Support for seating

Abstract

The invention relates to a support (2) for a seat and a seat having the support. In order to provide a seat with additional freedom of movement with particularly low structural expenditure and thus low cost, a support (2) is provided, which comprises a connecting unit (16) mounted on a base (15) of the support (2) for connecting the support (2) to a support element (6) of a frame, the connecting unit having a mounting device (5) for the support element (6), in particular a receptacle for the upper end of the support element (6), the connecting unit (16) being mounted on the base in such a way that the inclination of the base (15) relative to the support element (6) is variable, for this purpose the base (15) having a preferably convex contact bottom (17) which, in the mounted state, contacts a contact head (18) of the connecting unit (16) in a non-planar, in particular point-like, contacting manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a support member for a seat and a seat having the support member. Background Art

[0002] In office chairs, a seat assembly is usually provided which is fixedly connected to the base frame. With the aid of the base frame, the chair rests on a support surface, such as the floor. If the base frame is a cross-legged chair or the like, a central support column usually serves as the only support element. To adjust the seat height, the support column can have a height-adjustable gas spring. The upper end of the support column, which usually tapers conically, is accommodated in a correspondingly shaped conical receptacle on the underside of the seat assembly, which conical receptacle is usually connected in one piece to the corresponding part of the seat assembly for reasons of stability.

[0003] In an office chair, the seat assembly usually includes a seat mechanism. In addition, a synchronous mechanism, an asynchronous mechanism and a rocking mechanism are known as the mechanism of the office chair.

[0004] The term "synchronous mechanism" is to be understood here as a component in the seat substructure of an office chair, which ensures mutually coupled kinematics that allow the seat and backrest to have a specific relative movement with respect to each other. The seat of the office chair is mounted on a seat support, which usually has a padded seat surface. The backrest support, which usually extends backwards from the original synchronous mechanism, supports the backrest of the office chair on an upwardly extending cantilever. The seat support and the backrest support are usually connected in an articulated manner so that a backward pivoting movement of the backrest, which can be caused, for example, by the chair user leaning on the backrest, causes a downward movement of the rear edge of the seat. The so-called "shirt pulling effect" (Hemdauszieheffekt) is thereby prevented and the seat comfort is increased.

[0005] The term "asynchronous mechanism" is understood to mean an assembly in which a pivoting of the backrest does not cause a movement of the seat support. In other words, only the backrest moves during the rearward pivoting. Compared with synchronous mechanisms, the seat comfort is reduced. In particular, in asynchronous mechanisms, the so-called "shirt-pulling effect" can occur due to the "decoupled" movement of the backrest and the seat. However, due to their relatively simple construction, such an assembly is much more economical to produce than the above-mentioned synchronous mechanisms.

[0006] A rocking mechanism is a relatively simple component in the seat substructure of a chair, in which the backrest support is more or less rigidly connected to the seat support, the seat or the seat frame. When the chair user leans back on the backrest, the seat support-backrest support combination thus created can be pivoted backwards by the rocking mechanism about a pivot axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the seat. Such rocking mechanisms are often used in inexpensive visitor or conference chairs instead of synchronous mechanisms in order to implement a simple rocking function there. Due to their relatively simple construction, rocking mechanisms are usually much cheaper to produce than the above-mentioned mechanisms.

[0007] All of these mechanisms have in common that one or more of the mechanism components can be pivoted in the longitudinal direction of the seat, ie forwards or backwards.

[0008] Furthermore, mechanisms have been proposed in which, in addition to the forward or backward pivoting movement of one of the mechanism components, individual mechanism components can often also perform lateral rocking movements to the right or left, i.e. transversely to the longitudinal direction of the seat. This allows restrictions on the movement of the mechanism components to be partially eliminated in the case of inexpensive seat mechanisms. However, this additional lateral mobility also has disadvantages. In particular, the resulting overall movement of the mechanism is often not optimal from an ergonomic point of view.

[0009] Furthermore, for biomedical reasons, the lack of a further degree of freedom in a specific mechanism design is increasingly considered disadvantageous, which degree of freedom is independent of whether, in the specific mechanism, in addition to a pivoting movement of one or more mechanism parts along the longitudinal direction of the seat, a tilting movement of one or more mechanism parts transversely to the longitudinal direction of the seat is also provided.

[0010] In the technical solutions proposed hitherto, attempts to provide additional lateral movability of the mechanism components or to provide further degrees of freedom of movement of one or more mechanism components are associated with significantly increased construction complexity, thereby increasing the costs of the seat. Summary of the invention

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a seat with additional freedom of movement with particularly low structural complexity and thus at low cost.

