EP1836932B1 - Device for lumbar support - Google Patents

Abstract

The lumbar support device (2) is mounted independently of the membrane in the backrest frame (3) of an office chair (1), and is adjustable in height as well as horizontally expandable. The device has two carrier elements that are identical in construction, and that are turned at 180-degrees toward each other and arranged in such a way that the webs of their two central components interlock. The two carrier elements are connected to each other by means of polyurethane foam applied on both sides over their central components. Each carrier element exhibits on the outside a lateral guide web and a seating fixture to engage a lumbar slide. A spring is attached to the guide web, and is connected to a rigid central component. The other end of the central component lies opposite the spring, is designed in the shape of a comb, and exhibits individual webs.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of furniture industry. It relates to a device for lumbar support for an office chair, the backrest consists of a membrane-covered backrest frame.

State of the art

It is known to integrate in the backrests of office chairs devices for lumbar support, such as Lordosenkissen, to prevent fatigue and tension of the back muscles and thereby caused pain in the user of the chair.

The lordosis is the curvature of the spine forward (hollow back). The said devices for lumbar support should fill this cavity as accurately as possible.

This succeeds in chairs with an additional backrest upholstery very well, because a foam padded backrest allows between the Padding plate and the foam to attach a plastic element, which is individually adjustable in height and the pad at the point bulges forward, where it supports the lumbar region of each user. The pad itself ensures that the plastic element does not press. Finally, the plastic element is overstuffed as well as the rest of the backrest. The pad largely equalizes the structure.

A single-sided membrane-covered backrest without upholstery construction, however, does not constitute an over-upholstery of the plastic element. Therefore, a device for lordosis support placed behind or in front of the membrane and stored independently of the membrane in the backrest frame will disadvantageously be uncomfortable to the back, even if it is soft or padded , This is done according to EP 0 856 269 B1 For example, to prevent that a height-adjustable behind the membrane stiffening element is rotatably mounted on the backrest frame. A disadvantage of this solution is the great effort for the production and installation of the two lateral pivotal connections for this stiffening element, which contribute significantly to increasing the chair costs.

On the other hand, if the lumbar support is embedded directly in the membrane, it moves backwards when the user leans against the membrane. This has the disadvantage that it is almost ineffective in terms of spinal relief.

Out DE 101 21 207 A1 a device for lumbar support for an office chair with a backrest of a one-sided membrane-covered backrest frame is known, which is arranged behind the membrane and stored independently of the membrane in the backrest frame. It is both height-adjustable and horizontally stretchable and consists of a central part with two relatively rigid support elements, which have a centrally disposed elastic element, preferably a rubber band with each other are connected and each outside a guide web, which are arranged displaceably in the backrest frame. The front part of the device arranged towards the membrane has a cushioning plate with cushioning cushions, the back part of the device is formed by a plastic plate. The pad plate and the plastic plate are connected to each other by means of a clip connection. This device advantageously supports, on the one hand, the lordosis region of the user of such a chair individually very effectively and, on the other hand, also has sufficient elasticity which results in that the cushion does not press. However, the disadvantage is the comparatively high manufacturing and assembly costs, in particular for sewing the rubber band, and the associated high price.

Out EP-A-1 254 616 a lumbar support device is also known.

Presentation of the invention

The invention seeks to avoid the mentioned disadvantages of the known prior art. It is the object of the invention to develop a device for lumbar support in a membrane-covered backrest of a chair, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and still their task, namely an effective spine relief to prevent fatigue and tension in the back muscles, very well.

1. a) zwei baugleichen Trägerelementen, welche jeweils außen einen seitlichen Führungssteg und eine Aufnahmevorrichtung zu Einrasten eines Lordosenschiebers aufweisen, wobei sich an den Führungssteg ein Federelement anschließt, welches mit einem starren Mittelteil verbunden ist und wobei das andere Ende des Mittelteiles kammartig ausgebildet ist und einzelne Stege aufweist, wobei
2. b) die beiden Trägerelemente um 180 ° zueinander gedreht und so angeordnet sind, dass die Stege ihrer beiden Mittelteile ineinander greifen und wobei
3. c) die beiden Trägerelemente mittels eines über ihre Mittelteile beidseitig aufgebrachten PUR-Schaums miteinander verbunden sind.

According to the invention this is achieved in a device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the device consists of the following parts

1. a) two identical support elements, which each have a lateral outside guide web and a receiving device to engage a Lordosenschiebers, wherein the guide web is followed by a spring element which is connected to a rigid central part and wherein the other end of the central part is comb-like and individual webs having,
2. b) the two support elements are rotated by 180 ° to each other and arranged so that the webs of their two middle parts engage with each other and wherein
3. c) the two carrier elements are connected to each other by means of a PUR foam applied on both sides over their middle parts.

The advantages of the invention are that the device according to the invention is very simple and inexpensive to produce. The identical support parts can be made in one piece from plastic in automated operations. Expensive handwork, such as sewing the rubber band for the off DE 101 21 207 A1 known solution, deleted. The device for lumbar support is stored independently of the membrane in the backrest frame and both height adjustable and horizontally stretchable over the two spring elements and the polyurethane foam. This guarantees effective relief of the spine.

It is useful if the device for lumbar support is used for an office chair, the backrest frame is covered on both sides with a membrane, wherein the device according to the invention is arranged in an advantageous manner between the two membranes. This gives a chair designed in this way a filigree and aesthetically pleasing impression.

Furthermore, it is expedient if the guide bar is arranged to be vertically displaceable in a guide track provided with latching lugs of the seat back frame, and the device for lumbar support is anchored with the aid of a latchable Lordosenschiebers, which is inserted from the outside into the receiving device. This avoids unintentional slipping of the device.

