PIECE OF SEATING FURNITURE AND FITTING THEREFOR

Abstract

The prior art discloses a piece of seating furniture (10), in particular of the armchair or sofa type, having a seat surface (14′) and a legrest (18) which is displaceable between a stowed position in which the legrest (18) is arranged beneath the seat surface (14′) in the vertical direction (6) of the furniture, and a use position in which the legrest (18) is arranged in front of the seat surface (14′) in the longitudinal direction (4) of the furniture.

Description

FIELD OF USE AND PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a piece of seating furniture, in particular of the armchair or sofa type, having a seat surface and a legrest which is displaceable between a stowed position in which the legrest is arranged beneath the seat surface in the vertical direction of the furniture, and a use position in which the legrest is arranged in front of the seat surface in the longitudinal direction of the furniture. In this case, the legrest is configured with a variable length by two mutually displaceable fitting portions of the legrest. A force is able to be applied to these two fitting portions of the legrest by a spring portion of a spring device, said spring portion acting between a first force application point at a first of the two fitting portions and a second force application point at a second of the two fitting portions. This spring portion is stretched depending on the relative positions of the fitting portions with respect to one another and exerts a force on the fitting portions.

The invention furthermore relates to a fitting for such a generic piece of seating furniture.

Generic pieces of seating furniture are distinguished by their leg unit that forms a legrest. The legrest, when it is not used, is moved into said stowed position, in which it is arranged in a manner concealed beneath the seat surface. If the legrest is required, in order that a more comfortable sitting position with raised legs can be taken up, the legrest is to this end moved into the use position, in particular by way of a pivoting movement, in which it is located in front of the seat surface and as it were lengthens the latter.

In the case of pieces of seating furniture having such a variable-position legrest, one problem is that the stowage space beneath the seat surface is limited and the pivoting range through which the leg unit is displaced, starting from the use position, on being transferred in the direction of the stowed position, is likewise limited. A legrest which has a sufficient size in the use position to allow comfortable sitting with raised legs is difficult to accommodate under the seat surface on account of its length and risks colliding with the floor or the base of the piece of seating furniture during the pivoting movement.

In generic pieces of seating furniture, this problem is solved in that the legrest is configured with a variable length. Length-variability is understood to mean the variability of the legrest with respect to the use position in the longitudinal direction of the furniture, that is to say in the direction of extent of the legs resting on the legrest.

The length-variability of the legrest is realized in that the latter comprises at least two fitting portions which are movable with respect to one another in a relative displacement direction moved by the legrest and as a result can have different spacings from one another in the stowed position and the use position of the legrest. Usually, a linear guide is provided between these two fitting portions of the legrest.

In order to couple the desired variation in length to the position of the legrest, in particular to the pivoted position of the legrest, various designs are known. The starting point of the invention is in this case a design in which provision is made of a spring means which comprises a spring portion that acts indirectly or directly between the two fitting portions. Said spring portion results in permanent force activation of the two fitting portions with respect to one another, such that these permanently tend to move toward or away from one another and as a result to increase or decrease the size of the legrest. This tendency brought about by the spring means is limited by a control member which is directed counter to the application of force by the spring and is provided at a different fitting portion of the piece of seating furniture and the relative position of which with respect to the legrest varies during the movement of the legrest such that it brings about a decrease or increase in size of the legrest counter to the force of the spring means during pivoting in a first pivoting direction, while in the opposite direction of movement it continuously enables the movement of the fitting portions of the legrest such that the spring means, depending on its mounting, can bring about the increase or decrease in size of the legrest.

The solutions known at least from the internal prior art include the provision of a metal helical spring, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the furniture, between the fitting portions of the legrest. However, this has been found to be problematic, since the mutual displaceability, desired to be quite large in practice, of the fitting portions by for example 20 cm cannot be provided by conventional space-saving springs. A helical spring, which is relaxed in the stowed state of the legrest and is shortened for example to a length of 5 cm, would have to be stretched by 20 cm in order to reach the use state. However, in common helical springs, this results in overstretching and thus in permanent damage to the helical spring. An alternative to such extensive stretching as described is the use of a lever system which acts between the fitting portions and which allows the use of a shorter spring and less extensive stretching of this spring. However, such a spring system results in comparatively high costs and a number of mechanical difficulties.

