WO2001091615A1

WO2001091615A1 - Sprung chair feet and weight centring seat mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2001091615A1
Application number: PCT/CH2001/000335
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Walser
Original assignee: Thomas Walser
Priority date: 2000-05-30
Filing date: 2001-05-29
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Also published as: DE20121338U1; AU5814301A

Abstract

The invention essentially relates to a novel chair system, comprising a sprung foot in various technical embodiments. The invention further relates to a seat mechanism, suitable for the above, which maintains the equilibrium of the user at any angular position. The invention serves a dynamic seating and assists the user into a better posture and thus reduces incidence of back pains.

Description

SPRING-SOFT CHAIR FEET AND WEIGHT-CENTERED SEAT MECHANICS

The invention relates to components that can be used individually or in combination for dynamic seating.

The base of the conventional seating systems is stiff. In addition, the user sits relatively low in previous seating systems. Since new ergonomic findings place significantly higher demands on variability and flexibility, the present invention offers solutions for sitting with soft feet, with and without castors. Appropriate solutions in the seating area are required for safety reasons.

Therefore, a weight-centered seat mechanism that matches the foot is shown, which can be used with and without a backrest. Both the foot systems and the seat mechanism can also be used as individual components.

The present invention has for its object to rollable with simple means

To design chairs in such a way that significantly more movements of the user are possible without sacrificing safety, thus avoiding postural damage that occurs when sitting rigidly. In addition, the aim is to sit safely and comfortably at a higher level.

This task is optimally solved by the interaction of the development mentioned.

Further advantages of the invention are evident from the dependent claims and from the following description, in which the invention is explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the schematic drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1 rolling device with a bell

Fig. 2. Rolling device with a pot

Fig. 3. Variant of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4. Ditto under load

Fig. 5. Rolling device under a flexible disc

Fig. 6. Ditto stopped

Fig. 7. Ditto stopped / disc additionally bent under load.

Fig. 8. Spring-loaded ball roller (braked without load)

Fig. 9. Ditto under load (resting on the shell)

Figure 10. Mobile seat shell

Figure 11. Ditto seat angle to the front

Figure 12. Ditto as a supplement to an existing chair (rehab area)

Fig. 13. Seat element in tube side view.

Figure 14. Ditto from above.

Fig. 15 seat element in curved flat profile side view.

Fig. 16 Ditto from above.

Fig. 17. Same mechanics, with conventional adjustment mechanism

For backrest.

Figure 18. Ditto from above.

Figure 19. Feather-soft foot from above.

20 shows. Feathery foot side view.

Figure 21. Ditto under load

Figure 22. Ditto with roles

Figure 23. Ditto with intermediate ring

Figure 24. Ditto under load

Figure 25. To 23

Figure 26. To 24. In the figures, the same reference numerals have been used for the same elements, and first-time explanations apply to all figures, unless expressly stated otherwise.

In FIG. 1, the foot area 1 of an office chair (not shown further here) is shown in cross section. The two laterally projecting legs 2 are two of a five-star base known per se, i.e. legs 2 form an angle of 72 °. On each of these two legs 2, a rolling device 3 is provided, which consists of a roller 5 held by a fork 4, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation 6, and a fastening pin 7 mounted on the fork 4, which extends into a corresponding bore 8 of the respective leg 2 is engaged. Furthermore, a so-called brake bell 10 is provided, the circular edge 11 of which has at least more than twice the diameter of the roller 5, so that the roller 5 can be freely rotated within the brake bell 10 in a slightly loaded state. As can be seen between the fork 4 and the mounting pin 7, a spring-elastic ring 12 is attached, the z. B. can be designed as a so-called silent block. The fork 4 can thus be deflected outwards relative to the fastening pin 7. In this Figure 1, the normally loaded state is shown, in which a load distribution on the individual legs 3 of about 15 to 20 kg. The rollers 5 are then just rotatable within the bell 10. The fastening pin 7 can also have a thread, so that the spring force acting on the fork 4 is greater and such a chair can thus also be used by heavier people.

