Seating unit for supporting a body or part of a body

Abstract

A seating unit for supporting a body or part of a body comprises a base part and at least one supporting part for supporting the body or part of the body. The supporting part is situated or can be placed in a set nominal height position relative to the base part. In addition, the supporting part is movable at least in the vertical direction over a certain movement range relative to the nominal height position, in such a way that within this movement range the supporting part can take up various positions of equilibrium when there is a certain weight on the supporting part. The supporting part is preferably supported by a balancing mechanism, in particular a spring compensation mechanism.

1 . Seating unit for supporting a body or part of a body, comprising a base part and at least one supporting part for supporting the body or part of the body, said supporting part being situated or being capable of being placed in a set nominal height position relative to said base part, wherein said supporting part is movable at least in a vertical direction over a certain movement range relative to the nominal height position, in such a way that within this movement range said supporting part can take up various positions of equilibrium when there is a certain weight on said supporting part.  
     
     
         2 . Seating unit according to  claim 1 , in which said supporting part is supported by a balancing mechanism.  
     
     
         3 . Seating unit according to  claim 2 , in which said balancing mechanism is a spring compensation mechanism.  
     
     
         4 . Seating unit according to  claim 3 , in which said spring compensation mechanism comprises a rod mechanism, consisting of two parallel rods placed one above the other, which rods at one end are pivotally connected to said base part and at the other end are pivotally connected to said supporting part or to an intermediate part that is to be connected to said supporting part, pivot points of the one rod being situated at the same distance from each other as pivot points of the other rod, and also consisting of a spring acting between said base part and said rod mechanism or between said base part and said supporting part that is connected or is to be connected to said rod mechanism, said spring compensation mechanism being adjustable in such a way that, at a certain weight on said supporting part, said supporting part is always in equilibrium within the movement range.  
     
     
         5 . Seating unit according to  claim 4 , in which said compensation mechanism is adjustable by adjusting a spring constant of said spring.  
     
     
         6 . Seating unit according to  claim 4 , in which said spring compensation mechanism is adjustable by adjusting a position in the vertical direction of at least one of action points of said spring relative to the rod mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . Seating unit according to  claim 6 , in which said spring is connected to said supporting part, said supporting part being movable in the vertical direction relative to an intermediate part of said rod mechanism to which said supporting part can be connected, and said spring compensation mechanism being adjustable by adjusting the position in the vertical direction of said supporting part relative to said intermediate part.  
     
     
         8 . Seating unit according to  claim 4 , in which said spring is connected to said base part by means of a pivot connection and said spring is connected to said supporting part by means of a rigid arm, which rigid arm is connected to an appropriate end of said spring and at the other end is connected by means of a pivot connection to said supporting part, said arm facing away from the end of said spring being connected to said base part, and said arm being connected to a supporting arm whose end part rests against a support provided on said base part.  
     
     
         9 . Seating unit according to  claim 8 , in which said spring is connected to said base part by means of a flexible belt, which is connected to an appropriate end of said spring and a free end part of which is passed over a circular cylindrical external surface of a projecting part immovably fixed to said base part and is connected to the latter at the end, and in which said spring is connected to the supporting part by means of a rigid arm connected to the appropriate end of said spring which, at the other end, is connected to a flexible belt, a free end part of which is passed over a circular cylindrical external surface of a projecting part that is immovably fixed to said supporting part and is connected to the latter at the end.  
     
     
         10 . Seating unit according to  claim 4 , in which at least some of pivot points of said rod mechanism and of the connection of said spring are pivot points with a low friction.  
     
     
         11 . Seating unit according to  claim 10 , in which the friction in said spring compensation mechanism is such that in the main an additional force of a maximum of 25N, in particular a maximum of 10N, is needed to set said supporting part in motion in the movement range.  
     
     
         12 . Seating unit according to  claim 1 , in which said supporting part comprises a seat of said seating unit.  
     
     
         13 . Seating unit according to  claim 12 , in which said seating unit is an office chair and said office chair has a pedestal with a star base and a vertically adjustable central column fitted on said star base, in particular a gas lift, said supporting part being fitted on said central column, in the form of said seat being fitted on a bridge piece, and in which a balancing mechanism for supporting said supporting part is integral with said central column and said bridge piece.  
     
     
         14 . Seating unit according to  claim 1 , in which said supporting part comprises armrests of said seating unit.