AU2021103627A4

AU2021103627A4 - Recliner chair with headrest

Info

Publication number: AU2021103627A4
Application number: AU2021103627A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Warren Tripp
Original assignee: Pride Mobility Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Pride Mobility Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-25
Filing date: 2021-06-25
Publication date: 2021-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-25

Abstract

The application relates to a recliner chair incorporating a headrest configured to wrap about the head of the chair occupant. FIGURE 5. FIGURE 5 8 9 1 10 2 6 4 4 3/3

Description

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RECLINER CHAIR WITH HEADREST FIELD

[0001] The present invention is generally directed to a domestic recliner chair incorporating a head rest.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Recliner chairs have been developed that recline to allow the occupant to tilt the backrest of the chair while, according to certain recliner chair designs, also extending a footrest. Such designs are considered to allow the occupant a more comfortable lounge nor near supine position as opposed to the seated position provided by traditional chairs and seats.

[0003] FIGURE 1 exemplifies a traditional recliner chair design as reproduced from United States patent document RE 29,483 in the name of R6. The exemplified recliner chair includes a back rest D which is tilted backwards, and footrest L which is tilted forward to transition from what may be a substantially vertical alignment to a substantially horizontal alignment, as the chair transitions from an upright to a reclined position.

[0004] Riser recliners or lift chairs have also been developed which feature a powered lifting mechanism that lifts the chair to assist the occupant from a seated position to a standing position. These chairs typically offer reclining abilities as exemplified by FIGURE 1, and are designed to assist those with mobility issues.

[0005] FIGURE 2 exemplifies a lift chair design as reproduced from European patent document EP 2419069 in the name of Sj6gren. The exemplified lift char is shown is a seated position (in hard lines) and in a lift position (in dotted lines). As shown, the lift position places the occupant in a position near to standing which lessens the effort required by the occupant to transition from a seated position to a standing position.

[0006] While recliner chairs and lift chairs have been developed, the comfort of such chairs could be improved. Taking lift chairs as an example, lift chairs are commonly utilised with mobility issues as well as strength issues. Those utilising such chairs commonly possess limited strength to, for example, maintain their position within the chair in an ergonomically satisfactory manner.

[0007] Within the airline industry, chairs have been developed for use in airplanes which are intended to improve the ability of the passenger to comfortably sleep while positioned within the chair. A common issue while attempting to sleep while seated in a chair is position of the head of the occupant. It is generally considered uncomfortable to attempt to sleep while in a seated position since the occupant is required to "hold up" their head or otherwise lay their head at an angle against their shoulder. To address this issue, airline chairs commonly include a headrest which may be configured to align the position of the occupant's head and in particular to prevent or inhibit the occupant from laying their head against their shoulder (which is uncomfortable and may cause injury).

[0008] FIGURE 3 exemplifies a headrest as incorporated within an airline chair and reproduced from US patent application document 2004/0007910 in the name of Skelly. The exemplified headrest is configured to support, as well as restrict movement of, the head of the passenger. As referenced above this may be considered useful when, for example, the passenger intends to sleep and therefore wishes to maintain their head in a preferably substantially aligned position (i.e. not against their shoulder, which is uncomfortable and may cause neck pain and injury). The exemplified headrest includes a headrest base 25 for supporting the head of the passenger and side supports 26, 27 pivoting from each side of the base 25. In use the side supports may be rotated to close about the head of the passenger to provide greater support to the head while for example in a reclined position. The exemplified headrest incorporates upper side supports 26A, 27A and lower side supports 26B, 27B to allow greater customisation in respect of contouring to the head of the passenger. The designed head rest assists with alignment of the head, but not necessarily of the back or torso of the passenger.

[0009] In view of the above, it would be desirable to provide a domestic recliner chair or lift chair which addresses the issue of improving the ergonomic position of the occupant, such as by positioning the torso of the occupant, or at least provides a useful alternative to the existing prior art.

[0010] The reference in this specification to any prior publication, or information derived from it, or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication, or information derived from it, or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

SUMMARY

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a domestic recliner chair, the recliner chair comprising a backrest configured such that when the recliner chair transitions to a reclined position the backrest is tilted backwards to enable the occupant to recline, the backrest further comprising a head rest, wherein the head rest comprises: a left-side head support; a right-side head support, further wherein the left-side head support and the right-side head support are each configured as wings to pivot to a position about the head of the occupant.

[0012] In an embodiment, the headrest comprises a central head support, and wherein each of the left-side head support and the right-side head support are pivotally connected to the central head support via a hinge means.

[0013] In an embodiment, the backrest further comprises: a left-side support to provide lateral support to the left side of the back; and a right-side support to provide lateral support to the right side of the back, and wherein the left-side support and the right-side support connected to the backrest.

[0014] In an embodiment, the left-side back support and the right-side back support each comprise padded support cushions extending from the base of the backrest along respective sides of the backrest to the head rest.

[0015] In an embodiment, the left-side back support and the right-side back support are each removably connected to the backrest.

[0016] In an embodiment, the recliner chair comprises a footrest, the footrest configured such that when the recliner chair transitions to a reclined position the footrest is tilted forward to provide support to the feet of the occupant in a reclined position.

