Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to the technical field of furnishing accessories
and particularly relates to an ergonomic chair.
State of the art
[0002] The use of ergonomic chairs, particularly but not exclusively, for use in offices
has been long known in the furnishing accessories industry.
[0003] Generally, these types of chairs comprise a seat connected to a backrest, a pair
of armrests substantially parallel to the seat and a frame for supporting the seat.
[0004] Typically, the frame for supporting the seat for an office chair comprises a pneumatic
column which can be adjusted height-wise provided with swivel casters at the lower
end thereof and fixed armrests constrained to the backrest, to the seat or to the
frame for supporting the seat.
[0005] However, with a seat raised and with the column adjusted to the maximum height thereof,
the lower limbs of the user press on the edge of the seat with ensuing limitation
of the blood flow toward the feet.
[0006] Furthermore, the fixed armrests prevent users with above-average bust size from using
the chair.
[0007] Vertically inclinable seats and/or armrests which can be adjusted width-wise have
been developed in order to at least partially overcome these drawbacks.
[0008] WO0005996 discloses a chair provided with a mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the
seat in an automated fashion depending on the distribution of the weight of a user.
[0009] In this known device, the mechanism comprises a fixed casing adapted to house a support
pivoted using a pin in a central area of the seat and coupled to the casing using
a spring.
[0010] In this manner, when the user is seated on the chair and shifts his/her weight backwards,
the spring extends and the support rotates around the pin inclining backwards. Vice
versa, when the user shifts his/her weight forward, the spring is compressed inclining
the support forward through the pin until it comes into contact with an abutment point.
[0011] US6923505 and
KR20190014681 disclose chairs provided with ergonomic armrests which comprise a structure having
a stationary element on whose lateral ends there are fixing brackets for connection
to pairs of parallel arms at whose end there is a vertical rod for the support of
an adjustable ergonomic support for the forearms of the user.
[0012] Furthermore, the fixing brackets allow the width-wise lateral adjustment of the pairs
of arms, which can be in turn moved even vertically using respective pins.
[0013] A first drawback of these known systems lies in the fact that they have numerous
components with ensuing increase of manufacturing, assembly and maintenance costs.
[0014] A further drawback lies in the fact that once widened horizontally the armrest cannot
bear the weight of a user, with ensuing impossibility to be used for all types of
physique of the user.
[0015] In order to overcome these known problems, there have been developed articulated
or link chain systems as described in
DE9110121U and
US2010/141005. However, these systems are not applicable to the backrest of chairs to improve the
ergonomic qualities thereof given that they would require a large number of technical
modifications.
[0016] In conclusion, there is felt the need to improve known chairs in order to overcome
the aforementioned drawbacks.
Technical problem
[0017] In the light of the prior art, the object of the present invention is to solve the
technical problem by providing an ergonomic chair which can be adjusted in every direction
to improve the comfort of a user.
Summary of the invention
[0018] The object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problem by providing
an ergonomic chair which is highly effective and cost-effective.
[0019] A particular object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic chair of
the type indicated above which can be adjusted both in the vertical direction and
in the horizontal direction.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic chair of the type
indicated above which can be used for above-average high desks.
[0021] A further object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic chair of the
type indicated above which can be used by users with different physique.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic chair of the type
indicated above which allows a user to sit both resting the back and the chest against
the backrest.
[0023] The objects mentioned above and others which will be more apparent hereinafter are
achieved by an ergonomic chair, according to claim 1, which has a seat, a backrest,
a pair of armrests constrained to said backrest and a frame for supporting the seat
and wherein each armrest comprises an articulated structure adapted to adjustably
change the configuration and the angular position thereof with respect to the seat
in a substantially horizontal plane and so to adapt to the shape and size of the bust
of the user.
[0024] Advantageously, the articulated structure comprises at least three base plates and
each base plate is substantially flat and it has a pair of mutually facing horizontal
surfaces, coplanar to each other and rotatably connected by connection means.
[0025] Due to this combination of characteristics, the ergonomic chair can be adjusted by
a user in all directions to improve the comfort thereof.
[0026] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are attained according to the dependent
claims.
