U.S. patent application number 13/139292 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-29 for chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic supports.
This patent application is currently assigned to CHAIRO CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chang Kyu An.
Application Number | 20110233979 13/139292 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42082973 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110233979 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
An; Chang Kyu |
September 29, 2011 |
CHAIR WITH SEPARATE AND INTERCONNECTING TYPE LUMBAR AND THORACIC
SUPPORTS
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for effectively
purifying and neutralizing toxic gases such as odors, fumes or
various volatile organic compounds generated by research
laboratories, chemical processing factories or hospitals where
medicinal products are handled. The apparatus according to the
present invention comprises: a main body having an intake, an
exhaust and a control panel; a pre-filter, a first filter, first
and second neutralizing pellet beds, and a second filter which are
mounted in the apparatus main body and are placed from the intake
to the exhaust in that order; and a blower and a driving device
placed between the first and second neutralizing pellet beds. The
apparatus effectively purifies and neutralizes toxic gases and
collects fine particles or dust. Thus, the apparatus helps to
maintain health of researchers, people who perform experiments,
workers in chemical factories, or medical workers, since the filter
and neutralizing pellet bed are configured in a cartridge form, the
apparatus is low-maintenance. Also, additional connection of other
facilities or pipes is not required. Therefore, the apparatus has
high usability due to the independent compact form and function
thereof, and can be driven with less noise.
Inventors: |
An; Chang Kyu; (
Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
Assignee: |
CHAIRO CO., LTD.
Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
42082973 |
Appl. No.: |
13/139292 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
June 23, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2009/003339 |
371 Date: |
June 10, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/284.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/284.4 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/40 20060101
A47C007/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0130514 |
Claims
1. A chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports having a back support divided into a lumbar
support and a thoracic support with a frame, a seat integrally
formed on the lumbar support through an embedded frame, the frame
of the thoracic support elastically and tiltably connected to
another frame or a bracket located at a lower surface of the seat,
and an armrest, wherein the embedded frame is divided into a main
frame extending from the seat to a lower half portion of the lumbar
support and at least one auxiliary frame located on an upper half
portion of the lumbar support and a plate spring is attached
backward over the main frame and the auxiliary frame, which are
separated from each other.
2. The chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports as recited in claim 1, wherein the thoracic
support comprises a short edge for contacting with an upper end
portion of the lumbar support and an extending portion formed via
the short edge.
3. The chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports as recited in claim 1, wherein one end of a frame
of the armrest is fixed to a lower portion of an extending portion
of the thoracic support through a fixing means, thereby the armrest
is lifted by interlocking with the thoracic support during a
backward tilting of the thoracic support.
4. The chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports as recited in claim 1, wherein the armrest
comprises a height adjusting bracket having a plurality of fixing
protrusions therein connected to the arm seat and a frame having
one end portion thereof inserted into the height adjusting bracket
and a plurality of grooves for inserting the fixing protrusions
therein formed at said one end portion of the frame, and the height
adjusting bracket is drawn from and out the frame by stages,
thereby a height control of the arm seat or height and length
control thereof can be simultaneously performed.
5. The chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports as recited in claim 1, wherein the thoracic
support comprises a body, which is consist of a cushion material
and a soft outer cover covering an outer surface of the cushion
material, again the frame is fixed to a back surface of the body, a
hard outer cover is covered and overlaid on a back surface of the
frame, and a cutting portion is transversely formed at a position
in that an extending portion of the hard outer cover is formed,
whereby a bending stress can be released during backward tilting of
the thoracic support.
6. The chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one air
entrance cap having a plurality of air inflow and outflow holes is
formed at the side surface of the seat.
7. The chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports as recited in claim 1, one end of a connecting
frame is connected to a lower end portion of the frame of the
thoracic support, other end of the connecting frame is inserted
into and fixed to a pivotable frame of the bracket, which is
pivotally mounted on the bracket fixed to a lower surface of the
seat, by means of a link for controlling the length thereof, and
the pivotable frame is elastically supported by a plate spring.
