Chair or stool comprising mobile, elastic legs, permitting a dynamic sitting position

Abstract

The invention relates to a chair comprising a seat part ( 2 ), at least one one leg part ( 3 ), at least one foot part ( 5 ) that consists of a predetermined plurality of foot elements ( 4 ) and at least one spring assembly ( 6 ). According to the invention, at least one designated foot element ( 4 ) and/or a sub-section ( 4 ′) of said element is configured to be mobile and is subject to a resotring moment under the action of a load.

1 . A rocker seat comprising a seat part ( 2 ), at least one leg part ( 3 ), at least one foot assembly ( 5 ) including a plurality of foot elements ( 4 ) and at least one first spring arrangement ( 6 ), characterized in that at least one particular of the foot elements ( 4 ) and/or a subelement ( 4 ′) thereof is provided movably and is subjected to the action of a resilient return moment upon loading thereof. 
   
   
       2 . A chair ( 1 ) comprising at least one leg part ( 3 ) and at least one foot assembly ( 5 ) including a predetermined plurality of foot elements ( 4 ), wherein each of the foot elements ( 4 ) is linked to at least one supporting element ( 8 ), characterized in that at least a one of the foot elements ( 4 ) and/or a subelement thereof is designed such that a loading of the chair ( 1 ) causes the chair to make a resilient lowering movement in which at least one supporting element ( 8 ) moves relative to a floor surface ( 9 ) and thereby a supporting point of the chair ( 1 ) shifts outward, that is defined by the position of at least one supporting element ( 8 ) relative to a central axis ( 11 ) of the chair ( 1 ). 
   
   
       3 . Chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the foot elements ( 4 ) are spring mounted or suspended. 
   
   
       4 . Chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein the foot elements ( 4 ) act resiliently, wherein the foot elements ( 4 ) preferably for this purpose include an elastic material. 
   
   
       5 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the foot elements ( 4 ) are essentially arranged in a star shape, characterized in that the foot elements ( 4 ) and/or subparts are essentially pivotable up and down and that a spring arrangement ( 4 . 11 ) engages at least one specific foot element ( 4 ) or subelement. 
   
   
       6 . Chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claims 2  to  5 , characterized in that the supporting elements ( 8 ) are gliding elements that preferably have a gliding surface in order to permit a gliding/sliding movement along the floor surface ( 9 ). 
   
   
       7 . Chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claims 2  to  5 , characterized in that the supporting elements are rollers ( 8 ) which are arranged on the ends of the foot elements ( 4 ). 
   
   
       8 . Chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that in the lower section of at least one leg part ( 3 ) on the foot part ( 5 ) at least one holding arrangement ( 4 . 10 - 4 . 12 ) is formed, on which at least one of the foot elements ( 4 ) is accommodated. 
   
   
       9 . Chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 8 , characterized in that at least one foot element ( 4 ) is suspended on the holding arrangement ( 4 . 10 - 4 . 12 ) and held in its position by at least one counterpart. 
   
   
       10 . Chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 8  in combination with  claim 4 , characterized in that at least one spring arrangement is provided on the holding arrangement. 
   
   
       11 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 1  to  10 , characterized in that the at least one spring arrangement is at least one piece of elastomer, against which a part of the foot element ( 4 ) or subelement is spring mounted. 
   
   
       12 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 1  to  10 , characterized in that the at least one spring arrangement has at least one tension/compression spring which is arranged on the leg part ( 3 ) or on the holding arrangement ( 4 . 10 - 4 . 12 ) and which is operative between at least one foot element ( 4 ) and the leg part ( 3 ) or the holding arrangement ( 4 . 104 . 12 ). 
   
   
       13 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 1  to  12 , characterized in that for the at least one spring arrangement is equipped with an adjusting device for adjusting the elastic force. 
   
   
       14 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 1  to  13 , characterized in that on an end of the foot element ( 4 ) on the leg side an abutment is formed on which at least one spring element of the spring arrangement acts. 
   
   
       15 . The chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 1  to  13 , characterized in that on an end of at least one of the foot elements ( 4 ) on the leg side at least one essentially downward facing open slot is arranged. 
   
   
       16 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 1  to  15 , characterized in that a foot element ( 4 ) is pivotable downwards and can be fitted at least in the downwardly pivoted position by being simply placed thereon. 
   
   
       17 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the previous claims, characterized by means for restricting uncontrolled translatory movement of the rocker seat. 
   
   
       18 . The chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 9  in combination with  claim 5 , characterized in that the at least one spring arrangement is provided on the counterpart. 
   
   
       19 . The chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the supporting elements are unrestricted rollers ( 8 ) that are connected to the foot elements ( 4 ), wherein each of the rollers ( 8 ) is supported rotatably around a wheel axle ( 8 . 1 ) of a suspension means ( 6 ) and by means of a guiding axle ( 6 . 5 ) is freely rotatable and connected with the foot element ( 4 ), that during a lowering movement at least one of the rollers ( 8 ) automatically makes a dipping movement in which the guiding axle ( 6 . 5 ) of at least on roller ( 8 ) changes its inclination (β) relative to the floor surface ( 9 ) and thereby the supporting point of the chair ( 1 ) is displaced outward. 
   
   
       20 . The chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 19 , characterized in that when the chair is loaded ( 1 ) the rollers ( 8 ) automatically take a position due to lowering and dipping movements in which at least two of the rollers ( 8 ) face in different directions and thereby brake the entire chair ( 1 ) relative to the floor surface ( 9 ). 
   
