Chair

Abstract

To prevent an upholstery material from being damaged by coming into contact with an object around a chair in the chair in which the upholstery material is stretched on a member integrally having a backrest part and an armrest part.SOLUTION: A chair 1 includes a support structure 3, a seat 5 supported by the support structure 3, and a backrest 7 supported by the support structure 3 and having a load support surface 8 for supporting a load of a seated person above the seat 5. The backrest 7 has the pair of left and right upright rods 40 that stand upright through the outside of the seat 5, the backrest portion 47, and the pair of left and right armrests 46 that face upward and have the arm rest surfaces on which the seated person places the arms, and has the upper connection rod 45 that is integrated with the pair of upright rods 40, and the tensile material 70 that is stretched on the upper connection rod 45 in a state where at least the outer portion of the arm rest surface in a plan view is exposed to form the load support surface 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a chair. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a chair that comprises an upholstery material that forms the backrest surface and a shape-retaining member for the backrest over which the upholstery material is stretched, and the shape-retaining member integrates a pair of left and right armrests and a backrest that connects the pair of armrests together (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2002 / 098261 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if an upholstery material is stretched over a shape-retaining member in which the backrest and armrest portions are integrally formed, when the armrest comes into contact with an object around the chair, the upholstery material may be pinched between the shape-retaining member and the surrounding object and damaged.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention prevents damage to a chair in which upholstery is stretched over a member having an integral backrest and armrests due to contact with objects around the chair. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A chair according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a support structure, a seat supported by the support structure, and a load support surface component supported by the support structure and having a load support surface above the seat that supports the weight of a seated person, the load support surface component having a pair of left and right standing portions that rise outside the seat, a backrest portion, and a pair of left and right armrest portions that face upward and have armrest surfaces on which the seated person places their arms, connecting portions that are integral with the pair of standing portions, and an upholstery material that is stretched over the connecting portions while leaving at least the outer portions of the armrest surfaces exposed in a planar view, thereby forming the load support surface.

[0007] According to the first aspect, the outer portions of the armrest surface in a plan view are exposed from the upholstery, so when the chair rolls over the floor and the armrest comes into contact with an object around the chair, the upholstery is prevented from being pinched between the object and the armrest, thereby preventing damage to the upholstery and improving the durability of the chair.

[0008] A chair according to a second aspect of the present invention is a chair according to the first aspect, wherein the pair of standing portions and the connecting portion are rod-shaped members, and the connecting portion connects the upper ends of the pair of standing portions to each other.

[0009] A chair according to a third aspect of the present invention is a chair according to the second aspect described above, wherein the connecting portion has a first engagement recess formed therein extending along the extension direction of the connecting portion, and the upholstery material may be engaged with the first engagement recess.

[0010] According to the third aspect, the upholstery material can be stretched over the connecting portion by engaging the upholstery material with the first engaging recess. This simplifies the work of stretching the upholstery material compared to a configuration in which the connecting portion is inserted through the bag portion of the upholstery material, making it easier to assemble the chair.

[0011] A chair according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the chair according to the third aspect, wherein the standing portion has a second engagement recess formed therein that extends along the extension direction of the standing portion, and the upholstery material engages with the second engagement recess and is stretched across the standing portion.

[0012] According to the fourth aspect, the upholstery material can be stretched over the upright portion by engaging the upholstery material with the second engagement recess. This simplifies the work of stretching the upholstery material compared to a configuration in which the upright portion is inserted through a pouch portion of the upholstery material, making it easier to assemble the chair.

[0013] A chair according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the chair according to the fourth aspect, wherein the first engagement recess and the second engagement recess may be in communication with each other.

[0014] According to the fifth aspect, the stretching material can be engaged successively from the first engagement recess to the second engagement recess, thereby further simplifying the work of stretching the stretching material.

[0015] A chair according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a chair according to any one of the third to fifth aspects above, wherein the first engagement recess may open to the inner edge of the armrest surface when viewed from above.

[0016] According to the sixth aspect, the outer portions of the armrest surface in plan view can be exposed from the upholstery, thereby providing a chair that achieves the above-mentioned effects.

[0017] A chair according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a chair according to any one of the second to sixth aspects above, wherein the load support surface component further comprises a lower connecting rod portion connecting the pair of standing portions together, and the lower connecting rod portion is connected to a point below the connection portion with the connecting portion on the standing portion, and may support the lower edge portion of the upholstery material.

[0018] According to the seventh aspect, the pair of upright sections are connected at two points, top and bottom, by the connecting section and the lower connecting rod section, thereby improving the rigidity of the load-bearing surface component. Furthermore, the tension material is supported by the lower connecting rod section below the connecting section, thereby stabilizing the shape of the tension material.

[0019] A chair according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is a chair according to the seventh aspect, wherein the lower connecting rod portion has a third engagement recess formed therein extending along the extension direction of the lower connecting rod portion, and the upholstery material engages with the third engagement recess and is stretched over the lower connecting rod portion.