Brief description of the drawings
[0027] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in
the light of the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment
of an ergonomic chair like the one mentioned above, shown by way of non-limiting example
with reference to the drawings below, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ergonomic chair according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the chair of Fig. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are lateral views of the chair of Fig. 1 respectively in a first and a second operative
position of the seat;
FIGS. 4A and 5A are respectively enlarged lateral and front views of the chair of Fig. 3A;
FIGS. 4B and 5B are respectively enlarged lateral and front views of the chair of Fig. 3B;
FIGS. 6A and 6B are respectively a top view of the chair of Fig. 3A and a cross-sectional lateral
view of the chair of Fig. 3B;
FIGS. 7A and 7B are top views of the chair of Fig. 1 respectively in a first and a second operative
position of the armrests;
FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively a perspective view of the frame and a detailed view of the backrest
of the chair of Fig. 1;
FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the armrest of the chair of Fig. 9.
Detailed description of a preferred embodiment
[0028] With particular reference to the figures, there is shown an ergonomic chair, indicated
in its entirety with reference numeral
1, which has a framework
2 comprising a seat
3, a backrest
4, a pair of armrests
5 substantially parallel to the seat
3 and a frame
6 for supporting the seat
3.
[0029] In a per se known manner, the framework
2 may be at least partially padded to improve the comfort of a user of the chair
1, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, 7.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame
6 for supporting the seat
3 comprises a pneumatic column
7 which is substantially vertical and which can be adjusted height-wise between a first
maximum height position and a second minimum height position.
[0031] Furthermore, the pneumatic column
7 is provided with swivel casters
8 to facilitate the movement along a support plane
P when using the chair
1, as better visible in FIGS. 1-3.
[0032] The pneumatic column
7 comprises an upper end
7' operatively connected to the seat
3 and a lower end
7" facing toward the support plane
P of the chair
1 and provided with a plurality of radial legs
9 each provided with a swivel caster
8.
[0033] Furthermore, the radial legs
9 may comprise a ring-like assembly
10 of the circular or polygonal type adapted to connect each radial leg
9 and adapted to act as a support for the feet of the user.
[0034] Preferably, the ring-like assembly
10 is positioned the closest possible to the support plane
P of the chair
1 to facilitate the stretching of the legs of the user.
[0035] In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the support frame
6 comprises at least three substantially vertical legs connected to the seat
3.
[0036] As better shown in FIGS. 3-6, the seat
3 comprises a first
11 and a second member
12 which are substantially flat and which can be mutually arranged side-by-side and
a support plate
13 for the user, also substantially flat.
[0037] The first flat member
11 is integrally joined to the support frame
6 and the second flat member
12 is superimposed to the first flat member
11, as well as integrally joined with the support plate
13.
[0038] Each flat member
11, 12 and the support plate
13 comprise a first end portion
11', 12', 13' distal from the backrest
4 and a second end portion
11", 12", 13" proximal to the backrest
6.
[0039] Furthermore, the first end portion
13' of the support plate
13 is spaced apart with respect to the first end portions
11', 12' of the flat members
11, 12.
[0040] Therefore, the first
11 and the second flat member
12 are mutually hinged in proximity of their first end portion
11', 12' to allow the second flat member
12 and the support plate
13 to incline in a substantially vertical direction.
[0041] Such inclination may occur due to the weight of the user who pushes the knees toward
the support plane
P of the chair
1 or toward the ring-like assembly
10 which supports the feet of the user.
[0042] It is clear that this possibility of inclination between the first
11 and the second flat member
12 facilitates the ergonomic qualities of the chair
1.
[0043] As a matter of fact, when the seat
3 is at the first maximum height position, or in proximity thereof, the user may incline
it independently by shifting his/her weight forward and therefore preventing the first
end portion
13' of the support plate
13 of the seat
3 from blocking the blood flow of the user towards the feet.
[0044] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 3-6, the first
11 and the second flat member
12 are hinged at their first end portion
11', 12' using a substantially horizontal pin
14.
[0045] Preferably, the first
11 and the second flat member
12 are respectively hinged in the central portion and at the horizontal ends of the
pin
14.