   
       21 . The chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the foot part ( 4 ) comprises at least three foot elements ( 4 ) and the leg part ( 3 ) exhibits a central column which extends essentially parallel to the central axis ( 11 ), wherein each of the foot elements ( 4 ) is mechanically suspended relative to the column ( 3 ), that the foot elements ( 4 ) make a pivoting movement during a lowering movement and move radially apart, wherein the foot elements ( 4 ) are acted upon by a return force. 
   
   
       22 . The chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 19 , characterized in that the suspension means ( 6 ) are so rigidly joined to the foot elements ( 4 ) that the suspension means ( 6 ) can swivel around the guiding axles ( 6 . 5 ), however, their inclination (>) does not change relative to the foot elements ( 4 ). 
   
   
       23 . The chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 19 , characterized in that the suspension means ( 6 ) are joined to the foot part ( 5 ) in such a way that they can turn around the guiding axle ( 6 . 5 ) and the inclination (>) of the guiding axle ( 6 . 5 ) changes relative to the foot part ( 5 ) during the lowering movement of the chair ( 1 ). 
   
   
       24 . The chair ( 1 ) as set forth in one of the  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that the foot part ( 5 ) has a foot element ( 4 ) that is deformable. 
   
   
       25 . The chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 19 , characterized in that the dipping movement is a movement that is produced by a rolling and pivoting movement of at least one of the rollers ( 8 ). 
   
   
       26 . The chair ( 1 ) as set forth in one of the previous claims, characterized in that
 return means ( 3 . 6 ,  4 . 1 ,  4 . 7 ,  4 . 8 ,  4 . 9 ,  4 . 10 ,  4 . 11 ,  4 . 12 ,  4 . 13 ,  4 . 14 ,  12 ,  14 ;  15 ) is afforded in order to produce a return force.   
   
   
       27 . The chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 19  to  26 , characterized in that the rollers ( 8 ) per se are unrestricted in every position. 
   
   
       28 . The chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 19  to  27 , characterized in that given a centered weight load on the chair ( 1 ), all rollers ( 8 ) automatically follow each other in a coordinated manner, when the chair ( 1 ) as a whole is moved relative to the floor surface ( 9 ). 
   
   
       29 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 19  to  28 , characterized in that the suspension means ( 6 ) of the rollers ( 8 ) are provided such that an excentric seating of the rollers ( 8 ) is produced in which the guiding axle ( 6 . 5 ) is oriented such that it does not bisect the wheel axle ( 8 . 1 ). 
   
   
       30 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 19  to  29 , characterized in that the wheel axle ( 8 . 1 ) and the guiding axle ( 6 . 5 ), in a plane that is perpendicular to the wheel axle ( 8 . 1 ), have a distance (A) of at least 0.5 and preferably between 1 cm and 3 cm. 
   
   
       31 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 1 - 30 , characterized in that the chair ( 1 ) has a larger floor surface due to the lowering movement in the presence of a load. 
   
   
       32 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 2 - 31 , characterized in that the rollers ( 8 ) plus suspension means ( 6 ) moves from an instable to a stable position when the chair is loaded. 
   
   
       33 . The chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 1  to  32 , characterized in that it permits an active rocking/tilting movement. 
   
   
       34 . The chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 2  to  33  characterized in that the foot part ( 3 ,  4 ) and/or the supporting elements ( 8 ) are mechanically disposed in such a way that the supporting elements ( 8 ) are automatically drawn toward the foot part ( 3 ,  4 ) in an unloaded state and through this pulling together the supporting points of the chair ( 1 ) shift closer to the central axis ( 11 ). 
   
   
       35 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 2  to  34 , characterized in that at least two of the rollers ( 8 ) in an unloaded state automatically aligne in the form of rays, point inward, and thereby restrict the entire chair ( 8 ) relative to the floor surface ( 9 ). 
   
   
       36 . Chair ( 1 ) according to one of the  claims 7  to  35 , characterized in that the rollers ( 8 ) have a cross-section that includes the wheel axle ( 8 . 1 ) which is either essentially U or O-shaped. 
   
   
       37 . Chair ( 1 ) as set forth in  claim 7 , characterized in that each of the foot elements ( 4 ) is suspended on a central column ( 3 ) so that the foot element ( 4 ) can turn around its longitudinal axis and thereby the guiding axle ( 6 . 5 ) is also turned, whereby the position of the rollers ( 8 ) changes and a braking action occurs. 
   
   
       38 . Rocker seat as set forth in  claim 17 , characterized in that the means comprise a stopper ( 40 ) which at a pre-determined inclination of the leg part ( 3 ) touches the floor and due to the friction with the floor prevents a translatory movement of the rocker stool ( 1 ). 
   
   
       39 . Rocker seat as set forth in  claim 38 , characterized in that the stopper ( 40 ) is coupled by means of an actuator/pivot connection ( 42 ;  44 ) with the roller ( 8 ) or the leg part ( 3 ) and at a predetermined inclination of the leg part ( 3 ) is pressed to the floor. 
   
   
       40 . Rocker seat as set forth in  claim 38  or  29 , characterized in that the stopper ( 40 ) is rigidly disposed on the outer end of the foot and lies radially outside of the circumference relative to a circumference on which all rollers ( 8 ) are arranged.