chair

Abstract

To provide a chair that adopts a configuration suitable for a user to grip a waist pad body for moving or the like.SOLUTION: In a chair, a waist pad F comprises: a waist pad body 5 comprising a contact surface 5s having a belt-like shape extending in a vertical direction and a curved shape so as to project backward in plane view, and having an inside surface capable of contacting the waist part of a seated person; and seat fitting parts 6 disposed in left and right front ends in the waist pad body 5 and attached to a seat C, and in plane view, a rear end ct of a left and right direction center part in the seat C, and a front end ft in a left and right direction center part in the waist pad body 5 are separated each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, stool-type chairs have been known that have legs that stand upright relative to the floor surface, and that allow a person to sit on the seat even when the legs are inclined relative to the floor surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This type of chair is designed to be flexible and allow for comfortable seating from any direction. For this reason, most chairs have small seats that are roughly circular in shape when viewed from above, or small seats with roughly the same front-to-back and left-to-right widths when viewed from above, and most do not have a lumbar support.

[0003] In other words, conventional chairs have no lumbar support and have a seat shape that makes it difficult for the occupant to properly support the buttocks, making it difficult for the occupant to sit comfortably on the seat.

[0004] This type of chair is also suitable for meetings attended by a group of several people, and is often lifted and carried to an appropriate position by the user.

[0005] However, conventional chairs do not have a suitable portion that can be grasped by the user at a relatively high position above the floor, making them difficult for users to carry around easily. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-7483 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a chair that has a suitable structure that makes it easy for a user to carry it around when traveling or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] That is, the present invention has the following configuration.

[0009] The invention described in claim 1 is a chair comprising legs, a seat supported by the legs, and a lumbar support attached to the seat and adapted to rest against the lumbar region of a seated person, wherein the lumbar support comprises a belt-shaped lumbar support body that is curved so as to be convex backward in plan view and has an inner surface that serves as a contact surface that can rest against the lumbar region of the seated person, and seat attachment portions that are provided at the front left and right ends of the lumbar support body and are attached to the seat, and the rear end of the center of the seat in the left-right direction and the front end of the center of the lumbar support body in the left-right direction are spaced apart in plan view. The seat has a front-to-rear dimension set shorter than its left-to-right dimension, and the lumbar support body has a substantially uniform vertical width from one end to the other end, and the seat attachment portion is provided on the inner surface side of the one end and the other end of the lumbar support body. It's a chair.

[0010] The invention described in claim 2 is the chair described in claim 1, wherein the contact surface in the left-right central part of the lumbar support body is inclined downward so as to be positioned gradually forward.

[0011] The invention described in claim 3 is the chair described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the lumbar support body is formed so that the central part in the left-right direction has a thickness dimension in the front-rear direction that gradually increases downward.

[0012] The invention described in claim 4 is a chair described in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the legs are provided with leg supports connected to the seat, and these leg supports are capable of assuming an inclined position relative to the floor, and are configured so that the seat can be sat on in this inclined position.

[0013] The invention described in claim 5 is a chair described in claim 4, wherein the legs are integrally connected to the leg supports and have leg bases with an approximately curved shape whose undersides can come into contact with the floor surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a chair that has a suitable configuration that makes it easy for the user to carry it around when traveling or the like. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] Cross-sectional view taken along line XX in Figure 2. [Figure 12] Enlarged view of the top of Figure 11. [Figure 13] Cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 4. [Figure 14] FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0018] In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a chair also called a "stool" (hereinafter simply referred to as a "chair") that is suitable for use in an office or the like.

[0019] The chair shown in this embodiment is configured so that the entire chair can be positioned substantially perpendicular to the floor surface R, and also so that an occupant can sit on it even when it is tilted relative to the floor surface R. In other words, this chair is configured so that the leg support 2 constituting the leg A can be positioned so that it is tilted relative to the floor surface R, and so that an occupant can sit on the seat C even when the leg support 2 is tilted relative to the floor surface R.

