US20130113252A1

US20130113252A1 - Seat device for supporting a sitting person

Info

Publication number: US20130113252A1
Application number: US13/811,213
Authority: US
Inventors: Patrik Kuenzler
Original assignee: INNO MOTION AG
Current assignee: INNO MOTION AG
Priority date: 2010-07-22
Filing date: 2011-07-18
Publication date: 2013-05-09
Also published as: EP2595507B1; EP2595507A1; WO2012010282A1

Abstract

A seat device for supporting a sitting person includes: a first movably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a second partial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supported independently of the first partial seat and which can be combined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat. In order to enable better sitting, for each partial seat a pivot bearing spring device is provided, said pivot bearing spring device having a first pivot axis extending in a longitudinal direction, about which the respective partial seat can be pivoted while sprung with a first spring constant, and a second pivot axis extending in a transverse direction, about which the respective partial seat can be pivoted while sprung with a second spring constant, wherein each partial seat is associated with the respective pivot bearing spring device by means of a lever arm.

Description

The invention relates to a seat device for supporting a sitting person, with a first movably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a second partial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supported independently of the first partial seat and which can be combined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat.
Seat devices with partial seats for supporting a sitting person are known. The person can sit onto both partial seats, in which the partial seats can support the person independently of each other. WO 93/19648 relates to an actively dynamic seat device, comprising a foot part, an intermediate piece connected with the foot part and a seat part connected with the intermediate piece, whereby the seat part has two parts.
The seat halves are independent from each other, mainly connected vertically with the intermediate piece via a spring and each has a carrier part and a seat half affixed to it. Each seat half is supported onto the carrier part, tiltable to the front and back. WO 99/16335 A1 publishes a seat with a pair of seat bodies, which both have a vertical movement as well as a rocking movement to the front and back. An adjustable stiff seat arrangement with sensors is known from the US 2003/0073552 A1, whose framework supports the entire body of the user and allows for resistance exercises.
The task of the invention is to allow for better sitting and/or lying, i.e. fatigueless and especially comfortable sitting and/or lying.
In order to serve this task, in a seat device for supporting a sitting person, with a first movably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a second partial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supported independently of the first partial seat and which can be combined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat, for each partial seat a pivot bearing spring device is provided, said pivot bearing spring device having a first pivot axis extending in a longitudinal direction, about which the respective partial seat can be pivoted while sprung with a first spring constant, and a second pivot axis extending in a transverse direction, about which the respective partial seat can be pivoted while sprung with a second spring constant, whereby each partial seat is associated with the respective pivot bearing spring device by means of a lever arm.
The person can sit such that the left half of the body is supported or placed onto the first partial seat and the right half of the body is supported or placed onto the second partial seat. Advantageously, two degrees of flexibility are given for every partial seat, whereby an especially relaxed and comfortable sitting is possible. Different spring stiffnesses can be implemented for these degrees of flexibility using the pivot bearing spring devices associated with the partial seats.
It is, for example, possible to allow for swinging to the front and back, i.e. a rocking movement of the person with comparatively low resistance. This can be easily controlled by the sitting person by placing his/her feet onto a base, on which the seat device is arranged. Swinging movements to the right and left can e.g. take place with a considerably greater stiffness; this lends the sitting person a higher degree of safety, whereby relaxed and free sitting is still possible, since the left and the right halves of the person's body are supported independently of each other.
In case of exemplary implementations of the seat device, each of the pivot bearing spring devices has a first elastic bearing and a second elastic bearing arranged near the first elastic bearing, whereby the elastic bearings are arranged adjacent to each other such that the first swivel axis runs between the elastic bearings and the second swivel axis runs through the elastic bearings. Elastic bearings can e.g. refer to a rubber bearing, especially with elastomer as spring material. It is however also possible to use a spiral spring as elastic bearing. The elastic bearings arranged adjacent to each other can implement different spring stiffnesses of the swivel axes of the pivot bearing spring devices of the partial seats.
A rocking movement of the person to the front and back, i.e. swinging of the partial seats around the second swivel axis can take place with less spring stiffness as compared to a rocking movement to the right and left, in connection with a swinging movement of the partial seats around the first swivel axis. Also, the individual elastic bearings of the pivot bearing spring device can be identical or different, e.g. in length, shape and/or elasticity. In a preferred form of implementation, the two lateral elastic bearings can have spring stiffnesses different from the two medial elastic bearings.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the first elastic bearing is associated with a first partial lever arm of the lever arm and the second elastic bearing with a second partial lever arm of the lever arm. Each of the partial lever arms can be supported separately by means of the respective associated elastic bearing.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, for every partial seat, a pivot bearing is provided for turning the partial seats around a third swivel axis running in the vertical direction. The partial seats have a third degree of flexibility corresponding with the pivot bearing. The seat device can follow an opening and closing or spreading movement of the person's legs.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the respective pivot bearing is arranged below the elastic bearing of the respective pivot bearing spring device. Swinging movements around the first and/or the second swivel axis can thus be converted into rocking movements of the person by means of the lever arm. By means of the pivot bearing, the elastic bearings arranged above it, the lever arms as well as the partial seats can be swung together around the respective third swivel axis.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the pivot bearings associated with the partial seats are associated with a common base plate. The base plate can e.g. be designed as a cross brace and can take in the bearing loads required for supporting the person.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the base plate can be rotated, by means of a spring device, around an axis of rotation running in the vertical direction, can be adjusted in height along this axis and/or is spring-supported. The function of a height-adjustable and spring-supported swivel chair can be implemented by means of the spring device. For this, the spring device can e.g. have a gas spring.
In case of a seat device for supporting a sitting person, with a first movably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a second partial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supported independently of the first partial seat and which can be combined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat, the task is also served by relatively movably supporting the first partial seat by means of a first suspension and the second partial seat by means of a second suspension, whereby each of the suspensions has at least three partial seat elastic bearings. A labile support can be provided for every partial seat, i.e. for every half of the body of the sitting person; this demands constant small adjustment movements for a natural position control of the sitting person. It was revealed that the sitting person finds this especially comfortable and relaxed. Here, relatively movable can refer to a support of the respective partial seat with multiple degrees of flexibility, e.g. up to six degrees of flexibility, whereby movements of the partial seats are restricted elasto-mechanically with corresponding spring stiffnesses. It is thus possible that the person sits stably when it comes to larger movements of the partial seats; however great flexibility, especially locally instable statuses develop around a balanced position, which are balanced by means of corresponding natural position control cycles of the sitting person.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the suspensions have a first partial seat elastic bearing and a second partial seat elastic bearing, which are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction and have a third partial seat elastic bearing arranged adjacent to the first and second partial seat elastic bearing. Partial seat elastic bearing can also refer to a rubber bearing and/or a spiral spring. The individual partial seat elastic bearings can be identical or different, e.g. in length, shape and/or elasticity. A three-point support develops here, which allows for flexibility, restricted against the corresponding spring stiffnesses, in all translational as well as rotatory degrees of flexibility. It is thus possible to assign the three partial seat elastic bearings to the partial seats such that the afore-described desirable instable statuses develop for certain movements of the person.