JP2008535592A - Device for adjusting the seat inclination of a chair - Google Patents

Abstract

  The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the seat inclination of a chair, in particular an office chair. In order to provide a seat tilt adjustment that allows a particularly reliable and reliable adjustment of the seat tilt, a device is proposed, which is supported by the base support (2), the joint (13) by means of the base support. A seat support (3) coupled to the body (2), and an adjustment mechanism (18) allowing a selective forward pivoting motion of the seat support (3) beyond a substantially horizontal base position; .

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting a seat inclination (adjusting the angle of a seat) of a chair, particularly an office chair.

  High-quality office chairs often have a so-called synchronization mechanism, so that the seat and back of the chair swivel back and down together in a relative motion when leaning by the user . Further, for improved ergonomics of office chairs, different adjustability possibilities include, for example, seat, back and armrest height adjustment, armrest adjustability in the vertical and horizontal positions, and chairs. Adjustment of the vertical direction is known.

  In order to further improve the ergonomics of the office chair, it is required to increase the adjustability of the base angle of the chair. In so doing, it must be possible to adjust the seat between at least a horizontal position and a position slightly inclined forward. In response to actuation of the synchronization mechanism, the backward and downward pivoting movement of the chair caused thereby is carried out from this position.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a chair seat tilt adjusting device that enables particularly reliable and reliable adjustment of the seat tilt.

  This object is solved by the device according to claim 1.

  As described in the claims of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a base support, a seat support coupled to the base support by a joint, and the seat support beyond a substantially horizontal base position. It has an adjustment mechanism that allows a selective forward turning movement of the body.

  The basic idea of the present invention is that the seat support itself is pivoted beyond its base position in order to adjust the seat tilt of the chair. As described in the claims of the present invention, the adjustment of the seat inclination can be selected either on or off. This allows for particularly flexible handling according to the application and user requirements. Furthermore, the apparatus according to the present invention can be arbitrarily installed in another normal synchronization mechanism. In other words, it is possible to select additional equipment.

  The dependent claims characterize advantageous embodiments of the invention. They will be explained in more detail in the following description of exemplary embodiments by means of the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a synchronization mechanism in a horizontal base position;
2 is a side view of the synchronization mechanism of FIG.
3 is a side view of the synchronization mechanism of FIG. 1 in an inclined position;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the adjustment mechanism,
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the adjusting mechanism set for the tilt position;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the adjustment mechanism set for the base position,
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows an exemplary synchronization mechanism 1, which is a member of an underframe of an office chair, with interconnected kinematics that cause a constant relative movement of the seat and back with respect to each other. Guarantee. For this purpose, a base support 2 is arranged on a seat post (not shown), on the one hand a seat that can pivot about the horizontal axis and is hinged to the base support 2 On the other hand, a backrest support 4 is placed on the other side, which can likewise be pivoted about the horizontal axis and is hingedly connected to the base support 2.

  The seat of the office chair is generally provided with a padded seat and is attached to a seat support 3 (not shown here for reasons of clarity). A number of latches 7 for this purpose are provided in the lateral frame element 5 of the substantially frame-like seat support 3. The latches 7 are arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction 6 of the chair and are not explained in detail, but in a specific way to position and fix the seat relative to the seat support 3 Used.

  A backrest support 4 extending rearward from the actual synchronization mechanism 1 in a normal manner supports the backrest of the office chair with an arm (not shown) extending upward. The flanges 8 and 9 of the back support 4 are substantially bifurcated in a plan view and are arranged on both sides of the base support 2.

  The seat support 3 and the back support 4 are hingedly connected so that, for example, a backward pivoting motion of the backrest that can be caused by the user leaning against the backrest is at the rear edge of the seat. Trigger a downward movement. This correlated seat-back movement has considerable comfort advantages and is desirable for orthopedic reasons. Operation levers 10 and 11 are provided on both sides of the base support 2 and are used to start the height adjustment of the seat support column and to operate the turning mechanism, respectively.

  Further setup of the synchronization mechanism 1, in particular the connection of the seat support 3 and the base support 2 via a guide arrangement or the like to provide correlated seat / backrest movements, It is not considered further as follows.

