WO2014166804A1

WO2014166804A1 - Mechanical subassembly for a chair and chair having such a mechanical subassembly

Info

Publication number: WO2014166804A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/056685
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz; Carola Zwick; Roland Zwick; Claudia Plikat
Original assignee: Johann Burkhard Schmitz; Carola Zwick; Roland Zwick
Priority date: 2013-04-08
Filing date: 2014-04-03
Publication date: 2014-10-16
Also published as: DE102013005860A1; EP2983562B8; EP2983562A1; EP2983562B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanical subassembly (2) for a chair (1), a base element (3), a back element and a seat element (5) being able to be articulated to the mechanical subassembly (2), the mechanical subassembly (2) comprising a housing portion (6) which can be connected to the base element (2) and at least one connection member (V1, V2) which can be connected to the seat element (5) or the back element and the connection member (V1, V2) being pivotably articulated to the housing portion (6).

Description

Mechanical subassembly for a chair and chair having such a mechanical subassembly

The invention relates to a mechanical subassembly for a chair and a chair having such a mechanical subassembly.

DE 33 35 463 Al discloses a mechanical subassembly for a chair, a base element, a back element and a seat element being able to be articulated to the mechanical subassembly, the mechanical subassembly comprising a housing portion which can be connected to the base element and at least one connection member which can be connected to the seat element or to the back element, and the connection member being pivotably articulated to the housing portion.

An object of the invention is to propose a mechanical subassembly for a chair or a chair having a mechanical subassembly, the mechanical subassembly being able to be preassembled in a simple and time-saving manner.

This object is achieved based on the features of the preamble of claim 1 or 16 by the characterising features of claim 1 or 16, respectively. Advantageous and expedient developments are set out in the dependent claims .

The mechanical subassembly for a chair according to the invention comprises at least a first pair of flange means, the flange means being connected to the housing portion, the first flange means and the second flange means of the first pair being orientated with respect to each other in such a manner that they are located with their geometric axes on a common longitudinal axis, the connection member being constructed as a curved member, the curved member comprising a connection element and a pair of counter-flange means, the counter-flange means being connected to each other by means of the connection element, the first counter- flange means and the second counter-flange means being orientated with respect to each other in such a manner that they are located with their geometric axes on a common longitudinal axis, the flange means and the counter-flange means being adapted to each other in terms of their construction and arrangement in space in such a manner that, when the longitudinal axes are parallel, they can be coupled to each other in an assembly direction which extends orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axes in such a manner that the longitudinal axes are located in the coupled position on a common rotation axis and the curved member with the counter-flange means, after pivoting with respect to the housing portion about the rotation axis through a pivot angle of at least 60 and a maximum of 120 through an additional pivot angle of at least 30 in all directions orthogonal with respect to the rotation axis, is retained on the housing portion in such a manner that the two longitudinal axes remain on the rotation axis in the event of tensile loads and pressure loads in the mentioned orthogonal directions and thus couple the housing portion and the curved member to each other in a pivoting manner about the rotation axis. The housing portion and the connection member which is constructed as a curved member can thereby be readily connected to each other with a simple movement process and without the use of a tool. It is consequently possible for the assembly of the curved member (s) on the housing portion to be integrated in a production line with processing times predetermined for the individual assembly steps since the assembly step of coupling the curved member to the housing portion can be carried out in a rapid and failsafe manner. The central notion of the invention is consequently a tool-free connection of curved members to the housing portion, which can be carried out, in a similar manner to a closure movement with a spanner, without applying pressure or tensile forces. According to a first construction variant, there is provision to allow the counter-flange means to engage around the flange means, the counter-flange means being constructed as claws for this purpose and the flange means being constructed as axial stumps for this purpose. Axial stumps can be constructed in a simple manner on the housing portion, there being provision for the axial stumps to be constructed integrally with the housing portion and for the housing portion and the axial stumps to be constructed in particular from aluminium. Alternatively, there is also provision for the axial stumps to be secured and/or welded by means of pins and/or screws.