[0012] This object is achieved by the support part according to the invention or the mechanism according to the invention or the seat according to the invention.

[0013] The support for a seat according to the invention comprises a connecting unit mounted on a base of the support for connecting the support to a support element of a chassis, in particular a strut or the like, the connecting unit having a mounting device for the support element, in particular a receptacle for the upper end of the support element, wherein the connecting unit is mounted on the base in such a way that the inclination of the base relative to the support element is variable, for which purpose the base has a preferably convexly configured contact base which, in the mounted state, contacts a contact head of the connecting unit in a non-planar, punctiform abutment. A locking device is provided having a plurality of first locking elements which can be transferred from a functional position into a locking position and back into a functional position by a movement of at least a part of the locking device relative to the base, in particular such that the first locking elements of the locking device interact with second locking elements arranged on the connecting unit in the locking position in order to form a positive fit which prevents a relative movement of the base and the support element. The connecting unit is arranged between the contact base and a closing cover of the base body, which is fixedly connected to the base body and closes a receiving space of the base body, which at least partially receives the connecting unit.

[0014] One idea of ​​the invention is to arrange the seat module movably, in particular movably in all directions, on a fixed supporting element of the underframe.

[0015] Another concept of the present invention is to construct the mounting device for the supporting element, in particular the cone receptacle, as a separate component. In other words, the mounting device is neither integrally connected to the seat assembly, in particular is not an integral component of the base support of the seat mechanism, and the mounting device is not fixedly connected to the seat assembly. Instead, it is provided that the support member of the seat assembly is constructed in at least two parts, a part of the support member (hereinafter referred to as the connecting unit) includes a mounting device for the supporting element that can be connected to the supporting element, and another part of the support member (hereinafter referred to as the base) is movably arranged on the part including the mounting device. The support member is here a structure that supports a part of the seat and is also referred to as a support member for short in the following. The support member is a part of the seat assembly. The support member is in particular a base support of the seat mechanism.

[0016] Another idea of ​​the present invention is to design the interaction of the two parts of the support in such a way that the base body has a contact base, against which the connecting unit with the contact head preferably always rests at a point - at least not in a planar manner. This is ensured by a suitably coordinated geometric design of the contact surfaces of the contact base and the contact head. In a preferred simple embodiment, the contact base is convex and the contact head can be designed as a plane or with an inversely convex shape. The contact base of the base body and the contact head of the connecting unit always contact each other in a point-like contact. By moving the base body relative to the fixed chair column, the base body rolls with its contact base on the contact surface of the contact head. The contact base does not slide on the contact head.

[0017] Due to this point-shaped abutment, additional degrees of freedom of movement of the base body and thus of all components mounted on the base body are provided in all spatial directions. In other words, the seat component can be additionally tilted relative to the support element in all directions (360 degrees). Since no rotation point or rotation axis is defined, the arrangement according to the invention does not provide a conventional articulation.

[0018] Advantageously, the base body of the support according to the invention can be tilted relative to the bearing element only when the center of gravity of the user sitting on the seat is shifted. This center of gravity shift usually occurs only due to the user's conscious shift of his weight. In contrast, the base body does not tilt during the process of sitting on the seat and when sitting on the seat without shifting the center of gravity. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this is achieved in that the interacting contact surfaces of the contact base and the contact head are arranged inclined to the horizontal. In this way, it is ensured that the virtual rotation point is located near or at the center of gravity of the user in the non-tilted state of the seat assembly.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a receiving space for at least partially, but preferably completely or substantially completely, receiving the connecting unit is provided in the base body, preferably on its lower side facing the support element. In this way, no additional installation space is required for the two-part design of the support element, and the division of the support element into two parts and the additional property of the base body being tiltable relative to the support element, which is achieved by the invention, are not visible from the outside.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the receiving space is designed as a spherical cup. The socket forms the contact bottom of the base body with a rounded contact surface for direct contact with the contact head. In another embodiment of the invention, an additional component is located in the receiving space, which component has a corresponding contact surface and forms the contact bottom.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a reset device is provided, by means of which the tilted base body is automatically reset to its non-tilted initial position. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the reset device comprises several (i.e. at least one) elastic reset elements. If a receiving space for receiving the connection unit is provided in or on the base body, the reset element acts between the contact bottom of the base body on the one hand and a support element fixedly connected to the base body of the base support on the other hand, the support element being in particular a closing cover which closes the receiving space downwards. Overall, it is particularly advantageous that the reset element does not have to bear the weight of the user.

