U.S. patent application number 10/130752 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-05 for chair.
Invention is credited to Frenkler, Fritz, Horiki, Toshiyuki, Itoh, Kazuyuki, Kinoshita, Yojiro, Ponholzer, Anette, Ueda, Nobuyuki.
Application Number | 20020180252 10/130752 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27344952 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020180252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kinoshita, Yojiro ; et
al. |
December 5, 2002 |
Chair
Abstract
In order to improve operationality to produce functions, to
prevent an assembling or disassembling procedure from being
complicated and to simplify a structure of a chair of
multi-function, a chair having a plurality of operating portions to
adjust a height of a back or a seat or to adjust a rocking motion
mechanically is so arranged that each of more than two operating
portions as some or all of the operating portions is made to rotate
around a predetermined shaft respectively, each shaft of the
operating portions is arranged in a line, and more than two
operating portions as some or all of the operating portions are
arranged in a line and the chair comprises an operation receiving
portion as a mechanism to work each mechanism directly and a link
means that connects the operating portion and the operation
receiving portion, some or all of the adjusting portions that are
arranged in the link means in order to adjust a motion range of the
operation receiving portion that works with operation of the
operating portion are gathered in a predetermined area.
Inventors: |
Kinoshita, Yojiro; (Osaka,
JP) ; Ueda, Nobuyuki; (Osaka, JP) ; Horiki,
Toshiyuki; (Nagano, JP) ; Itoh, Kazuyuki;
(Nagano, JP) ; Frenkler, Fritz; (Frankfurt am
Main, DE) ; Ponholzer, Anette; (Frankfurt am Main,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANNER & WITCOFF
1001 G STREET N W
SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON
DC
20001
US
|
Family ID: |
27344952 |
Appl. No.: |
10/130752 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
October 9, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP01/08866 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/463.1 ;
297/300.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 3/30 20130101; A47C
1/03238 20130101; A47C 1/03283 20130101; A47C 1/03255 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/463.1 ;
297/300.4 |
International
Class: |
A47C 001/024 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 16, 2000 |
JP |
2000-315773 |
Oct 16, 2000 |
JP |
2000-315942 |
Jun 27, 2001 |
JP |
2001-195603 |
Claims
1. A chair having a plurality of operating portions to adjust a
height of a back or a seat or to adjust a rocking motion
mechanically, and characterized by that each of more than two
operating portions as some or all of the operating portions is made
to rotate around a predetermined shaft respectively and each shaft
of the operating portions is arranged in a line as well.
2. The chair described in claim 1, wherein the above-described more
than two operating portions are arranged below a side edge of the
seat in a condition that each shaft extends back and forth.
3. The chair described in claim 1 or 2, wherein concavity and
convexity is provided at a portion that can be touched on occasions
when the operating portion is operated toward a predetermined
direction on a surface of the above-described more than two
operating portions.
4. The chair described in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the
above-described more than two operating portions are of the same or
generally the same shape.
5. The chair described in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein each of the
above-described more than two operating portions are plate-shaped
and can be kept to take a horizontal posture.
6. A chair having a plurality of operating portions to adjust a
height of a back or a seat or to adjust a rocking motion
mechanically, and characterized by that more than two operating
portions as some or all of the operating portions are gathered in a
line in a predetermined area.
7. A chair having a plurality of operating portions to adjust a
height of a back or a seat or to adjust a rocking motion, and
characterized by that more than two operating portions as some or
all of the operating portions are arranged back and forth in a line
below a side edge of the seat.
8. The chair described in claim 6 or 7, wherein an order of
arranging the above-mentioned more than two operating portions is
determined based on an order of arranging members that produce a
function to be an object of each operating portions.
9. The chair described in claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the
above-described more than two operating portions are of the same or
generally the same shape.
10. The chair described in claim 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein concavity
and convexity is provided at a position that can be touched on
occasions when the operating portion is operated toward a
predetermined direction on a surface of the above-described more
than two adjusting portions.
11. The chair described in claim 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein each of
the above-described more than two operating portions can be kept to
take a horizontal posture and are in the same height when kept to
take the horizontal posture.
12. A chair having a plurality of working mechanisms such as an up
and down mechanism to adjust a height of a seat and a back, a
rocking mechanism or the like, and characterized by comprising an
operating portion to be operated to work each mechanism, an
operation receiving portion as a mechanism to work each mechanism
directly and a link means that connects the operating portion with
the operation receiving portion and further comprising adjusting
portions that are arranged in the link means in order to adjust a
motion range of the operation receiving portion that works with
operation of the operating portion wherein more than two adjusting
portions as some or all of the adjusting portions are gathered in a
predetermined area.
13. The chair described in claim 12, and characterized by that the
adjusting portions are arranged near the relevant operating
portions.
14. The chair described in claim 12 or 13, and characterized by
that the operating portions are gathered in a predetermined
area.
15. The chair described in claim 12, and characterized by further
comprising a cover that covers the adjusting portions arranged
together.
16. The chair described in claim 15, and characterized by that the
cover also covers a boundary portion between the operating portion
and the adjusting portion.
17. The chair described in claim 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, and
characterized by that the adjusting portion is arranged under the
seat.
18. The chair described in claim 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17, and
characterized by that a link wire is used as the link means.
Description
FIELD OF THE ART
[0001] This invention relates to a chair that has a plurality of
operating portions for adjusting a height of a back or a seat or
for adjusting a rocking motion.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Chairs have recently been multi-functionalized to improve
comfortability in sitting or usability. Typically there are, for
example, a mechanism to adjust a height of a back or a seat, a
mechanism to switch the seat from a rocking state to a fixed state
and a mechanism to slide the seat back and forth. An operating
portion is provided for each mechanism and conventionally these
operating portions are arranged dispersedly at a plurality of
positions on the chair.
[0003] However, as a first problem, a user of the chair might be
unsatisfied with usability because it is difficult for the user to
recognize a position of the operating portion if the operating
portions are arranged dispersedly. In addition, in case that a
chair is additionally multi-functionalized in the future, if the
operating portions are arranged dispersedly, chances are high that
operationality would be impaired due to weight of numbers of the
operating portions.
[0004] In order to solve the above problem, the present claimed
invention intends to improve operationality for a chair having a
plurality of operating portions to adjust a height of a back or a
seat or to adjust a rocking motion, especially for a
multi-functionalized chair by gathering some or all of the
operating portions.
[0005] Meanwhile since each mechanism is provided under the seat or
a backside of a back, an operating portion to activate the
mechanism is arranged at a position accessible for a user and the
operating portion is linked with an operation receiving portion
through a link means such as a link wire. Due to this arrangement,
an adjusting portion is provided in order to coincide an operation
range of the operating portion with a motion range to activate the
mechanism of the operation receiving portion. The adjusting portion
is conventionally arranged dispersedly near the operation receiving
portion.
[0006] However, as a second problem if pluralities of adjusting
portions are arranged dispersedly, a process of making an
adjustment in assembling becomes very complicated. In addition, the
adjusting portions are usually required to be covered with a cover.
Then if pluralities of adjusting portions are arranged dispersedly,
pluralities of covers are required to cover each adjusting portion.
This makes not only a procedure of assembling or disassembling the
chair but also a structure of the chair complicated.
[0007] In the present claimed invention some or all of the
adjusting portions are gathered in a predetermined area in order to
solve the above problems.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned first problem, the
present claimed invention intends to improve operationality for a
chair having a plurality of operating portions to adjust a height
of a back or a seat or to adjust a rocking motion, especially for a
chair of multi-function by gathering some or all of the operating
portions.
[0009] More specifically, the chair in accordance with the
invention has a plurality of operating portions for adjusting a
height of a back or a seat or for adjusting a rocking motion
mechanically, and is characterized by that each of more than two
operating portions as some or all of the operating portions is made
to rotate around a predetermined shaft respectively and each shaft
of the operating portions is arranged in a line as well.
[0010] With this arrangement, it is possible to gather the
operating portions with a simple arrangement, for example, by
mounting a plurality of operating portions on a single shaft and it
is also possible to improve operationality especially for a chair
of multi-function since operational style of each operating
portions would be the same. Further, it is possible to provide a
way of use that has not been existed before such that a plurality
of operating portions can be operated at once with a single
hand.
[0011] In order to improve operationality much more it is
preferable that the above-described more than two operating
portions are arranged below a side edge of the seat in a condition
that each shaft extends back and forth. With this arrangement, it
is possible for a user of the chair to touch the operating portions
naturally if only the user extends his or her hand downward in
sitting on the chair.
[0012] Further, with an arrangement wherein more than two operating
portions are arranged together, it may happen that a user of the
chair can not grasp which operating portion corresponds to a
mechanism that he or she requires and that the user can not
understand how to operate the operating portion. In order to avoid
this inconvenience with a simple arrangement it is preferable that
concavity and convexity is provided at a portion that can be
touched on occasions when the operating portion is operated toward
a predetermined direction on a surface of the above-described more
than two operating portions. If it goes even a little further so
that the concavity and the convexity are made to be distinctive in
form, user-friendliness will be much improved.
[0013] In addition, in order to contribute to making a
manufacturing process easy or to a low-price by promoting component
sharing, it is preferable that the above-described more than two
operating portions are of the same or generally the same shape.
[0014] As a concrete embodiment, it is represented that each of the
above-described more than two operating portions are plate-shaped
and can be kept to take a horizontal posture.
[0015] In addition, in order to solve the first problem, the chair
in accordance with the invention has at least a back and a seat
rocking function to rock a seat and a back in an interlocked
condition, a back and a seat boundary portion adjusting function to
move or transform the back and the seat boundary portion, a
forwardly inclining angle adjusting function to adjust a forwardly
inclining angle of the seat and a back and a seat up and down
function to adjust a height of the back and the seat and is
characterized by that the operating portions to operate each of the
functions mechanically are gathered in a line in a predetermined
area.
[0016] More concretely, the operating portions are arranged back
and forth in a line below a side edge of the seat. With this
arrangement, it is possible for a user of the chair to touch the
operating portions naturally if only the user extends his or her
hand downward in sitting on the chair.
[0017] In addition, an order of arranging the operating portions is
determined based on an order of arranging members each of which
produces a function of each operating portions so that it is easy
for a user of the chair to understand and remember which operating
portion corresponds to which function and to operate the operating
portions easier as well. More concretely, the first priority is
given to arranging the operating portion more front that
corresponds to a function of a member locating lower. Next, in
cases where the heights of the members are almost the same or
difference of the height is obscure to determine, the operating
portion which corresponds to a member locating more front is
arranged more front.
[0018] Since a member that produces the back and the seat up and
down function is a gas spring that is mounted on a leg and that
locates the lowest, the operating portion to operate the gas spring
is arranged at the most front position. Next, since a member that
corresponds to the forward inclining angle adjusting function is
mainly the seat, the operating portion to operate the forward
inclining angle adjusting function is arranged next to the
above-mentioned operating portion. Next, since a member that
corresponds to the back and the seat boundary portion adjusting
function locates at a boundary portion between the back and the
seat, the operating portion to operate the back and the seat
boundary portion adjusting function is arranged next to the former
operating portion. And then since a member that corresponds to the
back and the seat rocking function and the back reclining function
is mainly the back, the operating portion to operate it is arranged
at the rearmost.
[0019] In addition, the operating portions are made in the same or
generally the same shape so as to produce a unitary impression to
improve appearance and the operating portions are made to keep in a
horizontal posture and can be in the same height when kept to take
the horizontal posture. Further, concavity and convexity is
provided at a position that can be touched on occasions when the
operating portion is operated toward a predetermined direction on a
surface of the adjusting portions so as to make it easy for the
user of the chair to understand which direction to operate the
operating portion.