[0020] The chair comprises legs A that are tiltable relative to the floor R, a seat C supported by the legs A, a leg support cover B whose upper end is supported by the seat C, and a lumbar support F that is attached to the seat C and can be placed against the lumbar region of the seated person.

[0021] The chair is provided with a connection strengthening screw E between the leg A and the seat C as a connection strengthening means for strengthening the degree of connection between the leg A and the seat C.

[0022] Each component of the chair will be described in detail below.

[0023] <<Legs A>> The leg A supports the seat C so that it can be raised and lowered. The leg A includes a leg base 1 having a curved contact surface S facing the floor R, and a leg support 2 provided with a gas spring G that is erected relative to the leg base 1 and is expandable and contractible in the vertical direction.

[0024] The leg A is weighted by a weight or the like (not shown) so that the leg A can stand upright substantially perpendicular to the floor surface R when the seat C is unloaded and no occupant is seated thereon.

[0025] <Leg base 1> The leg base 1 is integrally connected to the lower part of the leg support 2. The leg base 1 has a substantially curved surface such that a ground surface S, which is the lower surface, can come into contact with a floor surface R.

[0026] The leg base 1 comprises a leg base main body 11 having a second external fitting portion J which is an external fitting portion into which the lower internal fitting portion K provided on the cylinder g1 of the gas spring G can be fitted, and a leg base cover 12 attached to the upper surface side of the leg base main body 11.

[0027] [Leg base body 11] The lower surface of the leg base body 11 forms a ground contact surface S having a roughly partial spherical shape. The leg base body 11 includes a roughly disk-shaped base shell T having a plurality of reinforcing ribs standing on the upper surface side of the member forming the ground contact surface, and a roughly cylindrical second external fitting part J standing at the center of the base shell T.

[0028] [Leg base cover 12] The leg base cover 12 is shaped to cover the upper part of the leg base body 11, that is, the upper surface side of the base shell T and the outer peripheral surface of the upper part of the second external fitting part J.

[0029] In this embodiment, the leg base cover 12 is made integral with the cylinder cover I that covers the cylinder g1 of the leg support 2. That is, this chair is provided with a cover body that is an integral synthetic resin molding of the leg base cover 12 and the cylinder cover I. In other words, the chair is provided with a cover body that covers the upper part of the leg base body 11 and the cylinder g1 of the gas spring G.

[0030] A nut portion n1 exposed downward is provided on the inner surface of the leg base cover 12. The leg base cover 12 is attached to the upper surface of the leg base body 11 by threading a screw v1 inserted into a screw insertion hole h1 provided in the leg base body 11 into the nut portion n1.

[0031] <Leg support 2> The leg support 2 extends in the vertical direction. The upper end of the leg support 2 is connected to the seat C.

[0032] The leg support 2 is provided with a gas spring G that is erected on the leg base 1 and is expandable and contractible in the vertical direction, and a cylinder cover I that covers a cylinder g1 that constitutes the lower part of the gas spring G.

[0033] As mentioned above, the cylinder cover I is integrally formed with the leg base cover 12.

[0034] [Gas Spring G] The gas spring G comprises a cylinder g1 extending in the vertical direction, and a piston rod g2 having an upper internal fitting portion M at its upper end that is fitted into a seat support 4 and supported so as to be movable up and down relative to the cylinder g1.

[0035] A lower internal fitting portion K is provided at the lower end of the cylinder g1, which fits into the second external fitting portion J provided on the leg base main body 11. The lower internal fitting portion K has a tapered shape in which the outer surface gradually transitions downwards to approach the axis.

[0036] An upper internal fitting portion M is provided at the upper end of the piston rod g2, which fits into the first external fitting portion P provided on the seat 4. The upper internal fitting portion M has a tapered shape in which the outer surface gradually transitions upward to approach the axis.