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the three partial seat elastic bearings of the suspensions are arranged adjacent to each other. Thus, the two partial seats can be supported such that, in case of a rocking movement of the person to the front and back, a bearing reaction force that allows the person to open and close his/her legs easily develops at the partial seats; this provokes the afore-described balancing reactions of the person and eventually provides comfortable sitting.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the suspensions have a fourth partial seat elastic bearing, whereby the third partial seat elastic bearing and the fourth partial seat elastic bearing are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction. By means of the additional partial seat elastic bearing, stiffness can be modified such that the afore-described bearing reaction force is lower.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the third and the fourth partial seat elastic bearings are arranged at a distance from each other, which is smaller than the distance between the first and the second partial seat elastic bearings. By means of a corresponding difference of distance between the partial seat elastic bearings, the bearing reaction force during the person's rocking movement to the front and back can be set or adjusted such that this represents a measure suitable for comfortable sitting.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the partial seat elastic bearings are arranged such that they form a triangle, a rectangle or preferably a trapezium. The characteristics of the suspensions can be selected or modified by means of the arrangement.
The number of partial seat bearings per partial seat is preferably three (2+1), more preferably four (2+2) or can also be more than four.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the partial seat elastic bearings of the respective partial seat are arranged inclined downwards pointing away from each other. This arrangement, i.e. inclined downwards pointing away from each other, results in a stabilizing characteristic of the suspensions, whereby instability consciously perceived by the person can be reduced. The incline or a corresponding angle of the partial seat elastic bearing to a vertical axis of the seat device can be selected such that the actual instability of the suspension is no longer consciously felt by the person, but the natural position control of the person still results in the afore-described balancing or adjusting movements; this subconsciously triggers the feeling of especially comfortable sitting.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, at least one of the partial seat elastic bearings is designed as a partial seat spring leg. The tractive and shearing forces developing when supporting the person can be managed and taken in by means of the spring leg.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the partial seat spring leg has a spring rod with an upper and a lower spring stop, between which an upper elastic spring and a lower elastic spring are arranged, between which a central spring stop is arranged slidable in the longitudinal direction with reference to the spring rod. Optionally, the central spring stop can be spring-supported movably with reference to the upper or lower spring stop. In this connection, elastic spring can refer to a spring device that brings spring forces to relative movements of the spring stop with reference to the upper and/or lower spring stop, e.g. an elastomer spring or a spiral spring.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the central spring stop is wobbling relative to the spring rod. Not only translational movements relative to the other spring stops, but also the wobbling movements can be spring-damped by means of the partial seat spring leg. Elastic springs can also have damping characteristics, especially if they have been designed as material springs or elastomer springs.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the central spring stop is discoid with a recess or an opening, whereby the spring rod reaches into the recess or through the opening. The spring rod can be put through the recess or the opening of the discoid central spring stop, whereby the central spring stop is movable relative to the spring rod and can be controlled using the same.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the upper spring stop is associated with one of the partial seats. The bearing forces required for supporting a person can be transferred to the partial seats by means of the upper spring stop.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the central spring stop is associated with at least one element of the following group: the base plate, one of the lever arms, a partial seat base plate that is or can be associated with the lever arms. The bearing forces can further be transferred to the rest of the seat device via the central spring stop. A spring-damping behavior develops between the upper spring stop and the central spring stop; this mainly corresponds to a rubber bearing. Thus with the spring leg, it is also possible, e.g. in case of an intense back and forth and/or to and fro rocking of the person between the lower spring stop and the central spring stop, to transfer tractive forces onto the partial seats in a spring-damped manner by means of the spring rod. As a result, even in case of an intense to and fro rocking of the person, a tractive force can be transferred onto the corresponding partial seat in a spring-damped manner by means of the partial seat spring leg.
In case of a seat device for supporting a sitting person, with a first movably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a second partial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supported independently of the first partial seat and which can be combined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat, the task is also served by providing a first spring damper device arranged below the first partial seat and a second spring damper device arranged below the second partial seat, whereby each of the spring damper devices has an elastic body arranged at the centre of the respective partial seat, by means of which the partial seats can be moved in a spring-damped manner along the vertical direction and can be swung around the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. Thus, the person or the respective half of the person's body can be supported with at least three degrees of flexibility. This also results in the afore-described positive sitting feel.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the elastic body is made up of an elastic material, rubber, a spiral spring and/or an elastomer. As a result, the elastic body can be implemented easily.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the elastic body is filled with gas, liquid or another type of rubber and/or elastomer. As a result, a characteristic, especially spring stiffness in at least one of the degrees of flexibility, can be set by means of the filling, which can e.g. be under pressure.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the elastic body is designed to be long, cylindrical, rectangular, triangular or trapeziform. Different spring stiffnesses can be selected or set for different degrees of flexibility by means of the shape of the elastic body.
In case of a seat device for supporting a sitting person, with a first movably supported partial seat for supporting the person and a second partial seat for supporting the person, which is movably supported independently of the first partial seat and which can be combined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat, the task is also served by providing, for each of the partial seats, an incline adjustment device for setting an incline of the respective partial seat running along the longitudinal direction; providing every partial seat with a first bar (swivel arm) swivel-supported around a swivel axis running along the transverse direction and associated with the partial seat and an eccentric collaborating with the bar (swivel arm) and twistably-supported around an axis of rotation running along the transverse direction. As a result, inclines of the partial seats can be set by means of the associated bars (swivel arms) and the associated eccentrics. For this, the respective eccentric can be set or rotated accordingly.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the lever arm represents the swivel axis and the axis of rotation. The bar (swivel arm) is associated with the lever arm with a tilting movement and the eccentric is associated with the lever arm with a rotating movement.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the partial seat base plate has the bar or the swivel arm or the bar forms a swivel arm for setting the incline. Movements of the bar or the swivel arm can be directly transferred onto the partial seat base plate, whereby a setting of the bar or the swivel arm directly results in a setting of a corresponding incline of the partial seat base plate.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the eccentric or the bar (swivel arm) or the bar (swivel arm) and the eccentric can be blocked. Thus, mobility of the bar or of the swivel arm can be restricted in a desired incline by means of the eccentric. This selected or set incline of the bar or of the swivel arm and/or of the relevant partial seat can be blocked so that an inadvertent resetting or adjustment of the incline is not possible when the person is sitting.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the eccentric is designed as a polygon, whereby the sides of the polygon have a different distance to the axis of rotation. It is thus possible to allow certain adjustable inclines by means of the polygon or the different distances to the axis of rotation.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, a stop surface of the bar or of the swivel arm can be created flush to one of the sides for setting the incline. The eccentric can be rotated around the axis of rotation such that the swivel arm stops flush at one of the sides of the polygons, whereby an especially good force transfer and a definite angle of inclination of the swivel arm develop relative to the lever arm.