WO2014021796A1 - Structure de support réglable - Google Patents

Structure de support réglable Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014021796A1
WO2014021796A1 PCT/TH2013/000033 TH2013000033W WO2014021796A1 WO 2014021796 A1 WO2014021796 A1 WO 2014021796A1 TH 2013000033 W TH2013000033 W TH 2013000033W WO 2014021796 A1 WO2014021796 A1 WO 2014021796A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
support structure
seat
seat pan
adjustable
adjustable support
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/TH2013/000033
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Klaus Jürgen KUMMER
Original Assignee
Kummer Klaus Juergen
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kummer Klaus Juergen filed Critical Kummer Klaus Juergen
Publication of WO2014021796A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014021796A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
    • A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
    • A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
    • A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
    • A47C1/03255—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C3/00—Chairs characterised by structural features; Chairs or stools with rotatable or vertically-adjustable seats
    • A47C3/02—Rocking chairs
    • A47C3/025—Rocking chairs with seat, or seat and back-rest unit elastically or pivotally mounted in a rigid base frame
    • A47C3/026—Rocking chairs with seat, or seat and back-rest unit elastically or pivotally mounted in a rigid base frame with central column, e.g. rocking office chairs; Tilting chairs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
    • A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
    • A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
    • A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
    • A47C1/03261—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest characterised by elastic means
    • A47C1/03272—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest characterised by elastic means with coil springs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an adjustable support structure or device that is used to sup- port the weight of a person, in particular a seated person and especially to an adjustable support structure or device, that is adjustable so as to alter the seating or reclining position of a subject resting on the structure.
  • the background to the invention will therefore be described in the next section of this specification with specific reference to a seating support structure. Background to the Invention
  • Support structures for use in offices and other situations, which allow altering the seat height, seat inclination and reclining position of a subject are known, (Pat. US 93/05731, Pat. JP 2011/073227, Pat. US 2008/052208, Pat. US 2005/024213, Pat. US 5,575,095).
  • many of the known forms of support structures suffer from some disadvantages, either by not acknowledging the current status of biomechanical science or focus only on some limited parts of the er- gonomic implications of the seated person.
  • the current embodiment of the invention is primarily, but not exclusively, focused on an office chair application.
  • Office chairs are known to comprise at least five portions:
  • Portion (A) supports the upper portions (B, C, D & E), can be equipped with glides or swiveling wheels for mobility while seated and may contain a mechanical or pneumatic device to allow a height adjustment of the four upper portions.
  • Portions (B) and (C) form the heart and center of this invention and enable an articulated movement of a seated person from a forward leaning position to a backward relaxing position, which can be secured in infinite by the use of frictional mechanical and/or pneumatic means.
  • Portion (D) is attached to and follows the seat so as to maintain a constant equal and propor- tional correct height for the lower arm of a seated person.
  • Portion (E) can be configured to be either permanent fixed to portion (C) at a preset particular angle, or pivotally hinged to portions (B) and (C) to allow for a synchronized alteration of the backrest, e.g. lumbar support, with the imaginative pivotal fulcrum in the hip joint.
  • the backrest e.g. lumbar support
  • the present invention aims to provide a support structure, which recognizes and supports the current state of anthropological and biomechanical facts.
  • the current invention aims to allow and to encourage the 'sitting' person into shifting the seating position convenient and often - in an easy understandable and a self- explanatory way.
  • the present invention generally provides a support structure for supporting a person in a seated position, the support structure comprising:
  • a linear for- and upward or back- and downward moving apparatus to carry the weight of a person seated upon the support structure
  • a frame attached to the support structure to support the upper body portion, when leaning back (backrest), which may be fixed to the seat (as explained later in the description) or connected in such a way, that it allows for angle variations of the seated person forward or backward either synchronized or individually adjustable;
  • the support structure is incorporated into a chair, in particular a work or office chair, on which the subject may recline backward or lean forward in a linear single movement, whereby the transverse pivotal axis is the knee joint as the reference fulcrum, meaning, while the upper thigh is evenly supported and in permanent contact with the seat pan surface in its entire length, the legs remain resting square on the floor.