[0022] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a locking device with several locking elements is provided, by means of which the base body of the support part can be selectively prevented from tilting relative to the bearing element. The seat can thus be used with or without an additional degree of freedom (tilting), depending on the user's wishes.

[0023] With the aid of the invention, a seat with additional freedom of movement can be provided with particularly low structural complexity and thus at low cost.

[0024] The invention allows the support or the seat component, the seat mechanism, the seat or generally the seat furniture, which is connected to the support, to be tilted in all directions relative to the support element. This tilting movement can be carried out not only in addition but also independently of whether the support is also capable of pivoting and / or rocking movements. The tilting movement provided by the invention can also be the only movement of the support relative to the support element.

[0025] The invention differs from all previously known solutions for achieving additional degrees of freedom in the choice of the location of the kinematic decoupling and the structural manner in which this decoupling is achieved. In the prior art, it is always assumed that the connection between the support element and the seat component must have the highest possible strength and stability, especially since the cone receptacle is the most vulnerable point of the seat from a structural point of view and the greatest forces act there during use, whereas the invention proposes to allow relative movement of the support and the support element precisely at this point.

[0026] The support according to the invention, comprising a correspondingly constructed base body and a matching connecting unit, can be designed as part of an (office) chair mechanism, in particular as a base support of a synchronous mechanism, an asynchronous mechanism or a rocking mechanism. However, the invention is not limited to the use in mechanisms, but can also be used in all other types of seating, for example by using a support having these characteristics as part of a seat component of any design or by providing such a support for the seat of a seating device in another way. In particular, seat components that are otherwise completely rigid, such as a one-piece seat frame or a one-piece seat-backrest combination, can also have such a support.

[0027] The invention can preferably be used in a seat whose frame has a single, preferably centrally arranged support element. However, other applications are also possible, in particular in which the seat comprises two or more supports according to the invention. This is the case, for example, when the seat assembly comprises a plurality of partial seat elements arranged side by side and which are each arranged individually on a support element of the frame. In this case, a support according to the invention can be assigned to each support element, so that the partial seat elements can be tilted independently of each other relative to their support element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0029] Figure 1 The seat mechanism of the office chair is shown tilted from below;

[0030] Figure 2 A first perspective view shows the seat mechanism with the connecting unit removed from the receiving space (exploded view);

[0031] Figure 3 A second perspective view shows the seat mechanism with the connecting unit removed from the receiving space (exploded view);

[0032] Figure 4 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the seat mechanism along line AA in a non-inclined state relative to the seat post;

[0033] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the seat mechanism along line BB in a non-inclined state relative to the seat post;

[0034] Figure 6 A longitudinal sectional view of the seat mechanism along line AA showing the seat mechanism in a state tilted relative to the seat post;

[0035] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the seat mechanism along line BB in a state in which the seat mechanism is tilted relative to the seat post is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] All the figures do not show the invention to scale, but are merely schematic and only show the essential parts thereof. The same reference numerals correspond to elements with the same or similar functions.

[0037] "Front" or "front" here means that the component is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the seat at the front or refers to the component extending in the direction of the front seat edge or pointing in this direction, while "rear" or "rear" means that the component is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the seat at the rear or refers to the component extending in the direction of the backrest or backrest support or rear seat edge or pointing in this direction. The expressions "above" and "below" refer to the prescribed use state of the office chair or the office chair mechanism.

[0038] The seat mechanism 1 is a synchronous mechanism having a base support 2, a seat support 3 and a backrest support 4. Figure 5 As shown by the dashed line, the base support 2 is placed on the upper end of the seat column by means of a mounting device 5, namely a cone receptacle. The seat column forms a supporting element 6 of the underframe (cross foot, not shown).

[0039] The seat support 3 is provided for receiving or mounting a preferably upholstered seat surface (not shown). The mounting is carried out in a conventional manner by means of fixing elements (not shown in detail). A backrest (not shown in detail) is mounted on the backrest support 4, which backrest is height-adjustable in modern office chairs. The backrest can also be connected integrally to the backrest support 4.

[0040] In terms of actual kinematics, the entire synchronous mechanism is designed mirror-symmetrically with respect to its central longitudinal plane. In this regard, the starting point in the following description of the mechanism is always the structural elements present in pairs on both sides.

[0041] In all the figures, the basic position of the synchronization mechanism is shown, in which the seat support 3 is in a substantially horizontal position and the backrest support 4 has not been pivoted rearwardly relative to the base support 2 . Figure 6 and 7 The tilted position shown is an inclination of the base support 2 and thus all structural elements connected to the base support 2 , including the seat support 3 and the backrest support 4 , relative to the fixed, ie non-tilted, chair column.

