WO2007012391A1

WO2007012391A1 - Chair, in particular office chair

Info

Publication number: WO2007012391A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/006650
Authority: WO
Inventors: Armin Sander; Christopher Schmidt; Martin Potrykus
Original assignee: Dauphin Entwicklungs- Und Beteiligungs Gmbh
Priority date: 2005-07-27
Filing date: 2006-07-07
Publication date: 2007-02-01
Also published as: EP1909615A1; TW200727823A; DE202005017321U1

Abstract

The invention cites a chair, in particular an office chair (2), having a backrest (5) articulated on the carrier framework (35) via a backrest carrier (37), and having a seat surface (3) which can be moved synchronously in relation to the backrest and is attached to the carrier framework (35) at a reference point (15) such that it can be pivoted via a seat link (15). The backrest carrier (37) and the seat link (15) are respectively fastened in a rotatable manner on the carrier framework (35), the backrest carrier (37) and the seat surface (3) being coupled to one another at a distance apart for movement, via an individual coupling member arranged between them, such that a rearwardly directed tilting movement of the backrest (5) is converted, at the reference point (15), into an upward pivoting movement of the seat surface (3). Such a design provides for an automatic weight-related mechanism which makes it possible to keep the opposing force exerted by the backrest (5) essentially independent of the absolute inclination.

Description

description

Chair, especially office chair

The invention relates to a chair, in particular an office chair, with a synchronous mechanism.

Modern high-quality office chairs are usually provided with a synchronous mechanism, which ensures that the seat moves synchronously with the backrest. The synchronizing mechanism is usually formed by a backrest support, which is arranged on a central support frame, is movably connected to the seat. As a result, the movements of the backrest carrier are transmitted in synchronous movements of the seat. For the design of a synchronous mechanism offer different possibilities. Thus, for example, from DE 101 22 948 C1, a floor chair can be removed, the seat surface of which inclines with a deflection of the backrest to the rear towards the backrest. From DE 42 19 599 C2, an office chair can be removed, the seat surface inclines with a deflection of the backrest to the rear opposite to the front. In both chairs shown, it is necessary to adjust the counteracting force for an inclination of the backrest according to the weight of a seated person.

US Pat. No. 6,709,058 B1 discloses an office chair in which the force of the backrest counteracting an inclination mechanically adapts to the weight of a seated person. For this purpose, the backrest support is bent over a pivot point on the support frame out up under the seat. By this bend in combination with the fulcrum, a rearward tilting movement of the backrest on the backrest support is converted into an upward movement of the seat. Since the point of contact of the backrest support acting on the seat surface makes a rotational movement, the force which opposes the seated person from the backrest is dependent on the absolute inclination position of the backrest support. It is an object of the invention to provide a chair of the type mentioned, which has an alternative mechanism for automatically adjusting the counteracting of the backrest of a force on the weight of the seated person.

This object is achieved by a chair, in particular an office chair, with a hinged to a support frame via a backrest support and a synchronous movable seat, which is connected in a Aufpunkt via a seat link pivotally connected to the support frame, the backrest support and the seat link are each rotatably mounted on the support frame, and wherein the back support and the seat spaced from each other via a single intermediate coupling member are coupled to each other such that a rearward tilting movement of the backrest is translated into an upward pivotal movement of the seat.

The invention is based in a first step on the consideration that the weight of a seated person is directed vertically downwards. If the tilting or rotary movement of the backrest is coupled directly to the seat surface via a suitably designed backrest support, then only the component which is tangential with respect to the rotational movement in the attachment point acts from the weight force. But this is the opposing force of the backrest acting against the o person depends on their inclination.