[0037] An unlock button g3 is provided at the tip of the piston rod g2 to unlock the expansion / contraction lock of the gas spring G. The unlock button g3 is operated by an operating lever D supported on the seat C.

[0038] The gas spring G has a known configuration and will not be described in detail.

[0039] [Cylinder cover I] The cylinder cover I is approximately cylindrical and has a cylinder cover main body i1 whose lower end is integrally connected to the leg base cover 12, and an inward extending flange i2 which constitutes a separation prevention section and extends inward integrally from the upper end of the cylinder cover main body i1.

[0040] The inwardly extending flange i2, which is the separation prevention portion, is disposed above the cylinder g1, i.e., over the upper end of the cylinder g1, and can prevent the gas spring G from separating from the cylinder cover I.

[0041] That is, the cylinder cover I provided with the inwardly extending flange i2 is integrally connected to the leg base cover 12.

[0042] The leg base cover 12 is fixed to the leg base body 11 by a screw v1. In other words, the cover body (cylinder cover I and leg base cover 12) is configured not to be detached from the leg base body 11.

[0043] Therefore, even if the lower internal fitting portion K of the gas spring G comes off from the second external fitting portion J provided on the leg base main body 11, the inward extending flange i2 can prevent the cylinder g1 from coming out.

[0044] In other words, with the configuration of the leg A in this embodiment, even if the lower internal fitting portion K of the gas spring G comes off the second external fitting portion J of the leg base 1, the gas spring G is unlikely to come off the cylinder cover I.

[0045] <<Location C>> The seat C includes a seat body 3 having a seating surface and a seat support 4, also called an outer shell, that supports the seat body 3.

[0046] In this embodiment, the front-to-rear dimension w1 of the seat C is set shorter than the left-to-right dimension w2 of the seat C. The seat C has a shape that is approximately a horizontally elongated rectangle in a plan view. That is, the seat C has a shape in which the four corners of the horizontally elongated rectangle in a plan view are rounded in a partial arc shape.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 6, the seat C has a width dimension w1 in the left-right direction in a plan view that is set to be at least twice as long as a width dimension w2 in the front-rear direction.

[0048] Since the seat C is configured to be able to swing relative to the floor surface R based on the shape of the legs A, it is generally desirable that the horizontal dimension not be set too large. On the other hand, it is preferable that the seat C has a width dimension that can adequately support the buttocks of a seated person. In the chair of this embodiment, in order to suitably meet these requirements, the width dimension w2 of the seat C in the left-right direction is set within the range of 2 to 2.5 times the width dimension w1 in the front-to-back direction.

[0049] <Seat body 3> The seat body 3 comprises a support member 32 made of synthetic resin, also called an inner shell, a seat cushion 31 placed on the support member 32, and seat upholstery (not shown) that covers the peripheral edges of the seat cushion 31 and the support member 32.

[0050] The seat body 3 has a shape that extends in the left-right direction as a whole.

[0051] <Zauke 4> The seat support 4 is a shell-shaped structure with its underside exposed to the outside and visible to the user, and with multiple reinforcing ribs erected on its upper surface. The seat support 4 has a shape that extends in the left-right direction as a whole. A support member 32 constituting the seat body 3 is attached to the upper surface side of the seat support 4 by an attachment means (not shown).

[0052] The seat support 4 has a first outer fitting portion P located approximately in the center in the left-right and front-rear directions, which can be fitted into an upper inner fitting portion M provided on the upper part of the gas spring G. The first outer fitting portion P is mainly composed of a substantially cylindrical portion that is open downward and upward and whose interior dimensions gradually become shorter toward the top.

[0053] In addition, a cylindrical metal member 42 for reinforcement is embedded in the first outer fitting portion P of the seat support 4.