  • the compulsory dynamic movement allows the seated person to maintain throughout the motion a torso-to-thigh angle larger than 90 degrees.
  • the incline of the seat pan is achieved and controlled by two pairs of transverse connected pivotally hinged levers directly under the seat pan, which force the seat pan to move on a compulsory hinged parallelogram with uneven legs to describe an imaginative curved path with the fulcrum in the knee joint.
  • a backrest to seat angle adjustment can be incorporated, either through a compulsory synchronized movement with the seat pan movement or by independent manually adjustable means.
  • the seat pan needs to be supported by means of a force to lift a weight, which can vary considerably depending on the weight of the person positioned on the seat pan.
  • a force to lift a weight which can vary considerably depending on the weight of the person positioned on the seat pan.
  • this force available, such as leaf springs, coil springs or pneumatic gas springs.
  • the weight variations of different seated persons require an adjustment of the tension or the force of the uplifting support device, which can be achieved by moving one of the hinge points of the device on a slope on sliders and thus shortening or lengthening the distance between the pivoting points of the lifting force.
  • the adjustable support structure would be a floating device, meaning, that with a corresponding adjustment of the spring to the weight of the seated person, the adjustable support structure would allow to balance the seated body and use the body weight to move into a forward elevated posture or into a relaxed backward reclining posture in a compulsory singular 'floating' movement without obstruction or effort.
  • the adjustable support structure must also comprise means for securing (locking) the structure in particular infinite angular positions.
  • the means of locking can be achieved in several ways, either by a serial clutch plate block, locked transversely through a cam lever or by a screw-clamping device. The easiest means of locking the movement would be through a pneumatic gas spring with a lockable chamber valve.
  • the adjustable support structure would have only one releasable locking detent means for the entire structure of the seat rest support and the arrest of the seat pan movement in any inclination.
  • a second means of lever or other device would be provided for the height adjustment and detention of the means of the uplifting force in portion A of the current embodiment.
  • the limitations of the terminal positions of the backward and forward movement of the seat pan can be controlled by various means, either by limiting the movement of the weight lifting device through the length of the slots it moves in, or, in case of employing a gas spring, the length limitation of its stem movement.
  • the geometry of the current invention which could be described as a multi pivoted parallelogram cantilever, contains the possibility of bigger movements, than described in the present embodiment, such as extending its linear curve movement to a further forward tilting seat angle, for example to serve as a stand up help. Or with a further backward tilting angle to allow the user to approach the so-called zero posture, whereby the torso-to-thigh body angle may reach the desired natural 135-degrees.
  • the present embodiment is designed to accommodate the most common seating situations in the current office environment. It also provides a solution for the fast gaining recognition and importance, to employ height adjustable tables in the office working environment aimed to solve the back pain problems, by switching effortlessly between working in a low sitting position and an elevated high up working position with infinite positions in between.
  • the construction and movement of the present embodiment also offers to be ap- plicable in many other situations, where a person needs an elevated seating support for various tasks, which traditionally can only be achieved with two or more different chairs.