[0020] In accordance with this embodiment, since the operating
portions are gathered, a position of the operating portions can
easily be recognized and operationality can be improved especially
for a chair of multi-function. Further, it is possible to provide
the chair with a new usage that has not been before such as a
plurality of operating portions can be operated with a single hand
simultaneously.
[0021] In order to solve the above-mentioned second problem, the
chair in accordance with the invention has a plurality of working
mechanisms such as an up and down mechanism to adjust a height of a
seat and a back and a rocking mechanism or the like, and
characterized by comprising an operating portion to be operated to
work each mechanism, an operation receiving portion as a mechanism
to work each mechanism directly and a link means that connects the
operating portion and the operation receiving portion and further
comprising adjusting portions that are arranged in the link means
for adjusting a motion range of the operation receiving portion
that works with operation of the operating portion wherein some or
all of the two adjusting portions are gathered in a predetermined
area.
[0022] In accordance with the arrangement, since a plurality of
adjusting portions are gathered in a predetermined area, it is
possible to adjust the adjusting portions at once, thereby to save
time required to make an adjustment and to avoid a complicated
process of assembling the chair.
[0023] In addition, in order to make a relationship of the
operating portion to the adjusting portion clear, it is preferable
to arrange the adjusting portions near the relevant operating
portions.
[0024] In order to improve operationality for a user of the chair,
it is preferable that at least the operating portions relevant to
the above-mentioned adjusting portion are gathered. This
arrangement makes it possible for the user to recognize a position
of the operating portion at a glance.
[0025] As a concrete embodiment, it is preferable that the
above-mentioned gathered adjusting portions are covered with a
cover. Especially, in order to contribute reduction of a number of
parts or a manufacturing cost or to simplify a process of
assembling the chair, it is preferable that a boundary portion
between the operating portion and the link means also is covered
with a single cover.
[0026] A concrete preferable position to arrange the adjusting
portion is represented by a position under the seat.
[0027] As one example of the link means, it is represented by the
link means that uses a link wire.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a general side view showing a chair in accordance
with a first embodiment of the invention in a state of an ordinary
use position and in a state wherein a lower portion of a backrest
of the chair is made to project forward with the ordinary use
position kept.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a general side view showing the chair in
accordance with the embodiment in the most rearward inclined
position.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a general side view showing the chair in
accordance with the embodiment in a state wherein a back o the
chair alone inclines rearward.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a general side view showing the chair in
accordance with the embodiment in the most forwardly inclined
position.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing an operating
portion in accordance with the embodiment viewed from rear.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a partial plane view of the operating portion in
accordance with the embodiment viewed from below.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the operating
portion in accordance with the embodiment viewed from below.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a partial plane view of the operating portion in
accordance with the embodiment viewed from front.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a partial plane view of the operating portion in
accordance with the embodiment viewed from front.
[0037] FIG. 10 is a partial plane view of the operating portion in
accordance with the embodiment viewed from below.
[0038] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a back reclining
mechanism in accordance with the embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the back reclining
mechanism in accordance with the embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 13 is an explosive perspective view of the back
reclining mechanism in accordance with the embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 14 is a general perspective view of a forward inclining
angle adjusting mechanism in accordance with the embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a motion of the forward
inclining angle adjust mechanism in accordance with the
embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 16 is a general side view showing a chair in accordance
with a second embodiment of the invention in a state of an ordinary
use position and in a state wherein a lower portion of a backrest
of the chair is made to project forward with the ordinary use
position kept.
[0044] FIG. 17 is a general side view showing the chair in
accordance with the embodiment in the most rearward inclined
position.
[0045] FIG. 18 is a general side view showing the chair in
accordance with the embodiment in a state wherein a back o the
chair alone inclines rearward.
[0046] FIG. 19 is a general side view showing the chair in
accordance with the embodiment in the most forwardly inclined
position.
[0047] FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view showing an operating
portion in accordance with the embodiment viewed from rear.
[0048] FIG. 21 is a partial plane view of the operating portion in
accordance with the embodiment viewed from below.
[0049] FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view of the operating
portion in accordance with the embodiment viewed from below.
[0050] FIG. 23 is a partial plane view of the operating portion in
accordance with the embodiment viewed from front.
[0051] FIG. 24 is a partial plane view of the operating portion in
accordance with the embodiment viewed from front.
[0052] FIG. 25 is a partial plane view of the operating portion in
accordance with the embodiment viewed from below.
[0053] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a back reclining
mechanism in accordance with the embodiment.
[0054] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the back reclining
mechanism in accordance with the embodiment.
[0055] FIG. 28 is an explosive perspective view of the back
reclining mechanism in accordance with the embodiment.
[0056] FIG. 29 is a general perspective view of a forward inclining
angle adjust mechanism in accordance with the embodiment.
[0057] FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a motion of the forward
inclining angle adjust mechanism in accordance with the
embodiment.
[0058] FIG. 31 is a general side view of a whole chair in
accordance with the embodiment.
[0059] FIG. 32 is a general bottom view of the operating portion of
the chair in accordance with the embodiment.
[0060] FIG. 33 is a side view showing a third embodiment of the
invention.
[0061] FIG. 34 is a front view showing the embodiment.
[0062] FIG. 35 is a general side view showing an inclining motion
of the upper portion of the backrest alone and an inclining motion
of the lower portion of the backrest.
[0063] FIG. 36 is a general side view showing a rocking motion in
accordance with the embodiment.
[0064] FIG. 37 is a general side view showing an up and down motion
of the seat and the back re accordance with the embodiment.
[0065] FIG. 38 is an explosive perspective view of a lock mechanism
in accordance with the embodiment.
[0066] FIG. 39 is a plane view of a seat frame in accordance with
the embodiment.
[0067] FIG. 40 is a plane view of an adjusting area in accordance
with the embodiment viewed from bottom.
[0068] FIG. 41 is an explosive perspective view showing the
adjusting area and a cover in accordance with the embodiment viewed
from bottom.
[0069] FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing the operating
portion and the adjusting portion in accordance with the
embodiment.
[0070] FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing the operating
portion and the adjusting portion in accordance with the
embodiment.
[0071] FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view showing the operating
portion and the adjusting portion in accordance with the
embodiment.
BEST MODES OF EMBODYING THE INVENTION
[0072] Embodiments of the invention will be described with
reference to drawings.
[0073] <First Embodiment>
[0074] A first embodiment of the invention will be described in
detail with reference to drawings thereof shown in FIG. 1 through
FIG. 15.
[0075] FIG. 1 is a general side view of a chair X1 showing an
embodiment of the present claimed invention. The chair X1 basically
comprises a base leg X2, a support base X3 mounted on the base leg
X2 and a seat X4 and a back X5 both of which are supported by the
support base X3 and the chair X1 functionally has, as shown in FIG.
1 through FIG. 4, at least a back and a seat rocking function to
interlock and rock the seat X4 and the back X5, a forward inclining
angle adjusting function to adjust a forward inclining angle of the
seat X4, a back reclining function to recline the back X5 alone, a
back and a seat boundary portion adjusting function to move or
transform a boundary portion between the back and the seat and a
back and a seat up and down function to adjust a height of the seat
X4 and the back X5.
[0076] More specifically, the support base X3 is lengthy and so
arranged that a bottom end of the support base X3 is fittingly
fixed over a top end of a support post X2a that constitutes the
base leg X2 and that a top end of the support base X3 extends at an
angle to a forward direction.
[0077] The seat X4 is so arranged that a face X4b to be seated is
mounted on a frame-shaped seat frame X4a.
[0078] The back X5 is so arranged that a covering member X5b is
mounted on a front face of a frame-shaped back support rod X5a and
has an appearance of upstanding continuously from a rear end of the
seat X4. A backrest face of the back X5 is cushioned by making use
of tension of the covering member X5b.
[0079] Next, an arrangement to achieve the above-mentioned function
will be explained.
[0080] The back and the seat rocking function is, as shown in FIG.
1 and FIG. 2, a function to engage and incline the seat X4 and the
back X5 from an ordinal use position (FIG. 1) to the most forwardly
inclined position (FIG. 2) and the seat X4 makes a motion rearward
with taking a rearward inclined posture in accordance with a
rearward inclined motion of the back X5 by making use of a
four-side link mechanism XK1 lying between the support base X3, the
seat X4 and the back X5.
[0081] The four-side link mechanism XK1 is, as shown in FIG. 1, so
arranged that edges of four link members X6a, X6b, X6c, X6d are
rotatably connected through shafts Xt1, Xt2, Xt3, Xt4 so that
connected points form a trapezium in a side view wherein the
support base X3 serves as a lower link member X6a, the seat frame
X4a serves as an upper link member X6b, the back support rod X5
(the lower frame X5c that will be described later) serves as a rear
link member X6c and a front link member X6d is arranged to connect
front ends of the support base X3 and the seat frame X4a.
[0082] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, a rocking
switch mechanism XK2 is provided in order to switch the back and
the seat rocking function from an operable condition to an
inoperable condition and conversely. The rocking switch mechanism
XK2 is so made that one end of a first gas spring XGS1, which is a
stretching member whose length can be switched from a free
condition wherein the length can be stretched or contracted freely
to a locked condition wherein the length is fixed, is rotatably
fixed to the support base X3 at a position which is deviated from
the shaft Xt3 connecting the front link member X6d and that the
other end of the first gas spring XGS1 is rotatably connected with
the front link member X6d at a position Xt6 which is deviated from
the shaft Xt3 connecting the support base X3. When the first gas
spring XGS1 is in the free condition, force is applied to the front
link member X6d to incline forward due to stretching force of the
first gas spring XGS1 so as to urge the seat X4 and the back X5 to
incline forward.
[0083] A switch button XB1 provided at the end of the first gas
spring XGS1 is operated to switch the first gas spring XGS1 from
the free condition to the locked condition and conversely and the
switch button XB1 is connected to a first operating portion X14
that will be described later through a link wire XW1 and a
condition of the first gas spring XGS1 can be switched from a
condition wherein the seat X4 and the back X5 make a rocking motion
to a condition wherein the seat X4 and the back X5 can be fixed at
a desired angle and conversely by operating the first operating
portion X14.
[0084] The forward inclining angle adjusting function is to switch
a moving end of the seat X4 and the back X5 by the four-side link
mechanism Xk1 to either one of an ordinal use position (FIG. 1)
wherein the face X4b is generally horizontal and a most forward
inclined position (FIG. 4) wherein the face X4b inclines forward a
little by making use of a forward inclining angle adjusting
mechanism XST1.
[0085] In this embodiment the forward inclining angle adjusting
mechanism XST1, whose details are shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15,
comprises a projecting portion X6d1 provided at an upper end of the
front link member X6d and a control member X41 provided at a
position corresponding to the projecting portion X6d1.
[0086] The control member X41 is, as shown in FIG. 14, mounted on a
shaft X42 provided to bridge over a rib X43a of the seat frame X4a
and the control member X41 is in a disk shape of a certain
thickness with a wedge portion X41a projecting from an outer
circumference of the disk shape. A guide cam X44 is mounted on an
outer circumference of the rib X43a of the seat frame X4a at one
end of the shaft X42 and an inclined cam X45 is provided to face to
the guide cam X44 and a rotational direction of the control member
X41 can be switched from an x direction to a y direction and
conversely by an action of the inclined cam X45. The guide cam X44
is in a disk shape and a mountain portion X44m protruded from a
surface of the disk shape is provided so as to position at a valley
portion X45v of the inclined cam X45 that faces to the guide cam
X44.
