Chair

Abstract

To provide a top rest device excellent in corresponding property to a difference in height, and facilitating performing a personal computer operation.SOLUTION: A top rest device 13 includes a pad part 16 arranged in front of a backrest 3, and a movable support 18 arranged behind the backrest 3. The movable support 18 is liftably mounted on a support part 17 fixed to a back frame 9, and is mounted on the upper end of the movable support 18 via the pad part 16 and a joint part 19. Since the pad part 16 is positioned in front of the backrest 3, even a person with a low height can comfortably use the backrest 3 of high-back specification. A user can naturally view a personal computer on a desk while raising the head in a reclining state by supporting the neck upper end by the pad part 16, so that the user can easily perform a personal computer operation without inviting stiffness in the neck.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a chair equipped with a top rest device. Here, the top rest device has the same appearance as a head rest, but is preferably capable of supporting the neck of a seated person. [Background technology]

[0002] Headrests for chairs are generally optional and are often attached to the upper part of the backrest. That is, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, a support part is fixed to the rear of the upper part of the backrest with a screw, and the headrest is often attached to the support part so that the height can be adjusted. Therefore, the entire headrest protrudes above the backrest. On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a removable headrest that is placed on the upper front part of the backrest.

[0003] On the other hand, headrests for automobiles generally consist of a cylinder placed inside the seat back and the headrest attached to a rod that passes through the cylinder and can slide up and down. In this case too, the entire headrest (padded portion) is exposed above the seat back. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-41857 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2017-86429 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] If the headrest (padded portion) is located above the backrest as in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that it cannot be applied to chairs with high back specifications. On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, the headrest is located in front of the backrest, so it can be applied to chairs with high back specifications, but since the headrest is attached to a hanging belt with a weight that is placed on the backrest from above and hangs down behind, there are problems of lack of stability and poor appearance.

[0006] Nowadays, most office work involves operating computers such as laptops and desktop computers, and if the neck and head are stably supported in an upright position without leaning against a chair back, this can prevent hunching and the occurrence of disorders. There is also a demand for operating a computer in a relaxed position leaning against a chair back, and in this case, it is preferable to tilt the upper body back and keep the head upright so that the computer monitor can be viewed directly.

[0007] However, with a structure in which a headrest is placed on top of the backrest, as in Patent Document 1, although it is possible to support the head when reclining, it is difficult to stably support the neck and head when the chair is upright and not leaning against the backrest, and since the face is facing upwards when reclining, it is difficult to face a computer on a desk in a relaxed position (to comfortably direct one's gaze at the monitor).

[0008] The present invention has been made to improve this current situation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention includes the inventions of each claim. The invention of claim 1 is a generic concept, "A seat and backrest, and a top rest device capable of supporting the neck of a seated person, The top rest device includes a pad portion arranged on the front side of the backrest and capable of supporting the neck of a seated occupant, a support portion fixedly arranged on the rear side of the backrest, and a joint portion provided on the pad portion in a state in which the backrest is straddled from above, The joint portion is attached to the support portion in a height-adjustable manner." The structure is as follows.

[0010] The invention of claim 2 is an example of the development of claim 1. "A vertically elongated movable support column arranged on the rear side of the backrest is attached to the support section in a height-adjustable manner, and the joint section is attached to the movable support column." The structure is as follows.

[0011] The invention of claim 3 is an example of the development of claim 1 or 2, "The pad portion has a lift stroke of 10 cm or more, and in the lowest position, the pad portion overlaps with the backrest over its entire height when viewed from the front, and in the highest position, the bottom end of the pad portion is at approximately the same height as the top end of the backrest when viewed from the front." The upper limit of the lift stroke is preferably about 15 mm.

[0012] The invention of claim 4 is also an example of the development of claim 1 or 2. "The pad portion can be rotated around its upper end as a fulcrum, or can move back and forth as a whole." The structure is as follows.

[0013] Claim 5 is also an example of the development of claim 1 or 2, "The backrest is a structure in which a sheet-like or plate-like support material is attached to a back frame that is open at the front and rear, and the upper end of the support material overlaps the front surface of the upper member that constitutes the upper part of the back frame, The support is fixed to the upper member of the back frame using a screw. The structure is as follows.

[0014] Claim 6 is also an example of the development of claim 1 or 2, "The pad portion has an inner shell made of synthetic resin, a cushioning material arranged on the front side of the inner shell, and an outer shell that supports the inner shell from behind, and the joint portion is integrally formed with the outer shell." The structure is as follows.

[0015] Claim 7 is also an example of the development of claim 1 or 2, "The front surface of the pad has a ridgeline portion located most forward near the bottom end, and the upper part of the ridgeline portion is an upwardly inclined portion that slopes backward, and the lower part of the ridgeline portion is a rearward-facing portion that curves backward, so that the part centered on the ridgeline forms a curled portion." The structure is as follows.

[0016] The curled portion of claim 7 only needs to have a lateral length that can support the lower rear end of the skull and the upper end of the tibia of the seated person, and a length of at least about 5 cm is sufficient. The lateral width of the curled portion can be determined from the viewpoint of design, etc., but for example, it is possible to form the entire pad portion into a shape that is concave toward the front in a plan view, and set a 5 to 10 cm range of the middle left and right portion as a center support portion that is flat in a plan view. Alternatively, it is possible to form almost the entire length of the front end of the pad into a flat shape in a plan view. Effect of the Invention

[0017] In the present invention, the height of the pad can be adjusted to accommodate different heights, but since the support is located behind the backrest, the joint can be raised and lowered from a height close to the top of the backrest to a position far above the backrest. Therefore, it can be applied to chairs with high backs and is user-friendly. In addition, since the lifting and lowering of the pad is not restricted by the backrest, the lifting stroke of the pad can be made large.

[0018] And because the pad can be positioned low enough to overlap with the backrest when viewed from the front, people shorter than the average adult height (say, 160cm or less) can use the high-back chair comfortably, while people taller than the average height (say, 180cm or more) can also enjoy the neck support function. This is especially good news for short women.

[0019] In addition, since there is no need to process the front or top surface of the backrest, the manufacturing process of the backrest can be prevented from increasing. Also, since the support part can be attached to the rear surface of the backrest, one type of chair can be used with or without the top rest device, which provides high versatility.

