EP1874160B1 - Seating, especially office chair - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a seating, especially an office chair. The aim of the invention is to provide, with relatively few constructive elements, an office chair that offers the comfort comparable to that obtainable by a synchronous mechanism. For this purpose, the seating comprises a seating element (1) having a seat (9), and a back element (2) articulated to the seat (1) and pivotable about a transversal axis (6). The seat (9) of the seating element (1) is configured in such a manner that, when the back element (2) is pivoted into a rearward position, the user is brought in a position simulating the movement of the back element (2), thereby allowing a movement of the body of the user in synchronicity with the movement of the back element, without the entire seating element carrying out such a synchronous movement.

Description

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

So-called synchronous mechanisms are known from the prior art. These are assemblies in the seat base of an office chair, which allow a correlated seat-backrest movement. Seat support and backrest support are coupled so articulated that a pivoting movement of the backrest to the rear, as can be caused for example by leaning of the chair user to the backrest, induces a lowering movement of the rear edge of the seat down. This brings a considerable comfort advantage and is desirable for orthopedic reasons. A disadvantage of these synchronous mechanisms is their relatively complicated mechanical structure. As a result, synchronous mechanisms are also relatively expensive to manufacture.

Examples of such mechanisms are given, inter alia, in the following documents: DE 43 41 070 A1 . US 1,836,630 A . US 6,431,649 B1 ,

An object of the present invention is to provide a solution that provides a comfort advantage with a comparatively low design complexity, which is comparable to that of a synchronous mechanism.

This object is achieved by a chair according to claim 1. Thereafter, a seat is provided, the only consists of two main assemblies, namely a fixed seat member and a back member, wherein the seat member has a seat and the back member pivotable about a transverse axis and articulated with the seat element is connected. The seat according to the invention is designed such that a user performs a movement of the back element tracing movement when pivoting the back to the rear, as caused for example by leaning of the user to the back element. By the design of the seat takes place in other words in a pivoting of the back to the rear, a lowering of the user down, without the seat element moves as such. As a result, a synchronous movement of the user's body for movement of the back element is made possible without the entire seat element performing such a synchronous movement. This results in both a displacement of the center of gravity of the user as well as a movement displacement in the sense that the user performs with the aid of the invention, a movement that largely corresponds to the movement that would perform a user in the use of a corresponding synchronizing mechanism. With the help of the invention, a comfort advantage is achieved in a structurally simple and therefore also very inexpensive way, which is comparable to that of a much more expensive synchronous mechanism. In particular, the so-called "shirt pull-out effect" is effectively avoided.

According to the invention, the seat surface has at least two seat regions arranged one behind the other in the seat longitudinal direction, which differ in the manner of their upholstery. The term upholstery is used Any elastic configuration of the seat understood, no matter what material is used for this purpose. In addition to the use of molded foams are basically any other elastic materials used, such as spring assemblies or combinations of materials, such as foam in conjunction with silicone pads. Also, for example, the use of two-zone foam is possible.

According to the invention, at least one rear seating area has a padding which allows a greater sinking in of the user compared to a front seating area. With a movement of the user to the rear and an associated load on the seat in the rear area thus takes place at the same time a "yielding" of the seat. In other words, the rear seating area is designed in such a way that, when the backrest is loaded, the user's pelvis slides into the upholstery in the manner of unwinding. As a result, a particularly synchronous movement between the back element and the user is achieved.

Moreover, it is particularly advantageous if the back element is connected to the seat element via a pivot axis, which is arranged in the chair longitudinal direction prior to attachment of the chair column on the seat element. The position of the pivot axis contributes significantly to the fact that an ergonomically very advantageous sitting is possible.

Are spring elements for biasing the back member provided, which are arranged substantially horizontally in the seat member, so it is possible to achieve a particularly flat design. As spring elements are depending on the construction Any springs, such as tension or compression springs, can be used.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Sitzelementes ohne Sitzfläche (erste Federposition),

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch das Sitzelement (erste Federposition),

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch das Sitzelement (zweite Federposition),

Fig. 4

einen weiteren Schnitt durch das Sitzelement (erste Federposition) mit Sitzauflage,

Fig. 5

einen weiteren Schnitt durch das Sitzelement (zweite Federposition).

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to an embodiment which is explained in more detail with the aid of the drawings. Hereby show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of the seat element without seat (first spring position),

Fig. 2

a section through the seat element (first spring position),

Fig. 3

a section through the seat element (second spring position),

Fig. 4

a further section through the seat element (first spring position) with seat support,

Fig. 5

another section through the seat element (second spring position).