In FIG. 2, the same arrangement of the rolling device 3 is shown in principle, a flat pot 15 being provided here instead of a brake bell, the circular end edge 16 of which presses against the roller 5 under great load. If the roller 5 is made of a rubber-elastic material, this edge 16 can be pressed even more into the surface of the roller 5, ie a further spring travel is possible when the roller 5 is braked. FIG. 3 shows a further variant of the rolling device 3, in which a spring-elastic, annular base 17 is provided between the brake bell 10 and the underside of the leg 2, which is made, for example, of an elastomer such as polyurethane, butyl rubber or the like. Furthermore, the fastening pin 7 is arranged movably on the brake bell 10 by means of a ball joint.

The operation of the above rolling device 3 is now illustrated in FIG. 4: in the unloaded state, the fork 4 is pressed down by the spring-elastic ring 12, so that the roller 5 can move completely free of the brake bell 10. This also applies to the usual pivoting movement of the fork 4 around the axis of the fastening pin 7. If a leg 2 is now subjected to a greater load, as is shown on the right-hand side, the fork 4 dodges outwards and, if the load is sufficiently high, the Roller 5 pressed against the inner wall of the brake bell 10 so that the roller 5 is clamped. As a result, the chair can no longer roll or slide away. If you want to continue tilting or rocking the chair, for example to grab documents from a desk, you can do so without danger. Accordingly, an additional spring movement is created via the braking process described here with the brake bell 10, which enables relief of the spine. The resilient, annular base 17 is compressed on one side. With a chair that is equipped with such rolling devices 3, slight circular movements are possible, as are required for dynamic sitting. Even larger rocking movements can be made easily without the chair slipping or sliding away. The rolling device 3 thus allows existing chairs to be retrofitted with a five-star in the simplest way in order to obtain ergonomically more sophisticated seating. In FIGS. 5 to 7, instead of a five-star, a circular disk 19 made of spring steel is provided, which is attached to the stand tube 20 of the chair with a cone. Furthermore, instead of the brake bell 10, a flat washer 21 is provided around the elastic ring 1, which serves as a brake for the roller 5 at a greater angle of inclination of the fork 4 (see FIG. 6). If the lateral load is increased further, the edge 22 of the circular disk 19 is deformed, which in turn allows a further spring travel to be obtained.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the rolling device 3, in which a semi-open spherical shell 24 is placed over a ball 25 as a rolling element. Within the spherical shell 24, a spherical cap-shaped elastic intermediate layer 26 is provided, which is provided on the inside with a smaller spherical shell 27 as a hard running surface, for example made of nylon or the like, which is precisely adapted to the roundness of the ball 25. The intermediate layer 26 can be made of a suitable foam, for example. Finally, a circular ring 28, for example made of a softer polyurethane, is provided on the end faces of the spherical shell 24 and the intermediate layer 26. In Figures 9, 9a and 9b, the sequence of movements with increasing load on the legs 2 of the chair can be seen: the ball 25 is pressed more strongly against the elastic intermediate layer 26 until it completely disappears into the spherical shell 24 and the circular ring 28 as a brake on the Floor is standing and thus the rolling movement of the chair is stopped. With continued tilting movement of the chair, the spherical shell 24 with the elastic ring 28 acts further as a spring element, the enclosed ball 25 giving the whole the necessary stability. Conversely, if little or no load is exerted on the ball 25 (see FIG. 9b), the ball 25 is pressed against the circular ring 28 by the spring-elastic intermediate layer 26, so that the ball 25 is effectively held. This means that the chair cannot simply roll away even when it is not under load. FIGS. 10 to 12 show a basic illustration for an ergonomic seat element 30 which has a circular-shell-shaped carrier 31, possibly with chair legs 32 (FIG. 11), in which a spherical segment 33 with the same curvature, but with a larger diameter, is inserted. A semicircular backrest 34 with a headrest 35 is also provided. This is probably the simplest form for an ergonomic seat, wherein the carrier 31 can be formed, for example, from a hard plastic and the ball segment 33 as a cushion, for example from a soft foam covered with leather or the like. If the friction between the ball segment 33 and the carrier shell 31 is sufficient, any seated position can be assumed. The use of this ball segment 33 as a "wedge rocker" is particularly suitable for patients with back damage who block their backs when they are sagging. The ball segment 33 can also be used separately on an existing chair 36 or on an existing bench instead of the known seat wedge (see The slightly rolling movement makes it much easier to get up in a patient with a blocked back. The seat element 30 is also a great help for older people. Of course, instead of the circular shell 31 and the spherical segment 33, a circular cylindrical carrier and a cylindrical segment can also be used ,