With respect to the curved member, according to the first construction variant, there is provision for the first claw and the second claw to be connected to the curved member and in particular to be constructed integrally with the curved member. Owing to the integral construction of the curved member, the assembly is further facilitated since no additional preassembly of the curved member is required. According to a second construction variant, there is provision to allow the flange means to engage around the counter-flange means, the flange means being constructed as claws for this purpose and the counter- flange means being constructed as axial stumps for this purpose. Claws can be readily constructed on the housing portion, there being provision for the claws to be constructed integrally with the housing portion and for the housing portion and the axial stumps to be constructed in particular from aluminium. Alternatively, there is also provision for the claws to be secured and/or welded by means of pins and/or screws . With respect to the curved member, there is provision according to the first construction variant for the axial stumps to be connected to the curved member and in particular to be constructed integrally with the curved member. Owing to the integral construction of the curved member, the assembly is further facilitated since no additional preassembly of the curved member is required . There is further provision for each axial stump to be constructed in such a manner that the axial stump is constructed as a circular cylinder, whose covering face comprises at least one and in particular two opposing flattened portions and for each claw to be constructed in such a manner that it comprises two bent inner jaw surfaces. A shape pairing is thereby achieved, by means of which both a pivot movement is supported and a spanner function is produced. There is also provision for the mechanical subassembly to comprise as a first curved member a pivot arm which can be connected to the seat element and for the mechanical subassembly to comprise as a second curved member a back connection which can be connected to the back element. Owing to such an embodiment, both the curved member for the seat element and the curved member for the back connection can be articulated to the housing during production in a simple, rapid and operationally reliable manner.

Owing to the pivot arm being connected to the back connection by means of the seat element, a functionally reliable chair can be produced with minimal complexity. There is further provision for the mechanical subassembly to comprise a cartridge which can be inserted into the housing portion which is constructed as a housing lower portion and to comprise at least one leaf spring, the mechanical subassembly further comprising as integral components at least one adjustable support and an adjustment mechanism for the support, the cartridge comprising at least one travel path, the support being guided on at least one of the travel paths formed on the cartridge, and the adjustment mechanism which moves the support being supported on the cartridge and the leaf spring being fixed with a first end region in a receiving member in the housing lower portion, resting on the support with a central region and supporting the back connection with a second end region in such a manner that the leaf spring is bent over the support. The assembly of the mechanical subassembly is thereby further simplified since a preassembly of the integral components on the cartridge is enabled and the cartridge can be connected to the housing portion together with the preassembled individual components. There is also provision for the mechanical subassembly to be provided with at least one intermediate bearing, the intermediate bearing being arranged between an operational pairing comprising the flange means and counter-flange means or axial stump and claw. By means of an intermediate bearing comprising a material with good sliding properties, life-long ease of operation of the pivot connection is achieved. Furthermore, tolerances can be compensated for by means of an intermediate bearing.

There is provision for the intermediate bearing to be connected to the axial stump so as to be rotationally secure about the axis of rotation, the intermediate bearing being able to be placed on the axial stump in the direction of the extent of the rotation axis and being constructed for cooperation with the claw as a circular cylinder whose covering face comprises at least one and in particular two opposing flattened portions. Owing to an intermediate bearing, which is constructed on an axial stump which is configured for a key-like movement, when a suitable counter-bearing is used, the possibility is afforded of connecting the axial stump directly to a claw which is adapted to the axial stump or of connecting the axial stump to a claw which is adapted to the intermediate bearing with an intermediate bearing being interposed. Owing to positive-locking cooperation between the intermediate bearing and axial stump, an undesirable torsion of the intermediate bearing with respect to the axial stump is effectively prevented, without the intermediate bearing having to be adhesively bonded, screwed or pinned to the axial stump.

Alternatively, there is also provision for the intermediate bearing to be connected to the claw in a rotationally secure manner. As long as the claws are arranged on the curved member, a preassembly of the intermediate bearings on the curved member can be carried out and consequently means only one additional production step on a supply component. There is also provision for a drive device for the adjustment mechanism to be provided with a drive means, which is guided on one of the rotation axes into the housing portion, both the housing portion and the relevant axial stump and the relevant claw having a through-hole for this purpose, the drive means being guided by means of a channel which is formed by these through-holes into an inner space of the housing portion. A particularly compact structure of the mechanical subassembly is thereby possible since the drive means never limits the movement freedom of the curved member in a corresponding arrangement. Finally, there is provision according to the invention to provide a chair with a mechanical subassembly, the chair comprising a base element, a back element and a seat element in addition to the mechanical subassembly. Such a chair can be assembled in a simple and time- saving manner owing to the structure of the mechanical subassembly .