  However, for better understanding, the seat support 3 is connected to the base support 2 via two swivel slide joints (Dreh-Schiebe-Gelenke) 13 in its front end region 12. Point out. Referring to FIG. 7, one of the swivel slide joints 13 is shown in cross section. Each swivel slide joint 13 is formed on the one hand from a slide element 14 which is connected to the seat support 3, and on the other hand, is a separate connection which is fixedly connected to the base support 2 and spaced from one another. It is contained in a slide guide formed by slide flanges 15 and 16. In the illustrated horizontal base position, the upper slide flange 15 comes into contact with and stops at a restraining element 17 in the seat support 3 described later in detail. As a result, the seat support 3 can be prevented from completing the forward turning motion extending beyond the substantially horizontal base position. Both slide flanges 15, 16 have a spherical guide surface, which allows the slide element 14 and the seat support 3 connected to the slide element 14 to follow a backward and downward pivoting motion. To do. In other words, the slide element 14 of the seat support 3 is designed according to the rail type and moves with its upper and lower sides along the guide surfaces of the upper and lower slide flanges 15,16. There, the slide element 14 is particularly reliably guided in any pivoting state between the upper and lower slide flanges 15, 16. Other joint types can also be used.

  The adjusting mechanism 18 according to the present invention is assigned to the seat support 3. As will be described in more detail later, the adjustment mechanism 18 enables reliable and reliable adjustment of the seat inclination. The operating lever 19 is arranged on the side of the synchronization mechanism 1 in the same manner as the remaining operating lever 10 and can be operated by pulling out or inserting in the operating direction 20. Arranged to operate the adjustment mechanism 18.

  In the exemplary embodiment, a forward slope of the seat support 3 with respect to an angle α of about 3 degrees is possible by adjusting the seat slope. Referring to FIG. 3, due to the seat / backrest correlation, this corresponds here to a backrest deviation for an angle β of about 8 degrees. These angle descriptions are merely examples and are used to clearly describe the function. In particular, they depend on the length of the stop element 17 in the adjustment mechanism 18, the available displacement paths and the specific design of the synchronization mechanism 1.

  Based on the “eingefahenen” position of the adjustment mechanism 18 shown in FIG. 5, which corresponds to the tilt position of the seat support 3 (shown in FIG. 3), its function is explained below. In the position of the adjusting mechanism 18 shown here, the seat support 3 can be tilted forward beyond its horizontal base position.

  The adjustment mechanism 18 is mainly formed from a base plate 21 and a cover plate 22 to which the actual elements of the mechanism are attached. In the final attachment state, the base plate 21 of the adjusting mechanism 18 is covered with the cover plate 22, and the cover plate 22 is fixed to the base plate 21 with screws 23.

  The adjusting mechanism 18 has two prism-shaped restraining elements 17, 17 '. The restraining elements 17, 17 ′ are surrounded by a guide groove 24 of the adjusting mechanism 18 that extends in the longitudinal direction 6. A detent opening (not shown) is provided on the lower side 59 of the restraining elements 17, 17. The detent opening cooperates with a detent knob 60 disposed in the guide groove 24 in the “retracted” state. As a result, the positions of the restraining elements 17, 17 'in this state are additionally fixed.

  The double T-shaped cushioning element 25 is made of a flexible plastic material, for example rubber, and is inserted into the restraining elements 17, 17 'made of plastic material. The front side 26 of the stop element 17 is completely covered by the buffer element 25. The restraining element 17 has an inclined contact surface 28 on the back side 27 thereof. The inclined contact surfaces 28 are directed toward each other and in a direction toward the center of the adjustment mechanism 18. In the “retracted” position shown here, the two bent wedge elements 29, 30 with the wedge surface 31 attached at one end are opposed to each other and rest on the contact surface 28 of the stop element 17. The wedge elements 29 and 30 are sequentially disposed in the guide groove 33 of the adjustment mechanism 18. The guide grooves 33 extend substantially in a transverse direction 32 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 6 and are connected to each other by a coupling mechanism 34 described in more detail below. Yes.

  One of the wedge elements 29 has a recess 35. The recessed portion 35 is provided with an inclined side wall and is used as a support for one end 42 of the substantially L-shaped steel spring 36. The bent end 42 of the steel spring 36 is then inserted into the opening of the wedge element 29 where it is rotatably fixed.