[0020] According to the eighth aspect, the upholstery material can be stretched over the lower connecting rod by engaging the upholstery material with the third engagement recess. This simplifies the work of stretching the upholstery material compared to a configuration in which the lower connecting rod is inserted through the bag portion of the upholstery material, making it easier to assemble the chair.

[0021] A chair according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is a chair according to any one of the second to eighth aspects above, wherein the load support surface component further comprises a lower connecting rod portion connecting the pair of standing portions, the lower connecting rod portion being connected to a point lower than the connection portion with the connecting portion on the standing portion, the lower connecting rod portion having a third engagement recess formed therein extending along the extension direction of the lower connecting rod portion and communicating with the second engagement recess, and the upholstery material may engage with the third engagement recess and be stretched across the lower connecting rod portion.

[0022] According to the eighth aspect, the pair of upright portions are connected at two locations, above and below, by the connecting portion and the lower connecting rod, thereby improving the rigidity of the load support surface component. Furthermore, the upholstery material is supported by the lower connecting rod below the connecting portion, thereby stabilizing the shape of the upholstery material. Moreover, the upholstery material can be stretched over the lower connecting rod by engaging it with the third engagement recess. This simplifies the work of stretching the upholstery material compared to a configuration in which the lower connecting rod is inserted through the bag portion of the upholstery material. Therefore, the chair can be easily assembled. Furthermore, the upholstery material can be engaged continuously from the second engagement recess to the third engagement recess. Therefore, the work of stretching the upholstery material can be further simplified. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the present invention, in a chair in which an upholstered material is stretched over a member having an integral backrest portion and armrest portions, the upholstered material can be prevented from coming into contact with objects around the chair and being damaged. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a chair 1 according to an embodiment, seen from above. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a chair 1 according to an embodiment, seen from below. [Figure 3] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 6. [Figure 4] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a load support member 9 according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a front view of a chair 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a side view of a chair 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a plan view of a chair 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 5. [Figure 10] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 5. [Figure 11]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 5. [Figure 12] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 5. [Figure 13] 10 is a rear view showing the middle portion in the left-right direction of the upper connecting rod portion 45 of the embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions will be designated by the same reference numerals. Duplicate descriptions of these components may be omitted. In the following description, directions such as front, back, up, down, left, and right will be the same as the directions of a person (seater) sitting normally in a chair. That is, the direction in which a seated person faces forward will be referred to as "forward," and the opposite direction will be referred to as "rear." Furthermore, in each drawing, the arrow UP indicates upward, the arrow FR indicates forward, and the arrow LH indicates leftward. In this embodiment, "integrally formed" means that at least a portion of all parts of a target are formed from a single member. That is, when multiple parts are integrally formed, a continuous member is provided for all of the target parts. However, a member other than the single member may be provided for some of the target parts.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair 1 according to an embodiment, seen from above. 1, a chair 1 of the embodiment includes a support structure 3, a seat 5, and a backrest 7. The chair 1 has a seating space S above the seat 5.

[0027] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chair 1 according to the embodiment, seen from below. Note that in Fig. 2 and subsequent figures, an upholstery material 70, which will be described later, may be omitted from the illustration. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support structure 3 includes legs 10 and a support base 15 .

[0028] The leg body 10 includes a multi-leg 11 and a leg post 12. Each leg of the multi-leg 11 is fitted with a caster that allows it to run on the floor. A footrest may be attached to the multi-leg 11. The leg post 12 extends upward from the center of the multi-leg 11. A gas spring, which is the lifting mechanism for the chair 1, is built into the leg post 12. The gas spring is configured such that an inner tube is supported so as to be able to move up and down and rotate relative to an outer tube (not shown) provided within the leg post 12. A support base 15 is connected to the upper end of the leg post 12 (inner tube). The support base 15 supports the seat 5 from below. A lever for operating the gas spring is attached to the support base 15.

[0029] The seat 5 supports the buttocks and thighs of the seated person. The seat 5 is indirectly supported by the support base 15 of the support structure 3 via the backrest 7. The seat 5 comprises a seat plate 20 that receives the seating load, and a cushion 23 arranged above the seat plate 20. The seat plate 20 is formed in a circular or rectangular shape in plan view so that its shape in plan view approximately matches the shape of the seat 5 in plan view. The cushion 23 is arranged along the upper surface of the seat plate 20 and is supported by the seat plate 20. The cushion 23 is arranged so as to overlap the entire seat plate 20 when viewed from above.

[0030] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 6. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 7. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the seat 5 further includes a seat plate support member 26. The seat plate support member 26 supports the seat plate 20 from below. The seat plate support member 26 is connected to the seat plate 20 so that it can be displaced in the front-to-rear direction. The seat plate support member 26 connects the seat plate 20 so that it cannot be displaced in the up-down direction or the left-to-right direction.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the backrest 7 is supported by the support structure 3. The backrest 7 has a load support surface 8 that supports the weight of a seated person and is located above the seat 5. The backrest 7 cannot tilt relative to the seat 5. The backrest 7 is formed substantially symmetrically. The backrest 7 includes a load support member 9 and an upholstery material 70.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the load support member 9 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the load support member 9 includes a seat receiving portion 30, a pair of left and right horizontal rod portions 35, a pair of left and right standing rod portions 40, an upper connecting rod portion 45, and a lower connecting rod portion 50.