[0020] Furthermore, because the pad supports the neck, the head sits comfortably and fits well, which is also beneficial in preventing neck fatigue and stiffness. Also, when the pad supports the neck, the head is naturally stabilized without the need to exert force on the neck, which increases concentration and allows for comfortable operation of a PC for long periods of time. Therefore, it is ideal as an office chair. Furthermore, because the pad is located in front of the backrest, it is easy to keep the head upright so that the user can face the computer monitor on the desk while reclining, which also makes it ideal as an office chair.

[0021] The lifting and lowering means for the pad part can adopt various structures, but if the structure of claim 2 is adopted, the movable support column is slim, so it looks good. Also, it is possible to increase the lifting stroke.

[0022] There are many headrest devices with a lifting pad, but the lift stroke is set to 10cm or less. On the other hand, in an office, workers range in height from about 150cm to 180cm, and it is difficult to say that conventional headrest devices are adequate for the height range of core office workers.

[0023] In contrast, if the lift stroke is set to 10 cm or more as in claim 3, the lift stroke is much larger than that of conventional products, making it possible to meet the majority of chair demanders and significantly improving customer satisfaction. If the lift stroke is excessively large, the support part may need to be made excessively tall or thick to ensure strength, which can lead to durability and cost problems, but if the upper limit of the lift stroke is set to around 15 cm, for example, there is no need to make the support part excessively sturdy, which is preferable as it prevents deterioration of aesthetics.

[0024] Configuring the pad section to be rotatable or movable back and forth as in claim 4 is suitable for adaptability to different people's physiques, head shapes, and preferences. Also, even when used by a single person, the user can take a posture that puts less strain on the body by adjusting the side view and front and rear position of the pad section depending on whether the user is working on a computer with the body upright or reclining. This aspect is also user-friendly.

[0025] In the case of office (work) swivel chairs, while there are various types of backrests, such as cushion type and mesh type, top rest devices are often optional items, but when applied to a structure in which a sheet-like support material is attached to a back frame that opens at the front and back as in claim 5, the support part can be fixed using the upper member exposed backwards, so that the backrest can be shared between specifications with and without a top rest device. Therefore, costs can be reduced in offering a lineup of chairs with and without top rest devices.

[0026] The padding can be constructed in various ways, but if a three-layer structure (four-layer structure including the upholstery) is used as in claim 6, the back is surrounded by the outer shell, which has the advantage of providing a clean and attractive appearance. In addition, the joints are integrally formed with the outer shell, which has the advantage of reducing the number of parts and costs.

[0027] Conventionally, it has been widely believed that a chair headrest is sufficient if it merely functions to support the back of the head. However, the inventors of this application have conducted research and discovered that supporting the lower rear end of the skull and the upper end of the tibia, particularly when performing desk work such as working on a computer, can provide stable support for the head and also contribute to preventing disorders such as stiff neck.

[0028] More specifically, it was discovered that there is a foramen magnum at the rear of the human skull, into which the tibia enters from below, and that the posterior atlas joint is supported on both sides by the first cervical vertebra, which forms the upper end of the tibia; however, if the first cervical vertebra and its two posterior atlas joints (or the occipital condyles on the outside of it on the left and right) are supported from behind, the head can be supported in a stable position and strain on the cervical vertebrae can be eliminated, and as a result, disorders such as stiff neck can be prevented even when working for long periods of time.

[0029] The invention of claim 7 is a configuration devised based on such research and findings, and the curled portion at the bottom end of the padding can stably support three points: the left and right points of the lower end of the rear of the human skull and the upper end of the tibia between them, thereby significantly reducing the strain on the neck in particular.

[0030] Since the width of the lower end of the back of the head of a person is not so large, the curled part supporting the lower end of the back of the head and the upper end of the tibia does not need to be very long, but since the user of the chair may recline by tilting the upper body to the right or left, or may tilt the head to the right or left and hit the pad part, it is preferable that the pad part has a certain length, and from the viewpoint of design, a certain length is also desired. In this regard, as mentioned above, if the center support part has a width of about 5 to 10 cm, the pad can be set to any length to ensure freedom of design while ensuring the function of stably supporting the head and neck of a person. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1A is a perspective view of the exterior of a first embodiment, (A) being a perspective view seen from the front, (B) being a front view, and (C) being a perspective view seen from the rear. [Diagram 2] 1A is a perspective view seen from below and behind, FIG. 1B is a side view in a neutral position, FIG. 1C is a side view in a reclining position, and FIG. 1D is a perspective view of a top rest device. [Diagram 3] 1A is a rear perspective view with the cushioning material separated, and FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view with the pad portion separated. [Figure 4] 1A is a front perspective view of the inner shell and the outer shell when separated, FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the inner shell and the outer shell when separated, and FIG. 1C is a partial perspective view of the inner shell. [Diagram 5] 1A is a perspective view showing the attachment state to the back frame, FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view showing the attachment structure to the back frame, and FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the mounting bracket. [Figure 6] 1A is a rear perspective view of the support mechanism, (B) is a front perspective view of the friction plate, (C) is a rear perspective view of the friction plate, (D) is a front perspective view of the clamp body, and (E) is a rear perspective view of the clamp body. [Figure 7] (A) is a partially separated side view, (B) is a partial oblique view of the area centered on the movable support, (C) is a partial oblique view of the movable support without the cover, and (D) is a separated oblique view from the rear of the support mechanism. [Figure 8] 1A is a perspective view of the support mechanism with some components omitted, FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of the support mechanism, FIG. 1C is a partially cutaway perspective view of the support mechanism, and FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the mount bracket. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are separate perspective views seen from the front left of the rotation mechanism, (C) is a separate perspective view seen from the front right of the rotation mechanism, and (D) is a diagram showing the mounting structure of the swivel bracket. [Figure 10] 1A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the central portion of the pad portion in use, and FIG. 1B is a partial view of a human skull and tibia as viewed from behind. [Figure 11] 11A and 11B are front and rear perspective views, respectively, of a second embodiment, and FIG. 11C is a front separated perspective view, FIG. 11D is a front separated perspective view, and FIG. 11E is a partial perspective view of a support mechanism portion. [Figure 12]13A is a front separated perspective view of a support mechanism portion, FIG. 13B is a front lower perspective view of a mount bracket, and FIG. 13C is a rear perspective view of the mount bracket. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a rear separated perspective view of a support mechanism portion according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing second to fifth embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the terms "front, back, left and right" are used to specify directions, but these directions are defined as directions seen from a person normally sitting on a chair. A front view is a view from the direction opposite to the seated person.