  • Fig. 1 depicts a schematic view of an office chair construction in accordance with and comprising the present invention
  • Fig. 2 depicts a schematic view of the anatomic premise which the current embodiment is referring to and its modulations in 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3;
  • Fig. 3 depicts a schematic view of the current situation of seat structures offered to the marked at present
  • Fig. 4 depict a schematic view of the objective, which the current embodiment is
  • Fig. 5 is a view from the side of the objective of the current embodiment showing first a generally backward tilted and second a generally forward tilted position;
  • Fig. 6 is a view from the side of the objective of the current embodiment showing the objective angles of a generally backward tilted position and a generally forward tilted position;
  • Fig. 7 depicts a side view of the assembly of the support structure and its members referring to the assumptions of Fig. 2 - 6 in the lower relaxed reclining position;
  • Fig. 8 depicts a side view assembly of the support structure and its members and proportions as shown in Fig 7, but raised to the active forward tilted position;
  • Fig. 9 depicts a diagram describing the proportions of the articulation of the present embodiment with a fixed backrest in the lower backward reclining position and the fulcrum reference point of the knee joint;
  • Fig. 10 depicts a diagram as in Fig. 9, but in the higher forward reclining position and the fulcrum reference point of the knee joint;
  • Fig. 11 depicts a diagram as in Fig. 9 in the lower backward reclining position with an individually adjustable backrest and its possible angle;
  • Fig. 12 depicts a diagram as in Fig. 9 in the higher forward inclining position with an in- dividually adjustable backrest and its possible angle;
  • Fig. 13 depicts a diagram as in Fig. 9 in the lower backward reclining position with a synchronized backrest adjustment and its possible angle;
  • Fig. 14 depicts a diagram as in Fig. 9 in the higher forward inclining position with a synchronized backrest adjustment and its possible angle; Detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the Invention
  • Fig. 1 generally depicts an office chair and schematically represents a possible embodiment of the invention.
  • the seating support structure generally comprises five elements:
  • the base A is structured as a classic 5-prong rolling leg frame containing a telescopic column, which carries a gas cylinder, which can be adjusted in height in order to adapt to the specific requirements of each users height for such a seat support structure.
  • the structure A acts as a mount, upon which the structure B is supported.
  • the support structure B and the seat pan C which form the heart of this current invention and comprise a plurality of portions, which will be described in detail below.
  • Fig. 2, 2.1, 2.2, & 2.3 depict the biomechanical background and explanation for the function of the current invention and describes part of the human skeleton, in particular the arrangement of the bone structure and movement around the hip joint.
  • Fig. 2 shows the bones attached to the hip joint and its relative angles when standing up and when sitting on a seat surface at a 90- degree angle. It is today a scientific established fact, that the maximum angle of movement between hip bone and pelvis is 60 degrees, while the remaining 30 degrees take place in the lumbar part of the spine directly above the pelvis, the result of which is a conversion of the natural spine curve (lordosis) into the opposite curve (kyphosis).
  • Fig. 1 the maximum angle of movement between hip bone and pelvis is 60 degrees, while the remaining 30 degrees take place in the lumbar part of the spine directly above the pelvis, the result of which is a conversion of the natural spine curve (lordosis) into the opposite curve (kyphosis).
  • Fig. 2.1 shows the so-called zero position, in which the natural spine curve is still maintained, while all muscles controlling the bending process, on the thigh, around the buttock and the lower back are in a relaxed state, neither tensed or depleted.
  • Fig. 2.2 shows the typical seat configuration achieved with the majority of seating devices available in the market.
  • Fig. 2.3 shows the actual configuration, when executing a task that requires a short distance between the eye and the object to be observed on a flat table, like in writing or drawing. In both cases the muscles of the lower back and the lower thigh muscles are increasingly tensed, while the upper thigh muscles are increasingly depleted.
  • Fig. 3 depict the seating configuration and the corresponding torso-to thigh angles of a traditional seating support structure in its most forward and most backward position and illustrates the effect of the limitation of seat support structures most commonly present in the market.
  • Fig. 4 depicts one of the claims and the aim of the current invention to modify the seating support structure in such a way, that a torso-to-thigh angle of 100-degrees or more can be maintained throughout the entire elevation movement from the most lower back recline to the upper most forward incline.
  • This should allow the curve of the spine in the lumbar region to be main- tained as close as possible to its natural curve, which requires a forward tilting angle of the seat pan in alignment with the thigh corresponding to the knee joint.
  • Fig. 5 describes the rotational movements involved in the articulation process of the seat pan elevation, whereas 5.
  • a represents the pivotal location of the hip joint and 5.
  • 5.b describes an arc of a circle relative to the pivotal point of the knee joint 5.
