WO2008084113A1 - Chair base - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile chair base which is supported by spring bearings and which can be moved in all directions.

Description

 Silvia Tepe-Walser, Germany

W10-0005P-WO

14/01/2008

CHAIR FOOT

The invention relates to a mobile chair foot, as he usually chairs in office (rotary) occurs and claims the priority of the German utility model DE 20 2007 000 676 Ul, which has been filed on 14.01.2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional chair legs are equipped with a stable static chassis. The ergonomic reasons increasingly desired mobility is either under the seat cushion (DE 101 53 285 Al), or between the seat cushion and the foot on a central part (EP 0 568 585 Bl) possible. From the same patent a spring-loaded mobility between the bottom and a lowermost chair part is known, but only by means of a stable intermediate piece. Furthermore, a spring-mounted mobility of a chair foot is known (EP 1 176 891 Bl).

However, these chair feet have no roles and are not mobile.

The object of the invention is to produce an adjustable, spring-mounted mobility in a mobile foot. Another object of the invention is to articulate the mobility of the chair as far down as possible, so that the spine is not additionally burdened in the lowest area, as well as greater safety for the user is created because of the quieter movement.

This is achieved with the following measures: According to the invention, the mobile foot is equipped with a stable chassis and a movable footrest. The rigid side stores the wheel axles. This ensures optimal rolling of the wheels. A movable side (usually the top) is spring-loaded with a rigid side (usually the bottom) connected to a spring-mounted intermediate part. This allows mobility on all sides.

In order to regulate the mobility, as well as to determine different qualities of mobility, exemplary embodiments of a chair according to the invention are shown in FIGS.

The elastic materials described in this application are, for example, rubbers, preferably vulcanized rubbers (with different layers annular or planar arranged) or springs made of spring steel, be it spiral or individual leaf springs or arrangements thereof or clips or clamping springs or else gas springs. Slices and disc springs are also possible. Other materials that can also be considered are TPEs and so-called synthetic rubbers.

The elastic elements can be chosen so that they have a linear or even a progressive characteristic. This can be ensured for example by their structure, their material structure or crowns or tapers. Furthermore, they may be selected so that the lateral pivot-spring action of the chair is different in the directions back-to-back and left-right.

The individual embodiments presented according to the invention are freely combinable with one skilled in the art and, in particular, with the teachings of the patent EP 1 176 891 B1. This means that the here featured elastic elements can also be realized by the tires shown there. These are tires that have certain carcasses and are filled with air or other gases, gas mixtures or foams and thus have specific elastic properties.

Advantageous embodiments of an inventive swivel chair, or a suitably designed chair base, form the subject of the dependent claims.

CHARACTERS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below

Referring to the drawings described in more detail. The figures are described coherently and comprehensively. The same reference symbols denote the same components, reference symbols with different indices indicate functionally identical or similar components. It show here

Fig. 1 a chair with spring-loaded foot;

Fig. 2 a foot with spring-loaded intermediate layer with movable

Footrest (view);

Fig. 2A a foot with spring-loaded intermediate layer with movable

Footrest (cut);

FIG. 2B shows a spring-mounted movable foot (section); FIG.

Fig. 3 a foot with spring-loaded intermediate layer with stiffer

Footrest (view);

Fig. 3A a foot with spring-loaded intermediate layer with stiffer

Footrest (cut); Fig. 4 shows a foot with spring-loaded intermediate layer with central

Adjustability (from below);

4A shows a foot with spring-loaded intermediate layer with central adjustability (section);

FIG. 5 shows a foot with a spring-loaded intermediate layer (view); FIG.

FIG. 5A shows a foot with a spring-loaded intermediate layer (section); FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a foot with a spring-loaded central intermediate layer. FIG

Guide springs (view);

FIG. 6A shows a foot with spring-loaded central intermediate layer with guide springs (section); FIG.

Fig. 7 a foot with spring-loaded intermediate layer consisting of two superimposed round support plates with several springs as a movable connecting element between the plates with adjustment mechanism for lateral movement limitation (side view);

Fig. 7A a spring-loaded intermediate layer with steel springs with

stoppers;

7B, the spring-mounted intermediate layer of Figure 7 in a perspective view in a chassis ..;

8 shows a foot with a spring-loaded intermediate layer consisting of two round support plates arranged one above the other with a vulcanized rubber ring as a movable connecting element between the plates with adjustment mechanism for lateral movement limitation (side view); Fig. 8A is a spring-loaded intermediate layer with vulcanized

Rubber ring with stoppers;

FIG. 8B shows the spring-loaded intermediate layer with vulcanised rubber ring with stoppers from FIG. 8 in a perspective view in a chassis; FIG.