8. The chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports as recited in claim 3, wherein the armrest
comprises a height adjusting bracket having a plurality of fixing
protrusions therein connected to the arm seat and a frame having
one end portion thereof inserted into the height adjusting bracket
and a plurality of grooves for inserting the fixing protrusions
therein formed at said one end portion of the frame, and the height
adjusting bracket is drawn from and out the frame by stages,
thereby a height control of the arm seat or height and length
control thereof can be simultaneously performed.
9. The chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports as recited in claim 2, one end of a connecting
frame is connected to a lower end portion of the frame of the
thoracic support, other end of the connecting frame is inserted
into and fixed to a pivotable frame of the bracket, which is
pivotally mounted on the bracket fixed to a lower surface of the
seat, by means of a link for controlling the length thereof, and
the pivotable frame is elastically supported by a plate spring.
10. The chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports as recited in claim 3, one end of a connecting
frame is connected to a lower end portion of the frame of the
thoracic support, other end of the connecting frame is inserted
into and fixed to a pivotable frame of the bracket, which is
pivotally mounted on the bracket fixed to a lower surface of the
seat, by means of a link for controlling the length thereof, and
the pivotable frame is elastically supported by a plate spring.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a chair with separate and
interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic supports. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a chair with
separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic supports in
that a back support is physically divided into a lumbar support and
a thoracic support, the lumbar support is formed to be curvable,
and the lumbar and thoracic supports are configured to be
interconnected to each other, so that, when a sitter tilts his/her
upper or lower back backward for rest or tension relief, the lower
back area of the sitter is comfortably brought into contact with
and supported by the lumbar support with a backward tilt of a
relatively large angle, and at the same time, the upper back area
of the sitter is comfortably brought into contact with and
supported by the thoracic support with a backward tilt of a
relatively small angle. Therefore, the lumbar and thoracic supports
share the task of comfortably supporting the lumbar vertebra and
thoracic vertebra respectively. In addition, the chair has high
posture stability without falling backward when the sitter tilts
his/her upper and lower back far backward.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Recently, in a fiercely competitive society, the use of
computers has become part of man's life. Accordingly, a sedentary
life of modern people in the chair has been remarkable increased in
comparison with the past, and the peoples who complain of pain in
the waist or spine, have been increased among students,
test-takers, or office workers living a sedentary life in the chair
for long periods of time.
[0003] These pains in the waist or spine are caused by a sitting of
a continuous tension for hours, a habitually bad sitting posture, a
sleep under a wrong posture and environment, or an applying of a
big power in a wrong posture and so forth.
[0004] Accordingly, in the office chairs, in which a back support
for supporting the lumbar and thoracic vertebra is integrally
formed, it adopts an elastic structure capable of tilting most of
the back support backward in some degree so as to ease the tension
on muscles and ligaments for the lumbar and thoracic vertebra and
take a rest from time to time during sitting for a long time.
[0005] However, in the conventional chair, in which the elastic
back support for supporting the lumbar and thoracic vertebra is
integrally formed, since the vertebration of a human body is bent
in a S-shape from the side view thereof, when the sitter tilts
his/her upper and lower back backward, the thoracic vertebrae is
tightly supported by the upper half part of the back support, but
the lumbar vertebra is separated from the lower half part of the
back support owing to a big space between them, so that the lumbar
vertebra is not supported by the back support. Since this
phenomenon gets worse around the boundary between the lumbar
vertebra and the thoracic vertebrae, there is a problem in that it
is a major cause the boundary between the waist or waist part and
the back is inversely strained or the sitter feels
inconvenience.