[0054] An operating lever D is rotatably supported on the seat support 4. The operating lever D can press an unlock button g1 provided at the tip of the gas spring G to extend or retract the leg support 2. A bearing 41 for rotatably supporting the operating lever D is provided near the first external fitting portion P on the upper surface side of the seat support 4.

[0055] Lumbar support attachment parts 43, to which lumbar support F is attached, are provided on both the left and right sides of the seat support 4. The left and right lumbar support attachment parts 43 are each provided with a pair of nuts n3, to which screws v3 for attaching the lumbar support F are threadedly attached.

[0056] <Strengthened Connection Screw E> In this embodiment, a connecting reinforcement screw E, which is a male screw, is interposed between the leg A and the seat C.

[0057] The connection strengthening screw E is screwed between an upper inner fitting portion M provided at the upper end of the piston rod g2 of the gas spring G and the seat 4, more specifically, between the upper inner fitting portion M and a first outer fitting portion P formed in the center of the seat 4. The connection strengthening screw E is capable of engaging with both the upper inner fitting portion M of the gas spring G and the first outer fitting portion P of the seat 4.

[0058] The connection strengthening screw E is adapted to be screwed into a notched nut portion Q provided on the first outer fitting portion P. The notched nut portion Q has a notched shape so that a portion of the side surface of the thread portion e1 of the screwed connection strengthening screw E can come into contact with the piston rod g2.

[0059] In other words, the notched nut portion Q comprises a nut portion body q1 that engages with the thread portion e1 of the connecting reinforcement screw E, and a notch q2 that is formed in a part of the nut portion body q1 and that connects the space surrounded by the nut portion body q1 to the space of the first external fitting portion P.

[0060] When the connection strengthening screw E is screwed into the notched nut portion Q, the connection strengthening screw E is guided by the notched nut portion Q and threadedly advances downward. Then, the thread portion e1 of the connection strengthening screw E, which protrudes into the space of the first outer fitting portion P through the notch q2, scrapes away the outer surface of the upper inner fitting portion M of the metal piston rod g2 and firmly engages with the upper inner fitting portion M in the process of threading downward into the nut portion body q1.

[0061] In other words, in this embodiment, by using the connection strengthening screw E, the degree of connection between the upper inner fitting portion M and the first outer fitting portion P is strengthened compared to when the upper inner fitting portion M and the first outer fitting portion P are simply fitted together.

[0062] The strengthening screw E has the same configuration as known screws. That is, the strengthening screw E is made of metal and has a substantially triangular thread portion e1 on its outer circumferential surface.

[0063] <<Leg support cover B>> The leg support cover B is cylindrical in shape and has the leg support 2 disposed inside, with its upper end supported by a seat support 4. The leg support cover B is capable of covering at least the upper part of the leg support 2, which can be extended and contracted in the vertical direction, so that the upper end of the cylinder cover I is not exposed to the outside.

[0064] An exposed nut portion n2 is provided on the top of the leg support cover B. The leg support cover B is attached to the underside of the seat support 4 by threading a screw v2 inserted into a screw insertion hole h2 provided in the seat support 4 into the nut portion n2.

[0065] <<Leg Support F>> The lumbar support F is capable of supporting the lumbar region of a seated person. In this embodiment, the lumbar support F is attached to the seat C. The lumbar support F also serves as a part that the user can grasp so as to lift the entire chair away from the floor R when moving the entire chair.

[0066] The lumbar support F comprises a belt-shaped lumbar support body 5 having a curved shape that convexly curves backward in a plan view and whose inner surface serves as a contact surface 5s that can come into contact with the lumbar region of a seated person, and seat attachment parts 6 that are provided at the left and right front end parts 5L, 5R of the lumbar support body 5 and are attached to the seat C. The lumbar support F is made of synthetic resin, with the lumbar support body 5 and seat attachment parts 6 integrally formed.

[0067] The lumbar support F is set so that, in a plan view, a rear end ct at the center of the seat C in the left-right direction and a front end ft at the center of the lumbar support main body 5 in the left-right direction are spaced apart.