[0087] The inclined cam X45 is a slope one side of which facing to
the guide cam X44 provided are the valley portion X45v and a
mountain portion X45m and the other side of which is pushed toward
an axial direction by a spring X46 so as to guide the mountain
portion X44m of the guide cam X44 to the valley portion X45v of the
inclined cam X45. The spring X46 is arranged between the inclined
cam X45 and a side wall X43b of the seat frame X4a and is mounted
on a rotational shaft XJ on which a lever X47 is mounted by winding
around the rotational shaft XJ.
[0088] Next, for the chair X1 of the above arrangement a case
wherein the seat X4 is moved from an ordinal use position (FIG. 1)
to the most forward inclined position (FIG. 4) will be
explained.
[0089] First, in a state of the ordinal use position (FIG. 1) a
positional relationship between the front link member X6d and the
control member X41 and that of the guide cam X44 and the inclined
cam X45 are shown in FIG. 15(a), namely, the wedge portion X41a of
the control member X41 is wedged between the projecting portion
X6d1 of the front link member X6d and a top plate of the seat frame
X4a. In this state the rotational shaft XJ is rotated to the y
direction more than 90 degrees until the rotational shaft XJ
reaches a rotation-controlled position, not shown in drawings, and
then halted. Then the mountain position X45m of the inclined cam
x45 is rotated, as shown in FIG. 15(b), with making a sliding
motion on the rotational shaft XJ to be separated from the guide
cam X44 until the mountain portion X45m reaches a position beyond
the mountain portion X44m of the guide cam X44. Since the inclined
cam X45 is pushed toward the guide cam X44 by the spring X46, the
mountain portion X44m of the guide cam X44 is likely to rotate to
the x direction after sliding down the mountain portion X45m of the
inclined cam X45, however the control member X41 and the guide cam
X44 are in a condition of being unable to rotate because the wedge
portion X41a of the control member X41 is wedged by the projecting
portion X6d1 of the front link member X6d and a top plate X43c of
the seat frame X4a.
[0090] With this condition kept, when a user of the chair X1
reclines the seat X4 and the back X5 rearward, the four-side link
mechanism XK1 comprising the seat frame X4a, the front link member
X6d, the lower flame X5c and the support base X3 transforms so as
to rotate the front link member X6d around the shaft Xt3 to the x
direction. With this motion, the projecting portion X6d1 of the
front link member X6d faces downward, which makes a space between
the wedge portion X41a and the top plate X43c open, as shown in
FIG. 15(c), and then the guide cam X44 rotates to the x direction
that is reverse to a direction to which the inclined cam X45 is
operated so that the mountain portion X44m of the guide cam X44
locates at the valley portion X45v of the inclined cam X45. In
accordance with this motion, the inclined cam X45 rotates so as to
return to the x direction and then halted in a state of being
rotated at generally 90 degrees from the ordinal use position (FIG.
15(a)).
[0091] With this condition kept, when the seat X4 and the back X5
are returned to the original position, the four-side link mechanism
XK1 transforms so that the front link member X6d inclines forward
and the seat frame X4a on which the seat X4 is mounted inclines
forward. In accordance with this motion, the back X5 rotates around
the shaft Xt2 so as to incline forward (FIG. 15(d)).
[0092] In order to return the chair X1 from the forward inclining
position (FIG. 15(d)) to the ordinal use position (a position
wherein the front link member X6d is upright), the rotational shaft
XJ is rotated more than 90 degrees toward the x direction until it
reaches the rotation controlled position, not shown in drawings and
halted. In accordance with this motion, the mountain portion X45m
of the inclined cam X45 goes beyond the mountain portion X44m of
the guide cam X44 and then the mountain portion X44m of the guide
cam X45 rotates to the y direction like sliding down the mountain
portion X45m of the inclined cam X45 by a pushing force of the
spring X4f. Rotation of the rotational shaft XJ is halted when the
wedge portion X41a of the control member X41 contacts the
projecting portion X6d1 of the front link member X6d and the chair
X1 is kept at the ordinal use position (the position at which the
front link member X6d is upright.
[0093] With this condition kept, when the seat X4 and the back X5
are inclined rearward, the four-side link mechanism XK1 transforms
and the front link member X6d rotates to the x direction around the
shaft Xt3. In accordance with this motion, the projecting portion
X6d1 of the front link member X6d faces downward, as shown in FIG.
15(f), and a space between the wedge portion X41a of the control
member X41 and the top plate X43c of the seat frame X4a is made
open so that the wedge portion X41a of the control member X41
rotates and is wedged in the space.
[0094] With this condition kept, when the seat X4 and the back X5
is returned to the original position, the front link member X6d
transforms so as to return to the original position, which controls
rotation of the front link member X6d at the position where the
wedge portion X41a of the control member X41 is wedged. In
accordance with this motion, the seat frame X4a on which the seat
X4 is mounted is set generally horizontal and is kept in the
ordinal use position (the front link member X6d is upright).
[0095] The back reclining function is a function to recline the
back X5 alone and realized by the back reclining mechanism XK3. The
back reclining mechanism XK3 is, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3,
wherein the back support rod X5a comprises the lower frame X5c that
locates under the seat frame X4a and an upper frame X5d that mainly
corresponds to a backrest face and that is rotatably connected with
the lower frame X5c through a shaft Xt5 extending right and left
horizontally, so arranged that the upper frame X5d can be reclined
to the lower frame X5c between an upright posture (shown in FIG. 1)
and the most reclined posture (shown in FIG. 3). The upper frame
X5d always receives force by a spring XS1 as an elastic member to a
direction so as to take the upright posture and the spring XS1 is
arranged in the lower frame X5d with a direction to extend or
contract coinciding with a longitudinal direction of the lower
frame X5c. The shaft Xt5 is set between the shaft Xt1 and the shaft
Xt2 each of which constitutes the four-side link mechanism XK1 and
a shaft of reclining the back X5 when the back X5 is reclined
rearward by the use of the back reclining function and a shaft of
reclining the back X5 when the back X5 is reclined rearward by the
use of the back and the seat rocking function are arranged to be
different. The spring XS1 is omitted to draw in FIG. 2 and FIG.
4.
[0096] Further in this embodiment a back reclining switch mechanism
XK4 is provided to switch the back reclining function from an
operable condition to an inoperable condition and conversely. The
back reclining switch mechanism XK4 is, as shown in FIG. 11 through
FIG. 13, to switch rotation of the upper frame X5d to the lower
frame X5c from a condition wherein rotation is prohibited to a
condition wherein rotation is allowed. More concretely, concave
portions X5d1, X5c1 are provided at positions which overlap each
other viewed from side in the upright posture and which deviate
from the shaft Xt5 on the upper frame X5d and the lower frame X5c
respectively, and the back reclining mechanism XK4 can be in an
inoperable state when a pin X7 is inserted into the concave
portions X5d1 and X5c1 and in an operable state when the pin X7 is
drawn out of the holes X5d1 and X5c1.
[0097] The pin X7 is inserted into the hole X5d1 as a concave
portion of the upper frame X5d through the hole X5c1 as a concavity
of the lower frame X5c and a fringe portion X7a is arranged at an
opposite side of the pin X7 that is inserted into the holes X5d1
and X5c1 so that the pin X7 is kept out of at least the hole X5d1
of the upper frame X5d when no external force is applied thereto as
shown in FIG. 13 due to a coil spring XS2 arranged between the
fringe portion X7a and inner face of the upper frame X5d.
[0098] A pin insertion hole X4a1 which opens to an outer face X4a2
of the seat frame X4a and into which the pin X7 can be inserted is
arranged on the seat frame X4a that is arranged inner side to the
upper frame X5d and the lower frame X5c, a pushing member X8 that
travels to and fro inside the pin insertion hole X4a1 is mounted on
the pin insertion hole X4a1 and the pin X7 is pushed outward by the
pushing member X8 so as to be fittingly inserted into the hole X5d1
of the upper frame X5d. The pushing member X8 is so set that can
travel to and fro between a position wherein a face X8a that pushes
the pin X7 is flat to the outer face X4a2 (shown in FIG. 11) and a
position wherein the face X8a is recessed inward to the outer face
X4a2 (shown in FIG. 12) and the motion of traveling to and fro is
made by an operation of the first operating portion X14 through a
motion transmission mechanism XD1 (shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 13).
The motion transmission mechanism XD1 comprises the link frame X9
whose one end is rotatably connected with the pushing member X8, a
rotatable arm X10 whose rotatable end is connected with another end
of the link frame X9 and that is rotatably supported by the seat
frame X4a and a link wire XW1a whose one end is connected with the
rotatable end of the rotatable arm X10 and that rotates the
rotatable arm X10 by transmitting an operation of the first
operating portion X14.
[0099] In case that the upper frame X5d takes an upright posture to
the lower frame X5c (shown in FIG. 1), when the first operating
portion X14 is operated to drive the pushing member X8 to a pushed
position, the pin X7 is inserted into the holes X5d1 and X5c1,
which prohibits the back X5 from rotating. When the first operating
portion X14 is operated in a reverse manner, the pin X7 comes out
of the hole X5d1 of the upper frame X5d due to the coil spring XS2,
which allows the back X5 to rotate.
[0100] In order to draw the pin X7 out of the hole X5d1 of the
upper frame X5d, a length of the pin X7 is set so that a face that
is opposite to a face to be inserted locates inside of the outside
face of the seat frame X4a. More specifically, the pin X7 should be
inserted into the pin insertion hole X4a1 in order to draw the pin
X7 out of the hole X5d1 of the upper frame X5d, wherein the pin
insertion hole X4a1 overlaps the hole X5c1 of the lower frame X5c
in a side view, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, only when the seat
X4 and the back X5 are in the ordinal use position for the seat and
back rocking function while the pin insertion hole X4a1 does not
overlap the holes X5d1 and X5c1 in a side view when the seat X4 and
the back X5 are in a state other than the ordinal use position. As
a result, when the seat X4 and the back X5 are in the state other
than the ordinal use position, the back reclining function can not
be produced since the pin X7 can not be pulled out of the hole X5d1
because the opposite face to be inserted makes an abutment contact
with the outer face X4a2 of the seat frame X4a even though the user
tries to draw the pin X7 out of the hole X5d1.
[0101] The first operating portion X14 serves as two functions such
as a switch of the first gas spring XGS1 from the free condition to
the locked condition and a switch of the pushing member X8 from a
pressed position to an unpressed position, and in this embodiment
when the first operating portion X14 is operated to a predetermined
direction the first gas spring XGS1 is set in the free condition
and the pushing member X8 is set at the pressed position, while the
first operating portion X14 is set in the locked condition and the
pushing member X8 is set at the unpressed position when the first
operating portion X14 is operated to the opposite direction.
[0102] The back and the seat boundary moving function is a
function, as shown in FIG. 1, which changes a inclined angle of the
rear portion of the face X4b and a projecting length of a lower
portion of the backrest and makes use of an inclining body X12 that
is arranged rear of the seat frame X4a in an inclinable condition
and a lumber support arm X13 integrally formed with a rear end of
the inclining body X12.
[0103] The inclining body X12 is a pair of right and left frames
extending back and forth and arranged below a rear end of a cushion
or the like that constitutes the face X4b, and the front end of the
inclining body X12 is rotatably connected with the back support rod
X5 (the lower frame X5c) through the shaft Xt1. The inclining body
X12 supports a rear portion X4b1 of the face X4b in an inclinable
manner between a lower position XL (shown by a solid line in FIG.
1) wherein the rear portion X4b1 is generally horizontal to the
front portion X4b2 of the face X4b and an upper position XU (shown
by an imaginary line in FIG. 1) wherein the rear portion X4b1 of
the face X4b locates higher than a front portion thereof.