[0006] Accordingly, in order to solve the above problem, an
auxiliary cushion is used so as to fill the space between the
sitter's back and the chair. However, since the body sizes and the
postures of the sitters are difference from each other, it is not
easy to select the proper auxiliary cushions in well with the
volume, shape and elasticity thereof. Also, when the auxiliary
cushions do not fit them properly, it has a marginal effect or on
the contrary the posture thereof can become bad, or there is a fear
of the loss thereof.
[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, as shown in
FIG. 7, Korean Patent laying-open Gazette No. 10-2005-0046953
(laying-open date: May 19, 2005; Patent No. 10-0583585), which is
filed by the present inventor, discloses a chair 1' having a waist
support in that a back support is divided into a back support 4 and
a waist support 3, one end of a metal back support frame 4a is
connected to the back support 4, and an extending portion 4e, which
is other end of back support frame 4a, is connected to a plate
spring 4f, which is extended to a multifunctional bracket 7 located
on a lower portion of a seat 2. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, it has
been disclosed a chair 1'' having a waist support in that a back
support is divided into a back support 4, which is extended
downward, and a waist support 3, one end of a plate spring 4f is
connected to the extending portion 4e of the back support 4, and
other end of the plate spring is connected to a multifunctional
bracket 7 located on a lower portion of a seat 2. However, since
the above-mentioned conventional chairs 1' or 1'' have a stiffness
that the waist support 3 integrally formed at the seat 2 is not
tilted backward, the waist support is not interconnected to the
back support 4. Also, because the back support is erectly and
smoothly formed, when the sitter tilts the upper and lower back far
backward, the gap is still generated between the lumbar vertebra
and the back support, thereby it is ergonomically unsatisfactory in
terms of comfortableness. Moreover, since the bending angle becomes
larger in the boundary between the erected waist support 3 and the
back support 4 tilted backward, still there is a problem in that it
is a major cause the boundary between the waist or waist part and
the back is inversely strained or the sitter feels
inconvenience.
[0008] Also, because the metal back support frame 4a of the
conventional chairs 1' or 1'' has a strip shape to be exposed to
outside, there is a problem in that it lacks a sense of beauty in
external appearance.
[0009] The reference numerals 6, 7a, and 9 are an armrest, a frame,
a supporting leg respectively.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of
the above-mentioned problems, and the primary object of the present
invention is to provide an ergonomic chair with separate and
interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic supports in that the
lumbar vertebra and the thoracic vertebrae are clearly and tightly
supported during sitting in a correct posture and they are tightly
supported without generating a gap between the lumbar vertebra and
the chair when a sitter tilts his/her upper and lower back far
backward, thereby increasing the comfortableness.
[0011] A second object of the present invention is to provide an
ergonomic chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports having an excellent posture stability of the
chair itself as though a sitter tilts his/her upper and lower back
far backward.
[0012] A third object of the present invention is to provide an
ergonomic chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports in that, as though a sitter tilts his/her upper
and lower back far backward, it can maintain as it stands without
unfolding the sitter's arm placed on the armrest, thereby
increasing in comfortableness and easefulness.
[0013] A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an
ergonomic chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports in that the height of the armrest can be easily
adjusted according to the height of the sitter and a use aspect
thereof, thereby increasing in comfortableness and easefulness.
[0014] A fifth object of the present invention is to provide an
ergonomic chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports in that a bending of a synthetic resin backing
plate can be easily performed during bending of the thoracic
vertebrae backward.
[0015] A sixth object of the present invention is to provide an
ergonomic chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and
thoracic supports capable of giving a good sense of seating to a
seat.
Technical Solution
[0016] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention to
achieve the first and second objects thereof, there is provided a
chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic
supports having a back support divided into a lumbar support and a
thoracic support with a frame, a seat integrally formed on the
lumbar support through an embedded frame, the frame of the thoracic
support elastically and tiltably connected to another frame or a
bracket located at a lower surface of the seat, and an armrest,
wherein the embedded frame is divided into a main frame extending
from the seat to a lower half portion of the lumbar support and at
least one auxiliary frame located on an upper half portion of the
lumbar support and a plate spring is attached backward over the
main frame and the auxiliary frame, which are separated from each
other.
