the traction means 15, 16 can be rolled up or down on the axis 14, as a result of which the arching element 5 is arched up when it is rolled up, or relaxed when it is unrolled and thus becomes flatter. The freewheel brake 17 ensures the fixation of the axis 14 in the respective position and thus also the locking of the curvature set in each case.

The freewheel brake 17 can be a ball bearing freewheel brake or a spring freewheel brake, as are available on the market, and are known for example from DE-U-91 01 110, so that they are not described in more detail.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3, 4, the axis 14 * is mounted in the frame 1 in a stationary and rotatable manner. In this case, only one traction device 15 is provided, which is fastened on the one hand on the axis 14 'and on the other hand at the upper end 8 of the arch element 5. The axis 14 'is, as shown in Fig. 3, mounted on both sides in the frame 1, since this prevents the axis 14 'from twisting under one-sided loading. By turning the axis 14 ', the traction means 15 is rolled up or down on it, as a result of which the arch element is correspondingly arched or relaxed again (flatter), in this case the arch element 5 is supported at the lower end 9.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a guide 19 consisting of two bars is arranged between the vertical elements of the frame 1 parallel to the cross struts 2, on which an elastic plate 20 is movably supported at both ends. The plate 20 is in contact with the lower end 9 of the bulging element 5 ′ which is bulged in this exemplary embodiment (see FIGS. 6 and 7). One end 21 of the plate 20 is connected to the cable 22 of a Bowden cable arrangement 23 and the opposite other end 24 of the plate 20 to the sheath 25 of the Bowden cable arrangement 23. The Bowden cable arrangement 23 is connected to the adjustment handle 18 with the freewheel brake 17. By means of the Bowden cable arrangement 23 by adjusting the adjusting handle 18 in one direction, its cable 22 is shortened, as a result of which the plate 20 can be arched (see FIG. 7), whereby the arching element 5 ', which is in contact with the plate 20, is advanced becomes. By reversing the direction, the cable 22 is lengthened and the elastic plate 20 is relaxed and flat again due to its elasticity.

In this embodiment, a number of variants are possible, which are only hinted at here, but are not shown in the drawing. As in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 4, the cloud element 5 can be movable on the bars 4 at the upper and lower ends 8 and 9 and then not be preloaded. Only one plate or a plurality of plates can be provided one on top of the other, which allow a different curvature over the height. If only one plate is provided, it can also be arranged to be adjustable relative to the arch element. This plate can also be - approximately - square be configured and also have two Bowden cable arrangements which act horizontally and perpendicularly to one another and which, on the one hand, allow a curvature about a horizontal or a vertical curvature axis with a linear curvature apex of the plate or if they both attack with a point-like curvature apex.

The tensioning device 13 for adjusting the curvature can consist of an axis 14, 14 'with traction means 15, 16 or one or more Bowden cable arrangements 23, whereby it can engage directly on the arch element 6 or indirectly via a plate 20.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 8, 9, a device 26 for height adjustment of the arch element 5 is shown, which contains an axis 27 and two tension elements 28, 29. The tension elements 28, 29 are fastened in the opposite direction on the axis 27 (see FIG. 9) with one end and arranged parallel to one another (see FIG. 8). With the other end, the one tension element 28 is fastened to the lower end 9 of the arch element 5, whereas the other end of the second tension element 29 is likewise connected to the lower end 9 of the arch element 5 via a roller 30 arranged on the lower cross strut 2 of the frame 1 . The free end of the axle 27 is led out of the frame 1 and provided with a freewheel brake 17 and an adjusting handle 18. The tension elements 28, 29 are arranged on the axis 27 such that when the axis 27 rotates, the one tension element 28 is rolled up and the other 29 is rolled off, or vice versa. As a result, the entire cloud element 5 is moved up or down on the guide 3. In this embodiment, the clamping device for arching the arch element 5 is not shown for the sake of clarity. By adjusting the height of the arch element 5, the apex of the curvature of the arch element 5 set in each case can be adjusted up and down as desired. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the height adjustment is carried out by a device as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and described above. The tensioning, that is, the arching of the arching element 5 takes place here by means of a Bowden cable arrangement 31, the cable 32 on the one hand at the lower end 9 of the arching element 5 and on the other hand via a disk 36 arranged on the axis 27 via a freewheel brake 17 with an adjustment handle 18 and its casing 33 on the one hand is connected to the upper end 8 of the rolling element 5 and, on the other hand, to a holder above the disk 36.