[0033] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the seat support portion 30 is connected to the support structure 3 so that it cannot move up and down or left and right. The seat support portion 30 is connected to the seat 5 so that it cannot move up and down. The seat support portion 30 has a lower surface 30l that is supported by the support structure 3 and an upper surface 30u that supports the seat 5 from below. The seat support portion 30 is connected to the seat plate support member 26 of the seat 5 from below, and is interposed between the seat 5 and the support base 15, thereby indirectly connecting the seat 5 and the support base 15 to each other. The seat support portion 30 has an upper wall portion 31 that extends horizontally, and a peripheral wall portion 32 that extends downward from the upper wall portion 31. The upper wall portion 31 and the peripheral wall portion 32 are formed integrally.

[0034] The upper wall portion 31 is a portion of the seat support portion 30 that has a lower surface 30l and an upper surface 30u. The upper wall portion 31 is a plate-like shape that has a rectangular shape in a plan view, with one pair of sides extending in the front-to-rear direction and the other pair of sides extending in the left-to-right direction. The support base 15 is connected to the upper wall portion 31 from below, and the seat plate support member 26 is connected to the upper wall portion 31 from above. The support base 15 and the seat plate support member 26 are fastened to the upper wall portion 31 by a common fastening member.

[0035] The peripheral wall portion 32 extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper wall portion 31. The peripheral wall portion 32 is connected to the outer peripheral edge of the upper wall portion 31 around the entire periphery. As a result, the peripheral wall portion 32 has a pair of left and right side wall portions 32a extending along the front-rear direction, and a front wall portion and a rear wall portion extending along the left-right direction. The seat receiving portion 30 is formed in a box shape that is open downward. The support base 15 is arranged inside the seat receiving portion 30.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a front view of the chair 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pair of horizontal rod portions 35 correspond one-to-one to the pair of side wall portions 32a. The horizontal rod portions 35 are connected to the side wall portions 32a. The horizontal rod portions 35 are formed integrally with the seat support portion 30. In this embodiment, the entire horizontal rod portion 35 is formed integrally with the entire seat support portion 30. The horizontal rod portions 35 are connected to the middle portion of each side wall portion 32a in the front-to-rear direction. In other words, the horizontal rod portions 35 are connected to positions spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction from the front end and rear end of each side wall portion 32a. The horizontal rod portions 35 extend outward in the left-to-right direction from each side wall portion 32a. The horizontal rod portions 35 extend in the left-to-right direction in the space below the seat 5. It is desirable that the horizontal rod portion 35 does not contact the seat 5, but for example, in a configuration in which the seat plate 20 does not displace in the front-to-rear direction relative to the seat plate support member 26, the horizontal rod portion 35 may contact the seat 5. The outer end of the horizontal rod portion 35 is located outside the seat 5 in a plan view.

[0037] The cross section of the horizontal rod portion 35 perpendicular to the left-right direction is rectangular with the longitudinal direction extending in the front-to-rear direction. The upper surface 35u of the horizontal rod portion 35 is connected to the upper surface 30u of the seat support portion 30 via a stepped surface 32b provided on the side wall portion 32a and facing outward in the left-right direction. As a result, the upper surface 35u of the horizontal rod portion 35 extends outward in the left-right direction from a position lower than the upper surface 30u of the seat support portion 30. Note that the normal direction of the stepped surface 32b does not have to be parallel to the left-right direction, as long as the normal vector of the stepped surface includes a component pointing outward in the left-right direction.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a side view of the chair 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the pair of standing rods 40 correspond one-to-one to the pair of horizontal rods 35. The standing rods 40 are connected to the horizontal rods 35. The standing rods 40 are formed integrally with the horizontal rods 35. In this embodiment, the standing rods 40 are formed integrally with the entire horizontal rods 35. The standing rods 40 have a length in the vertical direction. The standing rods 40 have lower ends connected to the outer left-right ends of each horizontal rod 35. The standing rods 40 extend upward from their lower ends in the space outside the left-right direction of the seat 5 in a front view. The load support member 9 is smoothly bent at the connection between the horizontal rods 35 and the standing rods 40 so that the outer surface is continuous. The standing rods 40 cross the seat 5 in a side view from the left-right direction. The upper end of the standing rod portion 40 is within the range in which the seat receiving portion 30 is formed in the front-rear direction.

