Chairs and seat pads

Abstract

At the very least, the present invention provides a chair or the like equipped with a seat pad that can be easily attached to and detached from the seat and contribute to the comfortable seating experience of the occupant. [Solution] A chair equipped with a seat pad P that can be attached to or removed from the seat 5, wherein the seat pad P comprises a seat pad body Q having a seating surface pm on its upper surface, and an outer fitting part G provided only on the front part of the seat pad body Q and fitted onto the front part 5f of the seat 5 from the front, and the seat pad body Q comprises a core material D which is plate-shaped and arranged along the upper surface of the seat 5, a cushioning material E arranged on the core material D, and an outer covering material F which covers the core material D and the cushioning material E.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a chair and a seat pad attached to the chair.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various chairs having a seat portion and a backrest portion formed of synthetic resin have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this type of chair, the seat may feel too hard for some seated persons, and may not necessarily provide a comfortable sitting feeling.

[0004] As a measure for solving such a problem, conventionally, placing a cushion material such as a seat cushion on the seat has been cited.

[0005] However, since the conventional cushion material such as a seat cushion is likely to slide on the smoothly formed seat surface, it has made the sitting posture of the seated person unstable.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and at least provides a chair provided with a seat pad that can be easily attached to and detached from the seat portion and can contribute to a comfortable sitting feeling of the seated person, and a seat pad that can be easily attached to and detached from the chair.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In other words, the present invention has the following configuration.

[0009] The invention described in claim 1 is a chair equipped with a seat pad that is detachable from the seat, wherein the seat pad comprises a seat pad body having a seating surface on its upper surface, and an outer fitting portion provided only on the front part of the seat pad body and fitted onto the front part of the seat from the front, and the seat pad body comprises a core material that is plate-shaped and arranged along the upper surface of the seat, a cushioning material arranged on the core material, and an outer covering material that covers the core material and the cushioning material.

[0010] The invention described in claim 2 is the chair according to claim 1, wherein the rear part of the core material has a structure that is more flexible than the front part of the core material.

[0011] The invention described in claim 3 is the chair according to claim 1, wherein the core material and the outer fitting portion are integrally formed from synthetic resin or metal.

[0012] The invention described in claim 4 is the chair according to claim 1, wherein the outer fitting portion is configured to be detachably attached to the core material.

[0013] The invention described in claim 5 is the chair according to claim 1, wherein the outer fitting portion comprises a lower portion disposed below the seat portion, an upper portion disposed above the seat portion, and a connecting portion that integrally connects the front portions of the lower portion and the upper portion.

[0014] The invention described in claim 6 is a chair according to claim 5, wherein a movement restricting mechanism is provided between the seat and the lower part for restricting the relative movement of the lower part with respect to the seat, and the movement restricting mechanism comprises a protruding portion provided on either the seat or the lower part, and an engaging portion provided on the other that engages with the protruding portion.

[0015] The invention according to claim 7 is the chair according to claim 6, wherein the movement restricting mechanism includes a protruding portion provided on the seat portion and an engaging portion provided on the lower disposed portion with which the protruding portion engages.

[0016] The invention according to claim 8 is the chair according to claim 1, wherein the seat portion is made of synthetic resin and has a curved seating surface and is in the shape of a shell.

[0017] The invention according to claim 9 is a seat pad detachable from the seat portion of a chair, the seat pad including a seat pad body having a seating surface on the upper surface, and an externally fitted portion provided only at the front portion of the seat pad body and externally fitted from the front side to the front portion of the seat portion. The seat pad body is in a plate shape and includes a core material disposed along the upper surface of the seat portion, a cushion material disposed on the core material, and an exterior material covering the core material and the cushion material.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] As described above, according to the present invention, at least, a chair provided with a seat pad that can be easily attached to and detached from the seat portion and can contribute to a comfortable sitting feeling of the sitter, and a seat pad that can be easily attached to and detached from the chair can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] Perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Perspective view in the same embodiment. [Figure 3] Perspective view in the same embodiment. [Figure 4] Exploded perspective view in the same embodiment. [Figure 5] Perspective view seen from the back side in the same embodiment. [Figure 6] Perspective view seen from the right side in the same embodiment. [Figure 7] Perspective view seen from the bottom side in the same embodiment. [Figure 8]Exploded perspective view as seen from the bottom side in the same embodiment. [Figure 9] Perspective view as seen from the bottom side in the same embodiment. [Figure 10] Perspective view showing another embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0021] The chair includes a chair body H having a seat portion 5 and a seat pad P that is detachable from the seat portion 5.