[0068] In other words, a space U is formed between the seat C and the lumbar support F, into which the hand can be inserted.

[0069] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, when viewed from the front and back, a space that is connected horizontally in the front and back directions is formed between the lower edge 5b of the lumbar support body 5 and the upper surface of the seat C.

[0070] 12, the separation space U is provided in a position that is visible not only in a plan view but also in a front view. Therefore, when carrying the chair, the user can easily insert their hand into the lower edge of the lumbar support body 5 to use the lumbar support F as a handle.

[0071] <Lumbar support unit 5> The lumbar support body 5 has approximately the same vertical width dimension from one end, the left front end 5L, to the other end, the right front end 5R. In other words, except for the left front end 5L and the right front end 5R, which have partially arc-shaped outer edges, the vertical separation distance w3 between the upper edge 5a and the lower edge 5b of the lumbar support body 5 is set to be approximately constant.

[0072] 4 and 5, the left and right sides of the lumbar support body 5 are strip-shaped extending in the front-to-rear direction in a side view, and are inclined so as to be positioned gradually upward toward the rear. The left and right front edges 5t of the lumbar support body 5 are semicircular in a side view.

[0073] 2 and 3, the central portion of the lumbar support body 5 has a band-like shape extending in the left-right direction when viewed from the front or rear. The lumbar support body 5 is gently curved so that it gradually rises upward from both the left and right sides toward the central portion when viewed from the front or rear.

[0074] 11 and 12, the contact surface 5s in the center of the lumbar support body 5 in the left-right direction is inclined so as to be positioned gradually forward as it goes downward. Also, the center of the lumbar support body 5 in the left-right direction is formed so that the front-to-rear thickness dimension gradually increases as it goes downward.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 6, the lumbar support body 5 is substantially U-shaped in plan view.

[0076] <Seat mounting part 6> As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the seat mounting portion 6 has an inward protruding portion 61 that protrudes inward integrally from the inner surface of the left and right front end portions of the lumbar support main body 5, and screw insertion holes h3 that penetrate in the vertical direction and are provided at two locations, front and rear, of the inward protruding portion 61.

[0077] Nut portions n3 that are open upward are provided on both the left and right ends of the seat support 4. The lumbar support F is attached to the lumbar support attachment portion 43 of the seat support 4 by threading a screw v3 that is inserted into a screw insertion hole h3 provided in the inward protruding portion 61 into the nut portion n3.

[0078] The chair of the above-described embodiment is configured to include lumbar support F, which contributes to the comfort of the seated person. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 6, in a plan view, this chair has a gap between the rear end ct at the center in the left-right direction of the seat C and the front end ft at the center in the left-right direction of the lumbar support main body 5, which provides a suitable configuration that allows the user to grip the lumbar support main body 5 when moving the chair, etc.

[0079] Furthermore, in the chair of the above-described embodiment, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the chair is provided with a connection strengthening screw E, which is a connection strengthening means interposed between the upper inner fitting portion M and the seat support 4, i.e., the connection strengthening screw E is screwed between the upper inner fitting portion M and the seat support 4 and can engage with both the upper inner fitting portion M and the seat support 4, so that the seat support 4 fitted to the gas spring G has a suitable configuration that makes it difficult for it to come off the gas spring G.

[0080] As explained above, the chair according to this embodiment comprises legs A, a seat C supported by legs A, and a lumbar support F attached to seat C and adapted to rest against the lumbar region of a seated person. Lumbar support F is belt-shaped and curved so as to convex backward in plan view, with its inner surface serving as a contact surface 5s adapted to come into contact with the lumbar region of a seated person, and comprises seat attachment parts 6 provided at the left and right front ends of lumbar support main body 5 and attached to seat C, with a gap between rear end ct at the center of the seat C in the left-right direction and front end ft at the center of the lumbar support main body 5 in the left-right direction in plan view.

