The present invention relates to the backrest of a chair in which an elastic membrane is stretched over a substantially rectangular backrest frame to form a back-contacting surface.
The backrest of a chair comprises a substantially rectangular backrest frame and an elastic membrane knitted or woven as high-tension elastic mesh that is stretched over the backrest frame. The backrest in which suitable elasticity is applied to the back-contacting surface is known in Patent Literatures 1 and 2.
An elastic membrane is molded by suitable tension together with a backrest frame with a die, which is known in Patent Literature 3.
However, in the chair in each of the Patent Literatures, elasticity of the back-contact surface of the backrest is applied by elasticity of the elastic membrane itself and by tension for stretching the elastic membrane over the backrest frame. So the back-contacting surface is flat and a back position of the user is not stable when he/she sits.
As described in Patent Literature 2, in order to stabilize the back of the user when he/she sits, the middle of the back-contacting surface projects backward when viewed from the above, and right and left side frames are bent to project forward in the middle so that the back of the user may be fitted.
However, when viewed from the above, upper and lower frame members of the backrest frame are rounded backward, and right and left side frame members are bent to project forward in the middle when viewed from the side. Upper and lower edges of the elastic membrane are stretched over the backrest frame, and right and left side edges are stretched to the right and left side frame members for the backrest frame. By tension that applies to the elastic membrane over the whole circumference, restoration force acts so that the back-contact surface becomes planar in the vicinity of the bent portion of the side frame members.
In order to maintain the back-contact surface in the shape when viewed from the above and side, it is necessary to provide separate complicated holding means. It is disadvantageous that the shape of the elastic membrane cannot be kept for a long time.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 3993375
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Design No. 1199426
Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent No. 3200409
In view of the disadvantages, it is an object of the present invention to provide a backrest of a chair in which an arc of an elastic membrane is kept for long time, whereby a stable sitting posture of a user can be maintained.
The foregoing problems are solved by the following invention as claimed.
(1) In the backrest of a chair, the backrest comprising a substantially rectangular backrest frame comprising upper, lower, right-side and left-side frame members and an elastic membrane stretched in the backrest frame, the right-side and left-side frame members of the backrest frame are bent at a bent point so that a middle of each of the frame members gently projects forward when viewed from a side, the elastic membrane being stretched so that a middle is curved at a curved point forward when viewed from the side, the backrest further comprising a pair of shape-maintaining members each of which is provided obliquely outward and upward between the bent portion of each of the right and left side members and part of the lower frame member close to each of the right and left side frame members, the elastic membrane being supported at lower ends of right and left side portions by the shape-maintaining member.
(2) In the item (1), the curved point of the elastic membrane is higher than the bent point of the side frame.
(3) In the item (1) or (2), the backrest frame is molded together with the shape-maintaining members and the elastic membrane.
(4) In any one of the items (1) to (3), the upper frame member is formed like an arc gently projecting backward when viewed from an above.
(5) In any one of the items (1) to (4), the upper frame member is formed straight when viewed from the above.
(6) In any one of the items (1) to (5), the lower frame member is formed like an arc gently projecting backward when viewed from the above.
According to claim 1, the side frame member of the backrest frame is bent at the bent point to project in the middle forward when viewed from the side and the elastic membrane is stretched over the backrest frame to curve forward at the curved point in the middle. The shape-maintaining member is provided between is provided between the bent point of each of the right and left side frame members and part of the lower frame member near the side frame member. The lower part of the elastic membrane is supported by shape-maintaining member. The shape-maintaining member creates restraining force for restraining a returning force for elastically returning the elastic membrane to a flat face. Thus, the curve of the elastic membrane of the back-contacting surface can be maintained for a long time.
The shape-maintaining member is provided obliquely outward and upward between the bent point of the side frame member and part of the lower frame member near the side frame member. When a user sits on the chair, he/she can take stable and comfortable sitting posture without giving discomfort that the shape-maintaining member comes in contact with the back bone of the user,
According to claim 2, the curved point of the elastic membrane is higher than the bent point of the side frame member close to the back bone of the user. When the user sits, the curved point of the elastic membrane presses the lumbar of the user, he/she can keep stable sitting posture with a straight back.
According to claim 3, the backrest frame is molded together with the shape-maintaining member and elastic membrane, thereby increasing support strength of the elastic membrane by the backrest frame and shape-maintaining member and restraining elastic-returning force of the elastic membrane.
According to claim 4, the upper frame member is formed like an arc projecting backward when viewed from the above. Thus, the back surface of the elastic membrane is supported by the shape-maintaining member to press forward. A restraining force is applied against the direction of elastic returning force. Thus, the elastic membrane which acts as back-contacting surface can stably be maintained like an arc which curves backward when viewed from the above.