[0033] (1) Basic structure of the chair First, an overview of the chair will be described mainly with reference to Figures 1 and 2. This embodiment is applied to a swivel chair that is widely used in offices. The chair comprises a leg device 1, a seat 2, and a backrest 3 as basic elements. The leg device 1 has a structure in which a leg support 4 made of a gas cylinder is erected in the center of a base having five leg blades, and a caster is provided at the tip of each leg blade.

[0034] For example, as shown in Fig. 2, a base 5 is fixed to the upper end of the leg support 4, and the lower tips of the left and right first tilting frames 6 are connected to the base 5 by a first reference support shaft 7 (see Figs. 2(A) and (B)). As shown in Figs. 1(C) and 2(A), the first tilting frame 6 extends backward while spreading outwardly to the left and right from the base 5 and then stands upright, and the part that stands upright and spreads outwardly to the left and right constitutes the lower side member 8a of the lower back frame 8. In other words, the first tilting frame 6 and the lower back frame 8 partially share members, and the upper part of the first tilting frame 6 constitutes the lower side member 8a of the lower back frame 8.

[0035] The lower ends of the lower side members 8a constituting the lower back frame 8 are connected by the left and right longitudinal lower members 8b. That is, the lower back frame 8 is constituted by connecting the rising portions of the left and right first tilting frames 6 by the lower members 8b.

[0036] An upper back frame 9 is disposed on the lower back frame 8, which is integrated with the lower back frame 8 to form a back frame. The upper back frame 9 is configured in a loop shape with upper left and right side members 9a that are long in the vertical direction, an upper member 9b connected to the upper ends of the upper side members 9a, and a middle member 9c connected to the lower ends of the upper side members 9a.

[0037] The lower ends of upper side members 9a of the upper back frame 9 are connected to the upper ends of lower side members 8a by second reference shafts 10 (see Figs. 2(A)-(C)) which are long in the left and right directions. Middle members 9c of the upper back frame 9 protrude backward, and the upper end of a second tilting frame (center frame) 12 which is long in the vertical direction is connected to the left and right intermediate portion of the rearward protruding middle member 9c by a third reference shaft 11 (see Figs. 2(B)(C)) which is long in the left and right directions so as to be able to tilt backward.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2(A), the lower end of the second tilting frame 12 is a bifurcated portion 12a having left and right portions, and the front end (lower end) of the bifurcated portion 12a is connected to a bearing bracket (not shown) provided at the rear end of the base 5 by a fourth reference axis (not shown) extending in the left and right directions.

[0039] Therefore, the first tilting frame 6, the second tilting frame 12, and the back frames 8 and 9 rotate relatively to each other while tilting backward as a whole. Specifically, as can be understood from a comparison of Figures 2(B) and (C), due to differences in the front-to-back positions and up-to-down heights of the reference support shafts 7, 10, and 11, the upper back frame 9 rotates forward relative to the lower back frame 8 (and the first tilting frame 6) during reclining.

[0040] A top rest device 13 is attached to the top end of the upper back frame 9, and when reclining, the upper back frame 9 rotates forward relative to the lower back frame 8, so that the user's head can be kept upright by the top rest device 13 when in the reclining position. Therefore, the user of the chair can relax his or her body and naturally direct his or her gaze towards the computer on the desk, allowing the user to perform computer tasks such as operating the keyboard or mouse.

[0041] The backward tilting of the backrest 3 is controlled by a gas cylinder 11 arranged between the bifurcated portion 12a of the second tilting frame 12. The chair of this embodiment has a synchronous structure in which the seat 2 moves backward while tilting backward in conjunction with the reclining. The backrest 3 has a back panel 3a made of a flexible resin material such as elastomer (PTE) and an upholstery (skin material) 3b stretched on the front surface of the back panel 3a, and the relative rotation of the upper back frame 9 and the lower back frame 8 is permitted by the stretching and deformation of the back panel 3a. The back panel 3a is supported from behind by a lumbar support device 14.

[0042] (2) Basic structure of the top rest device - Pad section Next, the top rest device 13 of the first embodiment will be described. The drawings will mainly refer to Fig. 3 and subsequent figures. As shown in each sub-figure in Fig. 2, the top rest device 13 includes a pad portion 16 located on the front side of the backrest 3, a support portion 17 fixed to the upper member 9b of the upper back frame 9, and a movable support column 18 disposed behind the upper member 9b and attached to the support portion 17 so as to be movable up and down. The pad portion 16 is fixed to the upper end of the movable support column 18.

[0043] Since the movable support 18 is disposed behind the backrest 3, a rearward-facing joint portion 19 is formed at the upper end of the pad portion 16, and the joint portion 19 is fixed to the upper end of the movable support 18.

[0044] 1(B), the pad portion 16 is long in the left-right direction, and its left-right width is about 70% of the left-right width of the upper end of the backrest 3. However, since the left-right width of the pad portion 16 is set from a design perspective, the dimension can be set arbitrarily.

[0045] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pad portion 16 comprises an inner shell 20 made of synthetic resin, a cushioning material 21 superimposed on the front of the inner shell 20, and an outer shell 22 made of synthetic resin that supports the inner shell 20 from behind, and the cushioning material 21 is covered with upholstery 23 (see Figures 3(A) and (B)).

[0046] The cushioning material 21 can be made of urethane foam, which has been widely used in the past, but from the viewpoints of breathability and recyclability, it is preferable to use a three-dimensional structure in which countless winding elastic resin fibers are entangled and bonded / shape-retained. When a three-dimensional structure made of elastic resin fibers is used as the cushioning material 21, it may be a single layer, or it may have a two-layer structure consisting of a strong base layer and a soft surface layer. When using a two-layer structure, it is also possible to use a breathable nonwoven fabric as the surface layer.

[0047] 3, rearward protruding portions 22a, 20a, and 21a are integrally formed at the upper ends of outer shell 22, inner shell 20, and cushion material 21, respectively, and rearward protruding portion 22a of outer shell 22 is fixed with multiple (three) screws 25 to the upper end of swivel bracket 24 that constitutes the upper end of movable support column 18. Swivel bracket 24 is rectangular in shape with its left and right sides longer than the others.

[0048] Since the outer shell 22 is fixed to the swivel bracket 24, strictly speaking it can be said that the rearward protruding portion 22a of the outer shell 22 corresponds to the joint portion 19; however, since the three rearward protruding portions 22a, 20a, 21a are overlapped together, in this specification the entire rearward protruding portions 22a, 20a, 21a are regarded as the joint portion 19.