[0104] The lumbar support arm X13 is integrally formed with a rear
end of the inclining body X12 to make a right angle in a side view
and supports the covering member X5b that forms a lower portion of
the backrest from right and left thereof. The inclining body X12
projects forward in accordance as it makes a motion from the lower
position XL to the upper position XU so as to project a lower
portion of the backrest forward with increasing tension of the
covering member X5b. A bent portion X13a that is bent to form an
ark rearward is provided at a proximal end of the lumber support
arm X13 provided is so as to improve a feeling to touch a lumber of
a person who sits on this chair.
[0105] In this embodiment, a switch mechanism XK5 is provided to
switch on/off of the back and the seat boundary moving function.
The switch mechanism XK5 makes use of a second gas spring XGS2 as a
stretching member whose length can be switched from a free
condition wherein a length of the second gas spring XGS2 can be
stretched or contracted freely to a locked condition wherein the
length thereof is fixed by operating a switch button XB5 provided
at an end of the second gas spring XGS2. One end of the second gas
spring XGS2 is rotatably connected to a shaft Xt1 that connects the
back support rod X5a (more concretely, a lower frame X5c) with the
seat frame X4a and another end thereof is rotatably connected at a
position which is deviated from a shaft Xt5 connecting the back
support rod X5a. In this embodiment, when the second gas spring
XGS2 is set in the free condition, force is applied to the
inclining body X12 to incline it forward due to stretching force of
the second gas spring XGS2. The switch button XB5 is connected to a
second operating portion X15 which will be described later through
a link wire XW2, and a state of the second gas spring XGS2 is
switched by an operation of the second operating portion X15 from a
state in which the back and the seat boundary portion can be moved
or transformed to a state in which the back and the seat boundary
portion is fixed to a desired shape.
[0106] A seat up and down function is a function to move the seat
X4 and the back X5 up and down and is so arranged that a support
post X2a comprising the base leg X2 is made of a third gas spring
XGS3 (shown in FIG. 7) and that a length of the support post X2a is
varied by making use of extension or contraction of the third gas
spring XGS3 so as to move the seat X4 and the back X5 up and down.
The third gas spring XGS3 is switched by a forth operating portion
X17 that will be described later.
[0107] In this embodiment, the first, second, third and forth
operating portions X14, X15, X16 and X17 are, as shown in FIG. 7,
gathered in a line in this order from the rear to the front at the
lower portion of the right side edge of the seat X4.
[0108] Each of the operating portions X14 through X17 is, as shown
in FIG. 5 through FIG. 10, in a shape of a thin rectangular plate
and has the same shape except for a proximal end thereof. Each of
the proximal ends of the operating portions X14 through X17 is
supported in a rotatable condition around a horizontal shaft that
extends back and forth by an operating portion support frame X18
that is fixed to the seat frame X4a and each of operational ends as
distal ends thereof is arranged so as to protrude from a side of
the chair X1 when the chair X1 is in a horizontal posture. Further
each of the operational ends is arranged at the same height when
the chair X1 is in the horizontal posture. Each shafts X19 of the
operating portions X14 through X17 is arranged to be in the same
line.
[0109] The first operating portion X14 switches, as described
hereinbefore, on-off of the rocking function and fixes the seat X4
and the back X5 at a desired angle, while it switches on-off of the
back reclining function as well. The first operating portion X14 is
so arranged, as shown in FIG. 8, to make a toggle motion that is
stabilized in a horizontal posture (solid line in FIG. 8) wherein
the operational end projects outside of the chair X1 and a vertical
posture (broken line in FIG. 8) wherein the operational end is
rotated downward. More concretely, a point X14a connecting the link
wire XW1 with the first operating portion X14 is set at a position
that is deviated from the shaft X19 of the first operating portion
X14 and that bridges between an virtual line connecting a tube
fixing point X18a1 arranged on the operation portion support frame
X18 and the shaft X19 of the first operating portion X14 in
accordance with a rotating motion of the first operating portion
X14 between the horizontal posture and the vertical posture. The
link wire XW1 is so arranged that force is always applied to pull
the first operating portion X14 inward by an elastic member that is
not shown in drawings so as to produce an effect of making a toggle
motion. The rocking function is in a non-operational state in a
horizontal posture and in an operational state in a vertical
posture. The link wire XW1 is bifurcated halfway to form the link
wire wires XW1a and XW1b, each of which is connected to the
rotatable arm X10 or the first gas spring XGS1. A concavity and
convexity XQ is partially provided on an upper face of the distal
end of the first operating portion X14 so that the user is able to
recognize the first operating portion X14 with his or her finger
easily.
[0110] The second operating portion X15 is, as described before, to
switch on-off of the back and the seat boundary portion moving
function and to fix the back and the seat boundary portion in a
desired form and is connected with the operating button of the
second gas spring XGS2 through the link wire XW2. The second
operating portion X15 is urged to take a horizontal posture by an
elastic member such as a spring, not shown in drawings, in a
natural state when no force is applied thereto and it makes a
motion like a momentary switch. In the horizontal posture the
second gas spring XGS2 is set in a fixed condition. Then when the
user of the chair X1 operates the second operating portion X15 to
rotate upward against the above-mentioned urging force as shown in
FIG. 9, the second gas spring XGS2 is set in a free condition so
that the inclining body X12 and the lumber support arm X13 can be
inclined. A concavity and convexity XQ is provided on a lower face
of the distal end of the second operating portion X15 partially so
that the user can recognize the second operating portion X15 with
his or her finger easily.
[0111] The third operating portion X16 shown in FIG. 10 is, as
described hereinbefore, to switch an end of the seat X4 and the
back X5 that are moved forward by the four-side link mechanism XK1
to either one of an ordinal use position wherein the face X4b is
generally horizontal or to the most forward inclined position
wherein the face X4b inclines forward a little. More concretely,
the face X4b can be set in the ordinal use position when the third
operating portion X16 is operated to take the horizontal posture,
while the face X4b can be set in the most forwardly inclined
position when the third operating portion X16 is operated to take
the vertical posture.
[0112] The forth operating portion X17 is, as described
hereinbefore, to adjust a height of the seat X4 and the back X5 and
is connected to the operating button of the third gas spring XGS3
through a link wire XW4. The forth operating portion X17 is urged
to take a horizontal posture by an elastic member such as a spring,
not shown in drawings, in a natural state when no force is applied
thereto and makes a motion like a momentary switch. In the
horizontal posture the third gas spring XGS3 is set in a fixed
condition. Then when the user of the chair X1 operates the forth
operating portion X17 to rotate upward against the above-mentioned
urging force, the third gas spring XGS3 is set in a free condition
so that the seat X4 and the back X5 can be moved up and down. A
concavity and convexity XQ is provided on a lower face of the
distal end of the forth operating portion X17 so that the user can
recognize the forth operating portion X17 with his or her finger
easily.
[0113] This invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment and the operating portions are not limited to the
above-described four. For example, in case a function is added to
the face X4b to allow a sliding motion back and forth, an operating
portion may be arranged at a position whose height is the same as
that of other existing operating portions, which will improve
operationality. In this case, it is a matte of course that a
relative distance between each operating portions changes due to
the sliding motion depending on a position at which the operating
portion is arranged.
[0114] Further, a shape of each operating portions may not be the
same, a width of the operating portions may be varied and it is a
matter of course that a distance between the operating portions is
not limited to the same.
[0115] <Second Embodiment>
[0116] A second embodiment of the invention will be described in
detail with reference to drawings thereof shown in FIG. 16 through
FIG. 32.
[0117] FIG. 16 is a general side view of a chair Y1 showing an
embodiment of the present claimed invention. The chair Y1 basically
comprises a base leg Y2, a support base Y3 mounted on the base leg
Y2 and a seat Y4 and a back Y5 both of which are supported by the
support base Y3 and the chair Y1 functionally has, as shown in FIG.
16 through FIG. 19, at least a back and a seat rocking function to
interlock and rock the seat Y4 and the back Y5, a forward inclining
angle adjusting function to adjust a forward inclining angle of the
seat Y4, a back reclining function to recline the back Y5 alone, a
back and a seat boundary portion adjusting function to move or
transform a boundary portion between the back and the seat and a
back and a seat up and down function to adjust a height of the seat
Y4 and the back Y5.
[0118] More specifically, the support base Y3 is lengthy and so
arranged that a bottom end of the support base Y3 is fittingly
fixed over a top end of a support post Y2a that constitutes the
base leg Y2 and that a top end of the support base Y3 extends at an
angle to a forward direction.
[0119] The seat Y4 is so arranged that a face Y4b to be seated is
mounted on a frame-shaped seat frame Y4a.
[0120] The back Y5 is so arranged that a covering member Y5b is
mounted on a front face of a frame-shaped back support rod Y5a and
has an appearance of upstanding continuously from a rear end of the
seat Y4. A backrest face of the back Y5 is cushioned by making use
of tension of the covering member Y5b.
[0121] Next, an arrangement to achieve the above-mentioned function
will be explained.
[0122] The back and the seat rocking function is, as shown in FIG.
16 and FIG. 17, a function to engage and incline the seat Y4 and
the back Y5 from an ordinal use position (FIG. 16) to the most
forwardly inclined position (FIG. 17) and the seat Y4 makes a
motion rearward with taking a rearward inclined posture in
accordance with a rearward inclined motion of the back Y5 by making
use of a four-side link mechanism YK1 lying between the support
base Y3, the seat Y4 and the back Y5.
[0123] The four-side link mechanism YK1 is, as shown in FIG. 16, so
arranged that edges of four link members Y6a, Y6b, Y6c, Y6d are
rotatably connected through shafts Yt1, Yt2, Yt3, Yt4 so that
connected points form a trapezium in a side view wherein the
support base Y3 serves as a lower link member Y6a, the seat frame
Y4a serves as an upper link member Y6b, the back support rod Y5
(the lower frame Y5c that will be described later) serves as a rear
link member Y6c and a front link member Y6d is arranged to connect
front ends of the support base Y3 and the seat frame Y4a.
[0124] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, FIG. 17, a rocking
switch mechanism YK2 is provided in order to switch the back and
the seat rocking function from an operable condition to an
inoperable condition and conversely. The rocking switch mechanism
YK2 is so made that one end of a first gas spring YGS1, which is a
stretching member whose length can be switched from a free
condition wherein the length can be stretched or contracted freely
to a locked condition wherein the length is fixed, is rotatably
fixed to the support base Y3 at a position which is deviated from
the shaft Yt3 connecting the front link member Y6d and that the
other end of the first gas spring YGS1 is rotatably connected with
the front link member Y6d at a position Yt6 which is deviated from
the shaft Yt3 connecting the support base Y3. When the first gas
spring YGS1 is in the free condition, force is applied to the front
link member Y6d to incline forward due to stretching force of the
first gas spring YGS1 so as to urge the seat Y4 and the back Y5 to
incline forward.
[0125] A switch button YB1 provided at the end of the first gas
spring YGS1 is operated to switch the first gas spring YGS1 from
the free condition to the locked condition and conversely and the
switch button YB1 is connected to a first operating portion Y14
that will be described later through a link wire YW1 and a
condition of the first gas spring YGS1 can be switched from a
condition wherein the seat Y4 and the back Y5 make a rocking motion
to a condition wherein the seat Y4 and the back Y5 can be fixed at
a desired angle and conversely by operating the first operating
portion Y14.
[0126] The forward inclining angle adjusting function is to switch
a moving end of the seat Y4 and the back Y5 by the four-side link
mechanism Yk1 to either one of an ordinal use position (FIG. 16)
wherein the face Y4b is generally horizontal and a most forward
inclined position (FIG. 19) wherein the face Y4b inclines forward a
little by making use of a forward inclining angle adjusting
mechanism YST1.