[0039] The cross section of the standing rod portion 40 perpendicular to the up-down direction is rectangular with the longitudinal direction extending in the front-to-rear direction. The rectangular cross section of the standing rod portion 40 improves rigidity against loads from vertically above. The standing rod portion 40 has a front surface 40f facing forward and an inner surface 40i facing the seating space S. For example, the front surface 40f is defined by an area of ​​the outer surface of the standing rod portion 40 that is visible from the front. The front surface 40f extends over the entire length of the standing rod portion 40. The inner surface 40i extends over the entire length of the standing rod portion 40. The inner surface 40i is continuous with the upper surface 35u of the horizontal rod portion 35.

[0040] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the chair 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in Figures 5 and 8, the upper connecting rod 45 connects the upper ends of the pair of upright rods 40. The upper connecting rod 45 is formed integrally with the upright rod 40. In a plan view, the upper connecting rod 45 is formed in a U-shape that opens forward and is curved so as to convex rearward. The upper connecting rod 45 is arranged to surround the seating space S from both the left and right sides and the rear. In a side view seen from the left and right direction, the upper connecting rod 45 extends upward and rearward from the front end of the upper connecting rod 45 (see Figure 7). The load support member 9 is smoothly bent so that the outer surface is continuous at the connection between the upright rod 40 and the upper connecting rod 45. The upper connecting rod 45 includes a pair of left and right armrests 46, a backrest 47, and an extension 48.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5 , the pair of armrests 46 correspond one-to-one to the pair of upright rods 40. The armrests 46 have a length in the front-to-rear direction. The armrests 46 have front ends connected to the upper ends of the upright rods 40. The front ends of the pair of armrests 46 are the front ends of both the left and right sides of the upper connecting rods 45. The armrests 46 extend rearward from their front ends in a plan view. The cross section of the armrests 46 perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is a rectangle with one pair of sides extending in the up-down direction and the other pair of sides extending in the left-to-right direction. The upper corners 46a, which are outermost in the left-to-right direction, of the armrests 46 are located at the outermost left-to-right position of the armrests 46 in any position in the front-to-rear direction.

[0042] The backrest 47 is connected to the pair of armrests 46. The backrest 47 is formed integrally with the pair of armrests 46. The backrest 47 extends between the rear ends of the pair of armrests 46. The backrest 47 extends outward in the left-right direction from a left-right intermediate portion of the upper connecting rod 45 and is connected to the rear ends of the pair of armrests 46. The backrest 47 only needs to have a region that includes the left-right intermediate portion of the upper connecting rod 45 and extends along the left-right direction, and the boundary between the armrests 46 and the backrest 47 does not need to be uniquely identified. However, for example, if the upper connecting rod has a clearly bent portion in a planar view, the bent portion may be defined as the boundary between the armrests and the backrest.

[0043] The cross section of the backrest 47 perpendicular to the left-right direction has a rectangular shape with one pair of sides extending vertically and the other pair of sides extending upward and rearward. The upper and rear corner 47a of the backrest 47 is located at the rearmost position of the backrest 47 regardless of the position of the backrest 47 in the front-to-rear direction. The upper and rear corner 47a in the middle of the backrest 47 in the left-to-right direction is the upper rear end of the upper connecting rod 45. The upper and rear corner 47a of the backrest 47 is continuous with the upper and outer corner 46a of the armrest 46 in the left-to-right direction. In other words, the upper and outer corner 45a of the upper connecting rod 45 in the horizontal direction is the edge located at the horizontally outermost position of the upper connecting rod 45. In this embodiment, the horizontally outer and upper corner 45a of the upper connecting rod portion 45 is located at the outermost position of the seat 5 and the load support member 9 in the horizontal direction.

[0044] The extension portion 48 extends downward from a middle portion in the left-right direction of the backrest portion 47. The entire extension portion 48 is formed integrally with the backrest portion 47. The extension portion 48 extends in the left-right direction along the backrest portion 47.

[0045] The upper connecting rod portion 45 has an upper surface 45u facing upward and an inner surface 45i facing the seating space S. For example, the upper surface 45u is defined by a region of the outer surface of the upper connecting rod portion 45 that is visible from above. The upper surface 45u is provided over the entire length of the upper connecting rod portion 45. That is, the upper surface 45u is provided continuously from the front ends of the pair of armrests 46 to the backrest portion 47. The upper surface 45u is continuous with the front surface 40f of the upright rod portion 40. In this embodiment, the upper surface 45u is a flat surface that is continuous over the entire length except for the rounded portions on both side edges. The upper surface 45u faces forward and upward. That is, the upper surface 45u faces upward and forward when viewed from the left and right (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Note that the upper surface 45u may also face upward when viewed from the left and right. The portions of the upper surface 45u formed on the armrests 46 are armrest surfaces on which the seated occupant rests their arms (including elbows). The armrest surface of this embodiment can support the arm of the seated occupant from the forearm to the elbow. However, it is sufficient that the armrest surface can support at least the forearm or elbow of the seated occupant. The armrest surface may face upward and inward in the left-right direction when viewed from the front-to-back direction, or upward and outward in the left-to-right direction.