The principle described in the preceding examples has been further developed in the embodiment of a seat element 37 according to FIG. 13 (side view) and FIG. 14 (top view). Instead of the ball segment 33, two semicircular, parallel pipe bends 38 are provided, which are guided between three bearing rollers 39 arranged in a triangle and provided with an annular groove, which are rotatably arranged in a wedge-shaped bearing block 40. The two pipe bends 38 are connected to one another at their front end 42 (left in the figures) via a connecting plate 43. Furthermore, a connecting plate 45 and at the rear end 44 itself a backrest 46 are provided approximately at a third distance from the rear end 44. The tube bends 38 with the two connecting plates 43 and 45 thus form a type T H01 / 00335

Cradle. Dashed lines indicate the straight seat surface 48, which is fastened on the two connecting plates 43 and 45 and is, for example, a wooden board with a foam cushion provided thereon with a leather covering. The various seating positions of the seat surface 48 are indicated by dashed lines. Furthermore, an eccentric is provided on the axis 49, which is rotated by a lever 50 and thus the middle bearing roller 39 can be locked. This seat element 37 is suitable both for the normal sitting posture - backrest 45 at the back - and in the more modern seat type with the backrest 45 as a front abdominal support. Furthermore, this seat element 37 is excellently suitable at different heights, i.e. ) both as a standing aid and as a work chair.

Another arrangement of the seat element 37 is shown in FIGS. 15 (side view) and 16 (top view). Here, instead of the two pipe bends 38, a plate 52 is provided which is curved in the shape of a circular cylinder and which

5 ren end 42 (left in the figures) has a support plate 53 and at about a third distance from the rear end 44 another support plate 55 for the straight seat 48. In this case, the curved plate 52 is guided between three parallel cylindrical guide rollers 57, which are held on both sides by a triangular fastening plate 58. As in the previous example o, an eccentric is provided in order to lock the curved plate 52.

In a further variant of the seat element 37 according to FIGS. 17 (side view) and 8 (top view), instead of the curved plate 52, an L-shaped plate 60 is provided which is guided between the cylindrical guide rollers 57. In this case, the seat 48 is arranged directly on the bearing block 61. An adjustment of the seat and / or backrest angle is not possible here, but the distance from the backrest 46 to the seat surface 48 can be adjusted.

With the novel seating elements 30 and 37 described above, a so-called mirror-symmetrical sitting is possible, ie the seating element 30 or 37 can both in the usual position with the backrest 45 in the back and in the reverse position are used, the backrest 45 now serves as an abdominal support. When adjusting the angle of inclination of the seat, weight centering is permanently maintained, since when the seat angle is adjusted the weight of the user is rolled forwards / backwards. As a result, the chair foot requires a significantly smaller footprint. When the chair is set high, the seat can be set forward so that there are no pressure points on the thighs.

19 to 26 show a movable chair foot 70 with a foamed, permanently elastic profile 71. This problem solving has the same purpose as Fig. 1-9 "(Roll) -Stop-Rocker"

Figures 19 to 21 show an annular profile 71, which around a mounting plate

72 is foamed with an integrated cone. A recess is provided so that mobility is increased and less material is used.