In a further step, the invention proceeds from the consideration of overcoming this disadvantage, the seat with the backrest carrier spaced from each other via an interconnected individual coupling member to connect movable. Thus, the rotational movement of the backrest and thus of the backrest support is transmitted via the coupling member to a movement of the seat. In contrast to a direct coupling, the coupling via the coupling link offers additional mechanical degrees of freedom which allow the inclination of the backrest to be approximately converted into a uniform upward movement of the seat surface. The basic principle is based on that an intermediate coupling member can be used to compensate for the described undesirable dependence of the generated per angular difference of the backrest stroke of the seat of the absolute inclination angle of the backrest. In this way it becomes possible to move from the backrest to a seated one Person held counterforce regardless of their absolute inclination to hold approximately equal.

In a first advantageous variant, the coupling member is formed by a pull rod which connects the seat with the backrest support movable. The coupling of the backrest support to the seat surface via a pull rod provides additional mechanical degrees of freedom, which allow the desired movement of the seat. Such mechanical degrees of freedom are the length of the pull rod on the seat surface or the location of the attachment points of the pull rod on the backrest support and on the seat surface. In the case of a coupling of a rotary movement with a movable drawbar, the rotation caused parallel to the pull rod per rotation angle is dependent on the absolute rotational position. The described coupling between seat and backrest support with a pull rod can thus be used to compensate for the described undesired dependence of the generated per angle difference of the backrest stroke of the seat surface of the absolute inclination angle of the backrest.

Advantageously, the backrest support is rotatably mounted on the bogie via a pivot bearing and has a pivot bearing, in which the pull rod is rotatably mounted, which is arranged in the direction of the seat link before and in the direction of the seat over the pivot bearing, on which the backrest support is attached. By this geometry, the angular position between the tie rod and the tangent of the rotational movement of the backrest support is set in the starting or resting state of the chair in the attachment point. The specified position ensures that a deflection of the backrest is converted from its rest position from the beginning in an offset of the pull rod. By variation is influenced whether a deflection of the backrest leads to a large or a small offset of the drawbar.

Advantageously, the backrest support on an angled pivot arm on which the pull rod is rotatably mounted. By means of an angled pivot arm, which receives the pivot bearing in which the pull rod is rotatably mounted, a material-saving and simple design can be achieved. - A -

In another advantageous variant, a lever arm is arranged for the movable coupling of the backrest support with the seat on the backrest support, which couples via the coupling member to the seat surface. Also, such a lever arm formed by the backrest support itself or attached separately to the backrest support

5 may be further element in terms of coupling additional mechanical degrees of freedom, which allow depending on the deflection of the backrest or the backrest support the desired upward movement of the seat. Such mechanical degrees of freedom are, for example, the length of the lever arm, the design of the coupling member, the coupling of the coupling member to the seating surface or the arrangement of the bearing required for the lever arm.

To form the lever arm of the backrest support may for example have an angled portion which is mounted in a pivot bearing on the support frame. The beyond the pivot bearing part of the backrest support can then be used as such a 5 ger lever arm.

In another advantageous embodiment, the lever arm may be formed by a cranked rod connected to the backrest support, which rotates with the backrest support in a rotary bearing on the support frame. The lever arm is then formed by the abge- cranked part of the rod.

To form the automatic weight, in which a rearward tilting movement of the backrest on the backrest support is converted into an upward movement of the seat, it is advantageous if the lever arm for coupling to the seat of 5 abuts the bottom of this. In this case, the weight force of the seat and the weight of a seated person acts down against the upward lever arm. To create the coupling between the coupling member and the seat needs in this case, no or only a simple mechanical design can be used, which holds the coupled parts by form, friction or adhesion aneinan- o. In other words, in this embodiment, the coupling member can be loosely guided from below against the seat. For coupling the lever arm to the seat, the coupling member is advantageously formed as a seat surface side arranged on the lever arm roller. This is a simple and inexpensive solution that provides enough freedom for coupling.

To create the desired upward movement of the seat this is advantageously formed a backdrop along which the roller is constrained. By appropriate shaping of the backdrop, which in the present case a predetermined guideway is understood, along which the roller is guided, the desired movement of the seat can be adjusted by the rearward tilting movement of the backrest support.