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

The problem addressed by the invention is therefore that of developing a generic piece of seating furniture such that the latter at least partially overcomes the described problems of the prior art in a structurally simple manner.

According to the invention, this is achieved by two measures, which are preferably realized together, but which can in principle also be realized individually and may also be individually suitable for solving the problem addressed.

According to a first measure proposed according to the invention, provision is made for the two force application points at the two fitting portions of the legrest to be arranged in a manner offset with respect to one another in a transverse direction of the furniture, such that the spring portion takes up a diagonal direction of extent more or less in a plane defined by the transverse direction of the furniture and the relative displacement direction. According to this aspect of the invention, the spring portion thus acts between two points, of the fastening-point or deflection-point type, at the two fitting portions, which are arranged in an offset manner in the transverse direction of the furniture. Thus, the force application point at the first fitting portion of the legrest could for example be arranged on the left-hand side of the piece of furniture or of the legrest, while the second force application point at the second fitting portion is arranged on the right-hand side of the piece of furniture or of the legrest.

The diagonal extent of the spring portion results in a reduction in the required stretching. Since the force application points are moved with respect to one another only in the relative displacement direction of the fitting portions, but not in the transverse direction, orthogonal thereto, of the furniture during the shortening or lengthening of the legrest, a spring which exhibits much less extensive stretching can be used, without the external dimensions of the legrest having to be changed as a result. Thus, metal helical springs can be used in such a diagonal orientation, said helical springs as a result having to be stretched by no more than 20% to 30% compared with their relaxed state with the legrest retracted, in order for example to allow lengthening or shortening of the legrest by 20 to 30 cm.

The diagonal orientation is provided preferably both in the use position of the legrest and in the stowed position of the legrest. However, it is also conceivable in principle for the force application points to be at the same height with respect to the relative displacement direction in one of these positions, such that the spring portion could also be oriented virtually in the transverse direction of the furniture in such an extreme position.

According to the mentioned second measure of the invention, which is preferably realized together with the first measure of the diagonal spring-portion arrangement, it is proposed to configure the spring portion as an elastomer spring portion. Accordingly, in contrast to hitherto conventional spring means, it is proposed that a spring means made of an elastomer material be used. It has been found that this is capable of comparatively extensive stretching and is therefore highly suitable for the mentioned purpose. Within the meaning of the invention, an elastomer material is understood to be an elastically stretchable, plastics-based and/or natural-rubber-based material. A combination in which a number of natural-rubber strands are arranged within a plastics cover is particularly advantageous. As a result, high external chemical and mechanical stability at the same time as a particularly good stretching behaviour is achievable. Said cover can consist for example of polyester. The internal strands are preferably braided together or interlaced in some other way in order to increase the stability. Preferably, the stretching behaviour of the spring portion made of elastomer material is such that an elongation of 100% at an applied force of between 20 newtons and 50 newtons is achieved.

It is particularly advantageous for the elastomer spring portion to be configured in the manner of a strand of constant cross section, which may be formed for example in a round, square or rectangular manner. This allows a simple type of deflection, the advantages of which are explained further below.

As already mentioned, it is considered to be particularly advantageous for the two above-described measures to be realized together, that is to say a spring portion which consists of an elastomer material is used in a diagonal direction of extent.

Even if a single spring portion, one end of which is fastened to the first fitting portion and the other end of which is fastened to the second fitting portion, can in principle make available the desired spring-force activation of the fitting portions of the legrest with respect to one another, it is considered to be advantageous for at least two force application points to be provided at least at one of the two fitting portions and for the spring device to have at least two spring portions which extend, in particular diagonally, between the two fitting portions.

