Abstract
The invention relates to an active dynamic seating (1) comprising a foot part (2) and a pendulum joint (10) which is rotatably mounted relative to the foot part (2), a seat (3) which is rotatably mounted relative to the foot part (2), and a pendulum column (4) supporting the seat (3), said pendulum column (4) being connected for conjoint rotation with the pendulum joint (10). The pendulum column (4) is designed to be resilient in a height direction H and the pendulum column (4) is provided with anti-rotation means (51, 52, 53) which rotationally immobilize the pendulum column (4) relative to the seat (3) such that the pendulum column (4) and the seat (3) can be rotated relative to the foot part (2) only together with the rotatable pendulum joint (10).
Claims
1. Seating (1), in particular actively dynamic seating (1), comprising the following: a. a foot part (2) comprising a pendulum joint (10) which is mounted rotatably with respect to the foot part (2), b. a seat (3) which is mounted rotatably with respect to the foot part (2), c. a pendulum column (4) which carries the seat (3), wherein the pendulum column (4) is rotationally engaged with the pendulum joint (10), d. the pendulum column (4) is formed resiliently in the vertical direction H, and e. anti-rotation components (51, 52, 53) which are provided on the pendulum column (4) and fix the pendulum column (4) in a rotationally engaged manner with respect to the seat (3), in such a way that the pendulum column (4) and the seat (3) can only rotate with respect to the foot part (2) together with the rotatable pendulum joint (10); f. wherein the anti-rotation components (51, 52, 53) comprise an anti-rotation web (51), and two bearing-bush-side anti-rotation rollers (52, 53) that are each formed with a bearing roller (54, 55) rotatably mounted on a roller cage (57) and having opposite roller end faces (56), and lateral guide faces (59) of the anti-rotation web (51) are arranged between the roller end faces (56) of the bearing rollers (54, 55).
2. Seating according to claim 1, characterised in that the pendulum column (4) further comprises the following: a. a tubular bearing bush (47), b. a spring leg (40), which can move up and down in the bearing bush (47) and which comprises a pneumatic spring (42), c. a coil spring (15), which is arranged between an upper and lower spring seat (45, 46) of the pendulum column (4), and the height of the lower spring seat (46) being adjustable.
3. Seating according to claim 1, characterised in that at the lower end the pendulum column (4) comprises a tubular bearing bush (47), which is connected to the pendulum joint (10) via a supporting leg (14).
4. Seating according to claim 3, characterised in that the spring leg (40) can move up and down along bearing rollers (58) arranged inside the bearing bush (47).
5. Seating according to claim 2, characterised in that the anti-rotation web (51) extends in the vertical direction H and is arranged externally on the spring leg (40), and is mounted with respect to the bearing-bush-side anti-rotation rollers (52, 53) in such a way that the spring leg (40) can carry out an up-and-down movement in the vertical direction H but not a rotational movement in the bearing bush (47).
6. Seating according to claim 5, characterised in that at least one of the bearing-bush-side anti-rotation rollers (52, 53) forms a rotatable bearing roller (58) which is supported on a roller cage (57).
7. Seating according to claim 6, characterised in that the anti-rotation web (51) on the spring leg (40) forms at least one guide face (59), which is guided along the roller end face (56) of the bearing roller (58) formed by the anti-rotation roller (52) when the spring leg (40) is resiliently actuated in or counter to the vertical direction H.
8. Seating according to claim 2, characterised in that a plurality of bearing rollers (58) are arranged on the bearing bush (47) in such a way that the roller end faces (56) thereof are positioned against the outer surface (41) of the spring leg (40), without play, and the axes of rotation A thereof are each perpendicular to the vertical direction H in such a way that the spring leg (40) can be actuated along the bearing rollers (58) in the vertical direction H.
9. Seating according to claim 2, characterised in that the pneumatic spring (42) is enclosed at least in part by a tubular adapter (60) and non-positively connected thereto.
10. Seating according to claim 9, characterised in that the tubular adapter (60) comprises an aluminum tube, on the inner wall of which plastically deformable structures are formed by means of which the tubular adapter (60) is fixed non-positively on the outer surface of the pneumatic spring (42).