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, a first stop is provided in a first direction for limiting a swinging movement of the respective partial seat around the second swivel axis. By means of the first stop, a rocking movement of the person to the front can be limited, whereby slipping down or tipping of the person from the seat device can be avoided safely.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, a second stop is provided in a second direction for limiting a swinging movement of the respective partial seat around the second swivel axis. The swinging movement can thus be, alternatively and/or additionally, limited also in the opposite direction, e.g. to prevent the person from tipping backwards.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the first stop or the second stop or the first and the second stop are associated with the lever arm. By means of this association, corresponding torques and/or forces required for limiting the swinging movement can be transferred from the stop onto the lever arm and thus onto the corresponding associated partial seat.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, for limiting the swinging movement of the respective partial seat around the second swivel axis, the first stop or the second stop or the first and the second stop of every partial seat collaborate with a base plate, whereby these hit the respective base plate for limiting. The torques and/or forces required for limiting are transferred via the base plate.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, each of the pivot bearing spring devices is associated with one of the base plates. With the association of the pivot bearing spring devices with the base plates and the association of the stops with the corresponding lever arm, the respective pivot bearing spring device can be limited by means of the stop or blocked on reaching the stop. Thereby, the pivot bearing spring devices can be bridged or taken out of operation on reaching the respective stop.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, each of the pivot bearing spring devices has a stop plate associated with the corresponding lever arm, which collaborates with the respective base plate for limiting the swinging movement. By means of the stop plates, the pivot bearing spring devices can be blocked and/or bridged on reaching the stops. The forces and/or torques required for limiting the swinging movement of the respective partial seat can be transferred between the respective base plate, the stop plate and the respective lever arm.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the stop plates are, in the unloaded condition of the seat device, at a distance from the base plate and in the loaded condition of the seat device, they are at a smaller distance from the base plate or hit the same. Thus, spring-damped sitting can be implemented by means of the pivot bearing spring devices in spite of the stop.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, in the loaded condition, the stop plates form a floating bearing together with the respective base plate. The desired spring-elastic support of the partial seat is implemented based on the degree of flexibility of the floating bearing in spite of the stop plate.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, the stop plates for forming the floating bearing are designed wedge-shaped, whereby the first stop surface of the first stop or the second stop surface of the second stop or both stop surfaces border on a wedge tip that forms a contact surface of the floating bearing. The stop plates can form a seesaw supported on the corresponding wedge tip, whereby the wedge tip, for forming the floating bearing, can form a slide bearing with the base plate in a relatively slidable manner. The wedge tip can e.g. have a blunt angle, whereby the swinging movement of the respective partial seat can be limited in both directions. Alternatively, it is also possible to design the wedge tip with a sharp angle, so that only one stop surface develops, i.e. limitation in only one swinging direction.
The task is also served with a couch device, comprising a seat device according to one of the afore-mentioned forms of implementation with components that support at least the pelvis, the upper body and/or the head of a person in a lying or sitting position. The term seat device, as used here, also includes the term couch device. This results in the afore-described advantages. Preferably, the legs and/or arms of the person can be supported or seat-supported as described above.
In a preferred form of implementation, the seat device is a wheelchair.
In other exemplary implementations of the seat device, it has at least one sensor for determining the position of individual moving parts relative to the device. The position and/or the angle of body parts of the supported person can be determined directly or indirectly by means of the position of moving parts. For instance, the (at least one) sensor can be associated with at least one moving part of the seat device, e.g. to one or both seat shells, partial seats, suspensions, partial lever arms, pivot bearings, bars, back rest, head rest, back rest and/or head rest joints, arm rests, etc. Thus, the position or the angle of body parts such as pelvis, thighs, spine, neck, knees, arms, legs, etc. can be determined directly or indirectly. Preferably, the sensors determine the position of the pelvis and/or of the torso of the supported person, especially in a horizontal and/or vertical plane.
Since the supported person takes up the natural position suitable for him/her depending on the situation (resting, working, moving) thanks to the many degrees of flexibility of the seat device, damaged postures can be analyzed by the sensors in these situations. The device can then be set to compensate these damaged postures, e.g. by restricting certain degrees of flexibility and/or bearing deflections, exchange/fixing/adjustment of elastic bearings, and the result can be verified by the sensors. The sensors can also inform the supported person about the damaged postures, e.g. acoustically and/or visually.
Moreover, loss of control of the supported person can be quickly detected by the sensors, e.g. when the person falls asleep, in case of unconsciousness, in case of symptoms of an illness or in case of a handicapped or ill person in a wheelchair or on a medical seat/couch device.
Also, the position and/or angle information measured by the (at least one) sensor can be fed to a control device, e.g. a computer device, which, for instance, influences the control of a vehicle such as a car, a motorcycle, a powered wheelchair, an airplane, a boat, etc. or takes it over completely.
The position and/or angle information determined by the sensors, especially about the pelvis and/or the torso of the supported person, can be preferably used to control at least one of the following characteristics of the seat device: the degrees of flexibility, the deflection limitation, the damping characteristics.
If the seat device is part of a vehicle, then the position and/or angle information determined by the (at least one) sensor, especially about the pelvis and/or the torso, can be preferably used to control at least one of the following characteristics of the vehicle: the speed, the lateral inclination angles, the damping, the response behavior of brakes, acceleration regulators, e.g. accelerator and/or steering devices such as steering wheel, control stick, joystick.
Accordingly, besides seat devices equipped with sensors, especially chairs, couches, wheelchairs, vehicle chairs/couches, this invention also relates to processes using these sensor devices, in which the sensor information conveyed by the movably supported person preferably controls characteristics of the seat, the couch and/or of the vehicle.
In exemplary implementations, the seat device from the invention can be a fixed or movable part of a vehicle such as a car, motorcycle, airplane, boat, bicycle, wheelchair, etc. Preferably, the seat device comprises partial seats with the afore-described partial seat elastic bearings, especially designed with the afore-described partial seat spring legs with spring rod and spring stops, preferably with position and angle sensor(s), preferably for the control of vehicle characteristics like damping, engine control, braking action, steering, etc.
In an exemplary form of implementation, in which the seat device or a part thereof is a “movable” part of a vehicle, the seat device or preferably only parts thereof are “carried” by the person to be supported outside the vehicle, i.e. fixed to the person within the scope of a piece of clothing. For example, the seat shells with or without suspensions, elastic bearings, bars, swivel arms, lever arms, pivot bearings, etc. as well as other parts of the seat device that are not directly associated with the partial seats, such as back-, neck- and/or head rest, can be carried by the person e.g. with a relatively rigid and tight fit of the seat shells, by connecting with aids such as belts or as part of clothing such as trousers, suits, etc. The person to be supported can thus himself/herself carry the seat shells or rather the partial seats and connects them, when getting into or out of the vehicle, with the vehicle or another part of the seat device already installed in or on the vehicle. The carried seat vehicle or parts thereof can then, in emergencies, facilitate a faster exit after being unlocked from one or multiple quick or emergency locks, since it does not hinder the exit unlike permanently installed “bucket seats”. It can also serve as mechanical protection, e.g. for legs, hips, pelvis as well as back, neck, arms, head (depending on the equipment) to avoid injuries in the event of accidents, e.g. accidents of cars, bicycles, boats and airplanes.
Other advantages, features and details can be found below, whereby at least one exemplary implementation has been described in detail—if necessary, with reference to the drawings. Described and/or drawn features are, themselves or in any logical combination, the object of the invention, sometimes also independent from the claims, and can also be the object of one or more separate invention(s). Identical, similar and/or functionally similar parts are designated with the same references.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 a three-dimensional view of a seat device diagonally and from top and rear;

