Control mechanism for a chair

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11812865-B2
Application number	US-202017432173-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2019
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A control mechanism for a chair comprises a baseplate configured to be coupled to a chair base assembly, a support plate configured to be coupled to a chair seat, and an elastic element arranged between the base plate and the support plate. The elastic element enables the support plate to be tilted with respect to the base plate around a first tilt axis and a second tilt axis different from the first tilt axis. The control mechanism further comprises a control handle configured to be actuated in an actuating direction, and at least one stop element. Each stop element is arranged between the base plate and the support plate and configured to limit a minimum distance between the base plate and the support plate at the position of the corresponding stop element. A stop element adjust mechanism is coupled to the control handle and configured to adjust the minimum distance of each stop element in response to actuating the control handle in the actuating direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control mechanism for a chair, the control mechanism comprising:
a base plate configured to be coupled to a chair base assembly,
a support plate configured to be coupled to a chair seat,
an elastic element arranged between the base plate and the support plate, the elastic element enabling the support plate to be tilted with respect to the base plate around a first tilt axis and a second tilt axis different from the first tilt axis,
a control handle configured to be actuated in an actuating direction in a first handle position, a second handle position and a third handle position,
at least four stop elements, each stop element being arranged between the base plate and the support plate and configured to limit a minimum distance between the base plate and the support plate at the position of the corresponding stop element, and
a stop element adjust mechanism coupled to the control handle and configured to adjust the minimum distance of each stop element in response to actuating the control handle in the actuating direction,
wherein in the first handle position all stop elements of the four stop elements are in the retracted position, in the second handle position two stop elements of the four stop elements are in the retracted position and the other two stop elements of the four stop elements are in the extended position, and in the third handle position all stop elements of the four stop elements are in the extended position.

2. The control mechanism of claim 1 ,
wherein each stop element extends from the base plate towards the support plate and is configured to be separately displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position,
wherein, in the extended position, each stop element is further extended towards the support plate than in the retracted position.

3. The control mechanism of claim 2 , wherein a number of stop elements in the extended position depends on an extent the control handle is actuated in the actuating direction.

4. The control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the stop element adjust mechanism comprises a rotatable annular plate, wherein at least one wedge element extends from the annular plate, wherein each wedge element of the at least one wedge element is assigned to a corresponding stop element, wherein the minimum distance limited by each stop element is adjusted by the assigned wedge element upon rotating the annular plate.

5. The control mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the stop elements of the plurality of stop elements are arranged equidistant along the annular plate.

6. The control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the elastic element comprises an elastic ring.

7. The control mechanism of claim 6 , wherein a first face of the elastic ring is molded to the base plate and a second face of the elastic ring opposing the first face is molded to the support plate.

8. The control mechanism of claim 6 , further comprising a coupling element providing a pivotable coupling of the base plate and the support plate, wherein the coupling element is arranged in a central position of the elastic ring.

9. The control mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first tilt axis extends essentially perpendicular to a vertical direction, and the second tilt axis extends essentially perpendicular to the vertical direction and the first tilt direction, wherein the vertical direction is defined by a direction in which the chair base assembly, the base plate, the support plate and the chair seat are subsequently arranged.

10. The control mechanism of claim 9 , further comprising an anti-rotation element arranged between the base plate and the support plate and configured to prohibit a rotation of the support plate with respect the base plate around the vertical direction.

11. The control mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the control handle has a longitudinal shape, wherein a proximal end of the control handle is coupled to the base plate and the control handle extends from the base plate, wherein the control mechanism is configured such that actuating the control handle in the actuating direction comprises moving a distal end of the control handle in a circumferential direction around the vertical direction.

12. The control mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the chair base assembly comprises a height control mechanism configured to enable the chair seat of the chair to be displaced in the vertical direction, wherein the control handle is configured to be actuated in a further actuating direction, wherein actuating the control handle in the further actuating direction effects actuation of the height control mechanism, wherein actuating the control handle in the further actuating direction comprises moving the distal end of the control handle in the vertical direction.

13. The control mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising an annular cover element attached to a circumferential edge of the support plate and extending to a circumferential edge of the base plate.

14. A chair, comprising
a chair base assembly;
a chair seat; and
a control mechanism, the control mechanism comprising:
a base plate coupled to the chair base assembly,
a support plate coupled to the chair seat,
an elastic element arranged between the base plate and the support plate, the elastic element enabling the support plate to be tilted with respect to the base plate around a first tilt axis and a second tilt axis different from the first tilt axis,
a control handle configured to be actuated in an actuating direction in a first handle position, a second handle position and a third handle position,
at least four stop elements, each stop element being arranged between the base plate and the support plate and configured to limit a minimum distance between the base plate and the support plate at the position of the corresponding stop element, and
a stop element adjust mechanism coupled to the control handle and configured to adjust the minimum distance of each stop element in response to actuating the control handle in the actuating direction;
wherein in the first handle position all stop elements of the four stop elements are in the retracted position, in the second handle position two stop elements of the four stop elements are in the retracted position and the other two stop elements of the four stop elements are in the extended position, and in the third handle position all stop elements of the four stop elements are in the extended position.

Assignees

• L&P Property Man Co

Inventors

• Costaglia Massimo

Classifications

• A47C3/18 Primary

  Chairs or stools with rotatable seat (adjustable in height by rotation A47C3/24) · CPC title

• A47C9/002 Primary

  with exercising means or having special therapeutic or ergonomic effects · CPC title