Standing seat

Abstract

A seat comprising a seat support for receiving and bracing a seat plate, which comprises a rear region and a front region, the rear region, which receives the ischial bones (os ischii), being arranged lower than the front region and the seat support supporting the rear region, wherein the front region of the seat plate is formed resiliently as a flexible zone without direct supports.

Claims

1. A seat comprising: a seat support; a contoured seat plate received and braced by the seat support; a curved rear region adapted to receive the ischial bones (os ischii) formed in the contoured seat plate and supported by the seat support; a resiliently flexible, curved front region formed in the contoured seat plate, vertically offset from the curved rear region, arranged more vertically distant with respect to the seat support than the curved rear region, and indirectly supported, the front region formed resiliently as a flexible zone; a slanting transition region formed in the contoured seat plate, extending substantially continuously between the curved rear region and the curved front region, and traversing the differing vertical arrangements of the curved rear region and the curved front region with respect to the seat support so as to form a continuous curve through the curved front, curved rear, and slating transition regions in a vertical plane; and a plurality of flexible lamellar arms formed in the curved front region, radiating substantially from the slanting transition region and increasing in compliance radially from the transition region.

2. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the flexible zone forms a cantilever.

3. The seat according to claim 1, wherein a support brace is provided on the seat plate or the seat support, substantially between the transition region and the flexible zone.

4. The seat according to claim 3, wherein a resilient material is positioned between the support brace and the flexible zone.

5. The seat according to claim 4, wherein the support brace is braced on a seat cover, the seat support, or the seat cover and the seat support.

6. The seat according to claim 3, wherein the support brace and the flexible zone substantially form a V-shape together, which opens towards the curved front region.

7. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat plate, the seat support and a seat cover are formed from the same part in the curved rear region.

8. The seat according to claim 1, wherein a seat cover includes a handle, the seat cover and the seat support are formed from the same part, and the seat support includes a hub having a receiving cone for an underframe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1a is a side view of the seat,

(3) FIG. 1b shows a plan view and a side view of a configuration of the resilience in the front region,

(4) FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the seat,

(5) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the seat according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 4 shows a plan view, a view from below and a front view of a seat,

(7) FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an underframe comprising a foot part,

(8) FIG. 6 shows a variant configuration of a device for restricting the pendulum movement on the underside on the foot part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

(9) FIG. 1a is a sectional side view of a seat 1. The seat 1 mainly consists of a cushion 11, 12, which is formed with foam and arranged both above and below a seat plate 3. The cushions are connected to the seat plate 3 by fixing means such as adhesives, and are positioned flush on the seat plate 3.

(10) The seat plate 3 follows a curved path having two regions of different height, in which a rear region 4, which receives the sitting bones, is arranged lower than a front region 5 for receiving the thighs.

(11) Forming two regions of different height makes it easier for the seat user to use his ischial tuberosities to change the seat position. This can be done easily because the shape of the seat with the regions of different height means that the ischial tuberosities engage in a low region such as the rear region 4 and can thus interact therewith. This provides that the seat can follow small changes in the user's pelvis. Since the front region of the seat plate is configured resiliently without direct supports, the seat plate can be made resilient in this region. This guarantees optimum blood supply to the legs in any sitting position, and this can prevent the feet from going to sleep.

(12) The seat plate 3 is received by a seat support 2 and mechanically braced by support braces 7, 7 in the transition region 6 and in the rear region. The front region 5, by contrast, is configured resiliently as a flexible zone 9 without direct supports, so as to be able to move.

(13) The configuration of the flexible zone 9 as a cantilever promotes the ability of the front region 5 at the edge region 10 to deflect on one side, the deflection of the flexible zone or front region being restricted by a support brace 7. Said brace is arranged substantially on the underside of the front region 5 of the seat plate 3 between the transition region 6 and the flexible zone 9. The support brace 7 thus extends obliquely forwards towards the edge region 10. It is further formed in one piece with the seat plate 3, and the seat plate 3 can therefore be manufactured together with the support brace 7 by injection moulding.

(14) On the one hand, a support brace 7 of this type does restrict the movement of the front region 4, but on the other hand, it prevents folding up, and as a result the size of the seat surface is maintained and thus remains usable. Forming the support brace on the plate 3 or the support 2 means that mounting work can be reduced and assembly can be made easier.

(15) An integral foam is arranged between the support brace 7 and the front region 5 of the seat plate 3, and transmits the resilient movements of the flexible zone 9 to the support brace 7. The support brace 7 passes the forces from the resilient movement on to the seat cover 22, which restricts the deflection of the brace, i.e. acts as a stop. The stop limits the freedom of movement of the support brace 7, in such a way that the positioning thereof can be used to adjust the resilient path.

(16) The support brace 7 and the flexible zone 9 together substantially form a V, which is open towards the edge region 10. The support brace can thus compress resiliently so as not to break off if the seat user is rocking. The support brace 7 further supports the brace 7, again so as to restrict the deflection thereof and increase the stability of the arrangement as a whole.