[0049] The portion of the rearward protruding portion 22a of the outer shell 22 that overlaps with the swivel bracket 24 forms a stepped and thickened upper land portion 26, which is fixed to the swivel bracket 24 with a screw 25. A reinforcing protrusion 26a that is shaped like a mountain when viewed from the side is formed at the rear end of the upper land portion 26.

[0050] The cushioning material 21 is fixed to the inner shell 20 by the upholstery 23, and therefore, the cushioning material 21, the inner shell 20, and the upholstery 23 form one upper unit. Then, the outer shell 22 is first fixed to the swivel bracket 24, and then the upper unit is attached to the outer shell 22. Therefore, the rearward protruding portion 20a of the inner shell 20 has a relief hole 27 to avoid interference with the upper land portion 26.

[0051] As described above, the cushioning material 21 is attached to the inner shell 20 by the upholstery 23, and as part of the attachment means, a group of positioning bosses 28 and a group of hook-shaped hooks 29 are arranged on the back surface of the outer periphery of the inner shell 20, as shown in Figures 4(B) and (C). The positioning bosses 28 are arranged on the left and right sides, and the hook-shaped hooks 29 are arranged on the upper and lower parts. The hooks of the hook-shaped hooks 29 face towards the inside of the inner shell 20.

[0052] On the other hand, although not shown, an edge tape made of a resin such as polypropylene is fixed to the periphery of the upholstery 23 by sewing, welding, or the like, and engagement holes that engage with the positioning boss body 28 and the hook-like hook 29 are intermittently formed in the edge tape. Therefore, while the upholstery 23 is pulled against the elasticity of the cushion material 21, the edge tape is elastically deformed and fitted into the positioning boss body 28 and the hook-like hook 29, thereby attaching the cushion material 21 and the upholstery 23 to the inner shell 20. For ease of attachment such as sewing, it is preferable that the edge tape is separated into multiple pieces, such as four pieces on the top, bottom, left and right.

[0053] The hook method and screws are used in combination as the fixing means (connecting means) between the inner shell 20 and the outer shell 22. In the hook method, as shown in Fig. 4, the inner shell 20 is formed with a number of rectangular engaging frames 30 that bulge backward, while the front surface of the outer shell 22 is formed with a number of engaging claws 32 into which the upper flanges 31 of the engaging frames 30 fit. The engaging claws 32 are fitted into the engaging frames 30 so as not to be movable left or right.

[0054] On the other hand, as a screw fastening method, the upper part of the outer shell 22 is screwed into the boss portion 34 of the inner shell 20 with two screws 33 on the left and right. Therefore, the assembly of the pad portion 16 is performed in the following procedure: first, the inner shell 20 is overlapped on the outer shell 22 and then shifted downward to fit the engagement frame portion 30 into the engagement claws 32, and then the outer shell 22 is fixed to the inner shell 20 with the two screws 33 on the left and right.

[0055] As shown in Figures 3(C), (D) and 4(B), a frame portion 35 into which the swivel bracket 24 fits is formed on the underside of the rearward protruding portion 22a of the outer shell 22. The frame portion 35 has left and right side plates 35a, and a lower land portion 36 is formed on the bottom for thickening and reinforcement. In addition, as shown in Figure 3(C), a plurality of ribs 37 are formed on the underside.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 4(B), the screws 33 for fixing the inner shell 20 and the outer shell 22 are disposed near the frame portion 35, and the heads of the screws 33 are hidden by the support portion 17 and cannot be seen from behind. Therefore, the structure can be firmly fixed using the screws 33, while preventing deterioration of the aesthetic appearance. As shown in Figs. 4(A) and (C), a rib 22b protruding forward is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the outer shell 22, and the inner shell 20 fits inside the rib 22b.

[0057] (3) Vertical sliding mechanism of the support mechanism Next, the support mechanism consisting of the support part 17 and the movable support column 18 will be described. For example, as shown in Fig. 6(A), Fig. 7(D), and Fig. 8(B), the support part 17 has a block-shaped mount bracket 38 that opens at the top and bottom, and a top and bottom long clamp body 40 that is fixed to the mount bracket 38 by top and bottom screws 43, and between them are arranged a top and bottom long friction plate 45, a pair of top and bottom washers 46, and a spring 47. The mount bracket 38 is a metal die-cast product or a resin molded product. Instead of the spring 47, a rubber elastic body, a spring washer, or a resin spring can also be used.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 6(A) and Fig. 7(D), the mount bracket 38 has two bosses 48, one above and one below, facing rearward, and the bosses 48 pass through the friction plate 45, the washer 46, and the spring 47, and the clamp body 40 is fixed to the rear end surface of the bosses 48 with a screw 43. A front countersink 49 is formed in the front surface of the clamp body 40 into which the rear end of the boss 48 fits. A countersink 50 is formed in the rear surface of the clamp body 40 into which the washer 46 fits. The second slider 42 has an oblong hole 60 extending vertically and through which the bosses 48 pass. In this embodiment, the movable support 18 has a lifting stroke of about 135 mm.

[0059] On the other hand, the movable support 18 is provided with a first slider 41 having an elongated vertical direction that is fitted into the mounting bracket 38 so as to be freely movable up and down, a second slider 42 that is overlapped on the first slider 41 from behind, and a cover 51 that surrounds the first slider 41 and the second slider 42 from behind, and the swivel bracket 24 already described is attached to the upper end of the second slider 42.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 7(D), the first slider 41 is basically plate-shaped and has an upper end 41a, a pair of left and right rear guide portions 41b hanging down from the left and right ends thereof, and a front guide portion 41c that is T-shaped when viewed from the bottom and hanging down from the upper end. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 8(D), a T-shaped cavity 39 that opens up and down is formed in the mount bracket 38, and the front guide portion 41c of the first slider 41 fits into the cavity portion 39. The area between the pair of left and right rear guide portions 41b is a vertical longitudinal space in which the boss 48 of the mount bracket 38 is located. This allows the first slider 41 to move up and down.

[0061] For example, as shown in Figures 7(D) and 8(C), an auxiliary piece 41d that is L-shaped when viewed from the bottom is formed on the rear guide portion 41b of the first slider 41, and a dovetail groove facing outward to the left and right is formed by the rear guide portion 41b and the auxiliary piece 41d, while as shown in Figures 8(B) and (C), an upper and lower longitudinal rib 52 is formed on the opening edge of the cover 51, and the rib 52 fits into the dovetail groove formed by the rear guide portion 41b and the auxiliary piece 41d.