[0042] In the rear region of the mechanism 1 viewed in the longitudinal direction 7 of the seat, a backrest support 4 pivotable about a first transverse axis 8 is connected on the one hand to the base support 2 at the height of the cone receptacle and on the other hand is directly articulatedly connected to the rear region of the seat support 3, the first transverse axis 8 defining the fixed main pivot axis of the mechanism 1.

[0043] The backrest support 4 is here articulated directly to the base support 2 with its cheeks 9 extending in the direction of the front seat area. The backrest support 4 is directly articulated to the seat support 3 by means of the upwardly extending drivers 10 of the cheeks 9, forming a second transverse axis 11. In order to achieve the desired synchronous movement in this special mechanism and for weight control reasons, the second transverse axis 11 is located behind the first transverse axis 8, viewed in the longitudinal direction 7 of the seat.

[0044] The seat support 3 is also connected in an articulated manner to the base support 2 in the front seat area, so that when the backrest support 4 is pivoted backwards, the seat support 3 moves backwards relative to the base support 2, thereby achieving the desired synchronous movement of the seat support 3 and the backrest support 4. The spring assembly 12 installed inside the mechanism 1 defines the pivot resistance of the backrest support 4 and serves to return the backrest support 4 from the pivot position to its initial position as soon as the seat user no longer leans against the backrest. The position of the front end of the spring element used in the spring assembly 12 can be adjusted by an adjustment mechanism, whereby the pivot resistance of the synchronous mechanism can be adjusted / changed.

[0045] The base support 2 has a base body 15, which is essentially the housing of the base support 2. A connecting unit 16 is mounted on the base body 15 for establishing the connection between the base support 2 and the seat column. The connecting unit 16 has a mounting device for the seat column, namely a conical receptacle for the conical end above the seat column. The connecting unit 16 is mounted on the base body 15 in such a way that the inclination of the base body 15 relative to the seat column can be changed with the aid of or through the connecting unit 16. For this purpose, the base body 15 has a convexly designed contact base 17, which contacts with a contact head 18 of the connecting unit 16 in the installed state while forming a non-planar, in particular point-shaped contact. Therefore, the base support 2 only rests on the seat column in a point-shaped manner, because the contact surface 19 of the contact head 18 is shaped differently from the contact base 17 of the base body 15, in particular because the contact surface 19 of the contact head 18, which is shaped as a counterpart to the contact base 17, is designed to be planar and not concave to match the shape of the contact base 17. Instead of a flat design of the contact surface 19 of the contact head 18, the contact surface 19 can also be designed to be convex, that is, arched in the direction of the contact base 17, or the contact surface 19 of the contact head 18 has another surface shape, which ensures that the contact base 17 of the base body 15 only rests on the contact head 18 in a point-like manner.

[0046] In the example shown, the connecting unit 16 is mounted on the base body 15 by arranging the connecting unit 16 between the contact base 17 and the closing cover 20 of the base body 15. The closing cover 20 can be fixedly connected to the base body 15 using suitable fixing means, such as screws, and closes the receiving space 21 of the base body 15. The closing cover 20 closes the inlet 25 of the receiving space 21. The receiving space 21 is located inside the base body 15 and substantially completely accommodates the connecting unit 16. Only a part of the cone receiving part protrudes downward from the closing cover 20 in the installed state, for which purpose the closing cover 20 has an outlet 22. In order to mount the closing cover 20, the closing cover has a mounting hole 23 for a screw; corresponding threaded holes 24 are provided on the base body 15.

[0047] The base support 2 comprises a restoring device 26 with a plurality of elastic restoring elements 27, which are designed and arranged in such a way that at least one restoring element 27 is loaded when the base body 15 is tilted relative to the seat column. The restoring elements 27 used as restoring force accumulators are designed in the form of elastic spring elements. Preferably, they are elements made of a suitable solid material, in particular an elastomer. The tilting of the base support 2 relative to the seat column is therefore always carried out against the elastic force of the restoring device 26. In other words, the restoring device 26 serves to return the base body 15 from the tilted position to its initial position. Due to the selected design of the restoring device 26, the spring elements do not have to bear the weight of the user. As a result, they can be particularly small in size and / or made of a material with low requirements on material properties.

[0048] Since the restoring device 26 moves together with the base body 15, ie when the base body 15 is tilted relative to the fixed connection unit 16 which is fixedly connected to the seat column, the restoring device 26 can be assigned to the base body 15 from a kinematic point of view.