The office chair according to the invention comprises a seat element 1 and a back element 2. As in Fig. 2 shown, the substantially horizontally disposed seat member 1 is pivotally connected to the bearing element 3 at a bearing point 3 with the back element. In other words, in the region of the underside 4 of the seat element 1, the back element 2 is articulated on it and performs, for example, a leaning movement of the user on the back element 2 about the pivot axis 6 extending through the pivot bearing, which runs transversely to the chair longitudinal direction 7 ,

Which type of back element 2 is involved plays no role for the invention. For example, the back element 2 may comprise a backrest in the form of a shell, a net or the like.

The back element 2 can be transferred from its normal position shown in the figures to a rear position and back. To change the restoring force of the back element 2, a spring force setting 8 is provided, whose exact operation will be explained later.

The fact that the fulcrum of the mechanism is located very close to the seat surface 9, the movement is similar to a movement of the back member 2 to the rear similar to a synchronous mechanism. In particular, the so-called shirt pull-out effect is reduced. In other words, the horizontal and vertical position of the pivot axis 6 relative to the seat element 1 and the back element 2 for the achievable movement is particularly crucial.

In addition, all other mechanical components in the seat element 1 are integrated, such as the receptacles 10 for armrests (not shown). The functional components seat support and mechanics form in other words a structural unit. The integrated and compact design of the seat element 1 is particularly made Fig. 1 clear. Particularly advantageous in this type is the cost-effective production. In addition, the number of required items is significantly reduced, which also reduces manufacturing costs and also increases the reliability.

In the seat element 1, a cone seat 11 is provided approximately in the middle, which serves for receiving the upper end of a chair column, for example a gas spring (not shown).

The main body 12 of the seat element 1 consists essentially of a plastic plate with a number of extending in the chair longitudinal direction 7 and chair 13 transverse wall elements 14. These serve not only to achieve the required stability of the seat element 1. At the same time, a significant material savings is possible. In addition, the wall elements 14 partially fulfill other tasks. Thus, they serve, for example, as a guide relationship as holding elements for the release rod 15 for height adjustment of the gas spring, wherein the release rod 15 is actuated via a button 16, which is also integrated in the base body 12. Also serve the wall elements 14 for holding and guiding the drive shaft 17 of the spring force setting 8, wherein at the free end 18 of the drive shaft 17 is a in Fig. 1 not shown actuating element, for example in the form of a handwheel, is mounted.

To retrieve the back member 2 from a rear position to its normal position is a spring assembly. The spring arrangement comprises two compression springs 19 with a circular cross-section, which einliegen in correspondingly provided in the main body 12 spring retainers 20.

Apart from the fact that the spring angle can be changed by the displacement of Federanlenkung upon actuation of the Federkrafteinstellung 8, the compression springs 19 are substantially horizontally in the seat element 1, which realize an extremely flat design leaves. The low height allows for a visually appealing design of the chair. In addition, the use of different chair columns or gas springs is possible, so that special requirements can be met at seat heights.

The position of the two compression springs 19 is changed by a U-shaped round steel 21 whose U-legs 22 are inserted into the two round springs 19. About the movement of the "U-base" 23 of the round steel 21 in the deflection 24, the springs 19 are raised or lowered on one side, while the opposite ends of the springs 19 remain by fixing the ends 25 of the round steel 21 on the base body 12 in its initial position. For this purpose, the rounded ends 25 are in a kind of ball socket 26 on the base body 12 a.

At a load on the back member 2, so when moving the back member 2 in a rear position, press on the shaft 27 and attached from the bottom 4 through the base body 12 to the round steel 21 reaching through Anlenknasen 28 against the compression springs 19 and thus provides a Operative connection between the compression springs 19 and the back element 2 ago. The Anlenknasen 28 are U-shaped as a guide formed such that they receive the U-leg 22 of the round steel 21.

When changing the spring force adjustment takes place via the rotation of the drive shaft 17, a rotation of a worm wheel 29 attached thereto, which has a rotation of a meshing gear 30 result. The gear 30 is disposed on a in deflection 24, that is perpendicular to the threaded axis 31, at the over a thread Boom 32 is attached. The boom 32 has a U-shaped running driver 33, which the round bar 21 - depending on the direction in which the drive unit 17 is rotated - moves up or down. As a result, the position of the compression springs 19 from a lower first spring position ( Fig. 1 . 2 . 4 ) in an upper second spring position ( Fig. 3 . 5 ) changed. In other words, a "powerless" spring force adjustment is possible. Only the position of the compression springs 19 and thus the angle of articulation changes. In other words, the Federkrafseinstellung taking into account the laws of the lever law in that the compression springs 19 engage at different points of the Anlenknasen 28. By displacing the articulation points in the deflection direction 24, an extension or shortening of the lever arm takes place, so that the round springs 19 are compressed more or less.

