EP0675693B1 - Tilting mechanism for a chair - Google Patents

Tilting mechanism for a chair Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0675693B1
EP0675693B1 EP92924049A EP92924049A EP0675693B1 EP 0675693 B1 EP0675693 B1 EP 0675693B1 EP 92924049 A EP92924049 A EP 92924049A EP 92924049 A EP92924049 A EP 92924049A EP 0675693 B1 EP0675693 B1 EP 0675693B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
seat
shaft
back support
frame
chair
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92924049A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0675693A1 (en
Inventor
Tore Lie
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.)
Ring Mekanikk AS
Original Assignee
Ring Mekanikk AS
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 Ring Mekanikk AS filed Critical Ring Mekanikk AS
Publication of EP0675693A1 publication Critical patent/EP0675693A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0675693B1 publication Critical patent/EP0675693B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
    • A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
    • A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
    • A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
    • A47C1/03294—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
    • A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
    • A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
    • A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
    • A47C1/03255—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs

Definitions

  • the present invention is related to a tilting mechanism for a chair, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • a tilting mechanism is known from US 4,979,778.
  • US 2,471,024 discloses a chair with a tilting back, where a shaft runs in guide channels under the seat to enable displacement thereof.
  • Tilting mechanism for chairs are available in a number of different varieties, partly for tilting only of the back portion of the chair, partly for tilting of the seat and the back portion together.
  • Synchronous tilting of seat and back portion partly is achieved by a spring for the seat and a spring for the back portion whereas recently developments are found where seat and back portion are tilted synchronously with only one spring.
  • the seat does not necessarily maintain its position in relation to the back portion during the movement, but the angle between the seat and the back portion to the contrary is changed in dependency of the tilting angle of the back portion. It is, however, substantial for the comfort of a chair to provide a desired angle relationship between the seat and the back portion in all different positions of the back portion.
  • both of the back portion and the seat, seat and back portion both are journalled on their own horizontal tilting axis.
  • the geometrical relationships such as the arrangement of these two axis in relation to each other, horizontally as well as vertically, and the arrangement and the shape of the connection between the seat and the back portion, are crucial for the relative tilting movements of the seat and the back portion.
  • the frame 1 of the mechanism is secured to a chair base (not disclosed) and rotatable around the axis 12.
  • a spring 2 between the frame 1 and an arm 3 protruding outwards and backwards, on which a back support 5 is secured, such as by a nut 10.
  • the arm 3 is moved against the force of the spring when a user leans backwards and thereby presses the back support backwards and downwards, turning around the axis 2.
  • the seat 4 is journalled around a shaft 6 in the front portion of the frame 1.
  • the shaft 6 may be connected with the frame 1, may be biased in relation to the frame or may be adjustable in relation to the frame.
  • the seat 4 is connected with the shaft 6 in such a way that the seat may be displaced forwards and backwards as the shaft 6 is sliding in guidings 11.
  • the rear portion of the frame also is journalled along the shaft 7 in a guiding 8, whereby the shaft 7 may be locked to the guiding 8, such as by a nut.
  • the shaft 7 is connected with the seat 4 by a middle piece 9.
  • the middle piece 9 may be fixedly secured to the seat 4 and flexible such that it can be turned around the shaft 7.
  • the back portion 5 and the seat 4 may be tilted around the axis of the spring 2 and the axis of the shaft 6 respectively as the displacement between the seat and the arm 3 will be adjusted by the flexibility of the flexible middle piece 9.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chairs Characterized By Structure (AREA)
  • Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)
  • Chairs For Special Purposes, Such As Reclining Chairs (AREA)

Abstract

Mechanism for a chair, especially an office chair, comprising a biased back support (5) and a seat (4) being synchronously movable with the back support (5), the spring (2) for the seat (4) as well as for the back support (3) being arranged in the journalled axis (2) for the back support (3) in the frame (1) of the mechanism, the seat (4) being journalled near the front edge, to the frame (1) with a shaft (6) being arranged horizontally and vertically in a distance from the journalling axis (2) of the back support, the seat (4) being journally connected with a shaft (7) on a support arm (3) to which the back support (5) is connected by means of a connection piece (9) by which the difference between the rotation radius around the shaft (7) and the radius of the rotation of the seat (4) around the shaft (6), is compensated.