[0127] In this embodiment the forward inclining angle adjusting
mechanism YST1, whose details are shown in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30,
comprises a projecting portion Y6d1 provided at an upper end of the
front link member Y6d and a control member Y41 provided at a
position corresponding to the projecting portion Y6d1.
[0128] The control member Y41 is, as shown in FIG. 29, mounted on a
shaft Y42 provided to bridge over a rib Y43a of the seat frame Y4a
and the control member Y41 is in a disk shape of a certain
thickness with a wedge portion Y41a projecting from an outer
circumference of the disk shape. A guide cam Y44 is mounted on an
outer circumference of the rib Y43a of the seat frame Y4a at one
end of the shaft Y42 and an inclined cam Y45 is provided to face to
the guide cam Y44 and a rotational direction of the control member
Y41 can be switched from an x direction to a y direction and
conversely by an action of the inclined cam Y45. The guide cam Y44
is in a disk shape and a mountain portion Y44m protruded from a
surface of the disk shape is provided so as to position at a valley
portion Y45v of the inclined cam Y45 that faces to the guide cam
Y44.
[0129] The inclined cam Y45 is a slope one side of which facing to
the guide cam Y44 provided are the valley portion Y45v and a
mountain portion Y45m and the other side of which is pushed toward
an axial direction by a spring Y46 so as to guide the mountain
portion Y44m of the guide cam Y44 to the valley portion Y45v of the
inclined cam Y45. The spring Y46 is arranged between the inclined
cam Y45 and a side wall Y43b of the seat frame Y4a and is mounted
on a rotational shaft YJ on which a lever Y47 is mounted by winding
around the rotational shaft YJ.
[0130] Next, for the chair Y1 of the above arrangement a case
wherein the seat Y4 is moved from an ordinal use position (FIG. 16)
to the most forward inclined position (FIG. 19) will be
explained.
[0131] First, in a state of the ordinal use position (FIG. 16) a
positional relationship between the front link member Y6d and the
control member Y41 and that of the guide cam Y44 and the inclined
cam Y45 are shown in FIG. 30(a), namely, the wedge portion Y41a of
the control member Y41 is wedged between the projecting portion
Y6d1 of the front link member Y6d and a top plate of the seat frame
Y4a. In this state the rotational shaft YJ is rotated to the y
direction more than 90 degrees until the rotational shaft YJ
reaches a rotation-controlled position, not shown in drawings, and
then halted. Then the mountain position Y45m of the inclined cam
Y45 is rotated, as shown in FIG. 30(b), with making a sliding
motion on the rotational shaft YJ to be separated from the guide
cam Y44 until the mountain portion Y45m reaches a position beyond
the mountain portion Y44m of the guide cam Y44. Since the inclined
cam Y45 is pushed toward the guide cam Y44 by the spring Y46, the
mountain portion Y44m of the guide cam Y44 is likely to rotate to
the x direction after sliding down the mountain portion Y45m of the
inclined cam Y45, however the control member Y41 and the guide cam
Y44 are in a condition of being unable to rotate because the wedge
portion Y41a of the control member Y41 is wedged by the projecting
portion Y6d1 of the front link member Y6d and a top plate Y43c of
the seat frame Y4a.
[0132] With this condition kept, when a user of the chair Y1
reclines the seat Y4 and the back Y5 rearward, the four-side link
mechanism YK1 comprising the seat frame Y4a, the front link member
Y6d, the lower flame Y5c and the support base Y3 transforms so as
to rotate the front link member Y6d around the shaft Yt3 to the x
direction. With this motion, the projecting portion Y6d1 of the
front link member Y6d faces downward, which makes a space between
the projecting portion Y6d1 and the top plate Y43c open, as shown
in FIG. 30(c), and then the guide cam Y44 rotates to the x
direction that is reverse to a direction to which the inclined cam
Y45 is operated so that the mountain portion Y44m of the guide cam
Y44 locates at the valley portion Y45v of the inclined cam Y45. In
accordance with this motion, the inclined cam Y45 rotates so as to
return to the x direction and then halted in a state of being
rotated at generally 90 degrees from the ordinal use position (FIG.
30(a)).
[0133] With this condition kept, when the seat Y4 and the back Y5
are returned to the original position, the four-side link mechanism
YK1 transforms so that the front link member Y6d inclines forward
and the seat frame Y4a on which the seat Y4 is mounted inclines
forward. In accordance with this motion, the back Y5 rotates around
the shaft Yt2 so as to incline forward (FIG. 30(d)).
[0134] In order to return the chair Y1 from the forward inclining
position (FIG. 30(d)) to the ordinal use position (a position
wherein the front link member Y6d is upright), the rotational shaft
YJ is rotated more than 90 degrees toward the x direction until it
reaches the rotation controlled position, not shown in drawings and
halted. In accordance with this motion, the mountain portion Y45m
of the inclined cam Y45 goes beyond the mountain portion Y44m of
the guide cam Y44 and then the mountain portion Y44m of the guide
cam Y45 rotates to the y direction like sliding down the mountain
portion Y45m of the inclined cam Y45 by a pushing force of the
spring Y4f. Rotation of the rotational shaft YJ is halted when the
wedge portion Y41a of the control member Y41 contacts the
projecting portion Y6d1 of the front link member Y6d and the chair
Y1 is kept at the ordinal use position (the position at which the
front link member Y6d is upright.
[0135] With this condition kept, when the seat Y4 and the back Y5
are inclined rearward, the four-side link mechanism YK1 transforms
and the front link member Y6d rotates to the x direction around the
shaft Yt3. In accordance with this motion, the projecting portion
Y6d1 of the front link member Y6d faces downward, as shown in FIG.
30(f), and a space between the wedge portion Y41a of the control
member Y41 and the top plate Y43c of the seat frame Y4a is made
open so that the wedge portion Y41a of the control member Y41
rotates and is wedged in the space.
[0136] With this condition kept, when the seat Y4 and the back Y5
is returned to the original position, the front link member Y6d
transforms so as to return to the original position, which controls
rotation of the front link member Y6d at the position where the
wedge portion Y41a of the control member Y41 is wedged. In
accordance with this motion, the seat frame Y4a on which the seat
Y4 is mounted is set generally horizontal and is kept in the
ordinal use position (the front link member Y6d is upright)
[0137] The back reclining function is a function to recline the
back Y5 alone and realized by the back reclining mechanism YK3. The
back reclining mechanism YK3 is, as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 18,
wherein the back support rod Y5a comprises the lower frame Y5c that
locates under the seat frame Y4a and an upper frame Y5d that mainly
corresponds to a backrest face and that is rotatably connected with
the lower frame Y5c through a shaft Yt5 extending right and left
horizontally, so arranged that the upper frame Y5d can be reclined
to the lower frame Y5c between an upright posture (shown in FIG.
16) and the most reclined posture (shown in FIG. 18). The upper
frame Y5d always receives force by a spring YS1 as an elastic
member to a direction so as to take the upright posture and the
spring YS1 is arranged in the lower frame Y5d with a direction to
extend or contract coinciding with a longitudinal direction of the
lower frame Y5c. The shaft Yt5 is set between the shaft Yt1 and the
shaft Yt2 each of which constitutes the four-side link mechanism
YK1 and a shaft of reclining the back Y5 when the back Y5 is
reclined rearward by the use of the back reclining function and a
shaft of reclining the back Y5 when the back Y5 is reclined
rearward by the use of the back and the seat rocking function are
arranged to be different. The spring YS1 is omitted to draw in FIG.
17 and FIG. 19.
[0138] Further in this embodiment a back reclining switch mechanism
YK4 is provided to switch the back reclining function from an
operable condition to an inoperable condition and conversely. The
back reclining switch mechanism YK4 is, as shown in FIG. 26 through
FIG. 28, to switch rotation of the upper frame Y5d to the lower
frame Y5c from a condition wherein rotation is prohibited to a
condition wherein rotation is allowed. More concretely, holes Y5d1,
Y5c1 are provided at positions which overlap each other viewed from
side in the upright posture and which deviate from the shaft Yt5 on
the upper frame Y5d and the lower frame Y5c respectively, and the
back reclining mechanism YK4 can be in an inoperable state when a
pin Y7 is inserted into the holes Y5d1 and Y5c1 and in an operable
state when the pin Y7 is drawn out of the holes Y5d1 and Y5c1.
[0139] The pin Y7 is inserted into the hole Y5d1 as a concavity of
the upper frame Y5d through the hole Y5c1 as a concavity of the
lower frame Y5c and a fringe portion Y7a is arranged at an opposite
side of the pin Y7 that is inserted into the holes Y5d1 and Y5c1 so
that the pin Y7 is kept out of at least the hole Y5d1 of the upper
frame Y5d when no external force is applied thereto as shown in
FIG. 28 due to a coil spring YS2 arranged between the fringe
portion Y7a and inner face of the upper frame Y5d.
[0140] A pin insertion hole Y4a1 which opens to an outer face Y4a2
of the seat frame Y4a and into which the pin Y7 can be inserted is
arranged on the seat frame Y4a that is arranged inner side to the
upper frame Y5d and the lower frame Y5c, a pushing member X8 that
travels to and fro inside the pin insertion hole X4a1 is mounted on
the pin insertion hole X4a1 and the pin Y7 is pushed outward by the
pushing member Y8 so as to be fittingly inserted into the hole Y5d1
of the upper frame Y5d. The pushing member Y8 is so set that can
travel to and fro between a position wherein a face Y8a that pushes
the pin Y7 is flat to the outer face Y4a2 (shown in FIG. 26) and a
position wherein the face Y8a is recessed inward to the outer face
Y4a2 (shown in FIG. 27) and the motion of traveling to and fro is
made by an operation of the first operating portion Y14 through a
motion transmission mechanism YD1 (shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 28).
The motion transmission mechanism YD1 comprises the link frame Y9
whose one end is rotatably connected with the pushing member Y8, a
rotatable arm Y10 whose rotatable end is connected with another end
of the link frame Y9 and that is rotatably supported by the seat
frame Y4a and a link wire YW1a whose one end is connected with the
rotatable end of the rotatable arm Y10 and that rotates the
rotatable arm Y10 by transmitting an operation of the first
operating portion Y14.
[0141] In case that the upper frame Y5d takes an upright posture to
the lower frame Y5c (shown in FIG. 16), when the first operating
portion Y14 is operated to drive the pushing member Y8 to a pushed
position, the pin Y7 is inserted into the holes Y5d1 and Y5c1,
which prohibits the back Y5 from rotating. When the first operating
portion Y14 is operated in a reverse manner, the pin Y7 comes out
of the hole Y5d1 of the upper frame Y5d due to the coil spring YS2,
which allows the back Y5 to rotate.
[0142] In order to draw the pin Y7 out of the hole Y5d1 of the
upper frame Y5d, a length of the pin Y7 is set so that a face that
is opposite to a face to be inserted locates inside of the outside
face of the seat frame Y4a. More specifically, the pin Y7 should be
inserted into the pin insertion hole Y4a1 in order to draw the pin
Y7 out of the hole Y5d1 of the upper frame Y5d, wherein the pin
insertion hole Y4a1 overlaps the hole Y5c1 of the lower frame Y5c
in a side view, as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, only when the seat
Y4 and the back Y5 are in the ordinal use position for the seat and
back rocking function while the pin insertion hole Y4a1 does not
overlap the holes Y5d1 and Y5c1 in a side view when the seat Y4 and
the back Y5 are in a state other than the ordinal use position. As
a result, when the seat Y4 and the back Y5 are in the state other
than the ordinal use position, the back reclining function can not
be produced since the pin Y7 can not be pulled out of the hole Y5d1
because the opposite face to be inserted makes an abutment contact
with the outer face Y4a2 of the seat frame Y4a even though the user
tries to draw the pin Y7 out of the hole Y5d1.
