CHAIR

Abstract

The invention relates to a chair (1) comprising a seat (4), a backrest support (2) and a backrest (3), the backrest support (2) being mounted on the seat (4) and the backrest (3) being mounted on the backrest support (2), and the chair (1) being designed such that, in a sitting position, a user can sit on the seat and rest his back against the backrest (3). The chair (1) also has a counter-rest part (5) which differs from the backrest (3), the backrest (3) being tiltably connected to the backrest support (2), such that it can be folded in the direction of the seat (4) from the sitting position into a support position, and the counter-rest part (5) being coupled to the backrest (3) in such a way that the backrest (3), when folding from the sitting position into the support position, aligns the counter-rest part (5) such that the user can support his buttocks on the counter-rest part (5).

Claims

1. A chair comprising: a seat; a backrest support; a backrest; and a counter-rest part, which differs from the backrest, wherein the backrest support is mounted on the seat and the backrest is mounted on the backrest support, wherein the chair is designed such that, in a sitting position, a user can sit on the seat and rest his back against the backrest, wherein the backrest is tiltably connected to the backrest support, such that it can be folded in the direction of the seat from the sitting position into a support position, and wherein the counter-rest part is coupled to the backrest in such a way that the backrest, when folding from the sitting position into the support position, aligns the counter-rest part such that the user can support his buttocks on the counter-rest part .

2. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the backrest is tiltably connected to the backrest support by being hingedly mounted on the backrest support so as to be rotatable around a first shaft.

3. The chair according to claim 1, wherein the counter-rest part is coupled to the backrest by being hingedly mounted on the backrest support so as to be rotatable around a second shaft.

4. The chair according to claim 3, wherein the backrest is tillably connected to the backrest support by being hingedly mounted on the backrest support so as to be rotatable around a first shaft, and wherein the first shaft is arranged below the second shaft.

5. The chair according to claim 3, wherein the counter-rest part is coupled to the backrest in such a way that the second shaft can be displaced along the backrest.

6. The chair according to claim 1, comprising a counter-rest part support, wherein the counter-rest part support is designed to be substantially stationary with respect to the backrest support.

7. The chair according to claim 6, wherein the counter-rest part is mounted on the counter-rest part support, such that it extends between the counter-rest part support and the backrest.

8. The chair according to claim 7, wherein the counter-rest part is tiltably mounted on the counter-rest support, such that it is movable from a virtually upright position into an inclined position when the backrest folds from the sitting position into the support position.

9. The chair according to claim 7, wherein the counter-rest part is designed to be bendable, such that it is bent from a virtually upright position into an inclined position when the backrest folds from the sitting position into the support position.

10. The chair according to claim 9, wherein the counter-rest part is designed to be resilient, at least in portions, such that it can be bent.

11. The chair according to claim 9, wherein the counter-rest part is designed in the manner of a roller shutter, at least in portions, such that it can be bent.

12. The chair according to claim 7, wherein the counter-rest part is displaceably mounted on the counter-rest part support, such that it is displaced with respect to the counter-rest part support when the backrest folds from the sitting position into the support position.

13. The chair according to claim 12, wherein the counter-rest part is designed in the manner of a roller shutter, at least in portions, such that if can be bent, and wherein the counter-rest part support is equipped with a guide in which the counter-rest part is held so as to be displaceable.

14. The chair according to claim 1, comprising a supporting arranged on the counter-rest part support so as to be rotatable around a shaft, wherein the counter-rest part is displaceably guided on the supporting piece .

15. The chair according to claim 1, comprising a base on which the seat is mounted, wherein the base is equipped with castors, which are braked, for placement on a floor.

16. The chair according to claim 1, having a sitting direction in which the user can sit on the seat and a supporting direction in which the user can support his buttocks on the counter-rest part wherein the sitting direction and the supporting direction are virtually opposite.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further advantageous designs of the invention can be found in the following description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the schematic drawings. In particular, the chair according to the invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings on the basis of embodiments.

[0033] FIG. 1a shows a chair according to a first embodiment of the invention with the backrest upright in the sitting position.

[0034] FIG. 1b shows the chair according to FIG. 1a with the backrest tilted forward in the support position.

[0035] FIG. 2a shows a chair according to a second embodiment of the invention with the backrest upright in the sitting position.

[0036] FIG. 2b shows the chair according to FIG. 2a with the backrest tilted forward in the support position.

[0037] FIG. 3a shows a chair according to a third embodiment of the invention with the backrest upright in the sitting position.

[0038] FIG. 3b shows the chair according to FIG. 3a with the backrest tilted forward in the support position.

[0039] FIG. 4a shows a chair according to a fourth embodiment of the invention with the backrest upright in the sitting position.