  The steel spring 36 is connected to the operation lever 19. The operation lever 19 is formed of two parts, and generally includes an operation arm 37 and an operation slide member 39. The operation arm 37 is slightly bent into an S shape, and an operation knob 38 is attached to the end thereof. The operation slide member 39 is fixed to the operation arm by a screw 23 to which the other end 40 of the steel spring 36 is fixed, and the other end 40 of the steel spring 36 is fixed. For this reason, like the wedge element 29, the operation slide member has an opening 41 into which the bent other end 40 of the steel spring 36 is inserted. The steel spring 36 is arranged on the branch guide element 43 of the operating slide member 39 which simultaneously functions as anti-twisting means. The operation slide member 39 is guided in the lateral direction 58 of the base plate 21 of the adjustment mechanism 18.

  The operation slide member 39 has a central opening 44 in which a catch element 45 is disposed. The catch element 45 is used to lock the adjustment of the seat angle in the horizontal base position and the inclined position, respectively. Referring also to FIG. 4, the catch element 45 is designed to interact and engage with two correspondingly provided catch recesses 46, 47, and the catch recesses 46, 47. Are arranged on the base plate 21 of the adjusting mechanism 18. The locked catch element 45 can be unlocked each time by a simple operation of the operating element 19.

  In response to the operation of the operating element 19 in the operating direction 20 towards the seat support 3, the movement of the steel spring 36 takes place in the operating direction 20 in which one of the wedge elements 29 is accompanied. The wedge element 29 has an edge opposite the stop element 17 and has a wedge surface 31, which functions as a wedge wedge propulsion wedge and which actually functions as a driven part. The direction 6 is moved perpendicularly to the operation direction 20. In other words, the stop element 17 is transferred to its guide groove 24 by a wedge element 29 arranged perpendicular to it. Preferably, the wedge angle is 45 degrees. The displacement of the restraining element 17 shortens the displacement path of the seat support 3 that is still available by an amount corresponding to the width 48 of the outer end of the wedge elements 29, 30. The corresponding position of the adjustment mechanism 18 is shown in FIG. In other words, once reaching the horizontal base position, the restraining element 17 is placed on the flange 15 at the top of the swivel slide joint 13. It is no longer possible to move further beyond this base position and to lower the seat support 3 accordingly. As shown in FIG. 2, the seat support 3 is located at its horizontal base position.

  For the particularly reliable operation of the adjusting mechanism 18, two stop elements 17, 17 ′ are provided, and a stop with respect to the corresponding slide guide 15 is applied to both swivel slide joints 13 of the seat support 3. Used to occur against. For this reason, the wedge element 17 that is directly abutted by the steel spring 36 is connected to the second wedge element 30, and the wedge element 30 also abuts against the stop element 17 ′ that is arranged oppositely. . For this reason, the movement of the wedge elements 30 arranged in opposition is required to be opposite the initial operating direction 20. In order to achieve this, the direction of movement is caused by the guide element 49, which is arranged rotatably on the base plate 21 of the adjusting mechanism 18 and functions as a kind of bridge. For this purpose, the guide element 49 has a bearing opening 61 in the center for receiving a pivot pin 62 attached to the base plate 21 of the adjusting mechanism 18. The two wedge elements 29, 30 have journals 50 at their ends arranged on the opposite side of the wedge surface 31, which journals extend perpendicular to the operating direction 20 and guide elements 49. Project into the slot 51 and thus allow mechanical connection. In other words, the connection of the two wedge elements 29, 30 is performed by an indirect crank mechanism. To achieve a particularly reliable guide of the wedge elements 29, 30. On their lower side, there is a spring 52, which is arranged in a corresponding groove 53 in the base plate 21 of the adjustment mechanism 18.

  When the restraining elements 17, 17 are in the “augefahenen” position corresponding to the horizontal base position of the seat support 3, the rear side 27 of the restraining elements 17, 17 ′ is shown in FIG. Located on the front side 54 of the elements 29, 30. When the seat support 3 is pressed, for example, when the user sits on a chair and does not support himself with the backrest but applies pressure to the seat in the direction of the front end region 12, the stop element 17, A force acts on the longitudinal direction 6 in 17 ′, on the one hand between the back side 27 of the restraining elements 17, 17 ′ and on the other hand, jamming of the wedge elements 29, 30 between the opposing shoulder portions 55 of the guide groove 33. (Verklemen). In this situation, when the operating element 19 is operated, that is, when the steel spring 36 is returned to the start position shown in FIG. 5, the L-journal 56 of the steel spring 36 fixed to the operating slide member 39 is 5 is already in the position shown in FIG. 5, while the other L-journal 57 with the journal end 42 remains in the position shown in FIG. In this situation, the two L-journals 56, 57 form an obtuse angle between each other. The steel spring 36 is pre-stressed.