The distribution of the spring force to be applied over more than one spring portion makes it possible to use spring portions having a lower spring coefficient, with the result that relaxation of the spring portions can be reduced again.

If use is made of such two or more spring portions extending preferably in each case diagonally, it is particularly advantageous for these to be connected integrally together and in particular to be preferably deflected by a common one of the force application points. Thus, for example two force application points at one of the two fitting portions can each act as fastening points for the two ends of said double spring portion, while these are placed around the force application point at the other fitting portion between these two ends. Here, use can be made for example of a rotatable roller or a simple peg. Of course, it is also possible to use more than two spring portions. Depending on the configuration of the piece of sitting furniture, the required spring forces and in particular also the width of the legrest, it may be advantageous to arrange at least three preferably diagonally extending spring portions, which in particular are preferably connected integrally together, in a zigzag arrangement between force application points at the two fitting portions.

As already mentioned, the spring portions, if a number of spring portions are provided between force application points at the two fitting portions, are preferably part of an integral spring means, in particular a common elastomer band. As a result, the costs for the individual parts of the piece of sitting furniture and in particular also the outlay for assembly are reduced.

When such an elastomer band is used, provision is preferably made, as already mentioned, for this to be deflected by rollers .or pegs. Such deflection is in particular advantageous when the elastomer band is arranged regionally between force application points at the same fitting portion. Such a portion, which can be oriented in particular preferably in the transverse direction of the furniture, provides further lengthening of the spring means and therefore, as long as an appropriate deflection is provided, allows even further reduced stretching while the legrest is being transferred between the stowed state and the use state. It may be particularly advantageous, in particular in this connection, for the elastomer band to be configured as a closed elastomer band and thus to be configured as it were in an annular manner. As a result, it is possible to dispense completely with the complicated fastening of ends of the elastomer band to one of the two fitting portions. Instead, the force application points at the fitting portions are designed in such a case as deflection points about which the elastomer band is placed. Preferably, here too, subregions of this elastomer band are provided between force application points at the same fitting portion, which extend in particular in the transverse direction of the furniture. In addition to the abovementioned advantages when use is made of more than one spring portion, a particular advantage also results in the case of legrests having an uncommon width. While most legrests do not exceed a width of 60 cm, in less common pieces of seating furniture it may also be expedient to provide wider legrests, for example having a width of at least 80 cm. Thus, for example a common legrest for a number of persons sitting on a sofa is conceivable. The hitherto customary systems having only one spring means which is usually arranged on one of the two sides are not very appropriate precisely in the case of such legrests, since problems arise with regard to tilting of the fitting portions with respect to one another. The design with at least two spring portions allows equal force activation of the fitting portions in an eccentric manner on both sides, in particular at their ends located opposite one another in the transverse direction of the furniture, with the result that harmonious and tilt-free lengthening and shortening of the legrest can be realized.

In principle, the two directions of action of the spring devices, in which the spring device acts either in the direction of an increase in size or in the direction of a decrease in size of the legrest, are conceivable. The respectively opposite size change effect is brought about by the control member already mentioned at the beginning. A design in which the spring device acts on the fitting portions of the legrest in the direction of an increase in size of the legrest is particularly preferred. This means that the spring device is in a tensioned state when the legrest is in the stowed position and thus is reduced in size. Proceeding herefrom, the state of tension in the spring device decreases during the increase in size of the legrest while it is being transferred into its use position.

The abovementioned control member, which counteracts the spring force effected by the spring device and thus tensions the spring device while the legrest is being transferred into the stowed position or the use position, in particular into the stowed position, is preferably configured as a cable pull which acts on one of the fitting portions such that the latter is displaced with respect to the other fitting portion counter to the spring force of the spring device by a tractive force on this cable pull. A cable pull is understood to be any desired variable-shape control member which is configured merely to transfer tensile forces. Instead of a cable pull, it is also possible to use a rigid element, however. The displacement of the control member can take place by way of the direct or indirect connection thereof to other fitting portions of the piece of furniture, which are likewise displaceable relative to one another or with respect to the base. Thus, in the case of a piece of furniture according to the invention, provision is preferably made for the seat unit likewise to be displaceable with respect to the base.