11. Seating according to claim 2, characterised in that the pneumatic spring (42) comprises a first portion (43), on which the pneumatic spring (42) is enclosed by a tubular adapter (60), and a second portion (43), on which the pneumatic spring (42) is rotationally engaged with a seat carrier (6) of the seat (3).
12. Seating according to claim 11, characterised in that the tubular adapter (60) which encloses the pneumatic spring (42) is enclosed by a sliding tube (62) and is rotationally engaged therewith as limited by the anti-rotation components (51, 52, 53), and a lower opening thereof is connected to a metal disc as a central shaft (61) and a lower end (42a) of the pneumatic spring (42) being fixed to the central shaft (61).
13. Seating according to claim 2, characterised in that the lower spring seat (46) is fixed to a supporting leg (14) by a first thread (17a) by means of a second thread (17b) and is adjustable in height H.
14. Seating (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the seat (3) has an apparatus (16) for defining the rearward direction R and it being possible to deflect the pendulum joint (10) to different extents relative to the orientation of the apparatus (16), and a safety apparatus further being provided which makes a smaller, limited deflection of the pendulum column possible in the rearward direction R by comparison with other directions.
15. Seating (1) according to claim 14, characterised in that the apparatus (16) forms a backrest (7).
16. Seating (1) according to claim 14, wherein the pendulum column (4) is connected to the pendulum joint (10) via a supporting leg (14), and the safety apparatus comprises an articulation bowl (12) that receives the supporting leg (14) in such a way that the supporting leg (14) can carry out pendulum movements inside the articulation bowl (12), and the articulation bowl (12) is provided with a deflection limiting system (13) configured to limit deflection in the rearward direction R.
Description
(1) Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and are described in more detail in the following by way of the disclosed embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a lateral sectional view of an actively dynamic seating comprising a pendulum column;
(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a detail of the connection of the pendulum column to the pendulum joint and to the foot part;
(4) FIG. 2a is a sectional view through the pendulum joint in an undeflected position;
(5) FIG. 2b is a view similar to FIG. 2a, in which the pendulum column is deflected rearwards;
(6) FIG. 2c is a view similar to FIG. 2b, in which the pendulum column is deflected forwards;
(7) FIG. 3 is a plan view of a chair with a set of deflection vectors;
(8) FIG. 3a is a detail from FIG. 3;
(9) FIG. 4 is a side view of a pendulum column;
(10) FIG. 4a is a sectional view through a pendulum column along the section line A-A from FIG. 4;
(11) FIG. 4b is a sectional view along the section line B-B from FIG. 4a;
(12) FIG. 4c is a sectional view along the section line C-C from FIG. 4a;
(13) FIG. 4d is an alternative detail view of an anti-rotation system;
(14) FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4a;
(15) FIG. 5a is a sectional view along the section line B-B from FIG. 5;
(16) FIG. 5b is a sectional view along the section line C-C from FIG. 5;
(17) FIG. 5c is a sectional view along the section line D-D from FIG. 5.
(18) The sectional view of FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment according to the invention of an actively dynamic seating 1. The seating 1 comprises a foot part 2 having a pendulum joint 10 mounted on the foot part 2. The pendulum joint 10 is rotatably mounted on the foot part 2. The seating 1 further comprises a rotatably mounted seat 3, which is formed rotatably with respect to the foot part 2. The seat 3 is carried by a pendulum column 4, the pendulum joint 10 being rotationally engaged with the pendulum column 4. The pendulum joint 10 is formed as a multi-directional pendulum joint 10 in the present embodiment. This means that pendulum movements are possible in a forward direction, rearward direction and lateral direction and in any directions positioned therebetween. The multi-directional pendulum joint is generally referred to as a pendulum joint 10 in the following. The pendulum column 4 shown in FIG. 1 is formed resiliently in the vertical direction H. The pendulum column 4 shown in FIG. 1 is resilient in the vertical direction H. The pendulum column 4 is connected to the pendulum joint 10 via a supporting leg 14. Below the seat 3 there is a seat carrier 6, which is rotationally engaged with the pendulum column 4.