FIG. 2 a rear view of the seat device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a lateral view of the seat device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 a rear view of another seat device;

FIG. 5 a rear view of another seat device;

FIG. 6 a detailed view of a partial seat spring leg of a suspension of a partial seat of a seat device, whereby the partial seat spring leg is illustrated in total three statuses;

FIG. 7 a lateral view of an incline adjustment device of a partial seat of a seat device;

FIG. 8 a swivel arm of an incline adjustment device similar to the incline adjustment device illustrated in FIG. 7; illustrated in total three different inclines;

FIG. 9 a partial rear view of a partial seat of another seat device with a stop for limiting a swinging movement of the partial seat;

FIG. 10 a detailed view of the partial seat, illustrated in FIG. 9, of a stop plate with a first stop

FIG. 11 a detailed view similar to the detailed view illustrated in FIG. 10, whereby the stop plate has a second stop;

FIG. 12 a detailed view similar to that in FIGS. 10 and 11, whereby the stop plate has a first and a second stop;

FIG. 13 a lateral view of another seat device with a back rest and a head rest;

FIG. 14 a lateral view of a seat device similar to that illustrated in FIG. 13, whereby an arm rest is provided in addition;

FIG. 15 a lateral view of another seat device similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, whereby the arm rest is associated with a base plate of the seat device;

FIG. 16 another lateral view of a seat device with a head rest and a back rest;

FIG. 17 another lateral view of a seat device with an arm rest, a back rest and a head rest;

FIG. 18 another lateral view of a seat device with an arm rest, a back rest and a head rest;

FIG. 19 a lateral view of another seat device with an arm rest;

FIG. 20 a lateral view of another seat device with a combined u-shaped back/arm rest;

FIG. 21 a lateral view of another seat device similar to that illustrated in FIG. 20 with a differently attached combined back/arm rest;

FIG. 22 a lateral view of another seat device similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 with a differently attached combined back/arm rest; and

FIG. 23 a lateral view of another seat device similar to that illustrated in FIG. 20-22 with a differently attached combined u-shaped back/arm rest.

FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional view diagonally, from top and rear of a seat device 1 for supporting a sitting person, who is not illustrated in detail. The seat device 1 has a first partial seat 101 with a first seat shell 3 and a second partial seat 103 with a second seat shell 5. The partial seats 101 and 103 have an ergonomic shape and serve for supporting ischial tuberosities as well as thighs of a sitting person. The seat shells 3 and 5 or the partial seats 101 and 103 can mainly be structured as mirror images of each other, so that a description for only one of the partial seats is equally applicable for the corresponding partial seat arranged opposite to it, unless otherwise described explicitly.
For supporting the first seat shell 3 of the first partial seat 101, a first suspension 105 and for supporting the second seat shell 5 of the second partial seat 103, a second suspension 107 is provided. The seat shells 3 and 5 are associated with the suspensions 105 and 107 by means of a lateral joint plate 7. The joint plate 7 can be arranged optionally and has bearing slots of the suspensions 105 or 107. It is possible to design the joint plate 7 as one piece connected with the respective seat shell 3 or 5, e.g. by means of injection molding. Each of the suspensions 105 and 107 has a lateral buffer mechanism 9, 11 as well as a medial buffer mechanism 15, 17. The lateral joint plates 7 are associated with the buffer mechanisms 9, 11. The medial buffer mechanisms 15, 17 are associated with the seat shells 3 and 5 of the partial seats 101 and 103 by means of an also optional medial joint plate 13. The medial joint plates 13 can also be one-piece parts of the relevant seat shells 3 and 5.
The buffer mechanisms 9, 11, 15, 17 are partial seat elastic bearings, which can e.g. be designed as rubber bearings. It is however also possible to use other springs instead of the rubber bearings, e.g. spiral springs.
The lateral buffer mechanisms 9, 11 can have a first partial elastic bearing and a second partial elastic bearing. The respective medial buffer mechanisms 15, 17 can have a third partial elastic bearing and a fourth partial elastic bearing. It is possible to provide only the third partial elastic bearing instead of the third and the fourth partial elastic bearing, whereby a triangular arrangement of the partial elastic bearings is developed and the respective third partial elastic bearings of the suspensions 105 and 107 of the partial seats 101 and 103 are arranged adjacent to each other.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the third partial elastic bearing and the fourth partial elastic bearing, i.e. the medial buffer mechanisms 15, 17, are provided, which are also arranged adjacent to each other. The four partial elastic bearings of the buffer mechanisms 15, 17 as well as 9, 11 are arranged trapeziform to each other according to the illustration in FIG. 1.
It is also observed that the four partial elastic bearings are arranged pointing diagonally downwards and pointing away from each other relative to a vertical axis of the seat device, which has not been illustrated in detail. Thus by means of the suspensions 105 and 107, a spring-damped suspension of the seat shells 3 and 5 is developed with total six degrees of flexibility. The angle of the partial elastic bearings pointing away from each other can be selected such that a negligible instability of the seat shells 3 and 5 is still developed when a person sits on the seat device 1. As a result, an especially relaxed sitting of the person, who is not illustrated in detail, is facilitated by means of the suspensions 105 and 107.
The bearing forces occurring when the person sits are transferred onto the partial seat elastic bearings via the seat shells 3 and 5 of the partial seats 101 and 103, especially via the lateral joint plates 7 as well as the medial joint plates 13. The partial seat elastic bearings or the buffer mechanisms 9, 11 as well as 15 and 17 transfer the forces further onto a base plate 19 in a spring-damped manner. The base plates 19 are associated with lever arms 109. Each of the lever arms 109 has a first partial lever arm 111 as well as a second partial lever arm 113, whereby the first partial lever arm 111 forms a lateral support 21 and the second partial lever arm 113 forms a medial support 23. The medial supports 23 or the second partial lever arms 113 of the lever arms 109 are arranged adjacent to each other.
The partial seats 101 and 103 are associated with a pivot bearing spring device 115 via the lever arms 109.
In FIG. 1 a longitudinal direction of the seat device 1 is indicated by means of a first arrow 117 and a transverse direction of the seat device 1 is indicated by means of a second arrow 119.
The lever arms 109 or the associated partial seats 101 and 103 are slidably supported by means of the pivot bearing spring device 115, namely with a first spring stiffness around a first swivel axis running in the longitudinal direction and with a second spring stiffness around a second swivel axis running in the transverse direction. In order to facilitate the different spring stiffnesses, a first elastic bearing 121 as well as a second elastic bearing 123 are associated with each of the lever arms 109. The elastic bearings 121 and 123 can be designed as rubber bearings. It is however also possible to provide spiral springs instead of the rubber bearings. The first elastic bearing 121 can have lateral base buffer 25. The second elastic bearing 123 can have a medial base buffer 27, whereby the medial base buffers of the respective partial seats 101 and 103 are arranged adjacent to each other.
The elastic bearings 121 and 123 are arranged adjacent to each other, seen in the direction of the arrow 119, i.e. in the transverse direction of the seat device 1. With this, the second swivel axis runs through the elastic bearings 121 and 123 that are arranged adjacent to each other. The first swivel axis along the direction of the first arrow 117, i.e. in longitudinal direction, runs between the elastic bearings 121 and 123. It is evident that different spring stiffnesses develop in this case, whereby a swinging movement around the second swivel axis, which corresponds to a rocking of the person or of the partial seats 101 and 103 to the front and back, counteracts a lesser spring stiffness of the elastic bearings 121 and 123 as compared to a swinging movement around the first swivel axis. A swinging movement of the partial seats 101 and 103 or of the associated lever arms 109 corresponds to a rocking of the person sitting on the seat device 1 to the right and left. As a result, rocking to the right and left can be limited with the higher spring stiffness; this degree of flexibility is thus facilitated to the sitting person and still, comparatively good safety or a corresponding feeling of safety is provided.
The partial lever arms 111 and 113 are angled and have bearing slots 125 for the elastic bearings 121 and 123 at their ends pointing downwards, seen in the alignment of FIG. 1.
Corresponding counter bearings are formed by means of base plates 29, which are associated with the first elastic bearing 121 and the second elastic bearing 123 for receiving or transferring the bearing forces.
The base plate 29 of the first partial seat 101 as well as the base plate 29 of the second partial seat 103 are together associated with a joint plate 31. The joint plate extends in the direction of the second arrow 119, i.e. in the transverse direction of the seat device 1. For supporting the seat device 1 on a base that is not illustrated in detail, e.g. a floor, the joint plate 31 is associated, approximately at the centre, to a chair leg 33 with total five support surfaces. The association of the joint plate 31 to the chair leg 33 can be alternatively and/or additionally implemented by means of a rotary spring damping device, e.g. a gas spring 127, whereby the seat device 1 has the functionality of a swivel chair. The gas spring 127 can be operated by means of an control lever 129, e.g. in order to implement a height adjustment by opening and closing a discharge valve of the gas spring 127, which has not been illustrated in detail.
FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the seat device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates a lateral view of the seat device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The following refers to FIG. 1-3. The base plates 29 of the partial seats 101 and 103 are associated with the joint plate 31 by means of a pivot bearing 35. The pivot bearing 35 can be designed as a pivot floating bearing, i.e. without the use of ball bearing devices. By means of the pivot bearing 35, the partial seats 101 and 103 can be twisted around an axis of rotation 39, which has e.g. been drawn on the left in FIG. 2. In order to stop a corresponding rotation around the axis of rotation 39, a braking mechanism 37 is provided for every partial seat 101 and 103. The braking mechanism 37 can be set by means of a setscrew 71, e.g. by setting a corresponding friction coefficient between the braking mechanism 37 and a braking surface 131 of the joint plate 31. It is possible to design the braking surface 131 as circularly curved, whereby a constant braking force develops during a rotation of the partial seats 101 and 103 around the respective axis of rotation 39. Alternatively and/or additionally, it is also possible to design the braking surfaces 131 in a shape other than circular, whereby it is e.g. possible to facilitate a progressive braking action, e.g. in case of correspondingly larger twist angles around a neutral position of the partial seats 101 and 103.
