Arm support, particularly for office chairs and swivel chairs

The invention relates to an arm support for chairs or armchairs, according to the preamble of the main claim.

Office or chairs often have substantially perpendicular to the backrest arranged on arm supports, associated with one of the backrest posterior pole and a front pole, with an arm rest support are attached to the seat frame. It is known, such armrests height adjustable form, so that the user of the chair the Height of the armrests can adjust itself according to his desire. there is the position of the arm rests relative to the backrest of the chair not adjustable in the horizontal plane, whereby a fixed location Armrests is predetermined. Position change - about due changing positions of the arm with the working hand due to a permanent Change from the keyboard to the mouse at a computer workstation - Does not allow for this arrangement. The technical problem of Invention is seen in such an armrest educate so, to avoiding these disadvantages simple and economical can be produced and used safely.

This object is according to the invention by the characterizing Parts of the main claim: Advantageous developments and preferred Embodiments describe the dependent claims.

On an upper end plate of the Armstützenträgers Armaufleger pivotally mounted in a horizontal plane, of a form-fitting from a lower shell with base plate and an upper shell with Foam pad zusammmengefügten hollow body is formed. Around to achieve pivotability, is in the hollow body with the arm rest support connected, ges tellfestes member provided opposite the the Armaufleger is pivotable. For this is the hole for performing the front retainer through the insert plate as a curved slot formed with an arc of a circle with a through the axis corresponding the rear retainer defined circle center Curvature, so that the Armaufleger pivoted about the rear holding means can be, by an angle defined by the length of the curved Elongated hole and the distance of the guided through the elongated hole, front retainer from the other, the pivot axis determined rear support means is given.

This allows a slight pivoting of the armrest solely by the Arm movement: the resting arm takes this in its movement without considerable forces in a simple manner with. If desired, these can Movement are made more difficult by clamping, or it may - in addition to the due to the recess end positions - a fixing to a his or provided at several pivotal positions, approximately in middle position the Armauflegers. The latching points are of a locking lug and this receiving locking recesses formed; the pivotable Armaufleger or frame fixed counterpart has the latch, the least a catch recess is assigned to the other part. Advantageous Means may be provided, cancel the latching or clamping or at least reduce.

In a first embodiment in the interior of the hollow body is of Armauflegers provided a fixing hook, the two ends with the front and the rear holding means cooperatively against the upper end plate of Armstützenträgers are drawn, which thus is gesteilfest and relative to the hollow body of Armauflegers is pivoted. In a second embodiment, in the interior of the hollow body of Armauflegers a supporting plate vorgesene that with is the lower shell or the upper shell connected and moved.

As means for fixing the pivoting can be moved along a transverse strip be provided, which cooperates with a frame-mounted nose. The fixing hook engages over a on the inside the lower plate provided cross bar and is elastically deformed and pre-tensioned. This friction is given, the Forces unintentional pivoting counteracts. The amount of friction may face by adjusting the height of the fixing hook the cross-bar can be adjusted so that the desired pivoting is achieved with the intended power; this setting can with minimal effort through between the upper end plate and fixing hook inserted washers done.

The cross bar is at least centrally with a, preferably eccentrically provided with further corresponding formations with which one position is achieved. The latching points are advantageously formed to be enough small forces to disengage. The Cross bar is advantageously provided on the inside of the lower shell, while the fastening clasp has the nose. an unlatching takes place for example the lifting of the fastening clip or a lowering of the cross bar. In addition to unlocking by elastic deformation of the nose or cross bar, can also be a by outside be provided operable rotational or a sliding wedge the removal or engagement of the clamping or the unlatching allowed. Advantageous a releasable locking slide is provided which, with its Actuating button protrudes from the arm rest support, and the means of the actuating button can be operated. Advantageously, the actuating slide designed and arranged that it in at rest Locking position is locked and unlocked only when actuated is and then solves the Verschwenksperre.

