Support Force Adjustment Assembly and Chair

The present disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202420620767.3, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on Mar. 27, 2024, titled “SUPPORT FORCE ADJUSTMENT ASSEMBLY AND CHAIR”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of seating furniture, and in particular, relate to a support force adjustment assembly and a chair.

In existing household or office seating, mesh fabric is typically employed to provide appropriate cushioning and support for the user's hips, waist, back, and neck, thereby enhancing seating comfort. However, once manufactured, the elasticity of the mesh fabric is fixed, making it hard to accommodate different support requirements of different users, which negatively impacts the overall seating experience.

In view of the above problem, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a support force adjustment assembly and a chair. When a user is seated in the chair, a support force to the user may be adjusted, such that different user demands are satisfied, and user seating experience is enhanced.

According to one aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a support force adjustment assembly is provided. The support force adjustment assembly is applicable to a chair, and includes: a frame; a first tensioning member and a second tensioning member, wherein the first tensioning member and the second tensioning member are oppositely arranged on both sides of the frame; an adjustment mechanism, movably connected to the frame; and a flexible support member, wherein a first end of the flexible member is secured to the first tensioning member, and a second end of the flexible support member passes around the second tensioning member and is secured to the adjustment mechanism; wherein a portion, positioned between the first tensioning member and the second tensioning member, of the flexible support member is configured to supply a support force; the adjustment mechanism is configured to, in response to moving relative to the frame, drive the flexible support member to deform to adjust the support force supplied by the flexible support member; and the adjustment mechanism is further configured to, in response to being secured relative to the frame, maintain a deformed state of the flexible support member.

In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism includes a rotation rod, wherein the rotation rod is rotatably connected to the frame, and the flexible support member is securely connected to the rotation rod; wherein the rotation rod is configured to, in response to rotating, wind the flexible support member around the rotation rod or release the flexible support member wound around the rotation rod to allow the flexible support member to be tightened or loosened.

In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism further includes a drive member, wherein the drive member is secured to the frame, and an output shaft of the drive member is securely connected to the rotation rod to drive the rotation rod to rotate.

In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism further includes a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is secured to the frame, a worm is arranged on the drive shaft, a worm gear is arranged on the rotation rod, and the drive shaft and the rotation rod are engaged in transmission via the worm and the worm gear, such that the drive shaft drives the rotation rod to rotate during rotation.

In some embodiments, a limiting chamber is arranged in the frame, wherein a limiting block is arranged in the limiting chamber, the drive shaft is inserted through the limiting chamber and is engaged with threads of the limiting block at a portion of the limiting chamber where the drive shaft is positioned, and the limiting block is configured to move with rotation of the drive shaft and restrict rotation of the drive shaft in response to moving to abut against an inner wall of the limiting chamber; and/or a first protrusion is arranged on a side wall of the rotation rod, and a second protrusion is arranged on the frame, wherein the first protrusion is configured to be abutted against the first protrusion with respect to outer walls on both sides thereof in response to rotation of the rotation rod, to restrict a rotation stroke of the rotation rod.

In some embodiments, a first end of the drive shaft protrudes from the frame to form a force-receiving portion, an accommodation recess around the force-receiving portion is arranged in the frame, and a handle is rotatably connected to the force-receiving portion; wherein the handle is configured to, in response to rotating to be parallel with the drive shaft, at least partially protrudes from the accommodation recess, and receive a force and drive the drive shaft to rotate; and the handle is further configured to, in response to rotating to be perpendicular to the drive shaft, be at least partially accommodated in the accommodation recess.

In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism includes a slide rod, wherein the slide rod is slidably connected to the frame, and the flexible support member is securely connected to the slide rod; wherein the slide rod is configured to, in response to sliding relative to the frame, drive the flexible support member to stretch or contract.

In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism includes a camshaft and a cam, wherein the camshaft is rotatably connected to the frame, the cam is fitted and secured to the camshaft, and an outer edge of the cam is abutted against a side face of the slide rod; wherein the cam is configured to, in response to rotating with the camshaft, drive the slide rod to slide within a predetermined range.

In some embodiments, the support force adjustment assembly further includes a first mesh fabric, wherein the first mesh fabric is securely capped over a front face of the frame; wherein the first tensioning member and the second tensioning member are oppositely arranged on inner edges of the frame, and the flexible support member is arranged on a back face of the first mesh fabric.

In some embodiments, the flexible support member includes one or more a second mesh fabric, an elastic sheet, an elastic band, or an elastic rod.

According to another aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a chair is provided. The chair includes the support force adjustment assembly as described above.