[0062] 7(D), for example, the lower end of the cover 51 is a bottom plate 51a, and a pair of left and right first engagement holes 53 and left and right second engagement holes 54 are formed in the bottom plate 51a, while a first engagement protrusion 55 that fits into the first engagement hole 53 from above is formed in the lower end of the front guide portion 41c of the first slider 41, and a second engagement protrusion 56 that fits into the second engagement hole 54 from above is formed in the lower end of the rear guide portion 41b of the first slider 41. Therefore, the first slider 41 and the cover 51 are held at their lower ends so that they cannot shift forward or backward.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 7(D), the second slider 42 is shaped like a gutter and has a front plate and left and right rearward side plates 42a, and the lower end of the front plate is fixed to the inner surface of the lower end of the cover 51 with screws 57. For this reason, a boss portion 58 is formed on the bottom plate 51a of the cover 51, with which the lower end of the front plate of the second slider 42 overlaps. As shown in Fig. 8(B), the upper end of the first slider 41 is fixed to the upper end of the second slider 42 with screws 59.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 5, left and right protrusions 62 are formed on the upper end of the mount bracket 38 with a center groove 61 therebetween, while left and right recesses 63 into which the protrusions 62 fit closely are formed in the left and right intermediate portion of the upper member 9b in the upper back frame 9, and the left and right intermediate portion of the upper member 9b is fixed to the protrusions 62 with screws 64. As shown in Fig. 5(A), a forward protrusion 65 is formed in the upper member 9b corresponding to the recess 63, and the forward protrusion 65 is fixed with a screw 64.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 5, the left and right protrusions 62 of the mount bracket 38 are formed in a wing-like shape that protrudes from the main body to the left and right. The mount bracket 38 is, for example, an aluminum die-cast product, and a group of recesses 66 is formed on the front surface to make the thickness as constant as possible. The lower surface of the mount bracket 38 is inclined forward so as to become higher toward the top. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7(D), a stepped portion 68 is formed on the rear surface of the mount bracket 38, and the rear guide portion 41b of the first slider 41 and the front end of the cover 51 are in sliding contact with the stepped portion 68.

[0066] 5(A), an upper cover 67 is attached to the upper member 9b of the upper back frame 9 via the back plate 3a. That is, the back plate 3a is attached to the upper member 9b via the upper cover 67.

[0067] 8(B), downward hooks 71 are formed on the upper portions of the left and right side plates 42a of the second slider 42, while receiving portions 72 with which the downward hooks 71 of the second slider 42 engage are formed on the left and right inner surfaces of the cover 51. Therefore, the second slider 42 and the cover 51 are held in an unseparable manner in the front and rear directions even at the upper portion. In addition, the lower end of the first slider 41 is held in an unseparable manner in the front and rear directions by the engagement holes 53, 54 and the engagement protrusions 55, 56, and the upper end is fixed to the second slider 42 by the screw 59, so that the first slider 41, the second slider 42, and the cover 51 are held together and do not separate.

[0068] As described above, the friction plate 45, washer 46, and spring 47 constituting the support portion 17 are fitted into the boss 48 of the mount bracket 38, and the friction plate 45 is sandwiched between the rear surface of the mount bracket 38 and the front surface of the second slider 42, and the second slider 42 is pressed toward the mount bracket 38 by the spring 47, so that friction resistance is applied to the elevation of the movable support 18. Therefore, the pad portion 16 can be held at any height. The friction plate 45 has four corners with protrusions 73 protruding forward and abutting the rear guide portion 41b of the first slider 41 from behind.

[0069] As shown in Figures 6(B) and (C), two protrusions 73 are arranged on the left and right sides of the front surface of the friction plate 45, one above the other, while as shown in Figure 6(A), a positioning hole 74 into which the protrusions 73 fit is formed in the rear surface of the mount bracket 38. On the other hand, the rear surface of the friction plate 45 is stepped so that the left and right sides protrude rearward, and a large number of long holes 76 are formed in multiple steps in the stepped portion facing rearward.

[0070] 6(D)(E), a U-shaped side spring portion 77 is formed in two stages, one above the other, on one of the left and right end faces of the clamp body 40. The side spring portion 77 is provided with a contact portion 77a that contacts the inner surface of the second slider 42. Therefore, the second slider 42 contacts the clamp body 40 with friction resistance from the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The side spring portion 77 may be provided on the left and right end faces of the clamp body 40. The inner surface of the second slider 42 may be formed into an uneven portion so that the height of the second slider 42 can be adjusted in stages.

[0071] (4) Swing structure of the support mechanism In this embodiment, the swivel bracket 24 can rotate about the left and right longitudinal axis, and therefore the pad section 16 can rotate back and forth with the rear end of the joint section 19 as the fulcrum. This allows the support position for the head and neck to be adjusted back and forth according to preference and physique. This point will be explained next.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 9, circular bearing portions 80a, 80b are formed at the upper end of the side plate 42a that constitutes the second slider 42, and the swivel bracket 24 is connected to the bearing portions 80a, 80b via a damper 81 and a spring washer 82.

[0073] The damper 81 is of a hydraulic or spring type, and is made up of two members sandwiching one bearing portion 80a from the left and right, and one bearing piece 24a of the swivel bracket 24 is connected to one bearing portion 80a by screwing a screw 84 from the outside into a flanged rotor 83 inserted from the inside of the damper 81. One bearing piece 24a of the swivel bracket 24 overlaps one bearing portion 80a from the outside. The rotor 83 is fixed to one bearing piece 24a of the swivel bracket 24, and strong resistance is applied to sudden rotation of the rotor 83, thereby exerting the damping function.

[0074] The other bearing piece 24b of the swivel bracket 24 is connected to the other bearing portion 80b via a nut 85, a spring washer 82, a restriction ring 86, a washer 87, and a screw 88. The restriction ring 86 has a stopper piece 90 that fits into an engagement hole 89 formed in the bearing piece 24a of the swivel bracket 24. Therefore, the restriction ring 86 rotates integrally with the swivel bracket 24, but the stopper piece 90 hits the other side plate 42a of the second slider 42, thereby defining the rearward rotation limit of the pad portion 16. The forward rotation limit of the pad portion 16 is defined by the rear end of the rearward protruding portion 22a of the outer shell 22 hitting the cover 51.

[0075] 5, for example, the swivel bracket 24 is stored in a lateral protrusion 91 provided on the upper end of the cover 51. The inner lower portion of the lateral protrusion 91 is gently curved to allow rotation of the swivel bracket 24. Because the swivel bracket 24 is sandwiched between the left and right lateral protrusions 91, the screws 84, 88 will not loosen and the swivel bracket 24 will not come off.