(19) It can further be seen that a pneumatic spring 42 is arranged inside the pendulum column 4 so as to be able to adjust the height of the rotatable seat 3. In this case, the upper end 42a of the pneumatic spring 42 is rotationally engaged with the seat carrier 6. In the present embodiment, the rotational engagement by positive and non-positive connection between the outer surface of the pneumatic spring 42 and the inner surface of a receiving cylinder has been provided on the seat carrier 6.
(20) A backrest 7 is further fixed to the seat 3. In the present case, the backrest 7 is rotationally engaged with the seat carrier 6. This means that when the seat 3 is rotated, the backrest 7 is always moved together therewith.
(21) Within the meaning of the present invention, “rotational engagement” refers to any connections in which two adjacent components are interconnected in such a way that a positive, material or non-positive connection is provided or alternatively the connected components are mechanically interconnected in such a way that the rotation of one component through an angle α is linked to the rotation of the second component through the same angle α.
(22) FIG. 2 shows a detail from FIG. 1. The detail shows the foot part 2, along with the pendulum joint 10, and the lower part of the pendulum column 4. The pendulum joint 10 is mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to the foot part 2. The foot part 2 further comprises a receiving cup 11, specifically a rigid receiving cup 11. A resilient articulation bowl 12 is arranged in the receiving cup 11. The supporting leg 14 is introduced in the articulation bowl 12 in such a way that the supporting leg 14 can carry out pendulum movements inside the articulation bowl 12, such as are disclosed in greater detail in FIG. 2a to 2c. On the upper end thereof, the supporting leg 14 comprises a supporting leg termination 14a. In the present case, the upper end of the supporting leg termination 14a is conical in form. The articulation bowl 12 has a deflection limiting system 13. The functionality of the deflection limiting system 13 is described in greater detail in connection with FIG. 3 and FIG. 3a.
(23) As can be seen from FIG. 2, the lower end of the pendulum column 4 is connected to the supporting leg termination 14a via a conical connection. The connection is provided via a substantially tubular bearing bush 47, which is formed open on both sides. In the present embodiment, the lower bearing bush portion of the bearing bush 47 and the upper bearing bush portion of the bearing bush 47 are each conical in form. The lower bearing bush portion 47b comprises a thread 17a, which can also be seen in the embodiments of FIG. 4a and FIG. 5, on the outer surface thereof. A lower spring seat 46 comprising an internal thread 17b is screwed onto the outer thread 17a on the bearing bush 47. The lower spring seat 46 has an abutment 18 on the upper face thereof for receiving a coil spring 15. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the lower end of the coil spring 15 is positioned in the abutment 18, which is in the form of a groove. The lower end of a spring leg 40 is passed through the bearing bush 47. The spring leg 40 is subsequently disclosed in detail in connection with FIG. 4a and FIG. 5.
(24) FIG. 3 shows an actively dynamic seating 1 from above. In particular, the seat 3 and the backrest 7 as well as the foot part 2 can be seen. A set of deflection vectors 70 of the pendulum column 4 are shown in the seat 3 by way of example. The length and thus the magnitude of each deflection vector 70 specifies the maximum possible deflection in each of the vector directions shown. As can be seen in the detail in FIG. 3a, the direction to the left is denoted as the rearward direction R, and the opposite direction to the right is denoted as the forward direction V. An apparatus 16 for defining the rearward direction R is further specified, and in this case is formed as a backrest 7 or part of the backrest 7. The arrows directed vertically upwards and downwards in FIG. 3a indicate the possible deflections in the lateral direction S of the pendulum column 4. A minimum deflection is possible in the rearward direction R, whilst a maximum deflection is possible in the forward direction V. All of the deflections positioned between the rearward direction and the forward direction make a continuously increasing deflection possible, which is represented by the deflection vectors 70. The apparatus 16 for defining the rearward direction provides that a seat user can reliably establish in which position he should sit down on the seating 1. If the right seat position is assumed, the actively dynamic seating 1 according to FIG. 3 can be used so as to swing in accordance with the set of vectors in FIG. 3a. The seat user can therefore carry out pendulum movements to the rear (in the rearward direction R) and in any other desired direction. If he leans forward in the forward direction V, he can thus bring about a defined maximum deflection of the pendulum column 4. In the present embodiment according to FIG. 3, the apparatus 16 for defining the rearward direction R is a backrest 7.
