Chair and body support element thereof

Abstract

To provide a body support element in which a decorative cloth is stretched having a connection member, in which an attachment of the connection member can be simplified.SOLUTION: A body support element is, for example, a backrest 3. The backrest 3 includes: a plate-like or sheet-like back panel (first support member) 18; frames 8, 9 (second support member) supporting the back panel 18; and a braided decorative stretch cloth 19. The decorative stretch cloth 19 is horizontally braided with a peripheral edge thereof being integrally formed with a cylindrical part 53. A connection member 26 is inserted into the cylindrical part 53, and a locking hook 27 provided to the connection member 26 engages with a locking hole 29 or the back panel 18. Since the connection member 26 does not need to be sewn or welded, an attachment of the connection member 26 can be simplified.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a chair and its body support elements. The body support elements are elements provided with decorative upholstery, such as a backrest, a seat, a headrest (neckrest), and armrests.

Background Art

[0002] In chairs, it is widely practiced to provide decorative upholstery on body support elements such as backrests. The most popular is to cover a cushion laid on a shell member with decorative upholstery. In this case, the periphery of the decorative upholstery is wrapped around the back side of the shell member and fixed. As means for fixing the periphery of the decorative upholstery, methods such as fixing with a tacker or welding, or a method of tightening a string inserted through a tubular portion formed at the periphery of the decorative upholstery are employed.

[0003] These methods have the problem that they are time-consuming to attach. Therefore, the applicant of the present application disclosed in Patent Document 1 a structure in which a thin tape-like edge member is welded to the periphery of the decorative upholstery and this edge member is locked to a frame member. In a chair that supports a person's body with a mesh material having a strong structure, as a means for attaching the mesh material, a tape-like edge member is sewn to the periphery of the mesh material and the edge member is fitted into a long groove formed in a frame member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When using an edge member as in Patent Document 1, not only can the attachment work of the decorative fabric be efficiently performed, but also the edge of the decorative fabric can be accurately positioned and it can be made excellent in aesthetic sense. However, as a result of the study by the inventors of the present application, it was found that there is room for improvement.

[0006] That is, in Patent Document 1, the peripheral portion of the decorative fabric is sewn to the edge member by sewing, but since the sewing is performed manually, there are problems that the finish varies depending on the skill level and that the sewing itself is time-consuming.

[0007] The present invention aims to improve such a situation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The present invention includes various configurations, and typical examples thereof are specified in each claim. Among these, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a body support element, "having a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped first support member that supports the body pressure of the user, a second support member that supports the first support member, and a knitted decorative fabric that covers the surface of the first support member, wherein an elongated cylindrical portion is integrally formed by knitting at the outer peripheral portion of the decorative fabric, and the decorative fabric is attached to the first support member or the second support member via an elongated connecting member inserted into the cylindrical portion." It has such a configuration.

[0009] The invention of claim 2 is a development example of claim 1, "wherein the connecting member is formed with a hook portion that penetrates the cylindrical portion and protrudes toward the first support member, and the first support member is formed with an engagement hole with which the hook portion engages against elasticity." It has such a configuration.

[0010] The invention of claim 3 is a development example of claim 1 or 2, "The connecting member is divided into a plurality of unit connecting members." It has such a configuration.

[0011] The invention according to claim 4 is a development example of claim 3, "The cylindrical portion is divided into a plurality of unit cylindrical portions corresponding to the respective unit connecting members, and at least a part of the plurality of unit cylindrical portions has one end open and the other end closed." It has such a configuration.

[0012] The invention according to claim 5 is a development example of claim 1 or 2, "The cylindrical portion of the decorative fabric has the peripheral end portion of the base material folded back to the back side and presents a bowed appearance on the base material, and the bowed portion is located on the side of the first support member." It has such a configuration.