The padding 34 of the seat 9, see. Fig. 4 , consists of molded foam and is mounted on a seat plate 39 which is mountable on corresponding receptacles 40 of the base body 12. Due to the special configuration of the padding 34, the user virtually rolls off when moving the back element 2 to the rear. He slides into the foam. The foam must therefore be free in the direction of the seat end 35 in order to be able to expand to the rear. To achieve this, an open design of the padding 34, without rearward limiting elements, is preferred.

The seat surface 9 is subdivided into two different seat regions 36, 37, arranged one behind the other in the seat longitudinal direction 7, which differ in the manner of their upholstery. In this case, in the shape used in the present example, the seat surface 9 of the front Seating area 36, which accounts for approximately 30% to 40% of the total length of padding 34, is provided with a "normal" cushion thickness, while rear seat area 37 (between 70% and 60% of the total length) is provided with variable padding 34 allows the user to sink in towards the lower rear. In the example shown, the cushion thickness of the rear seating area 37 is increased by at least 20 mm with respect to the pad thickness of the front seating area 36. The manner of transition from the front seating area 36 to the rear seating area 37 is preferably very soft and flowing and without edges. Particularly good results were achieved with a transition region 38 in the form of an elongated lying S. The transition from the front seating area 36 to the rear seating area 37 is positioned so that the user essentially loads the front seating area in a normal ("average") sitting posture. Then, when the backrest is loaded, the user's pelvis rolls over the S in the rear seating area. The user thus follows the movement of the backrest back down.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

seat element

2

back element

3

bearing point

4

Seat element base

5

pivotal movement

6

swivel axis

7

Chair longitudinally

8th

Tension adjustment

9

seat

10

armrests recording

11

cone holder

12

body

13

Chair transverse direction

14

wall element

15

trip bar

16

release button

17

drive axle

18

Drive axle free end

19

compression spring

20

spring mount

21

Round steel

22

U-leg

23

U-Grund

24

deflection

25

Round steel end

26

ball socket

27

wave

28

Anlenknase

29

worm

30

gear

31

threaded shaft

32

boom

33

takeaway

34

upholstery

35

Seat end

36

Front seating area

37

Rear seating area

38

Transition area

39

seat plate

40

admission

Claims (7)

1. A chair, in particular an office chair, comprising a fixed seating element (1) with a seating surface (9), and a back element (2) that is pivotable around a lateral axis (6) and linked in a jointed manner to the seating element (1), whereby the seating surface (9) of the seating element (1) is designed in a way that a user performs a movement, which follows the movement of the back element (2), when the back element (2) is pivoting to a rear position, characterized in that the seating surface (9) comprises at least two seating areas (36, 37) arranged behind one another in longitudinal direction (7) of the seat, said seating areas (36, 37) differing with regard to the type of upholstery (34) used, whereby at least one rear seating area (37) comprises an upholstery (34) which, compared with a front seating area (36), permits the user to sink in to a greater extent, and that allows the user to roll down backwards, whereby the upholstery thickness of the rear seating area (37) is higher by at least 20 mm compared with the upholstery thickness of the front seating area (36).
2. A chair according to claim 1, whereby for the upholstery of the seating areas (36, 37) an elastic material, in particular formed foam, is used.
3. A chair according to claim 2, characterized by an upholstery without any bordering elements at the back in a way that the formed foam is free towards the seating surface end (35) so as to be able to expand backwards.
4. A chair according to one of the claims 1 to 3, whereby the transition from the front seating area (36) to the rear seating area (37) is very soft and without any ridges.
5. A chair according to claim 4, characterized by a transition area (38) in the form of an elongated horizontal "S".
6. A chair according to one of the claims 1 to 5, whereby the lateral axis (6) is arranged in front of the attachment (11) of the chair post, seen in longitudinal direction (7) of the seat.
7. A chair according to one of the claims 1 to 6, comprising spring elements (19) arranged in essentially horizontal position in the seat element (1) for pre-stressing the back element(2).

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