EP0302759A2 - Chaise - Google Patents

Chaise Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0302759A2
EP0302759A2 EP88307306A EP88307306A EP0302759A2 EP 0302759 A2 EP0302759 A2 EP 0302759A2 EP 88307306 A EP88307306 A EP 88307306A EP 88307306 A EP88307306 A EP 88307306A EP 0302759 A2 EP0302759 A2 EP 0302759A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
support member
back support
chair according
seat
web
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP88307306A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0302759A3 (fr
Inventor
Ian Finlator
Roger Webb
Ian Mumford
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HILLE ERGONOM PLC
Original Assignee
HILLE ERGONOM PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by HILLE ERGONOM PLC filed Critical HILLE ERGONOM PLC
Publication of EP0302759A2 publication Critical patent/EP0302759A2/fr
Publication of EP0302759A3 publication Critical patent/EP0302759A3/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
    • A47C7/36—Supports for the head or the back
    • A47C7/40—Supports for the head or the back for the back
    • A47C7/44—Supports for the head or the back for the back with elastically-mounted frame
    • A47C7/448—Supports for the head or the back for the back with elastically-mounted frame with resilient blocks

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a chair, and in particular to aspects of a chair having a seat and a back mounted on a frame and a gas cylinder device for adjusting the height of the seat.
  • a chair comprising a frame with a seat and a back mounted thereon, wherein the frame extends vertically upwards at the rear of the seat, on either side, and extends in an arch around the top of the back.
  • the frame is interrupted on either side by a flexible spring device, which is plugged into the hollow frame members above and below it, allowing the back to flex backwards when a user sits on the seat and leans backwards.
  • the flexible device disclosed in that document is formed from a substantial thickness of moulded plastic and has a central axial cable to limit its flexibility. The moulding of such a device would be expensive, having an estimated cycle time in the mould of about four minutes or so. A suitable mould would probably require cooling galleries to cool the substantial thickness of plastic, thereby adding to manufacturing costs.
  • the chair shown in the above document is not very aesthetically attractive, due in part to the frame member extending in an arch around the top of the back.
  • the present applicants have designed an attractive new range of chairs which have back frame members extending vertically upwards from the seat and these frame members are cropped to a shape which conforms to the profile of the side of the back. This cropping operation is a relatively expensive one in comparison with merely cutting the frame members square with a saw.
  • a chair comprising a frame having a seat mounted thereon, at least one back frame member extending upwards from the seat, at the back thereof, a back support member mounted on the back frame member and a back mounted on the back support member, wherein the back support member is moulded from plastics material and comprises one or more vertical webs, the or each web being substantially thinner than the overall width of the back frame member, whereby the back can be moved backwards and forwards relative to the seat, by flexing of the back support member, resistance to such flexing being primarily provided by the or each web.
  • a principal web extending in a vertical plane from front to back, such as in the form of a length of universal cross-beam arranged vertically on its end.
  • the webs may form front and rear flanges arranged in parallel vertical planes extending from side to side, joined by a central web, in the form of an elongate I-beam arranged vertically on its end.
  • no part of the back support member exceeds 4 mm in thickness, and more preferably no part exceeds 3.5 mm in thickness.
  • the or each web offering primary resistance to flexing has a thickness from about 1.5 mm to about 3.8 mm.
  • the total depth of the or each principal web from front to back is from about 20 mm to about 23 mm.
  • a back support member having webs which provide the required rigidity, the thickness of the plastics material throughout the back support member can be kept low, and the cycle time in the mould can be kept correspondingly low.
  • the flexibilty/rigidity of the back support member is such that when a force of 500 N is applied perpendicularly and rearwardly to the back at a point 145 mm above the point of mounting of the back support member to the back frame member, the chair back undergoes flexing of between about zero degrees and about 35 degrees rearward, and preferably between about 5 degrees and about 26 degrees.
  • this flexing is between about 20 degrees and about 26 degrees under this test.
  • the chair can also withstand a force of at least 1000 N when applied to the same point, without failure of the back support members.
  • Projections may be provided around or between the or each web, which offer no resistance to flexing but which project outwards to a line which is a projection of the edge of the back frame member, thereby giving the back support member the appearance of being as thick as the back frame member.
  • a chair comprising a frame having a seat mounted thereon, two elongate back frame members extending upwards from the seat, at the back thereof, a moulded back support member mounted on each back frame member, each back support member generally forming an extension of its respective back frame member, and a back mounted on the back support members, wherein each back support member has a profile corresponding to the profile of the back at the position where the back is mounted on that back support member, that profile being other than a straight line crossing the back support member perpendicularly.
  • the metal back frame members need not be cut to difficult shapes to fit the back, but they can each be cut in a straight line crossing the back frame member perpendicularly and the back support member can be moulded to fit the back, the moulding being a simpler operation.