[0046] The inner surface 45i is a concave curved surface that extends in a U-shape in plan view, corresponding to the shape of the upper connecting rod 45 in plan view. The inner surface 45i is provided over the entire length of the upper connecting rod 45. That is, the inner surface 45i is provided continuously from the front ends of the pair of armrests 46 to the backrest 47. The inner surface 45i is continuous with the inner surface 40i of the standing rod 40. Furthermore, the inner surface 45i is provided continuously from the backrest 47 to the extension 48. The portions of the inner surface 45i formed on the armrests 46 face inward in the left-right direction when viewed from above (see FIG. 8). The portions of the inner surface 45i formed on the backrest 47 and the extension 48 face forward when viewed from above (see FIG. 8). The region of the inner surface 45i that is located in the range in which the extension portion 48 is formed in the left-right direction extends downward and forward (see FIG. 9).

[0047] The lower connecting rod 50 connects a pair of standing rods 40 together. The lower connecting rod 50 is located below the upper connecting rod 45. The lower connecting rod 50 is connected to a point on the standing rod 40 below the connection point with the upper connecting rod 45. In other words, the lower connecting rod 50 is connected to the vertical middle of the standing rod 40. The lower connecting rod 50 is formed integrally with the standing rod 40. The lower connecting rod 50 is located above the seat 5 and has a vertical gap with respect to the seat 5 in front view (see FIG. 6). The lower connecting rod 50 is formed in a U-shape that opens forward in plan view and is curved so as to convex backward. The lower connecting rod 50 is located to surround the seating space S from both the left and right sides and the rear. The lower connecting rod portion 50 extends rearward from its front end in a side view from the left-right direction. The left-right middle portion of the lower connecting rod portion 50 is located forward of the left-right middle portion of the upper connecting rod portion 45.

[0048] In this embodiment, substantially the entire load support member 9 is formed from a single member, so that the seat receiving portion 30, the pair of horizontal rod portions 35, the pair of upright rod portions 40, and the upper connecting rod portion 45 are integrally formed.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the lower connecting rod portion 50 has a lower surface 50l facing downward and an inner surface 50i facing the seating space S. For example, the lower surface 50l is defined by a region of the outer surface of the lower connecting rod portion 50 that is visible from below. The lower surface 50l is provided over the entire length of the lower connecting rod portion 50. The inner surface 50i is a concave curved surface that extends in a U-shape in plan view, corresponding to the shape of the lower connecting rod portion 50 in plan view. The inner surface 50i is provided over the entire length of the lower connecting rod portion 50. The inner surface 50i is continuous with the inner surface 40i of the upright rod portion 40.

[0050] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Fig. 5. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in Fig. 5. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in Fig. 5. 5 and 9 to 12, the load support member 9 is formed with an engagement recess 60 into which the upholstery material 70 engages. The engagement recess 60 comprises an upper engagement recess 61 formed in the upper connecting rod portion 45, a pair of left and right side engagement recesses 62 formed in each upright rod portion 40, and a lower engagement recess 63 formed in the lower connecting rod portion 50. The engagement recess 60 extends continuously in an annular shape.

[0051] As shown in Figures 5, 9, and 10, the upper engagement recess 61 is formed in the upper connecting rod portion 45. The upper engagement recess 61 opens to the upper surface 45u of the upper connecting rod portion 45. The upper engagement recess 61 opens to the edge of the upper surface 45u on the seating space S side. The upper engagement recess 61 extends along the extension direction of the upper connecting rod portion 45. The upper engagement recess 61 is provided continuously over the entire length of the upper connecting rod portion 45. The upper engagement recess 61 includes a pair of left and right armrest engagement recesses 61a located in the armrest portion 46 and a backrest engagement recess 61b located in the backrest portion 47. The armrest engagement recess 61a and the backrest engagement recess 61b are directly connected to each other.

[0052] As shown in Figures 5 and 11, the side engagement recesses 62 are formed in each standing rod portion 40. The side engagement recesses 62 open to the front surface 40f of the standing rod portion 40. The side engagement recesses 62 extend in the extension direction of the standing rod portion 40. The side engagement recesses 62 extend along the edge of the front surface 40f on the seating space S side. The upper end of the side engagement recesses 62 is connected to the end of the upper engagement recess 61. As a result, the side engagement recesses 62 are directly connected to the upper engagement recess 61. The lower end of the side engagement recesses 62 opens continuously from the front to the downward direction.