In particular, when the lever arm abuts for coupling from below to the seat, the link is suitably formed as a rolling track against which the role of the rolling track is supported rolling. The interaction of the downward weight of the seat and the seated person and the force acting on the lever arm upward pressure of the seated person on the backrest and thus on the backrest support, the roller is pressed in particular against an integrally formed below the seat runway and forced along this.

In order to achieve a counteracting independent of the absolute inclination of the backrest against the back of a seated person opposing force, it is advantageous if the backdrop is inclined with respect to the seat back to the bottom. As a result, a defined deflection angle of the backrest in an inclined position of the backrest support generates a higher stroke of the seat surface than in an upright position.

Conveniently, the seat link is rotatably mounted on the seat. This allows for a rotational movement of the seat link relative to the support frame maintaining the orientation of the seat.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the seat link is designed as a joint element, in particular as a hinge plate, with a first and a second pivot bearing, via which the seat is connected to the support frame. These Design is inexpensive and allows a mechanically simple, flexible coupling between the seat and the support frame.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the seat is guided in a spaced from the Aufpunkt further Aufpunkt by means of a support frame mounted on the support member such that in an upward pivotal movement at the Aufpunkt an overall tilt of the seat is effected towards the backrest. In such a construction, the increasing forward inclination of the seat back pressure of the seated person is absorbed by the appropriately oriented inclination of the seat. Slipping of the seated person is thus prevented. The guidance of the seat by means of the seat guide element in a further Aufpunkt allows a great deal of freedom in the design of the desired synchronous movement of the seat with respect to the deflection of the backrest.

In another embodiment of the invention, the seat guide element is designed as a joint element, in particular as a hinge plate, with two pivot bearings. Over the length of the joint element or over the distance between the two pivot bearing, the movement of the seat in the other Aufpunkt with respect to the point of storage on the seat link is adjustable.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the seat link and the seat guide element are each designed as a joint element, in particular as a joint plate, with two pivot bearings. In this case, the seat, the two hinge elements connecting, mounted on the respective pivot bearing hanging on the support frame. If in this case an offset is transmitted to the seat surface via the pull rod, the seat surface which hangs on the support frame via the hinge elements is deflected as a whole. In this case, the seat leads due to their swinging suspension with increasing inclination of the backrest a stronger upward movement.

Conveniently, the lower pivot bearing both hinge elements are offset relative to the upper pivot bearing in the direction of the backrest in the resting state of the chair. This ensures that starting from the idle state a backward tilting movement of the backrest is transmitted from the beginning in an upward pivotal movement of the seat. This is favorable for the realization of the desired automatic weight.

If both joint elements in the rest position of the chair are not aligned parallel or different lengths, the deflection of the seat by means of an offset of the drawbar in addition to an upward movement in addition to a tilting movement of the seat. Advantageously, the distance of the pivot bearing of the hinge element of the seat guide element is shorter than the distance of the pivot bearing of the hinge element of the seat link. As a result, in a simple manner, the tilting movement of the backrest is converted into a tilting movement of the seat surface in such a way that it also tips over with this inclination of the backrest.

In a particularly advantageous variant of the synchronization mechanism is arranged in each case mirror-symmetrical in each case to both sides of the seat. It is particularly expedient to form the joint elements as flat hinge plates. By arranging the synchronization mechanism laterally of the seat surface, a reduction in the height between the lower edge of the mechanism and the upper edge of the seat surface is achieved. This reduces the pack size of the chair, allowing a spatially compact folding or folding of the chair.

Conveniently, the armrests and the backrest are designed as pluggable in the backrest support. For collapsing or folding the chair, the armrests and the backrest can then be removed as a whole from the backrest support and stacked up to the remaining elements. With a removable chair column thus a compact collapsible chair is created, which includes a synchronization mechanism with additional automatic weight.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Showing: 1 is a schematic side view of an office chair with weight mechanism in rest position, wherein the seat is mounted on a seat link hanging on the support frame,

2 is a side view schematically the office chair of FIG. 1 in a deflected position,

3 is a perspective view of a partial view of an office chair, wherein the seat is coupled via arranged on a cranked rod rollers with the backrest support and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a partial view of an office chair, wherein the seat is coupled via arranged on an angled lever arm rollers with the backrest support.