[0049] In the example shown, the connecting unit 16 is mounted on the base 15 of the base support 2 in such a way that the spring element of the reset device 26 is supported on the one hand on the contact head 18 of the connecting unit 16 and on the other hand on a supporting element fixedly connected to the base 15 of the base support 2, which supporting element is a closing cover 20 of the receiving space 21.

[0050] Thus, in the installed state, the connecting unit 16 is substantially completely embedded in the receiving space 21 of the base support 2 and lies loosely therein, the base body 15 resting with its contact base 17 on the contact head 18 in a point-shaped manner. In other words, the base body 15 can be tilted in all directions relative to the fixed position of the seat column. The connecting unit 16 is fixedly mounted on the upper end of the seat column by placing the cone of the seat column in the cone receiving portion of the connecting unit 16. The tilting of the base body 15 relative to the seat column is achieved here as a function of the forces acting on the base body 15 and applied by the seat user. The tilting is achieved at a specific maximum tilting angle α, which is further determined by the curvature or curvature of the contact base 17 of the base body 15 and by the structurally predetermined spacing between the components moving relative to each other or by the presence of a defined stop.

[0051] In the example shown, the contact base 17 is not designed as an integral part of the base body 15. Instead, the contact base 17 is formed by an intermediate piece 32 which interacts with the base body 15, ie rests against the base body 15.

[0052] In the example shown, both the base body 15 and thus the bottom of the receiving space 21 and the contact head 18 of the connecting unit 16, at least the contact surface 19 of the contact head 18, are made of a metal material, here of aluminum, so that an intermediate piece 32 made of a plastic material is inserted between the connecting unit 16 on the one hand and the base support 2 on the other hand. In this way, direct contact between the two metal components (base body 15 and contact head 18) is prevented. The surface of the intermediate piece 32 is designed to be particularly easy to slide. In particular, a plastic material with a low coefficient of friction is used. The intermediate piece 32 is designed in such a way that it is located in the receiving space 21 with its upper side in an exactly fitting manner. The lower side of the intermediate piece 32, which serves as the contact bottom 17, has a convex shape required for interaction with the contact head 18 according to the invention.

[0053] The circular intermediate piece 32 has a wall 33 surrounding the contact base 17, which has two outwardly protruding centering lugs 34, by means of which the intermediate piece 32 is located in the receiving space 21. The centering lugs 34 interact with corresponding centering recesses (not shown) on the inner wall 36 of the receiving space 21 to ensure that the intermediate piece 32 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner in the receiving space 21, while the wall 33 of the intermediate piece 32 prevents the contact head 18 of the connecting unit 16, which is always located within the wall 33 in the installed state, from contacting the inner wall 36 of the receiving space 21. The intermediate piece 32 is fixedly connected to the base body 15 in the installed state and should therefore be associated with the base body 15 from a kinematic perspective.

[0054] The connection unit 16, which is loosely located in the receiving space 21, comprises a contact head 18 with a rotationally symmetrical circular contact surface 19, which in the installed state faces upward toward the contact base 17. On the side of the contact head 18 opposite the contact surface 19, a cone receptacle which is open downward is provided as a mounting device for the cone of the seat column.

[0055] The cylindrical outer wall 37 of the contact head 18, which extends from the circumference of the contact head 18 and around the contact surface 19 and also downward, is configured with a connecting piece 38 extending radially toward the cone receptacle, so that between the inner side of the outer wall 37 and the outer side of the cone receptacle, circular segment-shaped receiving grooves 39 for a corresponding number of reset elements 27 are formed. The connecting piece 38 simultaneously serves as a reinforcing rib to increase the mechanical stability of the connecting unit 16.

[0056] In the example shown, a total of four receiving recesses 39 are formed for accommodating four corresponding resetting elements 27. In the example shown, four identical elastic elements in the shape of ring segments are used as resetting elements. In corresponding structural changes, a different number of resetting elements 27 can also be used. Thus, for example, it is also conceivable to use a single ring-shaped (hollow cylindrical) resetting element.

[0057] The tilting resistance of the base body 15 can be determined by selecting a suitable material for the spring element as the restoring element 27. In particular, when a plurality of elastic restoring elements 27 are used in the contact head 18, the tilting characteristics of the base body 15 relative to the seat column can also be adjusted in a direction-dependent manner, for example by using materials with different elasticities. Thus, for example, different tilting resistances and restoring forces can be provided for a tilting of the base body 15 in the longitudinal direction 7 of the seat on the one hand and transversely to the longitudinal direction 7 of the seat on the other hand.

