Abstract:
A synchronous mechanism for a chair, such as an office chair, including a base unit, a seat support arranged above and moveably on the base unit, a backrest support arranged on the base unit so as to be capable of being pivoted about a pivot axis oriented horizontally and in transverse direction of the chair, and a prestressing device. The prestressing device exerts a prestressing force acting upwards on the seat support and forwards on the backrest support. The seat support is connected to the base unit via a coupling mechanism providing movability of the seat support relative to the base unit. The coupling mechanism is arranged to positively control the movements of the seat support relative to the base unit such that the seat support can be moved back and forth on its own between positions which are parallel to one another when the backrest support is fixed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a synchronous mechanism for a chair, in particular for an office chair, comprising a base unit, a seat support, which is arranged above and moveably on the base unit, a backrest support, which is arranged on the base unit so as to be capable of being pivoted about a pivot axis, which is oriented horizontally and in transverse direction of the chair, and a prestressing device, wherein the prestressing device exerts a prestressing force, which acts upwards on the seat support and forwards on the backrest support, and wherein the seat support is connected to the base unit via a coupling mechanism, which provides for the movability of the seat support relative to the base unit. 
     The invention furthermore relates to a chair, in particular an office chair. 
     A chair comprising a synchronous mechanism is known from DE 199 31 099 A1. The movabilities of backrest and seat are mechanically coupled to one another via the synchronous mechanism. The synchronous mechanism comprises a base unit, via which the synchronous mechanism is fastened to a central chair column, wherein the chair column is provided with a star base comprising rollers on the bottom side. The padded seat is arranged on a seat support, which is embodied as seat pad plate and which is connected to the base unit via a coupling mechanism. On the bottom side of the seat pad plate, which faces the bottom, the coupling mechanism comprises bearing supports on which vertically oriented elongated holes are embodied, in which bearing journals, which are arranged on the base unit, are guided. A pressure spring arrangement, which exerts a prestressing force, which acts upwards on the seat pad plate, and a prestressing force, which acts forwards on the backrest, is supported on the bottom side of the seat pad plate. Because of this, it is attained that the prestressing force is a function of the weight of the respective person sitting on the chair, whereby the sitting comfort is to be improved. 
     The disadvantage of the synchronous mechanism according to DE 199 31 099 A1 is that the prestressing force, which acts on the backrest support, is a function of how the weight, which rests on the seat or the seat support, respectively, is distributed relative to the horizontal. In the event that a user of the chair sits only on the front edge, for example, or substantially on a rear area of the seat, the seat tilts about a horizontal axis, which is oriented in transverse direction of the chair. However, in the event that a user sits on the seat so as to be offset to a lateral area of the seat, the seat tilts about a horizontal axis, which is oriented in longitudinal direction of the chair. It is clear that the seat can be tilted in a random manner about both of these axes by means of such asymmetrical stresses, which equals a floating support of the seat. This floating support of the seat can have the effect, for example, that the seat pad plate is tilted such that at least one bearing journal, which is arranged on the base unit, hits against an upper end of the elongated hole, which is embodied on the respective bearing support, whereby a part of the weight, which rests on the seat, is supported directly by the base unit via this bearing journal, and is no longer available to compress the pressure spring of the pressure spring arrangement and thus to act on the synchronous mechanism for optimally adjusting the prestressing force. A considerable decline of the desired sitting comfort is associated with this. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide for a synchronous mechanism, by means of which a chair, in particular an office chair, can be produced, which offers optimal sitting comfort independent from the respective type of the weight-loading of the seat. 
     In the case of a synchronous mechanism of the afore-mentioned type, this object is solved according to the invention in that the coupling mechanism is embodied such that it positively controls the movements of the seat support relative to the base unit such that the seat support can be moved back and forth solely between positions, which are parallel to one another, when the backrest support is fixed. 