The invention furthermore relates to a fitting for a piece of seating furniture, which is configured as a fitting of the above-described piece of seating furniture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects and advantages of the invention can be gathered from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention which are explained with reference to the figures, in which:

FIGS. 1 a to 2b show a piece of seating furniture according to the invention with its legrest arranged in a stowed position and a use position, respectively,

FIGS. 3 a and 3b show a plan view of the legrest of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1a and 1b,

FIGS. 4 to 7 show different variants of the legrest, and

FIG. 8 shows a legrest having a particular width.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 a to 2b show a piece of seating furniture according to the invention, in particular the fitting components thereof, with cushion portions omitted. In this case, FIGS. 1a and 1b show the piece of seating furniture with the legrest arranged in a stowed position, while FIGS. 2a and 2b show the piece of seating furniture with the legrest transferred into the use position.

First of all, the essential sub-components are intended to be explained with reference to FIG. 1a. For better understanding, the cushioning of the piece of seating furniture is illustrated by way of dashed lines in FIG. 1a. However, since this cushioning is of no importance for the functioning, explained here, of the piece of seating furniture, it has been omitted in the further illustrations.

The piece of seating furniture 10 is configured in the manner of an armchair. It has a base 12, which is intended to be arranged on an underlying surface in a stationary manner or, equipped with rollers, in a displaceable manner. Provided above this base 12 is a seat unit 14 having a seat surface 14′. A backrest unit 16 adjoins the rear thereof. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1a, a leg unit 18 is located beneath the seat unit 14 and is thus in its stowed position. This leg unit 18, which also sometimes serves as a legrest, is cushioned such that its cushioned surface 18′, which is directed downward in the illustrated stowed position, forms a legrest surface 18′ once it has been transferred into the use position.

In the region of the front termination edge of the seat unit 14, the leg unit 18 is pivotable about a pivot axis 8 oriented in the transverse direction of the furniture.

The arrows 2, 4 and 6 indicate the notions, used in the context of this invention, of the transverse direction 2 of the furniture, the longitudinal direction 4 of the furniture and the vertical direction 6 of the furniture.

As can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 1a and 2a, the leg unit 18 can be pivoted about said pivot axis 8 such that it takes up an approximately horizontal use position. The legrest surface 18′ is then oriented in a manner approximately flush with the seat surface 12′ and allows comfortable sitting with raised legs.

As can likewise be seen from FIGS. 1a and 2a, the leg unit 18 changes length while it is being transferred from the stowed position in FIG. 1a to the use position in FIG. 2a. This change in length is necessary in order on the one hand to make available a sufficiently large surface area for the legs to rest on in the state in FIG. 2a, but on the other hand to be able to stow the leg unit 18 in the state in FIG. 1a, and in particular to allow the pivoting movement on transferring from the use position in FIG. 2a into the stowed position in FIG. 1a. In the extended state of the leg unit 18, which is illustrated in FIG. 2a, a pivoting movement of the leg unit 18 in the direction of the stowed position would not be possible, since the leg unit would then collide with the floor or the base 12.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1b and 2b, which show the piece of seating furniture from a perspective from below, the leg unit 18 comprises two fitting portions 30, 40 that are movable with respect to one another. In this case, the fitting portion 30 is the one which is directly pivotable about said pivot axis 8. Although the distal fitting portion 40 pivots together with this fitting portion 30, it is movable in a linear manner with respect to the latter. To this end, linear guides 28, which are not illustrated in more detail, are provided on the fitting portions 30, 40. The abovementioned length-variability of the legrest 18 is realized by way of this displaceability of the fitting portions 30, 40.