In the support force adjustment assembly according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first tensioning member and the second tensioning member tensions the flexible support member therebetween to provide reliable buffering and support effects to a user. In addition, the adjustment mechanism adjusts tensioning degree of the flexible support member, such that the support force adjustment assembly is capable of providing desired buffering and support effects to corresponding body parts for different users in the case that the support force adjustment assembly is applied to different positions of the chair. In this way, different user demands are satisfied, seating comfort is improved, and user experience is enhanced.

The above description only summarizes the technical solutions of the present disclosure. Specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinafter to better and clearer understand the technical solutions of the present disclosure, to practice the technical solutions based on the disclosure of the specification, and to make the above and other objectives, features and advantages of the present disclosure more apparent and understandable.

Reference numerals in the embodiments and denotations thereof:

The embodiments containing the technical solutions of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments hereinafter are only used to clearly describe the technical solutions of the present disclosure. Therefore, these embodiments are only used as examples, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. The terms used herein in the specification of present disclosure are only intended to illustrate the specific embodiments of the present disclosure, instead of limiting the present disclosure. The terms “comprise,” “include,” and any variations thereof in the specification, claims, and the description of the drawings of the present disclosure are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion.

In the description of the present disclosure, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like are only used for distinguishing different objects, but shall not be understood as indication or implication of relative importance or implicit indication of the number of the specific technical features, the specific sequence or priorities. In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term “multiple” or “a plurality of” signifies at least two, unless otherwise specified.

The terms “example” and “embodiment” in this specification signify that the specific characteristic, structures or features described with reference to the embodiments may be covered in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. This term, when appearing in various parts of the specification, neither indicates the same embodiment, nor indicates an independent or optional embodiment that is exclusive of the other embodiments. A person skilled in the art would implicitly or explicitly understand that the embodiments described in this specification may be incorporated with other embodiments.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term “and/or” is merely an association relationship for describing associated objects, which represents that there may exist three types of relationships. For example, the phrase “A and/or B” may indicate (A), (B), or (A and B). In addition, the forward-slash symbol “/” generally represents an “or” relationship between associated objects before and after the symbol.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term “multiple” or “a plurality of” signifies more than two (including two), unless otherwise specified. Likewise, the term “a plurality of groups” or “multiple groups” signifies more than two groups (including two groups), and the term “a plurality of pieces” or “multiple pieces” signifies more than two pieces (including two pieces).

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the terms “central,” “transversal,” “longitudinal,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” “axial,” “radial,” “circumferential,” and the like indicate orientations and position relationships which are based on the illustrations in the accompanying drawings, and these terms are merely for ease and brevity of the description, instead of indicating or implying that the devices or elements shall have a particular orientation and shall be structured and operated based on the particular orientation. Accordingly, these terms shall not be construed as limiting the present disclosure.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be noted that unless otherwise specified and defined, the terms “mounted,” “coupled,” “connected,” “secured,” and derivative forms thereof shall be understood in a broad sense, which, for example, may be understood as secured connection, detachable connection or integral connection; may be understood as mechanical connection or electrical connection, or understood as direct connection, indirect connection via an intermediate medium, or communication between the interiors of two elements or interactions between two elements. Persons of ordinary skill in the art may understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present disclosure according to the actual circumstances and contexts.

Most of the household or office chairs provide cushioning and support to user's hips, waist, back, neck, and the like by covering and securing mesh fabric over a molded hollow frame. Once assembled, the elasticity of the mesh fabric is determined by its material properties and cannot be adjusted afterwards. This results in an inability to offer appropriate support to users with different support requirements, which negatively impacts user experience and reduces the product's competitiveness.

Furthermore, as the lifespan of the chair extends, the mesh fabric is subjected to prolonged and frequent stretching, which prevents it from returning to its original dimensions. This leads to a reduction in the cushioning effect, thereby causing a decline in user comfort over long periods of use.

In view of the above problem, according to one aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a support force adjustment assembly applicable to a seat is provided. By configuring an adjustable flexible support member on the frame, the adjustment of the support force is achieved. Specifically, two tensioning members are arranged on opposite sides of the frame to tension the flexible support member, and one end of the flexible support member is fixed to an adjustment mechanism movably arranged on the frame after being wound around one of the tensioning members. The flexible support member can be tightened or loosened via the adjustment mechanism, thereby adjusting the support force supplied by the flexible support member.