Other details of the invention are described in the drawings with reference to schematically illustrated embodiments .

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a mechanical subassembly according to the invention which is completed by a base element, by a seat element and a backrest to form a complete chair;

Figure 2 is a front view of the chair shown in Figure 1 in the direction of the arrow II;

Figure 3 is a sectioned view of the chair shown in Figure 1 according to the line of section III-III shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of a housing portion of the mechanical subassembly shown in Figure 1, illustrated alone;

Figures 5 to 8 are schematic illustrations of the assembly steps for securing two curved members of the mechanical subassembly to the housing portion;

Figures 9a and 9b are two detailed views of an axial stump formed on the housing portion from two different perspectives ;

Figures 9c and 9d show an intermediate bearing which is provided for assembly on the axial stump shown in Figures 9a and 9b, from two different perspectives;

Figures 9e and 9f are two illustrations of the axial stump, with the intermediate bearing placed thereon; Figure 10 is a plan view of a cartridge which is arranged in the housing portion; Figure 11 is a plan view of a construction variant of the mechanical subassembly.

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a chair 1, which comprises a mechanical subassembly 2. The chair 1 comprises a base element 3, a back element 4 (see Figure 3) and a seat element 5. The mechanical subassembly 2 comprises a housing portion 6, as a first connection member VI a pivot arm 7, and as a second connection member V2 a back connection 8. In this instance, the base element 3 is connected to the housing portion 6 and carries it. The back element 4 (see Figure 3) is further articulated to the housing portion 6 by means of the back connection 8 and the seat element 5 is further articulated to the housing portion 6 by means of the pivot arm 7. The pivot arm 7 is connected to the housing portion 6 so as to be able to be pivoted about a pivot axis S7 and the back connection 8 is connected to the housing portion 6 so as to be able to be pivoted about a pivot axis S8. The seat element 5 is connected to the pivot arm 7 so as to be able to be pivoted about a pivot axis S57. The seat element 5 is further connected to the back connection 8 so as to be able to be pivoted about a pivot axis S58. The mechanical subassembly 2 further comprises a cartridge 9 which can be inserted into the housing portion 6 and two leaf springs 10, 11, the leaf spring 11 being completely covered by the leaf spring 10 in the illustration shown in Figure 1. As integral components 12 which are connected to the cartridge 9, the mechanical subassembly 2 further comprises two supports 13, 14 and an adjustment mechanism 15 which acts on both supports 13, 14. In this instance, the second support 14 is completely covered by the first support 13 in the side view shown in Figure 1. The cartridge 9 further comprises as integral components 12 four travel paths 16 to 19 for the two supports 13, 14. With respect to the travel paths 16 to 19, reference is also made to Figure 10, in which the mechanical subassembly 2 is illustrated as a plan view. The two leaf springs 10, 11 are retained with first end regions 10a, 11a in receiving members 20, 21, which are formed on the housing portion 6. In a central region 10b, lib, the two leaf springs 10, 11 rest on the associated supports 13 or 14, respectively. With a second end region 10c, 11c, the two leaf springs 10, 11 support the back connection 8. The back connection 8 rests with stops 22, 23 on upper sides lOd, lid of the leaf springs 10, 11 and is consequently supported on the leaf springs 10, 11. The supports 13, 14 can be moved together under the leaf springs 10, 11 in movement directions x or x' so that a force F with which the leaf springs 10, 11 counteract a load transmitted by the back connection 8 can be changed. In order to displace the supports 13, 14, the adjustment mechanism 15 is driven by a drive device 24. To this end, the drive device 24 comprises a hand wheel 25 and a shaft 26 which is connected to the hand wheel 25 and which is connected to a spindle 27 of the adjustment mechanism 15. In addition to the spindle 27, the adjustment mechanism 15 comprises two bearing blocks 28, 29 which are connected to the cartridge 9 and a carrier 30. In this instance, the carrier 30 is secured to the cartridge 9 against rotation and, dependent on the rotation direction of the spindle 27 which is actuated by the hand wheel 25 by means of the shaft 26, is consequently transported in the movement direction x or in the movement direction x'. The two supports 13, 14 are connected to the carrier 30 and accordingly move together therewith on the travel paths 16 to 19 in the movement direction x or in the movement direction x' . The mechanical subassembly 2 further shows a through- hole 31, which extends through the housing portion 6 and the cartridge 9. As schematically illustrated in Figure 10, the through-hole 31 serves to receive a connection means 32 which is constructed as a pin 33. The cartridge 9 is secured to the housing portion 6 by means of the pin 33, the cartridge 9 having a projection 34 by means of which it engages below the housing portion 6. As can be seen from the plan view of Figure 10, the housing portion 6 extends around the cartridge 9 with three adjacent side walls 35, 36, 37, the projection 34 engaging below the side wall 36. Owing to the three side walls 35 to 37, the housing portion 6 forms a trough 38 in the recess 39 of which the cartridge 9 is located in the assembled state and is fixed.