In order to control this variation in length, provision is made of a flexible band 26 which is on the one hand fitted to the outer of the two fitting portions 40 and on the other hand is coupled to the seat unit 14 such that, during the movement thereof from the position in FUG. 1a into the position in FIG. 2a in which it is lowered with respect thereto, it behaves in a length-enabling manner and thus allows the fitting portion 40 to be extended. This band 26 is omitted in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2b and merely indicated in a dotted manner in FIG. 2b.

The band 26 acts as a control member for controlling the variation in length of the leg unit 18. The tensile force which is able to be brought about by this band 26 and which works towards shortening the leg unit 18 is counteracted by the force of a spring device 50. This spring device 50 acts between the two fitting portions 30, 40, wherein it is connected to the two fitting portions 30, 40 such that the spring force acts in the direction of the extended state of the leg unit, that is to say the state which the leg unit takes up in the use position.

In order to explain the spring device 50 in more detail, reference is made to FIGS. 3a and 3b, wherein FIG. 3a corresponds to the stowed position of the leg unit and wherein FIG. 3b corresponds to the use position of the leg unit. With reference to FIG. 3a, the two fitting portions 40, 30 can be seen. The fitting portion 40 has a circumferentially closed frame-like structure which comprises, inter alia, two cross members 42, 42. The fitting portion 30 has a U-shaped basic shape and likewise has a cross member 32. Provided on one of the cross members 42 of the fitting portion 40 is a deflection roller 43. Provided on the cross member 32 of the fitting portion 30 are two respectively external deflection rollers 33. The three deflection rollers 33, 43 are jointly surrounded by an elastomer strand 53 which, in a similar manner to a large O-ring, preferably has a round cross section. The arrangement of this elastomer strand, which wraps around the deflection rollers 33, 43, results in an approximately triangular shape in the stowed state in FIG. 3a. In this stowed state, the elastomer strand 53 is under tensile stress, this being the case both for the two portions 53a extending between the deflection rollers 33 and 43 that serve as force application points, and for a portion 53b extending in the transverse direction 2 of the furniture, said portion 53b extending between the two deflection rollers 33 on the fitting portion 30.

When the leg unit is arranged in its stowed position, the control band 26 compels this tensioned state of the spring device 50, as is illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. The leg unit 18 is thus held in its compact state.

If, in the context of the overall transfer of the piece of seating furniture into the comfort position, the seat unit 14 is now displaced towards the rear with respect to the base 12 and the leg unit 18 is pivoted out in the direction of its use position, the control band 26 is also continuously released, such that it allows an increase in size, brought about by the spring device 50, of the leg unit 18. In this case, the elastomer strand 53 contracts until it reaches its most relaxed state with the leg unit extended in a manner corresponding to the state illustrated in FIG. 3b, when the fitting portion 40 has been displaced to a maximum extent with respect to the fitting portion 30.

On account of the fact that the portions 53a extend diagonally, and on account of the fact that the portion 53b forms as it were a compensation portion as a result of the deflection rollers 33, the stretching of the elastomer strand 53 in the state in FIG. 3a is increased only by about 10% compared with the state in FIG. 3b. Such stretching can be allowed in a durable manner without disadvantageous relaxation effects by an elastomer strand.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show a number of alternative designs.

In the design according to FIG. 4, use is made of a conventional metal helical spring 54 which is fastened at the end to merely indicated force application points 34, 44 at the fitting portions 30, 40. Deflection corresponding to the deflection rollers 33, 43 in FIGS. 3a and 3b is not provided here. Although the use of an elastomer strand of the type described is considered to be advantageous, the diagonal orientation of a helical spring, too, can be of considerable advantage. It is also the case for the helical spring illustrated in FIG. 4 that, on account of the diagonal arrangement, the stretched state, illustrated in FIG. 4, of said helical spring means merely stretching of about 15-20% compared with the stretched state with the leg unit 18 increased in size.

In a variant of FIG. 4 that is not illustrated, the metal helical spring illustrated therein is replaced by an elastomer strand connected at its ends to both fitting portions 30, 40.