     With the synchronous mechanism or its coupling mechanism, respectively, according to the invention, it does not have an impact on the size of the prestressing force, in which area the stressing of the seat or of the seat support, respectively, takes place with the weight of a user. In particular, a tilting of the seat support about a horizontal axis never takes place, in response to any type of stressing of the seat support with the weight of a user, which would be associated with the above-mentioned disadvantage. Instead, the synchronous mechanism according to the invention makes it possible to create a chair, in particular an office chair, in the case of which the prestressing force is regulated optimally. 
     In the context of the invention, the prestressing device can encompass a pressure spring arrangement according to DE 199 31 099 A1, incorporated herein by reference, or an arrangement, which is designed differently, but which has substantially the same effect. What is important is only that the prestressing device is embodied and arranged such that it can be actuated by a movement of the seat support relative to the base unit. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the coupling mechanism encompasses a front joint arrangement, which is arranged in the front area of the seat support and a rear joint arrangement, which is arranged in the rear area thereof, wherein the front joint arrangement and the rear joint arrangement are coupled to one another mechanically such that a movement of the front joint arrangement effects a movement of the rear joint arrangement and vice versa. This mechanical embodiment of the coupling mechanism is very robust. The two joint arrangements are preferably embodied such that they prevent a tilting of the seat support about an axis, which is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the chair. The mechanical coupling of the front joint arrangement to the rear joint arrangement preferably has the effect that the seat support cannot be tilted about an axis, which is oriented in transverse direction of the chair. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, each joint arrangement encompasses two joint units, which are arranged spaced apart from one another relative to the transverse direction of the chair and which are mechanically coupled to one another such that a movement of the one joint unit effects a movement of the other joint unit. It is effected by means of this mechanical coupling that the seat support cannot be tilted about an axis, which is oriented in longitudinal direction of the chair. Preferably, the seat support is embodied in a substantially right-angled manner relative to the horizontal, wherein one of the joint units is arranged in each corner area of the seat support. 
     A further advantageous embodiment provides for each front joint unit to encompass two elements, which are connected to one another on one end in an articulated manner via a free first axis, the upper element of which is connected to the base unit and the seat support in an articulated manner on the other end via a second axis and the lower element is connected to the base unit in an articulated manner on the other end via a third axis, wherein the free first, the second and the third axes are arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the pivot axis, wherein the second axis is guided in vertical direction on the end side in elongated holes on the base unit, wherein the free first axis is arranged in front of the second and the third axes, and wherein the free first, the second and the third axes of the one front joint unit form the free first, the second and the third axes of the other front joint unit. This represents a constructively simple and yet robust embodiment of the front joint units. 
     It is furthermore considered to be advantageous when each rear joint unit encompasses two elements, which are connected to one another in an articulated manner on one end via a free fourth axis, the upper element of which is connected to the base unit in an articulated manner on the other end via a fifth axis and the lower element is connected to the base unit in an articulated manner on the other end via a sixth axis, wherein the free fourth, the fifth and the sixth axes are arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the pivot axis, wherein the sixth axis is guided in vertical direction on the end side in elongated holes on the base unit, wherein the free fourth axis is arranged behind the fifth and the sixth axes and wherein the free fourth, the fifth and the sixth axes of the one rear joint unit form the free fourth, the fifth and the sixth axes of the other rear joint unit. According to this, the rear joint units are also embodied in a constructively simple and robust manner. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, each rear joint unit encompasses a coupling element, which is connected to the seat support in an articulated manner on one end via a seventh axis and to the base unit in an articulated manner on the other end via the sixth axis, wherein the seventh axis of the one rear joint unit forms the seventh axis of the other rear joint unit. The coupling element is thus connected to the joint units of the rear joint arrangement via the sixth axis. Movements of the seat support act on the rear joint units via the coupling element. Preferably, one of the coupling elements is arranged in each corner area of a seat support, which is embodied in a substantially right-angled manner relative to the horizontal. 
     It is furthermore proposed for the free first axis to be connected to the free fourth axis via at least one rigidly embodied control element. The arrangement of the control element effects the mechanical coupling of front joint arrangement and rear joint arrangement. Preferably, provision is made for two control elements, which are arranged in longitudinal direction of the chair and via which the front joint unit, which is in each case arranged on one side of the seat support, is connected to the rear joint unit arranged on this side. 