[0013] The invention according to claim 6 is directed to a chair. That is, a chair including the decorative fabric described in any one of claims 1 to 5, "The first support member is a back plate made of a soft resin containing an elastomer, the second support member is a back frame having openings at the front and rear, the peripheral edge of the back plate is attached to the back frame, and the decorative fabric is attached to the peripheral edge of the back plate from the front side via the connecting member." It has such a configuration.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] In the present invention, since the cylindrical portion is formed by the knitting of the decorative fabric, sewing or welding processes are not required and the assembly workability is high. Also, there is no difference in finish depending on proficiency such as sewing machine work, and the quality can be stabilized. Cost reduction is also possible. Furthermore, since the sewing thread can be eliminated, the appearance can also be improved. Now, it is also possible to form a cylindrical part by folding back and sewing the periphery of a flat cloth. However, in this case as well, since it involves sewing with a sewing machine, there is a problem that the quality varies depending on the skill level, and there is also a troublesome problem that wrinkles occur at the corner parts. On the other hand, in the invention of the present application, since the cylindrical part is made by knitting, it is possible to provide a stable and high-quality product without wrinkles.

[0015] As the first support member, for example, a resin plate with a certain thickness can be adopted. In this case, since the first support member has a certain strength (stiffness), it is possible to lock the hook. And in the configuration of claim 2, by utilizing this characteristic, the decorative fabric can be easily attached to the first support member. That is, by overlapping the decorative fabric on the first support member and simply pressing the location of the connecting member against the first support member, the decorative fabric can be easily attached to the first support member.

[0016] Whether in a backrest state or a sitting state, it is preferable that the body support element is connected to the first support member over its entire circumference. However, if there is only one connecting member, since the connecting member is bent in a loop shape, it takes time to insert it into the cylindrical part. In this regard, as in claim 3, dividing the connecting member into a plurality of parts can facilitate the insertion into the cylindrical part and is preferable.

[0017] When the connecting member is divided into a plurality of parts, it is preferable that the cylindrical part is also divided into a plurality of unit cylindrical parts corresponding to the connecting member. However, in this case, depending on the arrangement position of the connecting member, it is assumed that it is easier to come out of the unit cylindrical part before attaching to the first support member or the like. For example, when applied to a backrest and the unit cylindrical part is long vertically, there is a possibility that the connecting member inserted from above is likely to come out below the unit cylindrical part.

[0018] In this regard, when adopting the configuration of claim 4, when there is a possibility that the connecting member comes out of the unit cylindrical part, the other end of the unit cylindrical part can be blocked with a bottom, so that each connecting member can be held in a predetermined position and the attachment work can be carried out neatly.

[0019] Forming the cylindrical part on the decorative fabric by knitting can be easily achieved using weft knitting, but the base part of the cylindrical part may exhibit an appearance similar to that of a gathered seam. In this regard, when adopting the configuration of claim 5, the part with a sagging appearance is located on the side of the first support member and cannot be visually recognized from the outside, so it looks good (with the opposite idea to claim 5, it is also possible to expose the line with a sagging appearance as a design feature).

[0020] In a chair, the cushioning property and fitness of the backrest are important factors affecting the evaluation of the chair. However, when adopting a backrest made of a soft resin as in claim 6, high fitness and cushioning property can be achieved, and high satisfaction can be given to the user. And in the present invention, since the cylindrical part can be formed with high precision, when applied to the backrest as in claim 6, the backrest can be covered with the decorative fabric without generating wrinkles, and it can be made excellent in terms of aesthetics.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the terms "front and back" and "left and right" are used to specify directions, and this direction is defined as the direction seen from a person normally sitting on the chair. The front view is a view seen from the direction facing the seated person.

[0023] (1). Basic Structure of the Chair First, the outline of the chair will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. This embodiment is applied to a swivel chair frequently used in offices. The chair includes 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 column 4 composed of a gas cylinder is erected at the center of a base having five leg blades, and casters are provided at the tips of each leg blade.

[0024] For example, as shown in FIGS. 1(A) and (B), a base 5 is fixed to the upper end of the leg column 4, and the lower ends of the left and right first tilting frames 6 are connected to the base 5 by a first reference support shaft (not shown). For example, as shown in FIG. 1(B), the first tilting frame 6 extends backward while spreading outward to the left and right from the base 5 and then rises upward, and the portion that rises upward and spreads greatly outward to the left and right constitutes a lower side member 8a of the lower back frame 8.

[0025] The lower ends of the lower side members 8a constituting the lower back frame 8 are connected by a lower member 8b having a left-right longitudinal direction. 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 member 8b.

[0026] On the lower back frame 8, an upper back frame 9 which is integrated with the lower back frame 8 to form a back frame device is arranged. The upper back frame 9 is formed in a loop shape by left and right upper 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.