[0081] For this reason, in the present embodiment, the rear end ct of the seat C in the center of the left-right direction and the front end ft of the lumbar support body 5 in the center of the left-right direction are spaced apart, providing a suitable configuration that allows the user to grasp the lumbar support body 5 when moving the chair, etc.

[0082] The contact surface 5s at the center in the left-right direction of the lumbar support body 5 is inclined downward and gradually positioned forward.

[0083] Therefore, the contact surface 5s of the lumbar support body 5 is in a suitable state in which it can come into contact with the lumbar region of the seated person.

[0084] The lumbar support body 5 is formed so that the front-to-rear thickness gradually increases downward at the left-to-right central portion thereof. In other words, the bottom side of the lumbar support body 5 is wider in the front-to-rear direction than the upper side.

[0085] For this reason, the lower part of the center in the left-right direction of the lumbar support body 5, where the user's fingers rest when carrying the entire chair, is shaped to be comfortable to the touch. In other words, the bottom of the lumbar support body 5 can be shaped to avoid sharp angles that could cause pain to the fingers.

[0086] The legs A are provided with leg supports 2 connected to the seat C, and the leg supports 2 can take an inclined position relative to the floor surface R, and are configured so that the user can sit on the seat C in the inclined position.

[0087] Therefore, the leg A can be configured in a manner suitable for a stool-type chair.

[0088] The leg A is provided with a leg base 1 which is integrally connected to a leg support 2 and has a substantially curved bottom surface which can come into contact with a floor surface R.

[0089] Therefore, the legs A are excellent in flexibility in terms of portability and can be made suitable for use as a stool-type chair.

[0090] The front-to-rear dimension w1 of the seat C is set shorter than the left-to-right dimension w2 of the seat C.

[0091] Therefore, even though it is a stool-type chair, the occupant can sit stably on seat C.

[0092] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0094] The contact surface at the center in the left-right direction of the lumbar support body may not be inclined so as to be positioned gradually forward as it goes downward.

[0095] The central portion of the lumbar support body in the left-right direction may not be formed so that the front-to-rear thickness dimension gradually increases downward. For example, the central portion of the lumbar support body in the left-to-right direction may be set to have approximately the same thickness dimension in the up-down direction.

[0096] The legs may be configured such that the leg support can swing relative to the leg base.

[0097] Furthermore, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 5... Lumbar support body 5c…Contact surface 6...Seat mounting part C…za F...lumbar support ct...rear end ft…front end

Claims

1. A chair comprising legs, a seat supported by the legs, and a lumbar support attached to the seat and adapted to contact the lumbar region of a seated person, The lumbar support comprises a lumbar support body that is belt-shaped and curved so as to be convex rearward in a plan view, with the inner surface serving as a contact surface that can contact the lumbar region of a seated person, and seat attachment portions that are provided at the front end portions on the left and right sides of the lumbar support body and are attached to the seat, and that are set so that there is a gap between the rear end portion of the center of the seat in the left-right direction and the front end portion of the center of the seat in the left-right direction in a plan view, The front-to-rear dimension of the seat is set shorter than the left-to-right dimension of the seat, The waist support body has a substantially uniform vertical width from one end to the other end, A chair in which the seat attachment portion is provided on the inner surface side of the one end and the other end of the lumbar support body.

2. 2. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface at the center in the left-right direction of the lumbar support body is inclined downward so as to be positioned gradually forward.

3. 3. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the lumbar support body is formed so that the thickness of the central portion in the left-right direction of the lumbar support body gradually increases downward.

4. A chair as described in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the legs are provided with leg supports connected to the seat, the leg supports are capable of adopting an inclined position relative to the floor surface, and the seat can be sat on in this inclined position.

5. 5. The chair according to claim 4, wherein the legs are integrally connected to the leg supports and each of the legs has a leg base having a generally curved surface whose lower surface can contact the floor.

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