     Preferably, the intensity of the prestressing force, which is exerted by the prestressing device, can be adjusted. Because of this, a highly individual adjustment of the sitting comfort can be made by the user of the synchronous mechanism or of a chair, which is equipped with it, respectively. 
     Advantageously, the prestressing device comprises at least one pressure spring arrangement, which is supported on the bottom side of the seat support and on the upper side of a section of the backrest support, which extends forwards beyond the pivot axis. Depending on the application, provision can also be made for two or a plurality of pressure spring arrangements. 
     In the alternative or in addition to the last-mentioned embodiment, the prestressing device can comprise at least one tension spring, which engages with one end on the free first axis and with the other end on the backrest support such that it presses the free first axis in the direction of the rear joint arrangement and the backrest support forwards. Depending on the application, provision can also be made here for two or a plurality of tension springs. The two joint units of the front joint arrangement are preferably raised by means of the force of the tension spring, and are transferred into a state, which corresponds to the unstressed state of the synchronous mechanism. 
     The invention additionally proposes a chair, in particular an office chair, which, according to the invention, is equipped with a synchronous mechanism according to any one of the afore-described embodiments or any combination thereof. The advantages described above with reference to the synchronous mechanism are associated therewith. 
     Further advantages and features of the instant invention will be defined in more detail by means of the exemplary embodiment for the synchronous mechanism according to the invention shown in the enclosed figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment for the synchronous mechanism according to the invention in unstressed state comprising a raised backrest support, 
         FIG. 2  shows a transparent illustration of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  from the transverse direction of the chair, 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment for the synchronous mechanism according to the invention in the stressed state comprising a raised backrest support, 
         FIG. 4  shows a transparent illustration of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  from the transverse direction of the chair, 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment for the synchronous mechanism according to the invention in the unstressed state comprising a backrest support, which is tilted backwards, 
         FIG. 6  shows a transparent illustration of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  from the transverse direction of the chair, 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment for the synchronous mechanism according to the invention in the stressed state comprising a backrest support, which is tilted backwards, 
         FIG. 8  shows a transparent illustration of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  from the transverse direction of the chair, and 
         FIG. 9  shows a transparent illustration of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  from the top. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment for the synchronous mechanism  1  according to the invention for a partially-illustrated chair, in particular office chair in the unstressed state. The synchronous mechanism  1  encompasses a base unit  2 , via which the synchronous mechanism  1  is connected to a central chair column  3 . 
     The synchronous mechanism  1  furthermore comprises a seat support  4 , which is arranged above and movably on the base unit  2  and which is embodied in two pieces according to the exemplary embodiment and which encompasses the seat support elements  5  and  6 , which are embodied as metal profiles, which are angled in a right-angled manner. Boreholes  8 , via which a phantomly-illustrated seat can be connected to the seat support  4 , for example by means of screwing, are arranged on the upper section  7  of the seat support elements  5  and  6 , which extends substantially horizontally. 
     The synchronous mechanism  1  furthermore encompasses a backrest support  9 , which is arranged on the base unit  2  so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis S, which is oriented horizontally and in transverse direction of the chair, and which comprises a connecting part  10 , which is connected directly to the pivot axis S and a back part  11  connected thereto, wherein boreholes  12 , via which a phantomly-illustrated backrest can be connected to the backrest support  9 , are also embodied on the back part  11 . 