[0022] In the chair of this embodiment, a movement restriction mechanism R for restricting the relative movement of the seat pad P with respect to the seat portion 5 is provided between the chair body H and the seat pad P.

[0023] <<Chair body H>> The chair body H includes leg bodies A and a support body B that is supported by the leg bodies A and contacts the seated person to support the seated person.

[0024] <Leg body A> The leg body A is composed of left and right front legs 1 and left and right rear legs 2. The leg body A is configured not to have casters at its lower end.

[0025] Between the leg body A and the support body B, they are connected using screws not shown in the figure.

[0026] [[ID=​​​​​The support body B has a shell-like shape overall. The support body B has a continuous cup-like shape formed by the seat portion 5, the backrest portion 8, and the left and right side wall portions S. The support body B is a one-piece molded product made of synthetic resin.

[0028] <Seat 5> The seat portion 5 has a seating surface 5m that does not have any localized uneven areas. The seat portion 5 has a seating surface 5m that is smoothly curved so as a whole that it is convex downwards. The seat portion 5 is a so-called shell shape. In this embodiment, the seat portion 5 is not provided with any through holes that penetrate in the vertical direction or recesses that are recessed downwards.

[0029] The seat portion 5 has an upper surface that serves as the seating surface 5m. The seat portion 5 has a curved shape such that the left-right central portion 51 in the front-to-back central portion is convex downwards.

[0030] The seat portion 5 is shaped to smoothly connect with the backrest portion 8 at the rear and smoothly connect with the left and right side walls S on both sides. In other words, in order to smoothly connect with the backrest portion 8, the seat portion 5 is shaped so that in a side view, the rear portion is gradually positioned upward toward the rear, and in order to smoothly connect with the left and right side walls S, the left and right sides are shaped so that in a front view, the left and right sides are gradually positioned upward toward the outward.

[0031] The front portion 5f of the seat 5 is rounded in a partially arc shape when viewed from above. The front portion 5f of the seat 5 has a curved shape that is positioned gradually downward toward the front.

[0032] The seat portion 5 has a handle portion 6 projecting downward from its front edge for the user to place their fingers on. The handle portion 6 projects diagonally downward and backward.

[0033] The handle portion 6 of the seat is provided continuously and without interruption along the entire front edge of the seat portion 5.

[0034] The handle portion 6 of the seat, which is projected from the front edge of the seat portion 5, is positioned to protrude from the seat portion 5 at an angle to the rear of the vertical direction.

[0035] Furthermore, the leg body A is positioned at a distance inward from the seat handle 6, which is connected to the front edge of the seat 5, and from the side edge of the seat 5. This ensures that it does not interfere with the user's grip on the seat handle 6.

[0036] A nut holder 7, which holds a nut (not shown) for connecting to the leg body A, is provided protruding from the underside of the seat portion 5.

[0037] <Backrest section 8> The backrest portion 8 has a backrest surface 8m at its front. The backrest portion 8 has a curved shape in which the central part in the left-right direction protrudes backward.

[0038] An upper handle U is provided projecting backward from the upper edge 8j of the backrest portion 8 for the user to rest their fingers on. The upper handle U is continuous with the upper edges Sj of the left and right side walls S.

[0039] <Left and right side wall sections S> The left and right side walls S are positioned on both sides of the seated person. The left and right side walls S are positioned so as they gradually move outward toward the top. The lower ends of the left and right side walls S are continuous with the seat 5, the rear ends of the left and right side walls S are continuous with the backrest 8, and the upper ends of the left and right side walls S are continuous with the upper handrails U.

[0040] The left and right side walls S have no front edges Se provided with handles.

[0041] The upper surfaces of the upper hand grips U, which are provided on the left and right side walls S, are designed to function as elbow rests.

[0042] <Upper handle part U> The upper handle U is for the user to grip with their fingers to move the entire chair. The upper handle U is located at the upper end of the support B.

[0043] The upper handgrip U protrudes outward from the upper edge 8j of the backrest 8 and the upper edges Sj of the left and right side walls S, which are provided to be smooth and continuous.

[0044] <<Seat pad P>> The seat pad P comprises a seat pad body Q having a seating surface pm on its upper surface, and an outer fitting part G provided only on the front part of the seat pad body Q that fits from the front onto the front part 5f of the seat portion 5 which constitutes the support B.

