Patent Application
20130187021
This application claims the benefit of German patent application no. 10 2012 100 432.3, filed Jan. 19, 2012.
The invention relates to chair guides and, more particularly, to a chair guiding device comprising:
A chair guiding device of the type mentioned above is disclosed in DE 10 2010 032 265 A1 by the applicant. The rail guide is arranged in a sloped plane, which has a constant angle of inclination relative to the bottom of the housing so that the chair receptacle, and thus the chair, is always located higher in the end position than in the starting position. Within the travel range, the position of the chair can be fixed by way of a retaining device holding the carriage. However, the chair guide itself is mounted rigidly in the sloped plane so that the displacement of the chair occupied by a person can also take place only along the sloped movement path thus defined.
In addition, a chair guide comprising a rail guide that is mounted on a sloped plane is known from DE 20 2011 001 821 U1, in which the chair receptacle is associated with a braking device, which is used to hold the chair in a settable displacement position. In this device, the sloped movement path is also rigidly fixed. Moreover, the disclosed braking device is a complex assembly comprising sophisticated additional parts such as springs, cylinders, and magnets. In addition, the carriage cannot be displaced without resistance when the chair is occupied.
Thus, the object of the invention is to develop a chair guiding device of the type in question without the use of a braking device, wherein the carriage carrying the chair receptacle not only automatically returns the unoccupied chair to a predetermined starting position, but it is also assured that a person sitting on the chair can move the chair back and forth, without having to overcome the grade resistance caused by a sloped chair guidance when pushing the chair upward, and can keep the chair at any point along the travel range without the user continually applying a force.
Thus, the object of the invention is to develop a chair guiding device of the type in question, in which the carriage carrying the chair receptacle not only automatically returns the unoccupied chair to a predetermined starting position, but it is also assured that a person sitting on the chair can move the chair back and forth, without having to overcome the grade resistance caused by a sloped chair guidance when pushing the chair upward. Moreover, the user should be able to maintain the selected chair position at any point along the travel range, without having to permanently apply a counter force that is directed against the grade resistance or actuate a braking device.
This object is achieved by a chair guiding device defined in the preamble by:
Of course, the tilting plate can also be integrated in the housing or form the bottom of the housing. What is essential is that the rail guide is not rigidly arranged, but can be moved about a rotational axis. The rotational axis is preferably oriented perpendicularly to a travel range of the carriage defined by the starting and end positions.
A spring element, which can have the broadest design possible, or another means, for example an eccentric element, can be used as the means for implementing the pivoting motion of the tilting plate. The eccentric element can be set in motion by a belt drive, for example.
If the spring element is disposed relative to the pivot bearing on the side of the tilting plate on which also the rail guide is mounted, the spring element is preferably disposed as a compression spring between the tilting plate and the bottom. Provided the spring element cooperates with a tilting plate that is extended beyond the pivot bearing in an embodiment that is not shown, the spring element can also be disposed as a compression spring between the tilting plate extension and a housing cover or a support that is integrated in the housing.
A tension spring may be used as an alternative to a compression spring, wherein in such an embodiment the spring stop points on the housing must be modified accordingly.
The chair guiding device according to the new design principle allows almost resistance-free gliding of the chair under the load of the person sitting thereon, because no difference in height must be overcome. With this chair guiding device, the sitting person with his or her feet on the floor is not also required to be supported or to actuate an additional braking or retaining device so as to maintain the chair in the desired position.
Preferably a mechanical spring, for example a coil or disk spring, is used as the spring element. However, other spring elements, such as gas springs, and any other resilient or setting elements are also conceivable. The preload of the spring can be set to the requirement by way of a setting device. The preload force is to be selected so that when the chair is not occupied, the tilting plate is raised in any position of the chair receptacle between the starting position and the end position, and the chair is displaced back into the starting position located at the low end of the travel range.
The spring element can be mounted directly on the bottom of the housing or in an adapted seat. For example, the seat of the spring element can be a ring element that is provided on the bottom of the housing.
The housing preferably has a cuboid and flattened design so that this can be installed in the floor like a building board.
The housing can further be provided for installation in the base plate of an office chair or of a relaxation armchair.
Securely and quickly fastening and removing a chair on the chair guiding device is facilitated by equipping the device with a chair receptacle, which is bolted to the carriage and can be detached without detaching the housing cover. After the chair receptacle is detached, the cover of the housing, which contains an elongated hole for allowing the chair receptacle to be displaced, can be removed and replaced with a different cover containing no elongated hole. As a result, the optional cover fits flush in the floor so that the space thus cleared has no uneven areas or depressions and can be used as a workstation by a person in a wheelchair, for example.
The carriage guide is preferably equipped with a ball bearing, which reduces the frictional resistance.
