Seat, and a chair including the seat

Abstract

To provide a seat that enables the force of bending an extension part to be smoothly transmitted to the extension part, so that the extension part can be stably drawn, and a chair having the seat.SOLUTION: A seat 17 comprises a seat receiver 20, an extension part 30, a seat plate 40, and a deformation inducing part 50. The extension part 30 comprises a fixing part 32, a movable part 33 and a U-shaped bent part 31. The extension part 30 extends to overhang the seat receiver 20. The seat plate 40 is linked to the fixing part 32 and supported by the seat receiver 20 above the seat receiver 20. The deformation inducing part 50 is supported by the seat receiver 20 or seat plate 40, linked to the movable part 33 of the extension part 30, is movable, and elastically deforms the extension part 30 so that the movable part 33 approaches the seat receiver 20 or the movable part 33 separates from the seat receiver 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a chair used for office work or the like, a chair in which the position of the seat in the front-rear direction is adjustable is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The seat of the chair described in Patent Document 1 includes an outer shell, a support plate disposed above the outer shell, an inner shell disposed above the support plate, and a cylindrical body disposed between the outer shell and the support plate.

[0003] The inner shell includes an extension portion that extends forward from the support plate. The inner shell is covered with a tension member. The cylindrical body is a rotatable drive portion and has a structure that winds up an end portion of the tension member that covers the inner shell. When the cylindrical body rotates in one rotation direction, the tension member is pulled in the direction toward the cylindrical body, the extension portion of the inner shell bends downward, and the extension portion is drawn backward. When the cylindrical body rotates in the other rotation direction, the tension member moves in the direction away from the cylindrical body, and the extension portion of the inner shell extends forward. Thereby, the width in the front-rear direction of the seat changes.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the chair described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult for the cylindrical body to wind up the tension member and pull the tension member toward the inner shell. Further, when the force for pulling the tension member becomes excessive, there is a problem that the tension member is locally strongly pressed by the inner shell and the tension member is damaged.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a seat that can smoothly transmit a force for bending an extending portion to the extending portion and stably pull the extending portion, and a chair including this seat.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A seat according to an aspect of the present invention includes a seat receiving member having an edge portion located at one end in a first direction intersecting the vertical direction, a seat plate supported by the seat receiving member above the seat receiving member, a fixing portion fixed to the seat plate, a movable portion located on the side opposite to the position where the fixing portion is fixed, and a bent portion formed in a U shape when viewed in a second direction intersecting the vertical direction and the first direction and located between the fixing portion and the movable portion. An extending portion that extends so as to overhang in the first direction with respect to the edge portion and is elastically bendable, and a deformation inducing portion that is supported by the seat receiving member or the seat plate, is connected to the movable portion of the extending portion, is movable along the first direction, and elastically deforms the extending portion so that the movable portion approaches the seat receiving member or the movable portion separates from the seat receiving member as the movable portion moves along the first direction.

[0008] According to the seat according to the above aspect, by operating the deformation inducing portion so as to move along the first direction, the operating force applied to the deformation inducing portion is transmitted to the movable portion of the extending portion, and the movable portion can be smoothly moved in the first direction. Along with the movement of the movable portion, the position of the bent portion in the first direction can be adjusted, and the width of the seat in the first direction can be easily adjusted. Since the extending portion has a bent portion formed in a U shape, the extending portion can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction of the seat plate. Thereby, an appropriate elastic force is applied to the thigh portion of the seated person, and the seated person can obtain a good seating feeling. Furthermore, since the seat width can be easily adjusted by a simple structure in which an extending portion having a movable portion movable along the first direction is connected to the deformation inducing portion, the force for bending the extending portion can be smoothly transmitted to the extending portion and the extending portion can be stably pulled compared to conventional chairs.

[0009] In the seat according to one aspect of the present invention, the movable portion of the extending portion has an extending end surface located at one end in the first direction and an intermediate portion located between the extending end surface and the bent portion, and the deformation inducing portion may be connected to the extending end surface or the intermediate portion.

[0010] According to the seat according to the above aspect, the deformation inducing portion can be reliably connected to the movable portion. Therefore, since the operating force applied to the deformation inducing portion is transmitted to the bent portion via the movable portion, the U-shaped configuration of the bent portion can be reliably and easily maintained.

[0011] In the seat according to one aspect of the present invention, the deformation inducing portion may be movable in the first direction.

[0012] According to the seat according to the above aspect, in the first direction, the displacement direction of the extending portion and the displacement direction of the deformation inducing portion coincide. Thereby, the seated person can intuitively perform the operation of adjusting the width of the seat in the first direction.

