Spring unit for weight adjustment of a chair

• US 6,659,555 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: König + Neurath AG
• Original Assignee: König + Neurath AG
• Inventors: Sander, Armin, Scholz, Rolf, Weisser, Frank, Potrykus, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Stephanie N
• Application Number:
  US09/631,920
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 297/302.2, 297/302.4, 297/303.2, 297/303.4, 297/302.5, 297/300.3, 248/631, 248/222.41, 248/225.11, 247/34, 247/290, 247/291, 247/64.11, 247/168, 247/64.12, 188/321.11
• US Class Current: 297/302.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/443 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/446 with fluid springs

Abstract

A spring unit (11) for the weight setting of a chair (1), in particular an office chair, having a gas spring (12) and having a number of further spring elements (17, 18, 19; 27, 28) which can be connected up to the gas spring (12) individually or in combination. The spring unit (11) is expediently arranged between a seat carrier (7) connected to a rotary column (8) of the chair (1), and the seat (3), or a backrest link (4) which extends at least approximately parallel to said seat (3) and belongs to a backrest (2).

Claims

1. A spring unit for the weight-setting of a chair, comprising:

a first gas spring element for the weight-setting of a chair;

further spring elements; and

an adjusting device for selectively engaging a given combination of said further spring elements to act in parallel with said first gas spring element to adjust the weight setting of the chair.

2. The spring unit according to claim 1, wherein said further spring element is one of at least two further spring elements each disposed to be connected up to said first spring element, selectively individually and in combination.

3. The spring unit according to claim 1, wherein said further spring element is a gas spring.

4. The spring unit according to claim 1, wherein said first spring element and said further spring element are gas springs.

5. The spring unit according to claim 4, which comprises a common holding element retaining said gas springs at respective housing-side spring ends thereof, and a slotted adjusting guide at which respective piston-side spring ends of said gas pistons can be brought into individual operative engagement.

6. The spring unit according to claim 1, wherein said further spring element is a helical spring coaxially surrounding said gas spring.

7. The spring unit according to claim 1, wherein said further spring element comprises a first helical spring surrounding said gas spring and a second helical spring surrounding said first helical spring, wherein said first helical spring is weaker than said second helical spring.

8. The spring unit according to claim 7, which comprises a sleeve member disposed between said first helical spring and said second helical spring.

9. The spring unit according to claim 7, which comprises a cross-shaped arm on a piston side of said spring, whereby said gas spring is guided on said cross-shaped arm, two plunger arms guided on said cross-shaped arm to be synchronously displaced transversely to a longitudinal axis of said spring, whereby said plunger arms, upon being transversely displaced, are brought into a functionally active position with said first and second helical springs.

10. The spring unit according to claim 6, which comprises a cross-shaped arm on a piston side of said spring, whereby said gas spring is guided on said cross-shaped arm, two plunger arms guided on said cross-shaped arm to be synchronously displaced transversely to a longitudinal axis of said spring, whereby said plunger arms, upon being transversely displaced, are brought into a functionally active position with said helical spring.

11. In combination with a chair, the spring unit according to claim 1.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the spring unit is disposed between a seat carrier connected to a rotary column, and a seat of the chair.

13. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the spring unit is disposed between a seat carrier connected to a rotary column, and a backrest link extending substantially parallel to a seat and supporting a backrest of the chair.