A central support axis 41 of the partial seats 101 and 103 is drawn on the right near the axis of rotation 39. The central support axis 41 can be understood as a line of action of force of ischial tuberosities of a person sitting on the seat device 1. It is evident that the central support axis 41 is arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation 39 and is located further inside with reference to the seat device 1. It is also observed in FIG. 2 that the central support axis 41 is arranged axis-symmetrically to the suspension 105 or 107, whereby a moment of tilt of the respective seat shells 3 and 5 develops when the person sits. For the first seat shell 3, illustrated on the left in FIG. 2, the moment of tilt acts in the direction of a third arrow 133 and for the second seat shell 5, illustrated on the right in FIG. 2, in the direction of a fourth arrow 135. For supporting this moment of tilt, the medial buffer mechanisms 15, 17 are dimensioned smaller than the lateral buffer mechanisms 9, 11.
With this, a person sitting on the seat shells 3 and 5 of the seat device 1 must make a balancing movement against the moments of tilt indicated with the arrows 133 and 135; this is no longer realized consciously after a short time of sitting and still decisively contributes to especially comfortable sitting.
By means of the rotary-supported gas spring 127, the partial seats 101 and 103 that are associated with the joint plate 31 can be twisted relative to the chair leg 33 around a central axis 43 of the seat device 1 drawn in FIG. 2.
In the lateral view in FIG. 3, axes 45-51 are drawn for explaining the arrangement of the partial elastic bearings of the buffer mechanisms 9, 11, 15 and 17. The axes 45-51 can e.g. refer to longitudinal axes of corresponding rubber bearings of the partial elastic bearings of the suspension 105 or 107, which do not lie in the image plane of FIG. 3. The first suspension 105 is visible in FIG. 3, whereby lateral anterior buffer 9 has a lateral anterior longitudinal axis 45, a lateral posterior buffer mechanism 11 has a lateral posterior longitudinal axis 47, a medial anterior buffer mechanism 15 has a medial anterior longitudinal axis and a medial posterior buffer mechanism 17 has a medial posterior longitudinal axis. It is observed that the longitudinal axes 51 and 49 have a smaller distance than the longitudinal axes 47 and 45. Moreover, the longitudinal axes 51 and 49 lie between the longitudinal axes 47 and 45. The longitudinal axes 45-51 illustrated in FIG. 3 refer to projections on the image plane of FIG. 3. The longitudinal axes 45-51 are at a solid angle from each other and diverge downwards, seen in the alignment of FIG. 1-3. It is possible that the longitudinal axes 49 and 51 of the medial buffer mechanisms 15 and 17 coincide, whereby only one of the buffer mechanisms is provided so that the buffer mechanisms 9, 11 and 15 are arranged triangularly.
A bar 53 is associated with the partial elastic bearings or the buffer mechanisms 9, 11, 15, 17 for the transfer of bearing forces; this bar has a bearing slot 137 for every partial elastic bearing or buffer mechanism 9, 11, 15, 17. The bar 53 can be tightly joint with the partial lever arms 111 and 113 of the lever arms 109 by means of the holes 55 and a bolt 57 gripping through the holes. For this, the bar 53 can have a t-shaped cross-section, whereby a downward-pointing, centrally arranged rib of the t-shaped cross-section can be arranged between the partial lever arms 111 and 113 and can be fixed by means of the holes 55 and the bolt 57. A cotter pin 59 can be provided in order to secure the bolt 57.
An incline can be set along the longitudinal direction of the seat shells 3 and 5 of the partial seats 101 and 103, which has been indicated with the first arrow 117, by means of a screw 61. For this, the bar can be rotary-supported around the bolt 57, whereby for setting the incline or the element angle, the downward-projecting rib of the bar 53 can be fixed in a frictionally engaged and/or force-fit manner between the partial lever arms 111 and 113. For this, the partial lever arms 111 and 113 can be pulled together by means of the screw 61 until they abut on the rib of the bar 53 in a frictionally engaged and/or force-fit manner.
The partial lever arms 111 and 113 have a number of holes 63, into which the screw 61 can be inserted. For presetting the incline, the screw 61 can be optionally inserted into one of the holes 63, whereby the screw 61 first forms a stop for the swinging movement of the bar 53 around the bolt 57. For each of the holes 63, a different incline of the seat shells 3 and 5 of the partial seats 101 and 103 develops when the bar 53 hits the screw 61. In the stopping position, the afore-described force and/or friction closure can be generated by tightening the screw 61.
For limiting the angle of rotation of the pivot bearing 35, bolts 65 can be provided, which can be inserted into the holes 67 of the joint plate 31. For this, the joint plate 31 can have a number of holes 67 lying on a radius, into which a corresponding bolt 65 can be inserted depending on the desired swivel angle of the partial seats 101 and 103 around the axis of rotation 39. For limiting the angle of rotation, the base plates 29 have a protrusion 69, which forms a stop, collaborating with the bolt 67, for limiting the swivel angle.
For fixing the bar 53 to the partial levers 111 and 113, these can have holes 73, through which the bolt 57 grips.
FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of another seat device 1. According to a partial aspect of the invention, as evident from FIG. 4, the pivot bearing spring devices 115, the pivot bearings 35 as well as the lever arms 109 can be waived. The seat shells 3 and 5 can be directly associated with the joint plate 31 by means of the suspensions 105 and 107. Another difference is that the base plate 19 of the suspensions 105 and 107 does not have a bar 53 or a t-shaped cross-section and is or can be directly associated with the joint plate two-dimensionally.
FIG. 5 illustrates another rear view of the seat device 1. According to another partial aspect of the invention, in comparison with the illustration in FIG. 4, the pivot bearing 35 and the associated braking mechanism 37 can still be provided for every partial seat 101 and 103. If necessary, similar to the illustration in FIG. 1-3, also a limitation of the swivel angle can be provided by means of the bolt 65, the holes 67 and the protrusion 69 of the base plate 29.
FIG. 6 illustrates a detailed view of a suspension 105 similar to the suspension 105 illustrated in FIG. 1. This is a detailed view of one of the partial elastic bearings, which has been designed as a partial seat spring leg 139 according to another partial aspect of the invention. The partial seat spring leg 139 is illustrated in FIG. 6 in total three different positions.
The partial seat spring leg 139 has a spring rod 141 with an upper spring stop 143 and a lower spring stop 145. The spring stops 143 and 145 are either associated with or are part of the spring rod 141. Moreover, the partial seat spring leg 139 has a central spring stop 147. The central spring stop 147 acts on both sides, whereby an upper elastic spring 149 is arranged between the upper spring stop 143 and the central spring stop 147 and a lower elastic spring 151 is arranged between the central spring stop 147 and the lower spring stop 145.
The elastic springs 149 and 151 can e.g. refer to material springs such as elastomer springs and/or rubber springs. It is however also possible to design these as spiral springs, which can be loaded with pressure.
The elastic springs 149 and 151 have an opening, e.g. a centric drilling, in which the spring rod 141 is arranged for controlling the elastic springs 149 and 151. It is observed that the central spring stop 147 also has an opening, e.g. a drilling, through which the spring rod 141 grips. The central spring stop 147 is thus to and fro-movably supported along a longitudinal direction of the partial seat spring leg 139, which has been indicated in FIG. 6 by means of a fifth arrow 153.
Either the central spring stop 147 and the upper spring stop 143 or the central spring stop 147 and the lower spring stop 145 or all three spring stops together can serve for feeding bearing forces into the partial seat spring leg 139.
According to the illustration in FIG. 6, the lateral joint plate 7 is associated with the upper spring stop 143 or has the upper spring stop 143. The base plate 19 has the central spring stop 147 or is associated with the same. It is evident that the partial seat spring leg has an identical shear and traction characteristic in case of an assumed identical layout of the elastic springs 149 and 151. Accordingly, only the upper elastic spring 149 deforms, which is indicated in the central illustration in FIG. 6 or the lower elastic spring 151 deforms, which is indicated in the lower illustration in FIG. 6. In the upper illustration in FIG. 6, a neutral position of the partial seat spring leg 139 is illustrated, whereby the central spring stop 147 is located centrally between the other spring stops 143 and 145.
Alternatively and/or additionally, it is possible that the central spring stop 147 is provided or supported at the spring rod 141 with a wobbling movement. This results in further rotatory degrees of flexibility for supporting the central spring stop 147 according to the wobbling movement.
The upper spring stop 143 is associated with the corresponding associated seat shell 3, 5 of the corresponding partial seat 101, 103 by means of the joint plate 4. The central spring stop 147 is associated, by means of the base plate 19, with the rest of the seat device 1, especially with the joint plate 31 and/or the base plate 29 and/or the pivot bearing spring device 115 and/or the partial lever arms 111, 113 or one of the lever arms 109.
FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed view of an incline adjustment device 155 for setting an incline of the seat shells 3 and 5 of the partial seats 101 and 103, which runs along the longitudinal direction. According to a partial aspect of the invention, the incline adjustment device 155 has an eccentric 157. It is observed that there are the lateral support 21 of the first partial lever arm 111 and the medial support 23 of the second partial lever arm 113, between which the bar 53 grips. The incline adjustment device has the afore-described holes 55, into which the bolt 57 can be inserted in order to form a pivot bearing for the bar 53.