[0013] In the seat according to one aspect of the present invention, when the deformation inducing portion moves so as to be close to the bent portion in the first direction, the movable portion may be separated from the seat receiving member, and when the deformation inducing portion moves so as to be separated from the bent portion in the first direction, the movable portion may be brought close to the seat receiving member.

[0014] According to the seat according to the above aspect, in the first direction, the displacement direction of the extending portion and the displacement direction of the deformation inducing portion coincide. Thereby, the seated person can intuitively perform the operation of adjusting the width of the seat in the first direction.

[0015] In the seat according to one aspect of the present invention, the extending portion may have an opening that penetrates the extending portion in a direction perpendicular to the extending portion.

[0016] When comparing the case where an opening is formed in the extending portion and the case where no opening is formed in the extending portion, by forming an opening in the extending portion, the degree of flexibility of the extending portion can be adjusted. Therefore, according to the seat according to the above-described aspect, by increasing the opening area of the opening in the extending portion, the degree of bending of the extending portion can be increased, and the extending portion becomes more easily bendable. On the other hand, by decreasing the opening area of the opening in the extending portion, the degree of bending of the extending portion can be decreased.

[0017] In the seat according to one aspect of the present invention, the extending portion has a plurality of strip-shaped portions arranged in the second direction, each of the plurality of strip-shaped portions extends along the first direction, and an opening may be formed between two adjacent strip-shaped portions among the plurality of strip-shaped portions.

[0018] According to the seat according to the above-described aspect, by adjusting the number of the plurality of strip-shaped portions, the degree of flexibility of the extending portion can be adjusted. For example, by decreasing the number of strip-shaped portions, the total opening area of the openings in the extending portion becomes larger, the degree of bending of the extending portion can be increased, and the extending portion becomes more easily bendable. On the other hand, by increasing the number of strip-shaped portions, the total opening area of the openings in the extending portion becomes smaller, and the degree of bending of the extending portion can be decreased.

[0019] The chair according to one aspect of the present invention includes the seat according to the above-described aspect and a support structure that supports the seat.

[0020] According to the chair according to the above-described aspect, by operating the deformation-inducing portion so as to move along the first direction, the operating force applied to the deformation-inducing portion is transmitted to the movable portion of the extending portion, and the movable portion can be smoothly moved in the first direction. Along with the movement of the movable portion, the position of the bent portion in the first direction can be adjusted, and the width of the seat in the first direction can be easily adjusted. Since the extension portion has a bent portion formed in a U shape, the extension portion can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction of the seat plate. As a result, an appropriate elastic force is applied to the thighs of the seated person sitting on the seat, and the seated person can obtain a good sitting feeling. Furthermore, since the width of the seat can be easily adjusted by a simple structure in which the extension portion having a movable portion movable along the first direction is connected to the deformation inducing portion, the structure of the members constituting the chair can be simplified compared to conventional chairs.

Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to the seat and the chair according to the aspect of the present invention, the force for bending the extension portion can be smoothly transmitted to the extension portion, and the extension portion can be stably pulled.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0023] A chair according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to configurations having the same or similar functions. And the overlapping description of those structures may be abbreviate | omitted. The drawings are schematic or conceptual, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the ratio of the size between parts, etc. are not necessarily the same as the actual ones.

[0024] In the following description, for convenience of explanation, the direction in which the seated person sitting on the seat 17 in a normal posture faces forward is referred to as “front”, and the opposite direction is referred to as “rear”. Also, the vertical and horizontal directions in the following description shall mean directions that coincide with the directions centered on the seated person when the seated person is seated on the seat 17 in a normal posture. In the drawings, an arrow FR indicating the front direction, an arrow BR indicating the rear direction, an arrow UP indicating the upper direction, an arrow DW indicating the lower direction, an arrow RH indicating the right side direction, and an arrow LH indicating the left side direction are shown.

[0025] The upward direction UP and the downward direction DW coincide with the vertical direction (gravity direction). Each of the front direction FR and the rear direction BR corresponds to a first direction that intersects the vertical direction. Each of the front direction FR and the rear direction BR may be a horizontal direction or an inclined direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The front direction FR and the rear direction BR may be referred to as the front-rear directions FR and BR.

[0026] Each of the right side direction RH and the left side direction LH corresponds to a second direction that intersects the vertical direction and the first direction. That is, the right side direction RH and the left side direction LH are directions that intersect the vertical direction and the front-rear directions FR and BR. The right side direction RH or the left side direction LH may be simply referred to as “side view”. The downward direction DW may be simply referred to as “plan view”. The right side direction RH and the left side direction LH may be referred to as the left-right direction.