In Figure 1, there is indicated with dashed lines a housing upper portion 40, which covers the cartridge 9, the leaf springs 10, 11 and the integral components 12 and receives them in a receiving space 41 which is surrounded by the housing portion 6 and the housing upper portion 40. The housing portion 6 thus forms a housing lower portion 6a.

The housing lower portion 6 (see Figure 10) is constructed as an aluminium cast component and comprises at the side walls 35 and 37 thereof flange means 42 and 43 for pivotable articulation of the pivot arm 7 illustrated in Figure 1. Furthermore, the housing portion 6 comprises at the side walls 35, 37 thereof flange means 44, 45 for articulation of the back connection 8 illustrated in Figure 1. The flange means 42 to 45 are constructed integrally with the side walls 35, 37. According to one construction variant of the invention, there is also provision for the flange means to be screwed and/or pinned and/or welded to the side walls . In Figure 10 which has already been mentioned, there is illustrated as a plan view a completely preassembled module 46 which is inserted into the housing portion 6. In this instance, the completely preassembled module 46 comprises the cartridge 9, the leaf springs 10, 11 and the integral components 12. The integral components 12 are individually the supports 13, 14 and the adjustment mechanism 15, which comprises the spindle 27, the bearing blocks 28, 29 and the carrier 30 and the travel paths 16 to 19. The support 13 is guided on the travel paths 16, 17 and the support 14 is guided on the travel paths 18, 19. In order to be able to better identify the details, the leaf spring 10 is illustrated in a partially broken away state. It can further be seen in Figure 10 that the supports 13, 14 are guided on the carrier 30 so as to be able to be displaced perpendicularly relative to the displacement direction x or x' in a raising or lowering direction y or y' (see Figure 1) . Dovetail guides 49, 50 are used in this instance as sliding guides 47, 48. It is thereby possible for the supports 13, 14 to follow an extent of the travel paths 16, 17 or 18, 19 without tilting and/or jamming.

The flange means 42, 43 schematically shown in Figure 10 form a first pair FM1 and the flange means 44, 45 schematically shown in Figure 10 form a second pair FM2. Geometric axes G42 and G43 or G44 and G45 of the flange means 42 - 45 are located on a common longitudinal axis L4243 or L4445, respectively.

Figure 2 is a front view of the chair 1 illustrated in Figure 1 in the direction of the arrow II. In this front view, it can be seen that the first connection member VI, which is formed by the pivot arm 7, is constructed as a first curved member Bl . The first curved member Bl comprises an H-shaped connection element VE1 and a first pair GFM 1 of counter-flange means 201, 202. In this instance, geometric axes G201 and G202 of the counter-flange means 201, 202 are located on a common longitudinal axis L201202. In Figure 2, together with Figures 1 and 10, it can be seen that the common longitudinal axis L4243 of the flange means 42, 43 and the common longitudinal axis L201202 of the counter-flange means 201, 202 are located on a common axis of rotation Dl . The housing portion 6 and the seat element 5 can further be seen in Figure 2. In this instance, the seat element 5 is pivotably articulated to the connection member VI by means of the pivot shaft S57. In a slightly covered state, the hand wheel 25 can also be seen.