The one shown in detail in FIG

In the exemplary embodiment, one end of an extension 37 is inserted into the hollow shaft 27, and a gripping wheel 35 is placed on the other end of the extension. On the extension 37, two freewheel brakes 17, 17 'and a disc 36 are arranged in a holder housing 38, around which one end of the cable pull 32 (FIG. 10) is rotatably guided or to which it is fastened. Also on the extension 37, a pipe socket 39 is rotatably arranged coaxially, which carries a lever 34 at one end and engages at its other end with projections 40 in the freewheel brake 17 'facing it, which in turn engages with the disk 36 with one of its engaging parts 41 in a rotationally fixed manner connected but rotatable about the extension 37. The axis 27 engages in the other freewheel brake 17 with projections 42, the other engagement part 43 of the freewheel brake 17 being connected to the extension 37 in a rotationally fixed manner. The freewheel brakes 17, 17 'are arranged such that their springs 44, 44' are contracted by a rotation of the lever 34 or the gripping wheel 35 and thus a rotation of the disk 36 or the axis 27 and thus a curvature adjustment or height adjustment of the Enable bulging elements. However, z. B. train applied by the cable 32, or engages a rotary movement directly on the axis 27, the springs 44, 44 'are spread against the holder housing 38 and prevent any rotary movement, so that an involuntary adjustment is excluded. The springs 44, 44 'spread due to their resilience - and thus lock the freewheel brakes 17, 17' - when the gripping wheel 35 or the lever 34 is not actuated.

Instead of a lever 34 and a gripping wheel 35, two levers or two gripping wheels of any design can also be used.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 13, the height adjustment is carried out by two coupled

Bowden cable arrangements which are arranged in such a way that when the adjustment handle 18 is adjusted / rotated in one direction, a downward movement of the arching element 5 and when an adjustment / rotation is in the opposite direction, an upward movement of the arched element is ensured. In this exemplary embodiment, the tensioning / arching of the bulging element 5 is also carried out by means of a Bowden cable arrangement. Both for height adjustment and for adjusting the curvature, only a single adjustment handle 18 is provided, which by axial adjustment movement (see the double arrow in FIG. 12) into an engagement position with the Bowden cable arrangement for adjusting the curvature of the arch element or into a second engagement position with the double Bowden cable arrangement is movable for height adjustment of the arch element. Such mechanisms are e.g. B. clocks for winding on the one hand and for adjusting the hands on the other hand known so that they are not explained here.

Instead of manually operated adjustment handles, geared motors (not shown) can also be used.

The combination of the clamping devices described using axes with traction means and / or Bowden cable arrangements, which act directly or indirectly on the arch element with the described height adjustment devices, using axes and traction means or Bowden cable arrangements, can be practically carried out achieve any desired adjustment of the arch element so that an optimal adjustment to the size and shape of a person is possible in accordance with the medical requirements, with the free-wheel brakes used ensuring quick and easy adjustment and locking.

Claims

1. Arching device, in particular for backrests of seats, for an elastic arch element (5) which is movably arranged on a guide (3) arranged in a frame (1) and which can be arched by means of at least one tensioning device by means of an adjusting handle (18, 35) that the bulging element (5) on the guide (3) can be adjusted in height by means of a device (26) with an adjusting handle (18, 34) ^" , the adjusting handles (18, 34, 35) for the height adjustment and for the tensioning device of the bulging element (5) are arranged next to one another on axially arranged axes and a free-wheel brake (17) is arranged between the adjusting handle (18, 34, 35) and the tensioning device or the device for height adjustment.

2. Arching device, in particular for backrests of seats for an elastic arch element (5) which is movably arranged on a guide (3) arranged in a frame (1) and which can be arched by means of at least one tensioning device by means of an adjusting handle (18), characterized in that the arch element (5) on the guide (3) can be adjusted in height by means of a device (26) with an adjusting handle (18), a single adjusting handle (18) movable in two engagement positions being provided for the height adjustment and the tensioning device and a free-wheel brake (17) is arranged between the adjusting handle (18) and the tensioning device or the device for height adjustment.

3. Arching device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cloud element (5) with both ends (8, 9) on the guide (3) is movably arranged.

4. Arching device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the clamping device from a rotatably arranged axis (14) and at least one with one end (8 or 9) of the arching element (5) fixedly attached to the axis (14) and on this windable traction means (15).

5. Wolbvorrichtung according to claim 4, characterized in that each end (8, 9) of the arching element (5) with a traction means (15, 16) is connected, the traction means (15, 16) upon rotation of the axis (14) in In the opposite direction can be wound up or unwound.

6. Wolbvorrichtung according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the axis (14, 14 ') is arranged stationary on the frame (1) and / or on the guide (3).

7. Arching device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tensioning device has at least one Bowden cable arrangement (31).

8. Arching device according to one of claims i to 7, characterized in that the device (26) for height adjustment two in the opposite direction on a rotatable axis (27) can be wound up or unwound Has traction elements (28, 29), the free end of one traction element (28) with one end (9) of the arch element (5) and the free end of the second traction element (29) via a roller (30) arranged on the frame with the same end (9) of the rolling element (5) is connected.

9. Wolb device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device (26) for height adjustment is a Bowden cable arrangement.

10. Wolbvorrichtung according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the adjusting handle (18) is a geared motor.