[0143] The first operating portion Y14 serves as two functions such
as a switch of the first gas spring YGS1 from the free condition to
the locked condition and a switch of the pushing member Y8 from a
pressed position to an unpressed position, and in this embodiment
when the first operating portion Y14 is operated to a predetermined
direction the first gas spring YGS1 is set in the free condition
and the pushing member Y8 is set at the pressed position, while the
first operating portion Y14 is set in the locked condition and the
pushing member Y8 is set at the unpressed position when the first
operating portion Y14 is operated to the opposite direction.
[0144] The back and the seat boundary moving function is a
function, as shown in FIG. 16, which changes a inclined angle of
the rear portion of the face Y4b and a projecting length of a lower
portion of the backrest and makes use of an inclining body Y12 that
is arranged rear of the seat frame Y4a in an inclinable condition
and a lumber support arm Y13 integrally formed with a rear end of
the inclining body Y12.
[0145] The inclining body Y12 is a pair of right and left frames
extending back and forth and arranged below a rear end of a cushion
or the like that constitutes the face Y4b, and the front end of the
inclining body Y12 is rotatably connected with the back support rod
Y5 (the lower frame Y5c) through the shaft Yt1. The inclining body
Y12 supports a rear portion Y4b1 of the face Y4b in an inclinable
manner between a lower position YL (shown by a solid line in FIG.
16) wherein the rear portion Y4b1 is generally horizontal to the
front portion Y4b2 of the face Y4b and an upper position YU (shown
by an imaginary line in FIG. 16) wherein the rear portion Y4b1 of
the face Y4b locates higher than a front portion thereof.
[0146] The lumbar support arm Y13 is integrally formed with a rear
end of the inclining body Y12 to make a right angle in a side view
and supports the covering member Y5b that forms a lower portion of
the backrest from right and left thereof. The inclining body Y12
projects forward in accordance as it makes a motion from the lower
position YL to the upper position YU so as to project a lower
portion of the backrest forward with increasing tension of the
covering member Y5b. A bent portion Y13a that is bent to form an
ark rearward is provided at a proximal end of the lumber support
arm Y13 provided is so as to improve a feeling to touch a lumber of
a person who sits on this chair.
[0147] In this embodiment, a switch mechanism YK5 is provided to
switch on/off of the back and the seat boundary moving function.
The switch mechanism YK5 makes use of a second gas spring YGS2 as a
stretching member whose length can be switched from a free
condition wherein a length of the second gas spring YGS2 can be
stretched or contracted freely to a locked condition wherein the
length thereof is fixed by operating a switch button YB5 provided
at an end of the second gas spring YGS2. One end of the second gas
spring YGS2 is rotatably connected to a shaft Yt1 that connects the
back support rod Y5a (more concretely, a lower frame Y5c) with the
seat frame Y4a and another end thereof is rotatably connected at a
position which is deviated from a shaft Yt5 connecting the back
support rod Y5a. In this embodiment, when the second gas spring
YGS2 is set in the free condition, force is applied to the
inclining body Y12 to incline it forward due to stretching force of
the second gas spring YGS2. The switch button YB5 is connected to a
second operating portion Y15 which will be described later through
a link wire YW2, and a state of the second gas spring YGS2 is
switched by an operation of the second operating portion Y15 from a
state in which the back and the seat boundary portion can be moved
or transformed to a state in which the back and the seat boundary
portion is fixed to a desired shape.
[0148] A seat up and down function is a function to move the seat
Y4 and the back Y5 up and down and is so arranged that a support
post Y2a comprising the base leg Y2 is made of a third gas spring
YGS3 (shown in FIG. 22) and that a length of the support post Y2a
is varied by making use of extension or contraction of the third
gas spring YGS3 so as to move the seat Y4 and the back Y5 up and
down. The third gas spring YGS3 is switched by a forth operating
portion Y17 that will be described later.
[0149] In this embodiment, the first, second, third and forth
operating portions Y14, Y15, Y16 and Y17 are, as shown in FIG. 22,
gathered in a line in this order from the rear to the front at the
lower portion of the right side edge of the seat Y4.
[0150] Each of the operating portions Y14 through Y17 is, as shown
in FIG. 20 through FIG. 25, in a shape of a thin rectangular plate
and has the same shape except for a proximal end thereof. Each of
the proximal ends of the operating portions Y14 through Y17 is
supported in a rotatable condition around a horizontal shaft that
extends back and forth by an operating portion support frame Y18
that is fixed to the seat frame Y4a and each of operational ends as
distal ends thereof is arranged so as to protrude from a side of
the chair Y1 when the chair Y1 is in a horizontal posture. Further
each of the operational ends is arranged at the same height when
the chair Y1 is in the horizontal posture. Each shafts Y19 of the
operating portions Y14 through Y17 is arranged to be in the same
line.
[0151] The first operating portion Y14 switches, as described
hereinbefore, on-off of the rocking function and fixes the seat Y4
and the back Y5 at a desired angle, while it switches on-off of the
back reclining function as well. The first operating portion Y14 is
so arranged, as shown in FIG. 23, to make a toggle motion that is
stabilized in a horizontal posture (solid line in FIG. 23) wherein
the operational end projects outside of the chair Y1 and a vertical
posture (broken line in FIG. 23) wherein the operational end is
rotated downward. More concretely, a point Y14a connecting the link
wire YW1 with the first operating portion Y14 is set at a position
that is deviated from the shaft Y19 of the first operating portion
Y14 and that bridges between an virtual line connecting a tube
fixing point Y18a1 arranged on the operation portion support frame
Y18 and the shaft Y19 of the first operating portion Y14 in
accordance with a rotating motion of the first operating portion
Y14 between the horizontal posture and the vertical posture. The
link wire YW1 is so arranged that force is always applied to pull
the first operating portion Y14 inward by an elastic member that is
not shown in drawings so as to produce an effect of making a toggle
motion. The rocking function is in a non-operational state in a
horizontal posture and in an operational state in a vertical
posture. The link wire YW1 is bifurcated halfway to form the link
wire wires YW1a and YW1b, each of which is connected to the
rotatable arm Y10 or the first gas spring YGS1. A concavity and
convexity YQ is partially provided on an upper face of the distal
end of the first operating portion Y14 so that the user is able to
recognize the first operating portion Y14 with his or her finger
easily.
[0152] The second operating portion Y15 is, as described before, to
switch on-off of the back and the seat boundary portion moving
function and to fix the back and the seat boundary portion in a
desired form and is connected with the operating button of the
second gas spring YGS2 through the link wire YW2. The second
operating portion Y15 is urged to take a horizontal posture by an
elastic member such as a spring, not shown in drawings, in a
natural state when no force is applied thereto and it makes a
motion like a momentary switch. In the horizontal posture the
second gas spring YGS2 is set in a fixed condition. Then when the
user of the chair Y1 operates the second operating portion Y15 to
rotate upward against the above-mentioned urging force as shown in
FIG. 24, the second gas spring YGS2 is set in a free condition so
that the inclining body Y12 and the lumber support arm Y13 can be
inclined. A concavity and convexity YQ is provided on a lower face
of the distal end of the second operating portion Y15 partially so
that the user can recognize the second operating portion Y15 with
his or her finger easily.
[0153] The third operating portion Y16 shown in FIG. 25 is, as
described hereinbefore, to switch an end of the seat Y4 and the
back Y5 that are moved forward by the four-side link mechanism YK1
to either one of an ordinal use position wherein the face Y4b is
generally horizontal or to the most forward inclined position
wherein the face Y4b inclines forward a little. More concretely,
the face Y4b can be set in the ordinal use position when the third
operating portion Y16 is operated to take the horizontal posture,
while the face Y4b can be set in the most forwardly inclined
position when the third operating portion Y16 is operated to take
the vertical posture.
[0154] The forth operating portion Y17 is, as described
hereinbefore, to adjust a height of the seat Y4 and the back Y5 and
is connected to the operating button of the third gas spring YGS3
through a link wire YW4. The forth operating portion Y17 is urged
to take a horizontal posture by an elastic member such as a spring,
not shown in drawings, in a natural state when no force is applied
thereto and makes a motion like a momentary switch. In the
horizontal posture the third gas spring YGS3 is set in a fixed
condition. Then when the user of the chair Y1 operates the forth
operating portion Y17 to rotate upward against the above-mentioned
urging force, the third gas spring YGS3 is set in a free condition
so that the seat Y4 and the back Y5 can be moved up and down. A
concavity and convexity YQ is provided on a lower face of the
distal end of the forth operating portion Y17 so that the user can
recognize the forth operating portion Y17 with his or her finger
easily.
[0155] In accordance with this embodiment, since the operating
portions Y14 through Y17 are gathered, a position of the operating
portions Y14 through Y17 can easily be recognized and
operationality can be improved especially for a multi-functional
chair Y1. Further, it is possible to provide the chair Y1 with a
new usage that has not been before such as a plurality of operating
portions Y14 through Y17 can be operated with a single hand
simultaneously. In addition, since the height of the operating
portions Y14 through Y17 is set to be the same in a horizontal
posture, it is possible to compare a position of the operating
portion Y14 through Y17 that the user operates with other operating
portions Y14 through Y17, which makes it possible for the user to
recognize a status of the operating portion Y14 through Y17 that
the user operates with ease.
[0156] This invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment and the operating portions are not limited to the
above-described four. For example, in case a function is added to
the face Y4b to allow a sliding motion back and forth, an operating
portion may be arranged at a position whose height is the same as
that of other existing operating portions, which will improve
operationality. In this case, it is a matte of course that a
relative distance between each operating portions changes due to
the sliding motion depending on a position at which the operating
portion is arranged.
[0157] Further, a shape of each operating portions may not be the
same, a width of the operating portions may be varied and it is a
matter of course that a distance between the operating portions is
not limited to the same.
[0158] <Third Embodiment>
[0159] A third embodiment of the invention will be described in
detail with reference to drawings thereof shown in FIGS. 33 through
44. FIG. 33 and FIG. 34 are a side view and a front view of the
chair 1 showing one embodiment of the invention respectively.
[0160] The chair 1 is, as shown in FIG. 35 through FIG. 37, so
arranged that a back 5 and a seat 6 are supported by a base leg 2
and in order to make it possible to take a posture appropriately
not only for sitting at a desk but also for rest or refreshment
selectively the chair 1 is provided with an up and down mechanism P
that adjusts a height of the back 5 and the seat 6, a rocking
mechanism Q that rocks the back 5 and the seat 6 in an interlocked
condition, a backrest upper portion inclining mechanism R that
inclines an upper portion of the back 5 alone rearward for
stretching and a backrest lower portion inclining mechanism S that
is utilized for pressing a lumbar portion of a user of the chair
1.
[0161] More concretely, the base leg 2 is a rotating shaft 22
projecting upward from a center of leg blades 20 and so arranged to
turn the seat 6 and the back 5 supported by the base leg 2 around
the rotating shaft 22. The up and down mechanism P is so arranged
that a gas spring 21 is incorporated into the rotating shaft 22 of
the base leg 2 and locks the back 5 and the seat 6 at an optional
height within a working range by working the gas spring 21
appropriately.
[0162] The back 5 comprises a backrest lower frame 50 and a
backrest upper frame 55, and the frames 50 and 55 are rotatably
mounted on a shaft 72 arranged inside of a link element 7b.