  • 5.c and 5.d an arc of a circle relative to the pivotal point of the foot joint 5.e, which remains stationary through the whole movement.
  • Fig. 6 describes the angles, the current invention claims to achieve through the multi pivotal levered elevation of the seat pan, whereas during the entire movement in the forward inclined position a lower-to-upper thigh angle of 100 to 110 degrees and in the lower backward reclined position a torso-to-thigh angle of at least 115 - 125 degrees should be maintainable.
  • Fig. 7 depict a schematic illustration of the seating support structure and the portions involved to achieve the claimed angles and movements described above.
  • the portions generally take the form of levers or like structures. In the illustrated embodiment the portions shown are:
  • hinge point 11 may be moveable in an oblong slot 13, wherein the hinge point can be altered over a defined distance, so as to modify the pre-tension of the uplifting force to compensate variations of the weight of a seated person.
  • the upper forward pivotal hinged lever 5 is at its lower end hinged pivotal to the front of bearing base 2 in point 10 and at its upper end to the upper connecting bar 6, which forms the seat pan support 6, in point 14.
  • the lower backward pivotal hinged lever is at its lower point pivotal hinged to the bearing base structure 2 in point 9 and at its upper pivotal point to the upper connecting bar, which forms the seat pan support 6 at point 12.
  • Fig. 8 shows the support structure moved into a desired second forward inclined position and how it enables the subject supported by the structure to be moved from a relative lower backward reclining position to a relative elevated forward seated position (and vice versa), or to any position along a continuum between those two extremities.
  • the range of movement between the first and any desired second position is controlled and limited solely by the extend of movement permissible of portion 3, the uplifting force device employed in accordance with the particular design of the support structure in use in any particular instance. It also illustrates the alignment of the seat pan 7 with the knee joint fulcrum 8 and the positional parallel alignment to the knee joint in the higher upward inclined position.
  • the extend of the limitation of the upward or downward movement of portion 6, the support base for the seat pan portion 7, can be altered in both directions by modifying the extend of travel of the uplifting force 3 and the prolongation of the levers 4 and 5, thus achieving either further reclination backward or inclination forward, where the seat pan is nearing a point of sup- porting a person into a stand up position.
  • Fig. 9 depict the in Fig. 7 described support structure with a fixed backrest arrangement attached to the seat pan support portion 6, in a 105-degree configuration between seat and back support and illustrates the alignment of the seat pan 7 with the knee joint fulcrum 8 and the positional parallel alignment to the knee joint in the lower reclined position.
  • Fig. 10 depict the in Fig. 8 described support structure with a fixed backrest arrangement attached to the seat pan support portion 6, in a 105 degree configuration and illustrates the alignment of the seat pan 7 with the knee joint fulcrum 8 and the positional parallel alignment to the knee joint in the higher upward inclined position.
  • Fig. 11 depict the in Fig. 9 described support structure in the lower backward relined position with an individual adjustable backrest arrangement hinged to the seat pan support portion 6 in pivot point 12 and illustrating an opening of the body angle approximating 130 degrees or the zero-position as described in Fig. 6.
  • Fig. 12 depict the in Fig. 8 described support structure in the higher forward inclined posi- tion with an individual adjustable backrest arrangement attached to the seat pan support portion 6 in pivot point 12, with a 105 degree as described in Fig. 6.
  • Fig. 13 depict the in Fig. 7 described support structure in the lower backward relined position with a synchronized movement of the backrest.
  • the movement is compulsory controlled through a modification (4.1) of portion 4, which now is extended into the backrest support structure and pivotal hinged as portion 4 in pivot point 9 to the bearing base 2 and point 12 to the seat pan support portion 6, and in the present embodiment shown with a predetermined body opening angle of 120 degrees.
  • Fig. 14 depict the in Fig. 13 described support structure in the higher forward inclined position with a synchronized movement of the backrest with a predetermined body-opening angle of 105 degrees.