[0045] <Seat pad body Q> The seat pad body Q, in plan view, has a shape that approximates a bell overall. The seat pad body Q is set to a thickness of 2 to 5 cm. The seat pad body Q has a front edge portion t1 that extends in the left-right direction, a rear edge portion t2 that extends in the left-right direction and curves to form a convex shape towards the rear, and left and right side edge portions t3 that connect the front edge portion t1 and the rear edge portion t2.

[0046] The lateral dimension of the front edge portion t1 is set to be longer than the lateral dimension of the rear edge portion t2.

[0047] The seat pad body Q comprises a core material D which is in the shape of a plate and is arranged along the upper surface of the seat portion 5, i.e., the seating surface 5m, a cushioning material E which is placed on top of the core material D, and an outer covering material F which covers the core material D and the cushioning material E.

[0048] [Core material D] The core material D plays a key role in maintaining the overall shape of the seat pad body Q. In this embodiment, the core material D is made of synthetic resin. The core material D and the outer fitting part G, which will be described later, are integrally formed from synthetic resin.

[0049] The rear core material portion d2, which is the rear part of core material D, has a more flexible structure than the front core material portion d1, which is the front part of core material D.

[0050] The front core material portion d1 is a continuous plate-like shape that is elongated in the left-right direction. External fitting portions G are integrally provided on the left and right sides of the front of the front core material portion d1. The front edge of the front core material portion d1 extends in the left-right direction so as to follow the front edge of the seat portion 5.

[0051] The rear core material section d2 comprises a central extension portion d21 that protrudes rearward from the middle of the front core material section d1 in the left-right direction and is arranged to form a longitudinal length in the front-rear direction, and left and right extension portions d22 and d23 that protrude from the central extension portion d21 in a rib-like manner in the left-right direction.

[0052] The central extension portion d21 is a plate-like structure with its shorter side in the left-right direction and its longer side in the front-back direction. The central extension portion d21 is cantilevered outwards from the front core material portion d1 toward the rear. The lower surface of the central extension portion d21 is positioned along the seating surface 5m of the seat portion 5 via the exterior material F.

[0053] The left and right extended portions d22 and d23 are plate-like structures with a shorter side in the front-to-back direction and a longer side in the left-to-right direction. The left and right extended portions d22 and d23 are projected outward from the central extended portion d21 at a constant distance in the front-to-back direction.

[0054] The left extension portion d22 is provided with multiple projections, specifically three, in the left-right diagonal rearward direction, at a constant distance from the central extension portion d21 in the front-rear direction.

[0055] The right-hand extension portion d23 is provided with multiple projections, specifically three, extending diagonally backward to the right from the central extension portion d21 at regular intervals in the front-rear direction.

[0056] The left and right extensions d22 and d23 are cantilevered outwards from the central extension d21. The lower surfaces of the left and right extensions d22 and d23 are positioned along the seating surface 5m of the seat via the exterior material F.

[0057] The rear core material portion d2 of core material D has a central extension portion d21 and left and right extension portions d22 and d23, respectively, which are more flexible in the thickness direction compared to the front core material portion d1. Therefore, the rear core material portion d2 conforms appropriately to the seating surface 5m in the left-right central part of the curved seat portion 5.

[0058] [Cushioning material E] Cushioning material E is made of foam material. Cushioning material E is bonded to the upper surface of core material D by an appropriate method.

[0059] [Exterior material F] The exterior material F is made of fabric. The exterior material F is bag-shaped with an openable / closable rear end. The lower part f2 of the exterior material F, located on the underside of the seat pad body Q, is in contact with the upper surface of the seat 5. The lower part f2 of the exterior material F is made of a material or structure that is less slippery to the seat 5 compared to the upper part f1 located on the seating surface pm side.

[0060] On the rear side of the exterior material F, a fastener fa is provided between the upper mounting section f1 and the lower mounting section f2, which allows for the opening and closing of a storage space in which the cushioning material E and core material D are housed.

[0061] Holes f21 are provided on the left and right sides of the lower mounting portion f2 of the exterior material F, allowing a part of the outer fitting portion G to be mounted outward through these left and right holes f21.

[0062] <Outer fitting part G> The outer fitting portion G has a U-shape in side view that allows it to be fitted onto the front end of the seat portion 5. The outer fitting portion G is made of synthetic resin. In this embodiment, the outer fitting portion G and the core material D are integrally formed from synthetic resin.