[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention
to achieve the first and second objects thereof, there is provided
a chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic
supports, wherein the thoracic support comprises a short edge for
contacting with an upper end portion of the lumbar support and an
extending portion formed via the short edge.
[0018] In accordance with further another aspect of the present
invention to achieve the third object thereof, there is provided a
chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic
supports, wherein one end of a frame of the armrest is fixed to a
lower portion of an extending portion of the thoracic support
through a fixing means, thereby the armrest is lifted by
interlocking with the thoracic support during a backward tilting of
the thoracic support.
[0019] In accordance with further another aspect of the present
invention to achieve the fourth object thereof, there is provided a
chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic
supports, wherein the armrest comprises a height adjusting bracket
having a plurality of fixing protrusions therein connected to the
arm seat and a frame having one end portion thereof inserted into
the height adjusting bracket and a plurality of grooves for
inserting the fixing protrusions therein formed at said one end
portion of the frame, and the height adjusting bracket is drawn
from and out the frame by stages, thereby a height control of the
arm seat or height and length control thereof can be simultaneously
performed.
[0020] In accordance with further another aspect of the present
invention to achieve the fifth object thereof, there is provided a
chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic
supports, wherein the thoracic support comprises a body, which is
consist of a cushion material and a soft outer cover covering an
outer surface of the cushion material, again the frame is fixed to
a back surface of the body, a hard outer cover is covered and
overlaid on a back surface of the frame, and a cutting portion is
transversely formed at a position in that an extending portion of
the hard outer cover is formed, whereby a bending stress can be
released during backward tilting of the thoracic support.
[0021] In accordance with further another aspect of the present
invention to achieve the sixth object thereof, there is provided a
chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic
supports, wherein at least one air entrance cap having a plurality
of air inflow and outflow holes is formed at the side surface of
the seat.
[0022] In accordance with further another aspect of the present
invention to achieve the objects thereof, there is provided a chair
with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic
supports, wherein one end of a connecting frame is connected to a
lower end portion of the frame of the thoracic support, other end
of the connecting frame is inserted into and fixed to a pivotable
frame of the bracket, which is pivotally mounted on the bracket
fixed to a lower surface of the seat, by means of a link for
controlling the length thereof, and the pivotable frame is
elastically supported by a plate spring.
Advantageous Effects
[0023] The ergonomic chair with separate and interconnecting type
lumbar and thoracic supports according to the present invention as
described above has advantageous effects in that the back support
is physically divided into the lumbar support and the thoracic
support, the lumbar support is formed to be curvable, and the
lumbar and thoracic supports are configured to be interconnected to
each other, so that the lumbar vertebra and the thoracic vertebrae
are clearly and tightly supported during sitting in a correct
posture and they are tightly supported without generating a gap
between the lumbar vertebra and the chair when the sitter tilts
his/her upper and lower back far backward for rest or tension
relief, thereby increasing in comfortableness and easefulness and
having the excellent posture stability without overturning the
chair, and selectively the height of the armrest can be easily
adjusted according to the height of the sitter and a use aspect
thereof, thereby more improving in comfortableness and easefulness
and giving a good sense of seating to a seat.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an erect status of
a chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic
supports according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a backward tilting
status of the chair of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a partially cut and longitudinally perspective
view illustrating the erect status of FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a partially and longitudinally cut perspective
view illustrating the backward tilting status of FIG. 2;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view illustrating a chair with
separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic supports
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a partially cut and longitudinally perspective
view illustrating an operating status of a conventional chair with
separate type lumbar and thoracic supports; and
[0032] FIG. 8 is a partially cut and longitudinally perspective
view illustrating an operating status of another conventional chair
with separate type lumbar and thoracic supports.