In Fig. 1, an office chair 2 is shown schematically in a side view. The office chair 2 has a seat 3 and a backrest 5 and is supported by a chair column 7 by a - not shown - pedestal. The office chair 2 further has armrests 33, which form a functional unit with the backrest 5. Armrests 33, backrest 5 and seat 3 are supported centrally by a support frame 35 which rests on the chair column 7.

The backrest 5 carrying the backrest carrier 37, to which at the same time the armrests 33 are attached pluggable, is rotatably mounted on the support frame 35 via a pivot bearing 38. The seat 3 is suspended from a seat link 15 and a seat guide member 10 fixed to the support frame 35. The seat link 15 and the seat guide element 10 are each formed as hinge elements 40 and 41, respectively. Here, the joint elements 40 and 41 are rotatably mounted on the carrier frame 35 via the upper, first pivot bearings 43 and 44, respectively. The seat surface 3 is rotatably connected via the lower, second pivot bearings 45 and 46 with the two joint elements 40 and 41, respectively. In other words, the hinge elements 40 and 41 are coupled to each other via the seat surface 3 by means of the lower pivot bearings 45 and 46.

About an angled pivot arm 48 of the backrest support 37 is movably connected by means of the pivot bearing 49 with a pull rod 50 which is connected at its other end on the lower pivot bearing 45 of the joint member 40 with the seat surface 3. The mechanism shown, consisting of pivot arm 48, tie rod 50 and the two hinge elements 40, 41 and the armrest 33 is mirror-symmetrical to both sides of the office chair 2 shown. Also, the support frame 35 is this symmetrically designed accordingly. The seat 3 is arranged suspended therebetween. The symmetrically designed pivot arms 48 engage on both sides of the chair 2, the respective racks of the support frame 35th

For the operation of the office chair 2 is schematically shown in Fig. 2 in a side view io the office chair 2 in a deflected position. About the pivot bearing 38 performs a rearward tilting movement of the backrest 5 to an upward rotational movement of the pivot arm 48. About the tie rod 50, the parallel to align the tension arm 50 component of the rotational movement is transmitted to the seat surface 3. Correspondingly, the lower pivot bearing 45, on which the pull rod 50 acts on the seat surface 3 on i5, performs an upward rotational movement from about 6 o'clock to 4 o'clock. About the seat 3 and the lower pivot bearing 46 in this case also the hinge element 41 is deflected accordingly.

Overall, therefore, leads to a rearward tilting movement of the backrest 20 5 to an upward rotary or pivotal movement of the seat 3. The distances of the pivot bearings 43, 44, 45 and 46 are dimensioned such that in the rest position of the office chair 2 shown in FIG. 3, the hinge elements 40 and 41 are slightly inclined to each other. The hinge element 41 in this case has a greater inclination than the joint element 40. This results in that the seat surface 3 at a downward tilting movement of the backrest 5 in addition to the upward pivoting movement at the same time experiences a tendency towards the backrest 5.

Starting from the rest position of the office chair 2 shown in FIG. 1, the orientation of the pull rod 50 is selected according to the rotational movement of the pivot arm 48 so that o the pull rod 50 is oriented rather tangentially with increasing tilt of the backrest 5 in the pivot bearing 49. In this respect, with increasing inclination of the backrest 5, an equal angular offset leads to a greater offset of the pull rod 50. Together with the angled coupling of the pull rod 50 to the hinge element 40, achieved by a compensation such that regardless of the absolute inclination position of the backrest 5, a person sitting on the office chair 2 experiences an approximately equal counterforce. The stronger the inclination of the backrest 5, the more we raised the seat surface 3 per angular degree of inclination. The opposing force exerted on the seated person by the backrest 5 automatically adjusts itself to the weight of the seated person.

