WO2009109275A1

WO2009109275A1 - Adjustment device for an office chair

Info

Publication number: WO2009109275A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/000835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pietro Lovato
Original assignee: Moving S.R.L.
Priority date: 2008-03-07
Filing date: 2009-02-06
Publication date: 2009-09-11
Also published as: EP2259700A1; ITVI20080057A1

Abstract

The invention regards an adjustment device for a chair for office use, of the type with so-called "synchro" movement, i.e. with simultaneous, synchronised tilting of the seat (S1) and the back (S2). Such chair is provided with an elastic damper (C) and a support column (P). Said device is characterised in that it substantially has three elements, i.e. a V-shaped fork, an L-shaped frame and a plate, mutually hinged, so to make a very simple, articulated structure which allows the "synchro" movement as well as the tilting of only the seat and where the entire mechanism constitutes the seat and the attachment of the two arms and the frame.

Description

Title: Adjustment device for an office chair Description

The present finding regards an adjustment device for an office chair according to the general part of claim 1 . Chairs for office use provided with devices capable of satisfying particular user needs are well known and are widely used.

Such devices allow the simple height regulation of the seat and/or tilting of the back with respect to the seat, or with a more complex functioning, the "synchro movement", i.e. the simultaneous and synchronised tilting of the back and seat and the "permanent contact movement" with which, by means of an elastic damper, the "stress" of the spine is eliminated.

Such devices are positioned inside a container, which is fixed on the lower surface of the seat and on which a rotating block is pivoted, to which the upper end of the seat support column is associated and to which the lower end of the support post of the back is attached.

At the current state of the art, the devices which allow the connection between seat and back - so as to adjust the height variation of the seat and the tilt of the aforesaid seal and back, as well as their mutual locking, so that the user can rely on a stable and comfortable positioning of the seat - in addition to being complex to make also require a considerable time for their mounting inside the container.

In addition, after such devices have been assembled in the container, such container must be attached on the seat; naturally, this requires qualified personnel, long execution times and thus a very high final cost of the seat. As an example, the patent document No. VI2000A00045 is mentioned.

Object of the present invention is that of making a device that allows the seat to function in all the above-mentioned modes, but which result particularly simple, both from a structural standpoint and a functional standpoint.

Such object is obtained with a device composed of an articulated mechanism constituted by a few, easily-made elements, which do not require assembly in a container; moreover, said device directly forms the seat of the chair.

Structurally, the device is composed of a "V"-shaped fork, in whose vertex the end of the seat support column is fit as well as the lower attachment end of the elastic damper, where column and damper are made with in se known modes.

At the end of the two arms of the fork, at the front part of the plate which acts as a seat, two connecting rods are idly pivoted, which support, idly fit, a first transverse connection pin.

On said transverse connection pin, the following are idly inserted: the upper attachment end of the elastic damper, in central position, and a pair of front blocks, arranged on the side of the aforesaid attachment point and projecting from the plate forming the seat. In addition, on the two arms of the fork and in substantially median position, the two opposite lower ends of an "L"-shaped frame are pivoted. In such frame, the vertical part supports the back, while the horizontal part supports a second transveVse rear pin which is idly fit on a second pair of rear blocks, projecting from the aforesaid plate forming the seat. In order to increase the ergonomics of the seat, tilting is provided for of only the seat, after the user has pre-selected and locked the "L" frame in a specific tilt.

Structurally, such second functioning mode, i.e. the tilting by several degrees of the plate acting as a seat, is achieved by attaching, on the second transverse pin (the rear one) two elastic push rods which, manoeuvred by the user, are fit in corresponding seats made on the two corresponding rear blocks projecting from the plate acting as seat.

In practice, by substantially usiJig three elements, i.e. a "V" fork, an "L" frame and a plate, mutually hinged, a very simple articulated structure is achieved, which allows the "synchro" movement as well as the tilting of only the seat and where the entire mechanism forms the seat and the attachment of the two lateral arms. In addition, in order to further improve the ergonomics of the chair, it is provided that the portion of the frame projecting from the plate and forming the back is interchangeable.

The finding is now described in detail with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, given only as a non-limiting example with the aid of the attached drawing tables, wherein:

- Figures 1 ,2 (Table I) represent two elevation views of a chair, provided with the device pursuant to the finding, at two different tilts of the seat; - Figure 3 (Table II) represents a detailed front view of the device pursuant to the finding;

- Figure 4 represents a plan view, sectioned along the line Ill-Ill of fig. 2, of the device pursuant to the finding;

- Figures 5-6 (Table III) represent a plan view and a front view, sectioned, of the tilt device of the seat;

- Figures 7-8 (Table IV) respectively represent the sectioned side and front views of the stop push rod, in the first seat position;

- Figures 9-10 (Table IV) respectively represent the sectioned side and front views of the stop push rod, in the second seat position. As is visible in figures 1 and 2, an office chair of "synchro" movement type, i.e. with simultaneous and synchronised tilting of the seat "S1 " and the back "S2", provided with an elastic damper "C" and the support column "P", all according to in se known modes, provides for a seat adjustment device, indicated overall with the reference number 1 , composed of a fork 2, shape as a "V", in whose vertex the end "P1 " of the seat support column is fit, f<s well as the lower attachment end "CI " of the elastic damper.

At the end of the two arms 2.1 of the fork 2, at the front part of the seat, two connecting rods 3 are idly pivoted (ref. KI ), which support a front transverse connection pin 4, fit in an idle manner (ref. K2).