[0046] Advantageously, the first
11 and the second flat member
12 are mutually connected at the respective second end portion
11", 12" proximal to the backrest
4 using elastic means
15.
[0047] Preferably, the elastic means
15 comprise at least one spring which is compressed when the second flat member
12 is inclined with respect to the first flat member
11 or when their second respective end portions
11", 12" are spaced from each other.
[0048] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B, the maximum inclination angle
α1 of the first flat member
11 with respect to the second flat member
12 is 10°, preferably 8°.
[0049] Suitably, the first flat member
11 is connected to the backrest
4 of the seat 1 using a bracket
16 which is substantially angular and which can be inclined by the user using adjustment
means
17 of the type known in the prior art.
[0050] The adjustment means
17 of the chair
1 are adapted to allow the inclination of the backrest
4 dependently or independently from the inclination of the support plate
13 of the seat
3.
[0051] Alternatively, the chair
1 may be without the angular bracket
16 and the backrest
4 be integrally joined with the support plate
13 or with the support frame
6 without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0052] Preferably, the backrest
4 has a shape widened at the upper portion
18' thereof distal from the seat
3 and a shape narrowed at the lower portion
18" proximal to the seat
3, as better shown in FIGS. 2 and 9.
[0053] The particular narrowed shape of the lower portion
18" of the backrest
4 allows the user to insert his/her legs upon sitting on the seat
3 resting the chest against the backrest
4.
[0054] Furthermore, as better shown in FIGS. 7-10, the pair of armrests are constrained
to the backrest
4 using a plate-like element
19 positioned in the central portion
18‴ of the seat
4 and provided with coupling means for each armrest
5.
[0055] Advantageously, each armrest
5 comprises an articulated structure
21 adapted to adjustably change the configuration and the angular position thereof with
respect to the seat
3 in a substantially horizontal plane and so as to adapt to the shape and size of the
bust of the user.
[0056] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the articulated structure
21 comprises at least three substantially flat base plates
22, coplanar and rotatably connected to each other by means of suitable connection means
23.
[0057] Preferably, at least one of the base plates
22 is welded to the coupling means
20 of the plate-like element
19 of the backrest
4.
[0058] Each base plate
22 is substantially flat and it comprises a pair of horizontal surfaces
24 which are mutually facing and coplanar to each other.
[0059] Furthermore, the horizontal ends of each base plate
22 comprises at least one pair of substantially vertical end-stroke surfaces
25A, 25B adapted to limit the angular stroke thereof in the horizontal direction.
[0060] Therefore, when the articulated structure
21 is fully open or fully closed, an end-stroke surface
25A, 25B of a first base plate
22 is facing the corresponding end-stroke surface
25B, 25A of a second base plate
22, as better visible in FIG. 10.
[0061] Therefore, the end farthest from the backrest
4 of each armrest
5 can be adjusted in width between a minimum angle
α2 and a maximum angle
α3 with respect to a vertical plane
π passing through the centreline of the backrest
4 using the articulated structure
21.
[0062] Preferably, the minimum angle
α2 is comprised between 35° and 45°, while the maximum angle
α3 is comprised between 50° and 65°. More preferably, the minimum angle
α2 is equal to 40° and the maximum angle
α3 is equal to 57°.
[0063] Obviously, the angular stroke in the horizontal direction can be calculated from
the difference between the maximum angle
α3 and the minimum angle
α2. Therefore, the angular stroke in the horizontal direction is preferably comprised
between 5° and 30°, more preferably equal to 17°.
[0064] Furthermore, the articulated structure
21 comprises at least two pairs of connection plates
26 positioned above and below the pair of surfaces
24 and rotatably connected to the base plates
22 using the connection means
23.
[0065] Preferably, the connection means
23 comprise through screws
27 engageable in suitable threaded holes
28 obtained in the base plates
22 and connection plates
26.
[0066] Preferably, the through screws
27 are mounted with a force amounting to at least 3Nm and at least the base plates
22 are made of high-strength steel, with hardness comprised between 350 HBW and 510
HBW, more preferably made of Hardox
® steel.
[0067] Furthermore, the connection means
23 comprise cup springs
29 and suitable washers
30 interposed between the base plates
22 and connection plates
26.