In Fig. 3 a further embodiment of a weight automatic of an office chair is shown in a perspective partial view. Of the office chair of the backrest support 37 and two thereof on both sides of the support frame 35 guided spars can be seen, on which the backrest is arranged. Next, a part of the support frame 35 is visible, on which the seat 3 is suspended swinging. For this purpose, the seat surface 3 is attached to both sides of the symmetrically shaped support frame 35 via two hinge elements 40 and 41 respectively. For the swinging suspension the Gelenkele- elements 40 and 41 respectively via upper, first pivot bearings 43 and 44 are rotatably connected to the support frame 35 and lower, second pivot bearing 45 and 46 with the seat surface 3.

To form the automatic weight, the seat 3, of which without Zeichneri- see the appearance of upholstery and a seat cover only a seat receptacle 3 ^' can be seen, compared to a gutter 51 of the support frame 35 spaced. In the area between the seat receptacle 3 ^' and the intermediate web 51 protrudes a lever arm 52 forming a cranked rod 53 into it. The U-shaped to form the lever arm 52 bent rod 53 is connected at its two outer ends in each case via a pivot bearing 38 with the spar ends of the backrest support 37. The cranked rod 53 rotates with the backrest support 37 in the rotary bearing 38.

At the end of the lever arm 52 or on the transverse web of the U formed by the cranked rod 53, two rollers 56 rotatably mounted on the rod 53 are arranged as coupling members. Against the rollers 56 presses from above the weight of the seat 3 and the weight of a possibly sitting on it person. For coupling the seat surface 3 via the rollers 56 to the backrest support 37, the seat mount 3 ^{1 is} two cushions. 57 molded, which form at their recording a downwardly curved downhill runway 59.

In a downward tilting movement of the backrest support 37 by a Nachhintenleeping the seated person, the lever arm 52 of the cranked rod 53 is pivoted upwards. As a result, the seat 3 is pressed counteracting the weight of the seated person upwards. In this movement, the rollers 56 each run along the rolling track 59 of the scenes 57. Since the rolling tracks 59 are curved backwards down, experiences the seat 3 with increasing deflection of the Rückenleh- ne or the backrest support 37 a growing upward stroke.

Fig. 4 also shows in a perspective partial view of another embodiment of the automatic weight of the office chair. According to the office chair shown in Fig. 3, in turn, the seat surface 3 in the symmetrically shaped support frame 35 is attached on both sides in each case by means of the hinge elements 40 and 41. The seat 3 is thus suspended on the support frame 35 in turn rocking.

The seat surface 3 is at its rear end in turn spaced from a gutter 51 of the support frame 35. In the intermediate space engages a lever arm 52, which is rather an angled part of the guided centrally in the office chair backrest support 37. The backrest support 37 is attached with its lever arm 52 forming angled portion in the pivot bearing 38 rotatably mounted on the intermediate web 51 of the support frame 35. For this purpose, a support element 60 is provided.

For coupling the lever arm 52 to the seat surface 3 rotatable rollers 56 are arranged on both sides of the seat-side end of the lever arm 52. These rollers 56 couple from below according to FIG. 3 to a rolling track 59 of two seats 57 integrally formed on the seat seat 3 ^' . The resulting movement of the seat surface 3 during a tilting movement of the backrest or backrest support 37 corresponds to that of the office chair shown in FIG. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

office chair

Seat ^'seat receiving ^"seat top

backrest

chair column

seat link

Seat guide element 5 Aufpunkt 7 further Aufpunkt

armrests

support frame

backrest support

pivot bearing

Articulated element (seat link) 1 Joint element (seat guide element) Upper pivot bearing Upper pivot bearing Lower pivot bearing Lower pivot bearing