[0027] The lower ends of the upper side members 9a in the upper back frame 9 are connected to the upper ends of the lower side members 8a by a second reference pivot shaft (not shown) that is long in the left - right direction. The middle member 9c of the upper back frame 9 protrudes rearward, and the upper ends of a vertically long second tilting frame (center frame) 12 are connected to the left - right middle part of the rearward - protruding middle member 9c in a rear - tiltable manner by a third reference pivot shaft (not shown) that is long in the left - right direction.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1(B), the lower end part of the second tilting frame 12 is a bifurcated part 12a having left and right parts, and the front end (lower end) of the bifurcated part 12a is connected to a bearing part 13 (see Fig. 1(B)) provided at the rear end of the base 5.

[0029] Therefore, the first tilting frame 6, the second tilting frame 12, and the back frames 8 and 9 rotate relative to each other while tilting rearward as a whole. Specifically, due to the differences in the front - rear positions and vertical heights of each reference pivot shaft, during reclining, the upper back frame 9 rotates forward relative to the lower back frame 8 (and the first tilting frame 6).

[0030] And a top - rest device 14 is attached to the upper end of the upper back frame 9. When the upper back frame 9 rotates forward relative to the lower back frame 8 during reclining, in the reclined state, the user's head can be held in a state lifted by the top - rest device 14. Therefore, the user of the chair can relax the body and look at the computer on the desk in a natural state, and perform computer operations such as keyboard operation and mouse operation.

[0031] The backward tilt of the backrest 3 is controlled by a gas cylinder (not shown) disposed 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.

[0032] The backrest 3 is provided with a back panel 18 made of a flexible resin material such as elastomer (PTE) and a decorative upholstery 19 stretched over the front surface of the back panel 18, and the back panel 18 bends and deforms following the bending of the back frame device. The back panel 18 also deforms by being concave backwards due to the body pressure of the seated person. Therefore, it has excellent fit and cushioning properties. The back panel 18 is supported from behind by a lumbar support device 20 shown in Fig. 1 (B) (C). In this embodiment, the back panel 18 corresponds to the first support member and the back frames 8, 9 correspond to the second support members in relation to the claims.

[0033] (2) Backrest and its basic mounting structure Next, the structure of the back will be described with reference to Figure 6 and subsequent figures. As mentioned above, the back panel 18 is made of elastomer, and the part where the body pressure of the seated person is applied is a few mm thick, and is elastic enough that a person can easily bend it when it is alone. In addition, small holes are drilled in pairs except for the outer periphery. The small holes are formed in a square shape and arranged vertically and horizontally, but the shape, size, and arrangement direction can be set arbitrarily.

[0034] For example, as can be seen from Fig. 3(C), the side members 8a, 9a have a generally triangular shape in planar cross section that protrudes rearward, and are internally formed with a vertically elongated circumferential groove 23 that opens forward. The front faces of the upper member 9b and the lower member 8b are similar, and therefore the circumferential groove 23 extends all around. The outer periphery of the back plate 18 is formed into a thick portion 24, and the thick portion 24 is formed with a rearward protrusion 24a that fits into the circumferential groove 23.

[0035] And, as clearly shown in FIG. 3(C), on the front surface of the thick portion 24 of the back plate 18, a decorative sheet mounting groove 25 with a width of about 10 mm and a depth of a few millimeters is formed continuously around the entire circumference, and a decorative sheet 19 is connected to this decorative sheet mounting groove 25 via a connecting member 26.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3(A), the portion of the back plate 18 that overlaps with the upper back frame 9 is fixedly and immovably attached to the upper back frame 9 by screws 34 and washers 35. Therefore, a large number of countersunk holes 36 into which the heads of the screws 34 can fit are intermittently formed in the circumferential direction in the thick portion 24 of the back plate 18. On the other hand, in the circumferential groove 23 of the upper back frame 9, as shown in FIG. 2(A), a group of screw receiving bosses 37 having a front view angular shape into which the screws 34 are screwed are formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 7(B), in the thick portion 24 of the back plate 18, angular boss receiving recesses 38 that fit with the screw receiving bosses 37 are formed.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3(D), at the lower end of the back plate 18, the locking hole 29 is formed at a location of an angular boss portion 31 that protrudes rearward. Therefore, on the front surface of the lower member 8b, a relief recess (not shown) for allowing the insertion of the boss portion 31 is formed.