The support force adjustment assembly according to the embodiments of the present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, a cushion support, a backrest support, a waist support, a neck support, or a head support for use in a chair. In the embodiments and accompanying drawings hereinafter, description is given using a scenario where the support force adjustment assembly is applicable to cushion support, which does not constitute any limitation to the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Referring to, a structure of a support force adjustment assemblyaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. As illustrated in, the support force adjustment assemblyincludes a frame, a first tensioning member, a second tensioning member, a flexible support member, and an adjustment mechanism. The first tensioning memberand the second tensioning memberare oppositely arranged on both sides of the frame. The adjustment mechanismis movably connected to the frame. One end of the flexible support memberis secured to the first tensioning member, and the other end of the flexible support memberpasses around the second tensioning memberand is secured to the adjustment mechanism. A portion, positioned between the first tensioning memberand the second tensioning member, of the flexible support memberis configured to supply a support force. The adjustment mechanismis configured to, in response to moving relative to the frame, drive the flexible support memberto deform to adjust the support force supplied by the flexible support member. The adjustment mechanismis further configured to, in response to rotating relative to the frame, maintain a deformation state of the flexible support member.

The frameis a main part of the support force adjustment assembly, and is configured to supply a carrier for mounting various components and is further configured to be assembled with other components in the chair to form a complete chair. In a specific embodiment as illustrated in, the frameis a framework of the cushion in the chair. It may be understood that in the case that the support force adjustment assemblyis applied to backrest support, the frameserves as a framework of the backrest. Other application scenarios are similar, which are not described herein any further.

As illustrated in an exploded view of the first tensioning memberin, the first tensioning memberand the framemay be designed to a split structure, and one end of the flexible support memberis clamped and secured between the first tensioning memberand the frame, and the first tensioning memberis secured and connected to the framevia a threaded fastener to secure one end of the flexible support member. Further, to enhance securing reliability of the end of the flexible support member, a rigid snap-fit strip may be secured to the end of the flexible support memberby means of bonding or the like, and the rigid snap-fit strip is riveted, snap-fitted, or clamped into a gap formed between the first tensioning memberand the frame, such that the flexible support memberis reliably secured at the end.

In addition, the first tensioning memberand the framemay also be designed to an integral structure, and one end of the flexible support membermay be directly connected and secured to the first tensioning memberby means of a threaded fastener, bonding or the like. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the first tensioning memberand the frame, and one end of the flexible support memberis placed into the gap by the rigid snap-fit strip and then secured.

Referring to, an exploded structure of the adjustment mechanismis illustrated. In a specific embodiment as illustrated in, the second tensioning memberis a support rod with two ends secured to the frame, a gap is formed between the second tensioning memberand the frame, and the flexible support memberpasses around the gap and is secured and connected to the adjustment mechanism. The second tensioning membermay be also integrally formed with the frame, which is not limited herein.

The adjustment mechanismmay adjust the flexible support memberby rotating to wind and tension or loosen the flexible support member, or by sliding to tighten or loosen the flexible support member. Specific implementation of the adjustment mechanism is described in detail hereinafter, which is not described herein any further.

Further, the adjustment mechanismmay employ a mechanical transmission mechanism having a reverse self-locking function, such as a worm gear mechanism, a planetary gear system, or similar configurations, such that the adjustment mechanism, in response to running, drives the flexible support memberto undergo deformation. However, in the case that the flexible support memberis subjected to pressure and transmits the pressure to the adjustment mechanism, the adjustment mechanismdoes not move accordingly. In addition, a lock member may also be arranged on the adjustment mechanism. The lock member may be a rotatably arranged stop block. In the case that the adjustment mechanismmoves to a desired position, the stop block is rotated to a state of being snap-fitted to the frame, such that movement of the adjustment mechanismis restricted. Further, the lock member may also be a bolt passing through the frame. In a default state, the bolt is tightened and a tail end of the bolt is abutted against a surface of the adjustment mechanismto tightly clamp the adjustment mechanismand restrict movement of the adjustment mechanism. Where the adjustment mechanismneeds to be adjusted, the bolt is loosened, and in this case, restriction on movement of the adjustment mechanismis released and the adjustment mechanismmay be normally adjusted. Where the adjustment mechanismis adjusted properly, the bolt is tightened, such that the adjustment mechanismis maintained at a current state. In this way, the flexible support memberis maintained at a current deformation state, and a desired support effect is supplied to the user.

To enhance seating comfort and the aesthetic appeal of the chair, in some embodiments, as illustrated in, the support force adjustment assemblyfurther includes a first mesh fabric. The first mesh fabriccovers and is secured to a front face of the frame(an upper surface illustrated in). With further reference to, the first tensioning memberand the second tensioning memberare oppositely arranged on an inner edge of the frame, and the flexible support memberis arranged on a back face of the first mesh fabric.