[0027] <Overall Structure of Chair> As shown in FIG. 1, the chair 100 according to the present embodiment includes legs 10 installed on the floor surface F, a box-shaped support base 15 installed on the upper part of the legs 10, a seat 17 attached to the upper part of the support base 15, a backrest 2 attached to the rear part of the support base 15 to support the back of the seated person, and armrests 19 extending from both sides of the lower side of the seat 17 upward to the upper side of the seat 17, on which the elbows and fingertips of the seated person are placed.

[0028] The legs 10 include a multi-branched leg 11 with casters 11a and a leg post 12 that stands up from the central part of the multi-branched leg 11 and incorporates a gas spring (not shown) which is a lifting mechanism. The leg post 12 has an outer cylinder 13 and an inner cylinder 14. The outer cylinder 13 is non-rotatably fitted and supported by the multi-branched leg 11. The lower part of the inner cylinder 14 is horizontally rotatably supported by the outer cylinder 13. The upper part of the inner cylinder 14 is fixed to the support base 15. The support base 15 incorporates a lifting adjustment mechanism for the leg post 12 and a reclining mechanism for the backrest 2.

[0029] The above-described legs 10, multi-branched legs 11, casters 11a, leg posts 12, outer cylinders 13, inner cylinders 14, and support base 15 are a support structure for supporting the seat 17.

[0030] <Structure of Seat> As shown in FIG. 1, the seat 17 elastically supports the buttocks and thighs of the seated person. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the seat 17 includes a tension member 17A, a seat receiving member 20, an extension portion 30, a seat plate 40, a deformation inducing portion 50, and an operating device 70. In FIG. 2, the tension member 17A is omitted. FIG. 2 shows only the seat receiving member 20, the extension portion 30, the seat plate 40, and the deformation inducing portion 50 among the members constituting the seat 17.

[0031] <Tension Member> As shown in FIG. 1, the tension member 17A covers the upper surface of the seat 17. In other words, the tension member 17A covers the upper surface 40T of the seat plate 40, the upper surface 30T and the front surface 30F of the extending portion 30. The tension member 17A is made of cloth such as a mesh, for example. Elastic members such as cushions may be disposed between the tension member 17A and the seat plate 40 and between the tension member 17A and the extending portion 30.

[0032] <Seat receiving member> As shown in FIG. 2, the seat receiving member 20 is fixed to the lower surface 40L of the seat plate 40. As a fixing structure for fixing the seat receiving member 20 and the seat plate 40, for example, a known fixing structure using screws is adopted. Note that the fixing structure is not limited to screw fixing. If the seat receiving member 20 is composed of a strength member having sufficient strength to constitute the seat 17, the material for forming the seat receiving member 20 is not particularly limited. For example, the seat receiving member 20 can be formed of a material such as metal or resin. The seat receiving member 20 has an edge portion 20E located at one end 20T in the front direction FR.

[0033] <Extending portion> The extending portion 30 has a bent portion 31, a fixing portion 32, and a movable portion 33. In the vertical direction, the thickness of the extending portion 30 is thinner than the thickness of the seat plate 40. Also, the extending portion 30 is a member separate from the seat plate 40. The material constituting the extending portion 30 is preferably more flexible than the material constituting the seat plate 40. The bent portion 31 is formed in a U shape when viewed in the rightward direction RH. The fixed portion 32 is the portion fixed to the seat plate 40. The movable portion 33 is located on the side opposite to the position where the fixed portion 32 is fixed. That is, the fixed portion 32 is located on one end side of the extending portion 30. The movable portion 33 is located on the other end side of the extending portion 30. In the vertical direction, the movable portion 33 is located below the fixed portion 32. In other words, in the downward direction DW, the movable portion 33 is disposed at a position away from the fixed portion 32. The bent portion 31 is formed in a U shape when viewed in the rightward direction RH. The bent portion 31 is located between the fixed portion 32 and the movable portion 33. The extending portion 30 extends so as to overhang in the forward direction FR with respect to the edge portion 20E of the seat receiving member 20.

[0034] The extending portion 30 has an opening 30K that penetrates the extending portion 30 in a direction perpendicular to the extending portion 30. Further, the extending portion 30 has a plurality of strip-shaped portions 30B. Each of the plurality of strip-shaped portions 30B extends along the forward direction FR. The plurality of strip-shaped portions 30B are arranged in the rightward direction RH and the leftward direction LH. An opening 30K that opens in the vertical direction is formed between two adjacent strip-shaped portions 30B among the plurality of strip-shaped portions 30B.