As a difference, according to the partial aspect of the invention, only a single hole 63 is provided instead of the number of holes 63, into which the screw 61 can be engaged. Alternatively and/or additionally, the screw 61 can be designed only as a bearing pin. The eccentric 157 is rotary-supported by means of the screw 61 gripping through the hole 63. Here, the eccentric 157 is designed as an eccentric polygon, e.g. as a square, whereby the screw 61 is arranged eccentrically such that it has different distances from lateral surfaces 159 of the eccentric polygon 165.
FIG. 8 illustrates three different settings of the incline adjustment device 155, whereby one of the lateral surfaces 159 flatly abuts on or hits a stop surface 161 of the bar 53. It is observed that different inclines of the bar 53 can be set due to the different distances of an eccentric drilling 163 of the eccentric 157. Alternatively and/or additionally, it is possible that the bar 53 that forms a swivel arm and/or the eccentric 157 can be blocked, e.g. by means of the screw 61 and/or by means of another screw as a replacement for the bolt 57. In order to hold the bolt 57, the bar 53 and the partial lever arms 111 and 113 have corresponding holes 73 or drilling.
FIG. 9 illustrates a partial rear view of a first partial seat 101 of a seat device 1 similar to the seat device 1 in FIG. 1-3. According to another partial aspect of the invention, a stop plate 167 is provided to limit the swinging movement of the first partial seat 101 around the second swivel axis indicated with the second arrow 119. The stop plate 167 acts as a limiter for the swinging movements around the second swivel axis.
FIG. 10-12 illustrate different partial aspects of the invention, i.e. exemplary implementations of the stop plate 167 illustrated in a lateral view. As evident in FIGS. 10-12, the stop plate 167 is firmly associated, especially in a torque-proof manner, with the supports 21, 23 or the partial lever arms 111, 113 of the lever arm 109. For this, the lever arm 109 as well as the stop plate 167 can have drillings 169, e.g. two drillings 169 arranged adjacent to each other, through which corresponding fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets and/or similar can be engaged for fixing the stop plate 167. For limiting the swinging movement in a first direction, which is indicated in FIG. 10 with a sixth arrow 171, the stop plate 167 has a first stop 173. The first stop 173 acts together with the base plate 29 or can hit the base plate 29 for limiting the swinging movement. The stop plate 167 is wedge-shaped and has a wedge tip 175, which forms, with the first stop 173, a sharp angle with reference to the rest of the stop plate 167. The wedge tip 175 is arranged at a distance 177 from the base plate 29; FIG. 10 illustrates the seat device 1 in an unloaded condition. In a loaded condition, i.e. when a person is sitting on the first partial seat 101, the distance 177 can reduce, especially so much that the wedge tip 175 is in an abutting contact with the base plate 29. Thereby, the stop plate 177 can form a floating bearing with the wedge tip 175, whereby the wedge tip 175 is to and fro-movably supported relative to the base plate and the wedge tip 175 illustrates a seesaw or the second swivel axis or a swivel axis running parallel to the second swivel axis. It is evident that in case of a deflection of the first partial seat 101 in the direction of the sixth arrow 171, this can be limited by means of the first stop 173, whereby the first stop 173 hits the base plate 29.
FIG. 11 illustrates, according to another partial aspect of the invention, a lateral view of another stop plate 167, which unlike the illustration in FIG. 10, has a second stop 179 that is arranged like a mirror image. The swinging movement around the second swivel axis in a second direction, which is indicated in FIG. 11 with a seventh arrow 181, can be limited by means of the second stop 179. As regards the function of the second stop 179, refer to the description of FIG. 10.
According to another partial aspect of the invention, FIG. 12 illustrates a lateral view of a stop plate 167, which unlike the illustration in FIGS. 10 and 11, has a first stop 173 and a second stop 179. The first stop 173 and the second stop 179 are arranged in a sharp angle to the right and left of the wedge tip 175. It is evident that, in the neutral position of the seat device 1 illustrated in FIG. 12, the first stop 173 and the second stop 179 have different angles to a surface of the base plate 29. A differently advanced deflection of the first partial seat 101 in the first direction 171 indicated with the sixth arrow and in the second direction indicated with the seventh arrow 181 take place according to the different angles.
As regards the function of the stops 173 and 179, refer to FIGS. 10 and 11.
FIG. 13 illustrates a lateral view of another seat device 1 similar to the seat device 1 illustrated in FIG. 5. The seat device 1 from FIG. 13 has a back rest 75 and a head rest 77. The back rest 75 and the head rest 77 are pivot-movably associated with the joint plate 31 by means of a base joint 79. The base joint 79 is associated with a base back joint 83 by means of a base connecting piece 81. The base back joint 83 pivot-movably supports a back part connecting piece 85 relative to the base connecting piece 81. The back rest 75 and the head rest 77 are associated with the back part connecting piece. The back rest 75 is pivot-movably associated with the back part connecting piece by means of a back rest joint 87. The head rest 77 is pivot-movably associated with a head rest connecting piece 89 by means of a head rest joint 91, whereby the head rest connecting piece 89 is arranged between the head rest joint 91 and the back rest joint 87.
According to another partial aspect of the invention, FIG. 14 illustrates another seat device 1 similar to the seat device 1 illustrated in FIG. 13. This seat device 1 additionally has an arm rest 93. The arm rest 93 is associated with an arm rest support 97 by means of an arm rest joint 95. The arm rest support 97 is firmly associated with the back part connecting piece.
FIG. 15 illustrates another seat device 1 according to another partial aspect of the invention. The seat device 1 from FIG. 15 is structured similar to the seat devices 1 from FIGS. 13 and 14. Only, the arm rest 93 is directly associated with the base plate 19 by means of the arm rest support 97, i.e. without the arm rest joint 95, whereby the arm rest 93 is not supported by the suspension 105.
FIG. 16 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similar to the seat device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1-3. According to another partial aspect of the invention, the seat device 1 from FIG. 16 has a back rest 75 and a head rest 77, which are arranged and supported similar to the illustration in FIG. 13. Refer to the description of FIG. 13.
FIG. 17 illustrates another seat device 1 similar to the illustration in FIG. 16, whereby the seat device 1 from FIG. 17 has, according to another partial aspect of the invention, a back rest 75, a head rest 77 as well as an arm rest 93; these are supported similar to the illustration in FIG. 14. Refer to the description of FIG. 14.
FIG. 18 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similar to the seat devices 1 from FIGS. 16 and 17. According to another partial aspect of the invention, the seat device 1 from FIG. 18 has a back rest 75, a head rest 77 as well as an arm rest 93, which are fixed and supported similar to the illustration in FIG. 15. Refer to the description of FIG. 15.
FIG. 19 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similar to the seat devices 1 from FIG. 1-3. According to another partial aspect of the invention, the seat device 1 from FIG. 19 has only an arm rest 93, which is directly associated with the joint plate 31; this association is implemented by means of the arm rest support 97 and the arm rest joint 95.
FIG. 20 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similar to the seat device 1 from FIG. 1-3. According to another partial aspect of the invention, a u-shaped arm and back support 99 is provided. The u-shaped arm and back support is also a handle, whereby the person sitting on the seat device 1 can sit inside the U of the u-shaped arm and back support 99. The association of the u-shaped arm and back support 99 is implemented pivot-movably by means of the arm rest joint 95 relative to the arm rest support 97. The arm rest support 97 is firmly associated with the joint plate 31.
FIG. 21 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similar to the seat device 1 from FIG. 1-3. According to another partial aspect of the invention, the association of the u-shaped arm and back support 99 is implemented pivot-movably by means of the back rest joint 87 via the back part connecting piece 85, pivot-movably via the base back joint 83 via the base connecting piece 81, pivot-movably by means of the base joint 79 with the joint plate 31.
FIG. 22 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similar to the seat device 1 from FIG. 21. According to another partial aspect of the invention, the only difference is that the base joint 79 is not associated with the joint plate 31, but with the chair leg 33. Thus, the u-shaped arm and back support 99 does not move with any movements of the partial seats 101 and 103.
FIG. 23 illustrates another seat device 1, which is structured similar to the seat device 1 from FIG. 22. According to another partial aspect of the invention, the arm rest joint 95 is provided for supporting the u-shaped arm and back support 99. The arm rest joint 95 is pivot-movably associated with the chair leg 33 by means of the arm rest support 97 and by means of the base joint 79.
All afore-described features of the seat device 1, if necessary with reference to FIG. 1-23, can be combined with other partial aspects of the invention. Moreover, all partial aspects can represent independent inventions.