In order to obtain a permanent, individually meterable setting of the desired softness, an insert ring 73 made of hard or permanently elastic material can be pressed into this recess.

In FIGS. 22 to 26, the same arrangement is supplemented with inserted furniture casters. As soon as the foot "seesaws" from the horizontal support, the foamed ring brakes, preventing the chair from rolling away.

Claims

claims

1. Rolling device (3) for an office chair with a rolling element (5; 25), a holder (4; 24) for the rolling element and a fastening pin (7) provided on the holder, the holder being resiliently suspended with respect to the office chair. Characterized in that a strongly elastic spring element (12; 26) is provided, which allows an active rocking movement of the office chair, and a braking element (10; 15; 21; 28) is provided which, at a predetermined angle of inclination of the office chair with respect to the base Rolling movement of the rolling element (5; 25) prevented.

2. Rolling device according to claim 1, characterized in that a further spring-elastic element (17) is provided, which allows a further rocking movement in the braked state of the rolling element (5).

3. Rolling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rolling element (5; 25) to the braking element (10; 16; 21; 28) is designed to be movable.

4. Rolling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the braking element (16) is cup-shaped, which overlaps the rolling element (5) at least partially.

5. Rolling device according to claim 4, characterized in that the rolling element is a rotatable about an axis of rotation roller (5) which is pivotally held against a spring element (12) by a fork (4) and the braking element a roller (5) and the fork (4) is at least partially enveloping bell (10; 16), which restricts the sprung pivoting movement of the roller (5).

6. Rolling device according to claim 5, characterized in that the bell (10) envelops the roller (5) such that the maximum angle of inclination of the roller (5) is determined by the edge of the bell (10). Rolling device according to claim 5, characterized in that the bell (10) completely surrounds the fork (4) and the roller (5) such that the maximum pivoting out of the roller (5) is limited by the inner wall of the bell (10).

Rolling device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rolling element is a ball (25) which is encompassed by a spherical shell (26) as a holder and between the spherical shell (26) and the ball (25) is a resilient element (26 ) is arranged with a hard tread (24) facing the ball, such that the ball (25) is pressed inward at a predetermined inclination angle and the edge of the ball shell (26) is pressed against the ground.

Rolling device according to claim 8, characterized in that the edge of the spherical shell (26) is formed by a ring (28) made of an elastic material which exerts a braking effect on the ball (25) in the idle state.

Rolling device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized gekennzeicnet that the rolling element is a rotatable about an axis of rotation roller (5) which is pivotally held against a resilient element (12) by a fork (4) which is attached to the foot of the office chair and the foot is as

The braking element serves to press the roller (5) against the foot at a predetermined angle of inclination.

Roll device characterized in that the resilient soft part 71 is equipped with rollers.

Roll device characterized in that the resilient soft part can be defined with a soft or a hard insert ring 73 in the movement characteristic.

Rolling device characterized in that during production by material shrinkage of the soft part 71 can be connected to any disk-shaped base plate 72 without any further aids.

14. Rolling device, characterized in that the roller dips into the support material at a defined load, and thus rests on the floor and braking takes place as a result.

15. Rolling device characterized in that the spring-soft material 71 rests on the floor and brakes by angular displacements triggered by movement.

16. Seat element for a chair with a seat and a support characterized in that the seat opposite to the tendency to adjust the

Support weight shifts and thus causes a load centering.

17. Seat element characterized in that the or the parallel support arch of the seat surface is adjustable to the backrest.

18. Seat element characterized in that the support mechanism is constructed mirror-symmetrically, and thus works equally from 2 usage sides.

19. Seat element characterized in that the support plate 58 is applicable on the inside and on the outside.

20. Seat element characterized in that the mounting plate leads a circular segment in the longitudinal direction, delimits at the ends, and stops on triggering.

21. Seat element characterized in that the mounting plate contains an integrated conical bore and the release handle for the height adjustment.