FIG. 9A shows another elastic according to the invention and after all. FIG

Side movable bearing, which is adjustable with a lever in a sectional view;

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the bearing of FIG. 9A; FIG.

Fig. 10A is a further inventive elastic and movable in all directions storage, which consists of a double leaf spring assembly;

FIG. 10B shows the storage FIG. 10A in a perspective view; FIG.

Fig. IIA shows the storage of Fig. IIB in perspective view;

Fig. IIB another inventive elastic and after all

Side movable bearing with a threaded adjustment, the double leaf suspension of Fig. 10A and an arrangement of wedge-shaped rings;

HC a detail D from FIG. HB, the storage of a

Standpipe in a threaded sleeve concerning;

Fig. 12A shows another inventive elastic and movable on all sides bearing with a plate spring, which changes their pivot points by rotation; FIG. 12B is a perspective view of the bearing of FIG. 12A; FIG.

FIG. 13A shows another elastic according to the invention and after all. FIG

Side movable bearing with a ball joint;

FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the bearing of FIG. 13A; FIG.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the bearing of FIG. 14B; FIG.

FIG. 14B shows another elastic according to the invention and after all. FIG

Side movable bearing with a conical sleeve and

FIG. 14C shows a detail E from FIG. 14B relating to the mounting of the standpipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Fig. 1, a chair according to the invention with an upper part 1, a central part 2 and a spring-loaded, movable lower part 3 is shown. The invention relates to the lower part 3, which consists of three basic components, namely a movable rigid lower part 4, a spring-loaded intermediate layer 5 and a stiff footrest. 6

In Fig. 2, the movable lower part 3 is shown in perspective alone.

In Fig. 2A, the horizontal, and the vertical mobility is shown in each case with a double arrow. The inner part 5 moves and the fixed on the inner part 5 stiff footrest 6 thus moves with. As soon as the stiff foot rest 6 abuts on the chassis 4, the horizontal

Swiveling motion limited. The extent of the horizontal pivoting movement is the dimensioning of the intermediate layer 5 (shown with three springs), and the dimensioning of the chassis 4 dependent.

The vertical deflection is dependent on the dimensioning of the spring-loaded intermediate layer 5. The bottom 7 of the rigid chassis 4 is as close to the ground as possible, so that the foot 3 is not too high.

In Fig. 2B, a top plate 6B moves on a tubular elastic pad 5B filled with air. The mobility is dependent on the air pressure in the tubular elastic pad 5B and the height h of the tubular elastic pad 5B in relation to the distance between the upper plate 6B and chassis 4.

In Fig. 3 / 3A, the rigid footrest 6 is fixed to the rigid

Chassis 4 connected. The mobility is achieved by the spring-mounted intermediate layer 9, which oscillates below the footrest 6. The lateral boundary is made possible by an elastic ring 10. In this variant, the movable parts 5, 9, 10 barely visible from the outside. By choosing the hardness of the spring ring 10, as well as the spring-loaded intermediate layer 5, the extent of the mobility is defined.

In FIGS. 4 / 4A, a foot 3a with a spring-mounted intermediate layer 5 and with a movable footrest 6 is shown in the same way as in FIGS. 2 / 2A. In contrast to the chair base 3 shown in Figures 2 / 2A, the hardness of the provision by means of a spring-loaded tension spring 11 or a train or a steel cable with bias is adjustable and limited in their mobility. When the bias pulls the footrest 6 against the rigid wheel support 4, the foot 3a as a whole becomes stiff. At maximum relaxation of the train connection 11, the maximum mobility exists between the rigid wheel support 4 and the movable footrest 6.

In Figures 5 / 5A, a central spring 15 is disposed between the rigid lower part 4 and the movable upper part 12. As with the chair base 3b of Figures 3 / 3A, the lateral mobility with a elastic ring 13 are regulated. The vertical flexibility is greater in this version. Therefore, the connecting pipe 14 is correspondingly longer. It is understood that this embodiment variant in the chair feet shown in Figures 4 / 4A to regulate the mobility with a central return 11 can be biased. The upper panel 16 is stiff in this embodiment variant, so that the oscillating member 12 has a stop via the elastic ring 13. The elastic ring 13 is seated on a connecting tube 14 in a press fit. Furthermore, a rigid cover ring 17 is attached so that the elastic ring 13 does not fall out during a vertical stroke. Optionally, the ring 13 is additionally pressed with the rigid cover ring 17 or a disc for regulating the lateral mobility.