[0068] It is clear that the particular articulated structure
21 has a very limited number of components and it allows lower manufacturing, assembly
and maintenance costs with respect to the adjustable armrests of the prior art.
[0069] Furthermore, in the light of the above it is clear that the ergonomic chair
1 can be adjusted by a user both in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction,
appropriate for any physique and facilitating blood circulation of the lower limbs
of the user.
[0070] Therefore, in the light of the above it is clear that the ergonomic chair
1 according to the invention achieves the pre-established objects and in particular
it can be adjusted in all directions to improve the comfort of a user.
[0071] The ergonomic chair according to the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications
and variants all falling within the inventive concept outlined in the attached claims.
[0072] Even though the chair has been described with particular reference to the attached
figures, the reference numerals used in the description and in the claims are meant
for improving the intelligibility of the invention and thus do not limit the claimed
scope of protection in any manner whatsoever.
[0073] Throughout the description, reference to "an embodiment" or "the embodiment" or "some
embodiments" indicates that a particular characteristic, structure or element described
is comprised in at least one embodiment of the object of the present invention.
[0074] Furthermore, the particular characteristics, structures or elements may be combined
in any appropriate fashion in one or more embodiments.
Industrial applicability
[0075] The present invention is industrially applicable as it can be produced in an industrial
scale by industries pertaining to the field of furnishing accessories, in particular
chairs.
1. An ergonomic chair (1) comprising a seat (3), a backrest (4), a pair of armrests (5) constrained to said backrest (4) and a frame (6) for supporting the seat (3) wherein each of said armrests (5) comprises an articulated structure (21) adapted to adjustably change the configuration and the angular position thereof
with respect to said seat (3) in a substantially horizontal plane and to adapt to the shape and size of the bust
of the user, wherein said articulated structure (21) comprises at least three base plates (22), each base plate (22) being substantially flat and having a pair of horizontal surfaces (24) mutually faced and rotatably connected by connection means (23), characterised in that said horizontal surfaces (24) are coplanar to each other, said base plates (22) comprising at least one pair of end-stroke surfaces (25A, 25B) adapted to limit the angular stroke thereof in the horizontal direction.
2. Chair as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said articulated structure (21) is adjustable in width between a minimum angle (α2) and a maximum angle (α3) with respect to a vertical plane (π) passing through the centreline of said backrest (4), said minimum angle (α2) being comprised between 35° and 45° and said maximum angle (α3) being comprised between 50° and 65°.
3. Chair as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said articulated structure (21) comprises at least one pair of connection plates (26) positioned above and below
said pair of horizontal surfaces (24) and rotatably connected with said base plates (22).
4. Chair as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said connection means (23) are through screws (27) engageable in suitable threaded holes (28) obtained in said base plates (22) and connection plates (26), said through screws (27) being mounted with a force of at least 3Nm.
5. Chair as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said articulated structure (21), in correspondence of said connection means (23), comprises cup springs (29) and suitable washers (30) interposed between said base plates (22) and connection (26) plates.
6. Chair as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least said base plates (22) are made of high-strength steel with hardness comprised between 350 HBW and 510
HBW.
7. Chair as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said seat (3) comprises a first (11) and a second substantially flat members (12), said first member (11) being integrally joined to said support frame (6) and said second member (12) being superimposed with said first member (11).
8. Chair as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said first (11) and second flat members (12) are mutually hinged at their first end portion (11', 12') distal from said backrest (4) so as to allow said second member (12) to incline in a substantially vertical direction, said first (11) and second flat members (12) being mutually connected at their second end portion (11", 12") proximal to said backrest (4) using elastic means (15).
9. Chair as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said elastic means (15) comprise at least one spring which is compressed when said second end portions (11", 12") are spaced from each other.
10. Chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chair (1) is configured to allow the user to sit resting the chest on said backrest (4), characterised in that said backrest (4) has a shape widened at the upper portion (18') thereof distal from said seat (3) and a shape narrowed at the lower portion (18") thereof proximal to said seat (3), said lower portion (18") being configured to allow the user to introduce the legs.