In the second embodiment, the inside of the Armauflegers provided support plate with the cross-bar provided, the frame-mounted with a Nose cooperates. The advantage here is the nose than in the head of Armstützenträgers inserted vertically in principle formed movable locking slide, the actuation button below led out of the top end plate of Armstützenträgers is. Can this locking slide it in his leadership advantageous also be tilted, a determination in the lower position is possible in the Armaufleger is released for pivoting.

the armrest is also advantageous in its longitudinal direction displaced. For this purpose, the opening for the rear holding means as is an extending longitudinally of the armrest slot formed. The arc-shaped elongated hole of the recess for the front Holding means is formed as an approximately rectangular aperture whose Depth in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the armrest of the size the longitudinal displacement corresponding, and their width perpendicular thereto the pivot angle of the armrest limited. This training is both Holding means to sufficiently open to enable both the pivoting as well as to enable the displacement, so that in this embodiment Both movements are possible side by side.

For resetting is between the hollow body of Armauflegers and Supporting plate at least one elastic return element is provided which holds the Armaufleger in a latched position. This elastic Restoring member is advantageously in the range of the rear holding means provided. It is preferred as a shock mounted on elastic member, for example a return spring, is formed.

In an alternative form inside the lower shell is with the pressed fixing hook against the lower plate of the lower shell Insert plate provided slidably with respect to the fixed insert panel is. Here, this is the hollow body of the so Armauflegers arranged such that this displaced in the longitudinal direction relative to the support plate can be wherein the carrier plate at least in their edge regions is positively guided between upper and lower shells. This allows a displacement of the armrest in an approximately at right angles the backrest extending direction. For this purpose, the lower shell Guide means, which cooperate with corresponding guide means the insert plate cooperate, and advantageously as tongue / groove-like intermeshing grooves and ridges are formed, wherein it does not matter which of the parts of the groove and that the having spring-like strips.

This thus held with the insert plate or carrying plate on arm rest support Armrest is thus displaced in the direction of its extension bningbar and so also in a desired position. To the desired to define positions, is a this longitudinal displacement blocking or enable Direction locking mechanism is provided which Armrest fixed in the position reached. Given that preferably has front end of the support plate, a nose, which at the the inner bottom surface of the upper shell of the Armauflegers provided Catch recess cooperates. For unlocking the Armaufleger is over so mounted the support plate such that it can be tilted, whereby the lifted nose of the corresponding catch trough so that the unlatching is effected by a pressure with the resting arm, so that it requires no additional Umgreifens.

The fixing means that fix the set position can for an adjustment to be unlocked in a new location. But are advantageous manually actuatable means are provided, for example clamping means, their jaws by spring force or by resilient bias pressed against a friction, prevent unbeabsichigtes move. Another option offer latching means in which a Locking lug engages provided for this purpose locking recesses, said is latching lug advantageously provided on a button, which as a lever is formed, whose lever arm constitutes the actuating element, which is pressed against the spring force or against resilient bias. there is irrelevant whether the lever a one-armed or two-armed Lever is formed, both have respective lever arms on. Maintained a shift in steps is possible; as clamping means trained fixative enable moved seamlessly.

For height adjustment of such arm supports the arm rest support is in the Armstützenständer telescopically insertable and with both the Armstützenständer as cooperating with the arm rest support Locking devices provided - as to DE 295 02 429. In one Alternatively, the form is to unlock the height adjustment a trigger device provided with a control linkage having a control cam, on the slide from a locking position into a entrastete Position is movable, and wherein the control button / control linkage with elastic return means are provided. As such elastic Restoring means is provided a tension or a compression spring; these Spring is mounted in a groove in the arm rest support; it acts with one provided on the arm rest support control rod together. At the upper end of the control rod is a key, at which Actuator is moved the control linkage so that on a Cam sliding spool with in a in a in the Arm rest support provided latching opening engaging locking lug withdrawn and so the detent is released.

By canceling the locking of the arm rest support, in the Armstützenständer moves and the amount of Armauflegers by pushing or off to change the desires accordingly (what height adjustments by known embodiments does not exclude).