In Figures 6 / 6A is a foot 3c with spring-loaded central

Liner 15 shown with guide springs 18. The guide springs 18 allow the spring-loaded top 19 a strong vertical mobility, with strong limitation of horizontal mobility. As in the case of the chair foot 3d illustrated in FIGS. 5 / 5A, the degree of freedom can also be regulated by pretensioning, optionally with a central tension connection, in the embodiment variant shown here as well.

Figures 7, 7A and 7B show a foot 3e with spring-loaded

Intermediate layer 5a, which consists of a lower round support plate 28, an overlying round support plate 27 and a plurality of springs 25. The springs 25 act as a movable connecting element between the support plates and can be equipped with an adjustment mechanism for lateral movement limitation.

The difference to the described Figures 2, 3 and 4 differs in the function is that the lateral deflection by screwing up and down the footrest 20 precisely in his

Degrees of freedom can be regulated. This is done via a attached to the footrest 20 threaded sleeve 21, which is connected to the inside conical mounting tube 22, which serves to attach the gas lift via a External thread 24 is bolted accurately.

If the footrest 20 is further screwed down, it pushes on the support surface 41 of the stopper 23. The stoppers 23 are preferably made of rubber or any hard-tough material. This stops the lateral movement. If the user turns the footrest 20 upwards, the lateral mobility between the footrest 20 and the stoppers 23 increases continuously. The limitation of the lateral mobility is achieved by limiting the thread length of the pipe thread 24.

Figures 8, 8A and 8B show a foot 3f with a

Intermediate layer 5b, which in contrast to the design variant shown in Figures 7 as a movable connecting element between the lower round support plate 28 and the upper round support plate 27 instead of springs 25 has a vulcanized rubber 26.

The lateral deflection is by turning up and down the

Footrest 20 also adjustable in its degrees of freedom.

Fig. 9A shows a further inventive elastic and movable on all sides bearing 5c, which is arranged as in the other, previous design variants for lowering the gravity and articulation point of the chair in a trough-shaped lower part 4. The here presented elastic and movable on all sides bearing 5 basically consists of a lower plate 31 and an upper plate 32, which have stored an elastic ring 26. As already mentioned, this ring can be made of vulcanized rubber and cambered to control its spring properties and / or be designed to be tapered. A bent lever 29 narrows by axial rotation of two wedge-shaped superimposed profiles the space between two superimposed steel plates and thereby the lateral deflection of the lower plate 31 to the upper plate 32. So that in an intermediate position, the wedge-shaped pads remain in position, grooves or Depressions in the upper Plate 32 recessed.

In FIG. 9B, the embodiment variant from FIG. 9a is shown in perspective. It can thus be seen the circular configuration of the lower plate 31, the upper plate 32 and the ring 26th

10A shows a further inventive elastic and movable in all directions bearing 5d, which consists of 3 pairs of mirror-symmetrically arranged lower leaf springs 35a and upper leaf springs 35b. The leaf springs 35 are preferably made of glass fiber reinforced resin, carbon or plastic or metal strips. On the leaf spring assembly 5 d, a connection sleeve 37 is mounted, which receives an optional conical upright tube 40. In the vertical movement, the spring assembly increases its radius. As an additional, interchangeable provision regulation an elastic ring 38 is mounted as a footrest on the leaf spring assembly. Due to the deformability of this elastic ring 38 different Bewegungsrückstellhärten are definable. The ring 38 may also be rigid. It can then be arranged in a slot adjustable on the upper leaf spring 35b. Another definition and limitation of the vertical spring movement and at the same time the lateral

Pivoting movement is possible by the arrangement of stoppers 23 on the respective underside of the lower leaf springs 35a.

FIG. 10B shows the elastic and laterally movable mounting 5d from FIG. 10A in a perspective view. Here, the at least three-fold pairwise arrangement of the leaf springs 35 and the arrangement of the elastic ring 38 can be seen.

Fig. IIA shows a perspective view of another inventive variant of an elastic and movable on all sides bearing 5e, which supplements the arrangement of Fig. 10A by the following: The optionally conically configured in Fig. 10A connecting sleeve 37 is now straight and with designed a thread 36. This is her to Recording a straight standpipe 40 designed with a mating thread.