REFERENCES

1	Seat device	93	Arm rest
3	First seat shell	95	Arm rest joint
5	Second seat shell	97	Arm rest support
7	Joint plate	99	Arm and back support
9	Lateral buffer mechanism	101	First partial seat
11	Lateral buffer mechanism	103	Second partial seat
13	Medial joint plate	105	First suspension
15	Medial buffer mechanism	107	Second suspension
17	Medial buffer mechanism	109	Lever arm
19	Base plate	111	First partial lever arm
21	Lateral support	113	Second partial lever arm
23	Medial support	115	Pivot bearing spring device
25	Lateral base buffer	117	First arrow
27	Medial base buffer	119	Second arrow
29	Base plate	121	First elastic bearing
31	Joint plate	123	Second elastic bearing
33	Chair leg	125	Bearing slot
35	Pivot bearing	127	Gas spring
37	Braking mechanism	129	Control lever
39	Axis of rotation	131	Braking surface
41	Central support axis	133	Third arrow
43	Central axis	135	Fourth arrow
45	Lateral anterior longitudinal axis	137	Bearing slot
47	Lateral posterior longitudinal axis	139	Partial seat spring leg
49	Medial anterior longitudinal axis	141	Spring rod
51	Medial posterior longitudinal axis	143	Upper spring stop
53	Bar	145	Lower spring stop
55	Holes	147	Central spring stop
57	Bolt	149	Upper elastic spring
59	Cotter pin	151	Lower elastic spring
61	Screw	153	Fifth arrow
63	Holes	155	Incline adjustment device
65	Bolt	157	Eccentric
67	Holes	159	Lateral surface
69	Protrusion	161	Stop surface
71	Setscrew	163	Eccentric drilling
73	Holes	165	Eccentric polygon
75	Back rest	167	Stop plate
77	Head support	169	Drillings
79	Base joint	171	Sixth arrow
81	Base connecting piece	173	First stop
83	Base back joint	175	Wedge tip
85	Back part connecting piece	177	Distance
87	Back rest joint	179	Second stop
89	Head support connecting piece	181	Seventh arrow
91	Head support joint

Claims

1. Seat device (1) for supporting a sitting person, with:

a first movably supported partial seat (101) for supporting the person,

a second partial seat (103) for supporting the person, which is movably supported independently of the first partial seat (101) and which can be combined with the first partial seat to form a whole seat,

characterized by the fact that for every partial seat (101, 103), a pivot bearing spring device (115) with

a first swivel axis running in a longitudinal direction, around which the respective partial seat (101, 103) can be pivoted while sprung with a first spring stiffness, and

a second swivel axis running in a transverse direction, around which the respective partial seat (101, 103) can be pivoted while sprung with a second spring stiffness,

is provided, whereby the respective partial seat (101, 103) is associated with the respective pivot bearing spring device (115) by means of a lever arm (109).

2. Seat device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each of the pivot bearing spring devices (115) has a first elastic bearing (121) and a second elastic bearing (123) arranged near the first elastic bearing (121), whereby the elastic bearings (121, 123) are arranged adjacent to each other such that the first swivel axis runs between the elastic bearings (121, 123) and the second swivel axis runs through the elastic bearings (121, 123).

3. Seat device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the first elastic bearing (121) is associated with a first partial lever arm (111) of the lever arm (109) and the second elastic bearing (123) is associated with a second partial lever arm (113) of the lever arm (109).

4. Seat device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that for every partial seat (101, 103), a pivot bearing (35) is provided for turning the partial seats (101, 103) around a third swivel axis running in the vertical direction.

5. Seat device according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the respective pivot bearing (35) is arranged below the elastic bearing (121, 123) of the respective pivot bearing spring device (115).

6. Seat device according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the pivot bearings (35) associated with the partial seats (101, 103) are associated with a common base plate (29).

7. Seat device according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the base plate (29) can be rotated, by means of a spring device, around an axis of rotation (39) running in the vertical direction, can be adjusted in height along this axis and/or is spring-supported.

8. Seat device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the first partial seat (101) is relatively movably supported by means of a first suspension (105) and the second partial seat (103) by means of a second suspension (107), whereby each of the suspensions (105, 107) has at least three partial seat elastic bearings.

9. Seat device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the suspensions (105, 107) have a first partial seat elastic bearing and a second partial seat elastic bearing, which are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction and have a third partial seat elastic bearing arranged adjacent to the first and second partial seat elastic bearing.

10. Seat device according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the third partial seat elastic bearings of the suspensions (105, 107) are arranged adjacent to each other.

11. Seat device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the suspensions (105, 107) each have a fourth partial seat elastic bearing, whereby the third partial seat elastic bearing and the fourth partial seat elastic bearing are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction.

12. (canceled)

13. Seat device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the partial seat elastic bearings are arranged such that they form a triangle, a rectangle or preferably a trapezium.

14. Seat device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the partial elastic bearings of the respective partial seat (101, 103) are arranged inclined downwards pointing away from each other.

15. Seat device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that at least one of the partial seat elastic bearings is designed as a partial seat spring leg (139).

16. Seat device according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that the partial seat spring leg (139) has a spring rod (141) with an upper spring stop (143) and a lower spring stop (145), between which an upper elastic spring (149) and a lower elastic spring (151) are arranged, between which a central spring stop (147) is arranged which is slidable in the longitudinal direction with reference to the spring rod (141).

17. Seat device according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the central spring stop (147) wobbles relative to the spring rod (141).

18-20. (canceled)

21. Seat device according to claim 1, characterized by a first spring damper device arranged below the first partial seat (101) and a second spring damper device arranged below the second partial seat (103), whereby each of the spring damper devices has an elastic body arranged at the centre of the respective partial seat (101, 103), by means of which the partial seats (101, 103) can be moved in a spring-damped manner along the vertical direction and can be pivoted around the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction.

22-39. (canceled)

40. Couch device, comprising a seat device (1) according to claim 1 having components that support at least the pelvis, the upper body and the head of a person in a lying position.