[0035] The movable portion 33 has an extending end face 33E and an intermediate portion 33M. The extending end face 33E is located at one end 33T of the movable portion 33 in the forward direction FR. The intermediate portion 33M is located between the extending end face 33E and the bent portion 31. The intermediate portion 33M is a surface located inside the extending portion 30 that is deformed into a U shape. In the present embodiment, the deformation inducing portion 50 is connected to the intermediate portion 33M. Note that, as a modification example of the deformation inducing portion 50, the deformation inducing portion 50 may be connected to the extending end face 33E of the movable portion 33.

[0036] The extending portion 30 is composed of an elastically bendable member. If the extending portion 30 is elastically bendable, the material forming the extending portion 30 is not particularly limited. For example, the extending portion 30 can be formed of a material such as resin.

[0037] <Seat plate> The seat plate 40 is connected to the fixing part 32 of the extending part 30. The seat plate 40 is supported by the seat receiving member 20 above the seat receiving member 20. The seat plate 40 has a right region 41 (right edge part) in the right direction RH and a left region 42 (left edge part) in the left direction LH on the lower surface 40L of the plate. That is, the seat plate 40 has a right edge part and a left edge part in the left-right direction. If the seat plate 40 has sufficient strength to form the seat 17, the material for forming the seat plate 40 is not particularly limited. For example, the seat plate 40 can be formed of materials such as metal and resin. Further, the extending part 30 and the seat plate 40 may be integrated at the fixing part 32.

[0038] <Deformation-inducing part> As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the deformation-inducing part 50 is composed of a movable body 51 and two positioning rails 60 (60R, 60L). In the present embodiment, the deformation-inducing part 50 is supported by the seat plate 40. Specifically, the deformation-inducing part 50 is fixed to the lower surface 40L of the seat plate 40.

[0039] On the lower surface 40L of the seat plate 40, the seat receiving member 20 is disposed between the two positioning rails 60 (60R, 60L). Thereby, in the structure in which the seat plate 40 and the seat receiving member 20 are connected and fixed, the deformation-inducing part 50 does not interfere with the seat receiving member 20. Note that as a modification example of the deformation-inducing part 50, the deformation-inducing part 50 may be supported by the seat receiving member 20. In the following description, the two positioning rails 60 (60R, 60L) may be simply referred to as the positioning rail 60.

[0040] <Movable body> The movable body 51 is composed of a rod part 52 and two rod support parts 55R, 55L. In the structure of the movable body 51, the rod part 52 and the two rod support parts 55R, 55L may be integrated. In the structure of the movable body 51, the rod part 52 and the two rod support parts 55R, 55L may be composed of separate members separable from each other.

[0041] The rod portion 52 is a member extending in the right direction RH and the left direction LH. As shown in FIG. 2, the rod portion 52 is connected and fixed to the movable portion 33 of the extending portion 30. As a fixing structure for fixing the rod portion 52 and the movable portion 33, for example, a known fixing structure using screws is adopted. Note that the fixing structure is not limited to screw fixing.

[0042] The two rod support portions 55R and 55L correspond to a right rod support portion 55R (first rod support portion) and a left rod support portion 55L (second rod support portion). The right rod support portion 55R is provided at the right end of the rod portion 52 in the right direction RH. The left rod support portion 55L is provided at the left end of the rod portion 52 in the left direction LH.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the rod portion 52 in the vertical direction is different from the positions of the two rod support portions 55R and 55L. Specifically, in the downward direction DW, the position of the rod portion 52 is located below the positions of the two rod support portions 55R and 55L.

[0044] In other words, the rod portion 52 is provided so as to protrude downward from the two rod support portions 55R and 55L. The distance between the rod portion 52 and the two rod support portions 55R and 55L in the downward direction DW, that is, the distance between the center of the rod portion 52 and the centers of the rod support portions 55R and 55L, is appropriately determined in consideration of the curvature of the bending portion 31 in the extending portion 30, the thickness of the seat 17, and the design of the chair 100.

[0045] Each of the right rod support portion 55R and the left rod support portion 55L has a mounting protrusion 56 that is attached to the housing 71 of the operating device 70. The mounting protrusion 56 of the right rod support portion 55R protrudes from the right rod support portion 55R in the right direction RH. The mounting protrusion 56 of the left rod support portion 55L protrudes from the left rod support portion 55L in the left direction LH.

[0046] <Positioning rail> As shown in FIG. 3, each of the two positioning rails 60 (60R, 60L) is fixed to the lower plate surface 40L of the seat plate 40. The two positioning rails 60 (60R, 60L) correspond to a right positioning rail 60R (first positioning rail) and a left positioning rail 60L (second positioning rail). On the lower plate surface 40L, the right positioning rail 60R is fixed to the right region 41 in the right direction RH, and the left positioning rail 60L is fixed to the left region 42 in the left direction LH. Note that the two positioning rails 60 may be integrally formed with the lower plate surface 40L of the seat plate 40, or with the right region 41 and the left region 42 in the left - right direction of the seat plate 40.