  • the or each back frame member is preferably hollow and the or each back support member has a lower end in the form of a plug which makes a press-fit into the back frame member.
  • a chair comprising: a frame having a seat mounted thereon; a gas cylinder device for adjusting the height of the seat, the gas cylinder having a gas release valve for the intake or outlet of air to adjust the height of the seat; and a control device mounted within the frame, connecting with the gas release valve to open and close the valve.
  • the frame preferably comprises tubular members and connecting means pass from the control device along the inside of a tubular member before connecting with the gas release valve.
  • the control device is a knob or button forming an end cap for one such tubular member. That member may be one which extends from side to side underneath the seat, near the front thereof.
  • Preferably connecting means are provided between the control device and the gas release valve, which give a mechanical advantage greater than unity, whereby a lower force can be applied to the control device to release the valve than would be needed if applied directly to the valve.
  • the control device may be activated by rotary movement about the axis of the frame member within which it is mounted, by longitudinal movement along that axis, or by movement in other directions.
  • the chair has a frame 1 of tubular metal, on which is mounted a seat 2.
  • a back 3 is mounted on the frame by means of two flexible back support members 4, which extend partially into two vertical back members 5 of the frame.
  • the frame and seat are rotatably mounted on a lower frame comprising five radially projecting legs 6 and a gas cylinder 7.
  • the flexible back support member (FBM) 4 is moulded from Delrin 100 (trade mark) and comprises a back attachment part 10, a flexible part 11 and a plug part 12.
  • the back attachment part 10 has a profile shaped to correspond to the back of the chair 3. It has a U-shaped cross-section as shown and a screw-hole 13 for receiving a screw to attach the FBM to the chair back.
  • the flexible part 11 takes the form of a universal cross-beam and has a principal front-to-back web 15 and a transverse web 16.
  • Horizontal flanges 17 are provided for decorative purposes.
  • the plug part 12 is designed to fit firmly within the vertical member 5 of the tubular frame 1 and for this purpose has a plurality of ribs 18, projecting horizontally on all sides, each being champfered on the underside for ease of insertion into the tubular frame member 5.
  • the principal web 15 has a thickness of about 3.5 mm.
  • the FBM has no part with a thickness greater than 4mm, so can be moulded very quickly - ie. it has a low cooling time and the cycle time for moulding is reduced to about 1 minute. At thicknessess greater than 4 mm, the moulding cycle time is significantly increased.
  • the web 15 can be made deeper, though about 24 mm is an approximate upper limit.
  • a further front-to-back web can be included on either side of the principal web 15, having a thickness of, say, 2 mm. The thickness of these webs can be chosen to give the desired degree of flexibility.
  • Three such parallel webs can be used and the rigidity of the FBM decreased by using Delrin Supertough 100ST (Trade Mark) instead of Delrin 100 (Trade Mark).
  • the web 15 can effectively continue downwards (not shown) into the plug part 12 for greater rigidity at the interface between the parts 11 and 12.
  • FIG. 3 the part of the frame 1 beneath the seat 2 is shown, with the seat omitted.
  • the upper end of a piston for the gas cylinder 7 is shown at 20 and a release valve 21 in the piston is shown.
  • a lever 22 which is loosely fastened to the frame by a bolt 23 on which is held a rubber bush 24 and a self-locking nut 25.
  • the rubber bush 24 acts as a fulcrum for the lever 22.
  • the end of the lever 22 remote from the piston 20 passes inside a tubular cross member 26 forming part of the frame 1, protruding into that member through a hole in the wall thereof.
  • a flap 27 mounted on flat bars 28 ( Figure 4) extending to either end of the cross member 26, within that cross member.
  • a knob 30, 31 is located at the outer end of each of the bars 28. These knobs are rotatably mounted in the cross-member 26 and protrude out from underneath the seat 2, on either side thereof, as shown in Figure 1.
  • a user When sitting on the seat 2, a user can rotate the right hand knob 30 clockwise (or the left-hand knob 31 anti-clockwise) and this turns the respective bar 28 and the flap 27 to the position 27′ shown by a dotted line in Figure 3.
  • This lifts the front end of the lever 22 which pivots on the fulcrum 24 and the rear end depresses the valve 21, allowing the release of air from the cylinder 7 and allowing the piston 20 to sink, thus lowering the height of the seat 2.
  • the user releases the knob 30 and the valve springs upwards of its own accord, thus holding the seat at that height and returning the lever 22, the flap 27, the bars 28 and the knobs 30 and 31 to their original positions.
  • a mechanism for operating the gas release valve and thereby adjusting the height of the seat, which is discreetly housed partially within the frame of the chair and the control means of which (the knob 30 or 31) is discreetly mounted within the frame of the chair, at a position easily accessible to the hand of the user when seated in a normal sitting position.
  • control means could be used instead of a rotating knob.
  • a push-button could be used, operating a wedge mounted within the transverse frame member 26, the wedge being positioned to raise the end of the lever 22.
  • Other means of transferring the movement from the control means to the gas release valve could be used, such as cables and linkages, or a Bourdon cable.
  • the arrangement shown in figure 3 has the advantage that the lever 22 provides a mechanical advantage to reduce the force required to depress the relatively stiff valve 21. If other suitable linkages were used, a mechanical advantage could be provided in a number of different ways.