[0076] As described with reference to Figures 3(C) and (D), the rearward protruding portion 22a of the outer shell 22 is formed with a downward frame portion 35, and as shown in Figures 2(A) to (C), the upper end of the cover 51 fits inside the frame portion 35. Therefore, the upper end of the movable support 18 is not exposed, which is aesthetically pleasing.

[0077] (5) Summary of the first embodiment The chair of this embodiment has a high back, and the pad section 16 can be raised and lowered in front of the backrest 3, but as shown in Fig. 1(C), the height of the pad section 16 can be adjusted from a height position that is deeply recessed downward in the space in front of the backrest 3 to a height position that protrudes above the backrest 3. Therefore, even a person who is about 150 cm tall can use a high back chair with his or her head and neck stably supported by the top rest device 13.

[0078] In particular, in the embodiment, the height of the pad portion 16 can be adjusted steplessly, which is user-friendly. Also, in the embodiment, the support position of the head and neck can be adjusted forward and backward by rotating the pad portion 16 back and forth, so that a person can fine-tune the position of the pad portion 16 according to their preference, physique, head shape, etc. Therefore, it is excellent in adaptability to individual differences and can improve customer satisfaction. If the damper 81 that applies resistance to the rotation of the swivel bracket 24 is used as in the embodiment, the posture stability of the pad portion 16 is high and it is preferable.

[0079] When the mount bracket 38 is fixed with a screw 64 that is rotated from the front as in the embodiment, the head of the screw 64 is hidden by the backrest 3 and not visible to the eye, which gives a good appearance. In addition, when the first slider 41 that fits into the mount bracket 38 is used as the movable support 18, the support mechanism can be slimmed down by preventing it from expanding forward and backward. This aspect is also excellent in aesthetics. When the second slider 42 is formed into a gutter shape as in the embodiment, there is an advantage that high strength can be ensured while reducing weight.

[0080] 10(A), the front surface of the cushion material 21 constituting the pad portion 16 is basically inclined so as to retreat upward in a vertical cross-sectional side view, but the lower end portion is curved backward, and therefore the lower end portion of the cushion material 21 forms a curled portion 93 that bulges forward and has an upper inclined portion 93b and a rearward-facing portion 93c, bounded by a front-most ridge portion 93a. For example, as shown in FIG. 10(C), the left-right width of the curled portion 93 is more than half (60 to 70%) of the left-right overall length of the pad portion 16.

[0081] On the other hand, a foramen magnum is formed at the rear of the human skull, into which the tibia enters from below, and as shown in Figures 10(A) and (B), a posterior atlas joint 95a of the skull 95 is supported from the left and right by a first cervical vertebra (atlas) 94a constituting the upper end of the tibia 94, and the skull 95 has occipital condyles 95b on the left and right outer sides of the posterior atlas joint 95a, but in this embodiment, the first cervical vertebra 94a and the occipital condyle 95b are set to be supported by the curled portion 93. This allows the human neck 96 and head 97 to be stably supported, significantly reducing the burden on the neck 96.

[0082] That is, to start with the problem, the weight of head 97 is supported by tibia 94, but if only head 97 is supported by pad portion 16, head 97 will tend to sway from side to side, and the muscles that make up neck 96 will become tense in an attempt to stabilize head 97 (muscles under tension), which can lead to stiffness and fatigue in the neck; this phenomenon becomes more pronounced the more the axis of neck 96 is tilted relative to the vertical line.

[0083] In contrast, in this embodiment, the upper part of the neck and the lower end of the skull (the first cervical vertebra 94a, the posterior atlantal joint 95a, and the occipital condyle 95b) can be supported by the curled portion 93, so that the neck is stably held without shifting sideways, and the head 97, which has a considerable weight, is stably supported by the tibia, and the neck muscles are not burdened, so that stiffness and fatigue of the neck can be prevented. Furthermore, even if the axis of the neck and the axis of the head intersect, the upper end of the neck and the lower end of the head are supported by the curled portion 93, so that the weight of the head is supported by the curled portion, and therefore the burden on the neck is significantly reduced and the occurrence of disorders can be prevented. In FIG. 10, 94a to 94g indicate the second to seventh cervical vertebrae.

[0084] As described above, in this embodiment, in the reclining state, the upper back frame 9 tilts forward and the person's head 96 tends to rise, allowing the gaze to be directed naturally at the computer on the desk, but in this state, because the upper end of the neck 96 is supported by the curled portion 93, even if the axis of the neck 96 is inclined relative to the vertical line and the weight of the head 97 acts to tilt the neck 96 (tibia 94) backward, the weight of the head 97 is stably supported by the curled portion 93 without the muscles of the neck exerting force. Therefore, there is almost no burden on the tibia 94 or the muscles of the neck 96.

[0085] Therefore, the user can operate the computer for a long time without getting tired, with the upper body reclined and in a relaxed position. In particular, if the height and front-rear position of the pad part 16 can be adjusted as in the embodiment, it is preferable that the neck 96 and head 97 can be supported appropriately even if there are individual differences in the physique and head shape of the person.

[0086] For example, as shown in FIG. 10(C), in the embodiment, the planar shape of the front end of the pad portion 16 is such that the curled portion 93 extends in a straight line with both left and right ends rounded, and the length of the curled portion 93 is set to 60 to 70 percent of the total left and right width of the pad portion 16. However, since the left and right width of the lower end of the back of a person's head is not particularly large, the left and right length of the curled portion 93 does not need to be very long (approximately 5 cm is sufficient).

[0087] 10(C), the curled portion 93 may be provided only in the left-right middle portion within a range of 5 to 10 cm to form a center support portion 93d, and both the left and right sides of the center support portion 93d may be extended forward. In other words, the front end surface of the pad portion 16 may be formed as a concave surface recessed backward in a plan view.

[0088] The advantages of each part in this embodiment are as follows. The fitting between the protrusion 62 of the mount bracket 38 and the recess 63 of the upper member 9a has been described with reference to Fig. 5, and this configuration has the advantage that the mount bracket 38 can be positioned relative to the upper member 9a without slipping. In addition, the protrusion 62 spreads out in a wing-like shape on both the left and right sides from the main body of the mount bracket 38, improving the stability of the installation.

[0089] As a lifting structure for the movable column 18, a boss 48 facing backward is provided from the mount bracket 38, and the clamp body 40 or the like is attached to this, so that the boss 48 also functions as a lifting guide for the movable column 18, making it possible to realize a sturdy structure while simplifying the structure as much as possible. In addition, the use of the friction plate 45 has the advantage of ensuring the function of steplessly adjusting the height of the movable column 18.