[0047] Each of the right positioning rail 60R and the left positioning rail 60L has a long hole 61 extending in the front - rear directions FR, BR, and a plurality of positioning grooves 62 formed inside the long hole 61. The plurality of positioning grooves 62 are formed at equal intervals in the front - rear directions FR, BR.

[0048] As will be described later, the plurality of positioning grooves 62 are grooves that engage with the protrusion 72P of the engaging member 72 of the operating device 70 described later. The distance between adjacent positioning grooves 62 is determined in consideration of the range of position adjustment of the bent portion 31 in the front - rear directions FR, BR.

[0049] A right rod support portion 55R is inserted into the long hole 61 of the right positioning rail 60R along the right direction RH. A left rod support portion 55L is inserted into the long hole 61 of the left positioning rail 60L along the left direction LH.

[0050] <Operating device> The base 17 is provided with two operating devices 70 (70R, 70L). The two operating devices 70 (70R, 70L) correspond to a right operating device 70R (first operating device) and a left operating device 70L (second operating device). Each of the right operating device 70R and the left operating device 70L is composed of five members, namely, a housing 71, an engaging member 72, a link member 73, a push button 74, and a spring 75. In the following description, the two operating devices 70 (70R, 70L) may sometimes be simply referred to as the operating device 70.

[0051] Even if the number of operations of the operating device 70 increases, as long as the operating device 70 can operate stably, the materials forming the housing 71, the engaging member 72, the link member 73, and the push button 74 are not particularly limited. For example, the four members of the operating device 70 can be formed of materials such as metal or resin.

[0052] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 6, the connection structure of the left operating device 70L, the left positioning rail 60L, and the left rod support portion 55L will be described. Note that FIGS. 5 and 6 show cross-sections of the left operating device 70L. Specifically, FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship between the engaging member 72 and the push button 74. Further, FIG. 5 shows a state in which the engaging member 72 is fitted in the positioning groove 62. FIG. 6 shows a cross-section different from the cross-section of the left operating device 70L shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 shows the connection state among the engaging member 72, the link member 73, and the push button 74.

[0053] Since the structure of the left operating device 70L is the same as that of the right operating device 70R, the right operating device 70R may be omitted in the description with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. Similarly, since the structure of the left positioning rail 60L is the same as that of the right positioning rail 60R, the right positioning rail 60R may be omitted in the description with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 71 has a connection protrusion 76 that is connected to the left rod support portion 55L. The connection protrusion 76 protrudes from the housing 71 in the rightward direction RH. In the structure shown in FIG. 4, the connection protrusion 76 is shown in a state of being separated from the left rod support portion 55L. However, in the state where the left operating device 70L is attached to the left rod support portion 55L as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connection protrusion 76 passes through the long hole 61 of the left positioning rail 60L and is connected to the left rod support portion 55L.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the housing 71 of the left operation device 70L, the engaging member 72 extends in the front-rear direction. The link member 73 extends substantially in the vertical direction. The push button 74 is movable in the front-rear direction. The engaging member 72, the link member 73, and the push button 74 are connected to each other. The housing 71 maintains the connected state of the engaging member 72, the link member 73, and the push button 74. The housing 71 has a recess 75R for accommodating the spring 75. The spring 75 biases the engaging member 72 downward in the DW direction. The housing 71 has an arcuate surface 71F along the outer shape of the push button 74. The push button 74 is movable along the arcuate surface 71F.

[0056] The link member 73 and the push button 74 are connected via a first shaft 77 (axis) extending in the leftward direction LH. When the seated person presses the push button 74, if the pressing force can be transmitted to the link member 73, the push button 74 may be fixed to the link member 73, or the push button 74 may be rotatable around the first shaft 77 with respect to the link member 73. In the present embodiment, a structure is adopted in which the push button 74 is rotatable around the first shaft 77 with respect to the link member 73. In the structure in which the push button 74 is fixed to the link member 73, the link member 73 and the push button 74 may be constituted by an integrated single member.

[0057] The engaging member 72 and the link member 73 are connected and fixed via a second shaft 78 (axis) extending in the leftward direction LH. Therefore, when the seated person presses the push button 74, the pressing force can be transmitted to the engaging member 72 via the link member 73. In the present embodiment, the engaging member 72 and the link member 73 are separate parts from each other. If it is possible to transmit the pressing force by the seated person to the engaging member 72, the engaging member 72 and the link member 73 may be constituted by an integrated single member.

[0058] The engaging member 72 has a protrusion 72P that protrudes downward in the DW direction from the engaging member 72. The protrusion 72P can be selectively engaged with a plurality of positioning grooves 62 formed on the bottom surface 61B of the elongated hole 61 of the left positioning rail 60L.

