Gas spring device for adjusting the height of an office chair

Abstract

A gas spring device of an office chair has a gas spring for height adjustment by means of a movable component and at least one sensor element, which is configured to detect a load and to generate a sensor signal depending on the detected load. In addition, the gas spring device has an electronic circuit adapted to generate user data depending on the sensor signal. The user data represents one or more facts about the usage of the office chair. The at least one sensor element has at least one of the following: A force sensor for detecting a force acting on the gas spring in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the gas spring and generating a force signal therefrom and/or at least one deformation sensor for detecting a deformation of the gas spring device and to generate a deformation signal therefrom.

1 . A gas spring device for adjusting the height of an office chair, the gas spring device comprising
 a gas spring, arranged and equipped for height adjustment of the office chair by means of a movable component of the gas spring,   at least one sensor element arranged on the gas spring device, configured to detect a load on the gas spring device and to generate at least one sensor signal depending on the detected load, and   an electronic circuit arranged to generate usage data depending on the at least one sensor signal, the usage data representing one or more facts about a usage of the office chair; wherein   the at least one sensor element comprises at least one of the following:   a force sensor, which is configured to detect a force acting on the gas spring in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the gas spring and to generate a force signal depending on the detected force;   at least one deformation sensor which is configured to detect a deformation of the gas spring device and to generate a deformation signal depending on the detected deformation.   
     
     
         2 . The gas spring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor element comprises the force sensor, and
 the circuit is configured to generate weight data representing a body weight of a user of the office chair as a function of the force signal.   
     
     
         3 . The gas spring device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one sensor element comprises the at least one deformation sensor, and   the circuit is adapted to generate center of gravity data representing a position of a center of gravity of a user of the office chair depending on the deformation signal.   
     
     
         4 . The gas spring device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the at least one sensor element comprises a deformation body which is arranged at least in part between the gas spring device and a seat surface of the office chair, and   the at least one deformation sensor is arranged on the deformation body and is configured to detect a deformation of the deformation body and to generate the deformation signal as a function of the detected deformation of the deformation body.   
     
     
         5 . The gas spring device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the deformation body acts as a guide element for the cylinder in a housing of the gas spring device.   
     
     
         6 . The gas spring device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the deformation body has at least one selected area of reduced stiffness, in particular with respect to other areas of the deformation body, and wherein the at least one deformation sensor is arranged on the at least one selected area.   
     
     
         7 . The gas spring device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the at least one selected area is formed by a weakening of material, in particular by a recess, a notch or some other weak point.   
     
     
         8 . The gas spring device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein a force flow through the deformation body passes through the at least one selected area.   
     
     
         9 . The gas spring device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the deformation body is formed from plastic or metal.   
     
     
         10 . The gas spring device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein a housing of the gas spring device is formed by two tubular parts at least partially pushed into one another, and wherein the deformation body is arranged in a region of connection of the two parts.   
     
     
         11 . The gas spring device according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the two parts are connected together in a region of an end plate of the gas spring device.   
     
     
         12 . The gas spring device according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the two parts are connected in an end portion of an outer one of the two parts, said end portion facing a center of the housing.   
     
     
         13 . The gas spring device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the at least one deformation sensor is configured to detect a force acting on the deformation body in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the gas spring and to generate a further force signal depending on the force acting on the deformation body, and   the circuit is configured to generate first additional weight data representing a body weight of a user of the office chair depending on the further force signal.   
     
     
         14 . The gas spring device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one deformation sensor is arranged on the gas spring and is configured to detect a deformation of the gas spring and to generate the deformation signal dependent on the detected deformation of the gas spring. 
     
     
         15 . The gas spring device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one deformation sensor is arranged on a housing, in particular on an inside or an outside of the housing, of the gas spring and is configured to detect a deformation of the housing of the gas spring and to generate the deformation signal depending on the detected deformation of the housing of the gas spring. 
     
     
         16 . The gas spring device according to  claim 15 , wherein a housing of the gas spring device is formed by two tubular parts at least partially pushed into each other, and wherein the deformation sensor is arranged in a region of connection of the two parts. 
     
     
         17 . The gas spring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformation signal represents exclusively or additionally a force which acts on the gas spring substantially in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gas spring. 
     
     
         18 . The gas spring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor element is formed by a pressure sensor which detects an internal pressure of the gas spring, wherein the force signal is formed by the detected internal pressure. 
     
     
         19 . The gas spring device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one sensor element comprises at least one position sensor which is adapted to detect a position of the movable component and to generate a position signal dependent on the detected position; and   the circuit is configured, to determine, based on a change in the position signal and on a spring constant of the gas spring, a force which acts on the gas spring in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the gas spring, and to generate second additional weight data representing the body weight of a user of the office chair, depending on the determined force.   
     
     
         20 . The gas spring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuit comprises a communication interface configured for wireless transmission of the usage data to at least one external receiver. 
     
     
         21 . The gas spring device according to  claim 20 , wherein the communication interface is adapted to transmit the usage data via Bluetooth, WLAN, Zigbee, RF, RFID or a GSM-based technology. 
     
     
         22 . The gas spring device according to  claim 20 , wherein the external receiver is formed as a smartphone or tablet computer. 
     
     
         23 . The gas spring device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plug connector for a plug connection adapted to electrically connect the gas spring device to other electronic components of the office chair.