According to claim 5, the upper frame member is straight when viewed from the above. A restraining force for pushing the elastic membrane forward is applied by the shape-maintaining member against a returning force which pushes backward to have the back-contacting surface of the elastic membrane come closer to a flat surface.
According to claim 6, the lower frame member is formed like an arc which projects backward. The lower edge of the elastic membrane can be maintained like an arc. In addition to the effect by claim 4, the shape of the elastic membrane forming a back-contacting surface can be maintained for a long time.
One embodiment of the present invention will be described with respect to the appended drawings.
In
In the seat 6, a synthetic-resin seat frame 8 such as polypropylene comprises front and back frame members 8A,8B and right and left frame members 8C,8C like a rectangle. The circumferential edge of an elastic membrane 9 into which polyamide or polypropylene fiber is knitted or woven like a mesh is stretched by one-piece molding.
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Hence, in
The back frame member 8B is an arc which slightly projects backward when viewed from the above and an arc which slightly projects downward when viewed from the back. The back frame member 9B has a rear tongue 11 in a trapezoid in which a front side is shorter than a back side when viewed from the above.
The rear tongue 11 has a front end 11a which is an arc which slightly projects backward when viewed from the above and curves forward and downward to be lower than the upper surface of the back frame member 8B.
The middle of the back edge 9b of the elastic membrane 9 is supported by the front end of the rear tongue 11 so that the middle of the elastic membrane 9 gently projects downward in
Thus, in
In
Hence, the highest point R of the side frame member 8C is higher than the middle of the front tongue 10, and the front part of the seat 6 becomes lower toward the middle. The lowest point Q at the back end of the elastic membrane 9 supported by the front end 11a of the rear tongue 11 is positioned at the back of the lowest point S of the back part of the side frame member 8C. The seat 6 lowers without spreading backward from the highest point R to the lowest point S of the side frame member 8, and the seat 6 gradually shrinks and lowers toward the front end 11a of the rear tongue 11 at the lowest point Q at the back end of the elastic membrane 9 from the lowest point S of the side frame member 8c, so that the buttocks of the user can be held more suitably and he/she can take more stable sitting posture.
In the side frame member 8C, the front part is tilted backward and upward, and the middle part is tilted backward and downward from the highest point R. The side frame member 8C is gently tilted backward and upward from the lowest point A of the rear part, thereby improving the appearance of the seat.
Furthermore, the lowest point Q is lower than the lowest point S of the side frame member 8C by which the elastic membrane 9 is supported. Thus, even if the transversely middle part of the elastic membrane 9 is returned to horizontal flat surface by tension, more shaping force than longitudinally shaping force of the side frame member 8C can be applied, thereby making the shape of the recess 12 more stable.
The side edges of the elastic membrane is positioned at the back of the lowest point S of the side frame member 8C. Hence, the recess 12 curves gradually backward from the back part of the side frame member 8C when viewed from the above to enable it to fit the top and side shapes of the back frame member 8C.
As shown in the seat 6, in the backrest 7, a synthetic resin backrest frame 13 such as polypropylene comprises an upper frame member 13A and a lower frame member 13B, and right and left frame members 13C,13C like a rectangle. The circumferential edges of an elastic membrane 14 to which polyamide fibers or polypropylene fibers are knitted or woven as mesh are supported and stretched on the inner circumferential surface of the frame members 13A-13C.
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In
The shape-maintaining member 17 is molded together with the backrest frame 13 and elastic membrane 14 when the backrest 7 is molded.
In
In the backrest 7, the elastic membrane 14 is stretched and supported on the lower part to the shape-maintaining member 17 provided between the part of the lower frame member 13B close to the bent portion 13a of the right and left side frame members 13C,13C in
Specifically, the shape-maintaining member 17 supports the back surface of the elastic membrane 14 to press forward thereby applying restraining force against a direction of elastic returning force of the elastic membrane 14.
Thus, when viewed from the side, the curve of the elastic membrane 14 close to the bent portion 13a of the right and left side frame member 13C can be maintained for a long time.
The lower side parts of the elastic membrane 14 are supported by the shape-maintaining member 17. As shown by broken lines in
In the foregoing embodiment, the upper frame member 13A is formed like an arc that projects backward. By stretching the elastic membrane 14, forward elastic returning force is produced close to the bent portion 13a. When the upper frame member 13A is straight when viewed from the above, forward elastic returning force is not produced, but the back surface of the elastic membrane comes closer to the flat surface to cause restoration force for pushing back. Against this force, restraining force for pushing the elastic membrane forward is applied by the right and left shape-maintaining member 17 enabling the vertical curve of the elastic membrane 14 to be kept for a long time.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2011/051607 | 1/27/2011 | WO | 00 | 8/19/2013 |