[0063] The outer fitting part G comprises a lower part g1 that is positioned below the seat 5 when attached to the seat 5, an upper part g2 that is positioned above the seat 5 when attached to the seat 5, and a connecting part g3 that integrally connects the front parts of the lower part g1 and the upper part g2 in the vertical direction.

[0064] The lower mounting portion g1 is shaped to conform to the shape of the lower surface of the front portion 5f of the seat portion 5. The lower mounting portion g1 is provided with an engaging portion r2 that constitutes the movement restricting mechanism R. In this embodiment, the engaging portion r2 is a rectangular hole that penetrates in the vertical direction.

[0065] The upper mounting portion g2 is mounted on the upper surface of the front portion 5f of the seat portion 5. The upper mounting portion g2 is integrated with the core material D.

[0066] The connecting portion g3 connects the upper portion g2 and the lower portion g1. The connecting portion g3 is roughly C-shaped. When the outer fitting portion G is attached to the front portion 5f of the seat portion 5, the connecting portion g3 is located on the front downward-facing end face of the front portion 5f of the seat portion 5.

[0067] Furthermore, a recess g4 is provided between the connecting portion g3 and the lower mounting portion g1 to avoid the handle portion 6 of the seat, which is located on the front edge of the seat portion 5.

[0068] The outer fitting part G is configured to sandwich the front part 5f of the seat part 5 in the vertical direction between the upper part g2 and the lower part g1.

[0069] The lower portion g1 of the outer fitting G is positioned in an unloaded state with a dimension shorter than the thickness dimension of the front portion 5f of the seat 5, relative to the upper portion g2 which is integrated with the core material D.

[0070] The attachment of the outer fitting part G to the front portion 5f of the seat portion 5 is performed by the user pressing the seat portion 5, which causes the lower portion g1 to move downward against the biasing force that tries to return it to its original position, thereby positioning it below the seat portion 5. After being attached to the seat portion 5, the outer fitting part G is constantly biased in the direction of the upper portion g2 by the lower portion g1, resulting in a tight fit with the seat portion 5.

[0071] <<Movement control mechanism R>> The movement restricting mechanism R is provided between the seat portion 5 and the lower portion g1 of the outer fitting G. The movement restricting mechanism R restricts, at least, the relative movement of the lower portion g1 with respect to the seat portion 5.

[0072] The movement restriction mechanism R comprises a protruding portion r1 provided on the seat portion 5 and an engaging portion r2 provided on the lower portion g1 of the outer fitting portion G.

[0073] The movement restriction mechanism R is designed so that the seat pad P is less likely to shift or move relative to the seat 5, by engaging a protruding portion r1 provided on the lower front portion of the seat 5 with an engaging portion r2 formed on the lower portion g1 of the outer fitting G.

[0074] <Protrusion r1> The protrusions r1 are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the lower surface of the seat 5, corresponding to the left and right outer fitting portions G provided on the seat pad P. The protrusions r1 are shaped to fit into the hole-shaped engaging portions r2 provided on the outer fitting portions G of the seat pad P. In this embodiment, the protrusions r1 are formed in the shape of a rectangular block.

[0075] <Engagement part r2> The engaging portion r2 is provided on the outer fitting portion G of the seat pad P. The engaging portion r2 is a rectangular hole that penetrates in the vertical direction.

[0076] As described above, the chair according to this embodiment is equipped with a seat pad P that can be attached to the seat 5.

[0077] The seat pad P comprises a seat pad body Q having a seating surface pm on its upper surface, and an outer fitting part G provided only on the front part of the seat pad body Q that fits onto the front part 5f of the seat 5 from the front.

[0078] The seat pad body Q comprises a core material D which is plate-shaped and arranged along the upper surface of the seat portion 5, a cushioning material E which is placed on top of the core material D, and an outer covering material F which covers the core material D and the cushioning material E.

[0079] Therefore, this embodiment provides a chair equipped with a seat pad P that can be easily attached to and detached from the seat 5, and which can contribute to the comfortable seating experience of the occupant.

[0080] The rear portion of core material D has a more flexible structure than the front portion of core material D.

[0081] Therefore, the rear part of the seat pad body Q conforms appropriately to the seating surface 5m of the seat portion 5, even if the seat portion 5 is formed in a curved shape.

[0082] The core material D and the outer fitting part G are integrally formed from synthetic resin.