Figure 3 is a sectioned view of the chair 1 shown in Figure 1 in accordance with the line of section III-III shown in Figure 1. In this sectioned view, it can be seen that the second connection member V2, which is formed by the back connection 8, is constructed as a second curved member B2. The second curved member B2 comprises an H-shaped connection element VE2 and a second pair GFM2 of counter-flange means 203, 204. In this instance, geometric axes G203 and G204 of the counter-flange means 203, 204 are located on a common longitudinal axis L203204. In Figure 3, together with Figures 1 and 10, it can be seen that the common longitudinal axis L4445 of the flange means 44 and 45 and the common longitudinal axis L203204 of the counter-flange means 203, 204 are located on a common rotation axis D2. In Figure 3, the housing portion 6 and the seat element 5 and the back element 4 which is placed on the back connection can further be seen. In this instance, the seat element 5 is pivotably articulated to the connection member V2 by means of the pivot shaft S58. The leaf springs 10, 11 can further be seen and support the back connection 8, the back connection 8 resting with the stops 22 and 23 thereof on the leaf springs 10, 11 and the leaf springs 10, 11 being guided to this end through openings 205, 206 in the back connection 8. In Figures 4 to 8 with reference to schematic diagrams, the procedure for coupling the first connection member VI and the second connection member V2 to the housing portion 6 is explained. To this end, the connection members VI and V2 are shown in section so that the counter-flange means 201 and 203 thereof can be seen and so that they cover the flange means 42 and 44 which are arranged on the housing portion 6 to the smallest possible extent.

In Figure 4, the housing portion 6 is first illustrated alone as a side view. The two flange means 42 and 44 are arranged on the side wall 35 of the housing portion 6. In contrast to Figure 10, these are not shown schematically in this instance, but instead as a specific embodiment. The flange means 42 and 44 are constructed as axial stumps 207, 208 and have the covering face of a circular cylinder, which has flattened portions 207a, 207b or 208a, 208b at two opposing sides. Of the covering face of a circular cylinder, two opposing remaining covering faces 207c, 207d or 208c, 208d remain on the axial stumps 207, 207.

Figure 5 now also shows the connection members VI and V2 which are provided to be positioned in accordance with the arrow lines on the axial stumps 207, 208. The counter-flange means 201, 203 are constructed in this instance as claws 209, 210 which each have an opening 209a and 210a and bent inner jaws 209b, 209c and 210b, 210c. The openings 209a and 210a are constructed in this instance in such a manner that the axial stumps 207, 208 can be introduced through these between the inner jaws 209b, 209c or 210b and 210c, as shown in Figure 6, when the connection members VI and V2 are orientated in accordance with the flattened portions 207a, 207b or 208a, 208b of the axial stumps which are arranged on the housing portion 6 in a rotationally secure manner. As soon as the common longitudinal axes L4243 and L201202 or L4445 and L203204 form common rotation axes Dl and D2, it is possible to pivot the connection members VI and V2 about the axial stumps 207 and 208.

In Figure 7, the connection members VI and V2 are shown in a position in which they are located in an intermediate position with respect to an initial position shown in Figure 6 and have been pivoted with respect to the initial position through an angle a = + 45 and an angle β = - 45 .

In Figure 8, an operating position is then shown. This is achieved from the initial position by means of pivoting through an angle a = +90 and an angle β = -90 . In the operating position, both remaining covering faces 207c, 207d or 208c, 208d of the axial stumps 207, 208 are in contact with the bent inner jaws 209b, 209c and 210b, 210c of the claws 209 or 210, respectively. In the operating position, the connection members VI and V2, owing to forces which act perpendicularly relative to the rotation axes Dl or D2, cannot be released from the axial stumps 207 or 208. This fixing is also still produced when the connection members are pivoted from the initial position through an angle a = +135 and an angle β = -135 .

In Figures 9a and 9b, the axial stump 207 is illustrated from two different perspectives, the axial stump 207 in this instance additionally having a collar 207e.