[0090] If the outer shell 22 is provided with a rearward protruding portion 22a as the joint portion 19, the structure can be simplified accordingly, but if the first slider 41 and the cushioning material 21 are also provided with rearward protruding portions 20a, 21a so that the rearward protruding portion 22a of the outer shell 22 is seen from above, the design is unified and looks good. Note that as a rotation mechanism for the pad portion 16, it is also possible to form a forward extending portion on the swivel bracket 24 and fix the pad portion 16 to this.

[0091] In addition, in the embodiment, the rearward protruding portions 22a, 20a, 21a are bent backwards with the base portion against which the head comes into contact remaining roughly the same width to the left and right. This configuration has the advantage of being aesthetically pleasing and of increasing the rigidity of the rearward protruding portion 22a of the outer shell 22.

[0092] As described above, the cushioning material 21 can be a three-dimensional structure made by intertwining and bonding countless elastic resin fibers, and the use of this three-dimensional structure has the advantage that the thin rearward protruding portion 21a can be easily processed by hot pressing a commercially available sheet-like product as the material. The thin rearward protruding portion 21a of the cushioning material 21 has high rigidity because it is hardened by hot pressing, which also contributes to improving the strength of the pad portion 16.

[0093] The movable support 18 is formed by a first slider 41, a second slider 42, and a cover 51. The upper parts of the first slider 41 and the second slider 42, and the lower parts of the second slider 42 and the cover 51 are fixed with screws 57, 64, and the lower end of the first slider 41 is engaged with the lower end of the cover 51, which makes it possible to fix the three components in an inseparable manner with a small number of screws 57, 64, which is advantageous.

[0094] (6) Other embodiments (Figs. 11 to 14) Next, a second embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 13 will be described. In this embodiment, the pad section 16 includes a cushioning material 21 covered with an upholstery 23, an inner shell (not shown), and an outer shell 22. The outer shell 22 is elongated in the left-right direction and has a rearward protruding portion 22a at the upper end of the left-right middle portion, and the rearward protruding portion 22a is fixed to a joint bracket 100 with an upper screw 101 and a front screw 102.

[0095] As shown in Fig. 11, in this embodiment, the joint portion 19 is configured with a joint bracket 100 made of a metal plate. Although detailed structure is omitted, the attachment structure of the upholstery 23 to the inner shell and the attachment structure of the inner shell to the outer shell 22 are similar to those of the first embodiment. The left-right width of the pad portion 16 is approximately the same as the left-right width of the backrest 3. Although not shown in the drawings, at least in a range of 5 to 10 cm from the middle portion of the cushion material 21, a curled portion similar to that of the first embodiment is formed at the lower end portion.

[0096] For example, as shown in Fig. 11(D), the joint bracket 100 has a forward inclined portion 100a, to which the left and right intermediate portion of the outer shell 22 is fixed with a front screw 102. The joint bracket 100 is covered from below with a cover (not shown). The rearward protruding portion 22a of the outer shell 22 is formed with a countersunk hole 103 for hiding the head of the upper screw 102.

[0097] The joint bracket 100 is fixed to the upper end of the movable support 104 with a screw (bolt) 105, and the upper end of the movable support 104 is formed with a dovetail groove 106 into which the rear end of the joint bracket 100 fits so as to be able to slide back and forth, while the mounting hole 107 of the joint bracket 100 is formed as a long hole extending in the front-to-rear direction, so that the joint bracket 100 is fixed so that its front-to-rear position can be adjusted. Therefore, the front-to-rear position of the pad portion 16 can be adjusted.

[0098] The movable support column 104 is a resin molded product, and a pocket 109 that holds a nut 108 non-rotatably is formed at the upper end of the movable support column 104, and the screw 105 is screwed into the nut 108. Of course, a female screw may be formed at the upper end of the movable support column 104.

[0099] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, this embodiment also has, as the support mechanism, a mount bracket 110 fixed to the upper member 9a of the upper back frame 9, and a movable support 104 attached to the mount bracket 110 so as to be movable up and down.

[0100] The mount bracket 110 is a sheet metal product and has an upper fixing part 110a that is U-shaped when viewed from the side and fits from the front into a stepped receiving part 111 provided on the upper member 9a of the upper back frame 9, and a lower fixing part 110b that hangs down from the rear end of the upper fixing part 110a. The upper horizontal piece of the upper fixing part 110a is fixed with two screws 112 on the left and right, which are indicated by arrows only in Figure 12(C).

[0101] 12(C), left and right upper reinforcing ribs 113 are fixed to the upper fixing portion 110a of the mount bracket 110 by welding, and the upper member 9a of the upper back frame 9 is formed with notches 114 for allowing the upper reinforcing ribs 113 to escape. In addition, a lower reinforcing rib 115 is welded to the upper fixing portion 110a and the lower fixing portion 110b of the mount bracket 110.

[0102] The lower fixed part 110b of the mount bracket 110 is located behind the upper member 9a, and a vertically long rectangular base plate 116 is fixed to the rear surface of the lower fixed part 110b with four screws 117. The upper end of the base plate 116 is at approximately the same height as the upper fixed part 110a of the mount bracket 110.

[0103] A vertically long intermediate plate 118 is disposed behind the base plate 116, and a vertically long friction plate 119 is disposed behind the intermediate plate 118. End bosses 120 are fixed to the upper and lower ends of the intermediate plate 118 by welding, and the intermediate plate 118 and the friction plate 119 are fixed to the base plate 116 via the end bosses 120 with screws 121. The end bosses 120 protrude both to the front and rear of the intermediate plate 118, and the forward protruding portions fit into end fitting holes 122 provided in the base plate 116.

[0104] 12(A), the end boss 120 does not penetrate the friction plate 119, and instead, upper and lower countersunk holes 123 are formed in the friction plate 119, into which the end boss 120 fits without penetrating. Also, a recess is formed in the front surface of the friction plate 119, into which the intermediate plate 118 fits.

[0105] Furthermore, the friction plate 119 is formed with upper and lower longitudinal relief holes 125 in an oval shape located between the upper and lower countersunk holes 123, and two upper and lower intermediate bosses 126 fixed to the intermediate plate 118 fit into the relief holes 125, and washers 127 are fitted into the intermediate bosses 126. The intermediate bosses 126 fit into intermediate fitting holes 128 provided in the base plate 116. As shown in Fig. 12(A), a forward-facing rib 129 that overlaps the side edge of the intermediate plate 118 is provided on the other longitudinal edge of the left and right side edges of the friction plate 119.