[0058] The spring element engages with one end in a receiving groove 39 of the contact head 18 and is supported with its other, opposite end on the closure cap 20 as a support. The spring elements are surrounded and positioned relative to each other by a retaining ring 40 which is designed as a separate component, and four spacer elements 41 which extend radially inwards from the annular body of the retaining ring 40 and are aligned with the connecting piece 38 prevent the spring elements from contacting each other in their foot end region. The retaining ring 40 is provided with mounting pins 42 on its underside, which engage in corresponding mounting receptacles 43 in the closure cap 20 in the installed state and thus prevent the reset device 26 from rotating in the receiving space 21 of the base support 2 and simultaneously prevent the connection unit 16 from rotating in the receiving space 21 about the seat column axis 44.

[0059] In the non-tilted state of the base body 15 relative to the seat column, the connecting unit 16 rests with the contact head 18, more precisely with its inner side opposite the contact surface 19, on the spring element, while the cone receptacle extends downward from the base body 15 through the closure cover 20. When the base body 15 of the base support 2 is tilted relative to the seat column by the movement of the seat user, the base body 15 rolls together with the contact bottom 17 of the intermediate piece 32 on the contact surface 19 of the contact head 18. This leads to a corresponding loading of one or more spring elements, i.e. the spring elements are compressed, see Figure 6 and 7 The direction of inclination of the base body 15 is not critical for this loading of the spring element. Thus, for example Figure 6 The base 15 is shown tilted backwards and Figure 7 The base body 15 is shown tilted to the right. However, the tilting can also be carried out simultaneously to the rear and to the right, etc. The loading of the spring element and, in the simplest case, the intensity of this loading are independent of the tilting direction (0° to 360°), so that the tilting resistance and the restoring force are the same in all directions.

[0060] If the seat user no longer applies load to the base body 15 , the base body 15 itself stands up again from the inclined position into the non-inclined initial position due to the restoring force of the loaded spring element.

[0061] Depending on the movement pattern of the user sitting on the chair, the tilting movement of the base 15 caused by the shift of the center of gravity of the user sitting on the seat on the one hand and the pivoting movement of the synchronous mechanism caused by the loading of the backrest on the other hand are superimposed. If the pivoting movement is temporarily blocked by a backrest or seat support locking device that may be present on the mechanism 1, only the tilting movement according to the invention occurs during this period and the user's leaning against the backrest does not lead to a synchronous movement of the backrest support 4 and the seat support 3. Conversely, if the tilting movement is blocked, the shift of the center of gravity of the user does not lead to a tilting of the base 15 of the base support 2 of the mechanism 1.

[0062] In order to lock the tilting movement, in the example shown, the base support 2 is provided with a locking device 28, which includes a plurality of first locking elements 29, which can be transferred from a functional position (in which the base body 15 can be tilted relative to the seat column) to a locking position (in which the base body 15 cannot be tilted relative to the seat column) by a movement of at least a part of the locking device 28 relative to the base support 2 and can be transferred back from the locking position to the functional position, in which the first locking elements 29 of the locking device 28 interact with the second locking elements 30 arranged on the connecting unit 16, so that a positive lock is formed to prevent the relative movement of the base body 15 and the seat column. Since the locking device 28 moves together with the base support 2, that is, when the base body 15 tilts relative to the fixed connecting unit 16 fixedly connected to the seat column, the locking device 28 is also assigned to the base body 15 from the perspective of movement.

[0063] In the embodiment shown, the locking device 28 comprises a locking ring 47 which can be manually operated by the seat user and which can be operated by operating a handle 48 mounted on the outside of the locking ring 47, which in the installed state passes through a corresponding opening in the wall of the receiving space 21. The locking ring 47 can be moved from the functional position to the locking position and back by rotating about the seat column axis 44. In the locked position, the stop mounted on the inside of the locking ring 47 as the first locking element 29 is arranged in such a way relative to the locking lug (second locking element 30) which is mounted on the outside of the outer wall 37 of the contact head 18 and serves as a stop, so that the locking ring 47 and thus the base body 15 can no longer tilt relative to the connecting unit 16 fixedly mounted on the seat column. The inner diameter of the locking ring 47 is dimensioned in such a way that the locking ring surrounds the retaining ring 40 for the spring element and in the locked state the stop of the locking ring 47 is directly opposite the locking lug (second locking element 30) of the contact head 18. The outer diameter of the retaining ring 40 is adapted to the inner diameter of the locking ring 47 in such a way that the locking ring 47 holds the retaining ring 40 in the installed state.