[0059] The operation of the left operating device 70L described above is performed by an operation in which the seated person presses the push button 74 and an operation in which the seated person slides the left operating device 70L on the left positioning rail 60L. The operation of the left operating device 70L is also performed on the right operating device 70R. By operating the left operating device 70L and the right operating device 70R simultaneously, the position of the deformation inducing portion 50 is adjusted and the position of the deformation inducing portion 50 is determined.

[0060] As described above, the deformation inducing portion 50 has a structure in which the rod portion 52 constituting the deformation inducing portion 50 is connected to the movable portion 33 of the extending portion 30. The deformation inducing portion 50 can slide (move) the operating device 70 with respect to the positioning rail 60 by operating the operating device 70 constituting the deformation inducing portion 50.

[0061] Further, as the movable portion 33 approaches the seat receiving member 20 or the movable portion 33 moves away from the seat receiving member 20 as the deformation inducing portion 50 moves in the front-rear directions FR and BR, the deformation inducing portion 50 has a structure for elastically deforming the extending portion 30. Further, the deformation inducing portion 50 having the above structure has a structure for sliding on the positioning rail 60.

[0062] <Method for adjusting the position of the extending portion> Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, a method for adjusting the position of the extending portion 30 will be specifically described. In FIGS. 7 and 8, only the seat 17 is shown among the members constituting the chair 100 described above, and other members are omitted.

[0063] The method for adjusting the position of the extending portion is performed in the following steps. Step 1: Release the engagement state of the engaging member 72 by pressing the push buttons 74 of the left operating device 70L and the right operating device 70R Step 2: Sliding of the left operating device 70L and the right operating device 70R with respect to the elongated holes 61 of the left positioning rail 60L and the right positioning rail 60R Step 3: Completion of pressing the push buttons 74 of the left operating device 70L and the right operating device 70R Next, Steps 1 to 3 will be described in order below.

[0064] <Step 1> In the chair 100, the seated person presses the push buttons 74 of the left operating device 70L and the right operating device 70R with a finger. When the push buttons 74 are pressed, the pressing force of the seated person is transmitted from the push buttons 74 to the link member 73, and further transmitted from the link member 73 to the engaging member 72. When the pressing force of the seated person is greater than the force (restoring force) with which the spring 75 biases the engaging member 72, the protrusion 72P of the engaging member 72 separates from the positioning groove 62. On the other hand, when the pressing force of the seated person is smaller than the force with which the spring 75 biases the engaging member 72, the positioning state by the protrusion 72P of the engaging member 72 is maintained. In Step 2, the state where the protrusion 72P separates from the positioning groove 62 will be described.

[0065] <Step 2> In a state where the protrusion 72P has separated from the positioning groove 62, that is, in a state where the engagement state between the protrusion 72P and the positioning groove 62 is released, the left operating device 70L becomes slidable with respect to the elongated hole 61 of the left positioning rail 60L. Also, the right operating device 70R becomes slidable with respect to the elongated hole 61 of the right positioning rail 60R. In this state, the seated person slides each of the left operating device 70L and the right operating device 70R with respect to the elongated hole 61. Thereby, the seated person can adjust the position of the left operating device 70L with respect to the left positioning rail 60L, and similarly, can adjust the position of the left operating device 70L with respect to the right positioning rail 60R.

[0066] That is, the seated person can adjust the position of the deformation inducing portion 50 at the seat 17 in the front-rear directions FR and BR. As a result, it becomes possible to adjust the position of the movable portion 33 of the extending portion 30 connected to the deformation inducing portion 50 in the front-rear directions FR and BR. That is, it becomes possible to adjust the position of the bending portion 31 of the extending portion 30 in the front-rear directions FR and BR.

[0067] Specifically, when the deformation inducing portion 50 moves from the arrangement shown in FIG. 8 toward the arrangement shown in FIG. 7, the deformation inducing portion 50 moves so as to approach the bending portion 31 in the forward direction FR. At this time, the movable portion 33 of the extending portion 30 moves away from the seat receiving member 20. Conversely, when the deformation inducing portion 50 moves from the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 toward the arrangement shown in FIG. 8, the deformation inducing portion 50 moves so as to move away from the bending portion 31 in the rearward direction BR. At this time, the movable portion 33 of the extending portion 30 approaches the seat receiving member 20.