Allowed The bivalve training of Armauflegers the armrest a simple assembly: The shells are provided with corresponding, form-fitting provided ineinanderfügbaren collar, snap or screw ensure their cohesion. The cavity thus formed in the interior of the arm rest allows the housing the pivoting and / or the displacement-allowing parts. Advantageous Upper and lower shell are designed as plastic injection moldings, and it goes without saying that the other parts, like insert panel, fixing hook, carrier plate and / or button also be carried out or locking slide as plastic parts can.

The essence of the invention is shown in the Figures 1 to 11 on the basis of Exemplary embodiments explained: show here:<dl tsize="9" compact="compact"><dt>Figure 01.:</dt><dd>Armrest (top shell removed - in the rear position center);</dd><dt>Figure 02.:</dt><dd>Armrest (top shell removed - in the front position pivoted);</dd><dt>Figure 03.:</dt><dd>Armrest with items in the manner of a exploded view (View from above); </dd><dt>Fig 04th:</dt><dd>Armrest with items in the manner of a exploded view (View from below).</dd><dt>Fig 05th:</dt><dd>View of the armrest from the inner side;</dd><dt>Fig 06th:</dt><dd>View of the armrest of the front page;</dd><dt>Fig 07th:</dt><dd>Armrest -Explosions representation (view from below);</dd><dt>Fig 08th:</dt><dd>Armrest -Explosions representation (top view);</dd><dt>Fig 09th:</dt><dd>Armrest section Armaufleger in forward position;</dd><dt>Fig. 10:</dt><dd>Locking device "height adjustment" Fig. 10a: detent latches; Figure 10b:. Detent unlatched (detail of Figure 6a):</dd><dt>Fig. 11:</dt><dd>Locking device "windage" Fig. 11a: detent latches; Figure 11b:. Detent unlatched (Extract from 11a):</dd></dl>

The armrest according to the invention consists of the Armaufleger 1 with a the backrest of the stool or seat facing the posterior pole 6.1 and one of the backrest remote from the front pole 6.2, of at an arm rest support 2 is mounted in the free side in a Stand sleeve 4.1 a Armstützenständers 4 is introduced and the in turn, by means of an approximately perpendicular projecting boom 4.2 (Fig. 10) to a base frame of a swivel chair not shown or the like. be attached. The top section of this Armstützenträgers 2 forms the end plate 5, placed on the 1 of Armaufleger is. The holding means 15.1 and 15.2 (shown as screws) hold the Armaufleger 1 on arm rest support 2; this includes the lower plate 13 of the lower shell 10 has an opening 14 in the region of the rear Poles 6.1 and toward the anterior pole 6.2 at a distance thereof disposed recess which - in order to allow the pivoting - At least one arc-shaped curved slot 17 forms. Thus, the lower shell 10 is about the axis of the rear holding means 15.1 given as pivot axis by an angle, by the length of the elongated hole 17 recess shown and the Distance from the pivot axis.

The Armaufleger 1 is known from the lower shell 10, an upper shell on the 20 is placed, together. The upper shell 20 is made a foam pad 21 with the edge region 22, the umgekragt a cavity forms, in which a locking insert 25 is inserted. It overlaps the umgekragte edge area 22 of the cushion cover 21 to umgekragten Edge region 26 of the locking insert 25. The lower shell has a umgekragte edge regions 12 and thus forming a mold having a cavity. Both edge portions 12 and 26 allow cooperatively a form-fitting joining the Armauflegers 1 with a cavity, they exhibit latching means - such as Figure 9 shows, catch tongue shots. 23 of the foam pad 21 and engaging therein locking tongues 27 the locking insert 25 - on which firmly connect the Zuammenwirken both. Latching or screw means, such as the connecting bolts 29, can the two to Armaufleger 1 assembled shells 10 and hold 20th The lower shell 10 is of the upper end plate 5 Armstützenträgers 2 (only the upper part of its two vertical struts shown) which is 4 and these two connecting cross-brace 3 placed; the lower, not shown in part is known Manner with a pin in a corresponding receptacle on Base of the chair on and fixed.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 4 in Armaufleger 1 is advantageous a via rear and front holding means 15.1 and 15.2 fixed to the frame is arranged, the insert plate 30 cross-fixing hook 18 is provided. The holding means 15.1 and 15.2 are in sleeves 7.1 and 7.2 is screwed on top of the end plate 5; whose height is such that the fixing hook 18 on the insert plate 30 rests, as the implementation of the rear retaining means 15.1 a hole and for the front retaining means 15.2 a curved slot 33 exhibits. The former is located in the area of ​​designed as an elongated hole Opening 14, the latter formed in the area of ​​a rectangle Recess 17 in the lower plate 13 of the lower shell 10, whereby the armrest even when inserted in panel 30 to the represented by the axis of the rear retainer pivot axis 15.1 is pivotable. In parallel to this slot 33 extends a likewise curved cross bar 32 on which the fastening clip 18 frictionally slides. The friction can be adjusted so that for the pivoting force necessary meet the requirements. Advantageous the cross bar 32 with detent points (unspecified) provided that provided with an under the mounting clip 18 corresponding locking body 19 cooperates.