[0017] In an embodiment, the recliner chair is configured to provide powered transition between an upright seated position and a reclined position.

[0018] In an embodiment, the recliner chair is a riser chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] FIGURE 1 shows a recliner chair design as reproduced from US patent document RE 29,483, according to the prior art.

[0020] FIGURE 2 shows a lift chair design as reproduced from EP patent document 2419069, according to the prior art.

[0021] FIGURE 3 shows a head rest for an aircraft chair as reproduced from US patent application document 2004/0007910.

[0022] FIGURE 4 shows the front of a recliner chair while in a semi-reclined position according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIGURE 5 shows the front side of the backrest of the recliner chair of Figure 4, highlighting the left-side support and the right-side support.

Reference Numerals

1 Recliner chair 2 Backrest 3 Footrest 4 Armrest 5 Seat 6 Left-side back support 7 Right-side back support 8 Headrest 9 Central head support 10 Left-side head support 11 Right-side head support

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] With reference to FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5, an embodiment of the invention will now be described as follows.

[0025] Figures 4 and 5 show a recliner chair 1 in a semi-reclined position such that the back rest 2 is reclined while the footrest 3 remains in a 'stored' configuration, meaning it is not shown as deployed to enable the occupant's feet to rest thereon, though the shown footrest 3 is capable of doing so according to embodiments of the invention.

[0026] The exemplified recliner chair 1 includes features typical of a chair including seat 5 and armrests 4. Headrest 8 is shown in Figure 4 with the left-side head support 10 and the right-side head support 11 in a retracted position such that the head rest 8 appears generally typical of that known in the art.

[0027] FIGURE 4 also shows a left-side back support 6 and a right-side back support 7 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shown, the left-side back support 6 and a right-side back support 7 each comprise padded support cushions extending from the base of the backrest 2 along respective sides of the backrest 2 to the head rest 8. Optionally, the left-side back support 6 and a right-side back support 7 are each removably connected to the backrest 2, though in other embodiments the left-side back support 6 and a right-side back support 7 may each be permanently connected to the backrest 2. Removable connection may be achieved by for example use of hook and loop fasteners (i.e. Velcro), by buttons, or by zipper.

[0028] As best shown in FIGURE 5, the headrest 8 comprises a left-side head support 10 and a right-side head support 11 each configured as wings to pivot about the head of the occupant in a manner which corresponds to that which might previously be found in airline chairs such as exemplified in FIGURE 3. In the embodiment in FIGURE 4 shown each of the left-side head support 10 and the right-side head support 11 extend from a central head support 9 and are connected to the central head support 9 via a hinge means. Preferably, each of the left-side head support 10 and the right-side head support 11 connect to the central head support in a manner that requires a certain amount of force to pivot, for example, from a location against the back rest to a position about the head of the occupant. This sures that left-side head support 10 and the right-side head support 11 do not loosely rotate but rather may maintain a position supporting the head of the chair occupant.

[0029] While not directly evident from FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5, the exemplified recliner chair also constitutes a riser chair which is powered to transfer from an upright seated position to a reclined position, and to transfer between a seated position to a raised position enabling the occupant to stand.

[0030] According to certain embodiments, the riser chair may be powered by connection to a domestic power point. In other embodiments, the riser chair may incorporate a power source such as a battery, preferably a rechargeable battery. In certain embodiments the riser chair may be operated by a remote control which may instruct the chair to for example transfer between an upright seated position to a reclined position.

[0031] The recliner chair exemplified in FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5 provides greater support to the occupant than existing products to ensure that the occupant is correctly aligned in the chair. This may be considered particularly valuable where the occupant has mobility issues affecting their ability to sit or recline in a healthy alignment.

[0032] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and variations thereof such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to include the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or groups of integers or steps.

[0033] It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments and/or examples as described herein are therefore to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A domestic recliner chair, the recliner chair comprising a backrest configured such that when the recliner chair transitions to a reclined position the backrest is tilted backwards to enable the occupant to recline, the backrest further comprising a head rest, wherein the head rest comprises a left-side head support; a right-side head support, further wherein the left-side head support and the right-side head support are each configured as wings to pivot to a position about the head of the occupant.

2. A recliner chair according to claim 1, wherein the headrest comprises a central head support, and wherein each of the left-side head support and the right-side head support are pivotally connected to the central head support via a hinge means.

3. A recliner chair according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein backrest further comprises: a left-side support to provide lateral support to the left side of the back; and a right-side support to provide lateral support to the right side of the back, and wherein the left-side support and the right-side support connected to the backrest.

4. The recliner chair of claim 3, wherein the left-side back support and the right-side back support each comprise padded support cushions extending from the base of the backrest along respective sides of the backrest to the head rest.

5. The recliner chair of either of claims 3 or 4, wherein the left-side back support and the right-side back support are each removably connected to the backrest.

6. The recliner chair of any one of the previous claims, wherein the recliner chair comprises a footrest, the footrest configured such that when the recliner chair transitions to a reclined position the footrest is tilted forward to provide support to the feet of the occupant in a reclined position.

7. The recliner chair of any one of the previous claims, wherein the recliner chair is configured to provide powered transition between an upright seated position and a reclined position.

8. The recliner chair of any one of the previous claims, wherein the recliner chair is a riser chair.

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