In a further embodiment, the chair guiding device is optionally provided with a locking mechanism, which can be triggered and can hold the carriage, and which can be used to fix the carriage in any arbitrarily selectable position within the travel range.
For example, this can be at least one magnet, which is provided on the carriage, for example, and which cooperates with a magnet provided on the housing, whereby the carriage can be fixed. The magnetic retaining force is preferably transmitted without contact. In a preferred embodiment, a solenoid is provided so that the chairs, which may optionally have been fixed by way of a retaining device, can be centrally (manually or automatically, for example via a fire alarm system, or the like) released via a central switching unit, such as in an emergency in a conference room containing a large number of chairs according to the invention. All tilting plates then assume the sloped position so that the chairs move to the starting position thereby clearing the escape routes.
The operational safety is further improved when the elongated hole cover covering the elongated hole in the housing cover is designed to be impenetrable. This is particularly advantageous, for example, when a heel, which is designed as a “stiletto heel” of a lady's shoe for example, comes in contact with the strap that closes the elongated hole and can be penetrated. For example, the impenetrable elongated hole cover can be designed in the manner of a rigid link chain made of metal or plastic links. The individual chain links, which have a substantially flat upper face, are connected via joints to the respective neighboring links and can be deflected about deflection rollers, analogous to the use of a belt. It shall also not be excluded that the strength of the strap for safe walking is produced in a different manner, for example by support elements, which not only support the strap from beneath in the region of the elongated hole but also yield when the chair is moved back and forth and the base of the chair moves inside the elongated hole. For example, the yielding of elements carrying the strap can be implemented in that the individual elements are laterally displaced by the chair base and returned to the starting positions thereof by a spring after passing the chair base.
The invention will be described in more detail in a preferred embodiment based on the drawings. In the drawings:
a to 5d are schematic illustrations of sequences of motions of the chair receptacle.
The chair receptacle 4, and thus the entire chair, is detached by loosening the screws 18, which are accessible from outside the housing 10. Advantageously detachment of the carriage, or even of the rail guide, is not required to remove all elements that are located above a tread 9 and can thus form tripping hazards when the chair has been removed. The advantage of this design is that the customarily required specialty tools are not necessary to remove the chair leg from the cone. The carriage and rail guide thus remain in the adjusted positions thereof. If the chair guide and chair are reinstalled when needed, no readjustment of the carriage and chair guide is required. This is particularly advantageous because potential warranty claims by the user may be dependent on the preservation of factory-preset adjustments.
As is apparent from
It is apparent from
If the rail guide is designed as a double rail, the attachment of the two rails is preferably designed as a fixed bearing, for example by way of a non-positive screw connection. One side of the carriage 5 is designed as a floating bearing and can thus compensate for stresses caused, for example, by the effects of temperature fluctuations on the expansion behavior of the materials that are used for the housing 10, rail guide 6.1, 6.2, and carriage 5.
At the end and back faces, the carriage 5 carries two buffers 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, respectively, which dampen the impact against a stop 15 located inside the housing 10 when the respective end and starting positions are reached.
The position of the stop 15 is designed so that a minor gap 26 (refer to
Belt deflection rollers 8.1, 8.2 are mounted inside the housing 10, which carry a strap 16 (shown schematically;
At the one end 25.1, the tilting plate 20 is pivotably mounted on a revolute joint 22 (refer to
The rotational axis 24 of the revolute joint 22 is disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal orientation of the rail guide 6.1, 6.2 or of the tilting plate 20.
A coil spring is used as the spring element 23.1, which is disposed between the tilting plate 20 and the bottom 12 and pushes with a spring force FK (refer to
The housing 10, together with the tilting plate 20, the spring element 23, and the chair receptacle 4 provided on the carriage 5, form a chair guiding device 100 shown in
a to 5d are schematic illustrations of the sequences of motions of the chair receptacle 4, with and without a load from the chair user.
a and
In the forward sitting position (refer to
In a rear chair position (end position E of the chair receptacle 4; refer to
d shows a restored position, in which the unloaded chair 1 allows the tilting plate 20 to pivot upward. The sloped position of the tilting plate 20 drives the chair 1 so as to travel back to the starting position. The carriage 5 travels back to the lower starting position A simply due to the action of gravity. This takes place because of the potential energy of the carriage 5 and chair 1 that is released.
In all positions of the chair receptacle 4 shown in
Examples of various features/aspects/components/operations have been provided to facilitate understanding of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention. In addition, various preferences have been discussed to facilitate understanding of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that all examples and preferences disclosed herein are intended to be non-limiting.
Although selected embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described individually, it is to be understood that at least aspects of the described embodiments may be combined.
Although selected embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it is to be appreciated that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2012 100 432.3 | Jan 2012 | DE | national |