For holding and guiding the insert plate 30 has these feathery formed edges 31, which in guide grooves 11 on the insides of the umgekragten edge spaces out 12th This is the Insert plate 30 slidably mounted inside the Armauflegens 1, the spring-like edges 31 in the guide grooves 11 on the inside of umgekragten edge portions 12 of the lower shell 10 the Armauflagers 1 are arranged. This possibility of shifting also exploit the opening 14 in the bottom plate 13 is the lower shell 10 is formed as an elongated hole, which characterized the displacement taking into account that its length in the longitudinal direction of Armauflegers corresponds to 1, at least the length of the displacement path. This gives the recess 14 approximately the shape of a rectangle, the the carried forward retaining means 15.2 for the pivoting and a displacement can get necessary leeway. This insert plate 30 further includes a number of spaced-apart arranged locking openings 34, into which a locking nose 38 of a for Unlock provided pushbutton 35 engages. This button is 35 with its axis 39 as the lower plate 13 of the lower shell 10 of the Armauflegers 1 articulated that the disengagement of the locking lug 38 of one of the locking holes 34 is achieved necessary way. At a Pressure on the touch surface 36, the release lever 37 with the detent 38 is moved so that the latch 38 from that of the latching openings 34 of the insert plate 30 exits and so frees their shift. This pressing the key 35 is at an elastic deformation the axle or the axle, this elastic deformation causes the reset. and it goes without saying, also a provide separate reset spring.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5 to 9 the rear holding means forms 15.1 also the rotary joint, the pivoting of the Armauflegers 1 allows in a horizontal plane, which carried to a hole out facing in the posterior pole 6.1 end of a supporting plate 40 is. The front holding means 15.2 is through a long hole 43 in the Supporting plate 40 made, the arcuate configuration of the swivel angle the Armauflegers 1 limited in the horizontal plane. The lower plate 13 of the lower shell 10 has corresponding openings, by these two holding means are guided 15.1 and 15.2. The Openings 14 and 17 form to a hole on the back or a arcuate slot for the front attachment means 15.1 and 15.2. In particular for computer workstations has swiveling proved the Armauflegers 1 without latching points: The aufliewinden having to carry out his movements. It is understood, however, saying that limiting the addition to the swivel angle side Attacks continue latching locations for securing the Armauflegers 1 may be provided in preferred pivoting angle. The support plate 40, which is shorter than the internal length of the cavity of Armauflegers is, has upturned edges 40.1, which in the two longitudinal Edge regions of the cavity are guided with positive locking. So the Armaufleger 1 is opposite the (fixed to the frame) supporting plate 40 displaced in the direction of its longitudinal extent. To fix the Armauflegers 1 as desired (longitudinal) position is a latching provided that in this embodiment the through by tilting Armauflegers 1 with bottom shell 10 and top shell 20 relative to the frame-mounted Support plate 40 is operable about a horizontal axis. To , the securing of adequate Armauflegers 1 game on and This tilts while raising the front end. One at the front of the Holding means 15.2 associated end envisaged catch lug 41, with at the intended at the inner bottom of the upper shell 20 latching openings 28 cooperates with detent, stands out from this that Locking in the longitudinal direction of displacement is lifted. These detent openings 28 lie in a row, which on the outside Faceplate 20 emerges through a raised strip 27 which in the recessed catch strips receptacle 23 is inserted form-fitting. a Counterhold effect to the posterior pole 6.1 associated end the support plate 40 provided elastic tongues 46, which in itself the inside of the lower plate support. 13