[0083] Therefore, this design offers not only excellent freedom in creating a suitable configuration for the outer fitting part G to be easily elastically deformable, but also a suitable configuration for handling the outer fitting part G and the seat pad body Q as a single unit.

[0084] The outer fitting part G comprises a lower part g1 disposed below the seat part 5, an upper part g2 disposed above the seat part 5, and a connecting part g3 that integrally connects the front parts of the lower part g1 and the upper part g2.

[0085] Therefore, the outer fitting part G has a suitable configuration that allows it to be fitted onto the front portion 5f of the seat part 5.

[0086] The chair is equipped with a movement restricting mechanism R between the seat 5 and the lower mounting portion g1, which restricts the relative movement of the lower mounting portion g1 with respect to the seat 5.

[0087] The movement restriction mechanism R comprises a protrusion r1 provided on the seat portion 5 and an engaging portion r2 provided on the lower portion g1 with which the protrusion r1 engages.

[0088] Therefore, the cooperation between the protruding part r1 and the engaging part r2 makes it difficult for the seat pad P to detach from the seat part 5.

[0089] The seat portion 5 is made of synthetic resin and is shell-shaped with a curved seating surface 5m.

[0090] Therefore, the seat pad P can be suitably applied to the seat portion 5.

[0091] However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above.

[0092] The outer fitting part only needs to be configured to fit onto the front portion of the seat from the front, and its specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiments described above.

[0093] The rear portion of the core material may not be designed to be more flexible than the front portion.

[0094] The core material and the outer fitting portion may be integrally formed from metal.

[0095] The outer fitting portion may be configured to be detachably attached to the core material, or it may be rotatably supported on the core material.

[0096] The seat may also be configured without a movement restriction mechanism between the seat pad and the seat.

[0097] The movement restriction mechanism only needs to include a protrusion provided on either the seat or the seat pad, and an engaging portion provided on the other that engages with the protrusion.

[0098] For example, the movement restriction mechanism may include a protrusion provided on the lower part of the outer fitting portion of the seat pad and an engaging portion provided on the lower surface of the seat.

[0099] It goes without saying that the leg structure is not limited to those shown in the embodiments described above, and various configurations can be applied.

[0100] It goes without saying that the configuration of the support can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0101] For example, as shown in Figure 10, the seat portion 5 and the backrest portion 8 are integrally connected, and an L-shaped support B without left and right side walls is supported by the leg portion A.

[0102] Furthermore, the support structure may consist only of a seat portion.

[0103] Furthermore, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0104] A...Leg body B...Support 5… Seat part 6…Handle part of the seat 8...Backrest S... Left and right side walls U... Upper handle P... Seat pad

Claims

1. A chair equipped with a removable seat pad for the seat, The aforementioned seat pad comprises a seat pad body having a seating surface on its upper surface, and an outer fitting portion provided only on the front part of the seat pad body and fitted onto the front part of the seat from the front. The chair comprises a seat pad body which is in the shape of a board and is arranged along the upper surface of the seat, a cushioning material arranged on the core material, and an outer covering material which covers the core material and the cushioning material.

2. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the rear portion of the core material has a structure that is more flexible than the front portion of the core material.

3. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the core material and the outer fitting portion are integrally formed from synthetic resin or metal.

4. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the outer fitting portion is configured to be detachably attached to the core material.

5. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the outer fitting portion comprises a lower portion disposed below the seat portion, an upper portion disposed above the seat portion, and a connecting portion that integrally connects the front portions of the lower portion and the upper portion.

6. A movement restricting mechanism is provided between the seat portion and the lower portion to restrict the relative movement of the lower portion with respect to the seat portion. The chair according to claim 5, wherein the movement restriction mechanism comprises a protruding portion provided on either the seat portion or the lower portion, and an engaging portion provided on the other portion with which the protruding portion engages.

7. The chair according to claim 6, wherein the movement restriction mechanism comprises a protrusion provided on the seat and an engaging portion provided on the lower portion with which the protrusion engages.

8. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the seat is made of synthetic resin and has a shell-like shape with a curved seating surface.

9. A seat pad that can be attached to the seat of a chair, It comprises a seat pad body having a seating surface on its upper surface, and an outer fitting part provided only on the front part of the seat pad body that fits onto the front part of the seat from the front. The seat pad comprises a core material that is plate-shaped and arranged along the upper surface of the seat, a cushioning material arranged on the core material, and an outer covering material that covers the core material and the cushioning material.

Images