Synchronous adjusting device for office chairs or the like

• US 5,251,958 A
• Filed: 08/29/1991
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wilkhahn Wilkening + Hahne GmbH + Co.
• Original Assignee: Wilkhahn Wilkening & Hahne GmbH & Co. KG.
• Inventors: Schmitz, Burkhard, Biggel, Franz, Roericht, Hans, Fleischmann, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARDNER, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US07/752,503
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 297/316, 297/317, 297/320-322, 297/354, 297/340-342
• US Class Current: 297/321
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03283 with fluid springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs

Abstract

A synchronous adjusting device is proposed as a chair mechanism for office chairs, seat furniture or the like, which is constructed extremely simply and with few mechanical components and which, if appropriate, can do without additional force accumulators. At the same time, the restoring movement of the back part will take place as a function of the weight of the user, a restoring moment occurring with the increase in inclination of the backrest. For this, the back part (7) is mounted rotatably relative to the seat part (5) at a distance in height. The leaning force (9) of the user at the back leaning point (10) is counteracted by a restoring force in the lower region of the back part as a result of the articulated connection between the seat part and the back part (7).

Claims

1. A chair comprising

(a) a carrier structure of fixed location;

said carrier structure having front and rear regions;

(b) a back part having first and second locations of articulation;

said first location of articulation being at a height level above said second location of articulation;

said first and second locations of articulation defining a length portion of said back part;

said first location of articulation of said back part being pivotally jointed to said rear region of said carrier structure, whereby upon pivotal movement of said back part, said second location of articulation moves along a circular path about said first location of articulation;

(c) a seat part having front and rear regions;

said rear region of said seat part being pivotally jointed to said second location of articulation of said back part;

(d) a single coupling component connecting said front region of said seat part with said front region of said carrier structure such that the front regions of the seat part and the carrier structure are movable relative to one another;

said single coupling component having an end; and

(e) means for compelling said end of said single coupling component to travel in a circularly arcuate path having a center of curvature being fixed relative to said carrier structure;

said end of said single coupling component being situated at all times at a height level below the second location of articulation of said back part.

2. The chair as defined in claim 1, wherein a distance between said center of curvature and said end of said single coupling component constitutes a radius of curvature of said path;

said radius of curvature being situated at all times below said length portion of said back part.

3. The chair as defined in claim 1, wherein a distance between said center of curvature and said end of said single coupling component is smaller than said length portion of said back part.

4. The chair as defined in claim 1, wherein said single coupling component is a pendulum lever having spaced first and second locations of articulation;

said first location of articulation of said pendulum lever constituting said center of curvature and being pivotally jointed to said front region of said carrier structure and said second location of articulation of said pendulum lever constituting said end of said single coupling element and being pivotally jointed to said front region of said seat part, whereby upon pivotal movement of said pendulum lever, said second location of articulation of said pendulum lever moves along said circularly arcuate path;

the pivotal connection between the pendulum lever and the carrier structure constituting said means for compelling said end of said single coupling component to travel in a circularly arcuate path.

5. The chair as defined in claim 1, wherein said end of said single coupling component has a top dead center position between said seat part and said carrier structure;

in said top dead center position said second location of articulation of said back part, said center of curvature and said end of said single coupling component lie on a single straight line.

6. The chair as defined in claim 1, wherein in an unloaded state of the chair the second location of articulation of said back part is situated below the first location of articulation of said back part at an offset d such that a torque generated about the first location of articulation of said back part by a load imparted on the back part is counteracted by a restoring torque generated about the first location of articulation of said back part by a load imparted on the seat part.

7. The chair as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier structure includes

(a) a base member situated centrally underneath said seat part and

(b) an extension connected to said base member in said rear region of the carrier structure, said extension having an upwardly oriented course and a terminus to which said first location of articulation of said back part is pivotally jointed.