[0064] The locking ring 47 can be placed in two defined latching positions, one of which corresponds to the functional position and the other to the locking position. The position of the locking ring 47 in the latching position is fixed by suitable latching means, for example by means of a spring-loaded latching ball 49 mounted on the outside of the locking ring 47, which can be latched into a corresponding latching recess 50 in the base body 15.

[0065] From a kinematic point of view, the essential parts of the locking device 28, i.e. all parts except the locking lugs, are to be assigned to the base body 15, since they move with the base body 15 when it is tilted. In contrast, the second locking element 30 arranged on the connecting unit 16, which is to be functionally assigned to the locking device 28, is to be assigned from a kinematic point of view to the fixed combination of the connecting unit 16 and the seat column.

[0066] The inclination of the base 15 of the base support 2 in all directions that can be achieved by means of the connecting unit 16 is preferably 5°±1° relative to the vertical (seat column axis 44). The degree of inclination can be limited by a suitable stop. In the example shown, the end face (stop end face 51) of the outer wall 37 of the contact head 18 is used as a limiting part. The annular stop end face 51 is formed by the free end of the outer wall 37 facing downward. In its maximum inclination state, the base 15 rests on the stop end face 51 with the upper side 58 of the retaining ring 40, see Figure 6 and 7 By using the circumferential retaining ring 40 as a tilting stop, the tilting angle of the tilting can be limited in all directions (360°).

[0067] The conical receiving portion of the connecting unit 16 is oriented vertically corresponding to the usually vertically arranged chair column. However, the position of the contact surface 19 of the contact head 18 and the corresponding contact bottom 17 of the intermediate piece 32 on the base 15 are not necessarily horizontal in the non-inclined initial position. In the example shown, the bottom of the receiving space 21 of the base support 2 is arranged obliquely relative to the horizontal line in the longitudinal direction 7 of the seat, that is, it is elevated when viewed from the front to the rear.

[0068] The intermediate piece 32 is also provided with an inclined contact bottom 17 and the contact surface 19 of the contact head 18 is not horizontally extended but inclined to the seat column axis. The height of the outer wall 37 of the contact head 18 changes accordingly along the longitudinal direction 7 of the seat.

[0069] By means of this inclined arrangement of the rolling surfaces (contact base 17 and contact surface 19), when the base body 15 is not inclined, the virtual rotation point 59 of the mechanical device 1 is located near or ideally exactly at the center of gravity of the user, see Figure 4 This prevents the base body 15 from performing a tilting movement relative to the seat column even when the seat is merely occupied. Instead, a conscious shift of the center of gravity of the user is required to tilt the base body 15. However, when the invention is used in other seat mechanisms, seat components or the like, the contact surface 19 or the contact base 17 can also be arranged non-tilted, i.e. completely horizontally.

[0070] The chair column used in this example has a gas spring (not shown) for adjusting the height of the seat assembly. In order to operate the gas spring, the bottom of the receiving space 21 as well as the intermediate piece 32 and the contact surface 19 of the contact head 18 are centrally provided with a through hole 53 for an operating pin or the like (not shown) which is aligned with each other in the final installed state.

[0071] In the final mounted state, the intermediate piece 32, the restoring device 26 with its spring element and the associated retaining ring 40 as well as the locking device 28 are fixed in position in the receiving space 21. At the same time, the connecting unit 16 is loosely located in the receiving space 21. The receiving space 21 is closed by the closure cover 20. In the mounted state, the cylinder 54 of the cone receptacle partially protrudes from the underside 55 of the base support 2. For this purpose, the closure cover 20 has a central outlet 22. In order to allow the base body 15 to tilt relative to the seat column, the diameter of the outlet 22 participating in the tilting movement is greater than the diameter of the fixed cone receptacle. The locking ring 47 and the retaining ring 40 for the elastic element also have sufficiently large openings 56, 57 for the cone receptacle provided on the contact head 18.

[0072] All features indicated in the description, the appended claims and the drawings may be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination with one another.