[0040] FIG. 4b shows the chair according to FIG. 4a with the backrest tilted forward in the support position.

[0041] FIG. 5a shows a chair according to a fifth embodiment of the invention with the backrest upright in the sitting position.

[0042] FIG. 5b shows the chair according to FIG. 5a with the backrest tilted forward in the support position.

[0043] FIG. 6a shows a chair according to a sixth embodiment of the invention with the backrest upright in the sitting position.

[0044] FIG. 6b shows the chair according to FIG. 6a with the backrest tilted forward in the support position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Certain terms are used in the following description for practical reasons and are not intended to be limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “below” and “above” indicate directions in the drawing to which reference is made. The terms “inward,” “outward,” “below,” “above,” “left,” “right” or similar are used to describe the arrangement of designated parts relative to one another, the movement of designated parts relative to one another and the directions toward or away from the geometric center of the invention and designated parts thereof as shown in the drawings. This spatial relative information also comprises different positions and orientations from those shown in the drawings. For example, if a part shown in the drawings is reversed, elements or features that are described as “below” are then “above.” The terminology includes the words expressly mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar meaning.

[0046] In order to avoid repetitions in the drawings and the associated description of the different aspects and embodiments, certain features are to be understood as common for different aspects and embodiments. The omission of an aspect in the description or a drawing does not suggest that this aspect is missing in the associated embodiment. Rather, such omission can serve for clarity and avoiding repetitions. In this context, the following specification applies to the entire further description: If reference signs are included in a drawing for the sake of clarity of the drawing, but are not mentioned in the directly associated description text, reference is made to the explanation thereof in the preceding descriptions of the drawings. If reference signs which are not contained in the associated drawing are also mentioned in the description text that belongs directly to a drawing, reference is made to the preceding and following drawings. Similar reference signs in two or more drawings represent similar or identical elements.

[0047] A first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b. This first generally comprises (i.e. as do the other embodiments) a chair 1 comprising a seat 4, a backrest support 2 and a backrest 3, the backrest support 2 being mounted on the seat 4 and the backrest 3 being mounted on the backrest support 2. The chair 1 is designed such that, in a sitting position (cf. FIG. 1a), a user can sit on the seat 4 and rest his back against the backrest 3. The chair 1 comprises a counter-rest part 5 which differs from the backrest 3, the backrest 3 being tiltably connected to the backrest support 2, such that it can be folded in the direction of the seat 4 or a central axis X from the sitting position into a support position. The counter-rest part 5 is coupled to the backrest 3 in such a way that the backrest 3, when folding from the sitting position (cf. FIG. 1a) into the support position (cf. FIG. 1b), aligns the counter-rest part 5 such that the user can support his buttocks on the counter-rest part 5.

[0048] When the backrest 3 is folded or tilted from the sitting position according to FIG. 1a into the support position according to FIG. 1b, the backrest 3 is tilted or rotated on the backrest support 2 around a first, lower shaft A.sub.1. The first, lower shaft A.sub.1 is arranged in a stationary or displaceable manner on the backrest support 2 and is preferably located above the seat 4. The backrest 3 carries along the counter-rest 5, which is coupled thereto via a second, upper shaft A.sub.2, such that said counter-rest part can be aligned or inclined for the support position. The second, upper shaft A.sub.2 is moved in accordance with the backrest 3 in the direction of the central axis X; at the same time, the upper end of the counter-rest part 5 rotates around the shaft A.sub.2 for alignment and is carried along therewith. The second, upper shaft A.sub.2 and thus also the counter-rest part 5 cannot be displaced relative to the backrest 3 in this embodiment. The second, upper shaft A.sub.2 can be arranged in the backrest 3 or behind the backrest 3.

[0049] The lower end of the counter-rest part 5 is arranged on a counter-rest part support 6 in a rotatable and stationary or displaceable manner via a third, central A.sub.3 (cf. double arrow in FIG. 1b). The counter-rest part support 6 can be part of the backrest support 2 (i.e. one each on the left and right sides of the backrest 3) or it can be connected to the seat 4 as a separate part and a substantially vertical portion thereof can extend between the two back supports 2. The backrest 3 can have a convex bend, in particular in the lower half, in order to facilitate functionality or to allow ergonomic sitting.

[0050] In principle, the center of gravity should preferably be in the region of or as close as possible to the central axis X, even when used in the support position. In this way, the weight of a user leaning in the support position can act comparatively centrally on the chair and the chair 1 can be prevented from rolling away or shifting.