[0053] As shown in Figures 5 and 12, the lower engagement recess 63 is formed in the lower connecting rod part 50. The lower engagement recess 63 opens to the lower surface 50l of the lower connecting rod part 50. The lower engagement recess 63 extends in the extension direction of the lower connecting rod part 50. The lower engagement recess 63 extends along the edge of the lower surface 50l on the seating space S side. The lower engagement recess 63 is provided continuously over the entire length of the lower connecting rod part 50. An end of the lower engagement recess 63 is connected to the lower end of the side engagement recess 62. As a result, the lower engagement recess 63 is directly connected to the side engagement recess 62.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 , the load support member 9 has a communication recess 65 that connects the engagement recess 60 and the seating space S. The communication recess 65 is adjacent to the engagement recess 60 from the seating space S side. The communication recess 65 is formed so as to step down together with the engagement recess 60 from the surface of the load support member 9 where the engagement recess 60 opens. The communication recess 65 extends along the entire length of the engagement recess 60. The communication recess 65 opens from the surface of the load support member 9 where the engagement recess 60 opens to the inner surface facing the seating space S. For example, the portion of the communication recess 65 adjacent to the upper engagement recess 61 opens from the upper surface 45u of the upper connecting rod portion 45 to the inner surface 45i and steps down downward from the upper surface 45u. As a result, the open end of the engagement recess 60 opens to the seating space S side through the communication recess 65. The communication recess 65 is formed shallower than the engagement recess 60 when the plane of the load support member 9 where the engagement recess 60 opens is used as the reference.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 , the upholstery material 70 is stretched over the load support member 9 to form a load support surface 8. The upholstery material 70 is stretched over the load support member 9 so that the load support surface 8 faces the torso of the seated occupant from the horizontal outer side. The upholstery material 70 is stretched over the upper connecting rod 45, the pair of upright rods 40, and the lower connecting rod 50. The upholstery material 70 includes a sheet body 71 and a hem material. The sheet body 71 is formed from a sheet material such as mesh fabric, knit fabric, or cloth. The sheet body 71 is formed by cutting the sheet material into a desired shape. In this embodiment, the sheet body 71 is formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the shape of the frame-like portion of the load support member 9 consisting of the upper connecting rod 45, the pair of upright rods 40, and the lower connecting rod 50.

[0056] An edge material is bonded to the edge of the sheet body 71. The edge material forms the edge of the upholstery material 70. For example, the edge material is provided around almost the entire periphery of the edge of the upholstery material 70. The edge material is made of a material that is more rigid than the sheet body 71. The upholstery material 70 engages with the engagement recess 60 by inserting the edge material into the engagement recess 60 (see Figures 9 to 12). The edge material is provided on the upper edge 72, left and right side edges 73, and lower edge 74 of the upholstery material 70. The upper edge 72 of the upholstery material 70 engages with the upper engagement recess 61. The left and right side edges 73 of the upholstery material 70 engage with the side engagement recess 62. The lower edge 74 of the upholstery material 70 engages with the lower engagement recess 63. The outer peripheral edge of the upholstery material 70 is inserted into the engagement recess 60 around the entire periphery.

[0057] The sheet body 71 is pulled out from the engagement recess 60 through the communicating recess 65 toward the seating space S. The upholstery material 70 is positioned so that, when the sheet body 71 passes through the communicating recess 65, it does not protrude from the surface of the load support member 9 where the engagement recess 60 opens. When the sheet body 71 is pulled out from the engagement recess 60 toward the seating space S, the sheet body 71 is positioned so as not to cover the horizontally outer and upper corners 45a of the upper connecting rod 45. The upholstery material 70 exposes the majority of the entire length of the upper surface 45u of the upper connecting rod 45 so as to expose the outer edge of the upper surface 45u in a planar view. In this embodiment, the upholstery material 70 exposes the entire portion of the upper surface 45u of the upper connecting rod 45 that is outward in a planar view (opposite the seating space S) from the width center at all positions in the extension direction of the upper connecting rod 45. The seat body 71 covers the inner surface 45i of the upper connecting rod 45, the inner surfaces 40i of the pair of standing rods 40, and the inner surface 50i of the lower connecting rod 50 from the seating space S side. The seat body 71 closes the inner space of the frame body formed by the upper connecting rod 45, the pair of standing rods 40, and the lower connecting rod 50 from the seating space S side.

[0058] Here, the portion of the load support member 9 where the tension material 70 is tensioned is referred to as the tensioning portion 80. In this embodiment, the tensioning portion 80 is a frame-shaped portion consisting of the upper connecting rod portion 45, the pair of upright rod portions 40, and the lower connecting rod portion 50. The inner region 80a and the outer region 80b in the cross section of the tensioning portion 80 are defined as follows: The inner region 80a is the region that includes the end portion on the horizontal side of the seating space S. The outer region 80b is the region that includes the end portion on the opposite side of the seating space S in the horizontal direction.

[0059] FIG. 13 is a rear view showing the middle part in the left-right direction of the upper connecting rod part 45 of the embodiment. 9 and 13, the tensioning portion 80 includes an inner protrusion 81 provided in the inner region 80a and a handle portion 82 provided in the outer region 80b. The formation areas of the inner protrusion 81 and the handle portion 82 overlap with each other in the extension direction of the tensioning portion 80. However, the formation areas of the inner protrusion 81 and the handle portion 82 do not have to coincide with each other, and the formation area of ​​one of the inner protrusion 81 and the handle portion 82 may be wider than the formation area of ​​the other.