[0038] (3). Relief Structure of the Back Plate As described above, in this embodiment, when reclining, the upper back frame 9 tilts forward relative to the lower back frame 8. Therefore, in order to allow relative rotation between the upper back frame 9 and the lower back frame 8, the back plate 18 is attached to the lower back frame 9 so as to be vertically slidable by a slight dimension. This point is explained just in case.

[0039] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, between the side portion of the back plate 18 and the back frame device, a lower slide auxiliary body 39 that overlaps only the lower side member 8a in a front view and an upper slide auxiliary body 40 that overlaps both the upper side member 9a and the lower side member 8a are arranged, and the upper side member 9a partially overlaps the upper slide auxiliary body 40 in the front - rear direction.

[0040] The upper slide auxiliary body 40 and the lower slide auxiliary body 39 are basically in a plate-like form. The upper end of the upper slide auxiliary body 40 is clamped together with the back plate 18 at the lower end of the upper side member 9a by screws 34 that fix the back plate 18 to the lower end of the upper side member 9a. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2(B), the portion of the back plate 18 where the upper end of the upper slide auxiliary body 40 overlaps is not a recess but a land portion 41.

[0041] The upper slide auxiliary body 40 and the lower slide auxiliary body 39 are arranged such that the upper slide auxiliary body 40 is positioned in the front and the lower slide auxiliary body 39 is positioned in the back. That is, the lower slide auxiliary body 39 overlaps the lower side member 8a, and the upper slide auxiliary body 40 overlaps the lower side member 8a from the front.

[0042] The lower slide auxiliary body 39 is fixed to the lower side member 8a by screws 43 through resin sleeves 42 at three locations up and down. Therefore, a boss body 44 into which the screw 43 is screwed is protruding in the peripheral groove 23 of the lower side member 8a. The sleeve 42 has a flange, and the back plate 18 is held by the sleeve 42 so as not to come off and is held so as to be able to move up and down relative to the lower side member 8a.

[0043] A U-shaped notch 46 into which the sleeve 42 fits in a non-movable manner up and down is formed in the lower slide auxiliary body 39 (a hole may be adopted instead of the notch 46). Therefore, the lower slide auxiliary body 39 moves up and down integrally with the lower half of the back plate 18 and the lower side member 8a. On the other hand, a vertically long hole (or notch groove) 47 that loosely fits onto the boss body 44 is formed in the upper slide auxiliary body 40. Therefore, the lower half of the back plate 18 and the upper slide auxiliary body 40 are relatively movable in the vertical direction.

[0044] As can be understood from FIG. 2(B), two outwardly hooked locking claws 51 are projectingly provided forward on the upper slide auxiliary body 40, while an engagement elongated hole 52 into which the locking claws 51 are inserted is formed on the side portion of the back plate 18. A stepped portion for the locking claws 51 to catch is formed in the engagement elongated hole 52. Therefore, the back plate 18 is held in a non-removable manner with respect to the lower side member 8a by the locking claws 51 while allowing vertical movement.

[0045] (4). Structure of the decorative fabric As clearly shown in FIG. 6, the connecting member 26 is divided into four unit connecting members, i.e., an upper connecting member 26a, a side connecting member 26b, and a lower connecting member 26c, and the whole is arranged in a line to form a loop structure. A plurality of locking claws (hooks) 27 are projectingly provided rearward at vertically spaced positions on each of the unit connecting members 26a to 26c.

[0046] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3(C), a group of locking holes 29 into which the locking claws 27 are inserted are intermittently formed in the circumferential direction in the thick portion 24 of the back plate 18. Further, as clearly shown in FIG. 3(C), a forward rib 30 surrounding the decorative fabric 19 is formed over the entire circumference on the outer peripheral portion of the thick portion 24 of the back plate 18.

[0047] Therefore, a shallow recess surrounded by the forward rib 30 is formed in the back plate 18. When the connecting member 26 attached to the decorative fabric 19 is fitted into and pushed into the recess, each locking claw 27 is elastically deformed and inserted into the locking hole 29, whereby the decorative fabric 19 can be attached to the back plate 18 in one touch. The attachment of the decorative fabric 19 is performed as the last step after the back plate 18 is attached to the back frame device.