[0068] <Step 3> Also, the seated person separates a finger from the push buttons 74 of the left operation device 70L and the right operation device 70R. In this state, due to the action of the restoring force of the spring 75, the engaging member 72 is biased downward in the DW direction. When the protrusion 72P reaches a position corresponding to any one of the plurality of positioning grooves 62 while the engaging member 72 is biased downward in the DW direction, the engaging member 72 engages with the positioning groove 62 due to the action of the restoring force of the spring 75. As a result, the position of the left operation device 70L with respect to the left positioning rail 60L is determined, and the position of the right operation device 70R with respect to the right positioning rail 60R is determined.

[0069] That is, the seated person can determine the position of the deformation inducing portion 50 at the seat 17. As a result, it becomes possible to determine the position of the movable portion 33 of the extending portion 30 connected to the deformation inducing portion 50. That is, it becomes possible to determine the position of the bending portion 31 of the extending portion 30.

[0070] <Modified Examples of Steps 2 and 3> In the above-described Steps 2 and 3, the seated person does not need to continuously press the push button 74 in order to move the deformation-inducing portion 50. After the engagement state between the protruding portion 72P and the positioning groove 62 is released, the seated person may release the finger from the push button 74 and bring the protruding portion 72P into contact with the bottom surface 61B of the long hole 61. In other words, the protruding portion 72P of the engaging member 72 may be removed from the positioning groove 62 and the protruding portion 72P may be slid on the bottom surface 61B of the long hole 61. That is, it is possible to adjust the position of the bent portion 31 of the extending portion 30 while sliding the protruding portion 72P on the bottom surface 61B.

[0071] According to the above-described seat 17, by operating the deformation-inducing portion 50 so as to move along the front-rear directions FR and BR, the operating force applied to the deformation-inducing portion 50 is transmitted to the movable portion 33 of the extending portion 30, and the movable portion 33 can be smoothly moved in the front-rear directions FR and BR. Along with the movement of the movable portion 33, the position of the bent portion 31 in the front-rear directions FR and BR can be adjusted, and the width of the seat 17 in the front-rear directions FR and BR can be easily adjusted.

[0072] Since the extending portion 30 has the bent portion 31 formed in a U shape, the extending portion 30 can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction of the seat plate 40. As a result, an appropriate elastic force is applied to the thigh portion of the seated person, and the seated person can obtain a good sitting feeling.

[0073] Furthermore, a simple structure is realized in which the extending portion 30 having the movable portion 33 movable along the front-rear directions FR and BR is connected to the deformation-inducing portion 50. For this reason, since the width of the seat 17 can be easily adjusted, the force for bending the extending portion 30 can be smoothly transmitted to the extending portion 30 more smoothly than in a conventional chair, and the extending portion 30 can be stably pulled.

[0074] Since the deformation-inducing portion 50 is connected to the extending end surface 33E or the intermediate portion 33M of the movable portion 33, the deformation-inducing portion 50 can be reliably connected to the movable portion 33. Therefore, since the operating force applied to the push button 74 of the deformation-inducing portion 50 is transmitted to the bent portion 31 via the movable portion 33, the U-shaped configuration of the bent portion 31 can be reliably and easily maintained.

[0075] Since the deformation-inducing portion 50 is movable in the front-rear directions FR, BR, in the front-rear directions FR, BR, the displacement direction of the extending portion 30 and the displacement direction of the deformation-inducing portion 50 coincide with each other. Thereby, the seated person can intuitively perform the work of adjusting the width of the seat 17 in the front-rear directions FR, BR.

[0076] In particular, when the deformation-inducing portion 50 moves so as to approach the bent portion 31 in the forward direction FR, the deformation-inducing portion 50 separates the movable portion 33 from the seat receiving member 20. Further, when the deformation-inducing portion 50 moves so as to be separated from the bent portion 31 in the rearward direction BR, the deformation-inducing portion 50 brings the movable portion 33 closer to the seat receiving member 20. Thereby, in the front-rear directions FR, BR, the displacement direction of the extending portion 30 and the displacement direction of the deformation-inducing portion 50 coincide with each other. Thereby, the seated person can intuitively perform the work of adjusting the width of the seat 17 in the front-rear directions FR, BR.

[0077] The extending portion 30 has an opening 30K that penetrates the extending portion 30 in a direction perpendicular to the extending portion 30. By forming the opening 30K in the extending portion 30, the degree of flexibility of the extending portion 30 can be adjusted. Therefore, by increasing the opening area of the opening 30K in the extending portion 30, the degree of bending of the extending portion 30 can be increased, and the extending portion 30 becomes more easily bendable. On the other hand, by decreasing the opening area of the opening 30K in the extending portion 30, the degree of bending of the extending portion 30 can be decreased.