The first mesh fabricis assembled with the frameto form a structure identical to that of a conventional mesh fabric chair. Once assembled, elasticity of the first mesh fabricis fixed, and the first mesh fabricsupplies a first the user with a first level of support to the user. During adjustment of the flexible support memberto induce deformation, the magnitude of the support force exerted by the flexible support memberon the back face of the first mesh fabricchanges accordingly, thereby indirectly adjusting the support force of the first mesh fabricon the human body. Meanwhile, since the first tensioning memberand the second tensioning memberare disposed at an inner edge of the frame, and the flexible support memberis positioned on the back face of the first mesh fabric, the first tensioning member, the second tensioning member, and the flexible support memberare all covered by the first mesh fabricwhen viewed from the front, ensuring that the overall appearance of the chair using the support force adjustment assemblyremains neat.

In some other embodiments, the first mesh fabricmay not be provided, allowing the flexible support memberto directly provide support to the human body. Furthermore, based on this design, in the case that the frameis configured as an ergonomic curved shape, a plurality of support force adjustment assembliesmay be arranged in segments on the frameto accommodate the curvature of the frame. Each flexible support memberwithin the support force adjustment assemblymay be individually adjusted in terms of a support force magnitude, allowing different users to customize the support effect in various areas according to their specific needs. In these embodiments, the first tensioning memberand the second tensioning membermay be arranged either at the inner side edge of the frameor at an outer side edge of the frame, without any specific limitations on the arrangement.

The flexible support membermay be implemented using one or a combination of several materials, such as a second mesh fabric, an elastic sheet, an elastic bands, or an elastic rope, to achieve an adjustable support force and provide cushioning for the user's seating and leaning comfort.

In summary, in the support force adjustment assemblyaccording to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first tensioning memberand the second tensioning membertension the flexible support membertherebetween to provide reliable buffering and support effects to a user. In addition, the adjustment mechanismadjusts tensioning degree of the flexible support member, such that the support force adjustment assemblyis capable of providing desired buffering and support effects to corresponding body parts for different users in the case that the support force adjustment assemblyis applied to different positions of the chair. In this way, different user demands are satisfied, seating comfort is improved, and user experience is enhanced.

Regarding the structure of the adjustment mechanismthat adjusts the flexible support memberby rotation, the present disclosure presents an embodiment, with further reference to, and in combination withwhich shows a partial structure of the support force adjustment assembly. As illustrated in, the adjustment mechanismincludes a rotation rod. The rotation rodis connected to the frame. The flexible support memberis secured to the rotation rod. The rotation rodis configured to, in response to rotating, wind the flexible support memberaround the rotation rodor release the flexible support memberwound around the rotation rodto allow the flexible support memberto be tightened or loosened.

As illustrated in, a side wall of the rotation rodmay be equipped with a snap-fit groove. One end of the flexible support membermay be snap-fitted and secured into the snap-fit grooveby a rigid snap-fit strip. In addition, the flexible support membermay also be secured to the rotation rodby means of such as bonding, a threaded fastener, or rivet connection.

In order to reduce the production cost of the support force adjustment assembly, as shown inand, in some embodiments, the support force adjustment assemblyalso includes a first connection rodand a second connection rod, with the first connection rodand the second connection rodbeing arranged oppositely. The second tensioning memberis connected between one ends of the first connection rodand the second connection rod, while the rotation rodis rotatably connected between the other ends of the first connection rodand the second connection rod. The first connection rod, the second connection rod, the second tensioning member, and the rotation rodtogether form a mounting module, which is assembled and secured to the frame. Specifically, the mounting module may be secured to the frameby means of a threaded fastener, a rivet, or the like.

By the above method, the structural complexity of the framemay be minimized, thereby reducing the mold cost of the frame. During assembly, the first connection rod, the second connection rod, the second tensioning member, and the rotation rodare first assembled to form the mounting module, which is then secured to the frame. This facilitates the assembly operation of the support force adjustment assemblyand improves the assembly efficiency.

Furthermore, to ensure overall aesthetics and smooth operation of the various components, as illustrated in the exploded view in, each component of the adjustment mechanismis covered with a protective casing. The protective casingprovides a reliable environment for the operation of the adjustment mechanism.

The rotation rodmay be driven manually. For example, a handle may be attached to one end of the rotation rod. The user can rotate the handle to drive the rotation rod, thereby tightening or loosening the flexible support memberand adjusting the amount of support force supplied to the user.

Additionally, the rotation rodmay also be driven electrically. Specifically, as illustrated in, the adjustment mechanismmay include a drive unit(such as a motor). The drive unitis secured to the frame, and an output shaftof the drive unitis securely connected to the rotation rodto drive the rotation of the rotation rod. Correspondingly, a control button (not shown) may be arranged on the frame to be electrically connected to the drive unit, thereby allowing for control of the operation of the drive unit.

Furthermore, to ensure the reliability of the drive unit, as illustrated in, a reducerhaving a reverse self-locking function may be connected between the output shaftof the drive unitand the rotation rod, thereby achieving the purposes of speed reduction, increased torque, and reverse self-locking.