Figures 9c and 9d show from two different perspectives an intermediate bearing 211 which is provided to be arranged between a flange and a counter-flange or between an axial stump and a claw in order to reduce the friction between the two components. The intermediate bearing 211 has an aperture 211a which is adapted to the axial stump in such a manner that the intermediate bearing 211 can be placed on the axial stump 207 shown in Figure 9a. In the outer contour thereof, the intermediate bearing has the shape of the axial stump in a slightly enlarged construction. A connection member which is provided for coupling is adapted to the dimensions of the intermediate bearing with the claws thereof. In Figures 9e and 9f, the intermediate bearing 211 placed on the axial stump 207 is illustrated as two views .

In Figure 11, a drive device 301 for an adjustment mechanism 302 is finally shown, the drive device 301 comprising a drive means 303 in the form of a hand wheel 304 and a shaft 305. The shaft 305 is guided into a housing portion 306 rotatably about a rotation axis D305. The shaft 305 is connected to a bevel gear mechanism 307 with respect to the hand wheel 304. The bevel gear mechanism 307 is an integral component of the adjustment mechanism 302, which further comprises a spindle 308, a carrier 309 which is moved by the spindle 308 and a counter-bearing 310. Two supports 311, 312 are coupled to the carrier 309 and are displaced by the adjustment mechanism 302 under leaf springs 313, 314. In order to guide the shaft 305 through, both the housing portion 306 and the relevant axial stump 315, and the relevant claw 316 comprise a through-hole 317, 318, 319. In this instance, the drive means 303 is guided through a channel 320 formed by these through-holes 317, 318, 319 into an inner space 321 of the housing portion 306. If an intermediate bearing is used, it also has a through-hole.

The invention is not limited to embodiments illustrated or described. Instead, it includes developments of the invention in the context of the patent claims. List of reference numerals:

1 Chair

2 Mechanical subassembly

3 Base element

4 Back element

5 Seat element

6 Housing portion

6a Housing lower portion

7 Pivot arm

8 Back connection

9 Cartridge

10 Leaf spring

10a First end region

10b Central region

10c Second end region

11 Leaf spring

11a First end region lib Central region

11c Second end region

12 Integral component

13 Support

14 Support

15 Adjustment mechanism

16 Travel path

17 Travel path

18 Travel path

19 Travel path

20 Receiving member

21 Receiving member

22 Stop of 8

23 Stop of 8

24 Drive device

25 Hand wheel

26 Shaft

27 Spindle

28 Bearing block

29 Bearing block 30 Carrier

31 Through-hole

32 Connection means

33 Pin

34 Projection of 9

35 Side wall of 6

36 Side wall of 6

37 Side wall of 6

38 Trough

39 Recess

40 Housing upper portion

41 Receiving space between 6 and 40

42 Flange means for 7

43 Flange means for 7

44 Flange means for 8

45 Flange means for 8

46 Module

47 Sliding guide of 13 on 30

48 Sliding guide of 14 on 30

49 Dovetail guide

50 Dovetail guide

51 Channel

52 Base of 51

53 Height profile of 52

54 Contact means of 13 or 14

55 Sliding block

56 Additional travel path

57 Height profile of 56

58a Travel path portion

58b Travel path portion

58c Travel path portion

58d Travel path portion

58e Travel path portion

S7 Pivot axis

S8 Pivot axis

S57 Pivot shaft

S58 Pivot shaft x Movement direction x' Movement direction y Sliding direction y' Sliding direction

Claims

1. Mechanical subassembly for a chair,

- a base element, a back element and a seat element being able to be articulated to the mechanical subassembly,

the mechanical subassembly comprising a housing portion which can be connected to the base element and at least one connection member which can be connected to the seat element or to the back element, and

- the connection member being pivotably articulated to the housing portion,

characterised in that

- the mechanical subassembly comprises at least a first pair of flange means,

the flange means being connected to the housing portion,

- the first flange means and the second flange means of the first pair being orientated with respect to each other in such a manner that they are located with their geometric axes on a common longitudinal axis,