Moreover, it is advantageous if different material pairings are used, because it allows adaptation to the intended loads.

Short description of the drawing

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Bürodrehstuhles mit einer eingebauten erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Lordosenabstützung;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht der beiden zusammengefügten Trägerelemente einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Lordosenabstützung;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht einer kompletten erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Lordosenabstützung;

Fig. 4

einen Teilquerschnitt der beidseitig membranbespannten Rückenlehne des Bürodrehstuhles mit der eingebauten erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Lordosenabstützung und

Fig. 5

einen Teillängsschnitt der beidseitig membranbespannten Rückenlehne des Bürodrehstuhles mit der eingebauten erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Lordosenabstützung.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an office swivel chair with a built-in device according to the invention for lumbar support;

Fig. 2

a plan view of the two assembled support elements of a device according to the invention for lumbar support;

Fig. 3

a plan view of a complete device according to the invention for lumbar support;

Fig. 4

a partial cross section of the double-membrane-covered backrest of the office swivel chair with the built-in device according to the invention for lumbar support and

Fig. 5

a partial longitudinal section of the double-sided membrane-covered backrest of the office swivel chair with the built-in device according to the invention for lumbar support.

Only the elements essential to the understanding of the invention are shown. The same elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

Ways to carry out the invention

Hereinafter, the invention with reference to an embodiment and the FIGS. 1 to 5 explained in more detail.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an office swivel chair 1 with a built-in device according to the invention for lumbar support 2. The office swivel chair 1 has a backrest frame 3, which on both sides with a in Fig. 1 not shown membrane 4 is covered. The device 2 according to the invention is between the two parts of in Fig.1 not shown membrane 4 and arranged independently of her.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a portion of the device according to the invention for lumbar support 2 and Fig. 3 a complete plan view of the device 2. The device 2 consists of two identical support elements 5, which are integrally made of plastic. The support elements 5 each have on the outside a lateral guide web 6 and a receiving device 7 for engaging a Lordosenschiebers 8, wherein the guide web 6, a spring element 9 connects, which is connected to a rigid central part 10. The middle part 10 is formed comb-like at its other, the spring element 9 opposite end and therefore has individual webs 11. In the present case, there are two webs 11. In addition, a plurality of openings 12, in the present embodiment 3 pieces, arranged in the middle part 10, which have a favorable effect on the stability and elasticity of the support elements 5.

The two identical support members 5 are rotated 180 ° to each other and are arranged so that the webs 11 of their two middle parts 10 interlock, which works well in Fig. 2 can be seen. The two carrier elements 5 are connected via a PUR foam 13 applied over both sides of their middle parts 10 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) held. The PU foam element 13 on the one hand brings some necessary elasticity, on the other hand, the lordosis of the user of the chair is well filled by its shape, which improves the supporting effect of the device according to the invention.

In Fig. 4 is a partial cross section and in Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section of the both sides covered with a membrane 4 backrest of the office swivel chair 1 with the built-in device according to the invention for lumbar support 2 shown. As in the upper part of Fig. 4 can be clearly seen, the membrane 4 is secured in the backrest frame 3 of the office chair 1 by means of membrane spring. Between the front and rear membrane 4, the device for lumbar support 2 is arranged so that it is not immediately visible and makes the office swivel chair 1 a filigree and aesthetically beautiful impression. The device for lumbar support 2 is mounted independently of the membrane 4 in the backrest frame 3 and both height adjustable and over the two spring elements 9 and the polyurethane foam 13 horizontally stretchable. Thus, an effective relief of the spine of the chair user is guaranteed. The spring elements 9 in the Lordosenschiebern 8 prevent vertical slipping of the lumbar support.

The guide web 6 of the support element 5 is arranged in a provided with locking lugs 14 guideway 15 of the backrest frame 3 substantially vertically displaceable. The Lordosenschieber 8 is inserted from the outside into the receiving device 7 of the support elements 5, engages and anchors the device for lumbar support 2. Thus, the device 2 is stored in the backrest frame 3.

The device according to the invention is easy to manufacture and handle. It is also inexpensive. By using different material pairings an adaptation to different loads can be made possible.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

office chair

2

Lumbar support device

3

Backrest frame

4

membrane

5

support element

6

guide web

7

cradle

8th

Lordosenschieber

9

spring element

10

midsection

11

web

12

opening

13

PUR foam-Element

14

locking lug

15

guideway

Claims (3)

1. Device for lumbar support (2) for an office chair (1) with a backrest that consists of a backrest frame (3) covered with a membrane (4), with the device (2) being mounted independently of the membrane (4) in the backrest frame and being height-adjustable as well as horizontally extendable, characterised in that it consists of the following parts

   a) two structurally identical supporting elements (5), each of which has, on the outside, a lateral guide web (6) and a mounting device (7) to engage with a lumbar valve (8), with a spring element (9) being connected to the guide web (6), which spring element is connected to a rigid centre section (10), and with the other end of the centre section (10) that faces the spring element (9) being executed in a comb-like manner and having individual webs (11), and with

   b) the two structurally identical supporting elements (5) being rotated towards each other by 180° and arranged in such a way that the webs (11) of their two centre sections engage with other, and with

   c) the two structurally identical supporting elements (5) being connected with each other by means of a PUR foam element (13) that is applied on both sides via their centre sections (10).
2. Device for lumbar support (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the guide web is arranged in a vertically moveable manner in a guide track of the backrest frame provided with detent lugs, and the device for lumbar support is anchored by means of an engageable lumbar valve that is inserted into the mounting device from the outside.
3. Device for lumbar support (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is used for an office chair (1) whose backrest frame (3) is covered on both sides with the membrane (4), with the device (2) being arranged between the two membranes (4).

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