In order to allow this shifting, is in the lower plate 13 of the Lower shell 10, the opening 14 for the rear retaining means 15.1 in the area of the posterior pole 6.1 than in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the Armauflegers 1 extending slot formed. The same applies to the opening 17, whose circular arc per se slot for enabling the displacement movement now an approximately rectangular recess forms. If the Armaufleger 1 with the anterior pole 6.2 light lifted the latch occurs 41 from the corresponding one of the detent openings 28 from a displacement of Armauflegers 1 against the Support batten 40 is made possible. The formation of the openings 14 and 17, for both fixed to the frame holding means 15.1 and 15.2 allows this regardless of the longitudinal displacement of a pivoting of Armauflegers about a vertical axis.

Figures 10 show an embodiment of the height adjustment for the armrest: Here are Armstützenständer 4 and arm rest support 2 provided with means for fixing a set altitude, are shown here as latching means. are in Armstützenständer 4 Locking openings provided 4.3 and on the armrest with a button 9 actuatable control linkage 8, which comprises a control curve 8.1, with a guide hole in a 2.2 in the arm rest support 2 guided transverse locking slide 8.2 cooperates. The control linkage 8 by means of the disposed under the push button 1 Armaufleger 9 operated: this is pressed, the control rod 8 is drawn. The over the cam 8.1 moving latching slide is 8.2 - According to the waveform - withdrawn and exits the corresponding Latching openings of 4.3, the fixing locking is canceled. A mounted in a keyway 2.3 return spring 8.3 - Shown here as a helically coiled tension spring with one end to the control link 8 and at the other end to the Inside of a return spring-receiving tongue groove 8.3 2.3 is set - pushes the control rod 8 always at rest and the locking slide 8.2 in locking position so that the armrest is fixed in terms of height. Here, the release button 9 is to the underside of the Armauflegers 1, so that a work interrupting Encompassing deleted. is to limit the Hohenbewegbarkeit a lock provided gebidlet by a locking groove in a 2.6 guided locking pin 4.4 (Fig. 8, 9, 10).

Figures 11 show means for fixing the lateral pivoting of: A releasable locking slide 48 projects with an actuating button 48.1 from the arm rest support 2, which to a slot-like recess 2.4 has, and against which the locking slide 48 by means of a Spring 49 is supported. 48.1 the actuating button is at its upper End provided with an upper nose 48.2, with recesses 43.2 of the locking bar 43.1 cooperatively a latching and thus a Lock the pivoting causes. These presses a spring 49 the locking slide 48 against the locking bar 43.1 of the support plate 40 and falls when pivoting into one of the recesses 43.2, thus a further is locked pivoting the Armauflegers. 1 A protrusion 48.3 between Actuating button 48.1 and 48.2 over nose is formed, that it cooperatively with an edge of the recess 2.5 2.4 this engages below and so the locking slide 48 is in the "unlocked" holds. When pressed, the operation key 48.1 is this projection 48.3 pushed back, and thus the locking slide 48 dates, the the spring 49 can push now. The upper lug 48.2 of the locking slide 48 then abuts against the arranged on the underside of the supporting plate 40 Catch strip 43.1 and falls during the pivoting of Armauflegers 1 under action of the spring 49 in one of the depressions provided 43.2, so that the Armaufleger 1 in the corresponding position is fixed. Although in itself any pivoted position so can be fixed, it has been shown in practice that the middle position a position, which is preferred for the fixation. To the Entsprerren it suffices the operation key 48.1 with a pressure in the depress region of the projection 48.3. The curvature of the actuating button 48.1 ensures that these so resets that again engages under projection 48.3 the edge 2.5 of the recess 2.4 and the locking slide 48 "unlocked" position holds.