  • the locking of the up or down movement of the support structure depends on the form of device employed for the uplifting force. If the force is generated by a progressive coil spring, the detention or locking could be employed through means of a multi-layered clutch plate block, which arrests the movement of the pivoted parallelogram levers by means of a cam-shaped lever, clamping (locking) or releasing the clamp plates transverse and thus allow the spring to extend or to remain stationary.
  • the uplifting force is generated by means of a pneumatic gas spring with a lockable chamber lock, it can be locked infinitely in any position.
  • the locking should be buffeted, so as to absorb or soften the impact of the weight of a person when lowering down upon the seat pan.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un support réglable utilisé en tant que mécanisme de support de siège, dans lequel le siège est déplacé par pivotement d'une position assise inférieure inclinée vers l'arrière dans une position assise supérieure inclinée vers l'avant sur un axe transversal de pivotement ayant pour pivot l'articulation du genou. Cette structure de support réglable comprend une partie d'appui (2), qui est fixée sur des moyens de support verticaux. Deux paires de leviers (4, 5), qui sont articulés transversalement de manière à pouvoir pivoter sur ladite partie (2), forment un parallélogramme avec la base d'appui et une structure de support de siège (6), lequel devient un parallélépipède à deux côtés opposés inégaux dans lequel le levier (4) est plus long que le levier (5), de sorte que la rotation simule la rotation de la cuisse avec le pivot imaginaire se situant dans l'articulation du genou (8), et soutient ainsi uniformément sur l'ensemble de son déplacement et dans sa longueur la cuisse d'une personne assise sur cette structure.
PCT/TH2013/000033 2012-08-03 2013-08-02 Structure de support réglable WO2014021796A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201261679115P 2012-08-03 2012-08-03
US61679115 2012-08-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014021796A1 true WO2014021796A1 (fr) 2014-02-06

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/TH2013/000033 WO2014021796A1 (fr) 2012-08-03 2013-08-02 Structure de support réglable

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019156641A1 (fr) * 2018-02-07 2019-08-15 CHAICHANA, Suladda Structure de support de siège réglable
US10383448B1 (en) 2018-03-28 2019-08-20 Haworth, Inc. Forward tilt assembly for chair seat
EP4084761A4 (fr) * 2019-12-30 2024-01-24 Inventor Group Gmbh Mécanisme à ressort pour un dispositif d'assise

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1688229A (zh) * 2002-06-18 2005-10-26 赫克特·瑟伯 动态平衡座椅组件
CN101742946A (zh) * 2007-03-13 2010-06-16 赛普设计联合股份有限公司 坐具的座位与靠背之间角度可调节的坐具装置
WO2011141107A1 (fr) * 2010-04-15 2011-11-17 Armin Sander Mécanisme de réglage d'une force de rappel agissant sur le dossier d'un siège et siège de bureau doté d'un mécanisme de ce type
CN102481053A (zh) * 2009-08-26 2012-05-30 维特拉专利股份公司 用于椅子的机构

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1688229A (zh) * 2002-06-18 2005-10-26 赫克特·瑟伯 动态平衡座椅组件
CN101742946A (zh) * 2007-03-13 2010-06-16 赛普设计联合股份有限公司 坐具的座位与靠背之间角度可调节的坐具装置
CN102481053A (zh) * 2009-08-26 2012-05-30 维特拉专利股份公司 用于椅子的机构
WO2011141107A1 (fr) * 2010-04-15 2011-11-17 Armin Sander Mécanisme de réglage d'une force de rappel agissant sur le dossier d'un siège et siège de bureau doté d'un mécanisme de ce type

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019156641A1 (fr) * 2018-02-07 2019-08-15 CHAICHANA, Suladda Structure de support de siège réglable
US10383448B1 (en) 2018-03-28 2019-08-20 Haworth, Inc. Forward tilt assembly for chair seat
EP4084761A4 (fr) * 2019-12-30 2024-01-24 Inventor Group Gmbh Mécanisme à ressort pour un dispositif d'assise

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