[0073] Reference numerals list

[0074] 1 Seat mechanism

[0075] 2 Base support

[0076] 3 Seat support

[0077] 4 Backrest support

[0078] 5 Installation

[0079] 6 Chair Post

[0080] 7 Seat longitudinal direction

[0081] 8 First transverse axis, main rotation axis

[0082] 9 Cheek Plate

[0083] 10 Driver

[0084] 11 Second transverse axis

[0085] 12 Spring assembly

[0086] 13 (none)

[0087] 14 (none)

[0088] 15 Matrix

[0089] 16 Connection Units

[0090] 17 Contact bottom

[0091] 18 Contact Head

[0092] 19 Contact Surface

[0093] 20 Closure cover

[0094] 21 Accommodation Space

[0095] 22 Exit

[0096] 23 Mounting holes

[0097] 24 threaded holes

[0098] 25 Entrance

[0099] 26 Reset device

[0100] 27 Reset element

[0101] 28 Locking device

[0102] 29 First locking element

[0103] 30 Second locking element

[0104] 31(none)

[0105] 32 Middleware

[0106] 33 wall

[0107] 34 Centering lug

[0108] 35(none)

[0109] 36 Inner wall

[0110] 37 outer wall

[0111] 38 Connector

[0112] 39 Receiving socket

[0113] 40 Retaining ring

[0114] 41 Spacer element

[0115] 42 Mounting pin

[0116] 43 Installation accommodating part

[0117] 44 Chair column axis

[0118] 45 (none)

[0119] 46 (none)

[0120] 47 Locking ring

[0121] 48 Handle

[0122] 49 Lock Ball

[0123] 50 Lock notch

[0124] 51 Stop end face

[0125] 52 (none)

[0126] 53 Through Holes

[0127] 54 Cylinder

[0128] 55 Lower side

[0129] 56 ports

[0130] 57 Port

[0131] 58 Upper side of retaining ring

[0132] 59 virtual rotation point, base point

[0133] α Tilt Angle

Claims

1. A support (2) for a seat, comprising a connecting unit (16) mounted on a base (15) of the support (2) for connecting the support (2) to a supporting element (6) of a chassis, the connecting unit (16) having a mounting device (5) for the supporting element (6), wherein: The connecting unit (16) is mounted on the base body (15) in such a way that the inclination of the base body (15) relative to the support element (6) is variable, for which purpose the base body (15) has a contact base (17) which, in the mounted state, contacts a contact head (18) of the connecting unit (16) in a non-planar, punctiform contact. A locking device (28) having a plurality of first locking elements (29) is provided, wherein the first locking elements (29) can be transferred from a functional position to a locking position and can be transferred back from the locking position to a functional position by movement of at least a part of the locking device (28) relative to a base body (15), wherein the base body (15) can be tilted relative to a supporting element (6) in the functional position, and the base body (15) cannot be tilted relative to the supporting element (6) in the locking position, wherein the connecting unit (16) is arranged between a contact bottom (17) and a closing cover (20) of the base body (15), wherein the closing cover (20) is fixedly connected to the base body (15) and closes a receiving space (21) of the base body (15), wherein the receiving space (21) at least partially receives the connecting unit (16).

2. The support member (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: A restoring device (26) having several restoring elements (27) is provided, wherein at least one of the restoring elements (27) is acted upon by the connecting unit (16) when the base body (15) is tilted relative to the support element (6).

3. The support member (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting unit (16) is mounted on the base body (15) in such a way that a restoring element (27) of a restoring device (26) is supported on one hand on a contact head (18) of the connecting unit (16) and on the other hand on a supporting element fixedly connected to the base body (15).

4. The support member (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The contact base (17) is designed as an integral part of the base body (15) or is formed by an intermediate piece (32) that interacts with the base body (15).

5. The support member (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The interacting contact surfaces of the contact bottom (17) and the contact head (18) are arranged obliquely to the horizontal line.

6. The support member (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The supporting element (6) is a strut.

7. The support member (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The mounting device (5) is a receptacle for the upper end of the support element (6).

8. The support member (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The contact base (17) is convex in design.

9. The support member (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the base body (15) is tilted relative to the support element (6), the at least one restoring element (27) is loaded by the contact head (18).

10. The support member (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that The supporting element is a closure cap (20).

11. The support member (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that The intermediate piece (32) bears against the base body (15).

12. The support member (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The interacting contact surfaces of the contact base (17) and the contact head (18) are arranged obliquely to the horizontal line and rise from the front to the rear when viewed in the longitudinal direction (7) of the seat.

13. The support member (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that In the locked position, a first locking element (29) of the locking device (28) interacts with a second locking element (30) arranged on the connecting unit (16) to form a positive lock that prevents relative movement of the base body (15) and the support element (6).

14. A mechanical device (1) for a seat, characterized in that: The mechanical device is provided with a support (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The mechanical device (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that The mechanical device is configured as a synchronous mechanical device, an asynchronous mechanical device or a rocking mechanical device.

16. The mechanical device (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The sitting furniture is a chair.

17. A seat comprising a support (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 or comprising a mechanical device (1) according to any one of claims 14 to 16.

18. The sitting device according to claim 17, characterized in that: The sitting furniture is a chair.

Images