The sectional view of Fig. IIB also shows that the

Standpipe 40 when screwed down in the threaded sleeve 37 presses on an array of two nested wedge-shaped rings 46. The lower wedge-shaped ring 46a has a larger diameter than the upper wedge-shaped ring 46b. This arrangement of the two mating wedge-shaped rings 46 increases on the one hand the bearing surface and on the other hand represents another, to the leaf spring assembly additional suspension. This arrangement is not by itself by the down or

Screwing the standpipe 40 adjustable in their spring properties and approval of lateral pivoting angles, but also provides for the leaf spring assembly is a regulation. The rings 46 are preferably made of an elastic, but hard material.

FIG. HC shows a detail D from FIG. HB, namely the

Threaded sleeve 37 with the thread 36 and the standpipe 40, which has a mating thread or even - as shown - a groove 30. The choice of thread pitch has an influence on the controllability, but must also be chosen so small that the load of the body weight does not produce screws.

A small pitch also allows the most accurate fitting that does not wobble.

Fig. 12A shows a further elastic according to the invention and movable on all sides bearing 5f, which exploits the spring action of a plate spring 47. In addition, the bearing is adjustable in its spring action. This happens because on a base plate 53 sliding elements 51 can slide in radially arranged guide grooves. An initial movement for the adjustment, for all sliding elements 51 simultaneously to a center M out or away, get the sliding elements 51 by means of a pin 54 which is guided in an arcuate guide slot 52. The guide slot 52 is optionally designed arcuate, it may also be straight. Another guide slot 48 guides the plate spring 47 as it rotates. The plate spring can be rotated at will as part of the design of the guide slots 48 and 52 and fixed by means of a locking screw 49. By a rotation of the plate spring 47, the sliding elements 51 are star-shaped on the base plate 53 on or moved away. This in turn changes the articulation points of the plate spring 47. The farther the

Sliding elements 51 are displaced inwardly, the harder is the plate spring 47 and allows less vertical, but also lateral pivoting movements. The plate spring 47 may be flat, but also conically curved, so that not only linear but also progressive spring characteristics can be realized. The plate spring 47 is preferably made of a material that has almost identical or identical characteristics to train and pressure. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the embodiment variant shown in FIG. 12A can be combined with the design variants with spiral springs from FIGS. 1-4 and 7 without further ado. That not sliding elements 51 are moved, but the coil springs disclosed in the aforementioned figures. Also a e.g. outwardly shifted coil spring would show due to another leverage of the upper plate on the lower, outside a different spring action than the inside.

In Fig. 12B, the embodiment of the inventive chair base of Fig. 12A is shown in perspective. The base plate 53 is now visible.

Fig. 13A shows another inventive

Embodiment variant of an elastic and movable on all sides bearing 5g, which has a plate 55 which may be rigid or elastic. On this plate 55 sits a ball head 56 on a base 62. On the ball head 56 further sits a ball socket 57, which includes the ball head 56 with defined edges 61. The ball socket 57 is formed at the top with a receiving sleeve 63. This receiving sleeve takes on the one hand, the standpipe 40, but also with an external thread a compression sleeve 60. By screwing down the compression sleeve 60 is an elastic material 58 its evasion away from the outside. The deeper the compression sleeve 60 is screwed down, the fewer degrees of freedom remain the Kugelverbiπdung. Another influence on the adjustment just described is also possible via the choice of the size of the cavities 59. Another, not shown here, but logical for the expert adjustment results from an adjustable height of the ball head 56 with respect to the plate 55. This can, for example, by another

Screw connection or be ensured by a lockable tongue and groove connection. In a thus described height adjustment of the ball head 56, the elastic material 58 could be biased or relieved as desired. Furthermore, it is possible to influence the adjustability of the elastic and laterally movable mounting 5g described here by forming the receiving sleeve 63 and / or the compression sleeve 60 and / or the elastic material 58 in a conical manner. The described adjustability can be limited by the edge 61 of the ball socket 57 is pulled down so far that it forms a stop on the base 62 from a certain pivoting angle. The lower edge of the compression sleeve 60 can serve analogous to a stop on the plate 55.

FIG. 13B shows the arrangement presented in FIG. 13A in a perspective view.

Fig. 14A shows a very simple, but surprisingly well-functioning elastic and movable in all directions storage 5h. It consists of a receptacle 65 which is rigid in itself or less elastic on the lower part 4 is formed. In this recording 65, the standpipe 40 is inserted with an elastic sleeve 64. The elastic sleeve 64 may, as indicated, be multi-part or cut and made of rubber, vulcanized rubber or layer arrangements of various materials. The elastic sleeve 64 holds very well, even without the need for a support against slipping.