  At the same time as the seat support 3 is released from the pressing, for example, when the user stands up or leans against the backrest, the second L-journal 57 suddenly contacts the first L-journal 56, Causing the movement of the wedge elements 29, 30 to the position shown in FIG. 5, whereby the stop elements 17, 17 ′ can be retracted. This certainty feature ensures that sudden changes in angular adjustment are impossible. A transition from one position to another always requires a “pressure release” of the seat support 3.

  This is also effective in the reverse case. When the seat support 3 is in the tilted position (FIG. 5) and pressure is applied to the chair, the operating lever 19 can still be operated. In this case, the generated force causes the back side 27 of the restraining elements 17, 17 ′ to be directly clamped against the opposite side 55 of the guide groove 33. The first L-journal 56 of the steel spring 36 is already in the position shown in FIG. 6, while the second L-journal 57 is still in the position shown in FIG. In other words, the L-journals 56 and 57 form an acute angle. The steel spring 36 is pre-stressed.

  In response to the pressure release of the seat, a sudden displacement of the wedge elements 29, 30 is generated by the steel spring 36, leading to the expansion of the stop elements 17, 17 '. As a result of these certainty features, the operating element 19 is always slightly movable. At the same time, the adjustment is performed only if the seat is released from pressure, i.e. not suddenly.

List of reference numbers 1 Synchronization mechanism,
2 base support,
3 seat support,
4 Back support,
5 frame elements,
6 Longitudinal direction,
7 Latch,
8 flange,
9 flange,
10 Operation lever,
11 Operation lever,
12 Front seat end,
13 Swivel slide joint,
14 slide elements,
15 slide flange,
16 Slide flange,
17 Stop element,
18 adjustment mechanism,
19 Operation lever,
20 direction of operation,
21 base plate,
22 Cover plate,
23 screws,
24 longitudinal guide groove,
25 cushioning elements,
26 Front side,
27 Back side,
28 contact surface,
29 wedge elements,
30 wedge elements,
31 Wedge surface,
32 horizontal direction,
33 lateral guide groove,
34 coupling mechanism,
35 indentation,
36 steel springs,
37 operation arm,
38 Operation knob,
39 Operation slide member,
40 Spring end,
41 opening,
42 spring end,
43 guide elements,
44 opening,
45 catch elements,
46 Catch indentation,
47 Catch indentation,
48 Displacement path change,
49 guide elements,
50 journals,
51 long hole,
52 Spring,
53 groove,
54 Front side,
55 side,
56 L-journal,
57 L-journal,
58 lateral guide,
59 Lower side,
60 Detent knob,
61 bearing opening,
62 Swivel pin.

It is a perspective view of the synchronous mechanism in a horizontal base position. It is a side view of the synchronizing mechanism of FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the synchronization mechanism of FIG. 1 in an inclined position. It is an exploded view of an adjustment mechanism. It is a top view of the adjustment mechanism set for the inclination position. It is a top view of the adjustment mechanism set for the base position. It is sectional drawing along line AA of FIG.

Claims (10)

Having a base support (2),
Having a seat support (3) connected to the base support (2) by a joint (13); and
For adjusting the seat inclination of a chair, particularly an office chair, comprising an adjustment mechanism (18) that allows a selective forward pivoting movement of the seat support (3) beyond a substantially horizontal base position. apparatus.   The device according to claim 1, wherein the joint is a swivel slide joint. The joint (13) includes a slide element (14) connected to the seat support (3) and a slide guide (15, 16) connected to the base support (2).
Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the slide element (14) is arranged on the slide guide (15, 16).   The adjustment mechanism (18) is designed such that the operation of the adjustment mechanism (18) causes a change in the displacement path (48) of the seat support (3) in the joint (13). The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:   The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the adjustment mechanism (18) is part of the seat support (3).   Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustment mechanism (18) comprises at least one adjustable stop element (17, 17 ').   The at least one restraining element (17, 17 ') abuts against the base support (2), in particular against the slide guides (15, 16) of the base support (2) and stops. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device is designed as follows.   8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism (18) comprises a wedge gear for operating the at least one stop element (17, 17 ').   The adjustment mechanism (18) comprises a spring element (36) which can be operated by an operating element (19) to move a drive wedge (29, 30) of the wedge gear. The device described in 1. The spring element (36) can be operated without causing adjustment of the at least one stop element (17, 17 ') as long as pressure is applied to the seat support (3). The apparatus of claim 9.

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