(17) Centrally below the seat 1, a hub 27 having a receiving cone for an underframe is arranged on the seat support 2. Inside the hub 27 there is a conical socket 20, which provides contact in a positive and frictional fit with a column 13 (not shown).

(18) A cone cover 21 is arranged below the conical socket 20, and covers fixing screws which connect the seat support 2 to the seat cover 22.

(19) In the transition region 6 and the rear region 4, the seat cover 22 is positioned substantially in a positive fit on the seat carrier 2, the seat carrier 2 being in contact with the seat plate 3 via the support braces 7, 7.

(20) The seat cover 22 has a handle 19, with which the seat can easily be transported to another location. In this case, the handle 19 or the seat cover is connected not only to the seat support 2, as disclosed above, but also to the seat plate 3. All the parts of the seat 1 in the rear region 4 are thus interconnected. The forces exerted on the seat by the handle or by the weight of the user can be dissipated to the hub 27, which is arranged on the underside and has a receiving cone, which is arranged on the seat support 2 and passes the forces on to the underframe.

(21) FIG. 1b shows a top view of the front region 5 or the flexible zone 9. In this case, the zone 9 comprises radially arranged lamellar arms 8, which are formed so as to increase in softness radially from the inside to the outside. The lamellar arms are of the same width in the example shown, but different shapes and sizes are also possible. The lamellar arms 8 can prevent the seat plate edge from pressing into the thigh, even when weight is shifted from one foot to the other. This gives the seat a pleasant feel during movements on the seat, encouraging movements while seated. Further, interference with circulation to the legs is reliably prevented in the various positions. If the seat is applied to a height-adjustable underframe, this configuration is particularly advantageous for high seat positions, since the edge region of the front region is prevented from pressing into the underside of the user's thigh.

(22) FIG. 1b further shows an alternative configuration of the flexible zone 9 in the front region 5, stabilising members being arranged on the underside of the lamellae. The stabilising members consist of individual ribs, spaced apart by V-shaped breaks. During flexing as shown by the arrow, the width of the breaks between the ribs decreases, until the opposing surfaces are positioned against one another, preventing further flexing of the lamellar arms.

(23) Alternatively, it is also possible to form the breaks in different shapes and with different opening widths, it being possible to provide different flexibilities, an inverted V-shaped form being preferred.

(24) FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the seat 1, showing the release mechanism for adjusting the height of the seat.

(25) The release mechanism has a respective left actuator 23 and right actuator 24, which act via levers 23a, 24a on a gas compression spring (not shown) so as to determine the height deflection thereof. The gas compression spring is arranged in the conical socket 20 and thus rigidly connected to the seat support 2 or the hub.

(26) The release mechanism is in this case arranged in recesses provided inside the seat support 2, the individual components being arranged positioned freely in the recesses thereof.

(27) FIG. 2 further shows that support webs 25 are introduced between the seat plate 3 and the seat cover 22.

(28) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the seat, the cushion 11 being fixed to the seat plate 3 by adhesive. After the insertion of the levers 23a and 24a and the actuators 23 and 24 for releasing the gas compression spring, the seat plate 3 is arranged on the seat support 2 and fixed by means of fixing screws. Subsequently, the construction consisting of the cushion 11, the seat plate 3, the seat support 2 and the associated mechanisms (actuators and levers) is connected to the seat cover 22 by screws. The connecting screws, which are applied to the seat cover, are covered by the cone cover 21 in the region of the conical socket 20. In this case, the cone cover 21 comprises four tabs, which can snap into associated recesses on the seat cover.

(29) FIG. 4 shows the assembled seat, consisting of the components described in FIG. 3, in various views, including a front view A, a view D from below and a plan view C.

(30) FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the seat on an underframe, in particular in the form of a column 13, and on a foot part 14, a pendulum joint 15 being arranged in the foot part 14 and making a pendulum movement of a seated person possible.

(31) In the central region, the column 13 extends through the foot part 14 as far as a substantially rectangular plate 26. The plate 26 is provided with a recess 17, through which the column 13 extends. In this case, the recess 17 is formed in a positive fit with the column 13 with play, in such a way that the pendulum movement range or ability to pendulate of the column 13 is limited or completely restricted.

(32) Further, to secure the foot part 14 against slipping away on a smooth floor, a rubber strip 18 is arranged on the underside at the edge.

(33) In FIG. 6, the recess 17 is formed as a slot so as to make the pendulum movement possible in one direction. Thus, this recess is also formed in a positive fit with play, so as to block the undesired pendulum directions. It is also possible to apply a plate, arranged in the base region, as a restriction member to a seat which pendulates in all directions, in such a way that the pendulum movement range of the column 13 can be restricted. This recess too may have play in a positive fit with the column. Further, in this case too a recess in the form of a slot is possible so as to make the pendulum movement possible in one direction.

(34) The configuration of the invention is not limited to the aforementioned preferred embodiments. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, and still make use of the described solutions, even if the configurations are fundamentally different. Thus, for example, it is within the scope of the disclosed invention to change the shape of the plate or to route the contour of the seat support 2, seat plate 3 and/or seat cover 22 to a different path.