swivel arm

pivot bearing

pull bar

gutter

lever arm

Cranked rod

role

scenery

rolling path

support element

Claims

claims

1. chair, in particular office chair (2), with a on a support frame (35) via a backrest support (37) hinged backrest (5) and a synchronous thereto chron moveable seat (3) in a Aufpunkt (15) on a seat link is pivotally connected to the support frame (35), wherein the back support (37) and the seat link are each rotatably mounted on the support frame (35), and wherein the back support (37) and the seat surface (3) spaced from each other via a single interconnected coupling member with each other o are so movably coupled, that a rearwardly directed tilting movement of the backrest (5) in an upward pivotal movement of the seat surface (3) is translated Ü.

2. Chair according to claim 1, s wherein the coupling member by a pull rod (50) is formed, which is the seat surface

(3) movably connected to the backrest support (37).

3. Chair according to claim 2, wherein the backrest support (37) via a pivot bearing (38) on the support frame (35) is rotatably mounted and a pivot bearing (49) in which the pull rod (50) is rotatably mounted, which in Direction to the seat link before and in the direction of the seat surface (3) above the pivot bearing (38) is arranged, via which the backrest support (37) is attached.

4. Chair according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the backrest support (37) has an angled pivot arm (48) on which the pull rod (50) is rotatably mounted.

5. Chair according to claim 1, wherein on the backrest support (37) a lever arm (52) is arranged, which couples via the coupling member to the seat surface (3).

A chair according to claim 5, wherein the lever arm (52) is formed by a cranked rod (53) connected to the backrest support (37).

7. Chair according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the lever arm (52) abuts on the coupling member from below to the seat surface (3).

8. Chair according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the coupling member arranged as a seat surface side on the lever arm (52)

Roller (56) is formed.

9. Chair according to claim 8, wherein the seat surface (3) has a link (57) is formed along which the RoI- Ie (56) is constrained.

10. Chair according to claim 9, wherein the link (57) as a rolling track (59) is formed, against which the roller (56) along the rolling track (59) is supported rollingly.

11. Chair according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the link (57) with respect to the seat surface (3) is formed inclined downwards towards the rear.

12. Chair according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat link is rotatably mounted on the seat surface (3).

13. Chair according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat link as a hinge member (40), in particular as a hinge plate, with a first (43) and a second pivot bearing (45) is formed, via which the seat surface (3) with the Support frame (35) is connected.

14. Chair according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat surface (3) in a spaced from the Aufpunkt (15) further Aufpunkt (27) by means of a support frame (35) mounted Sitzführungs- o is guided such that at an upward pivoting movement of the

Seat (3) on the Aufpunkt (27) is effected in total an inclination of the seat surface (3) towards the backrest (5).

15. Chair according to claim 14, 5 wherein the seat guide element as a joint element (41), in particular as a hinge plate, with two pivot bearings (44, 46) is executed.

16. Chair according to claims 13 and 15, wherein the seat surface (3), the two hinge elements (40, 41) connecting, about 0, the respective pivot bearing (43, 44, 45, 46) suspended from the support frame (35) is mounted ,

17. Chair according to claim 16, wherein the pivot bearings (43, 44, 45, 46) are spaced apart from one another such that the tilting movement of the seat surface (3) is effected.

18. Chair according to claim 17, wherein in its idle state, the lower pivot bearing (45 or 46) of the two hinge elements (40, 41) with respect to the upper pivot bearing (43 or 44) in each case in the o direction to the backrest (5) are offset ,

19. Chair according to claim 17, wherein the distance between the pivot bearing (44, 46) of the joint element (41) of the seat guide member is shorter than the distance of the pivot bearing (43, 45) of the Gelenkele- element (40) of the seat link.

20. Chair according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the synchronization mechanism is arranged in total each mirror-symmetrical to both sides of the seat surface (3).

21. Chair according to claim 20, wherein the armrests (33) and the backrest (5) as in the backrest support (37) are designed to be pluggable.