[0106] The front surface of the movable support column 104 is formed into a shallow groove, into which a friction plate 119 fits. Therefore, the movable support column 104 is held by the friction plate 119 so that it cannot tip over to the left or right. The movable support column 104 is formed into a case-like shape that opens toward the rear, and a spring 131 and a retaining washer 132 are disposed inside a rearward opening 130, which are fixed to the intermediate boss 126 by a screw 133. The movable support column 104 is also provided with an oblong hole 134 that extends vertically to allow the intermediate boss 126 to move.

[0107] Therefore, frictional resistance is generated between the movable support 104 and the friction plate 119 by the pressing action of the spring 131, and the pad portion 16 can be adjusted to any height by raising and lowering the movable support 104 against the frictional force. As shown in Fig. 13, a rearward-facing thick portion 135 is formed on one side edge of the rear surface of the friction plate 119. The friction plate 119 is in sliding contact with the movable support 104 at the thick portion 135. The movable support 104 is covered from the rear by a cover plate 136. The cover plate 136 is fixed to the movable support 104 with screws (not shown), and a slit 137 is formed at the upper end to allow the joint bracket 100 to escape.

[0108] As already mentioned, functionally, it is sufficient for the pad section 16 to at least support the upper end of the person's neck, so the pad section 16 can be formed into a horizontally long bar shape as shown in Fig. 14. In (A), the cushioning material 21 is wrapped around the entire circumference of a circular core material 140. Therefore, the overall shape is cylindrical, with upwardly directed arm sections 140a provided on both the left and right ends of the core material 140 and rearwardly directed extension sections provided on the upper ends of the arm sections 140a, which are fixed to a movable support.

[0109] In the example shown in FIG. 14(B), the pad 16 is formed in a semicircular shape. In the example shown in FIG. 14(C), the pad 16 has an upward extension so as to support the back of the head. In either example, the arm 140a can extend from the left-right middle part of the core 140. In this case, the pad 16 and the arm 140a form an inverted T shape when viewed from the front. The vertical width of the inner shell and the cushioning material of the embodiment can be set to, for example, about 5 to 8 cm.

[0110] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various other ways. For example, the backrest structure can be various structures such as a type in which a cushioning material is stretched on an inner shell, or a structure in which a mesh material (flexible sheet) is stretched on a back frame that is open at the front and back. It goes without saying that the back frame may be a single structure.

[0111] In the first and second embodiments, the entire pad is located below the top of the backrest when in the lowest position, but it is also possible to set the upper part of the pad to extend above the backrest when viewed from the front when in the lowest position. The pad can also be made of mesh.

[0112] As already mentioned, the height of the pad can be adjusted stepwise, in which case one of the movable support and the support is provided with a vertically long receiving part with a concave or convex shape, and the other is provided with a stopper part that elastically engages with and disengages from the receiving part. As a means for preventing the movable support from slipping down, a ratchet mechanism can be provided that allows the pad to rise stepwise, and when the pad is fully raised, it can be lowered to the lowest end where the lock is released. Furthermore, the joint part and the movable support can be integrally formed as a resin or sheet metal product, and the movable support can be attached to the support so that it can be raised and lowered.

[0113] Furthermore, when the front-rear position is adjustable as in the second embodiment, a configuration in which the pad portion is moved forward and backward against elasticity can be adopted. Also, a configuration in which the front-rear position and the height position can be adjusted at once can be adopted in which the pad portion is connected to the movable support or the support portion via a link mechanism and configured to swing up and down and forward and backward (in this case, it is preferable to provide a lock mechanism that stops the movement of the link and release an unlock button provided on the side of the pad portion, etc.). In other words, it is preferable that the front-rear position and the height can be adjusted while the person is seated. [Industrial Applicability]

[0114] The present invention can be embodied in a chair, and therefore has industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 3. Backrest 3a backboard 8 Lower back frame 9 Upper back frame 13 Top rest device 16 Pad section 17 Support part 18,104 Movable column 19 Joint 20 Inner shell that constitutes the pad 21 Cushioning material that constitutes the pad 22 Outer shell that constitutes the pad 22a, 20a, 21a: Rearward-facing protruding portion constituting the joint portion 23 Upholstery that makes up the pad 24 Swing bracket 38,110 Mount bracket that constitutes the support part 40 Clamp body constituting the support portion 41 First slider constituting the movable support 42 Second slider constituting the movable support 45 Friction plate constituting the support part 47 Friction spring constituting the support part 51 Cover for the movable support 93 Curl Section 93a Ridgeline 93b Upper slope 93c Rear-facing section

Claims

1. The seat includes a seat and a backrest, and a top rest device capable of supporting the neck of a seated person. The top rest device includes a pad portion arranged on the front side of the backrest and capable of supporting the neck of a seated occupant, a support portion fixedly arranged on the rear side of the backrest, and a joint portion provided on the pad portion in a state in which the backrest is straddled from above, The joint portion is attached to the support portion in a height-adjustable manner. chair.

2. A vertically elongated movable support column arranged on the rear side of the backrest is attached to the support section in a height-adjustable manner, and the joint section is attached to the movable support column.

2. A chair as claimed in claim 1.

3. The pad portion has a lift stroke of 10 cm or more, and in the most lowered state, the pad portion overlaps with the backrest over its entire height when viewed from the front, and in the most raised state, the lower end of the pad portion is at approximately the same height as the upper end of the backrest when viewed from the front. A chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

4. The pad portion is rotatable about its upper end portion as a fulcrum, or is movable back and forth as a whole. A chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

5. The backrest is a structure in which a sheet-like or plate-like support material is attached to a back frame that is open at the front and rear, and the upper end of the support material overlaps the front surface of an upper member that constitutes the upper part of the back frame, The support portion is fixed to the upper member of the back frame using a screw. A chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

6. The pad portion has an inner shell made of synthetic resin, a cushioning material arranged on the front surface of the inner shell, and an outer shell supporting the inner shell from the rear, and the joint portion is integrally provided on the outer shell. A chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

7. The front surface of the pad portion has a ridge portion located most forward near the lower end, and the upper portion of the ridge portion is an upwardly inclined portion that is inclined backward, and the lower portion of the ridge portion is a backward-facing portion that is curved backward, so that the portion centered on the ridge portion is a curled portion. A chair as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

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