On the front transverse pin 4, the following are idly inserted: the upper attachment end of the elastic damper C2, in a central position, and a first pair of blocks 5, laterally arranged with respect to the aforesaid attachment point and projecting from the plate 7, which constitutes the seat "S1 ". On the two arms 2.1 of the for\ 2, in a substantially median position, the two opposing, lower ends of a frame 1 0 are pivoted (ref. K3) in an idle manner. Such "L"-shaped frame 1 0, in addition to vertically supporting the back "S2", supports and moves the plate/seat 7 "Sl ".

The "synchro" movement of the plate/seat 7 is achieved by means of a rear transverse pin 1 1 , supported by the side boards 1 0.1 of the frame 1 0, on which a second pair of blocks 6 are idly inserted (ref. K4), these too projecting from the plate 7

In addition, advantageously, the finding provides that, on the plate/seat 7, two arms "Z" of the seat are attached and that the portion 1 0.2 of the frame 1 0, projecting from the plate 7, is removable and substitutable so that there can be a single seat vVith multiple backs "S2".

As is visible from figures 5 onward, the tilt of only the plate/seat 7 is achieved by means of a pair of small elastic push rods, indicated overall with the reference 20, fitted, in an opposite manner, on the rear transverse pin 1 1 and which are engaged on the rear blocks 6.

In particular, each push rod 20 is composed of a shank 21 which, in coupling position, is inserted inside two of the two superimposed seats 22.1 and 22.2, obtained on the block 6 and maintained in position by means of an opposing spring 23, which pushes outward. The releasing action of the shank 21 , in order to allow the tilt of the plate/seat 7, by means of the^rotation of the same on the front pin 4 (ref. K2) and the sliding of the rear pin 1 1 in the lozenge 24, made on the block 6, occurs by means of a fork 25, which is in abutment against a side board 26, integral with the aforesaid shank and where the two contact surfaces 27, between the fork 25 and the two side boards 26, are tilted in a convergent and symmetric manner.

In such a manner, with the longitudinal movement of the fork 25, due to the tilted contact 27, the shank 21 is moved back until it completely exits from the corresponding seat 22.1 or 22.2, and thus plate/seat 7 is unlocked which is positioned with a different tilt.

As can be inferred from the observation of the figures, the device 1 pursuant to the finding comprises a mechanism articulated in the articulation points "K1 "-"I<2"-"K3"-"K4", which is far more simplified with respect to existing embodiments and allows obtaining considerably advantages also from the standpoint of simplicity and reliability of use.

Of course, different embodiments of the finding are possible as a function of the components employed, without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1 . ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, of the type with so-called "synchro" movement, i.e. with simultaneous and synchronised tilting of the seat (Sl ) and the back (S2), said chair being provided with an elastic damper (C) and a support column (P), said adjustment device (1 ) being characterised in that it comprises a (V)-shaped fork (Z) in whose vertex (2.1 ) the end (P1 ) of the support column (P) of the seat (Sl ) is fit along with the lower attachment end (Cl ) of the elastic damper, two connecting rods (3) being idly pivoted in (K1 ) at the end of the two arms (2.1 ) of the fork (Z), at the front part of the seat, connecting rods (3) which idly support a transverse connection pin (4) on which the upper attachment end of the elastic damper is idly inserted, in a central position, along with a first pair of blocks (5), laterally arranged with respect to the aforesaid attachment point and which are projecting from a plate (7) which forms the seat (S1 ).

2. ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to claim 1 , characterised in that on the two arms (2.1 ) of the fork (2), the two opposite lower ends of an (L)-shaped frame (1 0) are idly pivoted in (K3), and such frame (1 0), in addition to supporting the back (S2), supports and moves the plate/seat (7/S1 ).

3. ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to claim 2, characterised in that the "synchro" movement of the plate/seat (7) is achieved by means of a φar transverse pin (1 1 ), supported by the side boards ( 10.1 ) of the frame (1 0), on which a second pair of blocks (6), projecting from the plate/seat (7), is idly inserted (K4).

4. ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a mechanism articulated in the articulation points (Kl ,K2,K3,K4) which is supported by the plate (7), which directly forms the seat (S 1 ).

5. ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tilt of the single seat (Sl ), after the user has pre-selected and locked the L-shaped frame (10) in a specific tilt, i.e. the tin* of several degrees of the plate (7) which acts as a seat, is achieved by attaching two elastic push rods (20) on the second transverse pin (1 1 ), the rear one, such elastic push rods (20), manoeuvred by the user, being fit in corresponding seats (22) made on the two corresponding rear blocks (6) projecting from the aforesaid plate (7), which acts as seat (Sl ).

6. ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to claim 5, characterised in that each small push rod (20) is composed of a shank (21 ), which in coupling position is inserted inside two of the two superimposed seats (22.1 , 22.2), made on the block (6) and is maintained in position by means of an opposing spring (23) which pushes outward.

7. ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to claim 6, characterised in that the action of releasing the shank (21 ), in order to allow the tilting of the plate/seat (7) by means of the rotation of the same on the front pin (4) and the sliding of the rear pin (1 1 ) in the lozenge (24) made on the block (6), occurs by means of a fork (25) which is placed in abutment against a side board (26) integral with the aforesaid shank.

8. ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to claim 7, characterised in that the two contact surfaces (27) between the fork (25) and the two side boards (26) are tilted in a convergent and symmetric manner.

9. ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to claim 8, characterised in that, with the longitudinal movement of the fork (25), due to the tilted contact (27), the shank (21 ) moves back until it completely exits from the corresponding seat (22.1 ,22.2) and thus there is the unlocking of the plate/seat (7), which is positioned with a different tilt.

1 0. ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plate (7) which acts as a seat (S1 ) supports the arms (Z) of the seat. - P. -

1 1 . ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A CHAIR FOR OFFICE USE, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the portion (1 0.2) of the frame (1 0) projecting from the plate (7), forming the support for the back (S2), is interchangeable.