- the connection member being constructed as a curved member,

- the curved member comprising a connection element and a pair of counter-flange means,

the counter-flange means being connected to each other by means of the connection element,

the first counter-flange means and the second counter-flange means being orientated with respect to each other in such a manner that they are located with their geometric axes on a common longitudinal axis,

- the flange means and the counter-flange means being adapted to each other in terms of their construction and arrangement in space in such a manner that, when the longitudinal axes are parallel, they can be coupled to each other in an assembly direction which extends orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axes in such a manner that the longitudinal axes are located in the coupled position on a common rotation axis and that the curved member with the counter-flange means, after pivoting with respect to the housing portion about the rotation axis through a pivot angle of at least 60 and a maximum of 120 through an additional pivot angle of at least 30 in all directions orthogonal with respect to the rotation axis, is retained on the housing portion in such a manner that the two longitudinal axes remain on the rotation axis in the event of tensile loads and pressure loads in the mentioned orthogonal directions and thus couple the housing portion and the curved member to each other in a pivoting manner about the rotation axis.

2. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to claim 1, characterised in that

the counter-flange means engage around the flange means ,

- the counter-flange means being constructed as claws for this purpose and the flange means being constructed as axial stumps for this purpose.

3. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to claim 2, characterised in that the first axial stump and the second axial stump are connected to the housing portion and in particular are constructed integrally with the housing portion.

4. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to claim 2, characterised in that the first claw and the second claw are connected to the curved member and in particular are constructed integrally with the curved member .

5. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to claim 1, characterised in that

the flange means engage around the counter-flange means , - the flange means being constructed as claws for this purpose and the counter-flange means being constructed as axial stumps for this purpose.

6. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to claim 5, characterised in that the first axial stump and the second axial stump are connected to the curved member and in particular are constructed integrally with the curved member.

7. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to claim 5, characterised in that the first claw and the second claw are connected to the housing portion and in particular are constructed integrally with the housing portion.

8. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to at least one of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that each axial stump is constructed in such a manner that the axial stump is constructed as a circular cylinder, whose covering face comprises at least one and in particular two opposing flattened portions and in that each claw is constructed in such a manner that it comprises two bent inner jaw surfaces.

9. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mechanical subassembly comprises as a first curved member a pivot arm which can be connected to the seat element and in that the mechanical subassembly comprises as a second curved member a back connection which can be connected to the back element.

10. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pivot arm can be connected to the back connection by means of the seat element.

11. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that

the mechanical subassembly further comprises a cartridge which can be inserted into the housing portion which is constructed as a housing lower portion and at least one leaf spring,

the mechanical subassembly further comprising as integral components at least one adjustable support and an adjustment mechanism for the support,

- the cartridge comprising at least one travel path, the support being guided on at least one of the travel paths formed on the cartridge, and the adjustment mechanism which moves the support being supported on the cartridge and

- the leaf spring being fixed with a first end region in a receiving member in the housing lower portion, resting on the support with a central region and supporting the back connection with a second end region in such a manner that the leaf spring is bent over the support .

12. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mechanical subassembly comprises at least one intermediate bearing, the intermediate bearing being arranged between an operational pairing comprising an axial stump and claw.

13. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to claim 11, characterised in that the intermediate bearing is connected to the axial stump so as to be rotationally secure about the axis of rotation, the intermediate bearing being able to be placed on the axial stump in the direction of the extent of the rotation axis and being constructed for cooperation with the claw as a circular cylinder whose covering face comprises at least one and in particular two opposing flattened portions.

14. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to claim 12, characterised in that the intermediate bearing engages around the axial stump in a positive- locking manner, the axial stump being constructed to this end in accordance with claim 8 or having a polygonal cross-section.

15. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to claim 11, characterised in that the intermediate bearing is connected to the claw in a rotationally secure manner.

16. Mechanical subassembly for a chair according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a drive device for the adjustment mechanism comprises a drive means which is guided on one of the rotation axes into the housing portion, both the housing portion and the relevant axial stump and the relevant claw having a through-hole for this purpose, the drive means being guided by means of a channel which is formed by these through-holes into an inner space of the housing portion.

17. Chair, characterised in that the chair comprises a mechanical subassembly according to at least one of the preceding claims, a base element, a back element and a seat element.