(25) FIG. 2a to 2c show, by way of example, various deflections of the pendulum column 4 or of the supporting leg termination 14a which is connected to the pendulum column 4. In FIG. 2a, the pendulum joint 10 and thus the supporting leg termination 14a are shown in a vertical undeflected position. Meanwhile, FIGS. 2b and 2c respectively show a pendulum movement to the rear and to the front. By forming the deflection limiting system 13 of the articulation bowl 12 in a suitable manner, as shown for example in FIG. 2, the deflection in a particular direction such as the rearward direction R can be limited. Accordingly, the deflection limiting system 13 has the function of preventing the pendulum column 4 from being limited to a defined extent in said direction, in such a way that the seat user is prevented from tilting on the stool.
(26) For the apparatus 16 for defining the rearward direction R to also always actually be located in correspondence with a deflection limiting system 13, it has to be ensured that the seat 3 comprising the pendulum column 4 and the apparatus 16 can only rotate together with the deflection limiting system 13 and thus together with the pendulum joint 10. For this purpose, anti-rotation means 51, 52, 53 according to the invention are provided on the pendulum column 4. FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a pendulum column 4, which is formed resiliently in the vertical direction H. Inside the pendulum column 4 there is a spring leg 40. The pendulum column 4 further comprises an upper spring seat 45, which is connected to a tube part 49, and a lower spring seat 46. A coil spring 15 is arranged between the upper spring seat 45 and the lower spring seat 46. The coil spring 15 can be biased more or less strongly by a rotatable adjustment of the lower spring seat 46. As shown in FIG. 4a, the height of the lower spring seat 46 can be adjusted with respect to the bearing bush 47 by way of the threads 17a, 17b.
(27) The spring leg 40 comprises the pneumatic spring 42, which is enclosed by the tubular adapter 60. On the inner face thereof, the tubular adapter 60 comprises structures (not shown) by way of which it has been pressed onto the outer surface of the pneumatic spring 42. As a result, the structures have been plastically deformed and a positive and non-positive connection is produced between the adapter 60 and the pneumatic spring 42. A sliding tube 62 is arranged around the adapter 60 and is fixed to the adapter 60 so as to be rotationally engaged with respect to the pneumatic spring 42. FIG. 5 shows that the pneumatic spring 42 comprises a first portion 43, at which the pneumatic spring 42 is enclosed by the tubular adapter 60, and a second portion 43, at which the pneumatic spring 42 is rotationally engaged with a seat carrier 6 of the seat 3.
(28) The spring leg 40 is guided so as to be movable up and down in the bearing bush 47. On the outer surface 41, an anti-rotation means 51 extending in the vertical direction H is screwed to the sliding tube 62 by way of screws 63. The anti-rotation means 51 cooperates with bearing-bush-side anti-rotation means 52 and 53, and prevents the spring leg 40 from rotating with respect to the bearing bush 47, as shown in greater detail in FIG. 4c.
(29) FIG. 4c is a sectional view along the section line C-C from FIG. 4a. The anti-rotation means 51 is screwed to the sliding tube 62, and projects in the manner of a web from the outer surface 41 thereof. As in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, the anti-rotation means 51 forms a web extending over the height H. The anti-rotation means 51 is arranged between two bearing-bush-side anti-rotation means 52 and 53, and the lateral guide faces 59 thereof are positioned against the anti-rotation means 52, 53. The anti-rotation means 52, 53 used in this embodiment form bearing rollers 54, 55, which are fixed to the bearing bush 47 via roller cages 57. The axis-of-rotation direction A is orientated in this case in such a way that the roller end faces 56 of the bearing rollers 54, 55 can be actuated along the guide faces 59. This ensures that the spring leg 40 can carry out an up-and-down movement in the vertical direction H but not a rotational movement with respect to the bearing bush 47. The spring leg 40 is further guided inside the bearing bush 47 by a plurality of bearing rollers 58. The present embodiments comprise an upper roller tier 20 and a lower roller tier 21, in which a plurality of bearing rollers 58 in roller cages 57 are fixed such that they circulate. It can further be seen in FIG. 5 that in the upper roller tier position 20, as a result of the conical shape of the bearing bush 47, the upper bearing rollers 58 project further from the inner surface of the bearing bush 47. In the present embodiment, four bearing rollers 58 are arranged in each case so as to be diametrically opposite in the respective upper roller tier 20 and the respective lower roller tier 21, two opposing roller end faces 56 of the opposing bearing rollers 58 being spaced apart at a distance corresponding to the external diameter of the sliding tube 62. In this way, the sliding tube 62 is guided between the bearing rollers 58 without play. FIG. 4b and FIG. 5a to 5c are different sectional views through the pendulum column 4. In FIG. 4c, it can further be seen that a support tube 48 is arranged about the bearing bush 47. Alternatively, the bearing rollers 58 can be held completely by the bearing bush 47, it thus being possible for the support tube 48 to also be arranged around the bearing bush 47 as a decorative tube for example.