[0060] The inward protruding portion 81 protrudes further inward than the outer region 80b in the cross section of the tensioned portion 80. The inward protruding portion 81 is located on the opposite side of the seating space S across the load support surface 8 of the tensioned material 70, and extends along the back surface of the seat body 71.

[0061] The handle portion 82 is provided on the opposite side of the upholstery material 70, with the inward protruding portion 81 in between. The handle portion 82 has a convex shape in the cross section of the stretched portion 80 so that the user can hook their fingers around it. The handle portion 82 protrudes inward of the stretched portion 80 in the cross section of the stretched portion 80. The handle portion 82 is spaced apart from the inward protruding portion 81 in a direction away from the sheet body 71. As a result, a recessed portion 83 that opens inward is formed in the stretched portion 80. The recessed portion 83 receives the fingertips of fingers hooked on the handle portion 82.

[0062] In this embodiment, the inner protrusion 81 is the extension 48. That is, in this embodiment, the inner protrusion 81 and the handhold 82 are provided on the upper connecting rod 45. The inner protrusion 81 protrudes downward from the front of the backrest 47. The handhold 82 protrudes downward from the rear of the backrest 47. The handhold 82 extends in the left-right direction along the backrest 47. Because the inner protrusion 81 and the handhold 82 protrude downward from the backrest 47, they are convex when viewed from the front-to-back direction. The recess 83 opens on the underside of the upper connecting rod 45. Note that the handhold 82 does not have to protrude downward from the backrest 47, and may be formed on the backrest itself. For example, a recess may be formed on the underside of the backrest at a position behind the extension 48, and the rear wall of the recess in the backrest may be made convex, thereby allowing the convex portion to serve as a handhold. Alternatively, a rear and lower corner of the backrest may be used as a handhold without providing a recess behind the extension 48.

[0063] As described above, in the chair of this embodiment, the backrest 7 includes a pair of left and right standing rods 40 that rise up and pass outside the seat 5, a backrest 47, and a pair of left and right armrests 46 that face upward and have armrest surfaces on which a seated occupant places their arms. The backrest 7 also includes upper connecting rods 45 that are integral with the pair of standing rods 40, and an upholstery material 70 that forms the load support surface 8 and is stretched over the upper connecting rods 45 with at least the outer portions of the armrest surfaces exposed in a plan view. With this configuration, the outer portions of the armrest surfaces in a plan view are exposed from the upholstery material 70, so that when the armrests 46 come into contact with an object around the chair 1, for example when the chair 1 is moving on the floor, the upholstery material 70 is prevented from being pinched between the object and the armrests 46. This prevents damage to the upholstery material 70 and improves the durability of the chair 1.

[0064] An upper engagement recess 61 is formed in the upper connecting rod 45, extending in the extension direction of the upper connecting rod 45. The upholstery material 70 engages with the upper engagement recess 61. With this configuration, the upholstery material 70 can be stretched over the upper connecting rod 45 by engaging the upholstery material 70 with the upper engagement recess 61. This simplifies the work of stretching the upholstery material 70 compared to a configuration in which the upper connecting rod is inserted through a bag portion of the upholstery material. This makes it easy to assemble the chair 1.

[0065] The standing rod 40 is formed with a side engagement recess 62 that extends in the extension direction of the standing rod 40. The upholstery material 70 engages with the side engagement recess 62 and is stretched over the standing rod 40. With this configuration, the upholstery material 70 can be stretched over the standing rod 40 by engaging the upholstery material 70 with the side engagement recess 62. This simplifies the work of stretching the upholstery material 70 compared to a configuration in which the standing rod is inserted into a bag portion of the upholstery material. This makes it easier to assemble the chair 1.

[0066] The upper engagement recess 61 and the side engagement recess 62 are in communication with each other. With this configuration, the upholstery material 70 can be continuously engaged from the upper engagement recess 61 to the side engagement recess 62. This further simplifies the work of tensioning the upholstery material 70.

[0067] The upper engagement recess 61 opens to the inner edge of the armrest surface in plan view. With this configuration, the outer portion of the armrest surface in plan view can be exposed from the upholstery material 70. Therefore, the chair 1 exhibits the above-mentioned effects.

[0068] The backrest 7 further includes a lower connecting rod 50 that connects the pair of upright rods 40 together. The lower connecting rod 50 is connected to the upright rods 40 at a location lower than the connection with the upper connecting rod 45, and supports the lower edge 74 of the upholstery material 70. With this configuration, the pair of upright rods 40 are connected at two locations, above and below, by the upper connecting rod 45 and the lower connecting rod 50, thereby improving the rigidity of the backrest 7. Furthermore, because the upholstery material 70 is supported by the lower connecting rod 50 at a position below the upper connecting rod 45, the shape of the upholstery material 70 can be stabilized.

