IP Library Granted Patent US 9,265,348
Granted Patent B2
US 9,265,348 · App. 14/236,805 · Granted Feb 23, 2016

Adjusting mechanism for setting a restoring force which acts on a backrest of a chair, and office chair having an adjusting mechanism of this type

Inventor: Martin Potrykus (Bamberg, DE)
Assignee: HAWORTH, INC.
A47C1/03272A47C1/03266
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,265,348
App. No.
14/236,805
Granted
Feb 23, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The adjusting mechanism serves for the weight-dependent setting of a restoring force which acts on a backrest ( 4 ) of an office chair which is configured with a synchronous mechanism. The synchronous mechanism comprises a support ( 12 ), a seat support ( 10 ) and a backrest support ( 8 ) which are connected to one another via joint pins (A 1 -A 4 ), the restoring force being exerted via a spring element ( 18 ). In order to achieve as flat a design as possible, the restoring force is transmitted with the aid of a pivotable lever ( 16 ) via a front bearing pin (L 1 ) to a first front joint pin (A 1 ), an active lever length (h) which can be varied with the aid of an adjusting element ( 20 ) being defined by the spacing between the bearing pin (L 1 ) and the second front joint pin (A 2 ). A weight setting is made possible by the variation of the active lever length (h).

Claims (10)

1. An adjusting mechanism for a weight-dependent setting of a restoring force which acts on a backrest ( 4 ) of a chair which is configured with a synchronous mechanism, comprising a support ( 12 ), a seat support ( 10 ) and a backrest support ( 8 ) which are connected to one another via joint pins (A 1 -A 4 ) so as to form the synchronous mechanism, and having a spring element ( 18 ) for generating the restoring force, which spring element ( 18 ) extends along a longitudinal direction (a) between a front bearing pin (L 1 ) and a rear bearing pin (L 2 ), wherein the restoring force is transmitted with the aid of a lever ( 16 ) via the front bearing pin (L 1 ) to a front joint pin (A 2 ), a lever direction (d) being defined by a connecting line between the front joint pin (A 2 ) and the front bearing pin (L 1 ), and an active lever length (h) which can be varied with the aid of an adjusting element ( 20 ) being defined by the spacing between the bearing pin (L 1 ) and the front joint pin (A 2 ), the lever ( 16 ) connects the support ( 12 ) and the seat support ( 10 ) to one another via two front joint pins (A 1 , A 2 ).

2. Adjusting mechanism according to claim 1 , characterized in that, as viewed in a viewing direction towards the backrest ( 4 ), the front bearing pin (L 1 ) is arranged in front of a connecting line (c) between the front joint pins (A 1 , A 2 ).

3. Adjusting mechanism according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lever ( 16 ) has a first lever arm ( 16 A) which connects the front joint pins (A 1 , A 2 ) to one another, and a second lever arm ( 16 B) which receives the front bearing pin (L 1 ) and is mounted, in particular rotatably, on a bearing (D) on the first lever arm ( 16 A).

4. Adjusting mechanism according to claim 3 , characterized in that the second lever arm ( 16 B) is of bent-over and, in particular, approximately L-shaped configuration.

5. Adjusting mechanism according to claim 4 , characterized in that a direction of extent (b) which extends approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction (a) of the spring element ( 18 ) is defined by a connecting line between the front bearing pin (L 1 ) and the bearing (D).

6. Adjusting mechanism according to claim 3 , characterized in that, as viewed in a viewing direction towards the backrest ( 4 ), the bearing (D) is arranged behind a connecting line (c) between the front joint pins (A 1 , A 2 ).

7. Adjusting mechanism according to claim 3 , characterized in that, in order to vary the active lever length (h), the adjusting element ( 20 ) is fastened to the two lever arms ( 16 A, 16 B) in order to adjust their relative position.

8. Adjusting mechanism according to claim 1 , characterized in that the longitudinal direction (a) of the spring element ( 18 ) is oriented at an angle of action (β) with respect to the lever direction (d), which angle of action (β) lies in the range from 50° to 130°.

9. Adjusting mechanism according to claim 1 , characterized in that the longitudinal direction (a) of the spring element ( 18 ) is oriented at an angle of action (β) with respect to the lever direction (d), the angle of action (β) changing in the direction of a right angle in the case of an increasing inclination of the backrest support ( 8 ), and preferably assuming approximately 90° in the case of a completely inclined backrest support ( 8 ).

10. Adjusting mechanism according to claim 2 , characterized in that the adjusting element ( 20 ) is a spindle which is, in particular, self-locking.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2026
From: HAWORTH, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074279/0827 →
COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT OF PATENTS Recorded Dec 1, 2022
From: HAWORTH, INC.; AFFORDABLE INTERIOR SYSTEMS, INC.
To: PNC BANK
Reel/Frame 062078/0770 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2018
From: ITO DESIGN
To: HAWORTH, INC.
Reel/Frame 046989/0056 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 20 2011 103 999 U · Aug 3, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140159452A1 · Jun 12, 2014