     The synchronous mechanism  1  further comprises a pressure spring arrangement  13 , which is supported on the bottom side of the seat support  4  and which exerts an upwards prestressing force onto the seat support  4  and a forwards prestressing force on the backrest support  9 . The pressure spring arrangement  13  encompasses a pressure spring  14 , an upper bearing element  15  and a lower bearing element  16 , which is shown in  FIG. 2 . The pressure spring  14  is supported via the upper bearing element  15  on the bottom side of a transverse bar  17  of the seat support  4 , which are embodied on the end side in elongated holes  18  on the sections  19  or  20 , respectively, of the seat support elements  5  or  6 , respectively, which are oriented in vertical direction. The elongated holes  19  and  20  are embodied such that they can be adjusted via at least two different prestressing forces, which takes place in the shown exemplary embodiment in that the transverse bar  18  is moved up against the one or the other end of the elongated holes. In the shown position of the transverse bar, a smaller prestressing force is set. The seat support  4  is connected to the base unit  2 , which will be explained in more detail below, via a coupling mechanism, which provides for the movability of the seat support  4  relative to the base unit  2 . 
     The coupling mechanism encompasses a front joint arrangement  21 , which is arranged in the front area of the seat support  4 , and a rear joint arrangement  22 , which is arranged in the rear area of the seat support  4 . The front joint arrangement  21  and the rear joint arrangement  22  are coupled to one another mechanically such that a movement of the front joint arrangement  21  effects a movement of the rear joint arrangement  22  and vice versa, which becomes clear from the following. Because of this, the seat support  4  is prevented from tilting about an axis, which is oriented in transverse direction of the chair and which is not identified in detail. 
     Each joint arrangement  21  or  22 , respectively, encompasses two joint units  23  and  24  or  25  and  26 , respectively, which are arranged spaced apart from one another relative to the transverse direction of the chair and which are coupled to one another mechanically such that a movement of the one joint unit  23  or  25 , respectively, effects a movement of the other joint unit  24  or  26 , respectively. With this mechanical coupling, tilting of the seat support  4  is avoided about an axis which is oriented in longitudinal direction of the chair and which is not identified in more detail, in response to an asymmetrical weight-loading. 
     To maintain the clarity of the figures, the embodiment of the front joint units  23  and  24  is only described by means of the front joint unit  24 . The front joint unit  24  encompasses two elements  27  and  28 , which are connected to one another in an articulated manner on one end via a free first axis A 1 . The upper element  27  is connected to the base unit  2  and to the seat support  4  in an articulated manner on the other end via a second axis A 2 , and the lower element  28  is connected to the base unit  2  in an articulated manner on the other end via a third axis A 3 . The free first axis A 1 , the second axis A 2  and the third axis A 3  are arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the pivot axis S. The second axis A 2  is guided in vertical direction on the end side in elongated holes  29  on the base unit  2 , whereby the movability of the seat support  4  is defined in vertical direction relative to the base unit  2 . The second axis A 2  is furthermore guided in horizontal elongated holes  30  on the vertically oriented sections  19  and  20  of the seat support elements  5  and  6 , the function of which becomes clear from  FIGS. 5 to 8 . The free first axis A 1  is arranged in front of the second axis A 2  and the third axis A 3 . The free first axis A 1 , the second axis A 2  and the third axis A 3  of the one front joint unit  23  form the free first axis A 1 , the second axis A 2  and the third axis A 3  of the other front joint unit  24 . Two tension springs  31  and  32 , the other ends of which interact with a transverse bar  33 , which is fixed to the connecting part  10  of the backrest support  9 , engage with the free first axis A 1 . A force is applied to the first free axis A 1  by means of the tension springs  31  and  32  such that the front joint units  23  and  24  aim to straighten. 
     Each rear joint unit  25  or  26 , respectively, encompasses two elements  34  and  35 , which are connected to one another in an articulated manner on one end via a free fourth axis A 4 , which becomes clearer from  FIG. 2 . The upper element  34  is connected to the base unit  2  in an articulated manner on the other end via a fifth axis A 5  and the lower element  35  is connected to the base unit  2  in an articulated manner on the other end via a sixth axis A 6 . The free fourth axis A 4 , the fifth axis A 5  and the sixth axis A 6  are arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the pivot axis S. The sixth axis A 6  is guided in vertical direction on the end side in elongated holes on the base unit  2 . The free fourth axis A 4  is arranged behind the fifth axis A 5  and the sixth axis A 6 . The free fourth axis A 4 , the fifth axis A 5  and the sixth axis A 6  of the one rear joint unit  25  or  26 , respectively, form the free fourth axis A 4 , the fifth axis A 5  and the sixth axis A 6  of the other rear joint unit  26  or  25 , respectively. 