(30) FIG. 4d shows an alternative detail of an anti-rotation system 51, 52. In this case, as simple an embodiment as possible of the anti-rotation system 51, 52 is selected. In this case, the anti-rotation system acts between flattened portions 51 on the outer surface of the sliding tube 62 and corresponding counter bearings 52, which in the present case cooperate with the roller end face 56 of a bearing bush 58 in such a way that rotation is prevented. As a result of the outer contour provided with flattened portions, a non-circular envelope of the sliding tube is provided which prevents the sliding tube from rotating about its own axis. In this way, an alternative anti-rotation system can be provided using simple means.
(31) FIG. 5c shows an alternative embodiment of the bearing rollers 54, 55 as anti-rotation means 52, 53. The anti-rotation means 52, 53 are likewise formed as bearing rollers 54, 55. In this case, the axis of rotation of the bearing rollers 54, 55 extends towards the lateral guide faces 59 of the anti-rotation means 51. It is advantageous for a minimum play to be formed between the lateral faces of the bearing rollers 54, 55 of the anti-rotation means 52, 53 and the guide faces 59 of the anti-rotation means 51.
(32) According to the invention, it is also possible for a plurality of anti-rotation means 51, 52, 53 to be arranged on the pendulum column 4, so as to ensure that if an anti-rotation means fails, a further anti-rotation means prevents the seat from rotating relative to the pendulum joint 10.
(33) It can further be seen in FIG. 4a that the lower end of the pneumatic spring 42b is connected to a metal end plate 61. In the present case, the metal end plate 61 is further connected to the sliding tube 62. A collar 65 of the metal end plate 61 projects past the outer contour of the sliding tube 62. The collar 65 is braced in the bearing bush against a corresponding shoulder, a damping element 64 being arranged between the shoulder and the collar 65.
(34) The configuration of the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments disclosed above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which make use of the solution shown even if the configurations are fundamentally different in nature. Further, details and combinations of preferred configurations form the subject matter of the invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
(35) 1 Seating 2 Foot part 3 Seat 4 Pendulum column 6 Seat carrier 7 Backrest 10 Pendulum joint 11 Receiving cup 12 Articulation bowl 13 Deflection limiting system 14 Supporting leg 14a Supporting leg termination 15 Coil spring 16 Apparatus for defining the rearward direction 17a Thread 17b Thread 18 Abutment 20 Upper roller tier 21 Lower roller tier 40 Spring leg 41 Outer surface 42 Pneumatic spring 42a Upper end of the pneumatic spring 42b Lower end of the pneumatic spring 43 First portion 44 Second portion 45 Upper spring seat 46 Lower spring seat 47 Bearing bush 47a Upper bearing bush portion 47b Lower bearing bush portion 48 Support tube 49 Tube part 51 Anti-rotation means 52 Anti-rotation means 53 Anti-rotation means 54 Bearing rollers 55 Bearing rollers 56 Roller end face 57 Roller cage 58 Bearing roller 59 Guide faces 60 Adapter 61 Metal end plate 62 Sliding tube 63 Screws 64 Damping element 65 Collar 70 Deflection vectors A Axis-of-rotation orientation H Vertical direction R Rearward direction V Forward direction S Lateral direction