[0163] The seat 6 can detachably be mounted on a seat frame 4.
[0164] The rocking mechanism Q mainly comprises a support base 3
mounted on the base leg 2, the seat frame 4 that supports the seat
6 and an inequilateral four-side link mechanism having the link
elements 7a and 7b connecting the support base 3 with the seat
frame 4 and further comprises a gas spring 31 that fixes the back 5
at an appropriate position.
[0165] The support base 3 is in a shape of V made of a rigid member
such as die casted aluminum wherein a proximal end of the support
base 3 is fixed to the rotating shaft and a distal end thereof
projects upward at an angle. A torsion bar 70 that can store and
discharge torsional elastic force through the rotational shaft 71
is arranged at an under face of the center of a hypotenuse of the
support base 3.
[0166] The link element 7a is plate-shaped, wherein one end of the
link element 7a is rotatably mounted on a front of the support base
3 through a shaft 30 and the other end thereof is rotatably mounted
on a rear face of a front of the seat frame 4 and at least a shaft
60 is detachably mounted on a bearing 45 arranged on the seat frame
4.
[0167] One end of the link element 7b is fixed to the torsion bar
70 arranged at the center of a hypotenuse of the support base 3 and
other end thereof is rotatably connected with the rotational shaft
79 arranged at a rear side of the seat frame 4. The above-mentioned
backrest lower frame 50 and the backrest upper frame 55 are
integrally fixed to the link element 7b with its rotation halted
and can be rotated around the rotating shaft 71 together with the
link element 7b.
[0168] The gas spring 31 is arranged between the link element 7a
and the support base 3 and can lock whole of the four-side link
mechanism by fixing the link element 7a alternatively.
[0169] The backrest upper portion inclining mechanism R comprises a
lock mechanism r and a spring member 73 and performs a function by
allowing a rotation around the rotating shaft 72 of the backrest
upper frame 55.
[0170] The lock mechanism r comprises, as shown in FIG. 38, a hole
77 provided on an upper part of the link element 7b, a hole 551
provided on a bracket 550 arranged on the backrest upper frame 55
and a pin 76 that is usually arranged across the holes 551 and 77
and that selectively releases the backrest upper frame 55 from the
link element 7b by drawing out of the hole 551. A bracket 7b1 whose
shape is the same as that of the bracket 550 is integrally formed
with the link member 7b provided inside the bracket 550 that
locates inside of a lower end of the backrest upper frame 55 so
that the pin 76 can be inserted into the hole 551 and the hole 77
that locates inside of the hole 551 with the brackets 550 and 7b1
overlap each other. In a state that the pin 76 is inserted into
both of the holes 551 and 77, the link element 7b and the backrest
upper frame 55 are bound so as to move integrally. When the pin 76
is drawn out of the hole 551, the backrest upper frame 55 is
released from the link member 7b so that the backrest upper frame
55 alone can rotate around the shaft 72 independently.
[0171] In a state the pin 76 is inserted into the holes 77 and 550,
a face 76a of the pin 76 is pushed by a pushing member 9 and the
pushing member 9 is connected with a motion transfer mechanism D1
for detaching the pin 76. The motion transfer mechanism D1
comprises a link frame 101 whose one end is rotatably connected to
the pushing member 9 and an arm 102 that is rotatably supported by
the seat frame 4 and a rotatable end of the arm 102 is rotatably
connected to other end of the link frame 101.
[0172] The spring member 73 is to give elasticity to the backrest
upper frame 55 when the backrest upper frame 55 reclines, in which
a concavity portion 74 is arranged on a lower face of the upper end
of the link member 7b, one end of the spring member 73 is
accommodated in the concavity portion 74 and fixed thereto and
other end of the spring member 73 is mounted on the backrest upper
frame 55 so as to push the backrest upper frame 55 toward a
direction wherein the backrest upper frame 55 takes an upright
posture with the spring member 73.
[0173] Further, the backrest lower portion inclining mechanism S
makes use of the backrest lower frame 50 and is provided with a gas
spring at a position where the lower frame 50 is pushed forward by
making use of the rotational shaft 72 as a supporting point.
[0174] A first operating portion 43a, a second operating portion
43b and a third operating portion 43c are gathered at the right
front end of the seat frame 4, as shown in FIG. 39, in order to
make active use of the above-mentioned mechanisms. The first
operating portion 43a is to move the seat 6 up and down, the second
operating portion 43b is to incline rearward the backrest lower
frame 50 alone and the third operating portion 43c is to engage and
rock the seat 6, the backrest upper frame 55 and the backrest lower
frame 50. If the third operating portion 43c is operated downward
while in a non-rocking state, the backrest upper frame 55 alone can
be reclined.
[0175] A gas spring 21 to move the back 5 and the seat 6 up and
down, a gas spring 54 to incline the backrest lower portion and a
gas spring 31 to incline the backrest lower portion and the
backrest upper portion are provided with a first operation
receiving portion B1, a second operation receiving portion B2 and a
third operation receiving portion B3 each of which is an operation
receiving portion to directly operate the above-mentioned mechanism
respectively. Each of the first operation receiving portion B1, the
second operation receiving portion B2 and the third operation
receiving portion B3 is a button and the gas springs 21, 54 and 31
are released from a locked state in accordance with a state of the
button. In addition, the motion transfer mechanism D1 that is
connected with the pin 76 that releases the backrest upper frame 55
from the link element 7b also works as a forth operation receiving
portion.
[0176] The operating portions 43a, 43b, 43c and the operation
receiving portions B1, B2, B3, D1 are connected by link means LW1,
LW2, LW3 and LW4 respectively. A plane view of a portion K where
the link means LW1, LW2, LW3 and LW4 and the operating portions
43a, 43b and 43c are connected is shown in FIG. 40 and a
perspective view thereof is shown in FIG. 41.
[0177] Each of the link means LW1, LW2, LW3, LW4 comprises a link
wire LW11, LW21, LW31, LW41 and a tube LW12, LW22, LW32, LW42 as a
pass defining means that defines a path of the link wire LW11,
LW21, LW31, LW41 and into which the link wire LW11, LW21, LW31,
LW41 is inserted.
[0178] On end of the link wire LW11 is connected with the first
operating portion 43a and other end thereof is connected with the
first operation receiving portion B1. The link wire LW21 is
connected with the second operating portion 43b and the second
operation receiving portion B2, the link wire LW31 is connected
with the third operating portion 43c and the third operation
receiving portion B3 and the link wire LW41 is connected with the
third operating portion 43c and the forth operation receiving
portion D1.
[0179] Both ends of the tubes LW12, LW22, LW32, LW42 are fixed to
the seat frame 4.
[0180] In this embodiment, motion transfer members R1, R3 to
transfer a motion of the first operating portion 43a and the third
operating portion 43c into a horizontal motion of the first link
means LW1 and the second link means LW3 are arranged in a middle of
the first operating portion 43a and the first link means LW1, and a
middle of the third operating portion 43c and the third link means
LW3.
[0181] A principle of motion transfer by making use of the motion
transfer member R1, R3 will be explained with reference to a case
in which the motion transfer member R3 is combined with the third
operating portion 43c and the third link means LW3.
[0182] The motion transfer member R3 is rotatably supported by a
bracket-shaped supporting portion 47 arranged in a side of the seat
frame 4 and a portion CT2 that is deviated from a rotational center
CT3 of the motion transfer member R3 is rotatably and slidably
connected with a portion 43c1 that is deviated from a rotational
center CT1 of the third operating portion 43c.
[0183] More concretely, a shaft is protruded from the portion CT2
of the motion transfer member R3, the shaft is inserted into a
groove arranged on the portion 43c1 of the third operating portion
43c and the motion transfer member R3 and the third operating
portion 43c are rotatably and slidably connected between the
portion CT2 and the portion 43c1. A relationship of the shaft and
the groove may be reversed.
[0184] One end of the link wire LW3 constituting the third link
means LW3 is connected with a wire link portion R31 set at a
portion deviated from the rotational center CT3 and the portion
CT2.
[0185] Further, the motion transfer member R3 is rotated at an
angle more than the third operating portion 43c and the wire link
portion R31 is moved horizontally more than the rotational center
CT1 of the third operating portion 43c so as to transfer a motion
of the third operating portion 43c to a horizontal motion of the
link wire LW3 effectively.
[0186] The wire link portion R31 is connected with one end of the
link wire LW41 constituting the forth link means LW4 and works the
same to a horizontal motion of the link wire LW4.
[0187] Explanation of the motion transfer member R1 will be omitted
because it has the same arrangement as that of the motion transfer
member R3.
[0188] The first link measure LW1, the second link measure LW3 and
the forth link measure LW4 correspond to the up and down motion of
the back 5 and the seat 6, the inclining motion of the backrest
lower portion alone, the rocking motion and the inclining motion of
the backrest upper portion alone in this order.
[0189] In order to make it easy for the user to recognize which
operating portions 43a through 43c correspond to which mechanisms,
for example, the operating portions 43a through 43c are arranged in
this order from downward to upward of the chair 1 and the operating
portions 43a through 43c are made in a shape of a plate whose upper
face is provided with a guide showing a corresponding
mechanism.
[0190] In this case, the third operating portion 43c to rock all of
the seat 6, the backrest upper frame 55 and the backrest lower
frame 50 is made so as to switch from a horizontal state to a
descending state and conversely and the first operating portion 43a
and the second operating portion 43b are urged to take a horizontal
state in a natural condition by a spring.
[0191] Next, a fundamental motion of the chair 1 having the above
arrangement will be explained.
[0192] <Rocking Motion>
[0193] In a state that all of the operating portion 43a through 43c
are horizontal (initial state), the gas spring 31 arranged under
the seat 6 is in a free state. At this time the pin 76 is inserted
into the hole 551 arranged on the backrest upper frame 55 as shown
in FIG. 35 and the link element 7b and the backrest upper frame 55
can incline rearward integrally around the rotational shaft 72.
Then the four-side link mechanism transforms in accordance with a
motion of the backrest upper frame 55 inclining rearward and the
seat 6 inclines rearward to face downward so as to make a rocking
motion as shown in FIG. 36. An imaginary line in FIG. 36 shows the
state after the rocking motion is done.
[0194] In case that the third operating portion 43c is operated
downward after inclined rearward at a predetermined angle, the gas
spring arranged under the seat 6 is kept in a fixed condition and
maintains the angle inclined rearward.
[0195] <Backrest Upper Portion Alone Inclining Motion>
[0196] The link wire LW31 constituting the third link means LW3 is
pushed inside, as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 44, by pushing
down the third operating portion 43c from an initial state to
downward, a state of the third operation receiving portion B3
changes in conjunction with the link wire LW31 and the gas spring
31 arranged under the seat 6 is locked so that a motion of the
four-side link mechanism is fixed. Then the link wire LW41 as the
forth link means LW4 is pushed inside, the arm 102 rotates, the
link frame 101 moves by the motion transfer mechanism D1 as the
forth operation receiving means shown in FIG. 38, the pushing
member 9 moves away from the face 76a of the pin 76 in conjunction
with the above motion, the pin 76 is pulled out of the hole 551
provided on the backrest upper frame 55 by a work of the spring S1,
and this makes it possible to recline the backrest upper frame 55
elastically with the seat 6 and the backrest lower frame 50 fixed.
An imaginary line in FIG. 35 shows the motion.