     Each rear joint unit  25  or  26 , respectively, further encompasses a coupling element  37  or  38 , respectively, only the coupling element  37  of which can be seen in  FIG. 1 . Each coupling element  37  or  38 , respectively, is connected to the seat support  4  in an articulated manner on the one end via a seventh axis A 7  and to the base unit  2  in an articulated manner on the other end via the sixth axis A 6 . The seventh axis A 7  of the one rear joint unit  25  or  26 , respectively, forms the seventh axis A 7  of the other rear joint unit  26  or  25 , respectively. The seventh axis A 7  is connected to the transverse bar  33  via two rockers  41 . The coupling elements  37  and  38  are thus connected to the rear elements  34  and  35  via the sixth axis A 6 . Movements of the seat support  4  act on the rear joint units  25  and  26  via the coupling elements  37  and  38 . 
     To mechanically couple the front joint arrangement  21  to the rear joint arrangement  22 , the free first axis A 1  is connected to the free fourth axis A 4  via two rigidly embodied control elements  39  and  40 . 
     The mode of operation of the above-described coupling mechanism and thus of the synchronous mechanism  1  will be described below in a synopsis of  FIGS. 1 to 4 : 
     As is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second axis A 2 , in the unstressed state of the synchronous mechanism  1 , is located on the upper stop of the elongated holes  29  on the base unit  2 . The sixth axis A 6  is also located on the upper stop of the elongated holes  36 , which are embodied in the base unit  2 . A prestressing force, which acts upwards, acts on the seat support  4  by means of the pressure spring arrangement  13 . For this purpose, the pressure spring  14  is supported on a thrust bearing element  42 , which is fastened to the connecting part  10  of the backrest support  9 , via the lower bearing element  16 . 
     In the event that the seat support  4  is stressed with a weight, which is to be suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the pressure spring  14  of the pressure spring arrangement  13  is compressed. The second axis A 2  and the sixth axis A 6  are simultaneously displaced downwards in the respective elongated holes  29  or  36 , respectively. These movements are mechanically coupled to one another by means of the control elements  39  and  40 . In the event that the front joint unit  24 , for example, is actuated by means of weight-loading of the seat support  4 , the first free axis A 1  in  FIGS. 2 and 4  moves to the left. Because of this, the free fourth axis A 4  is also moved to the left via the control elements  39  and  40 , which, in turn, effects a movement of the sixth axis A 6  downwards in the elongated holes  36 . The coupling elements  37  and  38  are hereby entrained, which, in turn, entrain the seat support  4  and thus effect a displacement of the rear part of the seat support  4 , which is shown on the right in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , so that a parallel displacement of the entire seat support  4  takes place relative to the base unit  2 . An actuation of the front joint units  23  and  24 , so to speak, takes place in mechanical reversal in response to an actuation of the rear joint units  25  and  26 , so as to effect an exclusively parallel displacement of the entire seat support  4 . 
       FIGS. 5 to 8  show the exemplary embodiment for the synchronous mechanism  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  with the backrest support  9  being pivoted backwards. In this state of the synchronous mechanism  1 , the second axis A 2  is located on the front stop of the elongated holes  30  in the vertical sections  19  and  20  of the seat support elements  5  or  6 , respectively. At the same time, the tension springs  31  and  32  are stretched. The actuating mechanism of the front joint units  23  and  24  and of the rear joint units  25  and  26  corresponds to what has been described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the exemplary embodiment for the synchronous mechanism  1  according to the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  in a transparent illustration from the top and once again clarifies the spatial arrangement of the components of the synchronous mechanism  1  relative to one another. 
     The exemplary embodiment described by means of the figures serves to explain and does not form a limitation. In particular, the tension springs  31  and  32  can be designed such that they take over the same function as the compression spring arrangement  13  or even replace it. 
     As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.