BEST MODE
Mode for Invention
[0033] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an erect status of
a chair with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic
supports according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
2 is a perspective view illustrating a backward tilting status of
the chair of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of FIG. 1,
and FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are partially and longitudinally cut
perspective views illustrating the erect status and the backward
tilting status of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 respectively. Here, the
drawings are mentioned together for convenience.
[0035] The chair 1 with separate and interconnecting type lumbar
and thoracic supports according to one embodiment of the present
invention includes a seat 2, a backward bendable lumbar support 3
integrally connected to the seat 2, a thoracic support 4 with a
frame 4a physically separated from the lumbar support 3, a headrest
5 as an optional component, an armrest 6, a multifunctional bracket
7 for elastically supporting the thoracic support 4 and the lower
portion of the seat 2 to be connected to each other, a central axis
8, and supporting legs 9 having casters 9a.
[0036] Firstly, the seat 2 and the lumbar support 3, which are
integrally formed each other, will be explained. It is equipped
with a main frame 2a of an approximate "L" shape formed inside an
area extending from the seat 2 to a neighborhood of approximate
lower half portion or center portion of the lumbar support 3 and an
auxiliary frame 3a formed inside an area extending from a
neighborhood of approximate upper half portion or center portion of
the lumbar support 3 to an upper portion of the lumbar support 3. A
plate spring 3b is attached backward over one end portion of the
main frame 2a extending to the inside of the lumbar support 3 and a
lower end portion of the auxiliary frame 3a, which are separated
from each other, so that the lumbar support 3 is configured to be
bent backward in a case that a force "A" is applied as shown in
FIG. 2.
[0037] As though only one auxiliary frame 3a an one plate spring 3b
is illustrated as the drawings, the present invention is not
limited to the number thereof. If necessary, it can be configured
to form a plurality of auxiliary frames and plate springs. More
concretely, in a state that a plurality of auxiliary frame 3a is
separated from each other, each plate spring 3b is attached
backward in the intervals of both ends thereof, which are separated
from each other, so that the lumbar support 3 can be gradually bent
in phases.
[0038] As is generally known, the seat 2 and the lumbar support 3
includes the auxiliary frame 3a and the main frame 2a as a core, a
conventional cushion material (no reference numeral) of surrounding
them, and an outer cover (not shown) made of natural or artificial
fibers, nonwoven fabrics, or artificial or natural leathers and
covering the outer surface of the cushion material.
[0039] The lumbar support 3 includes a ring-shaped protrusion 3c
formed at a center of the front thereof considering a normal
curvature of a human lumbar during erecting thereof. In this case,
both sides of the ring-shaped protrusion 3c are a relatively little
more protruded, so that the central portion of the lumbar support 3
is softly surrounded, thereby it is desirable in terms of a
decrease in fatigability.
[0040] In the meantime, if necessary, selectively, at least one
conventional air entrance cap (not shown) having a plurality of air
inflow and outflow holes is formed at the side surface of the seat
2, it can feel an air cushion during seating thereof. The install
of the air entrance cap (not shown) is well-known in the art in a
case that the outer cover (not shown) is sheets or leather of a
synthetic resin.
[0041] Continuously, the thoracic support 4 is an independent
member, which is separated from the lumbar support 3. The thoracic
support 4 includes a short edge 4d for contacting with an upper end
portion 3d of the lumbar support 3 and an extending portion 4e via
the short edge 4d.
[0042] Also, the thoracic support 4 generally includes a frame 4a
as a core, a conventional cushion material (no reference numeral)
of surrounding it, and an outer cover (not shown) made of natural
or artificial fibers, nonwoven fabrics, or artificial or natural
leathers and covering the outer surface of the cushion material.