[0197] <Backrest Lower Portion Alone Inclining Motion>
[0198] In case that the backrest lower frame 50 alone is moved
rearward, the link wire LW21 constituting the second link means is
pulled out as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 43 by pulling up
the corresponding second operating portion 43b, a state of a button
as the second operation receiving portion B2 changes in conjunction
with the above motion and the gas spring 54 connected with the
backrest lower frame 50 is released from a fixed state. This allows
the backrest lower frame 50 to rotate. Then the link wire LW21 is
pushed to return to the original position by returning the second
operating portion 43b to the original state at a predetermined
position, the second operation receiving portion B2 returns to the
original state in conjunction with the above motion, the gas spring
54 is fixed and then the backrest lower frame 50 is fixed to the
state. An imaginary line in FIG. 36 shows the motion.
[0199] <Up and Down Motion>
[0200] In case that the first operating portion 43a is
non-operated, the gas spring 21 is locked and the back 5 and the
seat 6 are fixed at a certain height. When the first operating
portion 43a if pulled up from this height, the link wire LW11
constituting the first link measure LW1 is pulled out as shown by
an imaginary line in FIG. 42, a state of a button as the first
operation receiving portion B1 changes in conjunction with the
above motion, the gas spring 21 is released from a locked condition
and then the back 5 and the seat 6 can be moved up and down within
a predetermined range accompanied by a motion of an expansion and
contraction. When the first operation portion 43a is returned to a
horizontal state, the link wire LW11 is pushed to return to the
original position, the first operation receiving portion B1 returns
to the original state in conjunction with the above motion, the gas
spring 21 is locked and then the height of the back and the seat
can be fixed. An imaginary line in FIG. 37 shows the motion.
[0201] The chair 1 of the embodiment is provided with adjusting
portions AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, AJ4 for adjusting a motion range of the
operation receiving means B1, B2, B3, D1 each of which operates the
link means LW1, LW2, LW3, LW4 by an operation of the operating
portions 43a, 43b, 43c and all of the adjusting portions AJ1, AJ2,
AJ3, AJ4 are gathered within a predetermined area.
[0202] The adjusting portions AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, AJ4 will be explained
by taking the adjusting portion AJ1 as an example. The adjusting
portion AJ1 is to change a path of the link wire LW11 that passes
through the tube LW12 indirectly by changing a position where one
end facing the first operating portion 43a of the tube LW12 is
fixed so as to change the path. Then an effective length of the
link wire LW11 is changed so that the operation receiving portion
B1 can make a motion within an appropriate range by operating the
first operating portion 43a. Concretely the first adjusting portion
AJ1 comprises nuts LW122, LW123 that wedge either side of a
mounting wall 461 dropping integrally from the under portion of the
seat frame 4 and a helical portion LW121 that is formed one end of
the tube LW12 and that helically connects with the nuts LW122,
LW123.
[0203] Then helically proceeding or receding the nut LW122, LW123,
can change the position where the end of the tube LS12 is fixed.
Each of the second adjusting portion AJ2, the third adjusting
portion AJ3 and the forth adjusting portion AJ4 has the same
arrangement as that of the first adjusting portion AJ1.
[0204] In this embodiment, the mounting walls 461, 462, 463, 464
are arranged within an adjusting area 46 as the predetermined area
in order to gather all of the adjusting portions AJ1, AJ2, AJ3,
AJ4. The adjusting area 46 is arranged under the seat frame 4 and
adjacent to the inner side of the operating portions 43a, 43b,
43c.
[0205] Each of the mounting walls 461, 462, 463, 464 makes a right
angle with the corresponding link wire LW11, LW21, LW31, LW41
respectively and a cut out portion 461a, 462a, 463d, 464a is formed
on each of the corresponding mounting walls 461, 462, 463, 464.
Counter sunk portions 461b, 462b, 463b, 464b into which the nuts
LW122, LW222, LW323, LW423 fit respectively are arranged, as shown
in FIG. 41, on one side of the walls near the cut out portions
461a, 462a, 463a, 464a.
[0206] A way to adjust the operation receiving portions B1, B2, B3,
D1 with the adjusting portions AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, Aj4 will be
explained.
[0207] More specifically, for a case that the operation receiving
portion B1, B2, B3, D1 is operated by the operating portion 43a,
43b, 43c linked through the link means LW1, LW2, LW3, LW4, if the
link wire LW11, LW21, LW31, LW41 is pushed too deep or withdrawn
too much, the operation receiving portion B1, B2, B3 D1 might not
work even through the operating portion 43a, 43b, 43c is operated.
Then in order to make the operation receiving portion B1, B2, B3 D1
work appropriately by operating the operating portion 43a, 43b,
43c, a path of the tube is changed by the use of the adjusting
portion AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, AJ4 so as to adjust a withdrawn length of
the link wire LW11, LW21, LW31, LW41.
[0208] More concrete procedure of adjusting the length will be
explained with reference to an example of the first operating
portion 43a, the first link means LW1, the first adjusting portion
AJ1 and the mounting wall 461. First, pass the link wire LW11
constituting the first link means LW1 through the cut out portion
461a.
[0209] Next, proceed or recede the two nuts LW122, LW123
constituting the first adjusting portion AJ1 helically to the
helical portion LW121 of the tube LW12 so as to adjust the position
of the nuts LW122, LW123 so that the first operation receiving
portion B1 works appropriately by the operation of the first
operating portion 43a and to wedge the mounting wall 461 between
the nuts LW122, LW123. A process of adjusting a set of the second
operating portion 43b, the second link means LW2, the second
adjusting portion AJ2 and the mounting wall 462, a set of the third
operating portion 43c, the third link means LW3, the forth link
means LW4, the third adjusting portion AJ3, the forth adjusting
portion AJ4, the mounting wall 463 and the mounting wall 464 is the
same.
[0210] As shown in FIG. 41, the adjusting area 46 and a boundary
portion K between the operating portion 43a, 43b, 43c and the link
means LW1, LW2, LW3, LW4 can be covered with a cover C.
[0211] The cover C is provided with a window C1a to pass through
the first operating portion 43a, a window C1b to pass through the
second operating portion 43b and a window C1c to pass through the
third operating portion 43c and claws C21, C22, C23, C24 that are
means to fix the cover C to a resin seat frame cover CZ that covers
the seat frame 4 and the under face of the seat frame are provided
at a plurality of portions on a peripheral wall of the cover C.
[0212] The windows C1a, C1b, C1c make a general right angle with
extended directions of the operating portions 43a, 43b, 43c
respectively, widths of the windows C1a, C1b, C1c generally equal
to widths of the first operating portion 43a, the second operating
portion 43b, the third operating portion 43c respectively and
heights thereof generally conform to operating ranges of the
operating portions that correspond to the windows C1a, C1b,
C1c.
[0213] The claws C21, C22, C23 are geared with the seat frame 4 or
the seat frame cover CZ in order to fix the cover C to the seat
frame 4.
[0214] Since the chair 1 in accordance with the embodiment has an
arrangement in which the adjusting portions AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, AJ4 are
gathered in the adjusting area 46, the adjusting portions AJ1, AJ2,
AJ3, AJ4 can be taken out from the chair 1 in order to make an
adjustment, which makes it possible to make an adjustment at once,
thereby to prevent a procedure of assembling the chair 1 from being
complicated.
[0215] In addition, since the operating portions 43a, 43b, 43c are
arranged to gather near the adjusting portions AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, AJ4,
a relationship between the operating portions 43a, 43b, 43c and the
adjusting portion AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, AJ4 becomes clear for a user of
the chair 1, thereby to improve operationality.
[0216] Further, since a cover C is provided to cover both of the
adjusting portions AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, AJ4 and the boundary portion
between the adjusting portions AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, AJ4 and the operating
portions 43a, 43b, 43c, it becomes possible to protect those
portions from external force and to improve appearance as well with
a piece of the cover C, thereby to reduce a number of components
and a manufacturing cost and also to simplify a procedure of
assembling.
[0217] This invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment. For example, the operating portion may be arranged
apart from the adjusting portion and the operating portions may not
be gathered. The cover may cover the adjusting portion alone or may
be omitted. A position of the adjusting portion may be, for
example, above an armrest apart from under the seat. A link having
rigidity may be used as the link means apart from the link wire and
the tube.
POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS IN INDUSTRY
[0218] As mentioned above, in accordance with the invention of
claim 1, it is possible to gather the operating portions with a
simple arrangement, for example, by mounting a plurality of
operating portions on a single shaft and it is also possible to
improve operationality especially for a chair of multi-function
since operational style of each operating portions would be the
same. Further, it is possible to provide a way of use that has not
been existed before such that a plurality of operating portions can
be operated at once with a single hand.
[0219] In addition, if the above-described more than two operating
portions are arranged below a side edge of the seat in a condition
that each shaft extends back and forth, it is possible for a user
of the chair to touch the operating portions naturally if only the
user extends his or her hand downward in sitting on the chair.
[0220] Especially, if the above-described more than two operating
portions are plate-shaped and can be kept to take a horizontal
posture, user-friendliness or operationality can be much
improved.
[0221] Further, with an arrangement wherein more than two operating
portions are arranged together, it may happen that a user of the
chair can not grasp which operating portion corresponds to a
function that he or she requires and that the user can not
understand how to operate the operating portion. However, if
concavity and convexity is provided at a portion that can be
touched on occasions when the operating portion is operated toward
a predetermined direction on a surface of the above-described more
than two operating portions, it is possible to avoid the
above-mentioned inconvenience with a simple arrangement.
[0222] If the above-described more than two operating portions are
of the same or generally the same shape, it can contribute to
making a manufacturing process easy or to a low-price by promoting
component sharing.
[0223] In addition, in accordance with the invention of claim 6,
since the operating portions are gathered, a position of the
operating portions can easily be recognized and operationality can
be improved especially for a chair of multi-function. Further, it
is possible to provide the chair with a new usage that has not been
before such as a plurality of operating portions can be operated
with a single hand simultaneously.
[0224] Further, if the above-mentioned more than two operating
portions are arranged back and forth in a line below a side edge of
the seat, it is possible for a user of the chair to touch the
operating portions naturally if only the user extends his or her
hand downward in sitting on the chair, thereby to improve
user-friendliness or operationality.
[0225] In addition, if an order of arranging the operating portions
is determined based on an order of arranging members each of which
produces a function of each operating portions, it is easy for a
user of the chair to understand and remember which operating
portion corresponds to which function and to operate the operating
portions easier as well.
[0226] Similarly, in order to improve usability or operationality
much more, it is preferable that the above-mentioned more than two
operating portions are arranged at the same height, they are made
to have the same or generally the same shape, they are made to be
plate-shaped and kept in a horizontal posture or they are made to
have an arrangement wherein its proximal end is rotatably supported
by the seat and its distal end can make an up and down
movement.
[0227] Further, with an arrangement wherein more than two operating
portions are arranged together, it may happen that a user of the
chair can not grasp which operating portion corresponds to a
function that he or she requires and that the user can not
understand how to operate the operating portion. However, it is
possible to avoid this inconvenience with a simple arrangement if
concavity and convexity is provided at a portion that can be
touched on occasions when the operating portion is operated toward
a predetermined direction on a surface of the above-described more
than two operating portions.
[0228] Further, in accordance with the invention of claim 12, since
the chair has a plurality of working mechanisms such as an up and
down mechanism to adjust a height of a seat and a back and a
rocking mechanism or the like and comprises an operating portion to
be operated to work each mechanism, an operation receiving portion
as a mechanism to work each mechanism directly and a link means
that connects the operating portion and the operation receiving
portion and further comprising adjusting portions that are arranged
in the link means for adjusting a motion range of the operation
receiving portion that works with operation of the operating
portion wherein some or all of the two adjusting portions are
gathered in a predetermined area, it is possible to adjust the
adjusting portions at once and to avoid a complicated process of
assembling the chair. As a result of this, the chair can contribute
a user and a manufacturer of the chair.
* * * * *