[0078] The extending portion 30 has a plurality of strip-shaped portions 30B arranged in the left-right direction. Each of the plurality of strip-shaped portions 30B extends along the front direction FR. An opening 30K is formed between two adjacent strip-shaped portions 30B among the plurality of strip-shaped portions 30B. Thereby, by adjusting the number of the plurality of strip-shaped portions 30B, the degree of flexibility of the extending portion 30 can be adjusted. For example, by reducing the number of the strip-shaped portions 30B, the total opening area of the openings 30K in the extending portion 30 becomes larger, the degree of bending of the extending portion 30 can be increased, and the extending portion 30 becomes more easily bendable. On the other hand, by increasing the number of the strip-shaped portions 30B, the total opening area of the openings 30K in the extending portion 30 becomes smaller, and the degree of bending of the extending portion 30 can be decreased.

[0079] Furthermore, according to the chair 100 including the seat 17, an effect similar to the effect obtained by the seat 17 can be obtained.

[0080] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be regarded as limited by the foregoing description, but is limited by the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0081] 10 ··· Foot, 11 ··· Multi-pronged foot, 11a ··· Caster, 12 ··· Leg post, 13 ··· Outer cylinder, 14 ··· Inner cylinder, 15 ··· Support base, 17 ··· Seat, 17A ··· Tension member, 20 ··· Seat receiving member, 20E ··· Edge portion, 30 ··· Extension portion, 30B ··· Belt-like portion, 30F ··· Front surface, 30K ··· Opening, 30T ··· Upper surface, 31 ··· Bending portion, 32 ··· Fixed portion, 33 ··· Movable portion, 33E ··· Extended end face, 33M ··· Intermediate portion, 40 ··· Seat plate, 40L ··· Lower surface of the plate, 40T ··· Upper surface of the plate, 41 ··· Right region, 42 ··· Left region, 50 ··· Deformation inducing portion, 51 ··· Movable body, 52 ··· Rod portion, 55R, 55L ··· Rod support portion, 56 ··· Protrusion, 60, 60R, 60L ··· Positioning rail, 61 ··· Long hole, 61B ··· Bottom surface, 62 ··· Groove, 70, 70L, 70R ··· Operating device, 71 ··· Housing, 71F ··· Arc surface, 72 ··· Engaging member, 72P ··· Protrusion, 73 ··· Link member, 74 ··· Push button, 75 ··· Spring, 75R ··· Concave portion, 76 ··· Connecting protrusion, 77 ··· First shaft, 78 ··· Second shaft, 100 ··· Chair

Claims

1. a seat receiving member having an edge portion located at one end in a first direction intersecting the vertical direction; a seat plate supported by the seat receiving member above the seat receiving member; a fixing portion fixed to the seat plate, a movable portion located on the side opposite to the position where the fixing portion is fixed, and a bent portion formed in a U shape when viewed in a second direction intersecting the vertical direction and the first direction and located between the fixing portion and the movable portion, and an extending portion that extends so as to overhang in the first direction with respect to the edge portion and is elastically bendable; a deformation inducing portion supported by the seat receiving member or the seat plate; comprising; the deformation inducing portion has a rod portion extending in the second direction; the rod portion; is connected to the movable portion of the extending portion; is movable along the first direction; the extending portion is elastically deformed so that the movable portion approaches the seat receiving member or the movable portion moves away from the seat receiving member as the rod portion moves along the first direction; the deformation inducing portion; while maintaining the U shape of the bent portion by moving the movable portion in the forward direction in the first direction, a portion located between the fixing portion and the bent portion in the first direction and the movable portion are overlapped when viewed in the vertical direction; and; while maintaining the U shape of the bent portion by moving the movable portion in the rearward direction in the first direction, a portion located between the movable portion and the bent portion in the first direction and the fixing portion are overlapped when viewed in the vertical direction; a seat.

2. the movable portion of the extending portion has an extending end surface located at one end in the first direction and an intermediate portion located between the extending end surface and the bent portion; the deformation inducing portion is connected to the extending end surface or the intermediate portion; the seat according to claim 1.

3. the deformation inducing portion is movable in the first direction; the seat according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. when the deformation inducing portion moves so as to approach the bent portion in the first direction, the deformation inducing portion separates the movable portion from the seat receiving member; when the deformation inducing portion moves so as to be separated from the bent portion in the first direction, the deformation inducing portion brings the movable portion closer to the seat receiving member; the seat according to claim 3.

5. the extending portion has an opening that penetrates the extending portion in a direction perpendicular to the extending portion; The seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The extending portion has a plurality of strip-shaped portions arranged in the second direction, Each of the plurality of strip-shaped portions extends along the first direction, An opening is formed between two adjacent strip-shaped portions among the plurality of strip-shaped portions. The seat according to claim 5.

7. A seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A support structure for supporting the seat, and a chair comprising the same.

Images