[0051] The seat 4 is mounted on a seat post 9 through which the central axis X passes. The base or the cruciform base 7, which has castors 8, is arranged at the lower end of the seat post 9. The castors 8 are preferably braked, i.e. they at least partially block the chair 1 from rolling away to the side, for example if the user leans against the counter-rest part 5 in the support position. The seat post 9 is mounted in a hydraulic cylinder 10 via which it can be adjusted vertically up and down. A seat height of the chair 1 can thus be adjusted. In addition, the seat post 9 is rotatably held in the hydraulic cylinder 10, such that the seat 4 can be rotated about the central axis X.

[0052] Further embodiments of the chair 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings are described below. In many aspects, these embodiments are analogous to the embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b. These common aspects are not all detailed again below, but reference is made to the above description of the embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b.

[0053] A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. Here, the upper end of the counter-rest part 5 is designed to be movable with respect to the backrest 3 of the chair 1. When the backrest 3 is tilted from the sitting position (see FIG. 2a) into the support position (see FIG. 2b) around the first, lower shaft A.sub.1, the upper end of the counter-rest part 5 is slidingly moved downward in a corresponding guide 11 together with the second, upper shaft A.sub.2. As a result, the variability of the chair 1 can be further increased and the center of gravity can be shifted somewhat further in the direction of the central axis if necessary.

[0054] When the backrest 3 is raised again, the counter-rest part 5 is moved upward again in the guide 11 together with the second, upper shaft A.sub.2, as indicated by the double arrow in FIG. 2b. The first, lower shaft A.sub.1 is in turn preferably arranged above the seat 4. The guide 11 is preferably designed in such a way that the counter-rest part 5 can be aligned as horizontally as possible. This means that the second, upper shaft A.sub.2 should preferably at most be at the same height as the third, central shaft A.sub.3 but not below it (this applies in principle to all embodiments).

[0055] A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. Here, when the backrest 3 is tilted from the sitting position (see FIG. 3a) into the support position (see FIG. 3b), the at least partially resilient counter-rest part 5 is bent around the third, central shaft A.sub.3, with the desired inclination of the counter-rest part 5 being set. The counter-rest part 5 can in principle be made of any elastically deformable material.

[0056] The upper end of the counter-rest part 5 is movably coupled to the backrest 3 via the second, upper shaft A.sub.2. The lower end of the counter-rest part 5 is connected in a stationary manner to the counter-rest part support 6 and can thus be bent around the third, central shaft A.sub.3 when the backrest 3 is tilted. The backrest 3 is in turn tiltably connected to the backrest support 2 by being hingedly mounted on the backrest support 2 so as to be rotatable around the first, lower shaft A.sub.1.

[0057] Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated in FIG. 3b. This comprises a guide 12 (shown dashed) which is arranged at the upper end of the counter-rest part support 6 and in which the counter-rest part 5 is sandwiched. This special design is used in particular if the counter-rest element 5 is designed in the manner of a roller shutter, at least in portions, such that it can be bent. Here, a plurality of horizontal segments or struts are preferably provided, a majority of which are hingedly connected to one another in order to be able to implement a bend at least in portions. The counter-rest part 5 can then, so to speak, be pulled out of the guide 12 or pushed back into the guide 12 again, as indicated by the dashed double arrow.

[0058] The counter-rest part 5 is preferably arranged within the guide 12 in such a way that its lower end forms a stop when the support position is reached (e.g. via a screw connection which is slidably received in corresponding grooves of the guide), i.e. when the counter-rest element 5 has been pulled out of the guide 12.

[0059] A fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b. Here, the first, lower shaft A.sub.1, via which the backrest is hingedly and rotatably coupled to the backrest support 2, is arranged below the seat plane S. A possible two-part design of the seat 4 can be avoided by the backrest 3 having an S-shaped design. This means that the backrest 3 has at its lower end, near the first, lower shaft A.sub.1, an additional slightly concave bend 13 which adapts to the shape of the seat 4 at the rear end.

[0060] Otherwise, this embodiment is functionally substantially identical to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b. In the support position according to FIG. 4b, the inclination N of the counter-rest part 5 is between 0° and 60°, preferably between 5° and 45°, with respect to the horizontal H. Such an inclination has proven to be particularly suitable for a standing leaning or supported position. The specified ranges for the inclination apply here to all of the embodiments shown. The first, lower shaft A.sub.1 can be arranged in a stationary or displaceable manner on the backrest support 2. The lower end of the counter-rest part 5 is arranged on the counter-rest part support 6 in a rotatable and stationary or displaceable manner via the third, central shaft A.sub.3 (cf. double arrow in FIG. 4b).

[0061] A fifth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b. The first, lower shaft A.sub.1, via which the backrest 3 is hingedly and rotatably coupled to the backrest support 2, is preferably arranged again above the seat plane. Furthermore, the first, lower shaft A.sub.1 can be arranged in a stationary or displaceable manner on the backrest support 2.