Landscapes

  • Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)
  • Chairs Characterized By Structure (AREA)
EP88307306A 1987-08-07 1988-08-08 Chaise Ceased EP0302759A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8718780A GB8718780D0 (en) 1987-08-07 1987-08-07 Chair
GB8718780 1987-08-07

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0302759A2 true EP0302759A2 (fr) 1989-02-08
EP0302759A3 EP0302759A3 (fr) 1989-08-16

Family

ID=10621988

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88307306A Ceased EP0302759A3 (fr) 1987-08-07 1988-08-08 Chaise

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0302759A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB8718780D0 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5904397A (en) * 1995-05-02 1999-05-18 Hag A/S Seating unit comprising two adjacent, pivotal support elements
USD467445S1 (en) 2001-07-18 2002-12-24 Steelcase Development Corporation Chair

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2587822A (en) * 1946-06-21 1952-03-04 Walter D Corning Resiliently mounted chair back
US4046422A (en) * 1976-09-07 1977-09-06 Center For Design Research And Development N.V. Chair
US4549764A (en) * 1983-09-14 1985-10-29 K. L. Spring & Stamping Corporation Flexible chair back
US4603904A (en) * 1985-08-12 1986-08-05 Shelby Williams Industries, Inc. Chair with articulated, flexible spring backrest

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5904397A (en) * 1995-05-02 1999-05-18 Hag A/S Seating unit comprising two adjacent, pivotal support elements
USD467445S1 (en) 2001-07-18 2002-12-24 Steelcase Development Corporation Chair

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0302759A3 (fr) 1989-08-16
GB8718780D0 (en) 1987-09-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7234777B2 (en) Chair with adjustable armrests and backrest
US5035466A (en) Ergonomic chair
AU2007234517B2 (en) Tilt chair having a flexible back, adjustable armrests and adjustable seat depth, and methods for the use thereof
CA2161879C (fr) Chaise
US5411316A (en) Single piece chair shell
EP1768516B1 (fr) Chaise de bureau
US6247753B1 (en) Arrangement for beds and other reclining or seating furniture
EP0069410A1 (fr) Chaise
US20110221253A1 (en) Ergonomic Side Chair
KR20080037029A (ko) 의자
EP0636329B1 (fr) Chaise
CA2284406A1 (fr) Plaque d'assise pour siege a profondeur reglable
WO2002102201A1 (fr) Mecanisme de commande d'inclinaison ameliore pour fauteuil a dossier inclinable
US5222783A (en) Chair with its backrest adjustable in its angle
WO1996037130A1 (fr) Fauteuil
JP2000501970A (ja) 椅子シートの傾動抵抗調節装置
AU599292B2 (en) Seat furniture
US20080100119A1 (en) Seating Furniture, In Particular Office Chairs
US4466665A (en) Chair having adjsutable, cantilevered lumbar-supporting arm
WO2005039361A2 (fr) Mécanisme d'inclinaison pour siège
JP3133204B2 (ja) 椅 子
CA1324313C (fr) Berceuse
CA3080618C (fr) Module de siege et mecanisme d'inclinaison
US7431397B2 (en) Chair
EP1716786A1 (fr) Chaise ou fauteuil avec appui tête règlable

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19900129

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19920312

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN REFUSED

18R Application refused

Effective date: 19930118