In the design according to FIG. 5, use is likewise made of an elastomer strand 55 which, however, unlike the elastomer strand 53 in FIGS. 3a and 3b, is fastened to the fastening portion 30 in the region of force application points 35. Provision is made of a deflection roller 45 merely at the fitting portion 40, in a manner similar to the illustration in FIG. 3a. However, said deflection roller 45 serves in the present case only for easier assembly. Instead of a unitary strand 55 which is deflected by the deflection roller 45, in a variant of FIG. 5, use could also be made of two separate elastomer strands, which are each connected to the fitting portion 40 at the point where the deflection roller 45 is provided.

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement in which, instead of the two portions, extending between the fitting portions 30, 40, of the spring device 50, provision is made of three such spring portions 56a, wherein the latter are each firmly connected at their ends on one side to the fitting portion 30 and on the other side to the fitting portion 40. The increase in the number of portions, extending between the fitting portions, of the spring device makes it possible to provide the latter with a lower spring coefficient, wherein said portions are jointly capable of replacing, with the same effect, an elastomer strand with a higher spring coefficient.

FIG. 7 shows a development of the design according to FIG. 3a, in which, rather than one deflection roller 43, provision is made of two deflection rollers 47 on the fitting portion 40 side. Rather than two deflection rollers 33, provision is made of three deflection rollers 37 on the fitting portion 30 side. In a similar manner to FIG. 6, the portions 57 of the spring device 50 are thus again provided in a kind of zigzag structure.

FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention. The stowed state of the leg unit 18 provided here is illustrated. The particular feature in the design according to FIG. 8 is the width of the leg unit 18. With respect to the transverse direction 2 of the furniture, said leg unit 18 has a width of about 80 cm. The spring device, which acts in the direction of the size variation of the leg unit 18, is again configured as an elastomer strand 58 which in this case more or less forms a quadrilateral which is defined by in each case two deflection rollers 48 at the fitting portion 40 and two deflection rollers 38 at the fitting portion 30. The spring portions 58a, which extend between the two fitting portions 30, 40, are again oriented diagonally, although this is not absolutely necessary. Instead, they could extend exactly in the relative displacement direction of the two fitting portions 30, 40 with respect to one another. Said portions 58a are particularly advantageously positioned far to the outside such that they are arranged in each case in the vicinity of the corresponding linear guides 28 which allow the relative movability of the fitting portions 30, 40. As a result, a relative movement that does not tend to produce tilting is possible. Reliable operation and in particular a reliable change between the stowed position and the use position of the leg unit 18 are thus possible in spite of the uncommon width thereof. The large spacings between the deflection rollers 38, 48 provided at the fitting portion 30 and at the fitting portion 40, respectively, result in turn in large compensation portions 58b, which make it possible, in the event of comparatively small stretching of the elastomer strand, to transfer the latter between the use position (not illustrated) and the stowed position in FIG. 8.

Claims

1. Piece of seating furniture (10), in particular of the armchair or sofa type, having a seat surface (14′) anda legrest (18) which is displaceable between a stowed position in which the legrest (18) is arranged beneath the seat surface (14′) in the vertical direction (6) of the furniture, anda use position in which the legrest (18) is arranged in front of the seat surface (14′) in the longitudinal direction (4) of the furniture,whereinthe legrest (18) is configured with a variable length by two mutually displaceable fitting portions (30, 40) of the legrest (18), anda force is able to be applied to the two fitting portions (30, 40) of the legrest by a spring portion (53a; 54a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) of a spring device (50), said spring portion (53a; 54a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) acting between a first force application point (33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38) at a first of the two fitting portions (30) and a second force application point (43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48) at a second of the two fitting portions (40),characterized in thatthe two force application points (33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48) are offset with respect to one another in a transverse direction (2) of the furniture, such that the spring portion (53a; 54a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) takes up a diagonal direction of extent.

2. Piece of seating furniture (10) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe spring portion (53a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) is configured as an elastomer spring portion.