[0048] The decorative fabric 19 is a knitted fabric made by a flat knitting machine, and a cylindrical portion 53 is integrally formed (knitted) at its periphery. The connecting member 26 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 53, and the locking claws 27 are passed through the cylindrical portion 53 so that the locking claws 27 are exposed on the rear side. As a means for passing the locking claws 27 through the cylindrical portion 53, the cylindrical portion 53 may be pierced by the locking claws 27, or a hole may be provided at a predetermined position and the locking claws 27 may be exposed through the hole.

[0049] Since the connecting members 26 are separated into a plurality (four) of them, the cylindrical portion 53 is also divided into four unit cylindrical portions, namely, an upper unit cylindrical portion 53a, a side unit cylindrical portion 53b, and a lower unit cylindrical portion 53c. The upper connecting member 26a is inserted into the upper unit cylindrical portion 53a from the right or left, the side connecting member 26b is inserted into the side unit cylindrical portion 53b from above, and the lower connecting member 26c is inserted into the lower unit cylindrical portion 53c from the right or left.

[0050] Since the upper connecting member 26a and the lower connecting member 26c are bent, they will be inserted while deforming the decorative sheet 19. Therefore, the decorative sheet 19 needs to be allowed to deform when the upper connecting member 26a and the lower connecting member 26c are inserted. Thus, it is preferable to insert the upper connecting member 26a and the lower connecting member 26c first, and finally insert the side connecting member 26b.

[0051] Since the upper connecting member 26a and the lower connecting member 26c are bent, even if the decorative sheet 19 is spread vertically, they are held in a stable posture in the upper unit cylindrical portion 53a and the lower unit cylindrical portion 53c respectively. However, the side connecting member 26b may come out of the side unit cylindrical portion 53b. Therefore, in this embodiment, the lower end of the side unit cylindrical portion 53b is closed by sewing to form the bottom portion 54. Thereby, each of the connecting members 26a to 26c can be accurately positioned and attached to the back plate 18 accurately.

[0052] The cylindrical portion 53 is divided into a plurality by cutting the back surface portion of the cylindrical portion 53 with a blade. Therefore, a cut is formed at the location between adjacent unit cylindrical portions. Note that it is also possible to close one end of the upper unit cylindrical portion 53a and the lower unit cylindrical portion 53c. Each connecting member 26 is preferably spread out to fill the inside of each unit cylindrical portion 53a to 53c so that the unit cylindrical portions 53a to 53c are in a state of being spread out to the fullest width.

[0053] When forming the cylindrical portion 53 on the decorative fabric 19 using a flat knitting machine, since the peripheral edge of the base portion is folded back and knitted up, a hooked sewing-like portion 55 appears at the attachment root of the cylindrical portion 53. In this regard, in the embodiment, the hooked sewing-like portion 55 is arranged backward so as not to be visible. Therefore, it has excellent aesthetic appeal.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows the second embodiment. In this embodiment, thick rib portions 57 are formed in multiple stages vertically by rib knitting on the base portion of the decorative fabric 19, and the cylindrical portion 53 is knitted up in a thin state. The rib portions 57 are arranged so as to face the back plate 18, but from a design perspective, it is also possible to expose the rib portions 57 forward. Using such rib knitting has the advantage of imparting volume to the decorative fabric 19 and softening the contact with the body.

[0055] The third embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is another example of the splitting mode of the connecting member 26, and the side connecting member 26b is shorter than that in the first embodiment. It is also possible to further split the side connecting member 26b into two pieces each.

[0056] (5). Another example of the back plate 18 FIG. 9 shows another example of the back plate 18. That is, a large number of punched holes 58 are provided in the back plate 18 to promote deformation, and this is another example of the form of the punched holes 58. That is, in this embodiment, most of the punched holes 58 arranged at the portion where the body of the seated person overlaps among the group of punched holes 58 are triangles or arrowhead shapes or Y-shapes having three vertex portions, and the group of punched holes 58 are arranged in a grid pattern when viewed from the front.

[0057] With such a configuration, since the portion excluding the punched holes 58 can be made to meander, it is possible to promote the concave deformation (rearward bulge deformation) due to the pressing action of the seated person and improve the fit and cushioning properties.

[0058] In addition, the group of punching holes 58 are arranged in a diagonal lattice pattern when viewed from the front, and the intersections of the diagonal lattices are arranged vertically, so that the punching holes 58 are also arranged in multiple rows in the vertical longitudinal direction. With such a configuration, since the meat part meanders in the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal directions, dent deformation can be ensured.