[0069] The lower connecting rod 50 is formed with a lower engagement recess 63 that extends in the extension direction of the lower connecting rod 50. The upholstery material 70 may be engaged with the lower engagement recess 63 and stretched over the lower connecting rod 50. With this configuration, the upholstery material 70 can be stretched over the lower connecting rod 50 by engaging the upholstery material 70 with the lower engagement recess 63. This simplifies the work of stretching the upholstery material 70 compared to a configuration in which the lower connecting rod is inserted through a pouch portion of the upholstery material. This makes it easier to assemble the chair 1.

[0070] The lower engagement recess 63 communicates with the side engagement recess 62. With this configuration, the upholstery material 70 can be continuously engaged from the side engagement recess 62 to the lower engagement recess 63. This further simplifies the work of tensioning the upholstery material 70.

[0071] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment explained with reference to the drawings, and various modifications are possible within the technical scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the edge of the upholstery material 70 engages with the engaging recess 60 of the load support member 9, thereby tensioning the upholstery material 70 to the load support member 9, but this configuration is not limiting. For example, a bag portion through which the rod of the load support member is inserted may be formed on the edge of the upholstery material.

[0072] For example, in the above embodiment, the shape-retaining member of the backrest 7 that holds the upholstery material is formed by integrating the standing rod portion 40 as the standing portion and the upper connecting rod portion 45 as the connecting portion, but the shape-retaining member of the backrest may also be formed by a plate-like body that is U-shaped in plan view and in which the standing portion and the connecting portion are integrated.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the open end of the engagement recess 60 is open to the seating space S through the communication recess 65, but this configuration is not limited thereto. That is, the load support member does not need to have a communication recess, and the engagement recess does not need to be open to the seating space S. Furthermore, the upholstery material 70 is arranged so that it does not protrude beyond the surface of the load support member 9 where the engagement recess 60 opens, as the sheet body 71 passes through the communication recess 65. However, if the load support member 9 does not have a communication recess 65, the upholstery material 70 may be arranged so that it protrudes beyond the surface where the engagement recess 60 opens. Even in this case, it is desirable that the upholstery material not protrude outward in the direction in which the load support surface widens in the cross section of the tensioned portion. For example, in the backrest portion 47, it is desirable that the upholstery material not protrude above the corners 47a.

[0074] In addition, the components in the above-described embodiments can be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1. Chair 3...Support structure 5…za 7...Backrest (load-bearing surface component) 8...Load supporting surface 40…Erection rod part (erecting part) 45...Upper connecting rod part (connecting part) 46...Armrest 47...Backrest 50...Lower connecting rod part 61...Upper engagement recess (first engagement recess) 62...Side engaging recess (second engaging recess) 63...Lower engagement recess (third engagement recess) 70… Zhang Cai 74…Xiaguibe

Claims

1. a support structure; a seat supported by the support structure; a load support surface component supported by the support structure and having a load support surface above the seat that supports the weight of a seated person; Equipped with The load bearing surface component is A pair of left and right standing portions that stand upright and pass through the outside of the seat; a connecting portion that is integral with the pair of standing portions and has a backrest portion and a pair of left and right armrest portions that face upward and have armrest surfaces on which the seated person places their arms; a tension material that is stretched over the connecting portion and forms the load support surface while exposing at least an outer portion of the armrest surface in a plan view; having chair.

2. the pair of upright portions and the connecting portion are rod-shaped members, The connecting portion connects the upper end portions of the pair of standing portions to each other. The chair of claim 1.

3. a first engagement recess portion extending along an extension direction of the connecting portion is formed in the connecting portion; The upholstery material is engaged with the first engagement recess.

3. The chair of claim 2.

4. a second engagement recess portion extending along an extension direction of the upright portion is formed in the upright portion; The tension material is engaged with the second engagement recess and tensioned to the upright portion.

4. The chair of claim 3.

5. The first engagement recess and the second engagement recess are in communication with each other.

5. The chair of claim 4.

6. The first engagement recess is open to an inner edge portion of the armrest surface in a plan view.

4. The chair of claim 3.

7. The load support surface component further includes a lower connecting rod portion connecting the pair of upright portions to each other, The lower connecting rod portion is connected to the upright portion at a location lower than the connection portion with the connecting portion, and supports the lower edge portion of the upholstery material. A chair according to any one of claims 2 to 6.

8. The lower connecting rod portion is formed with a third engagement recess portion extending along the extending direction of the lower connecting rod portion, The tension material engages with the third engagement recess and is tensioned on the lower connecting rod portion.

8. The chair of claim 7.

9. The load support surface component further includes a lower connecting rod portion connecting the pair of upright portions to each other, the lower connecting rod portion is connected to the upright portion at a position lower than the connection portion with the connecting portion, a third engagement recess formed in the lower connecting rod portion, the third engagement recess extending in the extending direction of the lower connecting rod portion and communicating with the second engagement recess; The tension material engages with the third engagement recess and is tensioned on the lower connecting rod portion.

6. The chair according to claim 4 or claim 5.

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