Figures 14B and 14C show the arrangement of the storage 5h in

Sectional view. It can be seen that the receptacle 65 conical can be.

The following list of reference numerals is part of the disclosure of the present application.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 - upper part (for example, a seat or a seat and a backrest)

2 - central part (for example, stand or telescopic rod) 3, 3a-3f - mobile chair base; mobile lower part; Foot

4 - stiff part; mobile, stiff base; Landing gear; Foot; rigid wheel mount 5, 5a-5h moving part; spring-mounted intermediate layer; Inner part; Compression spring; flexible and movable on all sides 5B - elastic pad; air-filled hose 6 - stiff footrest; 6B mobile footrest - upper plate

7 - Bottom of 4

8 - upper plate

9 - spring-loaded intermediate layer; moving part; Tube; Receiving sleeve 9a - body

10 - elastic ring; moving part; spring washer

11 - spring-loaded tension spring connection; prestressed steel rope; central provision; compression spring

12 - movable upper part; vibrating part 13 - elastic ring

14 - Connecting pipe

15 - central spring; spring-mounted central liner

16 - upper panel

17 - rigid cover ring; Disc 18, 18a-18c - guide spring; guide spring

19 - spring loaded top

20 - footrest

21 - Threaded sleeve

22 - inside conical mounting tube 23 - stopper

24 - pipe thread

25 - spring

26 - vulcanized rubber 27 - upper round platen

28 - lower round platen

29 - bent lever

30 - IMut 31 - lower plate

32 - upper plate

33 - conical plug-in part

34 - receiving sleeve 35a - lower leaf spring 35b - upper leaf spring

36 - thread

37 - Connecting sleeve

38 - elastic ring

39 - adjusting sleeve 40 - standpipe

41 - bearing surface of 23

42 - outer edge of 6

43 - trough-shaped inner surface of 4

44 - Bore 45 - plate-shaped foot of 9 46, 46b - wedge-shaped ring

47 - Belleville spring

48 - Guide slot for 49

49 - Locking screw 50 - Guide groove

51 - sliding element

52 - guide slot for 51

53 - base plate

54 - pin 55 - plate

56 - Ball head

57 - Ball socket

58 - elastic material 59 - cavity

60 - compression sleeve

61 - edge

62 - socket 63 - receiving sleeve

64 - elastic sleeve

65 - Recording 100 - Chair

A - distance h - height M - center

Claims

1. Chair (100) with a movable lower part (4), a middle part standing thereon (2) and an upper part (1) supporting thereon, characterized in that between the movable lower part (4) and the Middle part (2) an elastic and movable on all sides bearing (5) is arranged. 2. Chair (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the central part (2) is formed from at least one stand. 3. Chair (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic and movable on all sides bearing (5) has at least one coil spring (5, 15, 25). 4. Chair (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastic and movable on all sides bearing (5) made of rubber (26). 5. chair (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastic and movable on all sides bearing (5) is an air-filled tube (5 B). 6. Chair (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for limiting the lateral movement of the central part (2), a stop is provided. 7. Chair (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the movable lower part (4) with a trough-shaped inner surface (43) for receiving the elastic and movable on all sides bearing (5) is formed and that the central part (2) the elastic and on all sides movable bearing (5) with a plate (6) with an outer edge (42) is fixed and that the stop in the meeting of the outer edge (42) with the inner surface (43). 8. chair (100) according to claim 3 and 6, characterized in that the stop by stops (23) is formed, which are arranged laterally of the coil springs (5, 15, 25). 9. chair (100) according to claim 3 and 6, characterized in that the Plate (6) fixed to the movable lower part (4) is arranged and has a bore (44) into which an elastic ring (10) and a receiving sleeve (9) are inserted, so that the stop by the compression of the elastic ring (10 ) is formed against the bore (44). 10. chair (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the receiving sleeve (9) has a plate-shaped foot (45), which in lateral movements of the central part (2), which exceed a distance (A), against the underside of the plate (6) strikes. 11. chair (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pulling device (11) or printing device with a thread (24) is provided, with which the elastic and movable on all sides bearing (5) is prestressed. 12. chair (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic and movable on all sides of the bearing (15) has a spring-loaded upper side (19) which is fixed with at least one leaf spring (18) on the movable lower part (4) ,