3. Piece of seating furniture (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatat least two force application points (33; 35; 36, 46; 37, 47; 38, 48) are provided at the first and/or at the second fitting portion (30, 40), andthe spring device (50) has at least two spring portions (53a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) which each extend, preferably diagonally, between two force application points, which are preferably offset in the transverse direction of the furniture, at the first and at the second fitting portion (30, 40).

4. Piece of seating furniture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatat least two diagonally extending spring portions (53a; 55a; 57a; 58a) are connected integrally together and are preferably deflected by a common force application point (43; 45; 37, 47).

5. Piece of seating furniture (10) according to claim 4, characterized in thatat least three diagonally extending spring portions (56a, 57a) are connected directly together and are arranged in a zigzag arrangement between force application points (36, 46; 37, 47) at the two fitting portions (30, 40).

6. Piece of seating furniture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe spring device (50) comprises an elastomer band which forms a plurality of spring portions (53a, 55a, 56a, 57a, 58a) between force application points at the two fitting portions (30, 40).

7. Piece of seating furniture (10) according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe elastomer band is configured as a closed elastomer band (53; 57; 58), wherein preferably a portion (53b; 57b; 58b, 58c) of the elastomer band (53; 57; 58) extends between two force application points at the same fitting portion (30, 40).

8. Piece of seating furniture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe legrest (18) has a width of at least 80 cm and provision is made of at least two spring portions (58a) which extend between force application points (38, 48) at the two fitting portions (30, 40).

9. Piece of seating furniture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe spring device (50) acts on the two fitting portions (30, 40) of the legrest in the direction of an extension of the legrest.

10. Piece of seating furniture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatprovision is made of a cable pull (26) which acts on one of the fitting portions (40) such that this fitting portion (40) is displaced with respect to the other fitting portion (30) counter to the spring force of the spring device (50) by a tractive force on the cable pull (26).

11. Fitting for a piece of seating furniture (10), in particular of the armchair or sofa type, havinga seat surface portion (14) andtwo fitting portions (30, 40), which are part of a legrest (18) and which are displaceable jointly between a stowed position in which the fitting portions (30, 40) are arranged beneath the seat surface portion (14) in the vertical direction (6) of the furniture,and a use position in which the fitting portions (30, 40) are arranged in front of the seat surface portion (14) in the longitudinal direction (4) of the furniture,whereinthe legrest (18) is configured with a variable length by the two mutually displaceable fitting portions (30, 40) of the legrest (18), anda force is able to be applied to the two fitting portions (30, 40) of the legrest (18) by a spring portion (53a; 54a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) of a spring device (50), said spring portion (53a; 54a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) acting between a first force application point (33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38) at a first of the two fitting portions (30) and a second force application point (43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48) at a second of the two fitting portions (40),characterized in thatthe two force application points (33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48) are offset with respect to one another in a transverse direction (2) of the furniture, such that the spring portion (53a; 54a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) takes up a diagonal direction of extent,orthe spring portion (53a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) is configured as an elastomer spring portion.

12. Piece of seating furniture (10), in particular of the armchair or sofa type, having a seat surface (14′) anda legrest (18) which is displaceable between a stowed position in which the legrest (18) is arranged beneath the seat surface (14′) in the vertical direction (6) of the furniture, anda use position in which the legrest (18) is arranged in front of the seat surface (14′) in the longitudinal direction (4) of the furniture,whereinthe legrest (18) is configured with a variable length by two mutually displaceable fitting portions (30, 40) of the legrest (18), anda force is able to be applied to the two fitting portions (30, 40) of the legrest by a spring portion (53a; 54a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) of a spring device (50), said spring portion (53a; 54a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) acting between a first force application point (33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38) at a first of the two fitting portions (30) and a second force application point (43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48) at a second of the two fitting portions (40),characterized in thatthe spring portion (53a; 55a; 56a; 57a; 58a) is configured as an elastomer spring portion.