[0059] In the embodiment, many of the punching holes 58 are in a three-arrow shape or Y shape in which three sides are bent or curved toward the center side respectively, and one vertex of the punching hole 58 adjacent diagonally downward is arranged in the diagonal lattice direction so as to face one side of the punching hole 58 arranged diagonally upward. With such a configuration, the meandering of the meat part can be increased to promote elongation deformation (dent deformation).

[0060] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the back plate 18 is divided into an upper area and a lower area. The upper area has an upper center area in the vertical longitudinal direction and upper side areas on the left and right. By setting the size of the punching holes 58 arranged in the left and right side areas to be larger than the size of the punching holes 58 arranged in the upper center area, the bending strength per unit area of the left and right upper side areas is set to be smaller than that of the upper center area. With such a configuration, the part (upper side area) where the scapula of the seated person hits is recessed with a light force on the rear side, so that the contact with the person's back is soft and comfortable.

[0061] Also, in the embodiment, the upper area and the lower area are vertically divided via a middle area in the left and right longitudinal direction. The lower area is divided into a lower center area in the vertical longitudinal direction and lower side areas on the left and right. By making the size of the punching holes 58 arranged in the lower center area smaller than the punching holes 58 in the upper center area, the lower area is less likely to deform than the upper area. With such a configuration, since the waist is firmly supported in the lower area, the stability of the body is high.

[0062] Now, making a number of punched holes in a shell-shaped back plate has been conventionally performed, and an example thereof is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-39467. In this embodiment, the punched holes are formed in a circular shape, and their density varies depending on the location.

[0063] The back plate in the above publication is a strength member for supporting the body and does not bend or deform, so the fit and cushioning properties are not considered in the first place. Therefore, even if the form of the punched holes as in the above publication is applied to an elastomer back plate, the effects of the present embodiment described above cannot be enjoyed. Therefore, the present embodiment can bring out the characteristics of the elastomer back plate and enjoy high fit and cushioning properties.

[0064] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention can be embodied in various other ways. For example, it can be applied to seats, headrests, and elbows. It can also be applied to cushion-type decorative fabrics. In this case, the connecting member may be connected to the shell member where the cushion materials overlap. It is also possible to wind the cylindrical portion of the decorative fabric around the back side of the back plate.

[0065] Furthermore, it is also possible to partition the upper unit cylindrical portion and the lower unit cylindrical portion at their left and right intermediate portions and insert the connecting members from the left and right.

Industrial Applicability

[0066] The present invention can be embodied in a chair. Therefore, it can be used industrially.

Explanation of Signs

[0067] 3 Backrest 8 Lower back frame 9 Upper back frame 18 Back plate 19 Decorative fabric 26, 26a to 26c Connecting member 27 Locking claw 53, 53a to 53c Cylindrical portion 54 Bottom 55 Inclined sewing portion

Claims

1. A chair body support element, comprising: a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped first support member that supports the body pressure of a user; a second support member that supports the first support member; and a knitted decorative cover that covers the surface of the first support member. An elongated cylindrical portion is integrally formed by knitting at the outer peripheral portion of the decorative cover. The decorative cover is attached to the first support member or the second support member via an elongated connecting member inserted into the cylindrical portion. Chair body support element.

2. The connecting member is formed with a hook portion that penetrates the cylindrical portion and protrudes toward the first support member, and the first support member is formed with an engagement hole into which the hook portion elastically engages. The chair body support element according to Claim 1.

3. The connecting member is divided into a plurality of unit connecting members. The chair body support element according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The cylindrical portion is divided into a plurality of unit cylindrical portions corresponding to the respective unit connecting members, and at least a part of the plurality of unit cylindrical portions has one end open and the other end closed. The chair body support element according to Claim 3.

5. The cylindrical portion of the decorative cover has the peripheral edge portion of the base material folded back to the back side, presenting a recessed appearance with respect to the base material, and the recessed portion is located on the side of the first support member. The chair body support element according to Claim 1 or 2.

6. A chair including the decorative cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the first support member is a back plate made of a soft resin containing an elastomer, the second support member is a back frame having openings at the front and rear, the peripheral edge portion of the back plate is attached to the back frame, and the decorative cover is attached to the peripheral edge portion of the back plate from the front side via the connecting member. Chair.

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