Description

The present invention is related to a tilting mechanism for a chair, according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a tilting mechanism is known from US 4,979,778. US 2,471,024 discloses a chair with a tilting back, where a shaft runs in guide channels under the seat to enable displacement thereof.
Tilting mechanism for chairs, especially for office chairs, are available in a number of different varieties, partly for tilting only of the back portion of the chair, partly for tilting of the seat and the back portion together. Synchronous tilting of seat and back portion partly is achieved by a spring for the seat and a spring for the back portion whereas recently developments are found where seat and back portion are tilted synchronously with only one spring. Even if the tilting of the seat and the back portion is performed synchronously, the seat does not necessarily maintain its position in relation to the back portion during the movement, but the angle between the seat and the back portion to the contrary is changed in dependency of the tilting angle of the back portion. It is, however, substantial for the comfort of a chair to provide a desired angle relationship between the seat and the back portion in all different positions of the back portion.
To achieve such a tilting movement both of the back portion and the seat, seat and back portion both are journalled on their own horizontal tilting axis. The geometrical relationships, such as the arrangement of these two axis in relation to each other, horizontally as well as vertically, and the arrangement and the shape of the connection between the seat and the back portion, are crucial for the relative tilting movements of the seat and the back portion.
With the tilting mechanism according to the present invention, relative movements between seat and back portion are achieved which ensures that the so called stripping effect is avoided, this means that the rear portion of the seat is moved so much downwards in relation to the back portion when this is tilted backwards, that shirts are pulled up from trousers. This effect is achieved additionally to-the fact that the front edge of the seat is maintained substantially in the same position and that there is provided a possibility of adjustment of the arrangement of the seat towards the front and towards the rear of the chair.
In the above-mentioned US 4,979,778, the seat is connected to a support arm of the back support by means of a pivotal structure, whereas in the present invention a connection piece of flexible material is provided.
The only Figure of the drawing discloses schematically a side view of a tilting mechanism according to the present invention where one tilting position of the mechanism is disclosed with dotted lines.
The frame 1 of the mechanism is secured to a chair base (not disclosed) and rotatable around the axis 12. In the frame is arranged a spring 2 between the frame 1 and an arm 3 protruding outwards and backwards, on which a back support 5 is secured, such as by a nut 10. The arm 3 is moved against the force of the spring when a user leans backwards and thereby presses the back support backwards and downwards, turning around the axis 2.
The seat 4 is journalled around a shaft 6 in the front portion of the frame 1. The shaft 6 may be connected with the frame 1, may be biased in relation to the frame or may be adjustable in relation to the frame. The seat 4 is connected with the shaft 6 in such a way that the seat may be displaced forwards and backwards as the shaft 6 is sliding in guidings 11.
Correspondingly the rear portion of the frame also is journalled along the shaft 7 in a guiding 8, whereby the shaft 7 may be locked to the guiding 8, such as by a nut. The shaft 7 is connected with the seat 4 by a middle piece 9. The middle piece 9 may be fixedly secured to the seat 4 and flexible such that it can be turned around the shaft 7. By means of the middle piece 9, the back portion 5 and the seat 4 may be tilted around the axis of the spring 2 and the axis of the shaft 6 respectively as the displacement between the seat and the arm 3 will be adjusted by the flexibility of the flexible middle piece 9.

Claims (3)

  1. Mechanism for a chair, especially an office chair, comprising a biased back support (5) and a seat (4) being synchronously movable with the back support (5), the spring (2) for the seat (4) as well as for the back support (5) is arranged in the journalled axis (2) for the back support (5) in the frame (1) of the mechanism, the seat (4) being journalled near the front edge, to the frame (1) with a shaft (6) being arranged horizontally and vertically at a distance from the journalling axis (2) of the back support, the seat (4) being journally connected with a shaft (7) on a support arm (3) to which the back support (5) is connected by means of a connection piece (9) by which the difference between the rotation radiis of the shaft (7) around the journalled axis (2) and around the shaft (6), respectively, is compensated, characterized in that the seat (4) being displaceable in and out in relation to the frame (1), that the shaft (6) connected with the front portion of the frame (1) is displaceable in a guiding (11) secured to the front portion of the seat (4) and the shaft (7) being displaceable in a guiding (8) secured to the support arm (3), and that the connection piece (9) is made of flexible material.
  2. Mechanism according to preceding claim, characterized in that the front shaft (6) on the frame (1) being vertically adjustable for adjusting the height of the seat.
  3. Mechanism according to preceding claims, characterized in that the front shaft (6) of the frame (3) being vertically biased.
EP92924049A 1991-11-15 1992-11-03 Tilting mechanism for a chair Expired - Lifetime EP0675693B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO914488A NO175961C (en) 1991-11-15 1991-11-15 Trust Hardware
NO914488 1991-11-15
PCT/NO1992/000181 WO1993009698A1 (en) 1991-11-15 1992-11-03 Tilting mechanism for a chair

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0675693A1 EP0675693A1 (en) 1995-10-11
EP0675693B1 true EP0675693B1 (en) 1998-02-18

Family

ID=19894603

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92924049A Expired - Lifetime EP0675693B1 (en) 1991-11-15 1992-11-03 Tilting mechanism for a chair

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0675693B1 (en)
AU (1) AU2957692A (en)
DE (1) DE69224488T2 (en)
FI (1) FI942246A (en)
IL (1) IL103482A (en)
NO (1) NO175961C (en)
WO (1) WO1993009698A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA927922B (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO317791B1 (en) 2002-01-04 2004-12-13 Stokke As Moving joints

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2321385A (en) * 1941-06-16 1943-06-08 Sikes Company Tilting chair
US2471024A (en) * 1946-10-04 1949-05-24 Roy A Cramer Chair with tilting back and automatically shiftable seat
CA1184108A (en) * 1984-04-09 1985-03-19 David W. Smith Suspension arrangement for a tilting chair
US4979778A (en) * 1989-01-17 1990-12-25 Brayton International, Inc. Synchrotilt chair
NO174135C (en) * 1990-09-05 1994-03-23 Staal & Stil As chair

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1993009698A1 (en) 1993-05-27
NO914488L (en) 1993-05-18
DE69224488D1 (en) 1998-03-26
NO175961B (en) 1994-10-03
NO175961C (en) 1995-01-11
DE69224488T2 (en) 1998-06-04
AU2957692A (en) 1993-06-15
EP0675693A1 (en) 1995-10-11
IL103482A0 (en) 1993-03-15
FI942246A0 (en) 1994-05-13
IL103482A (en) 1996-10-16
NO914488D0 (en) 1991-11-15
ZA927922B (en) 1993-06-02
FI942246A (en) 1994-05-13

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