However, as shown in the drawings, considering economical and
beautiful sight aspects, the thoracic support 4 includes a body
which is consist of the cushion material (no reference numeral) and
the soft outer cover (not shown) covering the outer surface of the
cushion material. Also, the frame 4a is fixed to a back surface of
the body and again, a hard outer cover 4b such as a synthetic resin
board or a woody chip board etc. can be covered and overlaid on a
back surface of the frame 4a. In the latter case, if necessary, a
cutting portion 4g is transversely formed in a bending position of
the hard outer cover 4b, which is the starting area of the
extending portion 4e, so that the bending stress applied to the
hard outer cover 4b can be released during the backward tilting of
the thoracic support 4.
[0043] A bending portion 4c is formed at a center of the front of
the thoracic support 4. At this time, both sides of the bending
portion 4c are also, a relatively little more protruded, so that
the central portion thereof is softly surrounded over all, thereby
it is desirable in terms of a decrease in fatigability.
[0044] The frame 4a of the thoracic support 4 is extended to a
lower end portion of the extending portion 4e.
[0045] The headrest 5 is a choice, not a must in the present
invention. It will be briefly described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. However, the option and the difference in
construction thereof can be changed arbitrarily according to the
need.
[0046] As shown in drawings, a protrusion 5a is formed at a front
surface of the headrest 5. The back of the head can be comfortably
covered and supported through the tension of the fabric and the
weight applied to the lumbar vertebra and the thoracic vertebrae
can be alleviated through the headrest 5. As shown, the headrest 5
is fixed to one end of the connecting frame 5b through a connector
5c and other end of the connecting frame 5b can be directly
connected to the upper end portion of the frame 4a of the thoracic
support 4. However, generally, the connecting frame capable of
adjusting the height thereof is inserted into and fixed to the
upper end portion of the thoracic support 4.
[0047] Next, the armrest 6 will be explained. The armrest includes
arm seats 6a for placing sitter's arm thereon, which is made of
various materials such as a polyurethane etc. having good
resilience and texture, and a frame 6b for supporting it thereon.
Generally, the frame 6b is fixed to the following bracket 7 or
other frame located on a lower surface of the seat 2. However, as
shown, one end of the frame 6b is directly fixed to a lower end
portion of the frame 4 of the thoracic support 4 through a proper
and arbitrary fixing means 6c such as a fixing screw or a spot
welding and so forth.
[0048] Accordingly, as shown in the drawings, one end of the
armrest 6 is directly fixed to the lower end portion of the
thoracic support 4, so that the armrest 6 is interconnected with
the thoracic support 4 during the backward tilting of the thoracic
support 4 in that a force "B" is applied as shown in FIG. 2,
thereby the armrest 6 can be lifted. Therefore, when the thoracic
support 4 is tilted backward, since it is unnecessary to again
adjust the sitter's arm placed on the armrest 6, it can ease the
tension and take a rest at ease and in comfort.
[0049] As though it is not shown in the corresponding drawings,
similarly to another embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 6,
a height adjusting bracket (for example, see the reference numeral
6d of FIG. 6), in which a plurality of fixing protrusions (not
shown) is formed, is integrally formed on the arm seat 6a or
connected thereto, a plurality of grooves (not shown) for inserting
the fixing protrusion therein is formed at an insertion end portion
of the frame 6b, which is inserted into the height adjusting
bracket, and the height adjusting bracket is drawn from and out the
frame by stages, so that the height control of the arm seat 6 or
the height and length control thereof can be simultaneously
performed, which is also, within the scope of the present
invention.
[0050] The bracket 7 as a multi-functional bracket is fixed to a
lower surface of the seat 2. This part serves as a round lever for
controlling the strength of the tension so as to control the
strength of the tilting of the back support. That is, the bracket 7
includes a well-known rotation knob 7b and a well-known angle
control lever 7c, which is applied to a synchronized tilting
mechanism capable of performing the height control of the chair and
the tilting angle control of the back support by stages and so
forth.