[0062] A special feature of this embodiment is that the counter-rest part support 6 comprises an extension piece 14 which can be pivoted upward around the preferably stationary, third shaft A.sub.3 (as indicated by the dashed arrow in FIG. 5b). The extension piece 14 carries along the movable fourth rotation shaft A.sub.4, around which the lower end of the counter-rest part 5 rotates, while said part is folded out into its substantially horizontal support position according to FIG. 5b. The extension piece 14 then stands preferably substantially perpendicularly upward. However, angled positions of the extension piece 14 are also conceivable. In the sitting position shown in FIG. 5a, the extension piece 14 is preferably received in the counter-rest part 5.

[0063] The upper end of the counter-rest part 5 is coupled to the backrest 3 via the movable, second shaft A.sub.2. The movable, second shaft A.sub.2 can be arranged in the backrest 3 or behind the backrest 3. Furthermore, it can be arranged displaceably in and/or relative to the backrest 3. Overall, a particularly stable and safe sitting position can be achieved by means of this embodiment, since the center of gravity of the relevant user is shifted further in the direction of the central axis X.

[0064] Finally, a sixth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b. The shaft A.sub.3 is preferably formed in a stationary manner on the counter-rest part support 6, a supporting piece 15 being provided for the counter-rest part 5, the supporting piece 15 being mounted on the counter-rest part support 6 so as to be rotatable around the shaft A.sub.3. The counter-rest part 5 can be displaced to a limited extent (for example by means of suitable stops), preferably in a sliding manner, on the supporting piece 15.

[0065] If the backrest 3 is now folded around the shaft A.sub.1 in the direction of the vertical axis X, the backrest 3 carries along the counter-rest part 5 coupled thereto via the shaft A.sub.2, such that said counter-rest part is displaced relative to the supporting piece 15 (cf. double arrow), with the supporting piece 15 rotating around the shaft A.sub.3 at the same time. The shaft A.sub.3 represents the second support point of the counter-rest part 5. In the support position shown in FIG. 6b, the counter-rest part 5 is then again aligned substantially horizontally or slightly inclined.

[0066] In principle, it is also conceivable that the shaft A.sub.3, and with it the supporting piece 15 and the counter-rest part 5, are also arranged vertically movably on the counter-rest part support 6.

[0067] In principle, all folding mechanisms shown and described here can be designed to be retractable in the backrest or a corresponding backrest body for aesthetic reasons and for safety considerations (e.g. because of any risk of injury).

[0068] Although the invention is illustrated and described in detail by means of the drawings and the associated description, this illustration and this detailed description are to be understood as illustrative and exemplary and not as limiting the invention. In order not to transfigure the invention, in certain cases well-known structures and techniques cannot be shown and described in detail. It is understood that persons skilled in the art can make changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features that may differ from the combinations of features explicitly described.

[0069] The present disclosure also includes embodiments with any combination of features mentioned or shown above or below for various embodiments. It also includes individual features in the drawings, even if they are shown there in connection with other features and/or are not mentioned above or below. The alternatives of embodiments and individual alternatives of the features thereof that are described in the drawings and the description can be excluded from the subject matter of the invention or from the disclosed subject matter. The disclosure includes embodiments that only comprise the features described in the claims or in the embodiments and also those that comprise additional different features.

[0070] Furthermore, the term “comprise” and derivatives thereof do not exclude other elements or steps. Likewise, the indefinite article “a” or “an” and derivatives thereof do not exclude a plurality. The functions of a plurality of features listed in the claims can be performed by a unit or a step. The mere fact that certain measures may be listed in different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of those measures cannot be used advantageously. The terms “essentially,” “about,” “approximately” and the like in connection with a property or a value also define in particular exactly the property or exactly the value. The terms “about” and “approximately” in connection with a given numerical value or range can refer to a value or range which lies within 20%, within 10%, within 5% or within 2% of the given value or range.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 1 Chair 2 Backrest support 3 Backrest 4 Seat 5 Counter-rest part 6 Counter-rest part support 7 Base (cruciform base) 8 Castors 9 Seat post 10 Hydraulic cylinder 11 Guide (in backrest) 12 Guide (in counter-rest part support) 13 Lower bend of backrest 14 Extension piece 15 Supporting piece A.sub.1 First, lower shaft (backrest support/backrest) A.sub.2 Second, upper shaft (backrest/counter-rest part) A.sub.3 Third, central shaft (counter-rest part support/counter-rest part) A.sub.4 Fourth, moveable shaft (extension piece/counter-rest part support) H Horizontal S Seat plane X Vertical axis (central axis)