[0051] A frame 7a of the bracket 7 is pivotally mounted on one end
of the bracket 7 by means of a link 7e. Also, one end of a
connecting frame 4f is connected to the lower end portion of the
frame 4a of the thoracic support 4 and other end of the connecting
frame 4f is fixed to the frame 7a of the bracket. The connecting
frame 4f is inserted into and fixed to the inside of the frame 7a
through a length control fixture 7d for controlling the length
thereof. Also, since the pivotable frame 7a is elastically
supported by the plate spring 7f, during the backward tilting of
the thoracic support 4 in that a force "B" is applied as shown in
FIG. 2, the bracket 7 is slanted backward while it maintains the
elastic dynamic stability thereof. On the contrary, if the backward
tilting force is removed, it returns to the original condition for
maintaining level.
[0052] In the meantime, selectively, in case of a swivel chair, the
upper end portion of the central axis 8 is rotatably fixed to the
bracket 7 and the lower end portion of the central axis 8 is
rotatably inserted into the center of the supporting legs 9. The
urethane casters 9a can be mounted on the plurality of supporting
end portions of the supporting legs 9, so that the concerns about
the occurrence of a flow scratch and the noise are low, it is no
fear of a damage thereof, and the durability is strong.
[0053] In the ergonomic chair 1 with separate and interconnecting
type lumbar and thoracic supports according to the present
invention having the above construction, when the sitter tilts
his/her upper or lower back backward for rest or tension relief,
the lower back area of the sitter is comfortably brought into
contact with and supported by the lumbar support 3 with a backward
tilt of a relatively large angle through the plate spring 3b for
backing the auxiliary frame 3a, and at the same time, in a state
that the short edge 4d of the thoracic support 4 is contacted with
the upper end portion 3d of the lumbar support 3, the upper back
area of the sitter is comfortably brought into contact with and
supported by the thoracic support 4 with a backward tilt of a
relatively small angle. Therefore, the lumbar and thoracic supports
share the task of comfortably supporting the lumbar vertebra and
thoracic vertebra respectively. In addition, the chair has high
posture stability without falling backward when the sitter tilts
his/her upper and lower back far backward, and also has an elegant
look.
[0054] Especially, as shown in the drawings, during the backward
tilting of the thoracic support 4, one end of the armrest 6 is
connected and fixed to the lower end portion of the thoracic
support 4, so that the arm seat 6a of the armrest 6 is rotated
together with the thoracic support 4, thereby it can be tilted and
lifted upward. Therefore, since it is unnecessary to adjust the
sitter's arm placed on the armrest 6, it can take a rest at ease
and in comfort as it stands.
[0055] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view illustrating a chair 1a
with separate and interconnecting type lumbar and thoracic supports
according to another embodiment of the present invention. Since the
basic elements thereof are essentially the same as those of FIG. 1
through FIG. 5 except for the armrest 6, only the differences
between them will be explained.
[0056] As shown, a height adjusting bracket 6d, in which a
plurality of fixing protrusions (not shown) is formed, is
integrally formed on the arm seat 6a, a plurality of grooves (not
shown) for inserting the fixing protrusion therein is formed at an
insertion end portion of the frame 6b, which is inserted into the
height adjusting bracket 6d, and the height adjusting bracket 6d is
drawn from and out the frame by stages, so that the height control
of the arm seat 6a or the height and length control thereof can be
simultaneously performed according to the physical or environment
conditions of the sitter. Also, other end of the frame 6b is fixed
to the bracket 7 located on the lower surface of the seat 2, not
the thoracic support 4. Besides this construction, since it is the
same as the first embodiment of the present invention, further
description is omitted here.
[0057] Also, in the chair 1a with separate and interconnecting type
lumbar and thoracic supports according to another embodiment of the
present invention, excepting that the armrest 6 is not
interconnected to the thoracic support 4, since the operation
thereof is the same as the first embodiment of the present
invention, further description on this is omitted here.
[0058] Although several exemplary embodiments of the present
invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those
skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications,
additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from
the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the
accompanying claims.
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